Axess Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Axess Church
Join us for life-changing and life-giving content to help you on your life-long pursuit of Jesus Christ.
Many people view the cross as a negative object because of what happened to Jesus on it. Did you know that Jesus told his disciples they must carry their crosses though? To follow Jesus it was a requirement that they have their cross with them as they follow Jesus. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how the cross is a tool of order and for those who want to follow Jesus, the cross is one of the most powerful tools you can utilize in your life.
Where you sat at the table mattered in Biblical times. It was a matter of honor. The closer you were to the guest of honor, the more honorable your position. Despite this, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, seemed to have found a hack. She sat at the feet of Jesus. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn three things that happened when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus.
Jesus taught us that where the treasures of our hearts are, that is where we will eventually be. We will always follow what we treasure. The question becomes, what happens when we treasure the wrong things in life?Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how to change the treasures and desires of your heart so that they reflect the heart of God.
As disciples of Jesus, there is a process of learning what it means to be a disciple. We witness what Jesus does and how he lives. After this, we are sent to do the same ministry as Jesus. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how to take the next step in your discipleship journey with Jesus.
In a world where everyone is telling their story of why the left the faith, it's time to start telling the stories of why some have decided to stay, Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how the mindset of the crowd sets them up to walk away but them stubbornness of a true disciple will set them up to stay till the end.
God makes his option one of many options we can choose from. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how to navigate the option to follow God or the world and the blessing of new creation that comes when we choose God.
God will rarely tell us where we are going, but he will always tell us what we are leaving. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black and learn how to leave when God tells you to leave and the promises that accompany our obedience.
At Axess Church, one of our core values is that God's Word is our foundation. We are starting the new year with a renewed commitment and hunger for God's Word. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black on the many applications of God's Word in our lives.
There is a work of Jesus that many overlook, it's the work of emptying that precedes the work of filling. When we have emptiness in our lives, God will first empty the things we've tried to fill in the emptiness that's not from him, only then can he fill us up with his Spirit.
Enjoy this 3 x 10, a unique sermon format with three different speakers, all speaking on the same topic. In this 3 x 10, the virgin birth, wise men, and the incarnation are all broken down with solid biblical background and application.
The miraculous birth of Jesus was a one-time miracle that will never be replicated. But, there is a miracle that takes place with every believer upon their born-again conversion, they receive the Spirit of Christ within them, and just like Mary, it's our responsibility to grow and mature what God has entrusted to us. The world observed a baby Jesus, but the full-grown Jesus served the world. We have too many Christians in the church who only have the baby Jesus within them because they have not put the work into growing to maturity.
You need four simple principles to have a vision for the lost. Join Pastor Garrett Black and dive into 2 Corinthians 3 and look at Paul and his associates' vision for the lost.
When your worship life leaves you feeling weak, it's a sign of unsustainability. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn the keys to a sustainable worship life that keeps you strong and full of life.
When we walk an unrepentant lifestyle, the warning signs start to appear. Frequently, we are the only ones who can't see them though. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL, and learn the three major signs that you are not responding to God's call for repentance.
Just because everything seems alright, does not mean everything is alright. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how the book of Amos ties into the corruptions we see in the church today, from the leadership to the people in the church.
Many Christians ask what God will allows us to get away with, not realizing that his standards for us are actually higher than the freedom he gives to the world. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and hear the call of God to live to your full, God-given potential in Christ.
The gift of prophecy is given by the Spirit of God for the edification of the church. In other words, the gift of prophecy actually stirs up the faith of the church. Why would we neglect such a beautiful gift that has been given to us by God?Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can pursue the gift of prophecy and how it actually builds up the faith of those around us.
Comfort is the greatest enemy to your faith. When we get comfortable, it's difficult for us to truly follow God where he is leading us, thus nullifying the activity of our faith in the process. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how being uncomfortable is actually the key to keeping your faith alive and staying on God's path for your life.
In Revelations 12, we see that the saints continued to testify to the power of the blood of the lamb, even in the face of persecution. Something happens when we continue to testify and confess the blood of Jesus, even when we don't feel like it or when we are told not to. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how the blood of Jesus is the key to keeping your faith active, not matter what it going on in your life.
In Joshua 22, we find two and a half tribes of Israel who want to settle on the other side of the Jordan River instead of the Promised Land. In fear that they will be cut off from the people of Israel, they create a replica of the altar in Shiloh as a sign that they are Israelites. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how replicas will never replace the real thing. In God's kingdom, there is no such thing as being "close enough" to God's altar
In Joshua 10, we find a very popular story in the Bible - Joshua commands the moon and the Sun to stand still. What does all of this mean, and why did Joshua have the boldness to command this to happen?Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how omens played a vital role in understanding Joshua 10 and how it impacts our lives as Christians today.
In Joshua 9, the Gibeonites deceived the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. They presented themselves as harmless and helpful, even though they were actually Israel's enemy, and they knew it. The same spirit is active today where ideologies and institutions that are opposed to the church and God's word as presenting themselves as harmless and asking to be let into the liturgy and life of the church today. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how political correctness is taking the Church down a path of rebellion towards God and his ways.
All was going well for Israel in the book of Joshua until we reach chapter 7. Achan, an Israelite, took some of the devoted items from Jericho as plunder when God told them not to. This had disastrous consequences, not only for Achan, but for all of Israel. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can overcome the attempts of the enemy to sap your strength through the subtle proposition of idolatry.
As Joshua was preparing the people of Israel to fight for the city of Jericho, he instructed them to take a peculiar formation for battle with the priests in front of everyone. He also directed the people to hold back the war cry. The war cry was a common fighting tactic of the day, but Joshua was teaching the people that God's presence with them was the reason for their success, not their tactics or strategies. This is what it means to hold back the war cry. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can hold back the war cry.
When the people of Israel were crossing the Jordan River in Joshua 3, God told them to collect rocks from the middle of the river to build a memorial with. In the same way, we are still called to be rock collectors, excavating the miracles of God that he has done in our lives. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can stop procrastinating.
Everything has a melting point, including the human heart. Explore three different melting points found in Joshua 2 as God and his people begin to move into the promised land and the people melted with fear. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can stop procrastinating.
When God says go, we have three options: Go, wait, or refuse. refusal is outright rejection, going is obedience, but what is waiting? Waiting is oftentimes just procrastination and it's just as inactive as outright rejection in the first place. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can stop procrastinating.
God will give you your identity for free, but your inheritance is going to cost you something. Moses gave the Israelites identity while they were in the wilderness, but Joshua was the one who led them into their inheritance. Many Christians receive their identity as a child of God and then stand on the edge of the inheritance waiting for God to give it to them when God is waiting for them to take action and walk into it. Enjoy this sermon by Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and learn how you can fight for your God-destined inheritance today.
Welcome to Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL! Join us as Pastor Garrett Black delivers a powerful sermon on the practical use of spiritual gifts within the church community. In this enlightening message, Pastor Garrett explores the importance of discovering and utilizing our God-given gifts to serve others and build up the body of Christ.Get ready to dive deep into the scriptures as Pastor Garrett unpacks key passages and shares practical insights on how to identify and unleash your spiritual gifts for maximum impact. Discover how the Holy Spirit empowers us to operate in various gifts such as prophecy, healing, discernment, leadership, teaching, and more.Whether you're new to the concept of spiritual gifts or seeking to grow in your understanding, this sermon will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to cultivate a vibrant and effective ministry within your church. You'll gain a fresh perspective on the diversity of gifts within the body of Christ and how each one plays a vital role in advancing God's kingdom.Join us at Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL, and be inspired to step into your calling, activate your spiritual gifts, and serve with purpose. Don't miss out on this transformative message that will empower you to impact your church community and fulfill your unique role in God's plan.
Maybe you've noticed that people really want to spiritual. It's not uncommon to hear people say they are spiritual, but not religious. We were born with an innate desire to connect with something greater than ourselves and to know our purpose in life. When we seek these things outside of Jesus, we end up with an unproductive spirituality. Join Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church and learn what it means to be truly spiritual in the eyes of Jesus Christ.
Many people want to be used by God but have yet to learn what it means to be sensitive to the Spirit of God. Without sensitivity there is no leading or perceiving of what God is doing. Join Pastor Garrett Black and learn how we can be sensitive to the Spirit of God and what happens when we all seek that together.
Being the church is being on a team, and a team requires teamwork to succeed. This was the point of the Apostle Paul's imagery of a human body that works together. Join Pastor Garrett Black and learn how the body works together and how you can be a part of that.
When the church comes together, we have the opportunity to encounter God in deep and profound ways. This comes through the manifestation of the Spirit, as Paul writes about in 1 Corinthians 12–14. Join Pastor Garrett Black and explore how to be used by God when the church comes together.
This Mother's day, enjoy a message from Maria Black on the special connection between Mary, John the Baptist, and Elizabeth.
Thomas was not the only person who was doubting Jesus, Peter also doubted, but his doubting was different, he doubted that Jesus could still use him to build his church. Because of Peter's denial of Jesus, shame crept in and Peter believed that he could only know Jesus, but not actually serve him. Join Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church as we explore how Jesus restores Peter and breaks down false beliefs that he carried while he was walking with Jesus.
What do we do, as Christians, when we encounter atheists and doubters? It's bound to happen, so we must be prepared to love them the way Christ would. Take a look at the story of Thomas in John 20, and learn how Jesus and the disciples treated Thomas during his time of doubt and unbelief.
When we don't understand what God's purpose is, situations can become confusing and hopeless. In Luke 24, two disciples of Jesus were in this situation and maybe you feel that way right now as well. Follow Pastor Garrett Black through Luke 24 and discover simple tools and perspectives to help you discover God's purpose in all situations at all times.
After the resurrection, the Gospel of John presents a very unique portrayal of the events at the empty tomb. John narrows his focus in on Mary Magdalene and the importance of her role in delivering the message of the resurrection to the rest of the disciples.
Join podcast host and pastor of Axess Church, Garrett Black, in walking through Mark 15 and the crucifixion account of Jesus. The main topic being explored is if Jesus really gave up on the cross. If so, it has major ramifications for us today.
Throughout the gospel of Mark, Jesus seems to be hiding his true identity by telling people not to share what he's done for them. In Mark 11, that all comes to an end as Jesus is openly sharing the truth of who he is, and it leads to a lot of trouble for him.
Follow our guest speaker David Suh as he imparts the blessing of walking in the faith of God instead of simply having faith in God.
We all face situations where we don't know what else to do, or where else to go - this is hopelessness. In Mark 5, we find three different hopeless situations that Jesus steps into. Once he leaves, each one is brought from despair to faith and hope once again. In the podcast, hosted by Garrett Black of Axess Church, learn about how Jesus interacts with us in our times of crisis.
Jesus' blatant disregard for the law is interesting, especially when he upheld the value of the law as well. Why would he then work on the Sabbath, one of the most sacred commandments that God gave to his people. Learn that and more in this podcast about Mark 2 where Jesus calls himself the Lord of the Sabbath.
Who did John the Baptist believe that Jesus was? Join Garrett Black, the pastor of Axess Church, to explore how John the Baptist viewed Jesus and the implications that it has for us today.
Once the prayer has been answered and we're enjoying the blessing of God's favor, it's tempting to forget how you ended up there in the first place. This forgetfulness was the very thing that Moses was attempting to make sure didn't happen to the Israelites. Join Garrett Black, pastor of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL on learning how to remain mindful of how you got to where you are with God.
Gideon was a man who responded to God with fear and insecurity when he called him. This is a natural response as human beings, but we ultimately must push through. Join Pastor Garrett Black of Axess Church to learn how we can respond to God in the midst of fear and insecurity.
When we do big things for God, or even little things, the enemy doesn't like it. Learn the main ways that the enemy tries to distract us as we work for God in this podcast episode hosted by Garrett Black, the pastor of Axess Church.
God has a way of doing things, he starts small. This is not by accident or because there is no other way to do it, it's because he chooses to start this way. Join us as we explore the promising nature of God and the impact it has on new beginnings in our lives. This podcast is hosted by Garrett Black of Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL and was recorded live on February 5, 2023.
The Apostle Paul teaches us a lot about engaging cities for the kingdom of God. This week we will zoom in on his time in Ephesus, found in Acts 18:24 - 19:20. Join Axess Church podcast host Garrett Black to see how the steps of Paul can lead you in your next steps in your walk with God.
The anointing of God is often lacking in most people's lives, but it is a critical piece to walking in the fullness of power that he has called each and every one of us to. In this podcast, I outline three powerful prayers that attract the anointing of God on your life.
Do you pray for spiritual gifts? Here are a few things that will help you in your pursuit of the Gifts of the Spirit in your life.
What happens when we pray for faith? Does God just drop it into our laps? Find out in this weeks episode about praying for faith.
In this episode, learn how our prayers are directly connected to what God asks of us and how praying to God leads to the ultimate sense of fulfillment in life.
Oftentimes the idea of getting revelation from God can feel like something only the spiritually elite have access to. Learn how to receiving revelation from God is quite simple in this podcast.
Believe it or not, but Jesus' first teaching on generosity had nothing to do with money!
Often times it can seem like the preacher is talking about excellence just to get the people in their church to try harder.
Join Garrett Black from Axess Church in Glen Ellyn, IL for three practical tips to make God's Word more than an inspiration, but a foundation for your life.