Beyond the Sermon: Recent Episodes
Christ Community Church
A podcast ministry of Christ Community Church in Ames, IA. Beyond the Sermon features content from pastors, ministry leaders, and people of Christ Community Ames. Listen to an extension of Sunday sermons, Q & A on sermon related topics, conversations on the Bible and theology, devotions, and stories of life change and challenges that people experience on a daily basis.
Today, Kyle and Joseph talk about Paul's haircut and other question from Acts 18:18-19:20.
Today, Kyle takes your questions on Acts:18-17, and talks about what faithfulness looks like.
Today, Kyle takes your questions on Acts 17:1-34. This is pat one of a two part series.
Today, Wayne and Kyle talk about faith and how God often gives us just enough to not give up.
Today, Kyle concludes the two part series on prayer and talks about thanksgiving and supplication in prayer.
Today, Kyle talks about the ACTS prayer model and the role of adoration and confession in a vibrant prayer life.
Today, Kyle and Joseph talk about the Herodian Dynasty, the difference between peace and joy, and what it means that God is a jealous God.
Today, Kip and Kyle talk about how to move past worship of self and into greater service of God.
Today, Mark and Kyle talk about generational sin and being intentional with spiritual disciplines.
Today, Kyle and Joseph answer questions from Acts 10:1-48. They talk about Jewish dietary laws, who Simon the Tanner was, and how to walk in grace and truth.
Today, Kip and Kyle take questions about Acts 8:3-40.
*Note, correction at 1:45: First place is serving our family, second place is serving our church, third place is serving our community, and fourth place is serving our world.
In this episode of the Beyond the Sermon Podcast, we sit down with Andy Rohrback to discuss serving in the unique ministry of Praise Puppets. Andy shares that serving on the Puppet Team is more nuanced than just putting on performances for school-aged kids at camps or vacation bible schools. Learn how Andy is leading middle school and high school students on their spiritual journey and learn to form a habit of sacrificial serving.
In this episode of the Beyond the Sermon Podcast, we’ll be learning about finding your sweet spot in serving, how construction work can serve the community, and learning to manage your time when you have lots going on.
In this episode of the Beyond the Sermon Podcast, we’ll be taking a trip to Haiti, talk about short term missions, and how to join a missions trip.
Serving is one of our core acts of worship of our Lord and Savior. Yet, taking that first step and saying yes to an opportunity can be a bit scary, even though we know God is always calling us to serve. Stepping out in faith and saying a simple "yes" to an opportunity is all it takes. From there, you'll be surprised by the life-long relationships you may encounter just from simply offering to give a ride to someone or coaching a football game.
In this episode of the Beyond the Sermon Podcast, we sit down with Jason Jennings to talk about first staring to serve in Upward Sports and the relationships he's made because of that first opportunity. We hope this conversation is an encouragement to you and might lead to a next step in serving.
I think when you open your Bible to consider Proverbs 3:11-12, and read again about our Father’s loving discipline in Hebrews chapter 12, we realize we have a coach who plans our improvement through His discipline. Our Father’s discipline
involves the intentional challenges He designs in the circumstances of my life both to correct what is wrong and to train me in what is right, for my best and His glory.
So, what’s the Coach’s plan for your life going forward? Are you experiencing His loving discipline? Are you welcoming it?
Someone submitted a question that referenced what happen to the Old Testament figure Job. God allowed some heavy discipline into Job’s life, and he allowed Satan to deliver them mail. So someone asked, WHY IS SATAN GIVEN SO MUCH POWER OVER US? It seems it is too easy for Him to have access to us.
Let’s try to figure that one out.
This week’s subject – First Fruits finances, from Proverbs 3:9-10
Wisdom that urges Honor the Lord from your wealth, and with the first fruits of your produce. Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats bursting with wine. From this proverb, this principle – Endowed with all things, I first honor the Endower.
In this podcast, we’ll take up 3 questions submitted, that came out of our WISDOM teaching on Proverbs 3.
First – “Doesn’t the Bible teach that tithing – giving 10% of my income to kingdom causes – is what God expects?”
Second – “Are there other ways to give back to God besides writing a check to the church?”
Third – “What if I can’t afford to give in a first-fruits way?”
Let’s take up your questions in the moments ahead.
Pastor David addresses how humility will happen in our lives. Will it be the hard way, or the easy way?
When we read and study the Biblical book of PROVERBS, we are pursuing WISDOM: Life’s priceless treasure. There are many treasures in this wonderful collection.
Like this one:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths
This proverb teaches that The greater my active dependence on the Lord, the clearer my pathway to the best.
But, we have questions about this proverb. Does this teach that an active trust in the Lord will always result in a smooth life? And, how can I discern that when I pray it will be God who is directing my next steps, and not just my own desire?
Let’s take up APPLYING Proverbs 3:5-6 in this podcast.
One of the questions that often comes up when studying the Book of Proverbs in the Bible is simply this: Are Proverbs God’s promises?
In other words, since many of the proverbs offer a resulting benefit if you heed the wisdom action called for, are these proverbs (the “if you do this then this will happen” sayings) essentially guaranteed promises of blessing from God.
Here are three principles to guide studying and applying Proverbs.
Here's today's question: What's a great way for parents, today, to access the wisdom they need to consistently shape well the lives of their children?
Raising children well, as any parent understands, is an inexact science. It can stretch you beyond your limitations.
We all soon realize there is no perfect family, no perfect set of parents. Nobody bats .1000. Most of us start with the greatest of intentions, but still, we make mistakes with one another.
To be sure, some of our parental mistakes are willful mistakes, especially if we simply “do it the way my parents did it with me.” Wise parents who follow the Lord Jesus Christ take some time to evaluate the way they were raised in light of God’s wisdom and word.
•Some of those historical parental practices that shaped your life we may keep.
•Other of those practices, we need to have the courage to say, “That’s not how God’s wisdom would have me do it. I’m not going to incorporate that into the way I parent before the Lord.”
So where can we access great parenting wisdom? Let's take that up together in this episode.
We learned in our first message in our #Wisdom teaching series that we all have some sort of compass that guides us through life. Pastor David shared that the absolute best compass for our journey in life is through God's Word. Here we can grow in Wisdom, life's priceless treasure. But, you may ask, how important is it that we PURSUE God's wisdom? Watch this episode of Beyond the Sermon to find out.
BeyondtheSermon #Wisdom #Proverbs #ccamestv
Three days after the crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. But how did He know that was going to happen? Where in the Old Testament scriptures did it say that the Messiah would be killed and then raised back to life? Pastor David answers this question about the Old Testament scriptures.
In this episode, Pastor David Staff answers more difficult questions about the Book of Revelation. Namely, an important question that arises often, is Revelation history, our present situation, or is it prophesy?
On Sunday March 29 here on the Christ Community Church campus, we spent time identifying 5 Key Truths to help us live confidently, as disciples of Jesus Christ, even in threatening times. This episode answers 4 questions from viewers on whether or not the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 is part of God's judgment.
On this episode of Beyond the Sermon, Pastor David Staff answers some viewers questions from the first message in the Worthy Teaching Series. On the subject of the ONE who is worthy of glory, honor, and power, Pastor Staff fields questions on believers worshiping in Heaven, if we are in the end times now, and more. Watch or listen to learn more about the Book of Revelation.
Pastor David Staff and host Sindy Friedrich discuss "What Happens When Someone Trusts Christ?" You'll hear about the wholesale change of our relationship with God, the new team we're invited and empowered to serve alongside, and the new opportunities we're given as those entrusted with the Gospel. Dive in deeper with questions like "Should I feel different if I am saved?" and "What does it mean that we're saved by grace?" (17:17)
Pastor David Staff and host Sindy Friedrich discuss What Jesus Did About Our Sin. You'll encounter the biblical groundwork of our inherited and earned distance from God, the great lengths He went to close that gap in Jesus, and key questions such as: Did Jesus Come to Save Everyone? and Was It Cruel for the Father to Send His Son to Die? (16:25)
Pastor David Staff and host Sindy Friedrich discuss What Does Trusting in Christ Mean? You'll encounter the crucial distinction between accepting all God has said about Himself and His great plan of salvation as true, and accepting it as true for you personally. Dive deeper into the issue of belief in Christ and questions like "Am I really trusting in Christ if it's hard for me to process the resurrection?" and "How would I know if I really have trusted Christ?" (21:14)
Pastor David Staff and host Sindy Friedrich discuss What is Sin and Why Does it Matter? You'll encounter a brief biblical summary and key questions such as: Is Murder Really the Same as Lying? and What's Up with the Blood Requirement Thing? (19:06)
Most Americans (6 in 10) say they have made “a commitment to Jesus Christ,” and yet many people—perhaps most—are still conflicted between Jesus and good deeds as the way to heaven. Can some of the fog about salvation and good works be cleared up? What is God’s gospel offer and how can people be sure they are right with God, and headed to heaven? In this episode, Pastor David discusses God's offer and saving grace.
It seems that beyond believing that Jesus actually lived, there’s considerable and widespread confusion about who He was and what He actually accomplished. So, what are the key truths about Jesus to understand and to clarify with others? In this episode, Pastor David answers the questions of Jesus and His work.
In this episode we'll discuss the Bible and its inerrancy. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
In this episode, Pastor David Staff will begin setting the table for a 4-part series of podcasts surrounding core convictions. Pastor David will address the question, "Who is the one true God?" We'll follow that up with some important "so what" questions.