Leaving Simple: Recent Episodes
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Welcome to Leaving Simple with Ben Stoffel podcast. In these weekly teachings you will be challenged to leave simple ways behind and reach for God's best for your life.
In 1 John 2:12-14, God speaks of three distinct generations in the church. This teaching looks at the responsibilities and needs of each of them. In a healthy church, all three generations will work together well, providing a clear path of generational succession.
Sometimes there is doubt and discouragement because of what we are going through. Sometimes we think we need to "dress up" so that God will notice us, when what we really need to do is to clothe ourselves with Jesus. God wants to restore confidence in our hearts. We need to be in relationship with Jesus.
The disciples asked Jesus, "What shall we do that we may do the works of God?" And Jesus replied, " believe." Why am I following Jesus? Is it for what's in it for me, or for what's in it for Him? Is it really for love, or is it for what I get. Are we on an assignment or are we on an agenda?
A thorough exposition of 1 Peter 4:12-19. “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
A thorough exposition of 1 Peter 1:3-9. In His love, God gives us incredible encouragement about our eternal future along with the privilege of following Him through the midst of refining fires now. It’s only the faith that does not run from the fire that will receive the glory.
A thorough exposition of 1 Peter 5:6-11. Peter was writing to encourage suffering saints. These words are very powerful and a great encouragement. A successful faith in time of trial does not succeed in removing the trial necessarily, but in bringing the believer through the trial, perfected and refined by it. This teaching is a must listen for those going through suffering!
God’s purpose in everything in your life is that you will know Him. Therefore, in everything, we should always ask this question: “Through this, how can I know God more deeply?” This is the ONE question.
God is so much more, so much greater! Sit at the feet of Jesus and say, "God, what did You create me for?"
This teaching continues to solve the mystery of unanswered prayer. This mystery can be solved by studying John 14 – 17 and the book of 1 John. Those who walk in union with Christ will have all their prayers answered.
Jesus gave us some incredible promises in John 14:13-14, 15:7, 15:16 and 16:24 that God will answer all our prayers. But how should we understand these promises? So much teaching on prayer revolves around how to pray so that our prayers are effective, and we end up with a list of techniques on how to pray so we can get things from God. Was that Jesus’ intention? (NOTE: At 231/2 minutes into this teaching, we have placed 3 seconds of silence to note the absence of about 6 minutes that are missing from the recording.)
There are many promises in the Bible that God will answer your prayers. However, there are quite likely times in your life experience when it didn’t seem like it! Why didn’t He answer? Here are four Biblical reasons.
"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul. We are therefore God's ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us." 1Pet 2:11, 2Cor 5:20
The first in a two-part study on what a "church" is, what "church life" is, and how the church meets. Our source for understanding church life is not the latest trends but the eternal Word of God! In particular, Acts 2:42-47 and Ephesians 4:15-16 give clear and powerful direction. Revolutionary stuff!
A verse-by-verse study of Psalm 22. Even though it looks like God has abandoned you, He has not. He is with you and will carry you through to the end. Don't give up!
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
How do we connect with God to get the strength we need? We awaken our hunger for God through prayer. When our hunger for God increases, we will be stronger in prayer.
How did Jesus respond to suffering, pressure and opportunity? His response was always the same. Always! We should respond the same way.
Powerful and effective prayer is not a ritual and it is more than positive desire. Jesus continually went to His Father - all the time pulling back and praying. This was not just because He enjoyed prayer - it was because He needed to pray. How much more do we! The measure of what's happening spiritually in our lives now is closely connected to the depth of prayer in our lives. If we will be a praying people, we will see our cities and nations impacted!
The Bible is filled with stories of the faithfulness of God. The stories of Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Naaman, and Elijah are just a few of those stories. God is always faithful!
What is the one thing that brings us back to Christ? Many times it is an experience that we would not choose to have because of the pain and difficulties that come with the experience.
Worry, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin'! A worry free strategy is to: 1. Read the psalms 2. Go to Jesus 3. Pray 4. Go to prayer group meetings
Jesus did not see His own life and ministry in a vacuum. He understood where His own ministry fit within the context of the previous leaders God had sent, and He recognized and honored those who had gone before Him. Jesus respected the past, honored the past and built on the past. And then, in everything He did, He prepared for the future. Next generation: honor the past. Honor your spiritual mothers and fathers. Build on what they have done. Don't disregard it. If you honor the past, you unlock the future!
A healthy church is one in which every member is functioning properly. In such a church, what are the roles of the staff? And in what ways should every member function? And, practically, what can this look like in everyone's daily life?
Real faith trusts God in the midst of the contradictions of this life. And real faith not only endures the contradictions - it thrives in the midst of the struggles and pursues the opportunities of God! Together, let's honestly reflect on the pain and struggles of the past. But we won't be overwhelmed by them. Together we will push into the opportunities that God has prepared for us in the future!
In this time of year when the hustle and bustle of the season can be overwhelming and downright distracting how are you focusing on the true meaning of Christmas? Do you have Jesus at the center? Can you even recognize Jesus for who He truly is and what He is offering? He won't be physically coming down to a manger on the other side of the world this December 25th, so how are people going to recognize Him? (Please note that there is poor quality audio with the children's video.)
God loves us with an everlasting love and He has promised to care for us. He is infinitely powerful so He's certainly able to do that. And yet we suffer in this life. This is such a contradiction! How do we understand it? We need real faith.
"Ingratitude is worse than revenge. Revenge is doing bad for bad. Ingratitude is doing bad for good." If you want to destroy any relationship, then focus on what's wrong. Correct, criticize, point out the flaws. If you want to build any relationship, then focus on what's right. Affirm, encourage, support, be grateful, share thankfulness.
Around the world there is so much pain between the generations; there is disappointment, hurt and brokenness. But today we heard such wonderful affirmation. There was the recognition of disappointment and hurt, but also a deep recognition of the good and a sincere gratitude for the good. In spite of the struggles, there was still a deep thankfulness from one generation to the other. That’s so healthy!
We are invited together into the eternal experience of God's presence, His fellowship, His self-giving love. We're invited to look at Him, to know Him. And this happens together. Together, as His people, we experience His fullness. And out of His life in us, we express His love. This is the meaning of our relationships together in the church. This is the source and the nature of our unity together. It's Him - His life, His presence, His love.
What's a "multicultural church" and is it a biblical idea? In reality, the churches in the New Testament were all multicultural. Moreover, God's vision for His redeemed people has always been that they would be one, united in Him, serving and preferring one another. This should be the vision of every church!
We need to start with the end in mind. Rev 7:9 tells us that John, "saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before The Lamb." Heaven is a place where every culture, every language, and every people group, will be represented. His church is to be a replica of what Heaven will be like. Yes, we still have our preferences but our preferences should never become prejudices. If my preference turns into prejudice, then something is very wrong. Our fears and prejudices will prevent us from doing what God wants us to do.
Through the centrality of Jesus Christ, everyone grows in God and we become a people of His presence. One life, one truth, one family, one vision. "Let all things be done for building up".
Gods vision is for His church to be a healthy church through the indwelling life and presence of Christ in every member. Through the indwelling life of Christ, every member grows, builds others, reaches out, and serves others.
It’s a promise for those who are abiding in Christ, united with Him, looking at Him, loving Him, deeply surrendered to Him, giving ourselves to Him. His will is our will. His purpose is our purpose. His love for others is our love. His unity with the Father is our unity together with each other. His obedience to the Father is our obedience to the Father. Deep union of life! His life.
Paul gives practical instructions to Christians so that their gatherings can be full of character (fruit of the Spirit) and power (gifts of the Spirit) without confusion or disorder.
Paul addresses a messy church at Corinth and teaches young believers how to act when they come together in church meetings.
A balanced approach to character and charisma in the Holy Spirit. We need powerful character and powerful gifts in the Holy Spirit.
We respond with human energy and with human wisdom to human need. Jesus responded, always, with the Father's energy and with the Father's wisdom to the Father's will! That's why we often fail. And that's why Jesus was always perfectly successful.
While you stay the course, God is making you into a source of life! A look at how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and what we can learn from His example.
An example from 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 - - what to do and how to pray when you feel like giving up.
Eric shares his personal experience and stories from Syrian refugees that he met on his trip to Kurdistan.
Temptations try to bend our flesh to old patterns, the Holy Spirit bends us towards God and His ways.
This one thing marks the difference between being stuck as an immature Christian or growing to maturity in Christ.