Real Life Arizona: Recent Episodes
Real Life Ministries Arizona
Sermons and other events from the ministry of Real Life Arizona in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are a non-denominational church on mission to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus.
In this week’s message, we explore the ethic of the Kingdom found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Far from ordinary or expected, this ethic is both extraordinary and deeply challenging. How can we possibly live up to such demanding standards? Join us as we wrestle through that question together.
In this week's message, we examine the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Mustard Seed as Jesus helps us understand how even the tiniest seeds of the Kingdom can come to bear incredible fruit in our lives and world.
Kallistos Ware, an Orthodox Bishop, reminds us that Christianity is more than a theory about the universe. It is more than a collection of teachings. It is, in the deepest and richest sense, a path that leads to life. Join us as we explore the first step on this path to life.
It doesn't matter whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, we all want to be invited. What we do with that invitation is always up to us. Join us in this episode as we consider one invitation of Jesus offered to all as we enter this new year together.
Spiritual Formation takes two forms -- intentional and unintentional. In this episode we examine the realities of each and chart a path to follow the call of God to "be transformed."
Am I already saved? Am I in the process of being saved? Or will my salvation occur at some future time? The short answer is "yes" to all three. In this episode we will clear up confusion about the biblical concept of salvation, opening the way to a better understanding of our relationship with God and His intentions for us.
Over the next few weeks, we will examine the elements of Intentional Spiritual Formation and their roles in the process of forming us to be more like Jesus. This week we tackle the first of those elements: Teaching.
The goal for every apprentice is to eventually do the kinds of things that his or her master did. The same is true for apprentices of Jesus - to bring the Kingdom of God by saying and doing the types of things Jesus said and did.
How can we become like Jesus? After all, the purpose of apprenticing under Him is that we might become like Jesus and do the kinds of things that He did. In this episode we examine some of the factors that shape and form us as individuals - either towards Christlike character and living, or away from it.
Apprenticing to Jesus involves three goals. Join us as we take a look at what it means to "Be with Jesus" for the purpose of becoming like Him.
This is our second week in this sermon series based on the book Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer. How should we understand what it means to become a disciple or apprentice under Jesus? In what ways should that direct our path in life. Join us this week as we discover the answer to those questions and the three primary goals of any apprentice.
Jesus came that we may have life... and have it abundantly. Are you experiencing that abundant life? What accounts for the difference between his promise and our experience? The answer, often times, is us. And the lives we lead. Join us this week for the invitation into that abundant life.
Faced with an impossible situation, Jesus once again demonstrates his power and authority over those things that make man's toil in the world laborious. It is a moment reminiscent of one of Israel's greatest leaders and causes those present to wonder if Jesus might be the one they've been waiting for.
Why was Jesus ministering and healing on the Sabbath? Join us today as we uncover the reality behind the relationship of God to the Sabbath and why the words "My Father is working..." were so infuriating to those who opposed Jesus.
Following His encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus chooses to pass through Samaria on His way to Galilee. At a well outside the town of Sychar, a most unusual scene unfolds. Join us as we dive into one of the most beautiful accounts in the Gospels and discover the offer of Living Water.
Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees, has seen and heard enough to know that God is with Jesus. But he is unsure what it all means. Join us for this week's message as we discover the most important thing for Nicodemus - and us - to understand about the new era that Jesus is ushering in.
Join us today as we step into a wedding celebration in Galilee. An issue arises that leads to an interesting exchange between Jesus and his mother. In the end, we are privy to the first of seven miraculous signs revealing the deity of Jesus. Note: Below is a link to the video we showed during our Sunday Gathering.https://youtu.be/rV3AnTUPiDY?si=2v6Xje8OdMKigleu A shortened link: https://bit.ly/3IC8UzH
In this week's message and with John the Baptist as our example, we will discover a critical key for discovering and fulfilling the purposes that God has for our lives.
John wraps up his Prologue with the implications of the incarnation. What is the significance of Jesus being full of grace and truth? And what does he mean that we have received grace upon grace? That's what we'll discover this week in John 1:14-18.
The Gospel of John stands apart from the other Gospels. While the others serve as a summary or synopsis of the life of Christ, John's Gospel paints a unique portrait of the heart of God. Join us this week as we see the portrait emerge and an invitation extended.
"Greetings, O favored one..." Those were the angels initial words to Mary. Significant words. But words that troubled her a bit. Join us this week as we look at Mary's invitation into the Christmas story and the relevance of those words for us.
The question as we transition from the life of David to the life of Solomon is, "Will he, like his father, be a man after God's own heart?" Join us as we dive into First Kings and discover the secret to a life lived out of wisdom.
The Bible tells the unfolding story of redemption that God has been writing in the world. It is a story that continues to be written individual by individual and generation by generation. As He does so, it is worth asking: Is there a particular kind of person God is looking for? A characteristic they must possess to be gold in the Author's hand? Join us as we explore this question and discover the surprising answer in the book of First Samuel.
The book of Ruth is a story of unwelcome sorrows, unlikely heroes, and unexpected redemption. It follows the life of an Israelite woman named Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth as they navigate an uncertain future as widows in foreign lands.
The life of Jacob is a lesson in the way God pursues the individual as an individual. Your story is not my story. And Jacob's story is not Abraham's story. But all are part of the Story of redemption that is big enough to include us all.
What was it about Abraham that made him one of the Fathers of the Faith? What was so significant about his relationship with God that God would later refer to Himself as the God of Abraham? And Sunday School kids would sing about "Father Abraham" 4,000 years after his death? Find out as we kick off a new series exploring the significant figures and stories embedded in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.
While Luke is quite clear about many of the factors and characteristics at work in the early church of Acts 2, there is also a universal principle in play that receives no mention. This principle - which operates in both the natural world and spiritual world - is crucial to our ability to experience the abundant life that Jesus promises in the Gospels. Join us this week as we discover this universal principle at its role in our spiritual lives.
There is no doubt that the early church formed a special community – one of great unity, gratitude, and generosity. In this week's message we discover the second of two key characteristics that Luke lays out for his readers in the book of Acts. A characteristic that just might be the key to us experiencing all that God has for us in His Church.
Certain moments in the life of Jesus and his disciples make us wish we could go back in time – to stand among them or even be a participant. For many, Acts 2 is one of those moments. While we can't call Marty McFly to transport us back, we can dive into the descriptions and ask, "What made this community and moment so unique." By so doing, we can discover the essential elements for experiencing that kind of community and movement of God today. Join us for this week's message where we discover the first half of the "secret sauce" of Acts 2 kind of community.
We had a special opportunity this past Sunday. Our special guest John DelHousaye led us through what the New Testament church referred to as a Love Feast - the manner in which they met for worship and fellowship alongside sharing a table and meal together. In this episode, John shares about the nature of these gatherings and what we can glean from them.
We all recognize the value of a deep and abiding faith, but we can miss the path to possessing such a faith. What did figures David and Paul or the early church consider essential for the formation of deep faith? Join us this week as we discover one of those vital ingredients.
Resurrection life is at the heart of not only the Easter season, but the Gospel itself. It is hope for this life and for the life to come. Join us this week as we meditate on the hope of the Gospel found in some the promises of the God's Word. Note: The middle of this podcast includes six times of silence for reflection on a passage. If you wish to extend these times of reflection, simply pause the podcast and continue when you are ready.
In our busy Western culture, we can zoom past milestone moments in the faith - like Christmas and Easter - as if they were simple events to be celebrated and moved on from. But these milestone moments are actually invitations to you and me. Invitations to linger and ponder, to wonder and ask, "What is God inviting us into in this season?" Join us this week as we enter the world of the early church and discover the invitation before us.
Jesus talked about the "Kingdom" over twice as much as any other topic. If Jesus thought it was important to talk about maybe we should too. The word Kingdom is defined as: Any place where a King or Queen is the sole ruler. Join us this week as guest speaker Lucas Cooper takes us from Genesis 1, where God establishes His role as King, to the Fall and Man's choice not to recognize God as their King, through Jesus' role as the one who restored God's Kingdom. As followers of Christ we are to live out God's Kingdom to this broken world until He returns to establish His Kingdom for eternity.
This week we are covering the final chapter of our book, We Would See Jesus. Join us as Troy shares from John 15, the passage our authors refer to in summarizing the previous 8 chapters. In John 15:5 Jesus says : "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." Jesus is the "one true vine," He is our one true source for life. We are a branch and the only way we can experience life as God intended is to "remain," "abide," or "stay" connected to the one true source of life, Jesus. Then and only then will our lives produce the fruit God desires to produce though us.
"What is the purpose of life?" To know, to love, and to walk with God. If this is our purpose then anything else we seek after is a distraction. We have seen Jesus as all we Need, as the Truth, as the Door, and as the Way. But to what end? Join us this week as Troy shares how our authors bring us full circle back to why God created us... to know, to love, and to walk with Him. There isn't anything or anyone other than Him. He is our End!
In chapter 5 we saw that Jesus is the DOOR that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. Chapter 7 now applies to the Christian life after we enter the door. It was by grace we entered the door and now we are focusing on how to continue in that grace on our faith journey that the Prophet Isaiah refers to as the Way of Holiness. (Isaiah 35:8-9)
Last week we discussed Jesus' claims in John 10:7 & 9 that He is the door that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. Join us this week as we pause to acknowledge the battle that goes on between "Mount Sinai" (the covenant of law) and "Calvary" (the covenant of grace) that goes on in our hearts just outside the door.
Last week we started breaking down the different ways Jesus reveals Himself to us, starting with Him as the Truth! This week we will be seeing Jesus as the door that leads us through the wall or barrier the bible calls sin. And it is not merely that Jesus shows us the door or points to the door but, as Jesus claims in John 10:7 & 9, He Himself is the door.
Last week we gained greater insight into understanding that Jesus not only provides everything we need but also that HE is all we need, which is ultimately demonstrated by His death on the cross. This week we will start breaking down the different ways Jesus reveals Himself to us, starting with Him as the Truth!
Last week we discussed the fact that God is unknowable unless He chooses to reveal Himself to us, which He did through His Son, Jesus Christ. Join us this week as we explore Jesus' claim to be the great "I AM" and our authors help us understand the importance of seeing Jesus as all we need.
Last week we discovered the purpose of life - to know, love, and follow God. But how can we get to know an invisible God? Join us this week as we answer that very question and discover the secret to knowing God.
We are launching into a series based on the classic book We Would See Jesus. This is a powerful book that many return to time and time again to be reminded of the true nature of the Gospel and the God who calls us to Himself. In this week's message, we discover the true purpose of life as we return to humanity's original purpose when God first formed them in the Garden.
For Matthew the Christmas story wasn't just about what God was doing, but how He was doing it. A focus on the works of God points us to the "what," while a focus on the "how" demonstrates the ways of God and points us to His heart. Join us this week as we explore the heart of God in the Christmas story.
Shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph, and the Messiah in swaddling cloths. Join us this week as a dear friend walks us through the Christmas story according to Luke with personal reflections and insights on the season.
When Christmas time rolls around, we tend to turn to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. The stories of the angel and Mary, the angels and the shepherds, the visit of the wise men. But how does John tell the Christmas story?
Paul prayed regularly for those he shepherded, but how often do we think about what he prayed for them? In this week's message, we take a look at one of Paul's prayers for the early believers and discover what we can glean from it. This episode is a mix of teaching and discussion.
If this life is perplexing to you at times, you are in good company. One of the wisest men who ever lived penned an entire biblical book looking back on the big questions of life. In this week's message, we join him in his questions and try to make sense of the seasons that come our way.
Fighting for relationship is a core value of our community. It means a couple of things: First, we must fight to be in relationship with others given the fast-paced world in which we live. Second, we must fight to maintain healthy relationships. Why? Because relationships are hard. Because people can be hard. This week, we equip you with five tools you can use to fight for and maintain healthy community and relationships.
Hypocrite. It's a strong word. One that Jesus typically reserved for the religious elite of His day. But today He directs it at us. He calls us out. And that should get our attention! Thankfully, Jesus not only diagnoses our condition; He also hands us a prescription. Quite literally. Taking this one to heart will preserve unity in the body and keep us from becoming those who shut the kingdom in people's faces.
Special Guest: John DelHousaye of Arizona Christian University. Stress and anxiety are at all-time highs in our world as the effects of media and social media continue to unfold and social, political, and economic uncertainties continue to rise. In this week's passage in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issues an invitation to disciples everywhere facing uncertainties of every stripe. It is an invitation to change our perspective as we change our perceptions, seeing the world and the Father with the clarity with which Jesus Himself sees them.
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore God's view of earthly possessions and eternal treasure.
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore how to pray.
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind the acts of fasting.
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind the acts of prayer.
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we explore proper our motivations and intention behind “acts of righteousness.”
The Sermon on the Mount covers significant territory. At some points, we find ourselves nodding in agreement. At others, we find ourselves scratching our heads or even inwardly protesting at what Jesus asks of us. Today's passage falls into that latter category for most of us as we encounter the way of Jesus when it comes to those who would insult or take advantage of us. Join us as we discover how Jesus would transform not only our thinking, but our responding as well.
Our adventures in the Sermon on the Mount continue as we enter the sensitive territory of vows and divorce. Just as the maxim of "location, location, location" holds true in the world of real estate, "context, context, context" is essential when it comes to understanding the meaning of a passage. Join us this week as we dive headfirst into topics that are critical for our call to be Salt and Light in this world.
Some of the teachings of Jesus are hard teachings. They challenge us to look at God, at ourselves and to make an honest evaluation of how we live. Today's passage is no exception. Join us as we gain a better understanding of God's view on adultery, lust, and doing whatever it takes to save oneself from hell.
Some of the teachings of Jesus are hard teachings. They challenge us to look at God, at ourselves and to make an honest evaluation of how we live. Today's passage is no exception. Join us as we gain a better understanding of Anger, Murder, Love & Reconciliation and what it truly means to repent in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Some of the teachings of Jesus are hard teachings. They challenge us to look and God and look at ourselves and make an honest evaluation of things. Today's passage is no exception. Join us as we gain a better understanding of True Righteousness and the Kingdom of Heaven.
As Jesus continues to share His vision for the Kingdom of God, He sets forth the important role that disciples are to play in the world. How can we be salt in this world? And what does it look like to lose that saltiness? How are we to be the light of the world? Isn't that Jesus' job? Join us this week as we grow in our understanding of the kingdom purpose of disciples in the world today.
The Sermon on the Mount contains some of the best known teachings of Jesus as well as some of the most challenging. In them we begin to discover the inverted nature of the Kingdom – and the marks it leaves on those who have entered it. Join us this week as Jesus invites us into The Way.
As time grows short with His disciples and the cross looms largely in the future, Jesus gathers His disciples for a final meal together. Jesus knew he had one final meal to share with the people closest to Him. What would He share, what would He do? Join us for this week's message as we step into the upper room and learn from the Master.
The radical devotion of Jesus to the character and purposes of His Father is clear throughout the Gospels. it was this radical devotion that lead to the uniquely memorable moment that we witness in this week's message. Join us as we examine the implications of Jesus' strong words for the Church today.
While all of the disciples witnessed the many miracles Jesus performed, only a select few would have the opportunity to see Him revealed in all of His heavenly glory. They would witness a radical confirmation of His identity AND a very clear and succinct message with radical implications for their futures.
In this message, we find Jesus asking his disciples a fairly simple question. The answer, however, will have profound implications for them and their lives going forward. Join us as we ask come face to face with this question - and probe the implications for our own lives.
Chances are if you look back on seasons of spiritual flourishing and growth, you will see a direct connection to people and community. That is because spiritual maturity does not happen in a vacuum - it happens in relationship with others. So how can we help to shepherd others towards spiritual growth? That is what we will discover in this week's message.
As humans, we often like to think that we are exceptions to some of the rules of God's created order. And while it is true that things like our ability to innovate and adapt allow us to overcome many obstacles, there are certain things that these abilities will never overcome. Join us this week as we discover these truths and the implications for the life of a disciple.
All kinds of plants and animals require certain environments and conditions to thrive. In the right environments and conditions, they thrive. Outside of that, they manage to barely survive or even fail to survive. We are no exception. When it comes to our spiritual and relational health, finding and remaining in healthy environments are key to our ability to not only survive, but thrive as God intended.
The heart of Jesus for lost people is one of the fundamental themes of the Gospels. That is why Reaching the Lost is an essential principle and practice for disciple making churches. Today we witness a camel passing through the eye of a needle kind of moment as Jesus stops everything to show that nothing is impossible with God. And to remind us that He came to seek and save the lost.
This message is the first in a new series called Stay the Course. Based on a book by Brandon Guindon, this series will focus on seven practices that are absolutely essential for any church that is committed to making disciples. If we commit ourselves to these practices, we will Stay the Course and resist temptations and distractions that come along the way. The first of these practices and the one that gives rise to all of the others is the call to Abide in Christ.
There is one final element of Spiritual Health and Kingdom Living and it is something that both Jesus and Paul completely agree on. Join us as we discover why loving God with our whole self and loving our neighbor as ourself is not just a thing, but is the thing!
Last week we discovered the importance of Loving God Completely – with our whole self, all the time. This week we examine the important place of Loving Ourselves Correctly. Because the truth is that if we fail to see ourselves as God sees us, we will never be able to love Him as we should or love our neighbors as ourselves.
Who is someone you would describe as spiritually healthy? Why did you choose them? The spiritual health of disciples is critical. When we are healthy spiritually we live out loving God and loving others in a way that best fulfills God’s desire for us and puts the Kingdom on display for others. In this series, we examine important themes including: Loving God Completely, Loving Ourselves Correctly, and Loving Others Compassionately. Join us as we pursue spiritual health from a biblical perspective.
Advent is a season of rejoicing. Rejoicing in a God who keeps His promises. Rejoicing in God's presence with us. And rejoicing in His unfolding plan of redemption in this world. Join us this week as Brian Bell walks us through reflections on Mary's song of rejoicing in the Gospel of Luke.
Have you ever read the story of Gabriel's announcement to Mary and wondered, "What was it about Mary? How did she come to be called 'O favored one'?" It's a great question for anyone who wants to be assured that "the Lord is with you." This week we zero in on the answer from the Gospel of Luke.
In our smallness, we struggle to orchestrate the days and years of our lives. Too many variables beyond our control. Too shortsighted in our vision to predict what will happen just days from now. But God in His greatness, brings to pass the promises He has made across hundreds and thousands of years. Across generations of His people. Bringing them to fruition in Jesus, who was truly God with us.
We didn't want to end our Abide series without providing pathways for abiding to move from the theoretical to the practical. To that end, we put together a panel of friends and neighbors to share what God has been teaching them about abiding and some practices they use to maintain a consistent, life-giving connection to Jesus, the True Vine.
The call is to abide. The question is, "How? How do I abide? And how do I abide in Jesus in the way that He intends." This is what we will discover this week as we discover the keys to abiding in Christ.
Jesus' use of vine and vineyard imagery would have struck a familiar chord with the disciples. And that chord would have reverberated into a clear understanding of what Jesus meant when he appealed to them to, "Abide in me." Join us today as we listen in with the disciples and learn to heed the call of Jesus to abide.
Jesus often used metaphors and parables to help us connect spiritual truths in ways that would impact our every day lives. The images of Jesus as the True Vine and the Father as the Vinedresser are foundational truths for a living faith that goes far below the surface and into the deep places of our lives. Join us this week for some thoughts and reflections on these words and a time of guided prayer to process them.
In order for Jesus' mission of making disciples to be successful, the methods He used would have to be reproducible. They would have to be something every disciple could understand and do in their own lives. This is where the Reproducible Process of a Disciple Making Culture comes into play. We must lead others and raise up others in a way that is clear enough for others to follow. And simple enough for them to live out. Join us today as we explore the Reproducible Process that Jesus used.
Jesus created a culture that was ripe for disciple making. How can we follow His lead and create the types of environments that lead to personal growth and the multiplication of disciples? That's what we'll discover in this week's message!
Whether we are aware of it or not, we are always creating culture. By what we do. And how we do it. If we want to make disciples the way Jesus did, we must understand the specific things Jesus did to establish a culture of disciple making.
We are always creating culture - either intentionally or unintentionally. In this message, we examine the powerful influence of culture in shaping both individuals and communities and explore a principle that Jesus knew well - that the culture you create determines the disciples you make.
We have been looking at the story of the Exodus and the process that God uses to form and shape us into His people. This week we discover the third and final piece of that process: Celebration.
The call to "follow me" is a call to dedicate oneself to the purposes. of God. Without the element of dedication, we cannot go with God and we cannot become the people of God He calls us to become.
The Old Testament plays a key role in understanding the unfolding story and mystery of God. In this series, we take a look at the Exodus and Passover to discover principles and practices to deepen our walk with the Lord and enable us to play a part in the story He is writing. In this message, we discover that we are Set Apart to Play a Part.
Old Testament stories offer unique perspective on God's ways and purposes. of As Paul reminds us in Romans, "what was written in former times was written for our instruction."
Have you ever wondered why love is elevated so highly in the Scriptures? In this the final message in our series, we take a look at this crown of Christian virtues. What is the nature of this love? And why is it such a necessary element of our faith and walk with God? Join us as we discover the answer to these questions and much, much more.
As we approach the end of the series, it becomes clear that the remaining virtues are indispensable in our pursuit of a faith that is genuine and that will stand up in times of trial. This week we look at a virtue that characterizes everything Jesus envisions for His Church. Join us as we examine the virtue of brotherly affection and how it plays out in a life -- and in Christ's Church.
We don't spend a lot of time talking about godliness in church these days. Is it because the word is out of style? Or because we've lost sight of its importance? Either way, the virtue of godliness is something Scripture calls all of us to. What is it exactly? And how can we grow in it? That's what we'll discover in this week's message.
In his final letter to the church, Peter exhorts believers to build upon the foundation of their faith with a number of essential virtues. This week we take a look at a pair of these virtues and what they contribute to a Faith that is Fall Proof.
In his final letter to the church, Peter exhorts believers to build onto the foundation of their faith with a number of Christian virtues. This week we take a look at the importance of the first of these virtues and what it contributes to a Fall Proof Faith.
This message kicks off a new sermon series in the book of Second Peter. Looking back on his life, Peter writes to the church to encourage them to add certain virtues to their faith. If they do so, Peter says, they will never fall. Over the next several weeks we'll take a deep dive into these virtues and see how they culminate in a life characterized by love.
What is success? What does a life well-lived look like? At the end of the day, what really matters? These are questions we answer as we look at Paul's concluding prayer for the church. This is the final message in our series in First Thessalonians. [1Thess 5:11-24]
In Christ, we have hope beyond this life. Hope beyond this world and its struggles. What is that hope and how can we live accordingly? That is what this message from John and Kathy Cocca will help us discover.
There is a way of life that leads to life. That leads to fullness of life. In our passage this week, Paul points us to that way of life and the basis for finding it.
What does winning look like when it comes to the church and church culture? Join us as we answer that question in week 3 of our series This is the Time!