Life Together: Recent Episodes
Oak Creek Assembly of God
This is the weekly podcast of Life Together - a Wednesday evening gathering at Oak Creek Assembly of God in Oak Creek, WI. Our desire is that this podcast will encourage you to discover and become who God created you to be.
With Christ, there is a path to living joyfully, even when the world around us is in disarray and decay. // Pastor Tom Murray
You have something in common with the great prophet Elijah if you have ever reached a breaking point and said, "I've had enough." Elijah felt like giving up. Yet, he was sustained, strengthened and sent by God. // Pastor Tom Murray
In the life of Elijah, we see an example of the overflow of our Heavenly Father's power that moves through us in acts of reconciliation toward the people around us. // Pastor Dan Wootton
When someone confronts sin in our life, it is easier to reject the messenger than to take ownership of the trouble we're in. // Pastor Tom Murray
It may be appear that all hope is lost. When it feels like there is no way out, God often shows us that He has other plans. // Jon Dickinson
God may guide you to your best future by taking away what you consider essential in the present. God's messenger Elijah declared that there would be no rain after people attributed their prosperity to a false god. // Pastor Tom Murray
The current crisis in our country calls for prayer rejuvenation, peace restoration, respect rehabilitation, and spiritual reconciliation. // Pastor Tom Murray
Jesus concludes the most famous sermon ever preached with a call to action that shapes our preparedness for life's challenges. // Pastor Tom Murray
We are on one of two life journeys described by Jesus. The journey you choose matters. Stay on or get on the journey that leads to life. Surround yourself with people who are heading in the same direction.
There is a gap between the moment when a desire is planted and when that desire is realized. Jesus lays out a pattern for effectively living in those gaps in every area of our life - ask, seek, knock. // Pastor Tom
Jesus condemns taking a position of moral superiority and passing judgement. Instead, He gives us a better way to respond when we see sin in others. // Pastor Tom Murray
Worry cannot peacefully coexist with faith. There are differing, competing fears about how today's decisions may negatively impact the future. Yet confronting anxieties, Jesus says, "do not worry about tomorrow."
Jesus teaches us how to store up treasures that deliver the most joy and security. Matthew 6:19-21 // Pastor Tom
Jesus said, "when you fast." He assumed His followers would participate in the spiritual discipline of setting aside their own needs for the purpose of seeking God. Fasting is so much better and so much more than going without food. // Pastor Tom Murray
You choose how to respond after being wronged. You can live as a debt collector or forgiver. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers to forgive because they have been forgiven. // Pastor Tom Murray
More people would pray if they had a confidence that prayer is what Jesus says pray is. Pastor Tom shares about the unparalleled invitation to personally connect and interact with the Creator of the Universe.
Acts of compassion are one of three disciplines Jesus calls his followers to live out in secret. Jesus promises rewards from God when you use your "more than" to serve someone with "less than" you. // Pastor Tom Murray
Our daily life is disrupted by the COVID-19 health crisis. God uses disruptions to get our attention. While much is out of our control, we can humble ourselves before God, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. // Pastor Tom Murray
There are moments in a marriage when husbands and wives feel like, "this is not what I signed up for." In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus elevates marriage and confronts casual attitudes toward divorce. // Pastor Tom
Protecting a marriage happens on purpose, not by default. Jesus tells us that affairs start in heart - and that's where husbands and wives must sever thoughts and desires that threaten to ruin our relationships. // Pastor Tom Murray
Every day is precious. As Milwaukee grapples with devastation, heartbreak and anger following a mass shooting, we look to our Heavenly Father for answers, comfort and refuge. God comforts us in all times of trouble so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4). // Pastor Tom Murray
When someone angers you, the prospect of revenge may seem sweet. However, Jesus challenges his followers to respond differently. Reconciliation will always be more satisfying than revenge. // Pastor Tom
Salt was highly valued when Jesus walked the earth because of its ability to preserve foods. Jesus calls his followers, "the salt of the earth." Christians are the answer to the world's spiritual, moral decay. // Pastor Tom
Through the Beatitudes, Jesus challenges His followers to take their relationship with God to the next level. //Pastor Tom
Jesus knew what today's great communicators also know. The first words spoken to a group are important. The opening words set the tone for everything that follows. Look at the first statement Jesus speaks in the Sermon on the Mount - and see how His opening words are essential to start and continue a relationship with Christ. // Pastor Tom Murray
Pastor Tom Murray. There was tension between the religious elite and John the Baptist when Jesus arrived on the banks of the Jordan River. Jesus took a side when He was baptized in water. In life's big and routine decisions, we also have an opportunity to stand with Jesus.
Backsliding is becoming entangled in a sin from which God has previously set you free. Returning to your Heavenly Father is the prescription for restoration after a backsliding diagnosis.
It would be foolish to stand in front of a mirror for 30 minutes, look at your messy hair, unbrushed teeth, snot in your nose - and do nothing about it. It is even more foolish to hear or listen to God's Word - and not take action based on what your Heavenly Father speaks to your mind and heart. // Pastor Tom Murray
You cry out in desperation and distress, "Lord, help!" As God is faithful to hear our petition, may our desire increase to give Him praise. Pastor Tom teaches from Psalm 107.
We may settle for peace on the outside while enduring torment on the inside. Kind words can be used to cover up jealousy, envy, bitterness and frustration. Join the conversation about the remedy for these emotions that can lead to hatred.
These are two questions people have been asking for centuries as they consider their desires and life direction. We wrestle with the questions as we consider our own future. See how God responded when a discouraged, defeated community asked: What do we do? Where do we go? // Pastor Tom Murray
What we say to the next generation has a direct effect on their spiritual trajectory. Intentionally, regularly tell the next generation what you want them to remember. // Pastor Tom
Ron Diaz laid unresponsive in an emergency room hospital bed. "He died for three minutes," a nurse told his wife, Mia. With her husband clinging to life, Mia prayed boldly for God's restoring power.
Live like your days are numbered - because they are. God gives life. Be intentional with the precious time He gives this side of eternity.
The stakes are high when there is an opportunity to share that Jesus gave his life to rescue people from evil. The Apostle Paul tells believers that this is a message we must communicate clearly, compassionately, and correctly. // Pastor Tom Murray
A passionate marriage is often easy to start and challenging to sustain. Find lasting joy through pursuing qualities that flow through the Song of Solomon like commitment, desire, faithfulness, physical attraction, and friendship. Pray for these qualities to grow in couples you know.
There are life situations that bring on confusion, doubt, frustration and anger. God offers tangible evidence to demonstrate that He is not absent in the crisis. God displays that He cares deeply about your circumstances and restoration. // Pastor Tom
When we first walk through the doors of a church, it is usually easy to express why we made the choice to show up. Over time, we can lose sight of the reason we are in a community of Christ followers - increasing the risk that we will walk away from our valuable faith family. See how God desires to speak to you and work through you in your church. // Pastor Tom
Experience freedom from the futile cycle of trying to be good enough for God - and the fruit that comes through allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, counsel, advocate, comfort and help you from the inside out. // Pastor Tom
Worship Pastor Dan Wootton shares this teaching about God's love through the lens of the Law of God vs. Law of Man.
Our Heavenly Father offers to equip you to thrive in a world permeated with the consequences of sin. There is a peace, confidence, and endurance in Him that brings joy - even in the face of life's most difficult problems and trials.
We often have areas of our life that we declare as "off-limits" to changing - responding with pride and stubbornness instead of humility and submission. Allowing God's Word to speak into the those attitudes and actions feels inconvenient. Yet, when we give God permission to challenge us in every area, we move toward the full life and freedom our Heavenly Father desires for us. // Pastor Tom
The source of a complaint is when what's actual is less than what's expected. Frustration festers when complaints go unresolved. We have likely expended far too much energy pouring out complaints to those who have insufficient authority to bring a resolution. Psalm 142 gives an example of how to effectively bring our complaints to our Heavenly Father - taking our complaints to a confidence that an answer is on the way. // Pastor Tom Murray
God's undeserved favor, love, kindness, help, and spiritual empowerment is called grace. Yet, crowds were divided when the leaders of the early church spoke about grace. There are many today who are inclined to reject God's grace. When we understand what our Heavenly Father is offering, we realize that grace is more than just needed - it is virtue worth pursuing everyday.