Impact Church: Recent Episodes
Impact Church
When we disagree politically and love unconditionally, we shine the message of Christ to the world. How do we do that in today’s political climate?
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How can we take a stand the right way? How do we view politics through the lens of faith? And is it even possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally? When it comes to potentially polarizing topics, our posture, tone, and approach will tell others all they need to know about what’s most important to us.
Spirituality is on the rise in America, but church affiliation is on the decline. Is church membership an outdated tradition that we no longer need or is it part of being a follower of Christ?
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Everyone needs an ally, everyone needs a mentor, and everyone needs a mentee. How do we leverage our life experiences to help those around us?
We learn when we sit in rows in church, but that isn’t how we grow in our relationship with God. We only grow in circles.
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An intricate and pragmatic look at the effects of sin on the human being, God’s response to the problem, and the power of the functional Gospel to set people free from the devastating effects of sin.
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Followers of Jesus are all called to serve. Why? Because Jesus told us to, because Jesus modeled how to, and because we can.
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Everyone has a next step in their faith, but sometimes we overcomplicate it. When is the last time we stopped to appreciate how beautiful our mission is to simply share the Gospel. And thankfully, someone once shared it with us.
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Life is never happily ever after, but that doesn’t change who God is. The story of Nehemiah doesn’t end how we think it should, but we can learn from this “non happily ever after” story.
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God loves to celebrate, and we should too. How do we celebrate in a way that helps us grow closer to God?
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Confession is confidence that God will provide a way out. For the Isrealites in Nehemiah 9, they confessed their sins corporately among a trusted circle of other believers. It’s in this prayer from the Levites that we learn the power of humble confession and a righteous response to our sin.
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Nehemiah is a great example of a godly leader. When the opposition tries to distract him, he chooses the good work God had given him. What if we responded the same way as Nehemiah?
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Nehemiah felt a calling from God: to rebuild the wall. Walls are there to protect what is important. How does Nehemiah’s calling help us create boundaries in our lives today?
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In Ezra 7-10, we see Ezra return and rebuild the Torah and the community, but at the end of Ezra we see a decision that we aren’t sure is the best decision. What do we do to make the best decisions possible?
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Ezra and Nehemiah show us that God is in control even when things don’t go as planned. How do the Israelites returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple apply to us?
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Growth starts in our head, takes root in our heart, but at the end of the day it has to lead us to do something with our hands. In fact, if we do not show the fruit then we are not actually changing.
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Growth starts in our head, but it has to take root in our heart if we want to actually change. How can we grow and change to look more like Christ?
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If we want to follow God, it starts with committing with our head. How do we practically do that so we grow into spiritual maturity?
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How do you know if you are growing spiritually mature? It takes your head, your heart, and your hands. We all tend to lean towards one of the three, but if we want to grow in our walk with Christ, it will take all three.
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Why would a good God allow suffering? When our expectations do not match with our reality, how do we stay strong in our faith? It starts by realizing that even when we are suffering, there is always something better coming.
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Is Jesus really the only way? This claim seems unloving and excluding. But when you look at what Jesus claimed and look deeper into the logic of truth, we realize that Jesus is the most inclusive claim there is.
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The Bible can cause a lot of doubts, but when you look deeper at it and learn the right answers, the Bible can change your life.
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Faith is always accompanied by doubt. They go hand in hand. When we have doubts that there is a God, how do we know there is one? Through the Creation of God, the Impact of God, and the Experience of God.
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At the end of Daniel, we read about his third and final vision. What is clear about each vision is that even though things will get bad, there is always hope.
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In Daniel 9, we read about Daniel realizing that the time of exile is almost over. But surprisingly, he isn’t happy about it. But Daniel knows that all exiles need to be rescued.
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In Daniel 7 and 8, Daniel sees visions of the future and it terrifies him. In these confusing texts, we can see something very clear: we are called to commit to God in the already/not yet.
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Daniel remained faithful no matter what. Even in the midst of the den. How was Daniel able to remain faithful? Because he pre-decided, prepared, and proclaimed his faithfulness.
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We all have a pride problem. In Daniel 4 and 5, we see two different responses of God’s intervention to pride and two different ways that we can respond to the finger of God in our life.
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Daniel 3 tells us the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendigo, exiles who would not conform or become compliant but would stay true to their convictions. Exiles eventually go into the furnace, but we never go in alone.
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In Daniel 2, Daniel interprets King Nebuchadnezzer’s dream. Through this interpretation, we learn that all kingdoms, including our own, will surrender to God’s kingdom.
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Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? Do you ever feel like an outsider? Maybe it is because we are called to be an exile. The book of Daniel shows us exactly how to be a godly person in a godless culture.
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- Most Christians believe they are a follower of Jesus, but when we look at Jesus' description of a follower in Matthew 16, we may be more of a fan than a follower. So how do we follow Jesus the way He called us to?
Evangelism is a church word that many of us shy away from. We don’t want to be awkward and don’t want to force our beliefs on anyone else. But what if we as the church were looking at it the wrong way? What if evangelism is just recommending something you love to someone who needs it.
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If you have been part of church for long enough, you have probably experienced church hurt. How can we handle church hurt in a way that doesn’t keep us from being part of the church?www.impactchurchmd.com
The church is very important, but a lot of us look at it as a luxury when we have time. Why do we see it incorrectly? Because we don’t understand what the church is and how it is supposed to function. www.impactchurchmd.com
Maybe the "Woman at the Well" isn't who we've made her out to be, and neither are we. Jesus alone is living water that changes our perception of who we are and what we need. We will never crave imperfect love again when we allow Him to love us perfectly. www.impactchurchmd.com
The Christmas story makes one thing very clear: Jesus was born as king. But do we recognize Him as King or do we recognize Him as someone else?
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Luke tells us that the birth of Jesus brings us good news of great joy for all people. But is the news actually good? Is it even true? When you learn the true message of Jesus, it is easy to see how good it truly is.
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If we are the reason for the Christmas season, what does God want to tell us about himself through Jesus? In John 14, Jesus tells us the answer. Through Jesus, we know who God is and what He is like.
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You probably have heard the saying “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But that isn’t actually true. We are the reason for the season. When you understand the story of Christmas, it makes the Christmas story a lot easier to believe.
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Parenting can be really hard because many of us think “Am I doing it right?” Because we don’t know, we do whatever we can. But is that how God wants us to parent, or does God have a better plan for our parenting?
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We all want a healthy marriage, but how do we get one? By remembering that marriage is a covenant, marriage requires work, and marriage takes mutual submission.
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Every family is dysfunctional, but we can still see God in the midst of the dysfunction. How do we have the right perspective and priorities in order to grow in our families?
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God calls His Church to follow His mission to restore and redeem what is lost.
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If we do not want to live a life of fear, we have to instead live in the truth that God has given us. The hard part about living that way is that it takes faith. So how can we live in obedience to God so that we can live in faith?
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We don't always realize it, but anger is connected with our fear. When we try to fight against the lie that produces fear, we live in anger. So what does God call us to do with our anger?
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No matter who we are, we all struggle with a bit of anxiety. Specifically, worrying about the lie we tell ourselves. That is why we need to live out the Gospel daily.
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We all have fears in life. All of our fears come from a lie that we believe about either ourselves or about God. How do we live in truth so that we are not controlled by fear?
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Many churches follow a business model to create systems that result in success. But is that what God called the church to be? Or is there a better model to determine success?
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As we celebrate 5 years as a church, we look back at how God has made a difference in our community and how God continually calls us to make a difference. We are called to make a difference one person at a time.
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Life was never meant to be done alone. If we want to have a faith that lasts through the valleys, we need to have the right community. God shows us in Acts 2 and Acts 9 that He always involves others in our spiritual growth.
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At Impact Church, we are a church that helps people know Jesus. We do that by gathering, scattering and sticking together.
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The story of the prodigal sons teaches us a lot. But one thing that often gets lost in the story is that when we aren’t walking along the path with our father, it becomes easy to be like one of the sons. So what next steps should we be taking to stay in stride with God?
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The Parable of the Two Builders shows us the difference between a wise builder and a foolish builder. What is the difference? One hears and doesn't apply, where the other hears and applies. Which builder are you?
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In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, we encounter the reality that the Kingdom of Heaven is always expanding, and God has called each one of us to participate in that expansion. But how are we to understand what the Kingdom of Heaven is? And what role do we play in the expansion?
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In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus teaches us a very important lesson: He cares about what is lost. So how should found sheep respond to what is lost?
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In one of the most confusing parables, the Parable of the Dishonest Manager, we see Jesus command a manager who acts deceitfully. What is Jesus trying to teach us? He is trying to teach us to use our finances for eternal purposes.
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When Jesus was asked how often we should forgive, he responded with a story. The parable of the unmerciful servant shows us how often we should forgive: Always.
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In the Parable of the Talents, we learn about 2 servants who honor their master and 1 who doesn't. What does the 1 do that doesn't honor the master? He plays it safe. It is clear: God doesn't call us to play it safe.
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The defining characteristic of a Christian is the love we show toward God and toward people. If love is the greatest of all the commands, then the question worth asking is how do we love God and people?
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Identity is complex. We often think that our identity is just who we are and we do not have a choice. But research shows us that not only do we have to choose, but the increase of our identity is bad for our mental health. Luckily for us, the Bible has the solution to our identity problem.
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Human sexuality is a hard topic to talk about. It has become politically charged, emotionally charged, and relationally charged. As followers of Jesus, we are called to sit with people and love them with the truth. But what is the truth in Scripture about homosexuality, and is it as clear as we think?
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Health and Wellness is a huge industry, and it is only growing. As followers of Jesus, how should we honor God by the way we treat our bodies? What does the word of God say about our physical health, and how can we respond correctly to it?
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Can women be ordained? This is a question that has been debated for a while now. With verses in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2, how can anyone believe women can be ordained? Yet when you look deeper into the Bible, there is reason to believe women not only can be ordained but should be.
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Esther is an amazing story that doesn’t mention God in it a single time. Even though God is never mentioned, we can see that He isn’t absent. How can we fall into the traps the main characters of this story fall into, and what can we do to prevent it?
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It seems strange that the book of Ruth is even in the Bible. God is barely mentioned and nothing remarkable happens, which might be the point. Through the ordinary story of Ruth, we see the God of provision, the God of kindness and the God of the Gospel.
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Rahab, in every way, seems like the most unlikely person to be part of the story of the Gospel. Yet when we read Joshua 2, we learn that God can and will use everyone, especially the most unlikely.
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What is the best way to deal with the honeymoon phase ending in your faith? Through discipleship. What is discipleship and what is the best wat that we can make disciples?
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Meeting Jesus isn’t the finish line of faith, it is actually the starting point. But just because you follow Jesus for years doesn’t mean you are growing in spiritual maturity. John tells us about 3 stages of spiritual maturity we can be in, and how to grow in maturity. www.impactchurchmd.com
You cannot truly follow God without having Godly community around you. What does Godly community provide? It provides purpose, accountability, stability and encouragement.
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Baptism is a public declaration of inward grace, and it is a very important next step after salvation. So let’s answer the questions that come up about baptism.
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There is a lot of evidence that Jesus really rose from the grave. We have biblical evidence, circumstantial evidence, and historical evidence. But when we take all the evidence that we have to prove that we are right, we are in danger of wearing the thing that Jesus spoke against: Self-righteousness.
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As Luke continues to tell us the life of Jesus, we see that Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies to an impossible degree. Since He is the Messiah, how can we respond to His call even when we have objections? We can respond the same way as Simon Peter: "But because you said so..."
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If we decide there is a God, how do we know who He is? Through scripture. When we read Luke's carefully investigated account, we learn about John the Baptist. John shows us that believing in God isn't enough. We are also called to do something.
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Why should anyone be a Christian? The reason isn't tradition, community or even the Bible. The reason is that something good and extraordinary happened. If what Luke recorded was true, then what does that mean for us today?
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How does it all end? There are many ways to look and dig through the last chapters of the letter. No matter how you read the last few chapters, one thing is clear: Jesus will remove evil from this world and make all things new.
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In Revelation 4 and 5, we see a glimpse of heaven. But what do the elders, thrones, creatures, and emeralds even mean? And why does it matter to us today?
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The book of Revelation is full of imagery, apocalyptic language and hard to understand metaphors. What was the book of Revelation supposed to mean to the churches it was written to? Once we understand that answer, then we can understand what it should mean to us.
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It is very easy to worry about life. There are so many things to worry about. But God speaks directly to our worries and speaks to what we are saying about God through our worries.
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Do you ever look at what's going on around you and wonder how to escape the negativity? Maybe it's not your circumstances that need to change - it's your mindset. In order to change our thinking, we need to reframe our mindset.
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It is easy to get our wires crossed with what are lies and what is true. How do we get them uncrossed so that we believe the truth of God's word? By focusing on what you put in it and what you do with it.
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Isaiah predicted a lot about the birth of the Messiah, but his most important prediction had nothing to do with Jesus' birth. It was all about his death.
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Christmas lights are an important part of Christmas, from lighting up our Christmas tree to lighting up our house outside. But light during the Christmas story goes back a lot further. What do we do with the light of Christmas? We seek it, see it and send it.
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Christmas is a reminder that we have hope. Isaiah tells us that when we adjust our focus and anchor our faith to Him, we can anticipate our future.
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God calls each one of us to His purposes, no matter how dysfunctional we are or our family is. Joseph teaches us how to handle our God given dreams in the midst of family dysfunction.
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God gives Abraham and Isaac a test. It’s a test that doesn’t seem fair. But when we look deeper at the test and remember who God is, we learn that every test is an opportunity for us. So how do we use the test in our dysfunctional families to glorify God with the opportunity He has given us?
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The Bible is full of stories of dysfunctional families, and one of the earliest family is Abram and Sarai. How do Abram and Sarai, along with Hagar, show us how we can cause the dysfunction in our family.
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Gossip is so easy to do, yet gossip. Who does it hurt? And what do we do to stop speaking and hearing gossip?
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Gluttony is when too much of a good thing becomes a sin. This is tricky because there are things in this world, like food, that are good for us. However, we can overindulge and find ourselves in a place we do not want to be. Let's look at the ways gluttony is harming us and how to change it.
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Greed is a sin that most of us know hurts our relationship with God and others, yet we often live unaware of the insidious ways greed works its way into our lives. In this sermon, we will look at the many ways greed impacts our lives and the way God gives us to combat it.
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It is so easy to hold a grudge. It is also very common. But holding a grudge dominates, deprives, defiles, and destroys. That is why God calls us to forgive instead.
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Jesus wraps up His amazing sermon with a concluding parable. Jesus makes it clear: We are wise when we listen and apply. Jesus helps us understand the foundation we all need.
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We all worry about things. When we hear Jesus' sermon it sounds like he is simply telling us to "stop worrying." But what if Jesus is talking less about our concern for things around us and more about where we put our faith?
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In the Sermon on the mount, Jesus tells us how we should pray by giving us the template of prayer. Even though we are familiar with these words, it is easy to miss the complexity and beauty of the Lord's prayer.
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What should make us different as followers of Jesus? Jesus makes the answer clear: by the way we love our enemies. How do we actually love our enemies the way God calls us to?
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In Jesus' longest sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us who will be part of the kingdom of Heaven. He then gives us a challenge on how to live while at the same time showing us exactly what He came to do.
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We have doubts for many reasons. But what do we do when we have doubts because of the very thing we are trying to have faith in?
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Just because someone claims to be a follower of Jesus does not mean they will not hurt you. And when they hurt you, it is easy for it to affect your faith. How do we stay strong in our faith even when we are hurt by the ones who are supposed to represent it?
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Doubts come for all different reasons. But when we doubt, Jesus does not give us accusations. Instead, He gives us an invitation.
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All of us feel torn in our faith at times. The feelings of doubt can leave us feeling confused and alone. But there is good news when we are torn: God is still working. Luckily for us, our doubts don’t disqualify our faith.
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Technology can cause a lot of damage, but technology can also be used for good. God has always used the advancement of technology to spread the message of the Gospel. So how can we use technology to become disciples in a digital age?
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Have you ever considered the side effects of using smartphones? Or wondered how this little gadget shapes the way we think, feel, and act? This message looks at some life hacks to help use and enjoy our phones while minimizing the negative impact they can have on our hearts and minds.
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Screens and Technology are a very good thing. But when do they become bad for us? Maybe when we make a good thing a God thing. What practical things can we do to keep our screens in their proper place?
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*please note, the stream was interrupted and cuts off prior to the end
Technology is not a bad thing. It has advanced our world in amazing ways, making life a lot easier. But technology isn’t always a good thing either. How do we navigate in a technological world in a way that we do not conform but we are being transformed?
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Pride tells us more and more needs to be done. But we can never do enough to settle our pride. Because of that, a lot of us are tired. Luckily, Jesus gives us the rest we need.
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Jesus’ harshest words were not directed to sinners or to people unlike him. His harshest words were directed to the religious. Jesus demands that followers of Him take off the mask of pride and live in humility.
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Pride promises a lot of things, promises we tend to believe - But these promises are empty promises.
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An Achilles Heel is a vulnerability or weakness in spite of overall strength. We may think we have different Achilles Heels, but really we all have the same. It reveals itself differently, but the root is the same. And the root is a problem. What is the solution to all of our problems?
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The Priestly Blessing was spoken over the Israelites twice a day every day. But what does this blessing mean for us today? It means that God is for us.
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Pastor Michele dives into the source and meaning behind Every Part to You, and original song for Impact Church written by Worship Leader Frank Hendrickson
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In the song “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”, we learn how all of our life is a path. A path of discovering, remembering, and returning. But what do we do when we are prone to wander? We remember our Ebenezer.
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In the song “Another in the Fire”, we learn about a God who enters the fire with us. How do we have an “even if” faith when it’s hard to believe He can and will save us?
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Pastor Bryan Todd visits from Washington DC to challenge Impact on how to love one another through what he likes to refer to as “dinner discussions”.
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Baptism is a very important next step in our walk with Christ, but a lot of us have questions about it. What is it, what does it do, and should you get baptized?
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True and lasting satisfaction only comes from one place: the good Shepherd. What does the good shepherd do for his sheep? Makes us, leads us, refreshes us, and guides us.
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There are three different types of depression we will all struggle with at some point: Physical, Circumstantial, and Spiritual. How does Psalm 42 teach us to handle our depression?
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We have all made mistakes. Because of those mistakes, we have all experienced guilt. But should we experience guilt? David would say we should.
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How much of our prayer is a request? For some of us, we only pray when we have a request. But do we ever take time to praise? To be intentionally grateful for all the benefits God gives us? Psalm 103 teaches us how.
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How do we become satisfied in life? Psalms tells us that we need to feel and know God. And Jesus says the same thing.
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There are three different types of regrets we can have in life. Regrets from our mistakes, regrets from other’s mistakes, and regrets from life’s mistakes. How do we navigate through all our regrets?
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The dependence myth tells us that we are only a good couple when we are dependent on each other. Because of this myth, too often we expect our partner to fulfill all of our hopes, dreams, and desires. But Paul teaches a better way.
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If we want to have a love with no regrets, we can't worry about what the other does. We have to take personal responsibility. Luckily for us, Paul gives us the best description on what love looks like.
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There are two myths that many of us believe about romantic relationships: The right person myth and the promise myth. But Jesus commands us to love in a different way.
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Developing Godly Habits produce Godly Character. Godly habits are not just spiritual disciplines, but what spiritual disciplines should every follower of Jesus do? Any why is it important to do every day?
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What habits do you need to stop today to be the person God is calling you to be? There are plenty of habits that aren’t wise, helpful, or godly. So how do we stop good habits?
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Creating new habits is about getting from who you are to who you want to be. We can only do that when we start small and keep going, just like planting a Chinese Bamboo Tree.
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What habits do you need to start today to be the person God is calling you to be? It is easy to think of those habits, but actually doing them can be a different story. So how do we start good habits?
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We all have habits we want to develop. It isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it honors God when we become the best us we can be. But how do we develop Godly habits that produce Godly character? We ask, “Who do we want to be?”
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The Christmas Story is the celebration of the birth of the King. But is that how we see Jesus?
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We all expect life to go a certain way. But when it doesn’t, what is left of our faith? We can get stuck in our faith, or we can allow God to exceed our faith.
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Another year, another Christmas season. Many of us feel the same now as we did all year: Stuck. How does the Christmas story help us get unstuck? When we simplify the message we see something important: The good news is really good.
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This week, Pastor Michele challenges us to consider our own story as she closes out the Broken Leaders series by looking at Nicodemus through the book of John.
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Joshua is one of the best examples in the Old Testament of leadership. What can we learn from him? That Godly leaders keep going.
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David shows us a great example of a godly leader by the way he faced Goliath. But he also shows us a bad example through his relationship with Bathsheba. How can we beat the giants while not falling for our temptations?
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The Bible is full of examples of Broken Leaders. Saul, Israel’s first king, shows us so many leadership traits we should avoid. How do we prevent failing like Saul did?
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How does the story of Jacob and Esau connect to Obadiah? And what can we learn about pride, integrity, and appetites through the prophet Obadiah?
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A lot of the prophets in the Old Testament talk about repentance and a call to repent. The Prophet Joel describes how and why to repent. He also talks about how God responds to our repentance. Pastor Shane breaks down the book of Joel in our "Major Problems, Minor Prophets" series.
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What kind of worship is God asking for from his church? The minor prophet Amos shows us what God is looking for as we worship God with our whole lives.
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God hates sin. There is nothing He hates more. Why does he hate sin? And what does that mean for how we should love? Micah tells us.
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The minor prophet Habakkuk answers a very important question for us: What do we do when we don't like what God is doing?
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If we want to love without an agenda, we need to understand two principles: The principle of Separate Realities and the Principle of Trust. 1 Corinthians 13 shows us what that love looks like.
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There is no sin that God hates more than self-righteousness, yet we all struggle with it. How do we stop trying to be good in our self-righteousness and starting surrendering to what God called us to do?
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Stop inviting people to church. Seriously. Instead, invite people into your life.
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Jesus told us the two greatest commandments are to Love God and Love Others. But what happens when we turn love into an agenda? Then we aren’t loving the way Jesus commanded us to.
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Life is a battle. How should we prepare? By putting on our spiritual armor. But what does each piece show us about our faith?
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Where do we find our fulfillment and satisfaction? Not in our happiness, not in our family, not even in our calling. Our satisfaction should be found in only one place: Our Heavenly Father.
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Do you need God to show up in your life. Then starting digging. Then wait. Then Trust. Because God always shows up.
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The Parable of the Prodigal Son's shows us something we all need to understand: God cannot love you any more or any less than He does right now. Which son are you?
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When it comes to your money, what kind of mindset do you have? A scarcity mindset or an abundance mindset?
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What is God’s motivation? What is his motivation for loving you? Saving you? Providing for you? Hint: You are not his motivation.
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We constantly hear a message on self love. We hear it online, we hear it in our culture, and we hear it in church. But did Jesus preach it? Or did he preach the opposite?
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We will never grow in holiness until we desire to grow. But desire isn’t enough, you also have to have the discipline to follow through.
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The Bible talks a lot about holiness. We see it in the story of Moses, we see it in the temple, we see it in Revelations, and everywhere in between. Holiness doesn’t seem possible for us. But what if holiness wasn’t only possible, it was also required?
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We all have the same last step when we are following Christ: To Make a Difference. Jesus calls us to make a difference in Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Are you a difference maker?
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Purpose is crucial to our faith, but it’s also the hardest step to take. What peace rivals do we have in our lives and what peace revealers does God give us?
After we know God, what is our next step to get unstuck in our faith? How does the cross help us find freedom in this life we are living today?
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It is easy to feel stuck in your faith. To feel like your faith in God hasn’t changed in years. So what do you do to get unstuck? It starts with knowing God.
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Many of us have heard of baptism, but we don’t all agree on what it is. Baptism is an essential step to our faith. Let’s answer some popular questions on the topic of baptism and learn how God is using baptism to make us new.
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There is a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. What is the difference, why is it important, and how does Jesus show us both?
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At the table, Jesus shows us the heart of God, the message of the gospel, and the challenge for how to live through one simple act. How does that act continue to make us new?
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What does new look like with our faith? We think of NEW as a destination. But what if becoming NEW is a process? And what if Jesus makes you new by inviting you to fellowship with him at the table?
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No matter our titles, our leadership and decisions have great influence on those around us. In every situation, we should use Jesus’ life as the perfect leadership model.
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Jesus calls us to have childlike faith. But what does that mean for us? It means humility, sacrifice, and individual love.
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Treat others the way you would like to be treated. The Golden Rule is not a new rule, complicated rule, or even Christian rule. But how do we find a way to live it out? Through asking, seeking, and knocking.
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At the beginning of his book, Matthew writes the genealogy of Jesus. Most of us skip this section when reading. But when you look closer at the names listed, you can learn something important: God uses imperfect people for his perfect purposes. That includes you.
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God created culture. God created the church. God created the church to make an impact on culture. So how do we do that?
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Art is everywhere, from the music we listen to, the movies we watch, the books we read, and the shows we binge. How does the art we consume affect the faith we confess?
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Culture lifts up fame. Whether it is fame by election, achievement, association, chance, or birth, culture finds fame important. But when we chase fame, what are we really chasing?
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We have seen a lot of examples of the “perfect” family in our culture. But what is God’s plan for you and your family?
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God gives us the responsibility to live in and build on culture. But why does culture often feel like the enemy? Maybe it is because we have the wrong relationship with culture.
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Hope is crucial for our life. Without hope, you cannot have peace. And our hope only comes from one person.
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Confidence in God is essential for peace in your life. But what happens when you aren’t as confident in God as you should be?
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We are all created with a purpose in life. But when we feel like we are not living out our purpose, it is hard to have peace.
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Christmas is the season of giving and receiving. But what happens to our peace when we aren’t receiving as much as we want or need?
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Some of us are lacking peace because we do not feel good enough. Neither did Moses and neither did the Shepherds, but God used them anyways.
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The most important thing during election season is not winning, it is oneness. The early church showed a great example of unity and diversity. Our oneness should be as unifying and diverse as theirs.
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How was your political view shaped? Maybe by your background, your education, or maybe your personal experience. We all feel like we have the right political view, but the person beside you is more important than your political view.
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One of two things is going to happen this election: Your favorite candidate will win or your favorite candidate will lose. But how does the church win during the election? By our behavior before and after the election.
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Before, during, and after Nehemiah’s mission, Nehemiah continued to worship. In fact, accomplishing his mission was worship. How can we live a life of worship during our mission?
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Nehemiah showed great leadership in accomplishing his mission. What is the best way to lead? Jesus told us: By being a servant leader.
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You cannot accomplish the mission of your life without community around you. Nehemiah needed many people to help him accomplish his mission. And once he accomplished it, his community strived to grow closer together.
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Nehemiah understood his mission because he understood the best way he could serve his community. How is God calling you to serve in light of the mission he has given you?
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What is your mission in life? Nehemiah's mission was clear: fixing the wall. Knowing the mission and the vision is the first step to accomplishing what God has called us to do.
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James finishes his letter with two simple instructions: Live like you believe and Pray like you expect. What will the result of following those instructions be? Lives being saved.
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“It is a sin to know what you ought to do and not do it.” What should we do? Draw close to God. When we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us.
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One of the most important actions that show our faith is our mouth. Our mouth holds so much power. How do we allow our mouth to show our faith? By speaking up and shutting up.
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How do we know if we have faith? James makes it very clear: Through your actions of loving others. But a lot of us have trouble showing our faith because we do not understand how Christ rescued us from ourselves.
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We are called to live out our faith practically, but how do we do that when we face troubles, temptations, and confusing circumstances? James tells us that the way we face those situations shows how much faith we actually have.
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It can be really hard to trust in God when you feel overwhelmed. Do you ever feel like you can’t handle everything happening to you? Maybe it is because you can’t.
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Happiness is most of our goals, isn’t it. We are always seeking to do what makes us happy. But is God’s number 1 goal our happiness?
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Does what I believe really matter as long as I am a good person who truly believes it? When you look at what Jesus said, we learn that what you believe really does matter.
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“Do Not Judge, or you too will be judged.” Jesus told us directly not to judge. But does the Bible tell us to never judge? Paul doesn’t.
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We don’t truly know God’s plans for us, but does that mean He works in mysterious ways? Could this statement be true whilewe at the same time understand it wrong?
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We all need money, we all use money, and we all want money. So why does the Bible say money is the root of all evil? Well, maybe it doesn’t.
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If you want God’s help, you need to help yourself. How does this thought misunderstand who God is? Why is it dangerous to believe that God only helps those who help themselves?
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Does everything really happen for a reason? If that is true, then why would a loving God allow wars, murders, pain, and suffering? If it is true, then we have a lot of problems. So does the Bible actually say that everything happens for a reason?
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If we aren’t careful, all of us can fall into addictive behaviors. Whether it is a substance, food, porn, social media, etc., without the proper guardrails we all can fall into an addictive trap. How can we overcome the addictions we currently face?
First Time? Fill out our Digital Connection Card and we will donate $2 on your behalf to the COAD Pop Up Food Pantry. www.impactchurchmd.com/new
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Have you noticed how angry people have gotten? It is easier now than ever to be angry. There are a lot of reasons to be angry, so it is important to figure out what God wants us to do with our anger.
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It can be hard to not feel depressed, especially today. With our current pandemic, social media, news, and more, a state of depression is easy to fall into. How do we get out of depression and help others when depressed?
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The most common mental illness in America is anxiety, with 40 million adults suffering from it. But are there ways that we are allowing ourselves to stay in our anxiety?
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Whether you believe in Jesus or not, you cannot deny that His message had a major impact on this world. But how did the birth of a baby in a manager end up changing our culture today?
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We have learned that Jesus really lived, Jesus really died, and Jesus really came back to life. Now what? Well, the only response is to worship Him. But how do we, imperfect and sinful people, worship the Real Jesus? Through glory and sacrifice.
Impact Church Online starts on Sunday, April 19th at 10:30AM.
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The core belief of Christianity is that Jesus died and came back to life three days later. But how do we know that actually happened? What happens when we stop just trusting that the Resurrection happened and we learn the truth? Join us for our Easter service.
This is the audio from our March 15, 2020 live-streamed service, broadcast from a home in an effort to practice social distancing. The video, as well as all our other sermons, can be found on YouTube, linked from our website.
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We are all designed and created to work, but do you know why? Understanding why we work is essential to doing our best at work.
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Pastor Lenae joins us from Hope Rising Community Church. For more information about Hope Rising, visit https://www.annapolishoperising.org.
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Paul explains the true and proper way to worship God with our lives: by making our lives a living sacrifice. What does that mean and how can we do it? Paul tells us in chapter 12.
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Salvation is for everyone. Because it is for everyone, we have a responsibility: to tell everyone. How do we tell them? Paul tells us in chapter 10.
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In Romans 8, Paul shows us how God will continually change us. When we are freed from our sin, we are given life in the spirit. And because we have the Spirit, we are his heirs. How do we allow the spirit to change us? Paul tells us in chapter 8.
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In his letter to the church in Rome, we see Paul’s boldness. He commands us to be bold because he understands who we all were. How can we be bold? Paul tells us in chapter 1 and 3.
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Many of us would like to shift towards discipleship, but we just don’t know how. So let’s get practical and learn simple tools that can help us be a better disciple as well as help us make more disciples.
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The main goal of discipleship is to look more like Jesus as we are helping others look more like Jesus. For many of us, we have habits that are doing the opposite. What disciplines can we begin to break bad habits.
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Step one in the shift towards discipleship is having the right heart. In order to make disciples, we have to allow God to transform our hearts so that we can begin to grow spiritually. From there, we can lead other in their growth.
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As followers of Jesus, we are called to be His disciples. Not just accept his grace and live how we want, but to actually change, grow, and make more disciples. If Jesus commanded it, why aren’t most of us actually doing it? We think it is time to shift gears.
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The week between Christmas and New Years can be a challenging time. The hustle and bustle of Christmas usually begins somewhere around the end of November. As each day goes by the anticipation and excitement of the season continues to build. We shuffle schedules. We fill our open times with something festive. We attend different programs and special events that come with the season. And then it happens. Christmas Eve turns to Christmas day and before you know it it is December 26th. And here we are trying to navigate "life after Christmas". As we recall the story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2, there is so much that the shepherds found in verse 20 can teach us in regards to life after Christmas. How do you navigate life after Christmas? Are you filled with joy as you pack up the decorations of December? Or do you dread the ending of the season?
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As a kid, the thing you look forward to more than anything during Christmas time is gifts. You write Christmas list, you send letters to Santa, and you eagerly hope that you will get every gift you asked for. Christmas is also an amazing reminder that we have been given the ultimate gift: Jesus Christ.
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You can’t help but be happy as a kid during the Christmas season. With all the lights, traditions, and presents, it is easy to be happy. But Jesus didn’t come to give us happiness, Jesus came to give us joy.
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When you are a kid, you cannot wait for Christmas to get here. You count down the days until you are finally off School and you can open all of your Christmas presents. There was much anticipation for Jesus arrival. As we anticipate the celebration of Jesus birth, how can we prepare ourselves for what God has planned for us?
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Not only is your family your family, but your church is designed to be family. When done right, your church family can lift you up and adopt you no matter your past. But how do we become the church family God intended for us to be?
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The Bible isn’t full of great Family examples. Actually, it is full of Family Dysfunction. Families like Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Lot, David, and more are great examples of bad families. What do we do with the family members we didn’t choose and are more difficult to get along with?
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Parenting is the best and hardest thing we will ever experience. It is a gift that we have been given as well as a challenge, and we only have so much time to get it right. When you see how much time you have left, you tend to value what happens over time.
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Our most important earthly relationship is the one with our spouse or future spouse. If we want to have a Functional Family, it starts with our marriage. But instead of talking about the theory of a great marriage, let’s get very practical on how we can improve our marriage today.
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All of us love a good story, and there is something about a campfire that brings out the best stories. Jesus was a master storyteller. Jesus loved to tell earthly stories that had eternal meaning. The stories Jesus told are meant to impact the way we live our lives. So let’s all gather around the campfire and tell some stories.
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All of us love a good story, and there is something about a campfire that brings out the best stories. Jesus was a master storyteller. Jesus loved to tell earthly stories that had eternal meaning. The stories Jesus told are meant to impact the way we live our lives. So let’s all gather around the campfire and tell some stories.
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All of us love a good story, and there is something about a campfire that brings out the best stories. Jesus was a master storyteller. Jesus loved to tell earthly stories that had eternal meaning. The stories Jesus told are meant to impact the way we live our lives. So let’s all gather around the campfire and tell some stories.
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All of us love a good story, and there is something about a campfire that brings out the best stories. Jesus was a master storyteller. Jesus loved to tell earthly stories that had eternal meaning. The stories Jesus told are meant to impact the way we live our lives. So let’s all gather around the campfire and tell some stories.
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Many of us follow a pyramid style of leadership. But Jesus didn’t model that style. Instead, he taught us to lead like a Peach Tree.
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We have all heard that we should serve each other, but is it really that important? Why does serving matter so much? According to Jesus, serving is one of the most important things we do. So why don’t we? Because we are waiting for God to make a table.
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When you plant a tree by a stream, the tree grows healthier. If you are planted with the proper support, you will grow. But when you aren’t…
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Some of us are really good at playing the part. We look like a healthy, vibrant tree, but when you look closer you can’t find any fruit. Without worship as a foundation, we will have no fruit to show.
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We need roots. Deep roots. But how do we know are roots are deep? How do we know whether are roots are connected to the right source? And how do whether we as a church have the proper roots? Well, we should look at the fruit.
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Does God see all sin equally? Can women be pastors? How do we deal with different politics in social media? Let's answer these questions together.
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Following Jesus can create a lot of questions. What do we do with our doubts? How do we stop comparing our faith to others? Is it as simple as following Jesus? Let’s wrestle with these questions together.
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We may go to church, but that doesn't mean we don't have questions about it. What do we do when we gave been burned by the church? Why should we belong to a church? What is the importance of church? These are questions that should be asked and questions we should wrestle with.
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If God is in control and if God is good, why would He allow bad things to happen to people who don’t deserve it? If He allows it, can’t he be to blame? These are questions that many of us struggle with. But looking at the story of Job, is there a better question we should be asking?
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Have you ever read the laws of the Old Testament and thought, “What is this about?” Sometimes, the Old Testament will say one thing while the New Testament says something different. Luckily for us, Jesus came and straightened it all out for us. So why do we still get it confused?
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Did God really ask Abraham to sacrifice His own son? What kind of God would bless Abraham with a son and then take him away? The story of Abraham and Isaac can be hard to understand, but when you look at it through the right lens, it’s one of the most powerful stories in the Old Testament.
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There are some strange stories in the Old Testament, but none stranger then the story of Judah and Tamar. It is a story of death, deception, adultery, prostitution, lying, blackmail, and more. With a story this strange, what can we learn from it? And what does Jesus have to do with it? A lot more than you think.
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In David, we encounter a man after God’s own heart who nevertheless struggled to honor God with how he lived and led. Yet he was Israel’s greatest king. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of David’s family line and God’s promise represented through it. He is the perfect King who leads with a love that defies the worlds expectations and standards. Does King Jesus match with your expectations and standards? Are you really ready to follow His leadership and example?
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Did you hear what happened? Gossip can feel really good, and if the person you are talking to never hears about it, who does it really hurt? Actually, gossip hurts more people than you think.
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People aren’t perfect, which is why it is so easy to criticize someone’s behavior. We hate to be criticized, but we don’t mind giving it. What can we do with our criticism?
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*Please excuse the first twenty seconds of audio, as it had to be pulled from a different source.
Life is not easy. With hard days at work, family members driving us nuts, and life not working out the way you want it to, there are plenty of things to complain about. But what does complaining really do in your life?
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When we allow our past to define us, then we will always limit our potential. But when we define ourselves with who God says we are, then we can live to our fullest potential.
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Some of us have past we do not like. Whether it is because of circumstances beyond our control or our own decisions, our past has made us who we are. How can we allow God to shape our future through our past?
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The longer we are in church, the easier it is to get stuck inside our traditions. When does a good tradition go from following truth to overtaking truth? How do we prevent ourselves from placing traditions over truths?
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Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past. Many of us think back to our past with fond memories, but sometimes our nostalgia becomes our idol. What place does our nostalgia have in our lives?
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There are many fears that come into play when it comes to being a neighbor. If we plan on living out the great commission, then you must be willing to love the people God has placed around you, no matter what you fear.
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Love is spelled T-I-M-E. If we want to take the Great Commandment seriously, we need to invest our time. But how do we, busy people, find time to be a good neighbor?
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The Great Commandment is very simple: We are to love God and love our neighbors. But if it is that simple, how come most of us don’t actually do it? If we want to make a difference in our community, it is time to actually be serious about loving our neighbors.
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Ever felt dead in your faith? Sometimes we feel dead in our doubts, dead in our discouragement, and dead in the delay. But when we feel dead, Jesus can give us life because He is the resurrection and the life.
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When things aren't connected to source of their power, they lose all strength. When we stay connected, we produce fruit. But when we don't, we produce nothing. How do we stay connected to the source of our strength?
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When it is too dark to see, a light helps us find our way. Where the law reveals our guilt and the love reveals our grace, the light reveals our hope. Because He is the light of the world, we always have a second chance.
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Sheep are reference often in the Bible, and Jesus describes us as sheep. Even though sheep constantly lose their way, cannot defend themselves, are stubborn, and dirty, the Good Shepherd still guides them, provides for them, corrects them, and protects them.
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Life isn’t always easy. In fact, God promised us it wouldn’t be. What do we do when we are going through pain in life? In the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we learn how to persevere when we are thrown into the fires of life.
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Our culture has made church all about themselves. We only go if it fits our needs. But is this what God had in mind when the church began, to be all about us? In 1 Samuel, we see the Israelites thinking they know better than God, and we can learn a lot from their example.
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Being generous is hard to do, but nowhere in the Bible does God tell us giving is an option. In fact, giving is a requirement for following. How do we readjust our priorities so that we can obey God with our giving?
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Jesus did not die on a cross to save us from our sins so that we could trap ourselves by them again. Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. What does that look like in our lives?
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Happy couples decide they owe each other everything but are owed nothing in return. But that requires effort. Every married person makes a choice every day. That choice feels more like a reaction, so most people don’t think they have a choice at all. But they do. Happy couples make the happy choice.
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As long as you think your spouse owes you, your marriage will be all about keeping score. That destroys intimacy. It destroys love. But what are we supposed to do about our hopes, dreams, and desires?
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We had some technical difficulties this week, so please excuse the audio quality. We should be back to normal for Part 3 next week.
We all enter into marriage with hopes, dreams, and desires. They create expectations. But when you put those expectations onto your spouse, it turns your marriage into a debt/debtor relationship. Your relationship becomes marked by the belief that your spouse owes you something. So, how do you keep your hopes, dreams, and desires from becoming expectations?
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A great marriage doesn’t happen by accident. It requires care and regular maintenance. But sometimes we don’t want to make the effort. As long as it’s not broken, do we really need to talk about it?
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Our Respect for Life should extend to all humans created by God from conception to natural death, but in recent decades the lines have become blurred. What does God’s word really say about the issue of abortion and how should the church respond to women in need?
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God calls us to love. Not just love people that are easy to love, but to love even the hard to love people. How do we love someone we consider difficult? How do we love someone we completely disagree with?
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