True Life Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Brandon Ball
True Life Church Podcast will consist of powerful and anointed preaching and practical teaching to assist you in your walk with God. We pray this podcast is a blessing to you and your family.
Pastor Ball continues his Beatitudes series "Foundations Of The Kingdom" from Matthew chapter 5.
The Israelite men missed out on the promise due to the lack of response in handling the battles that were presented. Likewise, we need to recognize the great opportunity to speak life to those around us. Take a moment to listen to the heartbeat from Zach Wilber.
There was a special relationship with Paul to Timothy. Recognized as a son in the faith. As Timothy's purpose was to fulfill the position of pastoring churches that Paul planted, Timothy was also instructed to commit to faithful men. Here at True Life, Pastor Ball revisited the culture of True Life Church - Love God, Love People, and Grow Together. We as men are needing to commit to the three-fold foundation of our culture without leaving any portion undone. Finally, as the opening text mentioned in II Timothy 2:1-3, we find our strength in Jesus Christ while committing to teaching others what has been put in us.
Sermon opens up in John 12 with the beautiful illustration of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with precious ointment. From here we want to answer two questions:
- Why would Mary give such an extravagant gift?
- Why would Judas have such a hard time with this showcase generosity?
Really there are two hearts on display. A heart of selfishness and a heart of generosity. As you take time to listen to this message, there are three key points in understanding generosity:
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The Enemy of Generosity: It is quick to judge another person's affluence. We can get caught in determining what people are to do with their fortune - as seen in the perspective of Judas. The enemy is the fact when we are blessed, we withhold the opportunity to bless others.
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The Extravagance of Generosity: Extravagant giving is not valued in the amount but rather in the heart of the giver. Technically, there is no amount of gifts that could impress God. He has cattle on a thousand hills. However, realistically, there is an account in scripture (Zephaniah 3:17) that shares where God rejoices over us. When we give ourself to God, He jumps up and down and twirls all around. So YES, there is a gift that impresses our God!
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The Reward of Generosity: In Mark 14:9 the reward of anointing Jesus' feet was to be a memorial for all else to read and talk about. Now we do not seek reward when we give generously. In the Gospel of Mark, Mary just had her brother, months prior, raised from the dead. Mary didn't give to get, she gave because of the condition of her heart. Yet, God will still reward the generosity of us Christians!
Tithing is one of the only areas where God is inviting us to test Him. In the book of Malachi, a great portion is on the subject of returning - whether that is our family, faith, or finances.
There are three perspectives that an be drawn from tithing:
- Tithing is a Test: We are to return the tenth of our income. 90% with God's blessing will go further than 100% with the curse of the devourer.
- Tithing is Biblical: Most would argue that tithing was a result of the law. However, we need to understand that the principle predated the law of Moses, and was also a part of the believer today.
- Tithing is a Blessing: Pulling from the excerpt in II Chronicles 31, Israel's people miraculously transitioned from economic recession into a pillar of prosperity because of returning the tithe.
Ultimately there are two testimonies about tithing. There is the tither who wants to tithe because they are so blessed. While the non-tither believes they cannot afford the tithe. Furthermore we will never afford to tithe until we do.
Listen here to find out more!
Kicking off the new year with the men of True Life. At the conclusion of our fellowship, Pastor Ball shared a necessity that we as men need in order to fulfill our calling in God - the stubborn resolve unto faithfulness. Furthermore, Pastor shared that there are three attacks, to cause us to fall, that we will face:
- Naysaying from Others
- Fleshly Nature from Ourselves
- Tactics from Satan
These attacks we will all face. Rather than focusing on the attack, we should focus on the resolve in God to fulfill our faithfulness in Him. For though I fall, I shall arise! Listen here for more.
Listen to this sermon to understand the three things to develop a heart that God wants us to have:
- Deal with a selfish heart
- Deal with a grieving heart
- Develop a generous heart
In the magnificence of Christmas we would be unwise not to look into the life of Mary. She allowed the Holy Ghost to conceive a miracle in her.
Listen to this sermon to understand the three observations about Mary and the child she carried:
- The Conceiving of the Miracle
- The Carrying of the Miracle
- The Completion of the Miracle
While Kami Giwa was gone, Josh Dremsa led discussion through the material of our Elements course. Elements takes a deeper dive in understanding the Word of God on major principles. Kami will resume Table Talk on Effective Communication next week.