PJ's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Pastor Jorge Romero
Jesus is not simply another prophet, or another great teacher. No, Jesus sits like a King on his throne and we approach him like subjects in a royal court. And now He is asking us, can I be king of your heart? Will you trust me with your life? If you do, you are the salt of the earth… now go and give it some flavor.
Jesus asked the disciples a simple question, "who do you say I am?". Their answer would have a direct impact on how they would face trials in this world after Jesus' departure.
In every season there is something to be done. God has given us a mission and this mission is to be pursued even in times of waiting.
We all have felt distant from God at some point in life. Jesus knew his disciples would feel this disconnect after his departure. In John 17, Jesus prayed for their protection as they remained in this world. Protection by His name, by His word, and by living with an assignment.
“I don’t go to church, because the church is full of hypocrites.” It’s one of the biggest hurdles that keeps people from church, and one that people use to keep their distance from God. But the truth is that hypocrisy is more than a barrier when it comes to faith. It’s something we all deal with every day. Jesus rebukes religion done merely for the sake of appearance. Pure religion serves God and others out of humility.
Religion is worthless unless it is accompanied by holy living as a result of loving God. There is a religion, a system of belief and practice, which is pure in God’s eyes: believing His Word and obeying it.
This series explores characters from the Bible who experienced seasons of transition—the “in-between” trials of life. Many men of God in the OT and the disciples all experienced times of frustration, pain, suffering, and difficult questions. We too experience these seasons of transition, and it’s vital that we rely on God when life gets tough.
In the pursuit of happiness, we all at one point in our lives realize that God is the only one who can give us true joy. But in order to be found by God's love, there are obstacles to overcome and opportunities to embrace.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. -1 Corinthians 10:13
Paul adviced young Timothy to persevere always relying on God's word as the source of his strength and also reminded him that fighting the good fight is about learning to walk in the tension between good and bad times as we wait for Christ's return.
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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
Many people struggle to find their calling in life. A simple way to find out your calling is to obey the very first calling of every believer; a call to follow. Jesus will do the rest when we commit to follow Him.
2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Exodus 3:11-12 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Joshua 24:14-15 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 7:19-21 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
Joshua 6:1-2 es of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. [2] Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
Joshua 5:13-15 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[e] have for his servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.
In this message, Pastor Jorge talks about the hope we have in Christ. A hope that is grounded in facts and truth and not wishful thinking. Hope that is not grounded in truth will always bring disappointment, but hope in Christ will never disappoint.
Mark 14:35-36 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. [36] “Abba , Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” [23] Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
Mark 14:22-23 NIV
Mark 10:33-34 33“We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Mark 10:21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Mark 12:29-31 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.e 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.