Finding Life Teaching Podcast: Recent Episodes
Shane Kennard
We lead people to find Life in Jesus through teaching the Bible. God intended us to have a vitality of our soul. Jesus is the One we Hear & Follow to find this vitality. The Bible points us to Jesus.
God prepared Nehemiah for the work through waiting. It is hard and frustrating, but necessary. Go more in depth with blogs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at www.findinglife.me. Subscribe for emails in your inbox at https://mailchi.mp/6657722e377e/fb-blog-email-landing-page.
God gave Nehemiah vision when he wasn't looking for it. How can we take what God gave him and put it into our life? Deeper blog posts will hit Monday, Wednesday & Friday of this week. Receive emails directly in your inbox here: https://mailchi.mp/6657722e377e/fb-blog-email-landing-page
Intro to Something Greater a devotional series through Nehemiah. God did something greater inside Nehemiah so he led the nation to do something greater by rebuilding the wall. Devotionals will hit Monday, Wednesday and Friday at www.findinglife.me.
Everyone has personality giftings so that they can build up each other into the fullness of Christ. It isn't just the staff's job to equip the saints. Every saint equips other saints. Ephesians 4:7-16
We gather to strengthen each other so that we have faith in the Living God. Strengthening each other happens through encouragement and challenging. Who do you have in your life that strengthens you?
Sin is like pouring the wrong gasoline into our soul and expecting the performance to be the same. How intense are we willing to get to flush out our system and get the gasonline of the Holy Spirit through our soul? Finding a Super Small Group to share in carrying the burden of our sin will help us break free of the cycle of sin.
Love means we use our freedom in Christ to serve others. If we have a list of "Have to's" we will use our freedom to attack and devour each other. Serving allows Eternal Life to flow. Attacking cuts off Eternal Life. Which one do you want to do?
Perfect love drives out fear. If we fear or if we lead by fear, it is all about being punished...or tormented. Perfect love drives out this fear becuase we focus on discipline...bringing others to share in God's holiness. Community causes friction and love is the oil to reduce friction and the impact of friction so that Eternal Life can flow through the souls of all the Community.
God sent angels to tell Daniel he was treasured by God. For you, he sent his Son to die to give you a backstage pass into his Throne Room, he gives you his Spirit (instead of an angel) to be with you continuously. He treasures you. Keep going in prayer. Let God work because you know he treasures you. Daniel 9:20-23; Daniel 10:10-11; Daniel 10:18-19
What happens when it seems like God is not answering your prayer? What happens when it seems like the opposite of your prayer is happening? Keep praying. Jesus experienced a delayed response from God. That delayed response led to Jesus being the source of Eternal Life because he resurrected from the grave. Hebrews 5:7-10
God invites us into his Throne Room. Now Jesus invites us to pray God's Throne Room down to earth. Matthew 6:9-15.
We're allowed to come before God in boldness to speak freely. What about when we are weak and don't know what to say? The Spirit always has our back in prayer. He interprets for us to God. In doing so, prayer transforms us into the image of the Son to glorify God in our life.
Prayer is us tapping into the Eternal Life moment-by-moment, but that doesn't mean we sit idly by hoping God will decide to come close to us. He invites us to come into his Throne Room and get Eternal Life directly from the Source. Even more than that, we get to deepen the relationship we have with him by speaking freely at his Throne.
Daniel read God's written word to point him to God's Eternal Life. When he read Jeremiah, he used it to drive him to his knees in prayer. He didn't use it as a way to gather & teach information. Use the Bible to drive you to your knees in prayer because what God wants to do in and through your life is way bigger than you could ever do.
The written word points us to the definitive Word who tabernacled among us so we can have relationship with him. This Word is the Zoe Life. Through Zoe Life flooding our soul, the Word Lightens the way for our biological life.
Another role of the Bible is to help us find rest because it cuts us a part. How is that rest? Just like cutting cancer out of our bodies or performing surgery on a clogged artery, God's Word removes what gets in the way of the Living Water that God wants to flood our soul.
God uses the Bible to build our biological bodies together. Then he uses the Spirit to breathe Zoe Life into our souls so that what God is building comes to Life. Then he uses us for a specific purpose in building his Kingdom here on earth.
The role of the Bible isn't to give us Eternal Life. The role is to point to Jesus who is the One who gives us Eternal Life. Jesus tells the religious leaders in John 5:39-40 what role the Bible plays.
God sent his Spirit to us so that we can find victories over the old person who won't stay dead. Romans 8 shows us the role the Spirit has in our life to bring victories over the old life so that God's Zoe Life will flow through our soul.
God is transforming us into a New Creation. Sure we know this theologically. What about practically? God is more patient with our transformation than we have with ourselves.
If God wants us to use tools to build Life into our soul, then there must be a blueprint. The blueprint, the only thing that matters, is that we become a brand new creation. In Galatians 6, Paul teaches us about this blueprint and how to find God's purpose.
God created us for biological life, but he also created us for so much more. He created us to have Zoe, Eternal Life that flows from God's Throne into our soul and out into our biological life. He gives us 3 tools to wade out deeper into his Zoe Life.
Isaiah foreshadows a Successful Servant. His success isn't what you would expect. The Successful Servant will be rejected, take the fall and be cut off. Being God of the Isolated would be his success. Why was this success for him?
Micah pointed forward to one who would be overlooked. Yet Jesus didn't lead from being overlooked. He led from his identity and mission that came from his Heavenly Father. How can we too lead from our Heavenly Father's identity and mission for our lives? From Micah 5:1-5
Our churches often focus on gathering the gathered. God wants leaders to rise up to gather the scattered...just like Jesus did.
Jesus came to bring healing to the broken so we don't have to put our life together. Isaiah 61:1-4
The comparison game is destructive. And it is as old as the disciples (and even older). You just have to Hear & Follow Jesus, not compare yourself to others.
Based on John 21
The disciples were scared and unbelieving. And yet Jesus showed up to them, loved them, showed them, challenged them. And let them keep going.
Baed on John 20:19-31
The disciples just didn't get the resurrection. And yet Jesus still loved them through their lack of understanding. Jesus will still love you through your lack of understanding.
Based on John 20:1-18
Joseph & Nicodemus were secret disciples. And they decided to come out of the shadows to give Jesus a proper burial. When you find yourself as a secret disciple, find others who understand and who grow you out of the shadows.
Based on John 19:31-42
Jesus is the Eternal King who died. Who follows an Eternal King who dies? And why would we ever follow him?
Based on John 19:1-30
Jesus is the King of a different Kingdom. And when he came to earth, it was to prove it. We're slaves to earthly kingdoms and Jesus is the King who sets us free.
Based on John 18:28-40
Peter's public bravado melted into public denial. And yet Jesus remained publically meek.
Based on John 18:15-27
Peter tried to take care of the mob with his sword. But couldn't have gotten the job done. Jesus could take care of the mob with his voice, but decided to be arrested anyway.
Based on John 18:1-14
Jesus had one prayer for his disciples: For us to make God visible. What is it he prayed for? And how can we answer his prayer?
Based on John 17
We find Abundant Joy in Jesus through the difficulty. Not by avoiding the difficulty.
Based on John 16:16-33
We are not the ones who convict others. The Holy Spirit has that covered. We come along side those who experience conviction and let them know of the Life Jesus gives.
Based on John 16:5-15
Jesus told his discples to expect others to hate them. But he wasn't telling them so they'd freak out about it. He told them to be ready, but to still love and serve through it all.
Based on John 15:18-16:4
Jesus has one job description for his disciples: Remain in Jesus. Or marinade in him. So that your life has all the flavoring of Jesus.
Based on John 15:1-17
Everything was not as it should have been or seemed to be for the disciples. And Jesus is telling them to not be troubled. How can they not be troubled in a time like this?
Based on John 14:15-31.
Throw away the religious bravado & the religious garb and simply Hear & Follow Jesus through the jungle of life. He will lead you to the place he has prepared for you to find Life.
Based on John 14:1-14
Glorifying God isn't an awesome worship service. It is making him visible to those who can't see him. And Jesus gives us the #1 way to glorify God.
Based on John 13:21-38
Jesus took on the role of the lowest servant. The best leaders with the best teams are willing to be the lowest, even when they have the greatest title.
Based on John 13:1-20
There were those who believed in Jesus, but weren't willing to commit publically because of loving the praise of man more than the praise of God. Do we fall into this same trap?
Based on John 12:37-50
Jesus lost his life in order for us to find Life. To find this Life, we must follow him. To follow him, we must lose our life. And in losing our life, we find Jesus' Life.
Extravagant worship is different for different people. But it will always be second guessed and criticized. What is your next step of extravagant worship?
Based on John 12:1-11
Whatever we hold on to, we get to keep. But if we hold onto anything but Jesus, we will lose that too.
Based on John 11:45-57
The dead man came out. That is not a phrase many people have said. But everyone of us can experience this same statement.
Based on John 11:17-44
Jesus was leading the disciples beyond where they wanted to go. And he did this so that their faith was deepened.
John 11:1-16
A political, physical Messiah is only there to make us comfortable in our own mindset. A spiritual Messiah will lead us beyond ourselves. But in Hearing & Following, we find Eternal Life.
Based on John 10:22-42.
Jesus tells us he is the Good Shepherd. Earning our trust by laying his life down for us. And always leading us into the pastures that give Abundant Life.
Based on John 10:1-21
Those who think they can see are blind. And those who know they are blind can see. Finding spiritual sight in Jesus.
Based on John 9:35-41.
A man born blind. Who sinned? His parents? Him?
Jesus says neither. Rather, his difficulty is so that he can bring Light to those who are in darkness.
Based on John 9:1-34.
Freedom from sin doesn't come because we were born into religion or because we have been religious or because we know a lot about the Bible. Freedom from sin comes because we have faith in Jesus, who brings freedom from the slavery of sin.
Based on John 8:30-59.
Religion is putting a buffer zone between you and sin. Then thinking that buffer zone is your Life. But Jesus told the religious they are sinful and their buffer zone is a sham. And that he is the only way to find the true Light that lights up our Life.
Based on John 8:12-29
Jesus deflected, defended & forgave the woman caught in adultery. And Jesus does this for all proven sinners. Have you experienced how Jesus treats sinners?
Based on John 8:1-11
We move from facts to Life by believing that Jesus is the only Living Water that will satisfy our soul.
Based on John 7:37-53
We can miss the Life Jesus wants to give to us because we want to know all the facts about Jesus.
Based on John 7:25-36
The crowds were confused about Jesus. But again, all hope isn't lost through the confusion. Jesus has given you enough to work through the confusion. But you must view his works and teaching, not from the perspective of facts, but from the perspective of giving Eternal Life.
Based on John 7:10-24
Jesus' brothers were skeptical of Jesus' identity. But all hope wasn't lost for them. And neither is it lost for you if you are skeptical.
Based on John 7:1-9
Have you ever gotten to the point where you have no where else to turn except to Jesus? Well, the 12 disciples found themselves at that point. And that is the best place to be.
Based on John 6:60-71
Jesus tells us the only thing we have to do for Eternal Life is to believe. But this isn't a factual belief. It is a belief that we must feast on him to find Life. And we give God all our buts telling him why we can't do that.
Based on John 6:22-59.
When we doubt God's love, the first things we doubt are his presence and provision. Jesus gave us two signs to show he will give Life through his presence and provision, proving his love.
Based on John 6:1-21
The religious think that God's presence shows up in his judgement. Jesus tells us God's presence show up in his love.
Based on John 5:31-47
God doesn't like, love or accept you because you don't cross over a line. We've already crossed over the line. Rather, Jesus came to move us from death to Life.
Based on John 5:16-30.
Religious superstition had the invalid man stuck for 38 years. But with just a few words, Jesus brough him a brand new life. What religious superstition has you stuck?
Based on John 5:1-15
Jesus challenged a man and the crowd to believe in him and not in his miracles. The man, ultimately did. And he got to see Jesus and the miracle. Like this man, Jesus wants you to go, before you ever see what he is going to do.
Based on John 4:43-54
Jesus exposed the secrets of the woman by the well. And he did it in such a way that he brought her freedom, not condemnation.
Then those very secrets allowed her to share Jesus to others so they too could believe.
Based on John 4:27-42.
Sin isn't an arbritary list of commands that'll tick God off if you do them. Sin is us finding living water through any other means than through him. And a woman found the Living Water that is Jesus, despite all of her sin.
Based on John 4:1-26
God will give us the Spirit without measure. It is a faucet that is always on, always full blast and will never run dry. But to experience it, we must have our hands open to God and must allow Jesus to increase in our lives.
Based on John 3:22-36
Coming into the kingdom means we must be born again. Being good won't get us there. Which means anyone and everyone can find the Kingdom. But we must believe that God loved us too much to leave us on the outside looking in. We believe that Jesus came to restore this Eternal Life in us.
Based on John 3:1-21
Jesus getting mad and clearing the temple is more than not selling stuff in God's building.
It is about keeping people far from him from seeking him among his people.
Based on John 2:13-25
Jesus turned some water to wine. And it displayed his glory and the disciples believed in him because of it.
But it is just wine! Why did the disciples believe because of this and how can we believe in Jesus because of this miracle?
Based on John 2:1-12
Some belive in Jesus quick. Some are skeptical and take some time becuase of hurdles.
What hurdles do you have to following Jesus?
Based on John 1:35-51
John the Baptist came to get people ready for Jesus. And he points to Jesus and tells us all why we can believe that he came even for us to be able to belive today, 2,000 years later.
Based on John 1:19-34.
God made an unexpected visit. But people didn't find judgement for not having their life in order.
Instead, they found grace upon grace through Jesus restoring the Eternal Life God gave us when he created us.
Based on John 1:1-18
John wrote, not for you to find a better life, but for you to find Eternal Life in Jesus.
Is the Bible simply something we do to check off our religious check list? NO!
The Bible points us to Jesus to find Eternal Life in him.