Ignite City Church Bible Reading Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brian Holland
The Ignite City Podcast is a podcast for Ignite City Church that is mostly designed around the Bible reading plan for the church community.
Do you ever feel like God isn't listening? Do you ever feel like when you cry out to him in your times of need, he won't respond? We will look at this topic in this episode as we look at Job 9.16.
Do you ever feel like you're talking to yourself when you pray? Do you ever feel like God isn't listening when you cry out to him or notice the tears you shed during those difficult seasons? Brian takes us through a few verses in 2 Kings 20 to help remind us of what God is doing when we pray.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55.8-9 (ESV)
If you've spent any time in a church community, you've likely heard or read this passage before. And our automatic application is that God is so far above us, being nothing like us and therefore holy. And while this passage can be applied in this way, and God is holy, the context of this passage brings it to life even more.
It's a beautiful reminder that God's nothing like us!
Our faith is supposed to progress. In other words, we are called to go deeper and grow as followers of Jesus. But did you also know that we are invited to grow in the joy of our faith as well? We look at that in this episode as we look at Philippians 1.21-27, especially looking at verse 25.
Maybe one of God's best gifts to lead us toward forgiveness and patience with one another is to remind us of our own sinfulness. That's what Brian is bringing up as we look at Micah 7.18-20 and 2 Chronicles 28.10.
Jezebel ordered the killing of another human being by writing a letter in the name of the king and sealing it with his signet ring. And she did this simply because this man would not sell his family inheritance, his vineyard, to King Ahab.
But are we guilty of this same thing when it comes to Jesus? What do we do or say in the name of King Jesus that he has nothing to do with?
If we've been changed by Jesus, why do we still struggle with sin? If we confess or sin, why do we still feel condemned because of our sin?
Do we protect our minds with all vigilance or do we become slack in that area of our growth? Proverbs 4.23 gives us a much needed reminder of the importance of why it is so important to protect ourselves.
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Are we guilty of running in circles? There are a lot of issues that our world faces that need to be addressed. But is facing each of them individually the best way to go about it? Acts 19 sheds some light on this.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
To seek the things of Jesus first, the benefits that come from our relationship with him, is to be out of order. Rather, our first desire should be to seek Jesus himself. This episode is an opportunity for me to share with you what I believe God graciously convicted me of this morming and the beauty that comes with confession and repentance. Oh the beauty of seeking Jesus. I pray that this is helpful to you. Love you all more than you know. - Brian
Every day we have a choice about how we will spend our time. We have a choice about what we will listen to or watch or look at. We have a choice with every single second of our lives to do things that are actually beneficial or things that are pointless.
For a few minutes let's look at Psalm 101.1-3a to find out what God's word says about this topic.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe." - Deuteronomy 10.17 (ESV)
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Matthew 4.1-12
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Job 19.25-27
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Job 19.2
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Here are the two questions:
- "Who do you say about yourself?"
- "What are you seeking?"
I would love to hear your thoughts and answers to these questions. Please feel free to send them my way (brian@ignitecity.church).
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
It is so easy for us to expect God to accept us for who we are while never expecting that he would call us to live differently. Are our sacrifices that we say are for God actually for him or for us? Sacrifices presented to God are to be according to what's acceptable to him, not what is preferable to us.
Social media is here to stay. Media, in all forms, is not going anywhere. Videos. Podcasts. Books. Blog posts. News. Music. TV + Movies. So the question has to be asked and answered: who are you listening to? We all have our favorite personalities who speak the things that we all like to hear. And we tune in and watch/listen/read everything that they have to say. This can be said of preachers and pastors as well. We are quick to quote specific preachers before actually quoting the Scriptures themselves. So what if we started with Scripture? What if we listened to God on a daily basis from the pages of his word so that we would live lives that truly honor him above all?
In today's podcast episode, we look at 1 John 4.5 and a couple of passages from two of Paul's letters (2 Timothy + Romans). We are all a work in progress. May we approach each other with humility and teachability, desiring to come to the truth of God.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Knowing our identity in Jesus is so crucial. When we walk an a true belief and understanding about the identity that is our because of what Jesus did for us, we are brought to a place of freedom. True freedom. Not the kind of freedom that says I can do whatever I want. That idea of freedom lived out to an extreme brings about anarchy. Rather, the freedom that means I can do whatever God wants. And there's something beautiful about this as we look together at 1 Peter 2:9.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
What if our following Jesus is not just about ours now and how Jesus impacts us today? What if we had the same type of eternal perspective that the prophets in the Old Testament did about what God had called them to do? Maybe we would do things a little differently.
We jump into that as Brian takes us through 1 Peter 1, especially verse twelve.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Do we look any different than anyone else? As followers of Jesus, have we adopted the same tactics as everyone else who don't know Jesus that we and the gospel message get missed because all that people can hear and see is us?
We take a quick look at 2 Timothy 2.24-25 today.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
How we picture Jesus when we are tempted will determine what we do when we are tempted. What a beautiful picture is painted by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 2.18.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
What do we do when everything seems out of control? That is what we are looking at in this episode.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Here are a few thoughts from Brian from our reading of Acts 20 from this week's Bible reading plan. Two topics came to mind as he was reading:
- Encouragement
- Flexibility
What if we, as followers of Jesus, were known for how we encourage? Also, what would it look for us to be flexible when God's plans are different than our own? Those are the two things we are looking at together in this episode.
If you were told to go and stand boldly in front of thousands of people and tell them about this life that you have in and because of Jesus, what would you say? What would you try to convey as part of this life? We take a look at that in this episode as we focus on Acts 5:20.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
What did the resurrection of Jesus bring? Joy. It brought a sense of joy while trying to figure out if Jesus was really alive in the flesh. It brought about joy that was seen in people running to tell others of "the impossible." It brought about joy in worshiping at the feet of Jesus right before his ascension and daily in the temple courts after it.
The concept of joy is what we are looking at today in this episode of our Ignite City Church podcast as we look at parts of Luke 24 and Acts 2.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
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The word of God.
This is something that we at Ignite City Church hold to deeply. Our core beliefs statement about the Scriptures says this:
We believe that the Bible, consisting of both the Old and New Testaments, is the very God-breathed inerrant word of God and is the final authority that we base our lives on. We believe the Bible, from cover to cover, is the beautiful story of the Gospel, telling us about Jesus and the life that he offers. As we walk with and abide in Jesus, through regular time spent with him reading His word, the Holy Spirit reveals his heart + will for us.
Brian often tells us that we cannot know the will of God if we are not in the word of God. But there's something so much deeper to us being in God's word that has less to do with simply knowing what God wants us to do and more about who God is.
In this episode, Brian shares a couple of minutes of reminders about the Bible and then shares a spoken word by Jackie Hill about the word of God. We pray that you're blessed as you listen and as you spend time with Jesus in his word.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
When we focus on "mine," it's then that we aren't focused on what actually belongs to Jesus. When we focus on only getting things done that we want to be done instead of obeying Jesus and getting things done that he wants done, it's then we oppose Jesus. Are we proponents or opponents of Jesus? We will take a look at that this morning as we focus on John 11.48.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
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Here's a really quick podcast from Brian describing how Jesus made him apply this statement from Luke 12:35, "Be Ready for Service," in a very practical way this morning.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." - Jesus
He said these words. He had the nerve to tell us not to do things to be known or noticed. Have you ever wondered what Jesus might say to us concerning our need for social media? Would he consider it all bad? Would he consider it useful but in need of boundaries? Would he be taking selfies just as much as we are?
If you're a follower of Jesus, why do you follow him? When you serve him, what is your greatest hope? We will look at these things as we go through Matthew 6 together.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Have you ever been really desperate? Have you hit that place where you don't know what to do and you find yourself crying out to God? If so, do you make audacious statements of facts or polite requests?
We will look at that topic today as Brian takes us through Mark 1:40-41.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Isaiah 53:10 - “Yet the LORD was pleased to crush him severely.” (CSB)
Wait! It pleased God to crush Jesus severely? How can this be true? “Pleased” and “crush” seem like two words that can never be put together into one sentence without telling a horrible story. And yet the gospel uses these two words to convey a beautiful and powerful truth. They remind us of a story about God’s amazing grace.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
How do we make sense of everything that's going on? Wars. Mass shootings. Violence. Racism. Pandemics. Hatred. Poverty. Homelessness. Sickness. Death.
How do we make sense of it? And here's the thing: I'm not sure that we can. But we can find hope in the midst of everything going on in the fact that God is still good. And some who read this while looking at the world may wonder how can God still be good in the midst of everything going on? And that's such a fair question. But Psalm 73 brings us up close to someone who had the same frustrations when he looked at everything going on around him who then was comforted when he actually went to God with everything he was feeling. May we do the same as we try to make sense of things. And as we do, we just may receive the hope for today that we need.
When we think of the book of Proverbs we think of wisdom. As we should. But what if the fullness of Proverbs is fully understood when we see that Jesus is wisdom. We look at Proverbs 16:6 today and see Jesus fulfilling what he came to do and what our response should be. Once again the Bible leaves us speechless as we encounter Christ and his cross.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Have you arrived? I know it's kind of a vague question but I think it's so important to slow down and answer it. Have you arrived? In your marriage? Career? Education? Parenting? Relationships and friendships? Your walk with God? I was confronted with this question this morning as I spent time with the Lord in 1 Kings 3 + 6. In today's podcast episode we're gonna chat about why it's so important to never truly arrive but rather stay in a place of arriving. This does not mean that we live with the belief that truth is relative or changing. I don't believe that at all. I believe truth is truth and that Jesus, who declared himself to be the truth, has revealed his truth to us through his word. But it's more about my perspective on where I am and what I'm doing being impacted in positive ways by what God reveals as truth. To know that we're on a journey rather than having finished it will keep us teachable and humble to receive God's truth.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
When you look up in the night sky, what do you hear? Yes, hear. I know that we usually only pay attention to what we see (as we should). But according to the Bible, the heavens are declaring the glories of God. The heavens speak in a universal language that can be heard and understood by everyone on planet earth who has a sense of sight. But then I asked the question, "Do we?" Do we as followers of Jesus "declare" well the glories of God? And so that led to the topic of living out our faith according to truth and then what truth is how does one find it, and... well, you get it.
So we will look at the topic of God's glory as well as us bringing God glory through how we live according to what's true.
Also, in this episode, I mentioned an article that I found recently. Here's the link for it. Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts about truth, especially if you disagree. You can email me at brian@ignitecity.church. I would love to start a helpful and respectful discussion with you if you're interested.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"Fear is a reaction; courage is a decision." We have a decision to make when fear invites itself into our lives. And so are reminded over and over throughout the Bible, "Don't be afraid." So we pray for boldness and courage. But what if we actually need courage to pray? We know that statement seems outside of what we are used to thinking when we think of prayer. The beauty of prayer is that we can come to God whenever we want with whatever want. But maybe there's something that we're lacking when it comes to praying in a manner worthy of who God is. We will look at this in today's episode of our Ignite City Podcast from 2 Samuel 7:25-29.
ALSO, If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Do you see others with the position of leadership that you wish that you had and therefore believe that you aren't really a leader? Have you been tempted to lead others at the expense of caring for those that you lead?
We will look at these things in today's episode of our podcast as we look at a couple more things about leadership.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Have you noticed the number of resources available on the topic of leadership today? Podcasts. YouTube videos. Books. Seminars. TedTalks. Conferences. We are a culture that is consumed with the topic of leadership. Why? Because I believe everyone wants either to be a leader that people are willing to follow or want to follow leaders who are worth following.
In this podcast episode, I share some things that stood out to me on the topic of leadership when I read through 1 Samuel 22. But please hear me: I'm not speaking as one who has arrived and is the leader of all leaders. Rather, I'm sharing my thoughts on the topic of leadership as one who is still very much in-process and desiring to grow as a leader, but the kind of leader that Jesus calls us to be. I pray that this is helpful to you.
Love you more than you know,
Brian
PS...
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Are you guilty? Have you taken something or something and replaced God with that thing or person? Have you given someone else the place in your life that only God is able to fill and handle? We will look at that in today's podcast episode as we look at 1 Samuel 17:25.
Also, If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Are you trading God's best for trinkets? Are you settling for the momentary experience when God wants to give you lasting fulfillment? That's what we are looking at in this episode of the Ignite City Bible Reading Podcast.
ALSO...
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
So often we can approach people and automatically jump to the conclusion that God is about us and against those that we are against. But what if it's not like that at all? Imagine hearing God tell you, "I'm not about your side. In fact, you're supposed to be about me and mine." This doesn't mean that God isn't for us (see Romans 8:31) because he is. He loves us and is not against us. But he is not about our side as we stand against others.
Brian shares some things from his time in Joshua 5:13-14 (and please forgive him when he says Joshua 4 at the beginning of the podcast) and this topic of God not being about our sides as well as a couple of other things that popped into his mind while he was spending time with Jesus this morning.
ALSO...
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Have you experienced a season that feels like you're walking through a wilderness? Are you in one now? If so, why do we go through them? Did we do something wrong? Are we just not good at being Christian?
Join Brian in this episode as he looks at Deuteronomy 8 and unpacks the good purpose that comes with walking with Jesus through the wilderness.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan with Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Complaining seems to be a normal part of life - a form of self-expression or venting that we deem necessary for our health. And if not for that, we deem it our right to share whatever we want whenever we want. But is it right to complain? Is it necessary? Is it helpful? Is there a better way?
In this episode, we look at the topic of complaining from the perspective of Numbers 11:1-3.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
When we read Leviticus 26 we see God promise blessings to the people of Israel if they would obey his commandments. However, he also promises discipline if they decide to disobey his commandments. So is God just an angry God who looks for opportunities to punish people, or is there something much deeper and more meaningful behind it? We will look at that in today's episode.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Do you find yourself asking God to bless where you're going more than asking God to lead where he wants you to go? We will be looking at that in this episode of the podcast as we look at the final verses of Exodus 40.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
In Exodus 28-29 we see God making all of these requirements when it comes to priestly garments and the consecration of the priests so that they could serve before him. But why did he put all of these things in place? Was it so that we had a religion that we could follow, having priests and special robes and traditions that made us religious? I don't think so. I think there is something so much more in these things which God explained at the end of Exodus 29.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Exodus 25:9 | "You must make it according to all that I show you..."
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Exodus 20:18 | All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, 'The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.'" - Exodus 13:17 (CSB)
When you feel like things are taking longer than they should,
When you feel like you're going in the wrong direction,
When you feel like you know a quicker and shorter route in this walk with God, slow down and seek the Lord in prayer. Keep in mind that God's long way is always the best way. He knows what he is doing and the why behind every decision that he makes. He knows what is best for us more than we know what's best for us. It comes down to trust. Do you trust him? Do I? Thank goodness that Jesus is with us to help up is in the process of walking by faith with him.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembly of the community of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight." - Exodus 12:6 (CSB)
The word "slaughter" is such a dark word. There's a sense of finality and destruction when it's used. And yet, when we look at the word and connect it to Isaiah 53:7 and John 10:18, we are reminded of the limitless and unapologetic love of Jesus.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
If someone asked you how old you were, what would you say? Some love that question while others loathe it. But most of the time I would guess that we all simply say, "I'm ______" and then say our age. But what if we answered it a different way? What if we actually thought of our age as connected to the quality of our days instead of simply the length of them. What if we saw our lives as a pilgrimage? That's what we will look at in this podcast episode. And Brian would love to hear your thoughts on this if you have time. Just email him brian@ignitecity.church.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
What does God do during our times of affliction? Can anything good come out of those seasons that are so difficult? We are going to be looking at that and a few other things as we look at Genesis 41.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"Surely the LORD is in the place, and I did not know it." - Genesis 28:16
Do we rely on the experience of God's presence to know that he's with us or do we trust him when he says that he won't leave us? Is there a problem with wanting to experience his presence? We look at these things as well as why it's so important to BE SURE that we know that God is in this place, even when we aren't aware of it.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Genesis 22 is the passage where God calls Abraham to offer Isaac to him as an offering. And the thing is that Abraham actually obeys to the point of offering Isaac. What can we learn from this difficult passage today? Was God asking too much? Is God heartless? If we look at only part of this passage it does come across that way. But when we read the whole chapter and then read this chapter in light of the rest of Scripture, it opens up to yet another beautiful act of love and grace done on our behalf by God.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Has God made you laugh? If so, have you checked why? What was the motivation for your laughter? Was it because you didn't believe he could come through? Was it because you were so overwhelmed by what he did when he did come through? Was it both? We look at this in this episode and we look at one part of one verse in Genesis 21:6.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
Do you realize that God's send us out is actually God's inviting us with? We will look at that today as we take a quick look at God's call on Abram in Genesis 12:1-3.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2 (CSB)
Do we really believe this? And do we find the comfort that comes from this statement? It is amazing how this statement can be said from two different circumstances and yet bring us back to the same comfort that comes with believing God's word.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
"He was a man of complete integrity, who fear God and turned away from evil."
This is how Job is described. And his integrity is the topic of conversation throughout the first two chapters of Job. And yet this is what Satan wants to attack the most. We take a look at this in this episode as well as a challenge to never be the mouthpiece of the devil in anyone's life.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
It is so important that we never settle for a fake version of what God has the blueprints to for the original version. An example today: wisdom. We are going to dive into The Fall, that day when everything changed because a man and woman were deceived and rebelled against God's instructions, settling for a fake version of wisdom--something that actually belongs to God.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
According to Genesis 1 + 2, God created the heavens and the earth in six days. And before anyone jumps into the debate of "old earth" or "new earth," let's just pause and reflect on what God as the Eternal Creator means for us and how that truth can cause us to love him more and to walk with him in trust and humility.
If you're not part of the Bible reading plan for Ignite City Church but would like to be, click here and fill out our connect card for Ignite City Church and choose "Please add me to the Bible reading plan on Google Calendar" at the bottom of the form.
And to check out everything about the Ignite City Church community, check out our website.
A quick look at 2 Timothy 1:6-12. Read it before listening to this episode and then read it after. What a powerful passage of Scripture.
Faith. We are called to live by faith. How's your faith? Is the life that you live by faith the type of faith that will impact generations after you're gone? Does it cause you to look forward in hope? Let's look at parts of Hebrews 11 as Brian takes us through some of the key statements that stood out to him in his time alone with Jesus today.
God cares for you. Have you heard that before? Maybe you need to be reminded of the beauty of this truth as we look at Hebrews 2:6 in today's episode of Five Minutes.
If people asked you to share about your faith in Jesus, what would you say? Would they be happy? Afraid? Joyful? Worried? We look at that today as we take a quick look at Acts 24:25. And Brian apologizes: he went about 7 minutes. :)
"...you do not sustain the root, but the root sustains you." - Romans 11:18
What did Paul mean by this? What's so important about that word sustain? Let's spend the next five minutes looking into this verse.
Are you humble? Even answering that question makes us feel like we aren't. And yet, the Bible calls us to live lives of humility. In today's podcast we look at this topic of humility from Paul's 2 letter to the Christians in Corinth.
KEY PASSAGE: 2 Corinthians 11:7
Our momentary light affliction? Does Paul not get how life really works? Let's take five minutes to look at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 as we look at what Paul actually meant by this. And if anyone understands how tough life can be, read what he went through in 2 Corinthians 11:24-29.
In this eight-minute podcast (sorry that Brian missed it by three minutes), we look at the topic of Christianity liberty found in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. What does it look like? What should we do with it? We look at that today.
"Cancel Culture" today doesn't leave room for and chance of a redemptive story. And, honestly, many people who claim to be followers of Jesus act the same way. It shouldn't be this way.
We look at Galatians 1 in this episode as we hear from one of the greatest opponents of the early church who became one of its greatest champions.
Seeing people get saved? Makin disciples? Are these two phrases that mean the same thing when we say them? Let's look at Acts 14:19-22 together as we look at that and a couple of other things.
Stephen was doing incredible things by the power of the Holy Spirit in him. But then opposition came. And that opposition got more to join their cause through stirring up the crowd.
Christians: we are supposed to be different. We are not allowed to be stirred by an crowd with an agenda but rather we are to be moved forward by faith after the cause that Jesus has set before us. We will look at that today in today's podcast.
Christian: are you moving forward in the divisive topics that face us today in faith or defiance? Is there a time to stand in defiance by faith? To submit at other times by that same faith? We look at this together as we talk through Hebrews 11:6.
ETERNAL LIFE? What is it? Is it just the idea that we will live forever in heaven? Take five minutes as we look at John 17:3 today to see what it is that Jesus says about it.
Jesus made this statement to his disciples in John 14:19, "Because I live, you also will live." What did he mean? What's the key to this life? Let's look together at in the episode of Five Minutes.
Brian takes us through a quick look at Matthew 8:5-13 and challenges us to live a life that causes Jesus to marvel.
Are you content with THIRD place? Do you believe that you can be used by God in great ways? Some of the greatest works of God have been done by those who come from third place.
Six things that stood out from Isaiah 44:21-22. Some amazing things to take from these two verses.
What is the key to seeing God do the same kinds of things that we read about in the Bible? We look at that topic as Brian opens up 1 Kings 18.
How important is God's word? Psalm 19:7-11 says so much about the beauty and the benefits of God's word.
Have you read the Bible? If so, do you continue to do so? Listen for the next five minutes about why it's so important to make time with Jesus in the word a priority for the rest of your life.
Purpose Claremont: we need to humble ourselves and pray for our nation. Here's a reminder and call to prayer from Brian for today.
The Psalms are God's songs reminding us that we can be real and raw before him. Take five minutes as we look through the first five verses of Psalm 22.
Did you know that Christ is for the rag-tag ragamuffins of society? The distressed? Those in debt? The bitter in soul? And that message is AMAZING! Maybe you look at that list and think, "This doesn't describe me." Let me be the first one to welcome into the truth that yes it does. And when you can truly accept that fact, everything changes because then you meet Jesus.
Passage: 1 Samuel 22:2
Here's another Five Minutes episode with a little extra at the end. We're looking at Deuteronomy 30 combined with Philippians 1:21, trying to come to grips with what it means to have God be our life. Brian shares for five minutes and then there is another five minutes of listening to his cousin, Megan Marshman, as she describes to those who were in attendance at the memorial service of her husband Randy, the process of figuring out, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain," after the loss of her husband a little over a month ago.
Remember when God wouldn't let Moses go into the Promised Land because he smacked a rock with his staff? Well, there's a little bit more to it than that. Listen to this episode as we dive into Number 20:2-12.
LEVITICUS 26:1-2 + Leviticus 26:11-12
Question: Why do you obey God? What is at the core of the motivation that drives you to obey God?
Question: Do you know where God's favorite place to be is?
We look at both of these questions from both of these passages in this episode.
We are all called to be part of what God is doing, but in that we need to remember that he gives us everything necessary to do his part. And as we do what he calls us to do, we do with grateful and generous hearts.
Our response to God when he reveals more of himself to us should be worship, no matter what he reveals about himself.
Worshiping and serving God with the skill that he provides. The heart behind the sacrifices and offerings set up in the Old Testament. Today's reading in Exodus 28-29 is full of some good stuff.
Here's a quick 2-minute podcast of something that stood out to me when I read Exodus 16:4 last week.
Our perspective is changed concerning our sufferings when Jesus has brought us through. And God is faithful in the middle of them so that our perspectives are changed. A look at Genesis 41:51-52.
Here's a message that was preached at our Tuesday noon study through the book of Acts. Brian felt like it was important to share here. Acts 12:6-19
A quick look at Genesis 3:1 as we look at the tactics of the Enemy and why it's so important to spend time with Jesus in the Bible.
Purpose Claremont... I Just wanted to share how much I love you and how thankful I am for you. You all came to my mind this morning as I spent time with Jesus in 1 Thessalonians 3.
A look at 2 Chronicles 6:41 and 1 Peter 2:9 as we see who God has made us to be and what he has called us to do.
Are you a leader without the position or title? Do you wonder what kind of influence you have if you don't have the corner office or the position that tells others that you're in charge? If so, you'll want to listen to this podcast as Brian talks about how influence outweighs position and title according to 1 Chronicles 11:1-2.
Are you convinced about Jesus because of someone else or because of you and Jesus? We look at that in this episode.
What do we do with God when we get to those passages that seem like he's brutal? Let's look at that as we dive into Deuteronomy 7.
We are called to present a certain kind of offering and sacrifice to God. Are we doing this as followers of Jesus?
What comes to your mind when you hear that you are a co-worker with God? We are looking at that todat as we look at 1 Thessalonians 3:2.
What should we as followers of Jesus be doing during all that is happening around us? I believe that Colossians 4:2-6 has some great direction for us.
Did you know that suffering for Jesus is a gift from God that is ultimately used for our good? We will look at Philippians 1:29-30 to unpack this.
Just some thoughts that came to mind as I spent time with Jesus this morning in Nehemiah 9.
What does it mean to be a "darling child" of God? We look at that today as we look at Jeremiah 31:20.
We are called to be different as followers of Jesus. Some may even think that we are out of our minds.
The priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. Seeing Jesus in Leviticus.
What does it look like to present God our best and our first? A quick look through Leviticus 1 - 2.
A timely word from Isaiah 33 as we continue to through Covid-19 with faith, hope, and trust.
We may have more in common with the rich young man in Matthew 19 than we think that we do.
A quick walk throigh Matthew 11:28-30 that offers rest for our souls as we are invited to walk with Jesus.
Isaiah 30:18 - What a beautiful verse. But when read in it's context, what a beautiful God we serve.
Four things that God wanted Isaiah to pass on to King Ahaz that are perfect for us today as we move forward with the world through COVID-19.
Does God forgive? Reading Joshua 24:19 kinds of sounds like he doesn't. But what does the Bible say?
Notice the one thing that Jesus actually told the Father that he wanted. It will blow your mind.
A quick look at Psalm 77 that reminds us that God has a way and a plan to take us through the tough times all while never leaving us.
A look at Psalm 6, experiencing the comfort that comes from accepting God's invitation to raw and honest prayer during times of languishing sorrow.
TODAY'S READING: Isaiah 49-51 + Psalm 119:65-96
Is there a purpose in affliction or is it just random things happening because of a forgetful God who has too much on his plate?
2 Samuel 7 - The key to boldness and courage in prayer is directly connected to the revelation of God.
Just some things that Jesus revealed as I spent time with him in Joshua and the Psalms this week.
Just some things that stood out to me as I read through Deuteronomy 28 - 29 and Psalm 62.
What do we do with the difficult portions of the Old Testament that just don't make sense to us? Deuteronomy 21-23
Just some things that stood out to me from my time with Jesus in Deuteronomy 1-14 and Psalms 56-57.
Numbers 31-32; Psalm 50 - How do we handle the tougher parts of the Bibke, especially in the Old Testament?
Just something that God showed me this morning as I spent time with him in Numbers 17-18.
Just some things that stood out to me this morning while reading in the book of Numbers.
Just some things that stood out to me as I hung out with Jesus this morning in Leviticus 26-27 and Numbers 1-4.
Just some things that stood out to me in my time with Jesus this morning as Ispent time with him Leviticus 16.