As You Go: Recent Episodes
Aspen Grove Church
As You Go is a podcast aimed at helping busy families connect in Bible Study and devotion time. We believe in the importance of families growing in faith together, and especially in the responsibility that parents have to instill faith in their kids. But, we also understand how tough it can be to find time to study the Bible together! That's why we created this short podcast. It's just around 10 minutes, but it's packed with great biblical content for your family to think about together. Simply put, we want to help you disciple your kids As You Go!
Jesus, after returning to the concept of prayer with a helpful illustration, goes on to challenge us with the Golden Rule and the teaching of the narrow gate. Matthew 7:7-14
Jesus says “Judge not.” But Jesus also says “I judge” and “judge rightly.” So how are Christians supposed to approach judgment? Matthew 7:1-6
"Do not be anxious about your life." How are we supposed to follow this complicated instruction from Jesus? Matthew 6:16-34
Should we pray and ask God not to tempt us? Does He do that? Join us as we examine the last lines of The Lord’s Prayer and discuss temptation. Matthew 6:13
God is a good provider, and the Lord’s Prayer shows us that we can pray for our basic needs. But what if God doesn’t provide what we think we need? Matthew 6:11-12; 14-15
In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus offers a model for prayer that begins by re-orienting our hearts, showing us that prayer is not something we perform, but rather something meant to conform us to our King and His Kingdom. Matthew 6:5-10
We all enjoy attention and recognition to some degree. But what does Jesus say about how who deserves the attention when we give? Matthew 6:1-4
One of Jesus’ most difficult commands is this: Love your enemies. How can we understand and apply this teaching? Matthew 5:43-48
Instead of retaliating, Jesus tells people to turn that other cheek. But is Jesus really saying that we should all be perpetual pushovers and doormats? We should be careful to understand and apply this teaching contextually. Matthew 5:38-42
While you may not find yourself taking a lot of oaths these days, Jesus' teaching on swearing in the Sermon on the Mount has broader implications...implications that may apply to you more than you think! Matthew 5:33-37
As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Jesus strikes some serious nerves, tackling the issues of lust and divorce. Matthew 5:27-32
Jesus begins a section of correctly interpreting Old Testament law by likening anger to murder! Can we be angry without sinning? How can we deal with ur anger? Matthew 5:21-26
As Jesus continues Hid famous sermon, He chooses to validate the Scriptures, making the controversial statement that He did not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. What does it mean for Jesus to fulfill the Law and the Prophets? Matthew 5:17-20
In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear that His followers will be persecuted. And yet, He calls us to be salt and light anyway. What should that look like? (Matthew 5:10-16)
Jesus begins the famous Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, statements of blessing. We can best understand each of the various statements from 3 perspectives: identification, aspiration, and expectation. Matthew 5:1-9
Before we begin examining the most consequential sermon ever preached, we first need to understand the foundational message that led to it. Jesus’ message is summarized like this: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” What is this Kingdom? Matthew 4:17-23
RJ Johnson from Not My Will Ministries, one of our missions partners, shares his testimony of how God radically changed his life in prison, allowing him to go back into prisons to share the gospel.
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus this Easter, we focus on the incredible trade that He initiates in us.
With the Exodus from Egypt officially complete, Moses and a people take a moment to commemorate the events in song. What can we learn from the praise offered by Moses in Exodus 15?
The moment has finally arrived! The people of Israel will finally be free as God leads them across the Red Sea, defeating Pharaoh and Egypt for good! But, are the people ready for this? Exodus 14
As Exodus 12 continues, the story meanders a bit. And while it may feel a bit disjointed, we continue to see gospel truths shining through. Exodus 12:29-51
Apologies for the distorted audio! In this session we cover the institution of Passover as Moses prepares the people for a swift departure. Exodus 12:1-28
The ninth plague and God’s warning of the tenth send a clear message. And yet, Pharaoh proves yet again to be blind and deaf. Exodus 10:21-11:10
As the plagues continue and escalate, so does Pharaoh’s hardness of heart. What can we learn from this pattern? Exodus 9:1-10:20
As the plagues continue to burden the people of Egypt and pressure Pharaoh, his heart remains hardened. What does Pharaoh’s hardness of heart reveal about our human condition? Exodus 8
As Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh once more, they don’t know what to expect. They don’t know what the plagues will be or how God will rescue His people. But as the story unfolds before them, the great work of God is on full display! (Exodus 7)
Nobody seems to be fully cooperating with God’s plan to deliver the people from Egypt. And yet, the plan moves forward…even with these people. What can we expect from God, even if we are resistant like Moses? Exodus 6
As God’s plan begins to unfold, circumstances get drastically worse for Moses and the people of Israel. Is this the norm? Does following the commands of God make life harder? Exodus 5
The amazing story of Moses in Exodus, as well as many parts of the Bible, raises a lot of questions. While there is much that we don’t know, God has given us much that we can know for sure. Exodus 4:18-31
As God calls Moses into action, Moses does his best to prove that he isn’t who God wants. Rather than choosing to prove that Moses is qualified, God instead proves Himself. Exodus 4:1-17
The lead-up to Christmas involves a lot of waiting, as does the Christian life. How can we find hope in our waiting?
Christmas can bring about a lot of complicated feelings. Grief and sadness often keep people out of the Christmas Mood. How can we approach the sorrow of the holidays biblically?
Are you in the Christmas Mood, or are you honestly just too stressed? Stress is just part of the Christmas season. So what does the Bible say to us about stress?
As Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush continues, he’s got questions! Moses asks, “Who am I?” and “Who are you?” The answer to the first question is wrapped up in the answer to the second. Exodus 3:11-22
At the burning bush, Moses experiences the presence of God in a new way, and it changes everything! But his experience was only an echo of what was to come. Exodus 3:1-10
Eager to deliver the Hebrews from slavery, Moses springs into action…and fails massively. Did God make a huge mistake in choosing Moses? Or did God know exactly what He was doing? (Exodus 2:11-25)
Exodus 1:15-2:10 expands in some detail on verse 12 which said, “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied,” mad leads into the story of Moses. It also raises an interesting question: does God sometimes commend lying?
As we begin our study of Exodus, we establish the context and explore the essential connection that Exodus has to the gospel. Exodus 1:1-14
The letter of Jude shares many direct parallels to 2 Peter. For that reason, we finish out our Living Things Grow series looking at Jude’s call for Christians to “contend for the faith.”
Christopher LaChance finishes out the letter of 2 Peter, diving into how we are meant to grow in grace. 2 Peter 3:14-18
In 2 Peter 3:1-13, Peter shifts his focus to the imminent return of Christ and asks the question, “What sort of people ought we to be” in light of these things?
As Peter continues in his rebuke of false teachers, we can see a variety of traits that we should be careful to address in our own lives and the lives of others. 2 Peter 2:13b-22
As Peter continues his letter, he turns his attention to an enemy of growth in the Christian life: false teachers. What is a false teacher, and what kind of “destructive heresies” were they promoting? 2 Peter 2:1-10a
Just as plants need light to grow, Christians also need to be oriented toward our source of light. 2 Peter 1:16-21)
Peter continues his encouragement toward growth by describing specific qualities that should be increasing in the Christian life. How can we intentionally make every effort to grow in these ways? 2 Peter 1:5-15
As we begin our new series in 2 Peter, we examine the context and focus on the overall theme of the letter: growth! 2 Peter 1:1-4
At the end of the book of Genesis and the story of Joseph, we finally read the iconic line: “What you meant for evil against me, God meant for good.” But how does that work? How can God meant for good evil for good? Genesis 50:50-21
As we read about the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, we see clearly that they finished well. How can we plan to finish well in our own lives? Genesis 49:28-50:14, 22-26)
In Genesis 49:1-27, Jacob speaks a prophetic word over his 12 sons from his deathbed. Some receive good news, others receive a degree of condemnation. The consequences of their actions will span generations! What can we learn about the idea of generational blessings and curses from this passage?
What will be your legacy? What will you pass down? As we come to the end of Genesis, we see a bit of a comparison. Which is more valuable, the wealth passed down by Pharaoh, or the faith heritage of Jacob? Genesis 47:13-48:22
As Jacob and all his offspring make the journey to Egypt, his heart is likely filled with questions. God answers those questions in a vision before they even escape his lips. Is God present and working in the place where we are, with the people around us, in every circumstance, in our normal living, after all this time? Genesis 46:1-47:12
Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers, but also makes a bigger reveal: God was behind all that has happened. How are we to comprehend a God that works despite and even through sinfulness, affliction, and disaster? Genesis 45
Joseph encounters his brothers once more, this time initiating a couple of tests. In this story, we see some indication of what it takes to overcome the barriers to reconciliation that we discussed last week. Genesis 43-44
In Genesis 42, Joseph encounters his brothers for the first time in 20 years! But, with all the relational baggage, reconciliation will not come easily. What can we learn about the barriers between us and reconciliation?
As the story of Joseph continues, after a long period of waiting, things escalate quickly! We can see clearly, however, that God was at work in the big moments and in the waiting. Genesis 41:1-52
In Genesis 40, as Joseph waits in prison, he is given the opportunity to interpret some very interesting dreams. But what about his own prophetic dreams?
After being sold into slavery, Joseph sees a series of highs and lows in his life. But the overarching theme is that God is with Him. What can we learn from Joseph's time in Potiphar's house? Genesis 39
As a short detour from the story of Joseph, Genesis 38 takes a dark detour into the complex and disturbing failures of his brother Judah. Why was this passage included? And what can we learn from this darker part of the story?
Message by Chris LaChance
In the classic story of Joseph and the coat of many colors, we not only see interesting relational dynamics, but we also are reminded about general principles about God's sovereignty. Genesis 37
As we end our study of 1 Peter, chapter 5 gives a series of encouragements, and they are all focused on having this future perspective. The way elders lead, the way believers humble themselves, the way we resist the devil...all of it comes back to how we know all of this will end.
In 1 Peter 4:10-19, Peter continues with his theme of suffering. Suffering for the name of Jesus is a harsh reality with real consequences. Peter says clearly that it is to be expected! But what is our hope as we suffer for the name of Jesus?
In 1 Peter 4:1-9, Peter continues with practical advice for followers of Jesus as they prepare to suffer.
How can Christians endure suffering? How can our response to suffering be serve as a witness to the gospel? Peter answers those questions in 1 Peter 3:13-22, while also giving us one of the most mysterious verses in the New Testament!
Peter believes that Christians will change the world, but his strategy and advice for how they will do so is much more reserved than you might think. In 1 Peter 3:8-12, Peter gives practical advice for simply, humble thinking and living.
Building on the concept of a general life of Christian submission, Peter turns his attention to wives and husbands in 1 Peter 3:1-7. What does it mean to "be subject"? And is this passage just an outdated patriarchal relic that demeans women?
Taking a break from our verse-by-verse study of 1 Peter, we celebrate the resurrection from Peter's perspective. In the story of Peter, we see a unique aspect of what was accomplished by the real, bodily resurrection of Jesus!
We all live under various authorities and bosses. How are we supposed to live as followers of Christ while also being under those authorities? 1 Peter 2:13-25 gives guidance and shifts the focus back to Jesus.
Peter, writing to a wide variety of people across a vast region, calls believers into unity. While some issues may divide us, there are central, core beliefs that bind us together. Join us as we examine 1 Peter 2:9-12.
At the end of 1 Peter 1, Christians are given the command to "be holy." But what does that mean? How are we supposed to be holy? Well, as Peter begins chapter 2, he gives specific, applicable examples. (1 Peter 2:1-8)
Why should Christians have a grace mindset? How does a grace mindset lead us to pursue holiness? Is holiness even achievable? Peter addresses all these questions in 1 Peter 1:13-25.
Is our faith without sight? How are we blessed to believe without seeing? 1 Peter 1:8-12
In the opening of the letter of 1 Peter, two main ideas are established for his Christian readers: Identity and Inheritance. In Christ, we can be confident in who we are and where we are going! 1 Peter 1:1-8
As we live as Citizens of Heaven, as well as Citizens of Our Nation, we ultimately see it all play out as we live in our actual communities. That means we participate in our culture. How then should we live as Citizens of Culture.
Understanding our first citizenship and allegiance to be in heaven, how are we supposed to live as citizens in our nations? How are we supposed to “submit to the governing authorities“?
In a politically charged time, it’s important for Christians to know where we stand, and more importantly, where we belong. In session 1 of God and Country we examine our identity as Citizens of Heaven.
As the saga of Isaac and Jacob comes to a close, things don't exactly end on a high note. In fact, the passage reminds us of the harsh reality of sin in our world, all while pointing back to our need for a Savior. (Genesis 35:16-36:42)
After the dramatic failures of Genesis 34, Jacob and his people are invited to return to closeness with God. They are called to draw near to God as He draws near to them.
Genesis is filled with highs and lows, and Genesis 34 is an intense low! What are we to make of such moral failure?
In Genesis 33, after over 20 years apart, Jacob is faced with an unavoidable encounter with his brother Esau. In this story we can see good, biblical concepts that help us in our own interpersonal conflicts.
After the birth of Jesus, a prophecy revealed to Simeon is fulfilled. Simeon then speaks his own prophecy to Mary and Joseph…a prophecy that builds the tension over who this Savior would be. Luke 2:22-35
What did Mary know? Well, in contrast to the popular Christmas song, Luke 1 tells us that Mary knew and understood a lot about the coming Messiah!
The often-overlooked story of Zechariah and Elizabeth is not only important to the story of Christmas, but also shows us how the whole story of God comes together in Christ. The waiting is over. The King is coming. Luke 1:1-25, 57-59
Chris LaChance opens up Genesis 32, looking at Jacob’s faith development and struggle with God, culminating in an actual wrestling match!
In Genesis 31, Jacob hastily departs from Laban. His recollection, passed down for generations, included the good and the bad. Christians should be able to communicate their own journey similarly.
As Jacob prepares to depart from Laban, having completed his agreement, he is tricked by Laban once more. In this story of bargaining for sheep and goats, what can we learn about the Christian work ethic? Genesis 30:25-43
Genesis 29:30-30:24 describes the family dynamic of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, as well as the names and circumstances of their offspring. The family is an absolute mess! What can we learn about the nature of sin and how it affects our relationships?
The story of Jacob and Rebecca begins as a pretty sweet love story. However, things don’t go as planned. The story reminds us of the truth about our experiences of love here on earth and points us to the hope of a far superior love. Genesis 29:1-30
In Genesis 28, we see the increasing division caused by sin. Isaac’s family is in turmoil. And as Jacob departs on his journey to find a wife, he has a majorly significant and impactful prophetic dream…a dream that is only fulfilled in Christ.
The well-known story of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac by disguising himself as his brother Esau is messy. Everyone involved makes major mistakes. What can this cautionary tale teach us about following the will of God?
The various failures and missteps of Isaac in Genesis 26 remind us of one very important thing: God is patient with us!
(Genesis 25:29-34) The story of Esau giving up his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew is iconic and also somewhat difficult. It leads to other passages that describe how God said, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated.” What are we to do with that?
The chapter on Abraham closes with an interesting development, and Isaac takes center stage. Unfortunately, the drama and tension continue!
Genesis 24 offers us a long and detailed account of how Rebekah was chosen as Isaac’s wife and the new matriarch for the people of Israel. Many of the details remind us of why these stories of our faith heritage are important for us to know.
We close out our series in Psalms on this special anniversary Sunday by considering Psalms of Thanksgiving.
Psalm 23 serves not only as the most popular Psalm, but also as a framework for what it means to trust in the Lord.
Imprecation means speaking curses upon people. Many psalms include the imprecations. So what can we learn from the Imprecatory Psalms?
Using Psalm 19 as our framework, and referencing various other Wisdom Psalms, we build a strong definition of biblical wisdom.
The New Testament clearly and repeatedly treats some Psalms as direct prophecies of the Messiah. How can we understand and rightly interpret the Prophetic Psalms?
David was a king, ruling under the authority of God, hoping for an even greater king. How can we interpret the Royal Psalms?
Studying the Psalms by category, today we look at Psalms of lament. How can God be glorified through our sorrow? How can it be healthy for us to complain to God?
Laying the groundwork for our study of the Psalms, we discuss how to approach biblical poetry and the value of Psalms for New Testament believers. We also practice by interpreting Psalm 1 and 2.
We finally reach the conclusion of this epic book of Acts! But what can we take away from this somewhat disappointing ending in Acts 28?
In a ship full of tired, angry, hopeless, and probably very smelly sailors, Paul takes time to say..."Thank you"!?! How? Why!?!
Acts 27 gives a detailed and exciting description of a harrowing sea journey. What can we learn about God and His sovereignty from it?
Old sayings can be pretty weird, especially when they includes words that we don't know. Jesus used a saying that included the word "goad" to Paul. But what in the world does it mean?
In Acts 26, Paul finally gets the opportunity to make his case before governor Festus and King Agrippa. His message is simple: the gospel changes everything!
Who would you be nervous to speak to? Would you be scared to testify before governors and kings? That's what Paul is going to do! And Jesus says you might, too!
As Paul’s wrongful imprisonment continues, his trust in the Lord is tested. And yet, through this trial, Paul session Jesus’ word fulfilled in that he will bear witness before governors and kings! Acts 25
Where are you the most safe? In a vault? In the Whitehouse? Maybe in an underground bunker? Or is it somewhere else?
Paul’s troubles increase as some plot to kill him and the Romans try to make sense of it all. And yet, God’s hand is clearly at work. Acts 23:12-35
When you are scared, would you rather be alone or with someone else? In Acts 23, when Paul is feeling very scared and alone, he gets an amazing reminder from Jesus Himself!
We believe that God does deliver us from pain, evil, and trouble. But does He always deliver us? What if He doesn’t? Acts 22:22-23:11
Who are you most like? Do you think you have anything in common with the worst people in the world? You might be surprised!
In Acts 21:27-22:21, the prophecies of Paul’s impending suffering and arrest at Jerusalem begin to come to pass. We also know that our lives will certainly include hardship. But for Christians, hardship is not only certain, but it is also meaningful!
It's good for us to be careful and safe! But can it also be good for us to be dangerous? In Acts 21, Paul chooses the dangerous path. But why?
Christians desire to do the will of God! But how can we know what God’s will for us? Acts 21:1-26 shows us the realistic difficulty of discerning and following the will of God.
Do you ever get bored at church? Did you know there is actually a story in the Bible about someone getting bored TO DEATH?
A large portion of Paul’s 3rd missionary journey is condensed in Acts 20. What ideas and principles can we gain from this chapter for our own journeys of faith?
We don't want to make people upset! But sometimes it can happen accidentally. In fact, sometimes our faith in Jesus can make people upset...even if we don't me to!
Acts 19:21-24 describes a riot in Ephesus that actually doesn’t reach any satisfying conclusion. What tendencies can we observe in this text, and how can we apply those observations to our own walk of faith?
Have you ever felt outmatched? When it comes to facing evil in this world, if we know Jesus, we are never outmatched!
Paul’s time in Ephesus in Acts 19:1-20 is tumultuous to say the least! How are we to interpret the unusual and even strange occurrences there? And what do they show us about the work of the Holy Spirit?
Life can be pretty scary sometimes! In fact, Paul felt afraid, even when he was serving and obeying the Lord! But in today's passage from Acts 18, Jesus Himself comforts Paul and helps him to be courageous!
Acts 18 covers nearly two years of Paul’s life and ministry in just a few paragraphs. These small episodes not only add to his story, but they also help us to see several essential elements of a long-term life of ministry.
You know a lot! But what about what you don't know? Do you even know what you don't know?
As Paul enters Athens, his spirit is tired within him. What can we learn from he evangelistic pattern? Acts 17:16-34
Why does it matter that Jesus rose from the grave? Why do we need resurrection if we are already alive?
The resurrection of Jesus means everything to us, because it is proof the God can bring dead things to life! We celebrate this Easter by examining the truth of Ephesians 2:1-10.
We are able to celebrate Easter because Jesus fulfilled the law! But what does that mean?
As we prepare to celebrate our resurrection Hope on Easter Sunday, we should take the time to consider the cost. What did Jesus endure during His crucifixion in order to achieve our resurrection hope?
Sometimes we need more than a description. Sometimes, for us to fully understand something, we need a demonstration! And when it comes to the resurrection, Jesus gave us a great demonstration!
In addition to giving specific and detailed predictions of His resurrection, Jesus also offered us a deep and meaningful demonstration of His resurrection power in John 11 and the raising of Lazarus.
We don't always understand wise teaching right away. Sometimes understanding comes later! Why did Jesus tell His disciples about His resurrection if they wouldn't understand it?
When it comes to the resurrection, Jesus called His shot. He openly and accurately predicted all that would happen. Why? And why didn’t His disciples understand?
How fast are you? Do you think Jesus is fast? Why would Paul ask the Thessalonians to pray for Jesus to be fast, and for "the word of the Lord to speed ahead"?
As Paul squeezes in some final ideas at the end of 2 Thessalonians, we see one central theme: Remember the Gospel. 2 Thessalonians 3.
When things feel unsteady, shaky, or unsure, how can we find stability? How can we stand firm?
How can Christian’s prepare for the end and for Christ’s inevitable return? In all the strangeness about the Antichrist described in 2 Thessalonians 2, how are we to stand firm?
Special guest Matt Trombley gets us started in Pauls second letter to the Thessalonians!
How much time do we have left? More importantly, what do we do with the time we have left? Aspen Grove elder Chris LaChance unpacks 1 Thessalonians 5 for us.
Sometimes bad things happen that make us really sad. Life can be really hard! Sometimes we will grieve. But do Christians grieve like everyone else? What is our reason to hope?
What is our only hope in life and death? And what can we expect when Jesus returns? Paul explains our hope and the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
How much is enough? When it comes to really good things, the answer also feels like, "MORE!"
How much is enough? How much faithfulness or obedience or Christ-likeness is enough for us? Paul’s answer is, “Just a little more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
We all need encouragement! And, we probably also all need to give a little encouragement!
The Thessalonian church, as well as Paul, were enduring a great deal of suffering. Paul doesn’t sugarcoat this, but instead encourages everyone to push through trial, knowing who holds the victory. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13)
Can you guess what something IS by getting clues about what it is NOT? Paul thinks so! And in 1 Thessalonians 2, he describes what his ministry was NOT so that we can better understand what it IS!
As Paul continues encouraging his friends in 1 Thessalonians 2, he recounts his ministry among them, describing it by what it is NOT. By understand all that gospel ministry is not, we get a better picture of what it is!
Our study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians is directly connected to our study of Acts, which we will return to later. In this session, we examine 1 Thessalonians 1 and the topic of imitation.
What comes to mind when you think of a king? There's one thing that all kings have in common...except Jesus. He is a different kind of king!
We need the good and righteous rule of a king. Jesus is and forever will be our Superior King!
To understand Jesus as our great High Priest, we've got to look back...WAY back...all the way to an interesting character named Melchizedek.
During this season of Christmas, you’ll likely sing the phrase, “God and sinners reconciled.” That verse reflects how Jesus fulfilled the role of reconciler, being our ultimate High Priest!
How do we know anything at all about God? Well, because He has revealed Himself to us. He used to do that through prophets. But now, God has revealed Himself most of all through Jesus, the ultimate prophet!
As we prepare for the celebration of Christmas, it is important to consider what we are to expect from this Jesus. In this series, we examine the roles that we know that Jesus fulfilled, starting with Prophet. Was Jesus just a prophet like any other?
Have you ever had to wait to hear good news? When you finally got the news, how did you receive it? God's Word is good news for us...but sometimes it is also difficult news! How are we supposed to receive it?
As Paul’s second missionary journey continues, we see a tale of two cities. At each place they experience the best of times and the worst of times. But what is holding the church together through it all? Acts 17:1-15
Another name for the book of Acts could be God's Flex. And today's story shows us a massive flex from God!
God continues to work through Paul’s ministry in Philippi, even through hardship and trial. God reveals the great lengths to which He will go to save people and establish His church! Acts 16:16-40
God is always working behind the scenes, planning and preparing things for us. It's like a surprise!
As Paul embarks on his second missionary journey, we get a clear picture of God working and orchestrating events and interactions. Can we expect God to do the same for us? Acts 16:1-15
After the big decision of the Jerusalem Council, word of the decision had to go out to the churches. It was a major step toward unity! And yet, there was still some disagreement. How should churches fought for unity? Acts 15:22-41
Sometimes, receiving a amazing gift is kind of hard! We want to do something to earn it or repay it. But that's not how grace works! And the church had to really think through the idea of grace in Acts 15.
The Jerusalem Council took place to answer the question, “What is necessary for salvation?” The consensus is clear, and it still matters for us today. Acts 15:1-21
Everyone loves a good story! And Paul and Barnabas certainly have some wild stories to share as they return home to Antioch. But what is the focus of their stories?
Beliefs lead us to act. And our actions have consequences. As the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas comes to an end, the consequences catch up to them. How should believers deal with the consequences of our belief, especially if the consequence is suffering?
Being mistaken for someone else, especially someone famous, sound kinda fun! But when it happens to Paul and Barnabas, they can't allow for people to believe a lie!
Acts 14:1-18 gives us a clear picture of a difficult truth: the Gospel is divisive. How are we supposed to grapple with that?
Acts 13 gives a great picture of the Gospel, as well as Paul’s evangelism strategy. But will all those who hear believe?
We know it's good to be polite and speak kindly. But is there a time when it is right to be kind of harsh in the way we speak? Paul gives us an example in Acts 13!
The gospel mission compels believers to got to new places and peoples as true Gospel Pioneers. What should we expect as we go?
You win some, you lose some! Can Christians lose? If so, how are we supposed to handle it?
Acts 12 presents 2 deaths and one miraculous rescue. What do these events teach us about the reality of living for Jesus?
We took a break from our study of the book of Acts to celebrate our anniversary and give thanks to God for our church, echoing Ephesians 1:15-23.
Did you know that the word "Christian" was originally meant to be kind of a mean name? How did we get it, and how did we change it into a good word?
In Acts 11:19-30, Luke highlights the church at Antioch. What can we learn from this example of a healthy church?
As God opens the door for the Gospel of Jesus to go to all kinds of people, not just the Jews, Peter has to learn a hard lesson. He has to learn how to get out of the way!
In Acts 10:35-11:18 Peter adjusts to the new development of Gentiles being included in gospel ministry. What does it mean for God to show no partiality? And how will the other leaders in Jerusalem receive this news?
Nobody likes to feel left out or excluded! But up until Acts 10, lots of people were left out of hearing the good news of Jesus. But all that changes when Peter receives a very strange vision. (Acts 10:9-16)
Peter’s famous vision of a sheet being lowered from heaven is about much more than meat! It’s about breaking down barriers to the Gospel. (Acts 10:1-33)
The stories of Peter in the book of Acts give us a little bit of Deja Vu, because they directly mirror some of the things that Jesus did. Just like Peter, we are meant to reflect who Jesus is and what He did!
The account of Peter’s ministry in Acts 9:32-43 shows us a very direct reflection of the work of Jesus. But how are we supposed to reflect Jesus?
Following Jesus is the best decision a person can make. But does it actually make life easier? Did it make Saul’s life easier? Acts 9:19-31 suggests that it actually became much harder! So why should we follow Jesus?
Do you know what it means to threaten someone? Saul, who once threatened Christians, has now become one himself! How will he respond?
As we continue into Acts 9 today, we hear about Saul. Saul would have definitely said that he would never EVER follow Jesus. He was an enemy of Jesus and the church! But will he go back on his word?
In the conversion of Saul, we see one of the most dramatic and consequential turnarounds in history. It truly proves that an encounter with Jesus can change everything for anyone! Acts 9:1-19
What's the most unlikely thing you've ever seen? In today's story, God does something incredibly unlikely in Philip's life, and it is awesome!
In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, we see God clearly leading and guiding. But how can we see God lead and guide in a similar way in our own lives?
After Stephen's death, the church at Jerusalem was scattered in fear! But, was that actually a bad thing?
In the wake of Stephen’s death, the church is scattered. But is that as devastating as Saul thinks? Based on the account of Philip, how can we expect the gospel seed to grow? Acts 8:1-25
Sometimes things get WAY out of hand! That's exactly what happens with Stephen in Acts 7. How could Stephen be so peaceful when things were going crazy around him?
At the end of Acts 7, the temperature changes dramatically as Stephen is publicly executed for his faith. What can we learn from his famous last words?
Stephen is placed on trial for blasphemy. But he brought the receipts. And in a long discourse, he lays out a compelling argument that infuriates his accusers. Acts 7:1-51
If we understand the local church as a body, then we should understand it to have both practical and spiritual needs. And leaders must rise to meet those needs, because attacks will come, and the church needs to be healthy.
People can do a lot, but they can't do everything! So, what are we supposed to do when it feels like there is just too much to do...especially in the church?
The book of Acts shows us just how far the apostles were willing to go to obey the Lord. But how are they supposed to obey when other people get in the way?
Who is the rightful boss and authority in your life? The conflict in Acts 5 is a battle of authority, and the apostles make their position clear. They must obey God rather than men. But what about you?
In Acts 4, as the pressure ramps up against the apostles, how will they respond? How will they show that they are “all in” for Jesus? Chris LaChance gives an excellent breakdown.
The church is called to be holy. That high standard requires diligence and commitment so that individuals can display hearts changed by the Spirit. Brian Shelburn offers great insight on Acts 4:32-5:11.
What does success look like for a follower of Jesus? Did Peter and John feel successful as they faced trial and prison? As we examine Acts 4, we are challenged to gauge our own success differently.
Who do you obey? If two people with authority over you in your life tell you to do two different things, who do you obey first? That's the question that Peter and John have to answer in today's episode from Acts 4!
Sometimes God uses people to do amazing things! But when He does, who should get the credit? Today we look at a story from Acts 3 of a miracle done by Peter and John. But did Peter and John really do it?
Acts 3 gives us a great example of the “signs and wonders” mentioned in chapter 2 and shows us how it was utilized to validate the Gospel message. In Peter’s discourse, we see how he carefully puts the pieces together for his Jewish audience.
As what we now call the church was born, we saw an incredible work of the Spirit. But what is a church? And what can our modern church draw from the description of Acts 2:42-47?
After coming to faith in Jesus, what were people supposed to do? Were they starting a club with a secret hideout? What was the church supposed to be like?
Quotes are a powerful way to teach big ideas that are not our own. In today's episode, we see a quote of a quote of a quote! And the quote, which originally came from God, is a huge idea!
In this sermon about a sermon we see the remarkable results of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the whole Bible coming together as Peter preaches for the first time. (Acts 2:14-41)
Jesus promised that believers would receive POWER! But what kind of power did they receive? And what kind of power do we receive?
Pentecost, described in Acts 2:1-13, is a pivotal moment in the Bible. The promise is fulfilled, and the apostles receive power from the Holy Spirit! But how are we to interpret these things? What power can we expect to receive?
(Acts 1:12-26) After the ascension of Jesus, His followers are left wondering, “Are we doing this right?” This passage actually displays some best practices that also apply to Christians who may wonder the same thing!
The disciples have been given a big job...to be witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth! But what are the qualifications for that job? And who will fill Judas' seat?
Jesus gives us commands. He asks us to do stuff. And sometimes, if we are honest, what Jesus asks His followers to do sounds pretty impossible! So how are we supposed to do it?
Are followers of Jesus underdogs? Are we at a disadvantage as we try to walk in obedience to the Lord? Acts 1:1-11 actually gives us great encouragement!
As we celebrate Easter together, we examine several episodes from the resurrection of Jesus. Each one helps us to see the dramatic change that the resurrected Jesus brings about in us!
Genesis 23 ends the story of Abraham and Sarah by telling us about Sarah's death. Death is sad and heartbreaking for us! But is death natural?
The story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 23 ends as all of our stories do…with death. What can we learn about dealing with death from this passage?
Why does God do what He does? Genesis 22 is one of those passages that causes us to ask, "Why, God?" But, the text also gives us some answers.
Genesis 22 shows us the challenging story of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. But, in this story, God proves that He is our God who provides!
As God finally fulfills His promise with the birth of Isaac, Sarah can't help but laugh! Laughter is a good gift from God. It's like our bodies can't help but celebrate God's good gifts!
In Genesis 21, we finally see God's promise fulfilled in the birth of Isaac! And throughout the chapter we see the truth that we have a God who is with us...in the high moments, in the low moments, and in the in-between moments!
We all make mistakes but nobody likes feeling guilty. But that terrible feeling may not always be a bad thing! Let's explore Genesis 20 together and see why!
Abraham repeats the same mistake in Genesis that he made in Genesis 12. And in this very similar account, we see God once again rescue them...highlighting the fact that God's Word convicts us of our sin.
The account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 is pretty graphic and disturbing. It stood as a strong warning about God's holiness and how He deals with sin to Abraham. But it is also a warning to us!
While Genesis 19 is too graphic for young listeners, without getting into the details, there is still something we can learn about God's punishment of sin...and especially His mercy!
In Genesis 18, God appears as a person to speak with Abraham and Sarah once more. But is God like us? What can we expect from him?
Unbelievable news sometimes makes us have an unbelievable response. In Genesis 18, Sarah is shocked by what God says. She believes, but has trouble fully believing. That can be true of us sometimes, too!
In Genesis 17, 13 years after the birth of Abram's son Ishmael by Hagar, God appears again to reiterate the promise. But this time, God sets expectations for Abram to fulfill...changing his name and asking him to (literally) put some skin in the game.
What's so special about a name? Why would God change Abram's name to Abraham? What does that show us that God does for us?
Abram's story in Genesis is a bumpy one. There are lots of ups and downs, and Genesis 16 is a pretty major low point...an epic facepalm moment. What can we learn from this massive failure, and how do we see God work through it?
Kids often say, "Hey, watch this!" Why do you think that is? Well, we have a need to be seen! And in Genesis 16, we learn an important truth about God: He sees us!
Waiting for God to do what He said He would do can be hard! Abram's faith is challenged as He waits for God to give Him a son. But God gives Abram a beautiful reassurance that He is a promise-keeping God!
Faith is a central theme in Abraham's story. In Genesis 15, we see that faith challenged and stretched. Plus, we are reminded of the connection between faith and righteousness. In all these things, God reminds us that He is good, and He is able to keep His promises!
Genesis 14 shows us the difficult-to-pronounce details of the battle of things kings, and also introduces us to one mysterious, unique, and very special king. But why?
Who on earth is Melchizedek, and why does Genesis 14 tell us about him? Well, the answer is probably more important than you think!
As we continue through Genesis 12 and through 13, we see a difficult reality: Abram is not qualified for this. Abram fails. But through his failure and growth, we see a reflection of important biblical truths.
Are we qualified to be chosen by God? Abram's story shows us the truth: we definitely aren't! But God shows us grace in choosing us.
In this new series we are taking a look at the story of Abraham starting in Genesis 12. You've probably heard the song Father Abraham before, but did you know it is actually full of meaning? Listen and find out why...and learn a fun song!
As we return to the book of Genesis, we examine the next phase of the story, as God reaches down to establish His own nation and people through Abraham. It's a fascinating and complicated story that reminds us of our Jehovah Jireh, the God who Provides!
Psalm 110 is quoted in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament passage. Jesus even affirms it Himself. For that reason, it stands as one of the most important prophecies about Jesus, marking Him as the Lord and King over all things.
Psalm 110 is a very important prophecy of Jesus spoken by King David in order to prepare the way for Jesus to be King. As strange as it is to think of the baby Jesus with a big crown on His little head, it's true! Jesus is our King!
Sheep need a shepherd. The shepherd kings of Israel failed over and over. And so, Ezekiel speaks a prophecy against them and foretelling the coming of our Good Shepherd.
People are a lot like sheep! And sheep need a Good Shepherd. Listen to hear how the prophet Ezekiel prepared the way for Jesus to come as our Good Shepherd!
God has prepared the way for the birth of Jesus from the very beginning! And as you'll see in today's episode, the birth of Jesus inspires more than just soft, peaceful music. Genesis 3:15 shows us that it actually should inspire some heavy rock and roll!
As we begin to celebrate Christmas, we take a look all the way back to Genesis 3, as God delivers some heavy spoilers about His plan to respond to the enemy of sin and Satan by sending the one who would bring ultimate victory!
As we finished our Sunday sermon series on Suffering, we talked about the truth that Christians will often suffer for the name of Jesus. We will sometimes suffer for doing what is right. But 1 Peter 4 tells us not to be ashamed for suffering in that way!
In today's Family Devotion, we consider what it means to suffer for Jesus and how to think about feeling ashamed.
The New Testament is very clear. We will suffer for Jesus' name's sake. How are we to approach and understand suffering for the name of Jesus? 1 Peter 4:13-19 gives us guidance.
What kind of good things can come from suffering? How does pain help us to grow? Check out todays episode, as well as Romans 5:3-4, to see how God uses suffering to help us to grow and change!
How should Christians respond to suffering? What kinds of change should we expect it to bring about within us? Romans 5:1-5 gives us a clear frame of reference.
To accompany our sermon series on the topic of Suffering, this short family devotion will use the common game of UNO to help your kids understand the three main reasons that people suffer on this earth!
Our world is full of suffering. Everybody hurts! How can we grow to understand suffering from a biblical perspective? Why do we suffer? If God is good, why does he allow so much suffering? Don't miss this important series!
Jesus hung out with sinners, and even called a tax collector to be His disciple! But what does that actually mean for us?
What did Jesus want to be known for? What was more important: His miracles, or His message?
As we continue through chapter 1, Jesus gets to the good stuff: the miracles! People are wow'd by Jesus, and we should be too!
The way is prepared, the time is fulfilled, and Jesus is ready to go! And as He gets going, He first gathers some disciples. But why?
Before Jesus can go and get started doing what He came to do, He has a little side quest! Jesus goes out alone in the wilderness where He is tempted by Satan!
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by baptizing people. But isn't it strange that Jesus Himself asked to be baptized by John? What is Jesus' baptism about?
Before Mark dives into the story of Jesus, he's got to mention 2 other important people...people who give us even more clues about who Jesus is!
We're kicking off a long series covering the entire Gospel of Mark together! As we get into it, we discuss the context, the identity of Mark, and the first verse...which happens to not even be a full sentence!
Changing things up a bit, this time it is Daniel that has the dream, and it is a wild one!
It's time for Daniel's most famous story: the Lion's Den! But can we expect God to always rescue us like He rescued Daniel?
The King has had another weird dream, and of course Daniel gets to tell him what it means. But this dream doesn't stay a dream. It comes true in a WILD way!
The king has forgotten his dream and decides to make a statue for himself. Not only that, but everyone is required to bow down and worship it! But, Daniel's friends give us a lesson in disobedience!
Dreams are weird and can sometimes be really upsetting! In today's episode, King Nebuchadnezzar has a really weird dream that actually means something really important!
The Old Testament book of Daniel is filled with some pretty wild stories! But, why did Daniel write these stories down, and what do they have to do with us now?
Today we finish out our Tech Tips for Parents series by talking about reclaiming car time!
Today we cover two basic concepts that will change the way you think about Social Media!
Today we talk about filters and safeguards to protect your family. Spoiler alert: there is good news and bad news.
Technology has a lot of benefits! It's become central to our way of life, and being constantly connected is culturally normal. But, that doesn't make it beyond questioning. Today we ask a really important question about technology.
This series is just for the parents! We all struggle finding balance with things like screen time and technology in the home. This series will help motivate, encourage, and empower parents to take control in real ways.
We all need a friend that will help us in a time of need! Today's Unknown Heroes help their friend and give us an example of how our faith can impact others!
Today's Unknown Hero shows us the right response to Jesus...even in times of quarantine!
Today's unknown hero story helps us to see the amazing gifts and talents that God gives us, and how important it is for us to use those talents for His glory!
In this episode, we check out another story from Exodus, and how an Unknown Hero teaches the famous Moses an important lesson! Do you hear banjo music?
In our brand new series called Unknown Heroes, we will be looking at some great and heroic things done by Bible characters that you have probably never heard of. They may not be famous, but their stories are important! The story in this episode takes us way back to the book of Exodus and the amazing courage of two young women, Shiphrah and Puah.
We wrap up the book of James with a simple, yet difficult, lesson about knowing and doing!
What causes fights among people? Well, James had the same question, and his answer about why we fight on the outside is all about a fight that's happening on the inside. Sound confusing? It's not as complicated as you think.
Are we as smart or as wise as we will ever be? Do we always know best? If not, we need a solution. We need wisdom from above...which is what this episode from the book of James is all about!
James keeps it super practical by turning our attention to the power of our words. James wants us to know the power of our tongues, and also encourage us to tame them!
James doubles down on how our faith affects the way we live. Trees serve as a helpful example of how we balance faith and good works!
As James continues to explore how we can live out our faith, he focuses on the idea of comparison. Is it right for Christians to show favoritism or to compare ourselves with others? James explains the answer!
As James continues to teach us how to live out our faith, he begins to explain the difference between knowing and doing. Is it enough to hear and know the truth, or does the truth lead us to action?
James gives us some pretty great instructions on how to apply our faith to our lives. Today's passage is all about conflict, anger, and self-control!
Today we begin a new series studying the New Testament book of James! We start out by diving into the context, and then we cover a couple of verses about steadfastness!
As we finish out our series on the Lord's Prayer, we talk about a verse that may or may not appear in your Bible and why!
As we near the end of the Lord's Prayer, what does it mean when we say "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil?" We dive into the topic of temptation in this week's episode!
As we continue through the Lord's Prayer, we dive into the phrase, "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Are we supposed to pray for bread to eat every day? How does being forgiven make us more forgiving? Listen and find out!
In this episode, we continue exploring Jesus' instructions on how to pray in the Lord's Prayer. Why should we say, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"? Listen and find out!
As we continue discussing prayer, we dive into Jesus' instructions for prayer, taken from the Sermon on the Mount. The "Lord's Prayer" offers great insight into the kind of heart we should have as we pray. This week, we begin with the opening words, as well as offer a Family Challenge!
Over the next few weeks, we'll be talking all about prayer! We'll start with a little overview, and then we'll dive into Jesus' instructions for prayer in the Lord's Prayer. We'll even pass on some practical tips for how to pray as a family.
After all we've covered so far about God, our sin, Jesus, and our response to Him...now we get to celebrate the reward! Jesus gives us eternal life! But what is that like? Check out this episode, and have a great discussion with your kids about eternal life with Jesus!
What is the right response to all we have learned about God and our sin? What is repentance even about? Why is faith important? You're in the right place to learn about all those things!
After the bad news of the failure of our sin, it's amazing to know that we have good news in Jesus! But how does that work? How is Jesus our Savior?
In this episode, we examine the hard truth of sin, where it came from, what it does to us, and where it leaves us. Sin is our failure, and sin deserves a punishment. It may be kind of a heavy episode, but don't worry! Good news is coming in episode 3!
Over 5 episodes, we'll be mapping out some basic Gospel concepts with a pattern of phrases that end with the R sound. Episode one helps to lay the groundwork for our understanding of the good news of the Gospel by explaining what it means for God to be our maker. Parents, enjoy discussing this fundamental concept with your kids, emphasizing Psalm 8:3-4 and how incredible it is that our creator God cares for us!
In this introductory episode, we give the heart behind As You Go, the importance of parents leading their kids in spirituality and faith, and a sneak peak of what to expect in future episodes!