Gateway Fellowship: Recent Episodes
Kyle Bloom
Welcome to Gateway! Here you will find audio of the weekend messages at Gateway taught by Pastor Kyle Bloom. We hope you enjoy the message and are encouraged by what you hear.
We're all busy. Our schedules are packed with career, family, friends, church, and other responsibilities. Sometimes our days are so full that we don't enjoy anything because we're trying to do everything. Our relationship with God and with others benefits when we create breathing room in our schedules. But where do we start?
Our lives are busy and fast-paced. The lack of margin increases our stress and shortens our tempers. It can distract us from the most important things in our lives . . . and our relationships suffer. It can even affect our relationship with God because there's a connection between our willingness to create margin and our faith.
Life is better with breathing room.
Christmas is over. All the wrapping paper has been thrown away, we're eating leftovers for the foreseeable future, and we've already moved onto the next thing. But, is there a way to keep the message of Christmas in our hearts during the rest of the year? How do we make Christmas a lifestyle instead of just an event?
O come all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant....
We've all sang those words dozens of times but, what do we do when we know we haven't been faithful, we don't feel joyful, and we aren't triumphant? How does Jesus respond to people like that and who does Jesus call?
We've all sang Christmas songs since before we can remember. Often times, we've become so familiar with the songs that we don't stop to consider what they actually mean. In this message we'll discover some truth inside the song, "O Holy Night" that can inspire us to keep moving in our relationship with God.
Living a life of gratitude isn't going to happen on accident. This week, we discover two more habits that we can put in to place if we are going to choose thankfulness as a lifestyle.
It's easy to be thankful when everything is working out the way we want it but it's a lot harder to be thankful when life seems to be falling down around us. In this message we discover some habits of gratitude that will translate into an attitude of gratitude.
There comes a point in some of our lives when we look at members of our family and say, "I don't care anymore. There's too much hurt, too much pain, and too much history." The easy way is to write them off and go on with our life. But, as followers of Christ, He has called us to something much harder...but something much better. He invites us to not look look at our life and our relationships through the lens of our feelings and experiences but to look at everything through the lens of what He has done for us.
When it comes to family, the only thing we all have in common is conflict. Family conflict is like no other because when you win an argument in your family, you don't really win anything. The conflict is never fully resolved.
What if there was a way to resolve family conflict by dealing with it at its source?
In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul drew from Jesus' use of power what is perhaps the most powerful relational teaching of all - an instruction that changes everything in family dynamics. It all comes down to asking a simple question:
What can I do to help?
When the ideal is hard to attain, it's tempting to just lower the bar and redefine the ideal. This can be especially true when it comes to Jesus' teachings about family, which many of us have already fallen short of. In this message, Kyle explains why aiming for God's ideal is still worth it, even when our reality makes reaching it impossible.
When it comes to getting from where you are in life to where you want to be, this one thing can set you on the right course.
No matter where we find ourselves, we all have an area of life where we find ourselves stuck. That is to say, we wish we were somewhere else.
Tired of being stuck and wishing for something different? Discover the one obstacle that keeps us from moving from where we are to where we want to be.
We've all made wishes about our lives and the lives of the people around us. But, have you ever stopped to consider what God wishes for your life?
Why didn't God do something? Sometimes, despite our most fervent prayers, God doesn't show up the way we want him to. The cancer isn't cured. The company fails. The foreclosure goes through. In this message, Kyle tells us what to look for when it feels like God forgot to show up.
We've all seen athletes point to heaven after touchdowns or home runs. And we've heard actors thank God during their acceptance speeches. We know God can be glorified in our moments of success. But what about moments of weakness? How do we keep going when our circumstances are crippling and God seems to be saying, "No"?
Is God's silence a sign of his absence? Or does it mean something else? In this message, Kyle recounts the story of a man Jesus said was the greatest who ever lived. And yet, even this man struggled with God's inattentiveness. The message Jesus sends him in the middle of his doubt contains a secret reassurance for us 2,000 years later.
No doubt about it. There's power in prayer. We often hope that power will affect our outcomes, but what if its greatest power is to change what happens inside of us? In part two of Pray, we examine a scene revealing Jesus' desperate need for the changing power of prayer.
Prayer is just talking to God...right? Maybe prayer is more than just us "talking"; more than convincing God to give us what we want. In this message, Kyle unpacks Jesus' life-changing answer to the request, "Lord, teach us to pray..."
Direction determines destination. But what is it that influences direction? What is it that starts us on our course, either for the places we want to go or the destinations we'd rather avoid? If we could determine what this is, then we could change our course upstream and save ourselves a lot of time, money, and heartache. Discover what this is and how you leverage it to reach the destinations God desires for you.
We've all ended up places we never meant to be--where life was complicated and there were seemingly no good options. And looking back we saw the warning signs. We just chose to ignore them. But it doesn't have to be that way. By looking back at an old wisdom saying we'll learn to look ahead and avoid the danger the lies in wait for us down the road.
Think about the last time you were traveling and got lost. You had your destination in mind. You had every intention of getting there. But you took the wrong path, and you didn't end up where you wanted to be. A disconnect often occurs between the path you choose and where you want to end up. This is the principle of the path and we'll discover how it impacts every area of your life.
When an adult becomes a Christian, most of the time it's not because all of their questions were answered or their obstacles were conquered. Most of the time it's very, very personal.
Without intending to, Christianity won the West. It toppled the Roman Empire. And it did so without raising a sword. What was the secret of the early church's influence? And where did we go wrong? In this message, Kyle reveals the secret-and a lesson for us about judging others. This may be exactly where the church has gone wrong. . .
The words used to describe Christians today often bear no resemblance to the one word Jesus wanted his followers to be known for. What would it look like if, for one day, we got it right? What if we as Christians embodied this one word? What if our behavior was so consistent with this word that folks around us were drawn to us - and to God. In this message, Kyle challenges us to change the name and reputation of Christianity by becoming a group of followers characterized by this one thing.
"Christian" is a brand that can be good, bad, attractive, or repelling. It's a loaded label no matter whom you ask. But where did the word come from? And did it come with instructions? In this message, Kyle reexamines the word "Christian" and revisits the one thing Jesus wanted his followers to be known for-it may surprise you if you've been hurt by the church or by a Christian.
Discipline isn't something very many people enjoy and not many people would say they are a naturally disciplined person. A lot of us are good starters...we're just not great finishers. What do we do about that? How do we say "no" to something now so we can say "yes" to something better later?
We all know that words can be powerful. We been on the giving end and receiving end of words that have helped us, encouraged us, motivated us, and encouraged us. Unfortunately, we've also said and heard words that have discouraged and hurt us. How can we make sure the words we say are used for the good? And what difference can choosing the right words make in our life?
It's often the small changes in our life that create the biggest impact. But, nothing can be changed until we change the way we think.
As we move into a New Year a lot of people begin to set goals for themselves. Lose some weight, get out of debt, spend more time with family, etc. And, as good as those goals are, there is one thing we should all do first. In this message, learn what the most important resolution you can ever make is.
When we look back into the family history of Jesus, there are some unsavory characters there. If these people were in our family, we wouldn't want to invite them over for Christmas dinner and others we would prefer to not be associate with. And yet, Matthew goes out of his way to highlight them. And it seems God specifically chooses these people to be in the bloodline of Jesus? Why? We think it's because people that have some baggage are the point of Christmas.
When Matthew decided to write about his experiences with Jesus, he started in an unusual way. Instead of starting with a story he starts with a genealogy. Not only that but he includes some pretty shady characters in the genealogy that would have been better to have left out. Why would he do that? Because Matthew knew that people with a past and people with some skeletons in their closet are the exact reason that Jesus came.
How is it possible that you can feel so much gratitude but other people perceive you as being ungrateful? In this message, we'll discover what's missing and how to solve the problem.
No one likes to be wrong. No one likes to be told what to do. But insisting that you're always right isn't a recipe for a great marriage. Great marriages are built on humility . . . on the willingness of both spouses to submit to each other and to God.
But how do you do that? It all begins with prayer.
What happens after I do? How can the person to whom a woman gave her deepest vow become the person she despises most? How can the beautiful woman a man couldn't stay away from become the person he can't stand to be around? In Part 4, we listen to Andy Stanley as he dispels a common myth about why we fall out of love and exposes the true problem.
The answer to the question, “What does my spouse owe me?” determines the quality of marriage we will have. This message takes a look at what Paul says in the answer to that question is.
We all come into marriage with hopes, dreams, and desires about what this new adventure is going to look like. Over time, though, something very subtle can happen that changes the whole dynamic of the marriage. If you feel like romance and intimacy are missing in your marriage, this might be the exact reason why.
When the Church first started, it was passionate about making a difference. Recently, however, it seems the Church is more interested in making a point. How do we get back to making a difference? We think it starts by discovering what Jesus was most passionate about. Because when we become passionate about what Jesus is passionate about, we become a church He can bless.
Our world moves at a break neck pace. And, most of the time, as our schedules get busier, our stress level goes up. And, when our stress level goes up, joy is hard to find. But, the Bible promises we can have peace in every area of our life. How do we get it? How do we keep it? That's what we'll discover in this message.
It's been said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. In this message, we discover some new habits that we have to form if we are going to live a life of joy.
Continuing in our series "Journey to Joy" we look at Philippians 3:1-11 and discover that God is so much more interested in us having a relationship with him and knowing Him personally than he is about us knowing about Him. In this message, we look at how we can go deeper in our knowledge of who God is.
One of the roadblocks to a life full of joy is the conflict that we all have to face. But, Paul shows us that there is a way to get through the conflict that you might be in now and reduce the conflict in your life as you move forward. It's not the easy path or the natural path but, it's the path that can lead us straight into joy.
What if there was a way where you could be joy filled even when life isn't going the way you wanted it to go? What if you could be full of joy even when you're unhappy? Sounds impossible doesn't it? But, in his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul gives us some insight on how he dealt with disappointments and frustrations in his life while still remaining joyful and how we can do it too.
The Bible never promises that we can be happy all the time. However, it does teach there is a way for us to be joy filled people-even when our current set of circumstances don't make us happy. In this message, we'll look at how to have joy in our relationships with family, co-workers, friends, and neighbors.
Pain, suffering, and tears. Many have tried to avoid them-all have failed. The good news for you and I is that God can bring purpose from our pain and transformation to our life through the suffering.
Can you imagine what it would be like if every single relationship in your life was filled with peace? Wouldn't that be incredible? The problem is that, inevitably, there's going to be a gap between what our expectations were and what our experience was. The question is, what will you fill in that gap?
If you've ever felt like you're not sure what to say when someone asks about why you're a Christian, you're not alone! But, the good news is, you don't have to be a Bible scholar or a Bible school graduate to be able to share your faith. In this message, we'll discover how we can communicate clearly why we follow Christ.
The story of Sujo John can be watched by clicking the "watch" button.
The idea that we could be content no matter what our circumstances are seems crazy. If we're honest, it seems unreachable. However, Jesus gives us a way that we can move in that direction. In this message, discover the keys to be content no matter what else is going on in your life.
Darrell's story can be viewed by clicking the "watch" button.
Tony Dungy felt like he was exactly where God wanted him to be and yet things still weren't working out the way he thought/expected they would. And still, he chose to trust in God. In this message, we'll look at why faith is so important and 3 ways that God grows our faith.
We've all been there-we've looked back at a a season of our life and said, "I can't believe I did that. How could I have been so foolish? I should have seen it coming." The problem is, there will continue to be times in our life where we don't see "it" coming. But, there's good news-someone sees it coming. And, if you are willing to invite them in, you can get off the regret cycle of saying, "I should have seen in coming."
What is the hallmark of a great mother and what is the greatest thing you could ever do for your mother? Simply be kind. However, this isn't just something for mother's-kindness is the hallmark of the follower of Christ. Discover 5 ways you can be more kind this week.
Scripture says God has determined the number of your days. You can make more money and you can make more friends, but you can’t make more time. You can count your money and your friends, but you can’t count your time. In light of that truth, knowing what to do with your time matters. It’s vital that you use your time wisely.
Every day brings new questions.
Should I stay? Should I go? Buy it? Sell it? Start it? Stop it? Did you know there's a question that makes it easy to determine the answer to all the other questions?
It's true.
All you have to do is ask it!
Love is a powerful motivator. It will make you do things that normally you would never do. In this Easter message, we'll look at how God's love motivated Him to do something you and I would never do.
Luke tells a story in Luke 19 of an encounter a tax collector named Zacchaeus had with Jesus. It's a great story that you might have heard in Sunday school but what difference does it make in our life today? What can we learn about the progress that Zacchaeus made in his relationship with God and how can we apply some of those same principles to our life today? In this message, we'll see that God is much more interested in our progress than our perfection.
Have you ever felt like you're just not getting anywhere with God? Maybe you've been praying the same prayer for weeks, months, or even years and nothing seems to be changing? Maybe you've felt like God has given you some kind of promise but the promise looks nothing like your current set of circumstances. Ever heard the preacher talk about how you can have peace and joy but you go home to a house that's filled with chaos? If any of those examples ring true for you, there's good news for you. As we look at the story of Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, we'll discover what to do when what we really want to do is just give up.
The story of Jonah and the whale (or the big fish) is one that most people have grown up hearing. But, have you ever stopped to consider what that ancient story might mean for your life today? What does the story of Jonah and the city of Nineveh have to teach us in our modern world? In this message, we'll discover just how easily our lives can mirror the life of Jonah.
Moses and the Red Sea is an incredible story but, is there anything about it that can apply to our life? We think the answer is, “Yes.” From the winding way the Israelites traveled to the Promised Land, the Egyptians chasing them down, and the incredible Red Sea crossing, this story is one for the ages. But, it also has an incredible amount to teach us about how to live our life today.
Stories from the Bible are incredible. But, sometimes, we've heard them so much they lose their meaning. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself the question, "So What?" In this message, we'll we'll look at the age old story of Adam and Eve and answer the question of "How does this story impact my life?"
Relationships affect almost every area of our life. What is God’s recipe for healthy, fulfilling marriages? In this message, we’ll look at what the Apostle Paul says are the two crucial ingredients to any great relationship.
It’s bound to happen at some point in our life. Someone lies about us or to us. Someone damages our reputation or doesn’t fulfill a commitment they made to us. As we walk through life, we are bound to be emotionally wounded. When that happens we have a choice between forgiving that person or holding a grudge. The easiest option is to hold a grudge…but does that really solve anything?
As a follower of Christ, there is a certain “code of conduct.” A way to act, talk, respond, think, etc. But, how do we get from where we are (how we’re acting now) to where God wants us to be? What’s the first step on that journey? As we look at Colossians 3:1-11, Paul tells us the first thing we need to do is not change the way we behave but change the way we think.
Weeds can be detrimental to healthy plants because they suck away the nutrients and life the plants need. In our relationship with Christ, we have to watch out that the weeds of legalism don’t suck out the life Christ wants to give us.
Often times at the beginning of the year we make resolution. Things we’re going to start, things we’re are determined to stop, habit to to get rid of, relationships to repair…the list could go on and on. In this series, we are studying the book of Colossians and this week looking at some ways Paul tells us we can have change that last.
Changing the calendar from 2013 to 2014 doesn’t mean that the struggles we faced in the last year suddenly go away. There are some thing we’ll take with us into 2014 that we wish we could leave behind. How does Jesus want to work in those situations? What part do I play in Jesus working in those areas of my life? In this message, we’ll see a pattern Jesus often used when working miraculously in the lives of people.
Isaiah called Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” What does that really mean? How does that effect our lives today? In order to have lasting peace, what should we really be pursuing?
One of the biggest things that can steal our peace (during the holidays and throughout the year) is having to deal with people that irritate, push your buttons, treat you badly, etc. In this message, discover how to have peace in spite of the people that frustrate you.
We all want peace on earth. But is that something that is promised in the Bible? What if God has something better for us individually even when there’s no peace on earth?
What is the source of Fresh Air? Is it by trying harder and doing more? Today, we’ll look at what the Bible says about where Fresh Air comes from.
We are living in an age where attitudes are at an all time low. What does the Bible say about our attitudes and how can we get a new perspective on the thing we face every day. This week we look at our 2nd “Fresh Air Principle.”
God’s given each of us unique and special gifts. What are the purpose of those and how can they help me discover God’s purpose for my life?
What three things can we use to discover God’s will for our lives that is, at times, concealed? This week we’ll look at the story of David and Goliath to see what we can learn for our lives today.
Most of us want to know God’s will but is there something better we should be following?
We’ve all asked the question, “God, what is your will for my life?” Sometimes it’s frustrating because it feels like God is more silent than he is vocal. Could it be, however, that we’ve never understood the fundamental answer to the question?
A couple thousands years ago Jesus said that He was going to build a gathering of people around the idea that He was the Messiah. He also said that nothing would ever be able to stop it. As part of that gathering today, what are our responsibilities? Where should our focus be? What lessons can we get from the early church?
From the very beginning, there has been a conflict in the church. A question that people had to wrestle to the ground. In this message, we’ll look at the first every church business meeting and see how they answered the question, “Who is the Church For?”