Pipeline.Church - the podcast: Recent Episodes
Jeff Atherton
This is the official Podcast of PIPELINE.CHURCH- a ministry based in Visalia, CA that continues to reach the community through weekly meetings (services), Bible Studies, Small group discipleship, community outreach, large-scale events and generally anything that can connect people with Jesus Chirst. Why? Because it's all about Jesus!!Our hope at Pipeline Church, is that your life and ministry will be encouraged, challenged and that your faith will grow deeper as a result of the ministry that you receive. Pipeline Church has a single mission... To introduce people to Jesus and help them in their journey to become fully devoted followers of Christ!
Though we call them the "Pastoral Epistles,” 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus are really a collection of books that are concerned with church solidarity and function. The Church is a living organism made of up individuals operating in unity. Through these letters, God gives us His plan for churches to live in optimal health.
a meeting to discuss "partnership" The last of 4 set meetings to talk about the church and our role in the community
Though we call them the "Pastoral Epistles,” 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus are really a collection of books that are concerned with church solidarity and function. The Church is a living organism made of up individuals operating in unity. Through these letters, God gives us His plan for churches to live in optimal health.
Week 6: Communion Four Questions that can transform your life and the way you do life with others: 1) What are Life Dreams made of? 2) What can we learn from The Life Dreams of others? 3) What is the Pattern? (God’s Game Plan for Life & Leadership) 4) How do you run the bases of life? (How will you?)
Living a Home Run Life Figure out what counts on the last day, So that you know what to count every day! Getting in "scoring position” - living in Community Hebrews 12:14-15 1. Keep your word 2. Keep your calendar aligned with your relationships 3. Keep short accounts
Living a Home Run Life Week 2: Winning with Character Join the conversation as we try and figure out how we can find success without selling our soul. 1) Live for the Truth (or lose with a lie) 2) Plug into the Vine (it's not my power) 3) Draw the Line (be done with just "one")
Living a Home Run Life Week 1: Home Run Life Four Questions that can transform your life and the way you do life with others: 1) What are Life Dreams made of? 2) What can we learn from The Life Dreams of others? 3) What is the Pattern? (God’s Game Plan for Life & Leadership) 4) How do you run the bases of life? (How will you?)
How are we going to make it? Does God really care? What does it mean to have a good shepherd? In this message, the word reminds us that God is for us and He is in complete and total control!
How do we respond in the year that.... What should our mission and call be as a church, no matter who is leading our country.
Hebrews: The Complete Work of Christ Belief and Obedience Big Idea of the Message: If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus—He is the “exact imprint” of the Father’s nature, superior to all supernatural beings.
Applicational Point: It’s important we don’t just “believe” that Jesus is God, but that we live out this truth by obeying His commands.
Guest speaker: Brian Ross What is our job in the church? How can WE carry the mission forward vs. waiting for someone else to to do the job that HE has called us (all) to do.
ROAR: Truth in a world of opinions
Text: Acts 9:1-19 Topic: The importance of “being there” Big idea of the message: We are called to be the carriers of the TRUTH but also the strength and support for those who are new to Christ.
What are we supposed to do?
- Ananias was LISTENING
- Ananias was SURRENDERED
- Abraham (Gen 22:1)
- Jacob (Gen 31:11; 46:2)
- Moses (Ex 3:11)
- Samuel (1Sam 3:4-8)
- Isaiah (Isa 6:8)
- Ananias was OBEDIENT
- He was doubtful
- He was scared
- ***May have been decided when God told Him he needed to show Saul how much he was going to suffer
- Ananias was PRESENT
ROAR: Truth in a world of opinions
Text: Acts 17:22-31 Topic: The Message never fails Big Idea of the Message: We must protect the integrity of the message of Christ through being as real and practical as possible in every conversation and every relationship. Faking it isn’t going to make a difference in a world that values the “REAL” stuff of life.
When our heart lines up with God’s priorities, we won’t be selective with who we speak the truth to.
Title: #Doinglifetogether Text: Philippians 4 Topic: Choosing to serve God daily and grow in Him Bottom Line: God has called us into community so that we can encourage one another in the life/lifestyle that He has called us. Talking points:
- There is no room for long-term disagreements and disunity in the church
- Try to outdo one another with good! This encourages the joy and rejoicing the world needs to see from us
- Worry is not an attribute of a believer that brings glory to God - we must encourage one another in this
- Putting it in practice is the greatest testimony of our real faith
Text: Philippians 3:12-21 Topic: priority, money, God’s call on our lives, priorities Bottom Line: Put God FIRST! If our priority and our focus is on Him, He can take our small amounts that we have to offer as the result of our labor and make a TRUE impact. Talking points: •We are a generation, community, culture that values and celebrates hard work aimed at accomplishment •What is REAL success? How do we measure success? What is the WIN? •Celebrate the daily work of God and His provision in our lives vs. living on the success of the past. •The priority of Christ and the sacrifice of personal “comfort” allows God full control of our hearts and lives. For His Glory!
Guest speaker: Brian Ross Text: Philippians 2:19-30 Big idea: God calls us to be followers of Him and encourages us to care for and celebrate one another! Text: Paul makes it very clear, as he speaks encouragement and life into the leaders he has put in place, that he wants the church to care for it leadership and for one another. We don't know the extent of the journey or the process that those around us are in. A community of faith builds and encourages as it serves... speaking life and truth in a world that is desperately lacking both.
Text: Philippians 3:1-11 Topic: Using the gifts God has given us (as individuals) for His work and His glory General thought: All of us, at some point, have figured out that there are a few things we have been uniquely gifted to do and accomplish. For many, those gifts, talents and abilities lead us to places that we never would have imagined. We find opportunity, joy and even identity in our ability. According to Paul, even the things that we were “born to do” are to be used as an opportunity to worship God and remind other of His great power and glory. Bottom Line: God wants His people to use their “gifts” for His glory and His work… that’s where we find fulfillment and true joy
In Philippians chapter 2, Paul makes it clear to us that we are to do two things: 1) Serve God with everything that we have 2) Live in a way that makes an impact on the world around us… all for God’s glory! Tonight, we’re talking about what we do with our lives and how we use our time and energy for His glory in our every day experience.
Philippians 2:1-8 It may not seem to make sense to say that living in community starts at home but as we look at the text we see that if we want to live in community we need to follow the example of Christ. We cannot really reflect God's character and love if we are not sure what that means! We need to start with "first things first" and make sure that we are spending the time getting to know that true nature and will of God for our lives...
Colossians Gratitude from something greater Text: Colossians 4:18
Topic: A Life for Christ is Greater
Big Idea of the Message: No matter where it takes you, a life dedicated to following Christ is greater than a life without him.
Get 'er Done Dad Colossians 3:17-4:1 What do we do as Dad’s to get from delivery room to grandfather’s blessing? How do we give our children both roots and wings?
Fathers Can Teach the Importance Boundaries and Centers.
True Freedom is Never Free Colossians 1:15-17 Our worship should be aimed at the one responsible for all we have in the world, and not the things themselves.
Head full of Wisdom Colossians 1:18-2:10 Because of who he is and what he’s done, Jesus is the head of the church and our ultimate authority.
Wisdom from God surpasses wisdom from the world.
Christ is Greater Every Day We shouldn’t be content with the temporary excitement that comes with conversion, but instead we should strive to continually grow in spiritual maturity and obedience.
This is HIS church! 1st Birthday celebration Looking at Matthew 16, we take time to reflect on God's blessing and faithfulness to HIS church as we celebrate our 1st Birthday!
Mother's Day 2016 We generally try to go through Books of the Bible and investigate the text. Every so often however, we have the opportunity to take a break and pursue a "stand alone" topic or message. Enjoy some of these "one hit wonders" as we approach events and transition times in our church life and growth.
Un:LIKELY - an unlikely response Sometimes we think that everyone else is more qualified or likely than we are to be a part of God’s story. But even though we may feel insignificant, unimportant or unworthy, God says we are not only valuable—we are wanted! Even though we, or even others, would declare us unlikely, God says we’re not. He declares the unlikely, “likely.” Because God wants people who are available—He always picks availability over ability.
UN:LIKELY - an unlikely place God uses unlikely people in unlikely places in their lives to do extra-ordinary things.
UN:LIKELY - an unlikely person Sometimes we think that everyone else is more qualified or likely than we are to be a part of God’s story. But even though we may feel insignificant, unimportant or unworthy, God says we are not only valuable—we are wanted! Even though we, or even others, would declare us unlikely, God says we’re not. He declares the unlikely, “likely.” Because God wants people who are available—He always picks availability over ability.
Nehemiah Week 2 Bible Reference: Nehemiah 4:1-5 Topic: Opposition Big Idea of the Message: There will be people who will question the new life God is building in you.
Bible Reference: Nehemiah 1:4-11 Topic: Repentance Big Idea of the Message: Repenting of sins is the foundation of God restoring one’s life.
Bible Reference: Matthew 6:25-34 Topic: Examine Your Priorities Big Idea of the Message: Make God—not money, titles, or promotions—your number one priority in life.
Bible Reference: Psalm 90 Topic: Are You Too Busy? Big Idea of the Message: In comparison to God, our lives are nothing. Yet, we often live like we’re God, cramming our schedules as if everything depends on us. Trust God enough to take a break.
Bible Reference: Psalm 90 Topic: Are You Too Busy? Big Idea of the Message: In comparison to God, our lives are nothing. Yet, we often live like we’re God, cramming our schedules as if everything depends on us. Trust God enough to take a break.
This week we celebrate Peace… This comes with a promise perfectly kept
Think of a time when you looked forward to an event for a long time. What emotions did you feel as you waited? How did you feel when the wait was finally over?
Looking at both the Old Testament and the New Testament, we will walk through reasons why we have PEACE because of Christ. Genesis 22:9-19 Isaiah 9:2&6-7 Luke 2:1-7
1) Peace never comes without a price 2) God’s peace exists because of a promise perfectly kept 3) Peace recognizes great provision 4) Peace brings a pause
Finishing our series "Salt and Light" we make our way to the Christmas season as we light the first candle of Advent (anticipation of the coming king). Using the text(s)... Jeremiah 33:14-16, Isaiah 9:2-6, Isaiah 11:1-5 We take this Sunday to celebrate the Hope that Christ and His church can bring to a broken world.
The church finds itself in a day and age where we are lamenting our lack of influence and missing impact on culture, but are we really that different?! We aren't that much different from the world statistically when it comes to debt, divorce, pornography, and so many other areas. Have we lost our saltiness? God is calling us back and pastor Jeff spends some time unpacking some of the things that just might be keeping us from the desired positions and affect we would hope to have in our culture.
When John talks about eternity, he's giving us the big picture that life means so much more than this... right here, right now. In light of the big picture, how do we pray and relate to our friends? Where's our hope? How do we see this all come together in the end? John uses the last section of this book to get laser focused on the importance of Christ and the big picture of our faith.
Looking at John 5:1-12 we get a very clear picture of how we know if we are "saved". John makes it very clear that it's all about Jesus! We show God that we love Him by our obedience without question and the result of living under His name and in His power is the ability to overcome the things in this world that seem to drag us down. How do we commit our ways to God and make a difference as a community of believers? We believe that we can't do life alone, that growing people change, that saved people serve people, and that found people find people.
It's crazy... we hear so many voices tellingl us how we should be living. John gives us clear advice on who and what to listen to as we try and live out our faith and life with Him.
Prayer + Pages + People lead to His Promises!
Tina Turner is famous for asking... "what's Love got to do with it!?" When we talk about faith and salvation, we rarely consider consider love as anything more than, as Tina would say, "a secondhand emotion." Really, how does love play in to anything when it comes to our faith? John makes it clear that LOVE is the ultimate result and action of a life truly changed by God. When we stand in the light of Christ, all the things that we think are a big deal seem to fade away. We no longer fight to be "right" b/c we know the true standard. We no longer fight to be the most important because believers know who is the highest and greatest. This passage really clarifies for us, the call of God and His word... Love God, Love Others!
Again, we start reading a chapter that starts with the endearing words of grandpa John, calling us "little children." What starts out sounding like something that is going to draw us closer and make us feel all warm and fuzzy, takes a serious turn when John starts making sure we understand what sin can do to our lives. With his instruction in the first few verses of this chapter, we are encouraged to clearly discern the things that make a follower of Christ! We are clearly instructed that not all who look like followers of Christ truly live it. So the big question for us is... are we living it? What makes us different? Do we daily take stock of our lives and call to be "in Him," asking Him to change us daily. We also are encouraged to look at our life as a church and as the "body of Christ." What is the true measure of a believer as part of Pipeline Church and how do we communicate that?
Everyone is doing it! While that may be the way it seems... it isn't always true, but it still hurts! What do you do when a friend walks away from the faith or when you're directly confronted about your faith by someone you love who does not believe? Where do we get our strength to stand? Where do we get the wisdom to know who and what is right to wrong? Again, grandpa John helps us as he walks us through the pain of seeing people reject the Christ we love. The truth is, the pain never goes away when you truly care and love people the way that God has called us to love them. Our hope lies in the fact that the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit is promised to us as a way of knowing and standing for what is true.
Does loving one another really matter? Do I really have to care what other people think? Does God really care about me? What about all the fun stuff I'm missing out on? These are just a few of the things that are covered in this section of scripture that we're going to jump in on tonight. John starts by making sure we know that this isn't anything new, but we're going to do it all a "new" way! John points to character over action repeatedly and it's so incredibly important that we hear his call and warning. Love one another like never before and Love the Lord your God with all your heart... that's the story morning glory!
We struggle, we do good, we struggle some more, we ask for forgiveness, we let everyone down again... That seems to be the cycle that we find ourselves in. From the very beginning, we have struggled with consistently living out the faith in God that rescues us from ourselves. Solomon wrote that there isn't a person without sin and Paul followed in the New Testament saying, "all have sinned and fall short of His glorious standard." I hope we get the point by now, we need His help! Today's message through "grandpa John" gives us hope that Jesus is right there with us every step of the way. While the goal is for us to avoid sin and the destruction that follows it, the text makes it clear that God has provided new life for us through His son... no our own power. Be encourage today, He's got this!
How often have you tried to convince yourself that "everything is ok"? We look at our lives and our actions and we tend to rationalize our behaviors when we realize that they don't match up to God's standard. Today's message is a challenge to stand in the full light of God's glory and measure ourselves to His standard. When we realize we don't match up, we have the ability to truly find salvation through Him.
Everyone wants to be loved... We look for love in so many places and seem to keep coming up empty! What's our standard? Where is there a real example of what it looks like to really love and be loved? Love is defined at the cross of Jesus. Stop hating others by closing your eyes to their needs. Jesus loves, then we love. Jesus serves, then we serve. Jesus gives, then we give. It starts with Jesus. He changes us so we can be more like him.
As a general overview of the book of 1 John, we try to paint a good picture of the author and his intent for this letter. This book is really a collection of lessons and "Bible studies" if you will by the one known as "beloved"
All of us have a story. Many times we don't consider our story all that exciting or really anything worth telling. That's not true! Your story is important because it's a visible and constant reminder that God is at work in us and He has a plan for us!! Looking at Paul's story and the way he communicated it in tense situations, will help us better understand the "POWER of a STORY"
Who's in?! It's time to get to work As students, educators and volunteers head back to school, the question is... what are we headed out there to do - really? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus sends His disciples out to do the work that he has prepared them for. In tonight's message, we will take a look at what we're really called to do and how we can accomplish it!
Galatians 6:11-18 - What do you believe in? When it all comes down, wether you say it or not, people know where your trust and confidence really comes from. For the Galatians, they were faced with finding faith in the law and following the law, as opposed to following Christ and the "way" that was being proclaimed. The question tonight is... where is your trust?!
Galatians Galatians 6:1-10 - What does "doing good" look like? Have you ever connected with a person who does "good things"and just can't wait to let everyone know about it?! How about the person who thinks they are helping and really, they just mess things up? It seems comical, but this section of scripture is a specific call and order from "Pastor Paul" to the church in Galatia... do good - and don't stop doing it!
Galatians 5:13-26- Freedom and Power... is it in you? When we typically think of being "free" we think of relaxing on a beach with not a care in the world outside of what we want with our guacamole! What if freedom means something a bit more? What Freedom actually makes us more busy and gives us less "free" time? What if the things that we end up doing with our freedom end up actually making a difference in the world? What if I told you that living for something more, might actually help you find the "rest" you've been looking for?
Galatians 5:1-15 Motives... Fear & Love We do what we do for so many reasons. It seems that sometimes we can get caught between doing things out of fear (or even a sense of duty) vs. doing life out of the Love that God calls us to live and walk in daily. So, the big question is... what's your motive?
We believe through conversation with God in prayer we align ourselves with His will, releasing His power and blessing. Therefore we will pray with humility and gratitude, expecting God's faithful response.
Prayer and the Sovereignty of GodGod is sovereign: Sovereignty means rule, and the sovereignty of God means that God rules over His creation with absolute power and authority. He determines what is going to happen. God is not alarmed, frustrated, or defeated by circumstances, by sin, or by the rebellion of His creatures.
"Rooted" in the word... what are some of the Bible basics and methods of study that we can use as we seek to get rooted in the word of God?The Bottom line:The Bible is God’s inspired word of revelation and exists as our single highest authority for living. We must learn how to study the text and "root" ourselves in the word of God!
The Bible is God’s inspired word of revelation and exists as our single highest authority for living.2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God’s story is what makes sense of our lives and all of history. We don’t add God to our lives—he invites us into His story. God’s (redemption) purpose in freeing us from bondage to sin and suffering goes beyond what he wants to do in us; he wants to do something through us as we who have been called out of darkness and into his marvelous light make him known to others in word and deed.
Looking in to the scripture text of 1 Corinthians 13 - Sam gives us a good picture of what love is and what love does....
Every house—like any relationship, particularly a marriage—has trash that must be taken out. You’re going to sin against each other. Trash is going to accumulate. If you don’t take out the trash, it will stink up the whole relationship. Don’t fight with criticism, contempt, defensiveness, or stonewalling. Rather, fight to the glory of God by recognizing sin and repenting of sin. Repentance is three things: confession, contrition, and change. It takes a sinner to repent. It takes a victim to forgive. It takes two people to reconcile. The only way your relationship will be enduring and endearing is if repentance of sin and forgiveness of sin are practiced; otherwise, it will not get better, it will get bitter.
A wife is incredibly powerful in the life of her husband. The wife is to respect her husband (Eph. 5:33), which means “to notice, regard, honor, prefer, defer to, encourage, love, and admire” him. A respectful wife has a head of respect (How do you think about your husband?), a heart of respect (How do you feel about your husband? What do you say about him?), and hands of respect (What do you do for your husband?). A disrespectful wife may be silent and compliant, or loud and contentious. Still, it is possible to disagree respectfully. Do you respect your husband?
We all have the need to be needed - Longing for belongingDating is one of the ways that we seek to find a mate, but it also a way that many people look to find "their place".There are a few places that we can look first to decide if we're ready to date... as we read Mark 12: 29-31 we find Jesus calling us to the basic understanding that we must first "love the Lord your God" and "love your neighbor as yourself." This seems like an interesting place to start when talking about dating, but... check it out!
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. Every covenant—including the new covenant of salvation—has a head, who is ultimately responsible for the covenant. The husband is the covenant head of a marriage; he is responsible for his marriage, his wife, and his kids. Similarly, Christ took that which was not his fault—our sin—and he made it his responsibility on the cross. He is our covenant head.
Katie Den Brave shares an incredible overview of all the "major" topics as well as her incredible story of God's grace and redemption. She covers topics like... How does our world and the media affect our point of view? How are guys and girls different? What does God's grace and provision really look like to someone who has walked through places of struggle and separation. Key verses: Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come."Genesis 2:18-20 - "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.' Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that what its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found."
Every student will have to deal with conflict in his or her friendships. It’s your goal to set them up to handle the conflict (whether immediate or in the future) in a way that honors God and the other person, and doesn’t create unnecessary pain. Help your students begin to see that conflict can lead to deeper and more meaningful friendships when we change the way we deal with it.Scripture References: Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 5:23-24; Romans 12:17-19; Ephesians 4:26-27; Colossians 3:13
Marriage is at it's best when husband and wife are Best Friends... That pretty much covers this one. Check out this time we had- powerful and great stuff from the word!
"Hitched" is the couples ministry of Tulare Community Church. Teaching through this series based on the book of the same title by Mark and Grace Driscoll... pastor Jeff shares an over view of chapter 1. From a wedding to a War gives a basic outline of what Christian marriage should look like as a reflection of the Gospel of Christ. Along with giving the "ideal" picture of the relationship, we talk about the pitfalls and challenges we face in our marriage commitment to one another.
I apologize up front for the poor quality of the audio on this recording... Obviously still a lot of kinks to work out on my end.This is a teaching from the Tulare Community Church Women's ministry Bible Study, After small groups wrap up, the speaker for the day is generally given the opportunity to wrap up the text for the ladies. This was a great conversation that still continues among those of us walking in the word through our relationships and marriages.
Luke 24:13-35- We have been chosen by Jesus…- God requires (not just enjoys... ) communication with His people- God understands our hearts and wants to hear from us- Jesus reveals God’s greater plan and purpose- Our passion for God, grows when we are in His presence…- God wants to reveal Himself to us.- The Holy Spirit teaches us and leads us to the fulfillment of His purpose in our lives Why Pray? Because when I was still lost in Sin, Christ died for meWhy Pray? Because I’m no longer ok with hiding from God, the creator of the Universe - minimizing His Son’s work on the Cross and feeling like I’m not ok enough to approach heaven...Why Pray?Because I keep asking WHY when God continues to remind me that the question is not WHY... it’s WHO! Instead of telling God how God should be for me, I need to ask Him to show me and teach me WHO is in charge of this whole situation!Why Pray? Because His ways are not my ways and While i need a light to my path, He is the Light of the world... He wants me to be a city set on a hill - for His gloryWhy Pray?Because I can’t stand to be out of touch or out of communication with my God...Why Pray?Because the Holy Spirit of God is teaching me, showing me the places and the opportunities that he has set in motion, along with the Father and the Son...All that I want to make it more about HIM than ever before!!
I had the opportunity and privilege to share at out Tulare Community Church, women's Bible study recently. I was honored and challenged all at the same time, to take on the topic of immorality in the Church and church discipline as seen in ! Corinthians 5-6. I hope this message is a message of hope and encouragement as much as it takes on a prophetic tone of instruction and equipping.
We are probably the most unlikely people... to be the voice of God to this world. We know that it's only by God's grace and mercy that we can possibly be used by God, but the fact of the matter is, HE WANTS TO USE US!We take another step this week as we look at the places that God wants to use in our world- to show up in the moments that we would least expect His presence to work through us.
This is the first message in a series that we are starting called UN:likely… an overview and a challenge, this call for students to be and do "bigger" things than they may have ever imagined, will help us start the year - 2012 in a fresh and exciting way! Here we go!