Evergreen Church - Bloomington Messages: Recent Episodes
Evergreen Church - Bloomington
Our goal at Evergreen Church - Bloomington is to build a church filled with Christians who have the heart of Jesus. Follow our weekly podcast for weekly sermons.
Sermon in a Sentence: "Jesus is the hero we’ve been waiting for."
Action Steps/Application:
Fear God first
Abandon other fears
Continue in the work
More verses:
Matthew 18:20
Matthew 28:20
Matthew 10:26-28
Pastor Spencer Bernard joins to talk about our new series The Revelation of Jesus, why we are covering this book and mistakes people make when trying to interpret it.
Sermon in a Sentence: "When Jesus becomes clearer, everything else becomes less confusing."
Action Steps/Application: What’s distracting you from Jesus?
As we prepare for Mission to our City, hear from members of the 2026 Italy mission team as they reflect on the trip to Milan in April and share encouragements from what God has been doing.
This week we wrap up our Joshua series by taking a look at the key events of the last 16 chapters of Joshua and what we learn about God's faithfulness through them.
This week we continue our look at the Book of Joshua covering chapters 7 and 8 looking at the sin of Achan and the conquering of AI.
This week we continue our look at the Book of Joshua covering the seize of Jericho and discussing the morality of God's command to wipe out the Canaanites.
This week we take a look at the book of Joshua as they prepare to conquer the promised land. We'll explore God's command to circumcise all the men, celebrate the Passover, and a mysterious interaction with a figure called the Commander of the Lord's Army.
How does the crossing of the Jordan River compare to the Red Sea? What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant and the Memorial Stones?
This week we take a closer look at the story of Rahab from Joshua Ch 2 and look at how her story foreshadows the gospel, what it tells us about the character of God and whether or not her lie to save the Israelite spies was justified.
Let's take a look at the character of Joshua Son of Nun from the Bible and how he and his story foreshadow the gospel.
Jim Palo joins to talk about the Men's Game Feed and how God has used his cancer diagnosis to change his perspective and open doors for the Gospel.
This week, we set out to answer all your questions about baptism wrapping up our Worship Proclaim Baptize series.
3:00 Why is baptism important?
11:27 What are the basic requirements to get baptized?
15:19 Does baptism save you?
20:12 What about the verses that imply baptism saves?
32:36 Why do some churches practice infant baptism?
46:21 Is there an age when a child can make the decision to get baptized?
52:25 Is there a difference between a christening and baptism?
53:09 Mode of baptism: Immersion, sprinkling, pouring
55:50 Can we change the mode of baptism for special circumstances?
57:47 Can someone get re-baptized?
58:07 Should I get re-baptized if I was baptized as an infant?
59:46 Should I get re-baptized if I didn’t understand the gospel in my first baptism?
01:02:51 Should I get re-baptized if I wandered from my faith?
01:05:46 Who is allowed to perform baptisms?
01:08:02 Can I get baptized privately?
01:11:21 What is baptism for the dead? Should we practice it?
This week we explore the practice of baptism through the Scriptures and who it connects back to the Old Testament to reveal its true meaning.
This week we take a look at how John Jesus and the Apostles carried on the message from the Old Testament and fulfilled the story it began.
As we continue to look at our new Church vision, Worship Proclaim Baptize, and how these words were used throughout the Bible, we ask the question, how was the gospel proclaimed in the Old Testament?
As we continue to unpack our new church vision, we take a look at what changed in regards to Worship from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
Worship Proclaim Baptize. This is our new church vision for how we plan to carry out the mission to make healthy disciples who passionately love Jesus and authentically love people. Join us as we explore what each of these words mean through the Old and New Testament.
As we reach the end of our 40 Days of Transformation, hear from a variety of Hometown Church pastors and leaders as they share how they've integrated their faith into their everyday lives.
As we continue our 40 Days of Transformation, here from Hometown pastors and leaders as they share their experiences going from being disciples to making disciples.
This week we continue our 40 Days of Transformation by hearing stories and reflections of shifting focus from ourselves to others.
Hear from a variety of Hometown pastors and leaders as they share reflects and stories about going from knowledge to obedience during our 40 Days of Transformation.
Members of Hometown Church share their thoughts and reflections from Week 2 of our 40 Days of Transformation series.
Hear from a variety of Hometown Church pastors, leaders and attendees as we reflect on the first week of our 40 Days of Transformation.
You might have a few lingering questions about generosity, tithing and how we practically decide how much to give and where to give our money to. We asked the pastors of Hometown to share all the lingering questions that they have received after our Thanks and Giving series and attempted to answer them in this week's podcast.
Pastor Casey Flynn joins to discuss the importance of a healthy prayer life, his journey of renewing his own prayer life and how to renew your own.
This week Oleh Korol from Steiger Ukraine joins the podcast to share an update on the missionary efforts in Ukraine, how the war has affected their ministry and the importance of continuing to share the gospel.
Bryan Haville joins the podcast to discuss his role as deacon and how we can rethink what worship is and how that impacts the way we worship on Sundays.
Pastor Spencer Bernard joins the podcast to discuss his role as the Lead Teaching Pastor and overseer of the Sunday Service Experience at Hometown. Is the Sunday service for the visitor or the member? How do you go about putting together a sermon? Should we be preaching expository or topical style?
Pastors Deacon Ales and Jim Bosholm join the podcast to discuss the importance and challenges of running a successful kids ministry, their roles in it and why it is one of our Divine Focus ministries at Hometown.
Sermon in a Sentence: "Lead with faith, love with grace, and trust God with the rest"
Application:
For parents of young children: Model faith in daily routines and let your child hear you pray this week.
For parents of teens: Listen to your teen’s heart, share your story, and encourage them—no matter what.
For parents of adult children: Pray for your adult child daily and choose one way this week to show support without controlling
Pastors Jeff Groen and Mike Langlois join the podcast to talk about one area of our Divine Focus as a church: Small Groups. Over the last few years, we have narrowed down our church's focus into 5 specific ministries to become more effective in carrying out our mission to make healthy disciples who passionately love Jesus and authentically love people. Pastors Jeff and Mike oversee one of those five; small groups. They join to share more about their role, the importance of small groups and where we hope to go in the future.
Sermon in a sentence: "A strong marriage isn’t built on feelings but on Christ-like love and sacrifice."
Action Steps:
Pray together 3x this week
Serve intentionally daily
Encourage daily, speak life over your spouse
Sermon in a sentence: "When we live a life of love, we begin to truly love life even when we don’t have a love life."
Application:
Face the Past
Forget the Future
Live in the Present
Additional verse used: Mark 12:29-13
This week we break down the final chapter of Colossians and look back on the message of Paul's letter as a whole.
This week we continue our journey through the Letter of Colossians. Paul begins to move away from the behaviors and attitudes that we need to avoid and into the behaviors and attitudes we must adopt. How do we live out the new nature in Christ? How do we express that new nature? How does that new nature affect our relationships?
This week we continue into chapter 3 of the Letter to the Colossians as Paul begins to describe what the transformed life of a Christian should look like beginning with putting our old life to death.
This week we continue our journey through the Letter of Colossians unpacking Paul's warning to beware of false teachings.
We continue our journey through the letter of Colossians discussing the suffering of Paul and the mystery of the gospel.
As we continue our study through the book of Colossians, we unpack Paul's poetic description of the identity and supremacy of Christ and what that means for us today.
Continuing our study in Colossians, this week, we unpack Paul’s intercessory prayer for the church in Colosse (Col. 1:9–14), exploring what it means to discern God’s will, identify spiritual fruit, persevere with gratitude, and celebrate God’s redemption and rescue.
Today we are continuing our look ahead to MTOC which is our annual local mission trip that we do as a church. And in preparation for that we wanted to have a few conversations centered around outreach and sharing our faith. And so joining us for this to help us get ready for this is Pastor Rob. Today will be the second in a two part conversation where we first looked at 10 lies that people believe that prevent them from sharing their faith which was last week’s episode. This week we will go practical and discuss how to go about sharing your faith and the methods we have used as a church.
Today we are continuing our look ahead to MTOC which is our annual local mission trip that we do as a church. And in preparation for that we wanted to have a few conversations centered around outreach and sharing our faith. And so joining us for the next couple of weeks to help us get ready for this is Pastor Rob. Today will be the first in a two part conversation where we first look at 10 lies that people believe that prevent them from sharing their faith.
About two months ago, we sent a team to Milan, Italy to work alongside our mission partners at Le Refugio church led by Pastor Frank Apisa and his wife Pam as well as missionaries, Justin and Amanda Lehtonen, who moved to Milan several years ago to help build the church and bring the gospel to the people of Italy. This week, we have assembled all 9 members from that trip to share some reflections and lessons learned from our time in Italy.
04:33 Mike Langlois
12:19 Danielle Jacobsen
22:56 Zelphia Brown
41:26 Noah Brown
54:06 Kitt Guerrier
01:02:20 Micah Metzger
01:19:12 Jennifer Hoffman
01:28:17 Ethan Hasz
01:38:21 Jesse Roskamp
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 16. Last week, we read about the death of Jesus, his trial before Pilate, the suffering he endured on the cross and his final moments as he offered up his life as a sacrifice for our sins. This week we reach the good news and we finish the gospel of Mark and discuss the strange ending to the story.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 15. Last week, we read about Jesus’ final moments before being arrested as he taught his disciplines about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of Passover, prayed in the garden in agony, was betrayed and abandoned by his disciples and eventual arrested and handed over to the Jewish council for an unjust trial. This week reached the hardest moments of Jesus’ life as he is beaten mocked and crucified.
This week we continue with chapter 14 of the Gospel of Mark. As Jesus reaches the final hours of his life, he's has an interaction with a woman who wants to give him a generous gift, he teaches his disciples about the meaning of his death through the symbolism of the passover meal and is betrayed and abandoned by all of his disciples as he is arrested and taken before the Jewish council.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 13. We find ourselves right in the middle of Holy week. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the Passover and has been spending the days leading up to the feast speaking in the temple being challenged by Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians and an many others trying to get him to slip up so that they can arrest him. Now as he and his disciples make their way out of the city, Jesus takes the opportunity in private to reveal to his followers things that are yet to come.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 12. Jesus has made his way to Jerusalem for the big showdown with the those in positions of authority. And last week he made his presence felt as he rode into town on the back of a donkey fulfilling prophecy, cleared out the temple courts and challenged the Pharisees as they tried to test him on his authority. This week Jesus continues to be tested in a variety of ways as he takes on challenges from every direction during the Passover week.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 11. And here we reach the beginning of the end of the story as Jesus and his disciples reach Jerusalem. The first 7 chapters we focus on Jesus and his ministry in the region of Galilee as he proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God slowly revealing himself as the Messiah along the way. Then in chapters 8 through 10 we transitioned as Jesus began his journey south towards Jerusalem and began to unpack what that meant, what his mission truly was and what it means to follow him. Now pivot again as Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem for the Passover week ready to confront the religious, political and most importantly spiritual powers of the world.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 10. For the last couple chapters, Jesus has been traveling with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem for the Passover and ultimately for the big confrontation with the powers that will culminate in his death as he unpacks for his followers what it means for him to be the Messiah. Last week we covered the transfiguration, a story about Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy and a number of teachings from Jesus about the nature of the upside-down value system of the Kingdom. This week Jesus takes his last few steps before his triumphant entry into Jerusalem as he confronts more misconceptions about him and his kingdom from the Pharisees, a rich man, and his followers.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 9. Last week we hit a major transition moment in the story as Jesus took his ministry which had been primarily focused on the region of Galilee and began make his way south towards Jerusalem. The focus had been really on who Jesus is and what he was doing and how people were responding to him, but as we transition in the story, so does our focus go from who he is to what it means for him to be the Messiah. This week Jesus pulls back the curtain further to his disciples on who he is and what it means to follow him.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 8. To this point, Jesus has been traveling around the region of Galilee performing miracles, casting out demons, upsetting the status quo and teaching about the kingdom of God. Last week we read stories of Jesus pushing the boundaries when it comes to religious traditions and expanding the kingdom outside the bounds of the people of Israel. This week we get our first big narrative shift in the story as Jesus takes his ministry that has been focused on the region of Galilee and begins his journey south towards Jerusalem, but first we get a little déjà vu with a story that is eerily similar to one we read just two weeks ago.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 7. To this point, Jesus has been traveling around the region of Galilee performing miracles, casting out demons, upsetting the status quo and teaching about the kingdom of God. Last week we read about Jesus being rejected in his hometown, sending out the 12 apostles, John the Baptist’s death, the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water. This week we read stories of Jesus pushing the boundaries when it comes to religious traditions and expanding the kingdom outside the bounds of the people of Israel.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 6. To this point, Jesus has been traveling around the region of Galilee performing miracles, casting out demons, upsetting the status quo and teaching about the kingdom of God. Last week we read a few stories of Jesus helping people who were in hopeless situations. He cast out a legion of demons from a man living among the tombs away from society, he healed a woman with a seemingly incurable condition that kept her isolated from her community for twelve years and finally he raised a little girl from the dead. This week we’ve got a loaded chapter with a few stories of Jesus experiencing resistance to his ministry, interacting with his disciples and performing one of his most famous miracles.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 5. To this point, Jesus has been traveling around the region of Galilee performing miracles, casting out demons, upsetting the status quo and teaching about the kingdom of God. Last week we unpacked a series of parables that Jesus taught and talked about why he spoke in parables and how we can interpret them. We left off with Jesus calming the storm and revealing himself to be the One who commands even the weather. This week, we read a couple of well-known stories of Jesus sending demons into a herd of pigs and healing a bleeding woman and dying girl.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 4. Jesus is full steam ahead on his mission to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God to the people of Israel traveling all over the region of Galilee met with mixed reactions and creating controversy just about everywhere he goes. Last week we talked about healing on the Sabbath, how he brought people together both in opposition to him and against him, the appointing of the 12 apostles and how Jesus responded to those who blatantly rejected him in the face of indisputable evidence. This week we read about how Jesus begins to teach his followers about what it really means to follow him and reveals more of his identity.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 3. Jesus is full steam ahead on his mission to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God to the people of Israel traveling all over the region of Galilee met with mixed reactions and creating controversy just about everywhere he goes. Last week we talked about Jesus as the Son of Man with the authority to forgive sins and what it means for him to be Lord of the Sabbath as well as how he viewed the religious practices of the day and who he spent his time with versus who he came into conflict with. This week we read about how Jesus continues to amass a following while being met with skepticism.
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 2 and we pick up right where we left off. Jesus has begun his ministry bringing the good news of the kingdom of God to the people of Israel in the region of Galilee healing the sick and casting out demons along the way. To this point, he has tried to keep his ministry under wraps, but word has spread quickly, and many are gathering to see what this new young Rabbi is all about. He’s met with mixed reactions as some support him and others attack him. We pick up with Jesus returning to the city Capernaum.
Today, we embark on a journey through the Gospel of Mark, widely regarded as the earliest of the four Gospel accounts. Our goal in this series is to approach the story with fresh eyes—setting aside preconceived notions and allowing Scripture to speak for itself. We will walk through Mark one chapter at a time, immersing ourselves in the good news of Jesus with renewed perspective. Our focus will center on His identity—Who is Jesus? How did others perceive Him? What did He say about Himself? What was His mission? Guiding us on this journey is Pastor Brent Knox.
This week we wrap up "40 Days With The Word". Scripture has the ability to change who we are and the way we think, but so does the world. What's the difference between conforming and transforming? How do rely on the Spirit to transform us rather than will power? How has our culture affected the way we think?
Pastor Kitt Guerrier joins as we continue our 40 Days Through The Word. Have you ever felt stuck in your prayer life? How can we utilize Scripture to guide our prayers? Praying through the Word can be a great way to both think through Scripture in a new way and inspire your prayers.
Pastor Mark Stiglicz joins the podcast to discuss the power of the Word. What makes the Bible unique in how it affects people? What prevents people from experiencing the power of the Word? And how do we know if we are actually hearing from God?
This week we take a look at John 15 as a part of our 40 Days With The Word. What does it mean to abide? How does abiding affect us? And how can we inspire people to get into the Word?
As we continue with our 40 Days With The Word series, Pastor Kitt Guerrier joins to dive more into the introduction to the Gospel of John. What does it mean for Jesus to be the Word? Why is the incarnation significant? And how does this affect the way we read Scripture?
Contact us at podcast@hometownchurch.com
In our last episode of 2024 for the Hometown Church Podcast, Pastor Tim Weber joins to wrap up our Spiritual Disciplines series. So far we taken a look at a number of inward practices, but to finish things off we wanted to look at some outward practices that can help you connect to God by loving people. Tim walks us through the B.L.E.S.S. lifestyle to help us learn who we can be a blessing to the people in our lives this next year.
This week Pastor Jeff Groen joins to talk about the practice of Sabbath and how he has implemented the practice into his life.
Luis Camacho joins to talk about fasting as we continue our series talking about spiritual disciplines to end the year.
As we look ahead to the new year, many people have New Years resolutions on the mind and are setting goals for the year. These goals are often centered around self-improvement, achieving new fitness or financial goals. But we wanted to take out some time on this podcast and encourage you to think about ways that you can improve your spiritual life and get closer to God this year. So, over the last few weeks of the year here we are going to be looking at different spiritual formation habits and talking with different people who have implemented these practices into their routines to hopefully inspire you to implement these practices into your life and take your relationship with Jesus to the next level. This week Pastor Brent Knox joins to talk about the practice of silence and solitude.
This week we wrap up our series on Apologetics with a conversation about what makes Christianity unique from every other world view. Why can there only be one true religion? What is the difference between objective and subjective truth? Why should someone choose Christianity?
Sermon in a sentence: 'Freedom flows when we feel we are passionately loved despite what we see in the mirror."
Action Steps:
-
Sing.
-
Pray the Psalms.
More verse references:
Job 38:4–7
Psalm 33:1
Psalm 98:4
Colossians 3:16
This week the team dives into the question of whether faith and science contradict each other. The idea that faith and science oppose each other has grown in popularity, but is that really true? Do we have to choose between faith and science or can they be compatible? How do we address popular scientific theories such as evolution and the age of the earth? How do we engage with people who disagree on these subjects?
Sermon in a Sentence: "To live free means accepting that we are innocent no matter how much we fail."
Application:
1.Call yourself a “saint.”
2.Make the choice to worship.
Additional verses used:
John 11:43-44, NLT
Romans 1:7, NIV
This week we circle back to a question that was briefly touched on a few weeks ago. For many, the problem of evil is the biggest issue preventing them from believing in God. How can an all-good and all-powerful God allow evil and suffering in the world? What does the Christian faith say about the origin and purpose of evil and suffering? How does Christianity provide hope and comfort for those who are suffering?
This week we continue our examination of Jesus of Nazareth by looking at the evidence for the resurrection. What is the significance of a physical resurrection? What are the basic facts of the pre and post resurrection scene? What are the alternative theories of Jesus rising from the dead?
Contact:
podcast@hometownchurch.com
Did Jesus actually exist? This week the team looks into the evidence for the historical person of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as the claims he made about himself and the prophesies he fulfilled.
Contact: podcast@hometownchurch.com
00:00 Introduction
02:06 Did Jesus exist?
22:52 Did Jesus claim to be God?
32:16 Jesus: Liar, Lunatic or Lord?
47:44 Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophesy
01:03:19 Call to Action
This week we examine the Bible. How do we know that the books of the Bible have been accurately preserved? How do we know what books should be included and what books should be left out? All that and more on this week's dive into apologetics.
Contact us at:
podcast@hometownchurch.com
This week the team continues its series on apologetics. This week we ask the first and perhaps more important question, does God exist? What are the best argument against the existence of God? What are the arguments for God? And if God exists what kind of God is he? Join us as we dive into these questions and more.
Contact us at:
podcast@hometownchurch.com
Over the next 8 weeks, we are going to be taking a deep dive into the topic of Apologetics. Today more and more people are walking away from their faith than ever before.The growing belief in America today is that Christianity is contradictory to modern science, morally outdated, and overall irrelevant to our lives. In this series, we are going to explore some of the biggest questions around Christianity and its truth claims. Is our faith something that is grounded in reality or are we just clinging to blind naive hope in a world that has moved past the need for religion? In this week's episode, we kick off this series by asking the question, why is apologetics important?
Contact us at:
podcast@hometownchurch.com
Sermon in a sentence: "We are called to influence society with integrity while balancing our roles as both "foreigners" and "citizens" in this world."
Action steps:
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Respect everyone
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Love the family of believers
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Fear God
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Respect the king
This week the team takes a look at the Book of Jonah from the Old Testament to see if there is anything we can learn from the story today. Jonah is one of the more well known stories from the Bible, but perhaps overlooked because we have become so familiar with it. What wisdom can we learn from the story of the rebellious prophet?
“Look in the mirror first BEFORE pointing a finger at a politician”
Attend the October 5th prayer time for our country.
This week we put a bow on our series through the Book of Acts. Join us as we reflect on the series and the book and answer a few questions that we were not able to get to in previous podcasts.
Sermon in a sentence: "Brace yourselves for tough times"
Other Verse references:
Zephaniah 1:12; 2:15
1 Peter 4:1, 12-13
1 Peter 2:21-25
As we reach the end of our series through the Book of Acts, we take a look at how Paul suffered for the gospel, how his life reflected Jesus', and how believers today can persevere through different trials.
Reach out to us at:
podcast@hometownchurch.com
Pastor Spencer joins again to talk about how we as Christians can adapt our message to reach the culture. We take a look at Paul's tendencies as he went into new cities and how he adapted his message to his audience and how we as Christians can stay in touch with the culture in order to best reach it.
This week we discuss how division threatens the church. Why is unity so important to the church, how did Christianity get to where it is today with so many denominations after the New Testament, and how do we strive for unity with those we disagree with?
sermoninasentence: "Government is a two-edged sword. It has the power to persecute and to protect."
"Miracles still happen today - but not exactly in the same way as Acts."
Verses used are in the link below and also John 2:1-11
This summer we will be going through the Book of Acts in a massive 13-week sermon series. Pastor Brent Knox joins the podcast to preview the series as well as diving into all the background information surrounding Acts.
While Memorial Day honors the sacrifices made to secure our earthly freedoms, it also serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate sacrifice. Just as we remember those who fell to defend our nation, we reflect on the profound act of Jesus, who gave his life to liberate us from spiritual bondage. Both observances call us to cherish the hard-won freedoms we possess, both physical and spiritual.
"We enjoy our freedom today because of yesterday's sacrifice."
Kitt Guerrier
This summer, unlock the power of hospitality! Explore 3 John and discover how welcoming others reflects God's love. Learn practical ways to open your doors and hearts to build a thriving church community. Get ready to fire up your grill!
We're back with the Hometown Church Podcast. In honor of Mother's Day, we wanted to highlight and hear from one of the moms of Hometown Church. Terri Schelkoph joins to share her experience as a mom raising her kids to honor Christ.
Materials Mentioned:
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family - Paul David Tripp
Premeditated Parenting: Foundational Christian Parenting - Steven L. Nelson: Buy: https://a.co/d/i4PGecx
Shepherding A Child's Heart - Tedd Tripp
Reach out to us at jroskamp@hometownchurch.com or dales@hometownchurch.com.
Pastor Mike has a panel discussion with his wife, Cathy, his mom, Linda and daughter, Kristen.
"Significance is measured by what God applauds—not what people applaud."
Verse References:
Exodus 2:1-11; 6:20
Hebrews 11:6, 23-25
Acts 7:20
2 Timothy 1:5
1 Peter 1: 6-7
Pastor Mike Langlois joins the podcast to talk discipleship. What is discipleship? What makes a disciple? And why is discipleship so important? All that and more on this week's episode of the Hometown Church Podcast.
Reach out to us at jroskamp@hometownchurch.com.
In March, we went through a series called Deeper Still where we talked about the importance of Spiritual Disciplines in growing your relationship with God. Today, Pastor Brent Knox joins the podcast to go a little more in depth on the subject and how to start implementing some of those practices into your life.
If you have any feedback, questions, or topics/guests you'd like to see on the podcast, please reach out to us at jroskamp@hometownchurch.com.
Verses referenced:
Proverbs 4:23, GNB
1 Kings 19:3-4, 10 NLT
2 Corinthians 11:2-3, NIV84
Genesis 3:1-6, NLT
Matthew 4:1, NLT
Hebrews 4:15, NCV
Colossians 3:5,8, NLT
2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV84
On this week's episode of the Hometown Church Podcast Tim Johnson and Deb Stiglicz from our New Hope campus join as the very first guests to talk about their recent trip to Kenya. Listen in as they share stories from the trip and a little bit about the organizations IAMercy and Heshima Children's Center that they visited while they were there.
If you have any feedback, questions, or topics/guests you'd like to see on the podcast, please reach out to us at jroskamp@hometownchurch.com.
Welcome to the Hometown Church Podcast. We are talking all things Jesus, Christianity and the Bible. In this introductory episode, get to know the hosts Deacon and Jesse as they share a little bit about their stories, what they do for the church and where this podcast will be going.
If you have any feedback, questions, or topics/guests you'd like to see on the podcast, please reach out to us at jroskamp@hometownchurch.com.
"God fills us when we empty ourselves."
Find what needs pouring out.
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If it’s your time, consider serving the church
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If it’s your stuff, use it for the Lord
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If it’s your money, consider regular giving to the church
"We can’t live off the awe of others, we must walk with God ourselves."
Also Luke 24:25-27
"To find your discipline, define your goal."
Ask yourself:
Are you satisfied with your present spiritual life?
Are you ready to adopt some spiritual disciplines to experience God more?
Week #6 Memory Verse:
“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
- James 4:8
Week #5 Memory Verse:
“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:23
Sermon in a Sentence:
“God values you as much as He values Christ.”
-Kitt Guerrier
Week #4 Memory Verse:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- Romans 6:23
"God’s holiness is both alarming and beautiful."
"Experiencing God’s forgiveness turns the alarm into joy."
-Brent Knox
Week #3 Memory Verse:
“So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”
- 1 Peter 1:14-16
Other verses used in the sermon:
Isaiah 6:1-8
Revelation 20:11
Psalm 96:6, NLT
Psalm 27:4, NLT
Luke 5:8–9, NLT
Colossians 1:21-22, NLT
Hebrews 10:10,14 NLT
1 Peter 1:14–16, NLT]
"God is working, whether we see it or not!"
Week #2 Memory Verse
“Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”
- Isaiah 40:10-11
"God is calling you to be a minister."
A new year often brings with it new hopes, dreams, and maybe even new questions like "What is my purpose?", "What should I spend my time and money on?" and, maybe most importantly, "What is my calling?" Join us on New Year's Eve as we uncover the great calling to which God has called you.
"God chooses insignificant people to accomplish significant things."
- Pastor Mark Stiglicz
"The quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships."
-Spencer Bernard
Verses Used:
Luke 2:8–14 (NLT)
Micah 5:2,5 (NLT)
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV 1900)
Matthew 13:24–33
Isaiah 2:4 (NLT)
Colossians 3:15 (NLT)
Verse references:
Ecclesiastes 5:12, NLT
Luke 12:16-34, NLT
Romans 1:20, NIV84
Proverbs 6:6–8, NLT
Proverbs 11:28, NIV84
Isaiah 49:14–16, NLT
“More money does not equal happiness.” It’s easy to say, but hard to believe.
Verses referenced:
Luke 12:16–21, NLT
Matthew 6:24, ESV
Luke 12:13–15, NLT
Luke 18:18-23, NLT
Matthew 6:22–23, NLT
Luke 12:29-30, NLT
Isaiah 55:1-3, NLT
Acts 20:33–35, NLT
from Steiger International
David Pierce tells stories about sharing Jesus with lost sheep in some of the darkest corners in the world and how we should have compassion for them and the lost sheep in our own lives.
"If your family is important, then make God more important."
Scripture referenced (NLT):
Deuteronomy 4:9
Deuteronomy 6:1-6
Psalm 25:14
2 Corinthians 7:1
Hebrews 12:28
Genesis 22:12-18
Psalm 130:3–4
"Christians have the potential for the deepest friendships because we share the deepest things in common."
"Contentment isn't found in a circumstance, it is found in the Lord."
Verses used -
Esther 3:5-6
Esther 5:11-13
Philippians 4:11-13
Esther 7:9-10
Hebrews 12:2
Philippians 4:4
Action steps: Rejoice in the Lord always!
"To tame your shadow mission, you need to name your shadow mission."
To name your shadow mission, ask yourself:
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What do you spend money on?
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What angers you?
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What do others see?
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What in your life is "out of sync" with Scripture?
"God is working when God is missing. Therefore, there is ALWAYS hope. "
Verse Reverences:
Daniel 4:35
Esther 3:5-6
Esther 3:13
Esther 1:1
Proverbs 21:1
Esther 4:14
Esther 2:21-23
Esther 5:9-14
Esther 7:9-10
How to witness using the Love, Listen, Discern, Respond method by pastors...
Brent Knox
Rob Busse
Tim Weber
Mark Stiglicz
Mike Langlois
Sermon in a sentence: "Boldness comes with confidence in the right message and the right power."
Memorial day. Cookouts, parades, and the beginning of summer vacation season. Sounds fun, but have you ever been disappointed by the “fun” things you look forward to? Jesus wants us to be filled with joy, but how exactly do we do that? Through summer vacations? More “me” time? Jesus has another way, and it works. Make your summer something special as we walk through Jesus’ lessons on joy.
The book of Philemon is only a single page, but it plants the seeds that grow into world change. In it, the writer Paul refocuses our attention to the greatest transforming power in the world—the Gospel and how it transforms us from the inside out. Do you ever wonder how the world will change for the better? Come with us for this one-week overview of Paul’s letter to Philemon.
Hannah shows us the path to learning more about God, ourselves and the world through the pain of infertility.
We live in a world that never stops. And unless you’re careful, you will burn out. Our time and attention are in constant demand. Endless to do lists, phones that constantly “ding/vibrate” and demand a fast response, diapers that need to be changed, kids sports to attend, homework to finish, a house that needs cleaning, lawn that needs to be mowed, a neighbor who needs help...it never ends! Believe it or not, in the middle of all this, it is possible to find real rest.
Being a mom is an incredibly important and noble task. It’s also a challenging one. Have you ever felt discouraged by comparing yourself to other moms or families? You don’t need to be perfect to have a positive impact. Moms, be encouraged that God will use you in great ways, even though you’re an imperfect mom.
Every marriage includes two broken people. Sometimes we try to fix our marriage with the wrong tools. And then we hurt each other. Come hear Matt Loehr’s message of hope and healing! Matt is the founder of a national marriage ministry, called “Dare to be Different.” His message is for marrieds and singles, as he describes the godly tools you need to communicate effectively others and build unity!
Matt (along with his wife and co-founder, Pam) left his corporate career to fulfill his calling into full-time marriage ministry. Matt was an engineer and operations manager for 18 years prior to becoming ordained. Matt and Pam share a passion to help others build healthy relationships. As founders, authors and mentors they have a unique blend of insight and wisdom that touch people of all ages.
Memory Verse:
"No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:39
Memory Verse:
"And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."
Romans 8:23
Memory Verse:
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
Romans 8:12-13
Memory Verse:
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace[a] with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us."
Romans 5:1
Memory Verse:
"For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory."
Romans 8:29-30
Memory Verse:
"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:17
How can you experience God's life-changing grace more fully? Pastor Deacon shares insights in this preview message to our upcoming "Greater Grace" journey.
The joy of Christmas is in the unwrapping.
What are some ways you can unwrap the blessings of Christmas? Maybe you want to read the bible more, or connect with God's people more, maybe you want to devote yourself to your church more.
Sermon in a Sentence: "Be generous anyway."
(Watch the Thank Offering 2 Video by touching the arrow above.)
Sermon in a Sentence: Choosing the right candidate won't save this country but choosing the right Savior will.
(Watch the Thank Offering 1 Video by touching the arrow above.)
Combat impatience and irritation by submitting to God’s better plan. Introduction by Rich Rhodes
Most of us think prayer is a good thing, we know we should pray, and we say we believe that prayer works. So why is it that so many of us struggle to pray regularly or with any conviction? Join us as we look at a Biblical example of how to pray in a trial.
We can tend to take for granted things we hold dear to us. We can easily do that with the personal freedoms we enjoy in our country. This freedom was won and maintained by many who gave their lives so that we could live free. So too, Jesus gave his life to grant us spiritual and eternal freedom, but are we taking that priceless gift for granted?
It’s very easy to take things for granted and become discontent with our lives. We can focus so much on what we don’t have that we might miss what we do have right in front of us! Can we be content and joyful even in the middle of our busy, daily, stress-filled lives?
“What we have, who we are, and what God has done for us is sufficient.” - Mark Stiglicz
You are Free! Do you feel this way or believe it? A lot of us don’t at times. The little Book of Galatians has been called the “Magna Charta of Christian liberty.” In bold, clear strokes the Apostle Paul reveals how grace frees the Christian from law, not that we might sin, but that we might discover a new power for righteous living through faith and the Holy Spirit. And this morning’s message in Galatians 5 show how the Good News of Jesus – the Gospel – obliterates condemnation while forgiving us who believe into a new consecrated, beloved community. David Myles is a pastor at New Hope Church in New Hope
"Grieving well brings new healing and joy when loss is faced, fully felt and followed through to find hope and renewal in Jesus."
"Anger is a powerful emotion that becomes our ally as we learn to own it, understand it, pray it and surrender it."
"To deal with depression, we must be holistic, not simplistic, in our assumptions and treatment."
"Let your Biblical convictions be so strong that others see the compassion of Christ in you."
"Conviction and compassion come from a God who powerfully and compassionately creates."
"We give God our best by having the mindset of a soldier, the actions of an athlete, and the faith of a farmer."
Increase Our Faith! “Increase our faith!” asked the disciples. They realized faith was key and that faith could increase. Join the disciples in desiring greater faith! This Sunday we are introducing a journey to strengthen our faith, “Daring Faith—A 40-Day Journey.” Get ready to go on the journey! The journey begins on January 10.
"The prayer, 'Increase our faith!' is the beginning of the journey of deeper faith." - Brent Knox
The world is chaotic right now, and the truth and love of Jesus are needed more than ever. Sadly, followers of Jesus have lost their voice. I believe we can get it back, but we have to allow God to change us!
“Jesus isn’t the hero people were looking for, but He’s the hero everyone needed” - Mike Langlois
“Jesus isn’t the hero people were looking for, but He’s the hero everyone needed” -Tim Weber
"You can experience true eternal security when you believe in the true Jesus." -Spencer Bernard
"We do not love like God loves until we are willing to let go of our rights. In a culture where everyone is passionately protecting their rights, this kind of loving deference is uncommon."
def·er·ence /ˈdef(ə)rəns/ noun: humble submission and respect.
In this message, Pastor Brent mentioned the controversial subject of whether or not the Bible supports slavery. At first glance, Bible passages like Ephesians 6:5-9 seem to give support to the institution of slavery. We have compiled a couple of resources to help explain how the Bible actually sows the seeds for the destruction of the slavery of humans. A link to this resource is below.
“To live an uncommon life we need uncommon strength. How is that possible? There is uncommon strength that comes straight from God that is available to every believer. We need to live in God’s mighty strength!”
In Spencer’s message, he referenced memorizing bible verses to use the sword of the spirit as an offensive weapon against the devil. Memory Madness is a program from premeditatedparenting.net that we have used in the past that you can use with your family to help you memorize some basic verses. You can find a .pdf of the program in the link below.
"Those who live under the influence of the Holy Spirit radiate the presence of Christ."
"When we follow Jesus the result should be an uncommon life, a life that is different from the world around us so, live out your new identity."
“The church is to be an eschatological community, giving the world a taste of the coming Kingdom.”
Mother’s day is a day of celebrating. Many moms don’t feel that way. Some feel that parenting is a losing battle. Others are filled with regret over past mistakes. Still others never even get to have kids. What’s the secret to feeling “Mom-Strong” when you feel weak? We invite you to hear a special mother’s day message that we think will uplift and encourage you. If you attend one of our live campus services, we even have a special gift for all the moms. Join us, and discover how to be “Mom-Strong.”
Mother’s day is a day of celebrating. Many moms don’t feel that way. Some feel that parenting is a losing battle. Others are filled with regret over past mistakes. Still others never even get to have kids. What’s the secret to feeling “Mom-Strong” when you feel weak? We invite you to hear a special mother’s day message that we think will uplift and encourage you. If you attend one of our live campus services, we even have a special gift for all the moms. Join us, and discover how to be “Mom-Strong.”
God created all things good, and all of it can point us back to Him. Art, music, food, sports - it all matters. Join us this Sunday as Dan shares some thoughts on how Christians can interact with and appreciate the material world to the glory of God.
Talk about heroes. Our frontline health care workers are amazing during this crisis. They work insanely long hours and deal with a chronic lack of supplies. They amaze us. Why? Because they persevere. They hang in there. They don’t quit. As we live through this pandemic together, how can we do the same? How do we keep going if this thing drags on and on? Join us as we discover timeless principles in the book of Hebrews that will help you persevere.
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April 19 - Pastor Spencer Bernard April 26 - Pastor Kitt Guerrier May 3 - Pastor Brent Knox May 10 - Pastor Mark Bowen
This is a weekend to thank you Dads for your sacrifices and leadership! Not perfect, but perfect for your each of your kids. And hand-picked by God! You are “Mr. Incredible!” Flawed but heroic, and we are soooo THANKFUL for each of you! Dads, come and soak up the encouragement at Evergreen this weekend!
In 2018, Evergreen Church celebrates its 30th anniversary. God has done so much in us and through us – church plants, salvations, and discipleship. But what does our future hold?
We are excited to roll out some ways that the Evergreen locations will unite for what we are praying is even greater Gospel impact in the future. Kingdom Builders will be a huge part of that because it’s all about Acts 1:8 and our mission to advance the Gospel locally and globally through various initiatives and church planting.
The generosity of our saints and the sacrifices they are willing to make for Jesus and the advancement of his church has helped us get this far. Kingdom Builders is a vision campaign that unites generosity and mission in a way that allows us to keep taking steps towards bringing God more glory.
Our goal is to lift up Christ in all we do. His love empowers us to be light in a world filled with darkness. Racial divides are part of the darkness around us. But we, the Church, are called to be an example of unity. Through Evergreen's multi-ethnic priority we hope to address and lead on the issue of racial unity. Because the Gospel is the ultimate answer to all sin and the Cross is the reminder of the price our Savior paid so that we can come together and be His Church.