The Living Streams Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Living Streams Church
Welcome to the official podcast of Living Streams Church in Phoenix, Arizona led by Pastor David Stockton. We hope you connect and grow closer to the Lord with these encouraging messages and sermons. To learn more about Living Streams Church, visit livingstreams.org. Follow us on social media: @livingstreamschurch
Today's culture poses a significant threat to the stability of healthy families, which are essential for preserving generations. This challenge stems from societal messages promoting individualism and the rejection of traditional family norms. However, a contrasting perspective grounded in the Faith that we find in Jesus highlights the significance of family dynamics, gender roles, and parenting based on Biblical principles. The relationship between a healthy family and a thriving church is emphasized, showcasing their mutual support and influence. Even if one doesn't come from a healthy family, there's hope in finding a new family within the Church because the Church is depicted as a place of humility, compassion, worship, and spiritual growth. Ultimately, a healthy family contributes to a healthy church. They are interconnected and the need to nurture both in today's society is pressing.
In the face of rising post-Christian influence in the US, Pastor David notes historical echoes of resistance, raising questions about challenges for Christians. Amid this shift away from Christian roots, how can believers sustain their faith?
Informed by his mission in Ireland, where post-Christian impact is stark, Pastor David urges a wake-up call from complacency. Once a Christian stronghold, Ireland now grapples with spiritual void, cautioning against faith's complacent assumption. The call is clear: break isolation, confront darkness united, and rekindle faith's flame. Through acknowledging and seeking forgiveness, stepping out of hiding becomes possible. Baptism also offers newcomers a path to faith. The message is straightforward—don't retreat; stand strong, radiating faith amidst today's moral turbulence.
The profound message of the book of Hosea confronts the tension between human sinfulness and God's unwavering faithfulness. The central theme of "return" resonates throughout Hosea's teachings, reiterated twenty-two times. This theme spans the entire Bible, underscoring the need to reevaluate our alignment with culture, our misplaced trust in humanity, and our dilution of God's Word. Both on a personal and collective level, we must acknowledge our straying and embrace genuine repentance. We must prioritize prayer over posting, seeking God over news, lamenting over opinionating, and repenting over judging. Ultimately, God's mission is that of mercy, His desire to mend wounds, restore losses, and beautify brokenness, inviting all to return, heal, and find comfort in Him.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Hosea highlights God's efforts to allure, establish covenants, yearn, and betroth His people to Himself. Amidst a society fixated on sexuality, Hosea's depiction of God's desire for intimacy might challenge our preconceptions. By distinguishing between intimacy and mere physicality, we can grasp the divine intention behind human intimacy. Hosea reveals that, much like a heartbroken lover, God remains steadfast in His commitment despite our shortcomings. This video delves into the sacred beauty of God's longing for intimacy, offering a transformative perspective that has the potential to liberate us from societal constraints.
Today's youth are significantly impacted by the forces of darkness present in the world, particularly through various media platforms like phones, social media, TV, music, and billboards. To counter this influence, the message of God must be even stronger and more prevalent. It is essential not only to guide and mentor the younger generation but also to instill in them the teachings of Jesus consistently. By doing so, we can help them become a strong and righteous generation, upholding the values of obedience to God and standing up for what is right. Irrespective of our backgrounds, we all have a responsibility to nurture and support the youth in our society.
Uncover God's affection and mercy in the book of Hosea as we delve into the themes of His anger, our sin, and His desire for mercy over sacrifice. While God's wrath is directed at evil and injustice, His mercy and steadfast love for His creation are boundless. Despite our unfaithfulness, He remains faithful. Through the story of Hosea pursuing Gomer and God sending His Son into the world, we witness the marvel of God's mercy. Instead of giving us what we deserve, He offers us what Jesus deserves. Having experienced this undeserved grace, we are then commissioned to share God's mercy with others. Join us as we explore the depths of God's compassion, forgiveness, and faithfulness in Hosea.
In the book of Hosea, sin is a central theme, particularly focusing on Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The prophet Hosea's own troubled marriage serves as an illustration of God's feelings towards His unfaithful people. Chapter 4 acts like a courtroom, where God accuses Israel of lacking faithfulness, love, and acknowledgment of Him. The people engage in various sinful behaviors, including idol worship and adultery. Despite their wrongdoing, God's response is not one of strict judgment, but of heartache and grief. Hosea teaches us that God is not concerned with a transactional relationship or our attempts to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. Instead, He longs for us to return to our first love, to Him. When we sin, we must remember that God not only calls out our sin but also aches over our unfaithfulness. Rather than focusing on ourselves, we should offer gratitude to God before confessing our sins, reminding us of His love and our welcome home.
The book of Hosea portrays God's frustration with His people due to their lack of faithfulness, love, and knowledge of Him. However, by returning to the Lord through repentance, consecration, and actively fostering a relationship with Him, one can experience discipline, cleansing, healing, and refreshing times. Failing to return to the Lord results in missing out on His miracles and facing His opposition. The concept of "returning" involves acknowledging guilt, resisting worldly desires, and finding humility and vulnerability. Through baptism and consecration in Jesus Christ, righteousness becomes possible. The role of John the Baptist and Jesus is highlighted, emphasizing the need for purification, forgiveness, and empowerment through the Holy Spirit. This process leads to beauty, light, and the fulfillment of our purpose in Christ Jesus.
Hosea's ancient message serves as a warning and exhortation to God's people. The people are guilty and will soon face God's punishment, but God loves them and will restore them if they return to Him. Their guilt lies in their lack of faithfulness, steadfast love, and knowledge of God, which parallels our own shortcomings. We are entangled with worldly desires, attempting to love both God and the world, but God cannot be deceived and His holy anger will not be withheld forever. To avoid destruction, we must repent and turn back to God's ways. Repentance is a lifelong process of presenting ourselves to God, asking for His Spirit to guide us, break us from our sinful ways, cleanse us, and discipline us as a loving Father. We must strive to be a generation that seeks the knowledge of God above all else.
Explore the vital role of fathers in our lives, providing strength, guidance, and protection. Without a father figure, we become more vulnerable, lacking maturity in understanding danger and our own identity. Despite our brokenness, there is hope. Discover how our Heavenly Father carries our shame and burdens, offering redemption and support. Reflect on the significance of fathers, the impact of brokenness, and the power of seeking strength and forgiveness. Embrace the transformative journey towards becoming the fathers and individuals we are meant to be.
The New Testament writers had a lot to say about what happens after we die. Some of the writers wrote instructions, some wrote apocalyptically, and some wrote poetically, but all wrote to help followers of Christ be steadfast, be pure, and be comforted. These passages give us glimpses into understanding the mystery and victory of the resurrection body and life everlasting.
Refocusing our minds on the revelation of Jesus Christ points us to the living hope of the salvation of our souls and fill us with a rest that rejoices in our Savior.
Edwin Lopez and the LSC Worship team perform the song, "Jesus at the Center" and reflects on how Jesus should be the center of everything in our life.
Kurt Cotter discusses not living in the past, and straining toward the future. Scripture: Philippians 3:12-16.
Chloe German discusses what the bible says about walking in true humility. Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11.
Nick Orso share on being thankful for the people in your life. Scripture: Philippians 1:1-11.
Colleen Seekins and the LSC Worship team performs the song, "Same God" and reflects on how God is never-changing throughout time.
This week we learned about the “almost-right” wisdom of Elihu. He was angry with Job for presuming on God and demanding answers. Job says in 13:15 “Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.” On one end Job is right in his heart before the Lord, but on the other side he wants to “argue his ways” before the Lord. Elihu course-corrects Job and reminds him that God owes him nothing, but he is speaking to him through the pain.
This week Mark Buckley reminded us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (fear meaning awe and humility when looking at the power of the Lord). But this is just the beginning of wisdom. It’s the start to our understanding of the greatness of God. This thought leads us to understanding the grace of God, the nearness of God, and ultimately the friendship of God.
Alec sits down with Lead Pastor David Stockton and Associate Pastor Ryan Romeo to unpack the series, "Strengthen Yourself in The Lord".
More resources for your spiritual growth: https://www.livingstreams.org/library
This week Pastor David taught that Job took His deep pain before the Lord and laid his challenging questions at His feet. Job was not reprimanded by God for his hard questions. Instead, through Job’s experience, we see that we are free to lament, grieve and cry out to God. However, we are not free to run away. God wants us to remain and to trust Him, even as we question Him—so wild!
Like Job, as we remain with God, we gain the revelation of His glory and our faith is made strong, rich, and deep. We are refined like gold is refined by fire. Gold comes when our solution to the turmoil we face is to trust our heavenly Father. The work of trust is chasing away the doubts, chasing away the fears, and chasing away the half-realities that plague our peace. Find comfort in knowing God is listening to every word of yours. He is up to something and He’s going to use the pain to help you know Him. So don’t stop pursuing Him; continue in the activity of trust, for the reward is great and eternal.
The book of Job touches on four main reasons for suffering: 1) natural consequences for our sin, 2) natural consequences from others’ sin, 3) natural and logical consequences of merely living in a broken world, 4) discipline to foster our growth. God sometimes allows pain to reveal who He is.
Job’s friends only offered him the first three reasons and had made no room in their theology for a fourth; perhaps God was fostering growth in Job. As we spend time before the Lord with the difficult questions about the hardships we face, God will use that time of wrestling to change the landscape of our theology and takes us to a deeper place of understanding who He is.
This week, Pastor Ryan kicked off the sermon series on the book of Job. Job was a blameless man who feared God and yet he still experienced suffering and loss at the hands of the enemy. We see in the story of Job that a person’s personal righteousness doesn’t make them immune from trials. We also see in Job that Satan can’t do anything without God’s permission. God is in charge, not Satan. The enemy pales in comparison to the strength and might of our Savior. God takes the spiritual attacks of the enemy and uses them for our spiritual development, helping us mature in Him and the hope of a redeemed eternity.
God is present in our suffering. As Pastor Mario put it, if God is silent, it is because He is working. And when God works in a way that we don't agree with, we don’t need to be discouraged; He is doing what is good for us. In our issues, concerns, and ailments, we can press into God and trust his plan. Don't give up in your trust and reliance on the Lord; He has new strength for you!
This week, Pastor David taught about how the apostle Paul strengthened himself in the Lord in three ways: through the preaching of the gospel, acceptance of weakness, and standing against evil. These three kingdom tasks reveal our human limits and reveal our vulnerability and weakness.
In our weakness, God promises His incomparable power. If we want to see the power of God, we shouldn’t fear weakness and pain. As David outlined in his sermon, we are never closer to God’s power (and his loving presence!) than when we are in pain.
Alec sits down with Lead Pastor David Stockton, Associate Pastor Ryan Romeo, and PHX1 Director Jeff Gokee to dissect the theology and research that made up the content for the sermon series, Good God.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lMBHPq8P5KQ
Alec Seekins shares about the importance of living life according to what is right in the eyes of the Lord. He uses the story of Samson to show the consequences of living according to what is right in one's own eyes.
This week, Pastor David urged that it is the time to grow strong in the Lord. Like King David, when we find ourselves in times of trial—because of the brokenness of others and/or our own misalignment with the will of God—the solution is found in God’s presence. Our heavenly King is kind and patient. When we seek His presence, He meets us and supplies all we need.
King David strengthened himself in the Lord through writing out his prayers (the Psalms) and through seeking God’s will through the Holy Spirit (The Ephod). It seems like in today’s cultural moment, people are trying to find strength, or power, or freedom not by surrendering or submitting to God’s will, but by trying to bend the environment around them to their own will.
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 30:1-8, 17-20
Through Christ, God brought goodness, freedom, life, and peace in the midst of intense evil. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hovers over all the evil that has been done to us. Over the evil we have done to others. He hovers over evil in order to bring good out of it.
Scripture: Genesis 45:1-8
Although Jesus’ death on the cross finished the work of offering salvation to the world, God is not finished with his work in us. In his grace keeps us from stumbling, completes our faith training, and finishes the work he began in us.
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Philippians 1:3-11, Hebrews 12:1-2, Jude 1:24
In Matthew 11, Jesus describes his own heart as gentle and lowly. He isn’t repulsed by our weakness; in his tenderness he meets us in vulnerability and brings healing and hope.
Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30
Book references: "Gentle and Lowly" by Dane Ortlund