Gathering Midtown Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Drew Witt
For the First Sunday of Epiphany, we listen to what two voices - John the Baptist and God the Father - say about Jesus.
Today is the 2nd Sunday of Christmas. Our civic and secular calendars have already moved on to the new year, resolutions, gym memberships...but we - the Church - the People of God - we're still celebrating the Feast of the Nativity! That's why there's 12 Days of Christmas...
Today's lesson is important to the advent and nativity of our Lord, yet, it feels very un-christmas. It's a lesson on power, politics, deception, manipulation, government sponsored infanticide, refugees, and suffering. While Christmas is a time of feasting and joy, the story we read today offsets our sentimental leanings. It highlights the darkness that Christ came into. That darkness was no metaphor. It was real darkness. And so is ours today.
I've grown up in church, and I admit, I've never heard this text preached on. It's always been skipped over. It doesn't fit in with the Most Wonderful Time of the Year motif.
Mary is our model. Despite her stress, she is ready. Ready for God. Ready to be delivered. Elizabeth is our model as well. Like Elizabeth, may we recognize Who is in Mary's womb, may we be filled with the Spirit also. May something leap inside of us too.
Join us for our final week diving into Emotionally Healthy Spirituality while talking about Rules of Life; We have them whether they're intentional or not.
Join us for week 7 of our journey through Emotionally Healthy Spirituality as Jake talks about how we grow into a spiritually and emotionally mature adult.
Join us for week 6 of our EHS journey, talking about how important it is to be silent and meet God.
Join us for week 5 of our journey through Emotionally Healthy Spirituality as Jake talks about Grief and Loss.
Join us with guest speaker, Kabyn Vikesland, as he is talking about part 4 of the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Series. What happens when you hit a wall?
Week 2 diving into Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, learning about how David knew himself, and how God knew him.
Daily Office attached below.
Week 1 of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (EHS) on the things Saul said No to. Do you say No to these things?
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310348498/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_60SGBE803QXVW19HK9N0
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day: A 40-Day Journey with the Daily Office https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310351669/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Z7TNRS8M9M7SQ0RK0N73
Join us as Drew talks about the future of our church (Ecclesia).
Prayer Link: https://5oc4vh.nucleus.church/download/11e55ec33e0fc99c976df98824f0fe4fb80b1820.pdf
Survey Link: https://gatheringmidtown.com/weekend-in-person-worship-preference-survey
Join us while Guest Speaker, Bekah McNeel, talks about social media posts, and whether you should make that comment.
Jake talks about the wisdom of goodness.
Questions: 1.In what areas do you feel like you are excelling in“goodness” or “Tov”? 2.In what areas are you lacking and need strengthening? 3.How do you seek the good of other people?
Join us with guest speaker, Michael Bradford, while he teaches us on the wisdom of guarding your heart.
Join us with Guest Speaker, Adriana Rowe, Leadership Team Member and Be The Bridge Group Leader, as she talks about God Balancing the Scales.
Taking a step back and learning how to walk with God through the changes of EVERY SEASON.
Father in heaven, together with your son, who sits at your right hand, and your spirit who dwells in all who belong to you,
fill us this day and every day, with your holy and loving presence,
that i might live in a manner pleasing to you, and readily act as your witness in this world.
Join us as we finish Psalm 23, talking about God's goodness and mercy.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/asian-american-pastors-speaking-truth-confronting-hate.html
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/asian-american-pastors-speaking-truth-confronting-hate.html
Join us while we discuss Psalm 23:4, and how it's when we go through the valley that life is sprung.
Diving into the second part of Psalm 23:3.
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for the human family O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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for social justice Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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in times of social conflict or distress Increase,O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; throughJesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The King David’s soul needed to be restored. Think about that. David knew what it was like to be defeated, depressed, dejected, anxious, afraid, stressed, frustrated, confused, angry, triggered.
Join us while we talk about giving Jesus permission to turn the tables in our heart.
Be Free for God I have a need of such clearance as the Savior effected in the temple of Jerusalem a riddance of clutter of what is secondary that blocks the way to the all-important central emptiness which is filled with the presence of God alone. - Jean Danielou
Join us while we discuss the difference between hiding from God and being hidden with Him.
Join us while we talk about Jesus, The Great Physician, and how he saw the woman at the well; how he saw every piece of her, and still loved her.
Join us while we talk about Jesus, The Great Physician, and how he saw The Wee Little Man.
Join us while we talk about The Great Physician and the call to Spiritual KonMari our life.
We need the great Physicians work in our lives, community, and nation. Join us to pray The Great Litany, and to lament together for our nation. A document of the Great Litany is attached below.
For this Sunday, I’ll be talking about why everyone should process the pain they’ve gone through in 2020 (and in all of life) before going forward in 2021.
In our Christmas Eve Service, we talked about being in the wilderness. Listen in for more details!
This week we watch a short Bible Project theme video on PEACE. Original video: https://youtu.be/oLYORLZOaZE
Discussion Questions: 1. In what ways do you offer shalom to your friends, family, and loved ones? 2. What are the ways that God orchestrated peace in your life? 3. What parts of your soul, heart, or mind need shalom within the Lord?
This week we watch a short Bible Project theme video on JOY. Original video: https://youtu.be/qvOhQTuD2e0
Discussion Questions: 1.When was the last time you experienced the joy of God? 2. What simple things bring you joy? 3. Unpack what you think the angel meant by "great joy" in Luke 2:10.
This week we watch a short Bible Project theme video on hope. Original video: https://youtu.be/slyevQ1LW7A
Discussion Questions: 1. What is something that you love about the Christmas season? 2. How does your love for that thing compare to the love you experience from God? 3. How have you been called to uniquely love your neighbor?
This week we watch a short Bible Project theme video on HOPE. Original video: https://youtu.be/4WYNBjJSYvE
Discussion Questions: 1. What aspect of God's character makes you feel most hopeful? 2. When you think of the advent season, does it make you feel hopeful? Why? 3. What is a time you waited on the Lord with hope?
The fruit of the Spirit is SELF CONTROL. Self-control is on the Fruit of Spirit List. Which means there’s freedom somewhere in it. The Bible tells us that for Freedom Christ has set us free: not for drudgery and pointless piety. Every fruit of the spirit makes our lives richer, more powerful.
The fruit of the Spirit is GENTLENESS. Gentleness is at the very essence of who Jesus is. It’s a fruit of His life that is so apparent in His dealings with others.
The fruit of the Spirit is FAITHFULNESS. Sometimes it can seem like faith is this thing that we have to obtain and hold onto for dear life; But Faithfulness is not something that we create within ourselves but, rather, something that we learn from God our Father.
The fruit of the Spirit is GOODNESS. Goodness is one of the fruits of the Spirit that doesn’t get a lot of love or attention. It’s touch on a primal internal level they’re not just competent, they’re generous. They’re generous in that they go above and beyond the black and white job description.
The fruit of the Spirit is KINDNESS. Kindness is being thoughtful for others more than for yourself. Kindness is tenderly doing for others what you would want done for you. Or in Jesus’ words, the Golden Rule.
The fruit of the Spirit is PATIENCE. Waiting is not the same thing as patience.The dictionary says that waiting is the action of staying where one is or delaying action until a particular time or until something else happens. Patience, on the other hand, is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. The bible has a more complex response.
The fruit of the Spirit is PEACE. Wouldn’t you like some more peace these days?! Shalom is God’s desire for you. For you to be made whole and complete, not broken and divided.
The fruit of the Spirit is JOY. Today’s slice of fruit we’re looking at is also an important evidence of God’s Spirit in us, but it’s one not often associated with Christians or followers of Jesus, and, that’s tragic.
The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE. Specifically, something we call neighbor-love or a horizontal love. Love of others - especially enemies - is the first evidence and practical proof that Jesus is alive inside of us.
Now more than ever, we need more of the Holy Spirit in our life. Today, followers of Jesus have an extraordinary opportunity to learn how to keep in step with their commander, to march to the beat of His drum.
We break down that it means to be an ecclesia (church), and how we can pivot and innovate in this season of crisis and pandemic.
This year has been one of massive disappointment, disillusion, and just wave after wave of horrific losses all across the board. It seems like we’re in a very peculiar and extraordinary season. What do you do when the year you're in is a one-star review?
Pastor Dave Larlee from All Saint's Dallas closes our James series out on the topic of prayer.
Are you going through something right now? Is life hard? Is family hard? Is work hard? Are faith and worship hard? Are rest and fun hard? Are there broken dreams? Is there death and bereavement? Are you experiencing some form of suffering and pain? Are you tired and worn out? Weary? About the throw in the towel? If so…good. You are in a great spot. God is producing a harvest in your life.
James 5 is one of the many texts for believers to work through regarding riches. We learn where riches cause people to sin, and where riches cause people to be sinned against, and how we should manage wealth in a godly way.
In your situation, circumstance, or dilemma, what is your attitude towards the will of God? Are you ignoring God’s will? Are you outright disobeying God’s will? Do you even KNOW what God’s will is? Have you asked and sought to know and understand God’s will? Have you assumed that your will and agenda are synonymous with God’s? Is God interrupting your plans and will? How do you feel about THAT?
There are so many voices that are vying for our attention and our action, but let us not forget the most important voice in every matter. What is God saying to you?
Why is unity and peace so hard to find in churches. Why do churches split, fracture, and sometimes, die? James is going to give us a chilling answer to that question today. He’s also going to give us some practical things we can do to make sure we don’t end up in a disastrous situation.
There is a big difference in being knowledgeable and being wise. Today we’re going to learn about wisdom, so, hopefully, we can all wise up today…God knows, and we all know, our world is in short supply of true wisdom from above, and we need massive amounts of people who have the wisdom of God.
As we crack open James 3 today, the big idea is that Words can start fires. If we don’t give Jesus LORDSHIP over our heart and mouth, our small words and cause great damage.
Bible app notes: https://bible.com/events/16046709
What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a dead faith? A faith that is just in your head, and occasionally in your mouth, but has it affected your emotions and your will? Your actions? Do you have a faith that the demons have? Do you have a dynamic faith that is alive and works?
Bible app notes: http://bible.com/events/15600059
James teaches us that if we claim or hold to believing in Jesus, how could anyone show favoritism or discriminate based on outward appearance?
James teaches us that we have three responses and responsibilities to the Word: Receive, Practice, and Share.
Bible App message outline: http://bible.com/events/12047132
Learn more about Snack Pak 4 SA: https://www.sp4k.org
When you’re under trial, being tested, or tempted, what’s going on, what forces are at play, and how do you come out of it with flying colors?
Bible App message outline: http://bible.com/events/11332068
Life is hard. There seems to always be something. Part of growing up and having maturity is knowing how to handle pain when life hurts. This lesson from James will help us learn how to grow when we experience setbacks, suffering, loss, tragedy, pain, tests, and trials.
Spiritual maturity is one of the greatest needs in churches today, and the book of James addresses it head on. What does it look like in real terms to be a healthy and mature follower of Jesus?
Contrary to what The Enlightenment or Post Modernism says, there is an evil one. Jesus teaches us to pray for deliverance from him. The good news is the presence of evil doesn't need to overwhelm you or cause you to be afraid. However, we should be alert.
Where do you need God's leading and direction right now? Some combine the prayer “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” into one petition. But today we will narrow our focus to the LEAD US part of the petition.
Bible App notes: http://bible.com/events/7155992
Today we learn about a virus more serious and deadly than covid19. SIN. There’s no vaccine. And it doesn’t matter how much you try to wash the outside. Death is the fruit of it. It has caused social distancing. Jesus is the only cure.
Follow along with the notes on the Bible App.
God cares about our needs. He's practical, and this third prayer of the Lord's Prayer addresses the needs we have on this earth.
Follow along with the notes on the Bible App.
In this message we learn that God is not just Abba, our Heavenly Father, but that He is also the King. Not a king. The King.
In this message, Drew focuses on the first movement of the Lord's prayer - Our Father's Name.
We aren't to seek persecution, but if the life of Christ is in us, persecution will find us.
Peacemaking is one of those super crucial areas of spiritual growth, development, competency, and practice, that we all should and need to be regularly growing in.
The heart is the seat of affections or the fountain of everything you think, say, or do.
Our God is a God of mercy who shows mercy continuously; and if we are citizens of His kingdom, we must show mercy too.
The first three beatitudes deal primarily with us. They are an examination of self. But with the 4th beatitude, our attention turns positive and toward God. It is not enough to mourn over past sin, we must hunger and thirst for righteousness.
In the Beatitudes, Jesus is pulling back the curtain of the universe and revealing how things actually work. He shares with us who He's actually blessing.
This incredible Sermon that Jesus used to begin His ministry, begins with what we call The Beatitudes. Eight statements of who is actually blessed in this world. To be “poor in spirit” is to acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy before God.
The Sabbath existed before the Law. It is more of a RHYTHM in creation, than a rule to keep. The last message in this sermon series You Are Not In A Machine.
Sabbath is commanded in scripture, and it’s a discipline, but we don’t really have any crystal clear non legalistic texts on how to sabbath. So, today’s message is less of an expositional teaching on a passage of Scripture, and more of a workshop, or best practices talk.
What’s your attitude towards Sabbath? Will you walk in it? Or are you standing at the cross roads with your arms crossed? This message looks at the what is the Sabbath and what it is not.
Have a negative view of Sabbath, the religious have really hijacked that word and the delight that comes with it. This message reveals the true holy gift that is Sabbath.
We come from a lineage of brokeness and toil that tells us that the back breaking work that we perform is our identity. But that is not the identity that God has called us to come into. This sermon begins the next part of the series dealing with the rest the Lord has freely given us.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Better question is, who are you? How do you say no to what God hasn't sent you to do, and begin working on what God has called you to be.
There’s a lot of pictures of who Jesus is. John Ortberg observed that no one knows what He looks like, and yet He’s the most recognizable person in the world! So who is this carpenter's son?
There is high value and godliness about work, and yet we still experience how hard, unfruitful, and painful it is. In this sermon we examine the question, "Where did it go wrong?"
You are God's masterpiece, and you've been created to be a junior partner with the best entrepreneur in the universe. You can only go where God's grace has gone before you. What is the work He has already prepared for you?
We often think about how God is loving, holy, big, powerful, kind, merciful, etc. But have you thought about how God is a worker? It’s the first thing we learn about God, chronologically that is.
Pastor Drew Witt begins a new series called You Are Not A Machine. In today's message, Drew reminds us that God designed us for more than just being an 8-5, working overtime, getting a case of the Monday's, saying TGIF workaholic. You were meant for life. You are not a machine.
Duane Benson reveals through Proverbs that as we come close to Jesus and allow His love nd kindness to grow within us we can transform a culture full of brokeness, finger pointing, and lines drawn in the sand and let the calmness and kindness of Christ come forward.
Larkin O'hern teaches on how words matter more than you know. They should be deployed deliberately. When chosen carefully they can be nourishing but can be damaging if used recklessly.
In this sermon we see what true giving from your depths truly means when reaching with our Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul.
Have you taken the time to consider the benefit of keeping your heart? In this message, we are shown through the Proverbs what we need to protect more than anything... your heart.
Cameron Archer shares how confession reminds us of our identity and restores us to a position of power.
Today’s verse in Proverbs chapter 21 leads us to ponder and question our ideas and notions surrounding the idea of the poor, being poor, and our misconceptions about poverty.
Sydney Aschbacher shares about hardship, hiding, and isolation, and how God's healing hands can touch us through our friends and community.
Jason Conine brings the message that sin brings shame but Jesus is our hope of redemption. Just cry Abba Father like a child to Him.
Bekah McNeel teaches us if what you think you know about the Bible doesn't lead you to greater freedom in Christ, it might be incomplete or added on.
Are you trying to "Keep Up with the Jones"? Are you trying every remedy under the sun and still not finding happiness? Well, today's message comes from Solomon, and he will show us where we need to be looking for TRUE fullfillment!
How we hold on to the One who is good when the good plans that we make don't workout the way we anticipate.
One of the best things about Proverbs is its simplicity and depth. It’s shallow enough to be a kiddie pool, and deep enough to drown an elephant. We begin this sermon series in the book of Proverbs.
All Easter we've been looking closely at Jesus' resurrection appearances, and in this message as we close up this series, we're going to start thinking about what Christ's resurrection means for us.
The Ascension of Jesus causes us to have to look at His Lordship and reign over and in our lives as He sits at God’s mighty right hand.
There are many exceptional books of the Bible or passages of Scripture that seem to pack a consistent and powerful punch when we read them. This sermon examines Jesus' words in the great commission He presents to all those who follow Him.
Jesus reveals His love for His disciples through His power, miracles, His love, and His friendship. He does the same thing for us today and we watch as His Word reveals it.
Doubt is certainly felt within this passage, but it would be helpful to understand the nature of doubt to better understand it as a symptom.
We want to be a people that say yes to God - people who urge God to be with us and we do that by saying yes to the Scriptures, The Spirit, and the Sacraments.
For the season of Easter - as Christmas is both a day and a season, Easter is such - we’re going to stay in and remain in the 40 day encore of Jesus.
What the enemy or other people meant for evil, God meant for good. He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purposes.
By Joseph's story we are shown that God, in using our gifts and talents, can bring glory to Him and provision for His people.
Joseph in the end of this episode doesn't get a sense of movement or resolution. The previous scenes don’t end the way they begin, and today's episode ends the exact way it begins - Joseph forgotten in prison.
Let us ask ourselves this question. “How do you view, cope with, persevere, weather, and at some point, even accept the “storms of life?”
Many of us are hurting. And it’s natural and easy to ask the question, “Why God?”. We must learn that there is a better question to ask instead of asking “Why”.
Are there doors that you’re keeping locked from Jesus? Are there areas where you’ve become independent from God? In this message we are looking at the Church in Laodicea in Revelations.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Listen to hear what the Lord is saying to us in this upcoming Holy season of Lent.
We look at the church in Sardis - the FEEBLE church. A church that had its greatest days behind them.
We have asked the Lord to show us what He is saying to us? If Jesus were to send our church a letter that would help our lamp stand shine more effectively for His name, what would it say?
As a follow up from the Letter to the Church in Pergamum, Drew & Jake discuss some practical tips for having crucial conversations with people you love
Is God giving you an opportunity to be bold in faith and communication? Listen to Jesus' message to the Church of Pergamum.
Jesus shows the Church of Smyrna that He isn’t just aware of it, He’s experienced it, He has empathy for them. He knows.
Do you work, do you labor, are you walking steadfastness? But wait, are you doing them out of love or are you just doing?
"The happiest man is the one who learns from nature the lesson of worship." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
When you blow it, do you run to Him or do you hide from Him? Run to His Grace and Mercy.
It takes ZERO wisdom or strength to tear something down. It takes hard work to build up. God is constructive.
Abuse of power, pre meditated live pornography, abduction, rape, and murder are all the sins King David commits in 2 Samuel 11-12. We examine the depth of those sins, David's confession he writes afterwards, and the real time realities we live in today with the MeToo movement. Welcome to church.
God is never in a hurry. The life of Jesus shows us that. Jesus was often busy. But never in hurry
Do you lead your soul? The Soul’s job is to integrate your entire being: Heart/Will, Mind, and Body
Music is the organization of internal things. That’s what the Psalms are. And we begin today our new 11-week series going through the Psalms.