Mission Viejo Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Mike Maiolo
We are a vibrant church where REAL discipleship happens, LOVE is on display, and lives are released ON MISSION for Christ.
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Most of us are familiar with the term “nothing good happens after midnight!” In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul and his companion Silas find themselves in a dark cell with no escape, but at midnight, something happened that changed the lives of those around them as they were listening for God’s voice. The ability to hear from God when He speaks builds a depth in our relationship with Him that often cannot be explained. Are we willing to surround ourselves with Him so we can hear His voice?
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If you had to describe the Devil’s greatest tool against you, what would that be? Would it be the temptation to sin, the enticement to sin, or a distraction from serving God?
Each of these are very real, but there is one that can hinder us from hearing from God, and that is “accusation.” He wants to accuse us of our past failures and sins, which can paralyze us from hearing truth from God.
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What if God shut up the Heavens and did not speak to us at all? He actually did from the end of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament. People back in the day must have longed to live in our day because we now have the opportunity to hear God’s voice. What would happen if we dedicated ourselves to listening to His small voice?
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Most of us desire to hear God’s voice, but how do we do this when there are so many distractions that are competing for our time?
The truth is that we have conversations all day long in our minds, so which voice will be allowed to lead us? The voice you believe will determine your actions.
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The difficulty for many is not believing in Jesus but in actually following Him. Have you ever wondered how it’s possible that the same Spirit who rose Christ from the dead lives in you (Romans 6:10), yet, we still helplessly struggle with our sin?
Knowing the Gospel and being transformed by the Gospel are two different things. Join us today as we journey through Romans 8, exploring the depth of the Gospel that has both the power to save and transform!
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Ever feel like you have been traveling on life’s journey in the wrong direction? In Luke 24, there are two travelers on the 7-mile road to Emmaus (a very small town opposite of where Jerusalem was). In Luke 23, Jesus has died and then rose from the dead. Why would Jesus take time to catch “Cleo” and his companions, who were downcast and discouraged on the road to Emmaus? Jesus meets us where we are, whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley of discouragement.
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Why did Jesus leave Heaven to be born on Earth? Why did He live in poverty? Why would He be rejected and despised by the people He loved? Two words found in Luke 22:20 - “For you!”
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If you are interested in attending a service or finding out more, please visit us at https://mvcchome.org/
If you feel led to support this ministry, then follow this link. https://mvcchome.org/give
All moments are not created equal! Some moments are so powerful and so significant that we feel their impact long after they have passed. These defining moments reveal who we truly are, what we truly value, and who we truly worship. Jesus’ trial was a defining moment for everybody involved. In the most important moment of their lives, the religious leaders, Pilate, Herod, and the crowd all had the chance to do the right thing. In their defining moment...they failed completely.
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This account of the Apostle Peter’s denial of knowing and being associated with Jesus is important because we all have found ourselves in moments of failure. What are the warning signs in our life of moving far away from Jesus? What are the “markers” to know that we can come back? Does God really love me and forgive me?
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Why do I struggle with this? Does being a Christian mean we must suffer? Does loving God mean we won’t suffer? Is there a wrong response to suffering? There are struggles that will hold us back if we allow them, but knowing that Jesus struggled, gives us hope.
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Often when we fail in areas where we are weak, the enemy will lie to us with pressure to believe that things are over. But if we really look at what Jesus said to His disciples at the most important meal He had with them, He knew they would all fail. Jesus says and does something earth-shattering for them.
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Great memories take place over meals. This is a moment Jesus never wanted the twelve disciples to forget. He really “flips the script” of who really is the greatest in His Kingdom. This meal is a look back to the Passover, which was celebrated in the Old Testament, but Jesus wanted them to receive a new meaning. But what are the disciples really thinking?
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If you are interested in attending a service or finding out more, please visit us at https://mvcchome.org/
If you feel led to support this ministry, then follow this link. https://mvcchome.org/give
What is a prodigal? Answer: “One who spends lavishly or foolishly, or one who has returned after an absence.” What is it about this story that Jesus told in Luke 15 about the tale of two sons that captures so much interest? This story is shocking, dangerous, and scandalous – but why?
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Have you ever been really, really lost? The kind of lost where the one single thing you know is that you are in big trouble? Something about being lost makes us willing to receive the help we might otherwise reject. Unfortunately, there is also something about being found that can lead to some truly troubling tendencies. It may be counterintuitive, but Jesus continues showing up with those who are lost and know it. And He has some challenging words for those who are lost but think they are found.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor who wrote the famous book: “The Cost of Discipleship,” also wrote this famous quote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” How popular is that quote in our day and age? What did Jesus really mean when He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me”? What would life be like if we were all in?
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Ever wonder why it takes a while for some people to come to know God?
We think, “What could be more important than knowing God and securing our eternity with him?” Jesus gives a wonderful story that a relationship with God is for everyone, but not everyone will come on our time. So what are we to do?
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No matter what the circumstances are, a sporting event, theatre, or any gathering, we tend to want the better seat than what we were given. Our human nature is to self-promote. Jesus addresses His followers about the attitude of pride vs. humility. So, where would Jesus park His car, or where would He sit at a gathering? How might things change if our attitude and action were, “I’ll take the seat in the back, on the side or alone.”? So – who will decide to go first?
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How will society change? The answer is: one heart change at a time. What would happen if each of us who claimed to be Christ-followers really decided to live out God’s kingdom principles on earth? Jesus shows mercy to a man who was sick right in the middle of His accusers. Now He challenges us to go and do likewise.
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What if we who have received Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives really lived out the kingdom principles that Jesus taught? Can you imagine a community of people who dared to live out what Jesus taught without any reservation? The road to living it out is not easy, as it is a narrow door.
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How do we get ourselves out of a negative cycle? When we’re tired, feeling spiritually attacked, and disconnected, how do we get out of that? What do we do when we feel disconnected from God? Today we will find hope in being affirmed in our identity as sons and daughters of God. Jesus’ whole purpose was to bring the kingdom of God and explain to us what the kingdom of God is like. Are you ready to take the next step in experiencing the kingdom of God like never before?
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Have you ever wondered, “Does God really care about me and what I am going through?” A woman who met Jesus was afflicted for 18 years, and what we will see will be astounding! This account of a woman’s pain was replaced through the praise of God!
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With much tragedy and trouble in our world, the question that’s looming out there is, “Is God punishing people for disobedience today?” Jesus teaches directly about this issue, and the answer might surprise many!
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The reality is that you cannot hear about Jesus Christ and remain the same. He draws a line in the sand. Either we can cross the line and receive salvation or stay where we are and face judgment. The remarkable aspect of God is that He gave us the right to choose.
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Everyone, regardless of their belief in God, wants to know how it will all end. Countless movies, books, and articles have told the story of the end of the world. Jesus spoke and taught intensely about this throughout the Word, but more than being aware of the signs of the end, it’s more about “pre-paring!”
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Does any of this sound familiar? “I am worried about who I will marry, where I will live, will I get sick, will I be happy in my life, or will my kids make wise choices in their life?” Jesus gave some helpful help for all of us about worry.
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What is it about the phrase “enough is never enough” that we don’t like? Someone once said, “Greed is the bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to this issue and wants us to choose – what will we do?
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What was it about Jesus that thousands of people came out to follow Him, but at the end of the day, only a handful were truly dedicated? Jesus spoke truth, and He called for honor, obedience and commitment.
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Have you ever thought you knew exactly what was going on, only to be blindsided by the reality that you didn’t have a clue? The religious leaders confronting Jesus thought they knew everything about the way God worked, but Jesus showed them just how wrong they were. He called them out and described how their focus on the wrong things left them spiritually impaired.
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Jesus confronts those who are challenging Him to provide a ‘sign’ and prove Himself. But God prefers faith to proof, and Jesus points to two Old Testament examples who responded to the ‘sign’ in front of them with faith.
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Every one of us has choices to make each day, and some of those choices are more important than others. Which are the most important, and how do I hear from God about those choices?
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There are some days that prayer seems like a daunting task, and then there are other days that prayer seems so easy. How do you speak to the creator of the universe? Isn’t it interesting that out of all the things the disciples could have asked the Lord, they said, “teach us to pray!”
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Living a life of balance can be tough in our current society. Things are moving so fast that it is often difficult to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Where is that place of stillness with God in His presence to be found?
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When we encounter people who might be hurting, our response may be, "It's not my problem, or I don't have the time to get involved, or I don't want to, or someone else should..." In this familiar passage, two people saw "inconvenience," and one saw "invitation." What will we do?
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Have you ever wondered why there is so much evil in the world and why it seems to have “ramped up” in the last few years, which leads to the question, how can we make a difference to advance God’s love? The answer is one heart change at a time, and Jesus gives us the “how to.”
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There it sits, right in the center of God’s Top Ten list. The 5th commandment: Honor your father and mother. On Father’s Day, while we pause to appreciate the profound ways that dads impact their kids and shape our destinies, we consider the weight of this 5th commandment. What does it mean? How do we do it? What if my dad doesn’t really deserve it? We’re taking God’s Word seriously, and we’re taking the 5th.
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For a lot of us, we love comfort in life, but it might be an obstacle to following the Lord. So how can we be at peace with letting go of the world's comfort and taking the "road less traveled" in following Jesus?
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God told us He would always be with us, but sometimes we need a fresh revealing of His “active presence.” Where will He come, how will He come, what will we do? Will, we be listening, ready to act?
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If someone asked you “who is Jesus”? How would you respond? Much of the world acknowledges Jesus as a great man, but not as the Son of God raised from the dead. Jesus shows us today there is a difference in asking the question: “who is Jesus” and “who is Jesus to you”. You can proclaim Jesus as LORD, but have you truly made Him the LORD of your life? Anyone can be a fan of Jesus, but have you made the commitment to be a follower of Jesus?
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Have you ever had thoughts like, “God, this is not the life I expected, or this is not the marriage, the income, the problems with my children, or I thought I would have been further along by now?” God is our Father who wants to bring blessing, but the invitation into that blessing may be different than our expectation.
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Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel lost, lack peace, in constant turmoil, or fear? The wonderful thing is that God’s Word has answers. Often, it’s not only about having a plan, but it’s about knowing the “God-man” who has the power!
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Have you ever wondered what God’s will is for your life? God has laid out His will for each of us within His word, and he wants to reveal it to us. Are we willing to listen?
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Have you ever wondered why certain people you know and care about seem to have difficulty with receiving the good news of God in their lives? Sometimes looking through the correct window can bring clarity to the truth. This passage gives insight into why some people choose to receive while others reject God’s offer of “life.”
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Have you ever struggled knowing how to show your appreciation to God for all the forgiveness He has given you? Or, on the flip side, are you able to express your appreciation to God when things are not going your way? God gives us a wonderful illustration of how to apply this principle of appreciation for Him.
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We all have expectations about certain things in life. What happens when our expectations do not meet up with God’s exceeding expectations? Living in expectation can become exciting when we align ourselves with God’s purpose.
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Have you ever given your plans to God and then asked Him to do what you thought He should do? It’s easy for doubt to creep in when we have unmet expectations. God, however, has given us great examples of ordinary people in the Bible who doubted His existence or plan and yet led to a strengthening of their faith.
What do we look for when we are facing uncertain times? Most of us look to God to fix the problem first. So, what’s the first thing you seek when you’re in this situation? In this passage, we see a man facing a big problem and finding much more than he was looking for.
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That bad habit. Those sudden bursts of anger. Those unquenchable desires. Those secret sins. We all have them, and we all know God wants to set us free from them. So why isn’t it happening? Why can’t I seem to change from who I am into who God wants me to be? In this passage, Jesus presents us with two different images that show us how God works to transform His people from the inside out.
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Where are your scars? Everyone has them, and when they come from people close to you who have intended to bring you harm, it hurts even more. When God calls you to love people who have hurt you, turned on you, or set out to destroy you, He knew it wouldn’t be easy. So how do we love those that are the hardest to love?
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We are always hearing people say how “blessed” they are. In fact, #blessed has 141 million posts on Instagram! All of us want God’s blessing in our lives. In this passage, Jesus is going to speak directly to his disciples and flip their perspective upside down about who the blessed really are.
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Ever feel stuck in your faith journey and need to make changes to get to the next level? Jesus came to earth to complete the work the Father had begun in the Old Testament. The Old Testament was based on "law," but Jesus came to bring something completely new – grace in the New Testament! Now He wants to use you to turn the world "Upside Down."
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Have you ever thought to yourself, “They will never give their heart to Christ… they are just too far gone?” The truth is, no one is outside of God’s reach. God may need to bring an interruption in our lives in order to teach us this truth and inspire us to reach out. Will we be ready?
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Life’s interruptions can become one of God’s greatest opportunities to work in our lives, but we often see those interruptions as a distraction. What results is a missed opportunity to see God working His purpose in our lives. Are we willing to readjust when He interrupts us?
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God calls us to be life-changers in the lives of others for Him, but it may take an interruption to bring change in us first. It is no secret that God’s mission is to save the world, and the exciting thing is that He wants us to partner with Him. So, what are you willing to experience (change) in order to be used by God to help someone else change?
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Clash of Kings: Daniel 10, 11, 12 We all have that thing in our lives that makes us feel unclean, dirty. Something we’ve done or something that’s been done to us that we feel like we can’t get rid of. No matter what we do, it just seems like we can’t get clean, we can’t restore ourselves to the way we used to be. And this feeling can be compounded by the church as it makes us more aware of our uncleanness. This leaves us with the question, how can I ever be clean again?
Clash of Kings
Daniel 8
God’s plan has always been simple from the beginning: to redeem mankind through His lovingkindness. Since the fall of man, there have been kingdoms in conflict, and now we choose which king and kingdom we will serve. Throughout the book of Daniel, it would seem that God abandoned His people, but He never did. In this chapter, God gives Daniel a vision of the future so they would know that God would never abandon them.
Prophecy and history remind us of four world empires that attempted to take over the world. God gave this dream to Daniel identifying that these empires would rise: Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, and Roman, but God is greater than all these.
Acts 2:42-47
God created us for “extraordinary,” but to live life this way, there is a cost. The cost is to give up the “ordinary” and follow the one who created you! The first “Christ-followers” in the Bible, were so devoted to the things of God, that their lives were nothing but extraordinary.
There will always be external pressures that bring chaos in our lives, whether it be pressure to perform a certain way, financial issues or relational problems. But when the pressure comes from others who persecute us because of our faith in Jesus, we must develop a firm commitment to the Word of God to sustain us. Then and only then, will we see order in chaos, use in the useless, and good in the bad. God instilled this strong devotion to the Word in the early believers, because He knew that persecution would be coming. We need to be equally devoted to the Word.