Front Porch Confessional: Recent Episodes
Jeff Gokee
So many of us are pursuing after our own truth and it's why we're so lost. David realigns us to the real truth of life.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
There is so much evil in this world...we can change that. Each person gets to make the decision to look and live like Jesus. Paul is instructing us to change the world by doing this.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
We have a peace problem...and because we have a peace problem, we have a God problem. Our minds are "stayed" on the wrong things. We need to recalibrate and reconnect with the Lord.
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
This passage is such a gift, but also a challenge. Let us commit to seeing how Jesus talks about his Father and receive it.
Luke 12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
We are autonomous people, but we were never meant to do life alone. From the beginning of time, to Jesus, and in the present...people together is the plan that God has for us all.
Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
We have a love perception problem, and it's impacting every part of our lives. John is refocusing this young church (and us as well) back to the love of the Father through through Jesus the son.
1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
We need to acknowledge God here on earth, but sadly so many are afraid to vocalize with what they believe because they fear man and not God.
Luke 12:8-9 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
Good works from God lead people to God. Do we believe we are a light in the darkness or are we giving in to the weight of the world. We are called to be different and make a difference.
Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
We tend to lean towards passive or violence, but Paul helps us see something about who God is and what we are promised.
Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
We hate the middle, but it's the place where faith in God is truly lived out. Moses diets the people of God NOT to look at their circumstance, but the Lord...how about you?
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
The promise of the Lord is that he is near to those who are suffering, but why is it that we resist.
Psalms 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
WE DID IT...a years worth of podcasts. Thank you so much for all the love and support both through listening and also financial. This verse has been so important to me, and was the 1st verse on episode #1.
Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
How cool that Jesus calls us to be a child and not a CEO. Why is it important to be like a child and to see how Jesus was?
Matthew 18:2-3 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Words are cheap...woudn't you agree? Lot's of people talk, but what is the internal reality for them? Jesus is calling out the talkers and getting to what's most important.
***Note: One correction. In the podcast I said that Jesus was quoting Isaiah in 20:19, but the passages is Isaiah 29:13
Matthew 15:8-9 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
How do you know who to follow...those who bear good fruit. But how will we know? Do they look and live like Jesus.
Matthew 7:18-20 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Pastor John through the revelation of the Spirit shows us how to defeat satan.
Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
In a world that is looking for direction, why do we turn to anything other than the Words of God? David is pointing us to the worth of God's words, we need to pay attention.
Psalms 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Peter is trying to teach us how to live out the gospel in an unjust world. Are we looking for justice or the approval of God?
1 Peter 2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
We need to confront our individualism and see that it has always been about God and it will always be about him.
Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
I am so convicted by the passage. God is pointing out the real error in our hearts and lives. The way we see and serve people really matter. So how are you doing?
Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
This passage is so great...we can actually shut people up by the way we love Jesus and those around them. This is the gospel and this is Gods will.
1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
This is such an amazing passage..a crossroads moment for the Israelites and for us. Who will you serve? It can't be both. You have to make a decision. Life is the culmination of the decisions we make. Choose God!
Deuteronomy 11:26-28 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.
The focus of our thanksgiving tends to be circumstance oriented. When it's good, we're thankful, when it's bad we're ticked. Pastor Paul is showing us a different "Jesus Way" to live.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Your burdens are a gift to one another. I know that feels weird in a myopic society, but it's what Paul through the life of Jesus is inviting us into. Give others your burdens, and bear others burdens.
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Why do we lob off parts when Pastor Paul says we are ONE body?
1 Corinthians 12:20-21 As it is, there are many parts,[a] yet one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
We tend to go after those we sinned against secondary as opposed to dealing with the primary person we've sin against: God. David realigns our thinking!
Psalms 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
We tend to lose perspective when we're in the midst of life's storms. God through his prophet is trying to refocus us...HE's WITH us!
Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Have you ever wondered why sometimes plans don't work out? What do we do? Do we try to push through or do we submit to the fact that God made be frustrating those plans for a purpose.
Psalms 33:10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
We tend to look at the exterior in most situations and in the process avoid what's really most important, what's inside.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
So many of us have been hurt and abandoned. We spend so much of our time living out of that hurt. But the Lord will take us in, not just when we're hurt but every day.
Psalms 27:10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
So many of us are in the middle. We feel stuck. We're frustrated. God where are you? Go what are you doing? What if the way we're dealing with middle is pointing to what be believe about God? God through Moses is teaching us about what to do.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
We have all focused on things other than the Lord...it's no wonder why we have a stressed out culture. David is refocusing us on the truth that will set us free.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
We truly don't understand the compassion of God...if we did, it would impact the way we live our lives.
Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
We are always trying to make up for the mistakes we've made, but that is not what our God requires. He is loving, merciful, and pardons our sins. If this is true (and it is), how will that impact the way we live our lives?
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
We all live like orphans when the mercy of God has been extended to us. How will living into the mercy of God change our lives?
Hosea 14:3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.”
There is a time for belligerence. These 3 men display what it means to be rooted in a faith that is costly. But, it doesn't just happened out of nowhere...no, these men loved God and were willing to die for him.
Daniel 3:16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.[c]18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Why do we want to wait for all the good stuff later, when much of it is promised today? For so many of us we can only see earth and therefore can't see heaven. Pastor Paul says "we're to be cited" if that is our reality.
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Jesus is so gracious to us! Here the disciples have failed and Jesus pauses once again to give them insight on how to live in the Spirit NOT the flesh.
Mark 14:38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Weakness is not appealing to our culture, but it's what God is inviting us into. What is at the core of what God through Pastor Paul is trying to communicate. If we don't accept weaknes , then we don't need Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
What happens when everything around us feels uncertain? What is the responsibility of the Christian. Paul focuses this young church and reminds them who we are and what we are to be.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
We are so prone to the old...but what about the new song he's inviting us into?
Psalms 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Who are we listening to? It's a great question because it starts to help us understand what we are following. Jesus lays out for us the right direction for our lives.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
How would your life change if you knew that Jesus knows your sins, is praying for you to overcome it through faith, and then commissioning you to strengthen others through your failures? This is not the way we see it go (normally), but this is how it is. It changed Peters life and it can change yours as well.
Luke 27:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
I did it again...I tried doing things on my own. Why is it that we reject the help of God when he so freely wants to give it to us? Jesus let us know that The Helper is here and near and ready to help us do greater things than Jesus. Why do we run from this help rather than finding life in it?
Hosea 12:6 “So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”
God hears us...he even hears us after we rebel and go our own way. When we start realigning our hearts with us, we will find him. Isn't that what we are all hoping for, to find God? To find his will and way for our lives?
Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
We have so many plans, but so does God. What happens when we realize that in the good and bad God is working things out for our good? What happens when we realize that even when we rebel, he has not abandoned us?
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
We have have a focus problem, and Pastor Paul wants to help us. So much of what we spend time focusing on leads to death when the Spirit of God want to lead us to life and life to the full.
Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
They way we love each other matters...it will actually point them to Jesus or away? I believe we all need to wear the weight of what we say and do to one another. It was a BIG DEAL to Jesus and it should be a big deal to us.
John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This passage is so convicting...Paul is reminding us of what it means when we agreed with the Spirit to follow Jesus. Does your life reflect the decision, because if it does it will be a weapon in the world.
Philippians 1:27-28 Only let your manner of life be worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Jesus directs our attention...do you see the need? We are a busy people and we are missing the very reason why we are here on earth. It's his people and it always has been...but do we seen them or are we distracted?
Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
We are blinded by our busyness and it's breaking Jesus' heart. He has compassion on those who are helpless, hurting, and needing guidance. He is inviting us in to his compassion for his people.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
We are so afraid of our humanity, and God is not! David, the man after God's own heart teaches us to protest God...to let him hear you woes.
Psalms 13:1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
We are so indivigulized and Pastor Paul is pointing us to the reality of what it means to be a part of the family of God. You are not alone. What you do matters. This is SO MUCH bigger than just you:-)
2 Corinthians 12: 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
We have a lot of plan and goals, but are they they Lords? In this episode Pastor Paul is helping this young church and I move into a greater understand of God's sovereign plan.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Man do we have our desires all mixed up...David is realigning us to a reality centered on the Lord.
Psalms 37:4-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This is a key passage to unlocking where your heart and desires are. Jesus loves you and wants to lead you into "life and life to the full," but we have to get honest with where we are at.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
It's so counter intuitive to be a fool, but that is what Pastor Paul is inviting us into. We think we are wise and so we miss Jesus. So be a fool in the world's eyes and you will start to see clearer.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
This is the question for the years...what do you trust? David in this beautiful prayer points us not only to his observation of others, but of himself.
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
What a wonderful thing to know that we are clean before God because of Jesus' death and resurrection, but how should that impact the way I see myself? How should that impact the way I live out my days on earth?
1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John concludes this section by telling believers in Jesus to be like Jesus...and what did Jesus do? He not only proclaimed things about himself, but he actually did them. We are called to do the same.
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
We have been given so much, and so much has been done for us...so what do we do now? Pastor John confronts us...do we love our stuff more than others, if so...do we really know God? It's a powerful question that we work through in this episode.
1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
We live in a time when so many things need to be redefined...LOVE is at the top of that list. So when asking the question 'What is love," where do you turn? John the disciple that Jesus loved, tells us what love is.
1 John 3:16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
We all struggle with fear, and that is why Jesus wants to help us. In this passage Jesus is realigning his disciples who have their focus on their circumstances and not him.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Pastor Paul is once again teaching us the truth of what it means to be in Christ. So often when we think about this passage is out of context biblically and practically. In this episode I dig into the deeper truth of what Paul is helping us understand.
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
This passage in Thessalonians kicked my butt...it's so good! So often we get focused on what we say instead of how we are present. Jesus shows us the way forward and invites us into his way of loving and living.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
I know that title is in your face...so is Solomon as he tries to help us understand what is wise and foolish. Run away from your vices and return to the one who knows you most.
Proverbs 26:11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
There are so many times in life that we feel stuck..what do we do? What happens when it feels like the Lord has given us a "no." Well, Mary the Mother of Jesus displays for us what it means to anticipate the glory of God and move forward.
John 2:5 "His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Am and blown away by the reality that even when things don't make sense, God is present and working things out far beyond my own understanding.
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people[a] should be kept alive, as they are today.
This passage in Galatians is SOOO good! We tend to always start with ourselves and that's generally all we ever get. Pastor Paul in the middle of a conversation with the Galatians catches himself to remind us of something so important.
Galatians 4:8-9 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
The truth of this passage should lead us to action...kingdom action. If we don't embrace the 1st and greatest commandment, then we are really missing all of life, a loving life with our Heavenly Father.
Matthew 22:37 and he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Man this passage is so convicting and SO good! Pastor Paul is reframing our pain in this world and trying to encourage us to have a balance. The world is watching the way christians endure pain.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
The Spirit of God is preaching peace to us every day, but we are also being distracted by phony peace offered by the world. Jesus is saying to you and me: "Take my peace, I promise it's better!"
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
There is an evangelism that we can have just by our view fixed on the Lord.
Psalms 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
I love the title of this episode, I think it accurately describes what Pastor John is trying to say...Abide in Christ and anticipate securely his return.
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
For so many of us we have placed our lives in all the wrong things...it's unsettling and hard. IN the midst of a very difficult time Habakkuk awakens us to a truth that we all need.
Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
Do you know that your body language is a gospel presentation to the world? Crazy right, but in this Psalms David is explaining to us the power of an inward truth and how it impacts the external realities.
Psalm 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Sincerely, THANK YOU for joining me for 300 episodes.
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you
The real truth for all of us is that we've experienced abandonment...Do you understand how that effects you're day to day life? Most people don't, but there is a truth that can set us free...we're not alone and we have been welcomed in by God.
Psalms 27:10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.
We have a pride problem and that is why we can't receive the care that God wants to give to us. Pastor Peter loves his Church and he wants them to experience the care he's received.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Pastor John is at it again...taking us back to a core truth: God is Love! But why does this matter? How could this change our lives and others?
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Pastor Paul is once again awakening us to how discouraged we get...we have a focus problem. We need to be realigned on who we are and who Jesus is. In these bodies live death and life, what will we do?
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
These bodies we live in are so frail, but we struggle to really live that way. Where does the power come from? What is sustaining us? Pastor Paul is working hard to let the church know with this tension.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
The Christian life is not segmented...it's focused. There's a local church in Phoenix who says "all of life is all for Jesus." This is what Paul is trying to communicate...we divide and create categories of secular and sacred, there is no such thing in Christ.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
We can't begin to understand the compassion of God towards us...his love endures forever! We need to learn to lean in and accept all he says he is.
Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
If you are being disciplined by the Lord, you are being loved by him. He wants the best things for us, so when we stray he brings us back- Receive his discipline.
Hebrews 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
We need strength right now! I hear people say every day that they are tired or "burnt out." WHY? We are trying to derive our strength from the wrong things. But what happens when we put it back in the right place...in the hands of the Lord. There is so much more for us.
Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
This is a powerful passage for those who are trying to find their footing in a world that feels like sinking sand. Listen to David. Listen as he helps direct our attention to what really matters, what really brings us security.
Psalms 62:1-2 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
I'm BACK!!! There is a strange but beautiful reality- God is always present among us, but are we aware. In this episode, we look a Jesus being alone with the Father, but with the disciples...how is that possible?
Luke 9:18 "Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Fear has become a language that everyone seems to speak and it's destroying people. God offers us a different path...a God with us...a God will help and strengthen...God will uphold us path.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
That word is terrifying! As humans, our logic and reasoning is what we hold on to..it's what we have confidence. But what happens when we come to the end of that? Perhaps. Jonathan displays for us the beauty of a faith filled, obedient life.
1 Samuel 14:6 "Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
What do we do when kids are killed, a recession is looming, health problem continue? We need help? But from where???
Psalms 121:1-2I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Kingdom of God is here, and so are you...how cool is that? God has not called you home yet, which means...you matter. So many Christians are trying to get out of here and God is here, with us.
Philippians 1:23-24 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account
Suffering is hard, but it is our reality. So many westerners are running away from this truth, but you can't. Peter is trying to help believer refocus on Christ and what it means to suffer well.
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
This is a strange time we're in...who do we trust? It seems like we can't trust anyone..so where do we turn? We need real truth from the one who is TRUTH.
Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
This is a powerful truth that can change your life. We are not slaves any more and we can call God daddy- WOW, and AMEN!
Galatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul has been building a case and now in 5:1 he gets to the "therefore"- Based on the evidence that Jesus became our justifier before God..we can have peace with God. But we need to have faith in the truth and we struggle with faith- God help us (and he does).
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This passage is so beautiful...I'm learning to comprehend the deep love of God. Jesus is inviting us into himself and if we abide in his person we will produce good fruit and find satisfaction for our souls.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Many of us really struggle to ask this question...some of us ask this question too much. What do we do with the tension that this question brings? We look to Jesus!
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
This reality will change EVERYTHING for you and me. Why do we move past Easter so quickly...I mean, Monday comes really fast. Jesus wants to untether from the realities of earth and open our kingdom imagination.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
This passage is the center of all that I'm learning right now...being human with Jesus. I have never struggled with seeing Jesus as God, but I have when it relates to his humanity. There is so much to learn from Jesus in his humanity. What is he trying to teach us?
Luke 19:41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it
Boasting is almost a habitual habit in our culture, but the scary thing is we often don't see it. Paul is fully aware that this is the reality because he is the self proclaimed "chief of sinners." To the church in Corinth and the church today...one thing is true, we should only boast in Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Why do we just read the Bible? Jeremiah says, "I don't want to just read it, I want to eat it.
Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
As we continue on in 1 John he not only begins to expose us, but also champion us on. This love IS FOR YOU, but it's also for the world..give it away! But why don't we?
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
This truth should change your life...it's changing mine. John is trying to awaken us to the beauty of his love, his selfless love. Why are we trying to earn what he has freely given.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
I thought twice about that title, but it's appropriate. Why do we struggle so hard with being silent the midst of suffering? Job is giving us all a lesson on wisdom, and silence is wisdom.
Job 13:5 Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
I could not get away from this passage...there was so much more there. We have a pace problem, so did Israel. God was trying to call them in to his presence, into his rescue...but they fought him just like we do. We need to be in pace with the plan and presence of God.
Ex 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
This passage is so confrontational and compassionate. As I sit with the truth that God is fighting for me I have to deal with the truth that I often doubt. But what happens when I see that he is behind, with, and before me?
Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
This passage blows my mind! The generosity of Jesus is overwhelming and should impact the way we live our lives. Jesus prays for Peter and he prays for us, but are we aware of it?
Luke 22:31-32 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Man...if we're not careful we can play into a lie almost as old as creation itself, you can be god. That's what satan distracted Adam and Eve with and it's what he still does today...that's where Solomon steps in a reframes it all!
Ecclesiastics 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
This is now how most people think about their relationship with the Lord. Most of us our followers, but not lovers of the Lord, but that's what Pastor Paul is trying to explain to us.
Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
There is so much bondage in this world, and in the Spirit there is freedom. The question is: Where do we find freedom? Pastor paul is going to call us to confront this reality in us.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
I have to admit, I've never really thought about how costly kindness is...I mean God's kindness towards us cost Jesus his life. This has massive implication for us and others.
Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
There is a lot going on if our world right now...we need to wake up to what God is doing. Like David, so many of us have gotten distracted from who we are and what God has called us to do...so we compromise. We need to wake up!
2 Samuel 12:7a Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!
The Story of Jonah is there to cause us to confront ourselves...to see ourselves in the mirror. We tend to be hypocritical in our mercy...we love to receive it, but to give it out is much harder. Where Jonah failed, Jesus succeeds:-)
Jonah 4:2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
The story of Jonah is the story of all of us. What may seem like punishment is actually mercy, but what do we do in light of that mercy?
Jonah 1:17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Pastor Paul is guiding Timothy with wisdom that is so important for us. Do we know what gifts God has given us? What do we do with the gifts he's given? What is preventing us from being all God has called us to be- Fan the Flame!
2 Timothy 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
God is listening! There is a remnant of faithful people who believe that what they do and what they say matters. Faithfulness matters.
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
It's so amazing that Jesus reminds us over and over that we are not alone even though the suffering we experience in this world are overwhelming at times. We are not orphans, we are known and loved.
John 14:18-19 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live
We are not as strong as we think...David knows that and is trying to help us get honest with where we are and what we need. What will you do when you realize you need the Lord to save you in every situation?
Psalms 3:8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!
We are easy to forget, and Isaiah knows it! He is trying to wake us up and I think we need it!
Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Pastor Paul is not content to let those he loves compromise with the culture. Why are we ok with offending God and not the culture? Paul is going to help us work through it if we will listen.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
This is one of those sections of scripture that we wish wasn't there...it's hard. What do we do when the mercy of God is painful. King David once again leads us to the heart of the matter.
2 Samuel 24:14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
I can't express enough how important this question is right now??? Everyone is listening to someone, and who you are listening to will lead you. Pastor Paul is proclaiming to the church in Corinth...Beware!
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
How in the world can we be angry and not sin? King David is on to something...something deeper that most of us don't want to admit.
Psalms 4:4-5 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
Solomon is trying to help us understand what it means to be a good neighbor...it's a real thing!
Proverbs 25:17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
Why do we fast? In fact, why do we do anything we do? Our motivations matter but we tend to not be aware of them. Isaiah, who is speaking on behalf of God, will help us get a handle on it.
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
It's not often when it's being a fool is ok, but anything for Christ is worth it. Paul once again is opening the door to a Christ-centered life, which looks opposite of the worlds.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
This passage in Jeremiah is so direct in dealing with he problems in our lives...where are you rooted, and who is feeding you???
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
This is a questions for the ages...and one that God has a lot of interest in? If God has spoken, why do we continue to ask him to speak? If he is directing us and we are rebelling, what are we actually looking for? These are the questions that God through his prophet Jeremiah will answer.
Jeremiah 17:5-6 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
Boy a title like that make us want to dig in! Give me that scripture, until we find out what prosperity really is. God, speaking to his servant Joshua prepares him for leadership and life in this passage.
Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
There are no words more precious to human ears and hearts than God loves you? By why do we struggle to believe and receive it? Well through this beautiful passage in Song of Solomon I hope to dig into that.
Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Oh man...you and will give an account of all we've done in heaven to God! That should stop you in your tracks. Absolutely nothing is hidden, but what is Paul specifically talking about?
Romans 14:12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Oh man...that title would make many run away, but Solomon sees it as the way to wisdom. If we can't think about death, we will never appreciate life.
Ecclesiastes 7:4 A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
I love Ecclesiastics! This book is fill with some much practical and honest wisdom. In this episode I walk through this proclamation from Solomon that the husband and wife that God gives us is a reward. That is really great news, but it can go really bad if our focus isn't right.
Ecclesiastics 9:9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil.
This is a declaration for the generations...nothing is impossible for God, but how does that impact the way we live today?
Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.
This is the question for the ages: Why would we abuse grace if it is freely given from God! We really struggle with this and take advantage of it...Paul is pleading with us to stop.
Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Is it good for our souls to be in tension with our sin..the and answer is: YES!!! Paul is walking us through that tension. He isn't settling into his sin, he's facing it.
Romans 7:15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
As we begin in Isaiah we see a problem right away, a sickness....I have it at time, and so do you? What happens when our heads and hearts grow sick and weary to the truth of God? We will either repent or run away.
Isaiah 1:5 Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted.
What a wonderful truth that Jesus doesn't just love us in the end, but also in the normal mundane parts of life. When these 2 realities start coming together we will experience heaven here on earth.
John 13:1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
Who really shows up in your life? Who are the people that are truly caring for you and wearing your burdens. Solomon is showing us the way forward because true friends will bring life in this life.
Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Solomon is so visual at times in the illustrations he putting forth to help our souls and lives connect with a greater truth. This Proverb is one of the most blatant.
Proverbs 26:11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
What we place our hope in matters. So often it's tethered to things of this earth. Solomon is teaching us about the reality of this.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
The fact that God know your every thought and every way can feel kind of invasive, but what if that's one of the most loving things he does?
Proverbs 5:21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondersall his paths.
We love the temporary...we're actually addicted to it. So when it comes to our spiritual lives we tend to fall in the same trap. Solomon is doing his best to wake us sons and daughters up to the wise life.
Proverbs 3:35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.
This Proverb has been so helpful to me, but it generally not considered! Why do we keep depending ourselves and what is it doing to our bodies and souls?
Proverbs 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
The older I get, the more I learn about the deeper truths of scripture...which is pretty cool! This passage expanded my understanding of Jesus in a way that has brought me joy and comfort.
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Is there such a thing as Holy Anger...David is encouraging us to be angry, but don't sin? How and how does Jesus show us the way?
Psalms 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
Man we hate weakness, but it's everything as it relates to find true life in Christ.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Man, I don't know about you...but I wish (at times) that God could be bought off with good deeds. As we come towards the end of Psalms 51 we see David works through this dilemma...and we need to as well.
Psalms 51:16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
We tend to think of our salvation as a one time moment in life, but David is trying to help us understand it so much bigger than that. So what do we do?
Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
This is a true true cry, a true confession! David is showing us what is really important in this life. When we run after the things of this world and realized they leave us void...what do we do?
Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
The core of Psalms 51 is address in verse 10...we have a holy God and an unclean human, what do we do? David models for us the solution, but will we submit to this sacrificial act of repentance.
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
I love this passage, but it is so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. Gods love and justice so beautifully orchestrated...but are we aware and living in light of it?
Psalms 51:8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
Why do we do the horrible things we do? Where did it come from? This is what David is trying to discern in this repentant Psalm and this is what God is trying to help us understand as well. God wants to meet us, but often we are unaware of where.
Psalms 51:6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Our common confession should be: "Have mercy on us oh God." We need to join David in this confession and let it change our lives.
Psalms 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
We find our security in all the wrong things, but what does it look like to not only understand the Love of God, but to live it.
1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
Righteousness is right-living according to Jesus...but what does it produce. There is a perfect plan that God designed and Satan is trying to destroy. Let us grow in our understand of our Savior and Shalom.
James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness sown in peace by those who make peace.
What does the wisdom of God look like? Well, we can be certain it doesn't look anything like our culture is displaying. James wants to invite us a deeper understand of not only what it looks like to affirm the wisdom of God, but live in it!
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
There is something deeper going on in each of us, and if we look around and really get honest...we will see a lot of the pain we've created. It's either wisdom and meekness, or selfishness and envy.
James 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
So much of the chaos in our lives revolves around what we root our lives in and around. The thing under the thing impact all that we do...are we rooted in Christ or in the world. James, once again points us in the right direction.
James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Man oh man...James the brother of Jesus knows how to get right after it. So many of us have messages, but does our character match it? For most of us the answer is no! What do we do? Look to Jesus...Repent...Live different.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
I love this passage, a warning to never stop depending on the Spirit of God to convict you. But we are a people who trust ourselves, and Paul knows the failure of that. Trust the Lord and be aware of your humanity.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
I love the honesty and the intentionality of this passage...like a father calling out his kids "stop, there is a car coming." We need to truly be aware if we are practicing a sinful life, and if we are, we're running against the freedom that Jesus died for.
1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
We are a helpless people...we are really are! The sooner we realize that deeper we will grow in our understanding of Gods place in our lives. James, the brother of Jesus is going to direct us humble ourselves.
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
We were never promised a good and easy life, and if we know that it should reframe the way we live our lives when hard times come. Peter is helping us to rethink all the pain that we will endure in this life.
1 Peter 4:12-13"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
Sometimes we can be so focused on the threats to come instead of dealing with the ones that are right in front of us. Jesus is going to lovingly confront us in John 5.
John 5:43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
The world we live in celebrates and cheers for retribution, but what does the Bible say about this and how should it change the way we live our lives?
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
This seems to be an issue that Jesus confronts over and over. It's what puts him at odds with the religious all the time...and that's really important for us to understand.
Matthew 15:3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Man we hate discipline...most of us will do whatever we can to avoid it. The Psalmist is inviting us into what true blessedness is, but involves something we all resist.
Psalms 94:12-13 "Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law; you grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked."
What does it mean to love God? What is the evidence of it. In this episode I will talk about what Jesus says about these things.
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
Is there such a thing as good sorrow, according to the Apostle Paul there is and we all need it.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
I think so many of us are frustrated about not truly KNOWING God, but Paul is going to invite us into something much more beautiful...do you really want to KNOW God?
Romans 11:34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?”
We need help, and until we truly understand that...we will NOT live into the Lords Prayer.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
We have been given the gift or forgiveness, but what does that mean? How should that impact our lives?
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We need to be reminded who provides for us daily and how that should impact the way we care for others.
Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
Why are we always trying to get out of earth? Jesus is inviting us into a new way of thinking and living.
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
This prayer that Jesus invites us into is a rally cry to live and be different. It's so much more than a framework to prayer, but rather how to live.
Matthew 6:9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name."
I have to say...Jesus sympathizing with me is not a way I have lived most of my life understanding. How does it change the way we live if we accept this truth? The writer of Hebrews wants us to deal with that.
Hebrews 2:18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Distraction is all around us. Where doings it come from, how does it distract us? In this loving yet straight forward passage, Jesus corse corrects Peter and us as well.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
There is this helpless feeling we all get when we can't earn something, this feeling is intensified when it comes to God. We all would like to earn our salvation, but according to scripture it doesn't work that way...so what do we do?
Psalm 51:16-17 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
There are so many messages out there, and it's really confusing at times. Solomon is going to offer us some wisdom on what to do and who to trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
We really hate facing ourselves, and if we can face ourselves...we're going to struggle to see and experience the fullness of Jesus' love and sacrifice.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God loves you so much and is constantly calling out to us, but we are often blind to it. Paul is a wonderful evangelist and intellect who is helping understand how God speaks.
Romans 1:19-20 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
The jealous of God is something I've struggle with since first hearing about it as a kid. Do I want a jealous God? My answer is" YES," praise God he is jealous.
Exodus 34:14 For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
There are so many words in this word, and I am the chief offender of over using them. Solomon is inviting us into a different way of seeing words.
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Where do I belong in this world? This is a question that pains so many people...and David wants to help us understand the answer to that longing.
Psalms 8:3-4 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
No matter how hard we try, we will not stop sinning...that's discouraging right??? What matters in the midst of this reality is who I believe Jesus to be.
Mark 14:38 "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Meal time prayers really bother me...why do we do them? Why do we rush through them? This passage and podcast are going to invite us into the life giving worship that God deserves.
1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
I love Solomon...he knows we are struggling with how to live in this word, so he gives us this amazing picture of wisdom and folly.
Proverbs 17:12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.
Do we love God enough to do anything to make sure we are pursuing after righteousness so we can experience his presence? David prays this radically relational prayer, will you?
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Pastor Paul is helping us understand what it means to grow in our faith in a culture that wants to pull us away. What are we to do?
1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall."
How do we stand firm in what we believe and still be loving? Look to Jesus!
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.Do everything in love.
What happens when the grief is to much? What are we to do? The Son of Korah is inviting us into the mysterious tension if following after God when things are hard.
Psalms 42:3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Pastor Paul loves the spiritual children that God has given to him to parent. In a culture so deeply rooted in the world, Paul is trying to join them and us to the life giving truth of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
Have you ever wondered how your relationship with the Lord is going? If you are following or faking it? This passage will help you discern if you are living into the life of Jesus.
1 John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Have we spent too much time thinking about God as father and not as a friend? Jesus has something to teach us.
John 15:14-15 You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
There is a solution for our souls- Love and seek the Lord. What does that mean? Why is it important? Listen to Solomon explain to us why.
Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
This is everything...if we get this then we will truly experience heaven on earth.
Colossians 3:3-4 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
So often our identity is rooted in the wrong things and as a result instead of advancing the kingdom of God, we work against it.
David is trying to help us understand what it means to truly sense the presence of God...listening in and discern- Are you resisting or relenting?
Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the love of Christ. Listen and learn from pastor Paul proclaim his undying love for Christ.
We need to slow down and evaluate where we are in Christ. Isaiah helps us do this with this passage.
We are are looking for peace, but we it's dependent on us we will never find it. So who do we trust? Where do we find peace?
Yes Christ is everything to us, but we are invited to care for others with him...but what does this look like?
Human logic is a tricky thing...it's important to help us learn and grow but it can lead us down a narcissistic wormhole. The logic of God is a whole other thing...it's foolishness to those who haven't given into it.
Why is it so important for Christians to be unified. David through his own personal tragedy leads us into the answer.
A great question is: Who are you listening to? God is speaking, but so often other things are speaking louder in our lives. Listen to God through the Prophet Isaiah...his grace and his mercy. Do you hear it?
Who do you trust...that is the question that so many of us are wrestling. Jesus gives us the answer, but will we listen?
There is a peace that can heal, and we can be healers. What does that mean for us and what will it cost us.
There is this beautiful, convicting moment when we realize that what happens in my mind and heart impacts the world...but how do we see that and deal with it?
Continuing in 1 Corinthains 10, paul is teaching us what we use to fight the wars that are before us.
In the kingdom of God things are done different...we are not like the world. So how should that impact the way we wage war?
We all get to choose who we trust, but only God provides us true safety. Father Solomon once again reminds us what's most important.
How do we deal with suffering? Can we receive the comfort of Christ in the midst of our pain and hurt? Pastor Paul helps his congregation (and us) understand what Christ is inviting us into.
Life can be really hard and discouraging...how do we deal with that. Once again Paul directs us to what real renewal is.
Paul does a great job of helping us get to the point of it all. In this passage we are brought into complete conviction when learning about who God is.
The depth of hallmark passages are rarely dealt with. We only give into inch deep theology when they're calling us into SO MUCH MORE. Romans 8:28 is one of those passages.
What is the love of God? It's manifested in the person of Jesus and it is trustworthy and true. What this mean and how should this impact my life?
What does friendship mean...don't we all want to know that. What does it mean to be a good, God fearing friend? Solomon helps us unpack what it truly means to be a friend and to receive the right kind of frindships.
Jesus tends to get to the heart of the issue quickly because it's all about the heart. Let this passage guide and convict you.
There are things that are preventing us from liberating the Gospel of Jesus in the world. Pastor Paul not only directs the church in Corinth, but us as well.
There is a blindness in our lives that so many of us are unaware of...Jesus is exposing us because he loves us, but will we remain blind or really see?
Today is such an amazing day, you are alive...how awesome is that? What does it look like to just enjoy today?
Pastor Paul is calling us to wake up so the world can see Jesus, but are we aware that we are asleep?
Pide is at the center of all that is bad in our lives. The prophet Isaiah exposes this in us and makes us look at all that God has given us and what we have either rejected or accepted.
This question of what you will do with Jesus is a 2000 year challenge. But, seriously...where are you at and how have you worked through this question?
God is speaking...all the time! He is speaking to us in many different ways, but are we listening?
Christmas was never about a single day, but rather a fulfillment of a promise. In this episode, we'll walk through this reality through the lens of the Prophet Isaiah.
Where is our safety found and who feels it? Solomon is getting to a core issue that we all struggle with.
God sees your heart and loves you, but we are unaware because we are blind to ourselves. Solomon helps us understand how God sees us.
As I get older I am constantly asking the question about what a friend looks like. Solomon is going to help us get right to the point.
Where is your identity rooted? Solomon is going to lead us in the way of wisdom and answer some of the questions we've all been asking.
As we continue in Proverbs, Solomon helps us understand wealth and our perspective on it.
No one likes discipline, but what if it's the way in which we experience the care of God?
We make a lot of plans, but that's not bad. The problem is when we think we know best and then ask God to bless us. What does it look like to trust God?
So often the question that haunts many of us is: God where are you? In this passage, Jesus directs us to the answer.
Imagine when you learned that when all is lost, there is a turn in the road. When we take a look at the covenant-keeping love of God the Father...everything changes.
For some reason I never looked at Thanksgiving as 2 separate words, but what does that mean and how can that impact the way we live our lives?
This beautiful promise from God is not just some future reality...it's available to us RIGHT NOW.
So often as we approach God we make it about us and what we will do. In this passage, we are challenged to think a little deeper.
Paul give us a greater vision of Jesus than we could ever imagine, but how will it impact our lives.
Will you consider Jesus? Paul is pointing us to Jesus and challenging us to slow down and reflect.
Pastor Paul is now getting right at the problem of our disunity, but are we willing to deal with it?
With all that Jesus and others have sacrificed, what are we called and commissioned to do and be? Paul sits in prison, begging this small church to consider the cost.
We really struggle with fearing the Lord. It doesn't seem to line up with logic, but what happens when we realize it's what releases us to really loving him?
This passage should cause us to stop, pause, and look at our lives. God is an avenger of wrongdoings, so what do we do with that?
Following Jesus is a beautiful sacrificial journey that most of us are missing out on. Jesus is inviting us into his mission, but will we go?
What does it mean to die in order to be alive? How do with live in light of Paul's declaration to be a "living Sacrifice?"
Our perceived strength is actually killing us. What does the Bible point us to in this understanding?
Most of the mental struggles in our life can be boiled down to whether God is good or not. How will we feel safe if we don't agree in faith that God is good?
There is so much to unpack in this passage...so many directions you could take it. But if you slow down and see the focus of the Prophet Micah it becomes clear.
As we see this passage, ti's so confusing...what is Jesus really asking us to be? In this episode, we will talk about perfection and purpose.
Who is Jesus? What does it mean to follow him? Very clearly Jesus lays out who he is and why that matters.
I love the proactive nature of the book of James...it calls us into action. What does a life in God empowered by scripture look like?
The beautiful paradox in this passage unleashes our return to the Lord...listen and reflect to all Hosea is calling us too.
What does it actually mean to be persecuted? What does it really cost us to follow Jesus. This beatitude is at the heart of the gospel.
Oh boy...this passage is so convicting. Peace is not passive, it's sacrificial and costly and its the way of Jesus.
Are our motives pure in how we serve others and God? Jesus cuts right to the heart of his mission in this world...to glorify his Father and serve others, but do we do the same?
We are consumers of mercy and that's where all the problems begin. If we don't understand mercy how will we extend it?
We are all trying to fill our lives with something...the question is what. Some things will bring you life and other things will take life from you.
Is meekness weakness? In this passage, we see the power in meekness and the way it can transform the world.
Mourning is human, but many of us really struggle with it. Jesus is inviting us into His heart and comfort.
God's way is opposite of our way...Jesus is trying to help us understand what Kingdom living is all about.
Most of us are completely unaware of our souls and how they impact our lives. David is directing us in this Psalm to start doing soul talk.
We are prone to fear and worry which is stealing our understand of real love. John is opening our eyes to the real truth about perfect love.
This passage can reframe the way you live your life. So many of us are defined by fear of death...but that is not the truest thing about us.
When we talk about the gospel...we are talking about GOOD NEWS. But why is it good news? This passage helps us truly understand the beauty of the cross and Chrsts sacrifice for us.
What a crazy thought...that Sorrow is good. So many of us are avoiding the pain that is all around us, but what if we embrace the sorrow? What could that teach us about depending on the Lord?
This passage puts on display the beauty and sacrifice of the cross...but will we live in light of it? Will we take seriously what Paul is explaining to us?
Relationship with God is a beautiful journey where we make plans and ask God to direct us. But do we love our plans more than we love God?
There is a venom that dwells deep inside of us and it flows from the heart. In this passage, Jesus is going to confront us and call us into a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Have you ever felt like you just can't get ahead? Have you ever felt like the world was against you? Paul is going to refocus us in this passage and help us understand that in Christ we are always winning.
Why do we only ask God to lead us when it's hard? What would it look like to have him Shepherd us daily? These questions are at the heart of Jesus's declaration.
The apostle Paul always cuts to the heart of the matter...and in this passage he really causes us to reflect on who God is and who we are, but will we do that?
It's weird to think about God as our teacher, but that's exactly what David directs us towards. So why do we resist it? Why do we need it? In this episode, we will dig in and learn together.
There are so many passages in the Bible that look good on a coffee mug, but are harder to live out...this passage in Romans is one of them.
I love the book of Ecclesiastes...there is so much wisdom in the way Solomon helps us see our lives and God. This episode exposes why many of us live dull lives.
So often we feel like we don't belong...Paul is showing us who we really are and the family that defines us. In a world that is so divisive, we need to lean in and learn what Jesus' death and resurrection really accomplished.
As we wrap up Psalms 84 David invites us into the courts of God and shows us what are souls are longing for.
God wants to hear our prayers, but so often we lose sight of what it means to pray. We continue to learn from David in Psalm 84.
How do we do this life well? How do we live here on earth? David is directing our hearts on how to have strength to strength.
All of creation is leading us to worship in one direction. As we continue to move forward in our study in Psalm 84, come listen to what the Lord has done.
Our souls desire something so much deeper than just a relationship with God...they desire intimacy. David through his Pslams are helping us understand the language and posture to experience it.
This passage is in our face...it really doesn't allow us to slip by. By why does he call us out? What does he confront us? In this episode we'll talk through it.
Being humble is one of the most difficult things we can do in this life, yet it is the way of life. James 4 guides us to the heart of the Lord and the way to humility.
Do you really understand the love of the Father and how that impacts our lives? This beautiful passage in John helps us grow in our understanding of how vast the love of God is.
Have you ever thought you were bothering God with all your prayer requests? This verse helps us understand how much God desires relationship with us.
So many of us are looking for a kickback from God. In this episode we talk through the word God gave the Prophet Hosa.
We have it all wrong, we normally do. King David is trying to redirect our attention is hard times.
There is a way to find hope, but for so many of us, it's a distant destination. This passage helps us find our way to hope.
Maybe you need to hear that today...you are free in Christ. But what does it look like to actually live that way?
When we really know who God is and who we are...it will crush us. But that crushing can move us to grow in a deeper relationship with him.
I love this passage, and it's impacted me deeply. Do we want the answers from God more than we want God?
We tend to boast a lot...many times we don't even realize it! This passage is directing our attention to what is off in our lives.
You and I have no idea how powerful Christ's YES was. In this episode Pastor Paul helps us understand how important that YES was for us.
This passage is at the core of the gospel (good news message)...we are new! But what does that mean, and how should it impact the way we live.
Do you know what it means to "be in Christ?" The power, love, and self-control that is offered to us as a result of those 3 words. In this episode, I will talk through this!
In times when we don't know what to do, this Psalm makes us very aware of what to do and where to go.
We all have anxieties, and we all struggle. Paul is helping us get a grip on life and understand that we have a loving father who desires peace for us.
Every starlit sky, every sunset is worshipping God the creator...but what does that mean for us? In this episode, we will talk about this reality and how it can impact our lives.
What happens when we choose to go our own way and make our own plans? In this episode we will talk through they why and what of that rebellion.
This is the apostle Paul's beautiful chapter on Love, but we need to learn why love is so important and how it can change everything for us and others.
Free will is a gift with a massive responsibility...What we do with this gift matters. In this episode, I will talk through Joshua's declaration to the Israelites, and to us!
There is real freedom for us, but so many of us have been blinded by the things that keep us in bondage. In this episode, we will talk through what it means to be FREE.
The Psalms do such a good job of helping us connect with God and our humanity. In this episode, we will walk through this beautiful Psalm that has so much for us to understand.
It's crazy how simple passage can be so impactful. Many times we wiz by them without ever slowing down to embrace their power.
This passage is in your face and honest. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves the humility is a journey.
Have you ever wondered if your life matters? In this episode, I will talk through Paul's explanation of our calling in this life.
In this episode, I will talk through truth according to this passage. What you choose to believe and how you get your information is so important.
You need to die...oh man, we don't like to hear that, this is the key to really living! In this episode, we will talk through this epic passage of the faith.
Maybe the reason we're all so worried and anxious is that we don't believe that God sees us and cares for us. In this episode, we will talk about this amazing passage that will help us understand that he truly does care.
Have you ever watched the birds? Jesus is encouraging us to be bird watchers, but why? In this episode, we will talk about what he is trying to help us understand.
Your story is so important, and it's the way that people have heard about Jesus for 2000 years. In this episode, we will go back to the beginning and learn about the disciples and how they saw their story as powerful.
Do you ever feel guilty for asking God "Why?" In this episode, we dig into Jesus's soul groan at the cross and what a liberating difference it can make in our lives.
What do you believe about the Bible? Do you believe that it's an inspirational book or something that is transformational? In this episode, I talk through the angel telling John what to do with scripture.
Why do we fear death? For so many, we are tethered to earth without realizing that Jesus died to bridge the gap from earth into eternity. How should that affect our lives daily?
This passage has been on my heart for a while, it seems to pop up whenever I'm thinking about issues in life. I hope it challenges and encourages you.
How precious it is to see the God of the universe weep. When he weeps we should pay attention! There is so much to be learned from these 2 small words.
I love this passage and it has challenged and guided me over the last few months. Listen to God speak through the prophet Zechariah.
What do you do with a God who waits patiently for us to come home? In this episode, we walk through this declaration to Christians.
When was the last time you truly appreciated all that God has done for you? In this episode, I talk through this amazing exclamation of David.
Do we really understand faith and live by it? In this episode, we dive deep into this thought.
Where we find joy from matters. For most of us, we find our joy in all the wrong things. In this episode, we will look to an Old Testament prophet to help us understand more.
It is mind-blowing that God would come to us. Not only come to us, but he served and died for us. In this episode, we will talk about the importance of this.
There is a beauty in simplicity. In this episode, we talk about Joy, REAL joy and what it means to live this way.
So often we don't perceive what God is doing...in this episode we talk through this amazing passage and learn our responsibility.
Oh man...this passage is so good! Where are your priorities and what does Jesus promise us.
Are we hungry for the right things, or are we filling out souls with all the wrong things?
Oh wow...I really had a great time summarizing Psalms 100 in this episode. He is worthy and we don't have to wait to get to heaven to worship like heaven.
In the next 3 episodes, we will walkthrough Psalms 100 and learn how to be thankful and worship the KING.
What do we do when all of our good deeds amount to nothing in light of a Holy, Holy, God?
The way that the writers of Psalms personalize their/our relationship with God is so beautiful. In this episode, we'll explore that deeper.
We were created to not just be window shoppers as Christian...we are called to be like Jesus and move into the neighborhood.
Our fear problems are really faith problems. In this episode, we dive into the idea of what it means to really trust in the Lord.
This passage is so important for anyone who calls themselves a Christian. What does it look like to be a bridge-builder instead of a bomb-thrower?
There is a struggle in each of us to do the right thing, but our "flesh" gets in the way. What should we do? What does Jesus open our eyes too.
Waiting on the Lord is so difficult for us. We want an instant God to satisfy our every whim. In this episode, we will talk through Psalms 27:14 and learn from King David.
This passage has helped me pay attention to my heart. Discovering the importance of your heart, helps you discover what living life is all about.
Preeminence is a big word with even greater implications as it relates to our relationship with Christ. In this episode we will learn about finding comfort in the consistency of Christ.
Have you ever read a passage over and over and missed the whole point of it...That's what happened to me with Psalms 23:1. Let's learn about this passage all over again.
This passage is a beautiful declaration from John the Baptist of who we are in light of who God is. Once we embrace this...all things will come to a clearer understanding.
John 16:33 is a bench mark passage in the Bible. In the episode we dive into why this passage is SO powerful as it relates to whatever you are going through in this life.
You are loved, and that love that you receive from God is better than life itself...have you ever thought about that? In this episode we dive into who God is and what that should mean to us.
There tends to be a problem for us...we want our burdens to be dealt with, we just don't want to move forward in righteousness. As we work through this passage, we will have to come face to face with ourselves in light of who God is.
"I believe, but help me with my disbelief"- What a beautiful struggle with who God is and what God does. In this podcast we will work through this very human passage and learn together what it means to ask for help.
When's the last time you thought about death? Well in this podcast we talk through death, humility, and what it means to truly be human.
What do you do when life seems to take a left when you wanted to go right? In this episode I'll walk through one of my favorite passages in the Bible.
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This is the introduction podcast that let's you know a little bit about who I am and why I'm doing this podcast.
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