Lifepointe Youth Audio Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lifepointe Youth
Macy Seaton delivers a powerful word on the power of thanksgiving in unforgiving circumstances as she opens up our "Upsidedown Kingdom" series, taking a deep dive at the story of Paul and Silas in prison and the experiences they had there.
Pastor Josh closes the series "What in the World" by focusing on Malachi and the promise of a messenger to come and restore everything back to order when the people were asking where God was, even challenging Him to move on their terms.
Pastor Josh opens a new series, "What in the World?" focusing on the prophets and their hard questions they asked God in times of trouble, pain and confusion. The first looks at Jonah and the question of why God would call him to go to Nineveh.
Pastor Josh shares the stories of Adam and Eve and Job, highlighting how they interacted with God and how their perspective of God shaped their response.
Pastor Josh opens a new series, "Freedom", examining the identity and truth in Christ that unlocks freedom for all who believe in Him.
Abigail and Abbie, two Lifepointe Youth students, tear the house down preaching powerful messages you don't want to miss!
Pastor Mike brings a powerful message on the Great Commission and the call that we all carry to share the gospel with those who need it knowing all of Heaven backs us.
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Did you miss a Wednesday, but want to stay up with our messages? Join Pastor Josh and the Youth speaking team for a replay of our recent sermons, panels and more!
Pastor Josh wraps up the series looking at God’s “Perfect Timing” in the lives of famous Old Testament characters, including Nehemiah.
Nehemiah’s deep burden to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem motivated him to approach the Persian king for help. This troubled him for 4 months and when the king asked, “what is it you want?”, he knew exactly what to ask for. In the same manner, we should always be ready to answer when God asks us what we are burdened for! The passions God has placed in us are crucial in identifying our calling and purpose. When Nehemiah identifies what it is he would like to see accomplished, he begins to ask the King for a “wishlist” to get the job done. We must take the time to prepare in the same way so that we can be ready to tackle the things in front of us that God wants to accomplish through us. Nehemiah also did the work and established a team to help him by casting vision, and God blessed the work to finish the wall in supernatural timing. We are to put our hands to the grindstone and work to build a community to help us see the things that produce a righteous anger in us to completion, and allow for God to bless it!
Scripture References:
Nehemiah 2:1-10
Nehemiah 2:16-20
Pastor Josh opens the 6th volume of the Bible Engagement Project with the story of Jonah and the troubled circumstances he found himself in at the end of the book.
Jonah was a man who received a second chance from God and saved an entire city of people from destruction. After running away from God’s calling, being cast into the raging sea and swallowed (and thrown up) by a large fish, Jonah finally preaches to Nineveh. But he has one issue: he doesn’t want them to repent. Jonah wanted the people to continue their wickedness so they would be destroyed. His motives, while being good on the outside, were flawed internally. As we read of his exchange with God, we can see that he got ahead of God’s plan. We, too, can do this and end up frustrated and angry that His plans aren’t working out like we thought they should. Jonah also was corrected in that God provided a leafy plant to grow and give him comfort and took it away just as quickly. God will correct our hearts if He finds that it’s in the wrong spot. The book ends abruptly, without a resolution to Jonah’s story. Like the story’s format, we can find ourselves at a crossroad where the decision to check our hearts or move on with ulterior motives is in front of us!
Scripture References:
Jonah 4
Pastor Josh returns as Lifepointe Youth takes a break from the Bible Engagement Project. Examining the Easter story, PJ speaks of the impact in the aftermath of the event that shapes the foundation of our faith.
The Easter story is fairly well known, but we easily forget how impactful each aspect of the story can be. As Jesus is on the cross, breathing his last breathes before giving up his spirit, a lot is happening. There was darkness that supernaturally covered the land at 3 in the afternoon. The curtain in the temple that separated God and man for generations was torn, not from the bottom but from the top. There even was a resurrection of the dead as they came out of their tombs and walked around in the Holy city for witnesses to see. Jesus’ death was powerful, not only for us today, but immediately. As Jesus told his disciples, he was resurrected three days later. Jesus appears to his followers and assures them that he real and alive. He even forgives the disciples as they abandoned him in his last days, calling them his brothers. All of this speaks to the miracle of the resurrection. When reunited with the disciples, Jesus gives them the Great Commission to spread the teachings and message of Christ throughout the world. This request is so special because it is still continuing today, both individually and as a Church family. Everything we do in our life is to continue to spread the love and hope of Jesus and the way we can be saved through him!
Scripture References:
Matthew 27:45-55
Matthew 28:1-10
Matthew 28:18-20
This week, we continue our deep dive in the Bible Engagement Project with a look at 1 Kings 18. Pastor Josh tells his “favorite Bible story” about Elijah and the prophets of the Baal.
1 Kings 18 is the culmination of a battle between the prophet Elijah and the king of Israel, Ahab as the drought that the nation found itself in only made Ahab dig his heels into the worship of false gods in addition to Yahweh. As the story progresses, the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is set to happen at Mt. Carmel so the real God can show Himself and win the battle. The challenge: for fire to come down and burn the sacrifice. As they meet in the morning, the prophets of Baal are first up to call down their god to show up. They danced, shouted, and begged for him to prove himself, even slashing themselves and limping around. Elijah mocks them, asking where Baal went and if he was asleep. He even asks if he is on vacation! Like Elijah, our confidence grows when we’ve seen God move and we know He is at work. After trying to get Baal’s attention from morning to midday, Elijah’s turn to ask Yahweh to show is up. In preparing the altar, he asks his servants to douse the altar with water over and over. Why? So that God can prove Himself to not only show up, but undoubtably show up! God has no need to bring fire down to prove Himself true, but He does still! This has not changed over time. God continues to fight our battles and show up for those who call on Him.
Scripture References:
1 Kings 18:20-39
Pastor Josh is back, closing out the “Set Apart” series as he examines the end of the period of judges in 1 Samuel 8.
In 5 short chapters, Samuel finds himself in a similar position to Eli. His sons were wicked and using their offices as a means to elevate themselves, he was aging, and people were looking for a replacement. They told him that they wanted to have a king over them. This prompted Samuel to go to the Lord because he knew the danger in what that would bring. God tells Samuel to honor their wishes but warn them. Still, knowing the consequences, they called for a king. In all of this, Israel wanted a king so they could be like other nations. But that wasn’t what they were called to be! God was their king and there was no reason to look to man’s leadership. In the same way they looked around and wanted to fit in, we can too. But we are called to be different, no matter how different it may look!
(Note: This message was in conjunction with small groups following the first half of the passage)
Scripture References:
1 Samuel 8:1-9
Pastor Josh is back and continuing the Set Apart series, diving into the story of Samuel hearing from the Lord.
The background of 1 Samuel 3 is truly baffling when its examined. The people had grown so cold and corrupt to God that visions and revelations were rare in the time. Even Eli, the prominent leader, had sons who defiled the temple and used their positions of influence to manipulate people. He was losing his ability to hear from God and even refused when a prophet told him to fix the situation. Samuel, on the other hand, slept by the ark of God and was close to Him both physically and spiritually. Like him, we must put ourselves in the position to hear from the Lord so that He will speak to us. If we refuse to listen, we will never hear God speak the way we want. Samuel woke up in the middle of the night several times and ran to Eli, who he thought was calling him. Obviously, it was God. But the faithfulness to obey the voice, even if the details weren’t perfectly accurate, is a great lesson for us. We must obey God so that we can know His voice and trust that He has all of the issues we face figured out! In the last part of the passage, Samuel is ready to receive whatever the Lord wanted to speak to him. This attitude is important in hearing the voice of God: be ready to receive what He speaks!
Scripture References:
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Lifepointe Internship Director Suzanne Clark continues in the Bible Engagement Project, telling the story of Ruth and Boaz in its entirety.
The story of Ruth and Boaz is an amazing story of the love shown to those who were deemed worthless in almost every facet of life. Ruth and her Mother-in-law, Naomi, lost everything when they lost their spouse, but Boaz became a family redeemer and was able to provide for them. This narrative is a close parallel to the story of redemption that unfolded with Jesus. It shows us that God rewards His people. When we are faithful, as Ruth was to Naomi, God rewards us with blessings! God also is our refuge. Ruth was attracted to the life Naomi had and the model she was. It was because of her faith in God that made her that way. Ruth clung to Naomi and in doing so, clung to the Lord. The obvious take away from the story is that God is our redeemer. Through Jesus, we are allowed into the throne room of the Most High God! That is truly an amazing love story.
Scripture References:
Ruth 1:12-17
Ruth 2:8-12
Ruth 3:7-11
Ruth 4:13-22
Pastor Josh continues in the Bible Engagement Project with the new series “Set Apart.” Beginning with the story of Gideon, we see how God believes in the people He calls.
The contrast to the fulfillment of the promise of the Promised Land and where Israel finds itself could not be more drastic. From the land flowing with milk and honey to being under the oppressive rule of foreign powers, Israel could not seem to break the cycle. Judges 6 is the fifth cycle of disobedience, oppression and asking God to deliver Israel. God chooses Gideon to do this, calling this depressed and downtrodden man a “mighty warrior” before He even accepted the call. God sees what we can’t; in both the situation and the people, God knows what He is saying! Gideon begins to argue with the angel, pointing to his own lack of prominence as the reason he cannot do what God has called him to do. But our insignificance is insignificant to God. No matter how much we disqualify ourselves, God will still call us into amazing things because He will sustain us. Skipping to verses 36-40, we see Gideon’s lack of trust in God which leads him to ask for TWO signs of confirmation. God answers the first and he asks Him for another. In our lives, we can do the same. But we have to learn to trust God before we test Him. Otherwise, our faith becomes stagnant.
Scripture References:
Judges 6:11-16; 36-40
As we close volume 3 of BEP, Pastor Josh examines the story of Joshua and the Promised Land.
Surprise Birthdays. Holiday celebrations. Family get-togethers. These all take planning. But what happens when the plan makes no sense? This is how Joshua most likely felt as he heard God told him instead of developing a battle plan, to simply walk around the walls until they fell. God’s instructions don’t always make logical sense but do set up Him to work miracles. Just because we can’t see what God is wanting to do doesn’t mean that He is without a plan. Joshua and the Israelites trusted God, and acted on it immediately. The past generations of Israelites would have never had the faith and obedience to take on the Canaanites and enter the Promised Land. That’s why they didn’t. God will give direction, but we have to take action! We must play our part in what God is instructed us to do, just as Joshua led his people to do. We also know that God wants to collaborate with us, just as he worked with the Israelites to win the battle and enter the Promised Land. God wanted obedience from His people, and He would work the impossible for them. It is the same way today! If we can submit to God and allow Him to direct our lives, He will carry us over the finish line supernaturally. God’s plan includes us, and includes working with us.
Scripture References: Joshua 6:1-5;15-20
In the third week of the third volume of the Bible Engagement Project, Pastor Josh continues to examine Exodus, breaking down the purpose of the ten commandments.
If you have grown up in church or had any familiarity with church, you have come across the ten commandments. But why did God give them to the Israelites? What purpose do they serve today? In the same way that parents give rules and instill values to their children, God wanted to set His people on the right path, knowing if they misrepresent Him, it would be easier to discredit His glory. In Exodus 20, before God even gave the law to Moses, He establishes Himself as the deliverer. God had delivered the people of Israel throughout their journey, but what would follow would be the law that would allow for God to deliver His people through the rest of the Old Testament. More than just a set of rules, the purpose of the ten commandments was rooted in relationship. God desired to be worshipped and given the glory He deserved. This was reflected in how each commandment speaks against idolatry in some form or another, whether through literal idols being formed or lifting ourselves up through lying or coveting. God also knew that there had to be a Messiah. After appearing to the Israelites and making them afraid, it was clear to have the relationship that God wanted to have with humanity, a mediator was needed. We know that this mediator would be Jesus, who stated in Matthew 5, that He had not come to abolish the law, but fulfill it!
Scripture References: Exodus 20:1-6, 18-21
Pastor Josh continues the story of the Exodus as the Israelites find themselves in the wilderness in Exodus 16.
The interesting thing about the story of Israel in the wilderness is how quickly they forgot what God did for them. Instead of remembering what He had done and using that to sustain them through the troubles, they grumbled against God. In response, He provided but also challenged them to follow and trust Him, even when it didn’t make sense to. We know from their grumblings that they were not able to see God’s hand in their lives! How similar is that to our lives today? We constantly find ourselves missing out on what God is doing because of our attitudes! Our attitudes are important. We know God’s intentions were to provide for His people. Despite their grumbling and their poor attitude, He was still faithful to fulfill the plans He had for them. Yahweh is a God who wants to provide for His people! As the Israelites looked for food on the Sabbath but found none because of the Lord’s instructions to take double on the day before and cook it in the morning, we know that trust and obedience are the keys to remain aware of what God is doing!
Scripture References: Exodus 16:2-8, 13-17, 19-20
Pastor Josh opens up 2021 by continuing the Bible Engagement Project's third volume, "Stepping Out", examining the story of the Exodus.
The crossing of the Red Sea is an amazing story of God's faithfulness and the obedience of the Israelites. In Exodus 14, we know that God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he would confidently go after his former slaves. The Israelites had their own blockers on as the Egyptians showed up: fear. We know circumstances can be deceiving because we don't always see God present. But when God moves the His protection from the front to the back to keep Israel safe from their oppressors, we see that when He moves, we should have no fear or worry, even if we have to trust that we can walk across seas on dry ground. As God washes the Egyptians away by closing the seas up on top of them, the chapter ends with God being glorified and Moses established as a trusted leader! In the same way, God wins in the end of our situations and struggles.
Scripture References:
Exodus 14
Tristan Friedman opens a two-part series on “The Birth” and how expansive the narrative leading up to the birth of Jesus actually is.
We know that in the writings of Isaiah and Micah foretold that there would be a Messiah, born of a virgin in Bethlehem. The details of the nature of the Savior describe Jesus to a tee and prove the authenticity of their prophetic voices. The timing God had ordained is remarkable! To know that prophets spoke of how Jesus would be brought to humanity before it would come to pass is a faith builder! God ordained these words to be given far ahead of the Savior’s birth so that the Word of God could be proven to be true, even after hundreds of years! Then, the fulfillment of those prophecies (with many more to come) in Jesus’ birth came. After all of the waiting and holding onto to the promise of a Messiah, a baby born in Bethlehem would change the course of history forever!
Scripture References:
Isaiah 7:13-17
Micah 5:2-3
Matthew 2:1-7
Lifepointe Intern, David Potts, continues our series looking at "God's Call" in the patriarchs in Genesis.
The bizarre story of Jacob and Esau and the stealing of the blessing brings about a plethora of lessons! We know that as God allows for Jacob to steal receive the blessing that was Esau's to have that His plan's do not always make sense. As we see all of the characters in the narrative have deep flaws in their character and ulterior motives that drive them to do what they do. But God remains faithful through it all. God accepts the blessing of Jacob and moves forward using him. He still carries out His plans despite our flaws! We know that the fact that this story continues the overarching themes and narrative of the rest of scripture, that God's plan never fails or falters.
Scripture References:
Genesis 25:19-26
Genesis 27:11-20
As we open up the BEP Vol. 2, "God's Call", Pastor Josh speaks on the remarkable test of faith in the story of Abraham and Isaac.
God had blessed Abraham with his son, Isaac, after he and Sarah waited for decades for him! That story of faith makes the command God gives Abraham in Genesis 22 that much more absurd. The Lord tasks Abraham with sacrificing Isaac. He had not been asked to do this because of a failure on Abraham’s end, but to see how far the Lord could test him! Testing, in this story, is tied to obedience. Not every test we experience is because of a lack of faith or a slip-up on our end. Sometimes, it can be because of our obedience and faith in God that He tests us. Without hesitation or question, he follows after what God has told him and begins the process to make the sacrifice. He does this because he knows God would provide, although he didn’t know how! Movement is also tied to obedience here. Sometimes, God needs us to move to show our faith in Him before He moves Himself. After proving himself, Abraham is stopped from killing his son and finds a ram caught by the horns to substitute. Finally, blessings are tied to obedience. If we can trust and have faith in God, no matter what He asks of us, He will bless us with the things that we need!
Scripture References:
Genesis 22:1-18
Pastor Josh continues the "In the Beginning" series from the Bible Engagement Project, taking a look at Genesis and the beginning of the Bible. We highlight the story of Noah and the flood that reset life on earth.
How could the world be so corrupt in only 3 chapter from when sin entered the world that God would be disgusted that He wanted to destroy everything and start over? We see that people had been corrupt with their money, their morals and their relationships with others. God and sin cannot co-exist meaning that a just God has to judge a sinful creation. We see His love in the patience that He showed, but He had to step in. Before He did, He made preparations for Noah and his family to be saved. It was Noah's faithfulness and obedience to the Lord that saved him. God rewards obedience. Noah had nothing other than God's Word but still remained obedient. That's the faith that we should always strive for in our lives! In Genesis 8 when the dust had settled and the water dried up, God gave Noah the same command that He gave Adam and Eve at the beginning of Genesis. God redeemed Noah and his family because of their faithfulness. This narrative is perfect imagery for Jesus, who serves as the ark, we can all be "on board" with.
Scripture References:
Genesis 6:5-14
Genesis 8:15-17
As we start our church’s Bible Engagement Project in our youth ministry, we begin “In the Beginning…” at the start of Genesis.
Genesis 1 is an extremely powerful piece of scripture. The fact that God spoke the entire universe into existence with only His words is incredible. We see that He did the work of creation, oversaw the form and the functionality of it, and declared its goodness. Creation glorifies God by its very existence, but God also wanted relationship. He created man and woman so that he could express Himself through them and with them. That’s why humans are different than every other thing God created; we are made in His image and likeness! We also see Genesis 1 as the introduction of God to the readers…us! Like any good book or TV show, God wants us to read about Him and know Him and grow closer to Him. We get the chance to have relationship with Him the same way that Adam and Eve had in the garden!
Scripture References:
Genesis 1:1-10
Genesis 1:26-31
As we continue in our “There is More” series, Pastor Josh discusses how everyone can be difference makers through serving others.
As we read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19, the interaction with Jesus changed the course of his life. Jesus took a tax collecting, corrupt man who made a living off the backs of innocent people and showed him a way to inherit eternal life. We know that we are called to be difference makers in our own lives for those around us. Moving from how we can help ourselves and continue to climb the social ladder to a place of service will shape the world we live in for the better, because we have Jesus! We know we must serve Him first, serve others above ourselves and give God glory for all we do. In a world desperate for a hero, we get to point to a real-life one by serving others!
Scripture References:
Luke 19:9-10
Matthew 20:26-28
We continue in the series, “There is More”, identifying who is to serve, how they are to serve and why they serve. Pastor Josh speaks on leading through serving and the impact it has on both others and us!
We know that we are all called to serve, and how our service should come out of our humility, but we find the revelation of who Christ truly is in the interaction between Jesus and Peter in Matthew 16. Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, which sets off a track of learning and teaching that was in-depth and challenging. Throughout the rest of Jesus’ teachings and works, service was at the core. Jesus was the model of leading through serving. We know that Jesus taught that grace was important to serve because there would be people who we would deem unlovable or not servable on our own. But Christ clearly points to our humility coming in and allowing us to love and serve those who may not be who we would choose to act upon. This humility is a key factor in this, because without lowering ourselves so Jesus can work, we halt the Spirit moving inside of us. Leading through serving also requires submission, so that the Kingdom of God can be advanced without any ulterior motives present!
Scripture References:
Matthew 16:13-19
Matthew 5:46-47
Pastor Josh kicks off a new series entitled “There is More”, where servant-leadership is the focus. In this first edition, PJ speaks on the importance of having the right posture.
In examining the events following the last supper in Luke 22, we see that the disciples were bickering about who the greatest in the Kingdom of God would be. Jesus clearly states that the greatest would actually be the servant of all. The worldly systems of abuse of leadership was not what Jesus modeled and one that He warned His disciples about. This interactions teaches us that leadership is not something that comes out of gaining a position, title or rank. How we serve is how effective we can lead. We also know that the lower we put ourselves in service, the higher God will raise us up. We know from scripture that humility will garner influence and the ability to speak into people’s lives. Scripture makes it known that if we are to call ourselves Christians, we must be willing to serve others because no one is exempt! If we want to be able to increase our witness and draw closer to God, we must make ourselves available to serve.
Scripture References:
Luke 22:24-30
John 13:12-16
Garrett Kaiser closes out his time with Lifepointe Youth by preaching a message of how we should live like Jesus. But the story in Matthew 21 is not the typical depiction of our Savior that we hear about in Sunday School...and that's okay!
Jesus was the authority that shook the Jewish traditions of the time, and called out practices and traditions that focused too much on the what, and not enough on who they were worshiping or why they were worshiping God to begin with. When He saw the temple repurposed as a corrupt marketplace, Jesus took action to speak and act against it. We, through reading and applying scripture, can do the same when we see those same situations in our world. Sometimes asking "What would Jesus do" can present some interesting points of application for us!
Scripture References:
Matthew 21:11-14
Lifepointe Summer Intern Garrett Kaiser brings the word in the final traditional service before our Summer Games event all July.
Garrett brings a strong word breaking down some of Jesus’ final words on the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” This reference to Psalm 22:1 contains a beautiful model for how we can have brutal honesty, tough questions and an open rawness in our prayers and conversations with God. Jesus, while on the cross, screams for his Father to come back despite understanding scripture and knowing that his death had to happen. Despite having the head knowledge, Jesus still felt the need to question his circumstance. This lament proves that is okay, in fact, encouraged to be honest about our anger, frustration and feelings. God hears. He listens.
Scripture References:
Matthew 27:45-46
Psalm 22:1
We take time in our first week back together to reconnect and hear from our graduating seniors Isaiah Michelitch, David Gauvain, Tristan Friedman and Keegan Dougherty to talk about their experiences and what they learned as they approach new seasons of life. We share stories of crazy memories, hear some timeless advise and even get encouragement for how to maintain our relationship with Jesus in the midst of the the hectic student lifestyle!
Pastor Josh brings another message regarding the state of our society. There is importance in reading God's Word and gaining direction and insight for how to interact with the world.
As events continue to escalate around the nation, it is easy to be discouraged and lose hope. In Habakkuk, after Judah is in captivity at the hand of the Babylonians, he examines the situation and the obvious oppression and injustice. This causes Habakkuk to question what and why it is happening? Why God is allowing it and siding with the doers of wrong? There is an anger, frustration and a rawness that he brings before God. As he explains the situation and his desire to see justice for the oppressed, he finds that he might not understand the situation the way he thinks. God responds in a clear authoritative way, by allowing Habakkuk to know His heart. He explains to the prophet that final justice will be His. Despite the oppression and injustice, God is above it and will repay it. This brings Habakkuk to worship and praise God at the end of this short book and find peace in chaos. In the same manner, we must trust that God will repay the injustice and oppression and right the wrongs of so many. God will restore peace when Jesus returns and restore the chaotic state of our world. Habakkuk's interaction with the Lord is a timely one and a model for how we can speak with God when we feel helpless to continue the fight.
Scripture References:
Habakkuk 1:2-11
Habakkuk 2:9-13
As times become more and more tumultuous, Pastor Josh brings a powerful message on the power of preaching the Gospel and how it stands alone above the chaos.
In Acts 6. we read that the apostles get overwhelmed with conflicts arising out of the various people groups in the early church. Because of this, they find 7 men who can become extensions of themselves as they continued to focus on preaching the Word and prayer. They understood the need to preach the Gospel and not getting tied down in the upkeep of the church was not their burden. As they empowered others, they gave them the license to preach. Stephen, one of the seven took them up on this and began to preach boldly the full Gospel through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Even when leaders began to question him, this empowerment gave him answers for all they brought before him to the point that they could do nothing but lie and fabricate false narratives against him. That's the truth that we can come to expect when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. This led to Stephen's arrest. But we see that while they examine him, his face shows the perfect peace of God. We must know that when we face these trials, we can speak boldly without fear of the trials we may face. As we face the chaotic landscape of our society, we know that the Gospel stands alone as the pillar we can build our life around!
Scripture References:
Acts 6
Pastor Josh takes some time to talk about sacrifice. Not the ultimate sacrifice, but the one we make spiritually. The things we do for the spiritual formation of others.
We know that Paul was focused on relationship with those he wrote and ministered to. He knew that it had to come from an authentic place, which challenged how that relationship had to be formed. He served, conversed and lived among those he was teaching and leading. We, like him, must be open to enter people's life and allowing people to enter ours! As we create these spaces for relationship, we must be diligent in our work. Paul led his team and his personal life in such a way that no one was able to bring any charge against them without lying or deceiving others. This is what we are to obtain as we witness and serve others! We are also striving to be spiritual leaders to others! As we think of our our parents, grandparents and guardians and all they do for us, we know that their is a massive sacrifice for our benefit. We should do the same to those who are in our spiritual circles.
Scripture Reference:
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12
Lifepointe Youth leader Tristan Friedman brings a word during our midweek gathering. A solid foundational message on a relationship with Jesus is key to building and growing closer to him. Tristan discusses how to find a friend in Jesus.
We know that relationships were a close topic to Jesus and his disciples, so when he lays out how to have true relationship with him in how we serve him, it is clear. In order to have relationship with Jesus, we must have trust in him fully. We must believe that we can cast our cares on him and he will set us on solid foundations. This is not an overly complicated process though, as we can build a relationship with the Lord in the same manner we fellowship together. Through our relationships with each other, we know we were created to have relationship with God as well.
Scripture References:
Luke 9:23-26
Matthew 22:34-40
Matthew 11:28-30
Pastor Josh closes this mini-series on "God's Provision" by discussing how God provided for Joseph in the many trials that he faced, proving that He works in every season of life.
In the end of Genesis, Joseph's life is documented in full. Though his status as the favorite son and the amazing prophetic gift of interpreting dreams elevate him, we see his life turn into ruins as he is taken by his brothers, sold off into slavery and is believed by his father to be dead. As if that couldn't get worse, he has false claims against him and he is thrown into prison as a result. On top of that, after interpreting two dreams of men who worked for Pharaoh correctly, he is forgotten about for years! Only then is he brought before the Egyptian leader and elevated once again as he prevents famine. In Genesis 45, he explains to his brothers, who come looking to Egypt for food, that God worked through every event that he endured and it was for the purpose of saving his family that he went through it. We must hold onto the fact that God works for our good in every season. He provides for us, even in our dismay and unfortunate circumstances!
Scripture References:
Genesis 45:4-11
Pastor Josh begins a new series looking at "God's Provision" for our lives through our sinful nature and the seasons that we encounter.
Genesis 3 is the infamous account of The Fall and how Adam and Eve's sinful nature allowed for it to hold power on earth, even in the modern-day context. This story, though, highlights important characteristics in God's nature. First, we see that God has a set standard for creation. Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent because of how he skewed God's character in their eyes. He painted God as a withholder, while negating all that He had given Adam and Eve. They were literally walking with God, and still chose to view him as a selfish God that wouldn't give them anything. They broke this rule and standard He had given them, which in turn brought shame. After Adam and Eve are found hiding from God, He questions them. He obviously knew what had transpired and watched as Adam and Eve both made excuses pointing the blame down the chain. This is when God reveals the punishments for man, woman and the serpent. These are both permanent (man and hard work, woman and painful childbirth, the serpent and sliding on its belly) and immediate (expulsion from the garden). God clearly is just in His punishments and judgement. Above all of this though, we see God still provide for Adam and Eve in how he crafts garments for them to wear. These leather pieces of clothing show that though God will not be upstaged and will hold people accountable, He will always be there to provide for them!
Scripture References:
Genesis 3
Pastor Josh takes the bonus week in April to discuss Romans 6 and Paul's warning to who we serve: Sin or Righteousness. During the pandemic, this can be a great time to evaluate where our priorities are.
Paul discusses while these new Christians used to give themselves up as slaves to sin, they turned and now are slaves to righteousness. The main thing we have to understand, as Paul warns, is that we are all slaves to something. Whether this be slaves to our own selfish and wicked desires, or slaves to God, who gives eternal life. Paul goes on to speak about how we serve God in our lives. His is very clear that obedience to God helps us to live lives of righteousness. Obedience comes more authentically when we have a strong relationship with God, so that we know His heart in everything He asks of us. The last word that Paul leaves in this section relates to Sin leading to death and Righteousness leading to eternal life. If this is the case, why not serve the one that gives life!?
Scripture References:
Romans 6:15-23
Pastor Josh closes out our first digital series, "The Cross and the Grave" with the Easter message of Christ's victory over the grave and the interactions between his followers and the angels...even Jesus himself!
We see that in the Easter story, nothing new was happening. Jesus had spent his entire ministry discussing his death and resurrection. Had the disciples listened, there would not no shock and awe from the disciples. They would have simply acknowledged that Jesus had done what he had said he would do. The confusion of Peter walking around the empty grave confused at what had happened is a stark reminder for us to make sure to pay attention to the Word of God, so that we wouldn't be taken aback by it. In the encounter on the road to Emmaus, the men who encounter Jesus are open to explain the death of the king of the Jews. They give one of the first full gospel presentations to Jesus himself, explaining how he was a great teacher and someone who they believed was the Son of God. This is encouraging to know as we see that Jesus' death was going to be proclaimed so imagine what his resurrection was going to do for the world. We see this in the early church leaders boldly told of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. We also have the same opportunity and charge!
Scripture References:
Luke 24
We are in week 3 of our "The Cross and the Grave" series! Join us this week as Pastor Josh discuss the events of the execution of Jesus and how it impacted everything.
After the prophetic words of the Old Testament and the warnings of Jesus, these last few moments of Jesus' ministry proved to be monumental in shaping how we live our lives. We not only see the sacrifice he offered himself up as, but we see the model and imagery it sets up. First, the personification of taking up the cross is evident as Jesus picks up the heavy weight while bleeding and suffering on a one-way trip to his death. Likewise, we are taught to carry our cross daily. The imagery of Jesus literally being in between the two criminals show that he chose to be in the middle of sin so that we could have relationship with Jesus. We also have to be intentional about the crowds we choose to be around, and be the hope in the middle of a dark world. Lastly, the proclamation by the Roman guard proves the unique nature of Christ's death. The fact that he recognizes Jesus was the Son of God is massive, as he had most likely witnessed several executions and crucifixions. We also must be aware of the story as we walk through these last few moments of Jesus' life and believe that the Word will speak for itself!
Scripture References:
Matthew 27:30-54
Mathew 16:24
We are back again for our second week in our "The Cross and the Grave" series. From the OT prophecies to the warnings of Jesus throughout his teachings, the disciples had all the tools to see the story unfold. Join Pastor Josh in this important discussion!
Throughout Jesus' life, there was clearly a mission that had to be completed. Despite his teachings, the disciples did not listen. The workings and miracles of Christ were clear, but it was intentionally hidden so that God's glory would be shown more! Just as we discussed Jesus waiting to raise Lazarus until he not only passed but was dead for 4 days. In the second prediction of his death, the disciples put on blinders and choose not to credit what Jesus was saying about his arrest and torture. This is because they had a pre-crafted idea of who the Messiah would be and how he would reign. They were looking forward to the idea of Jesus they had in their minds so much that didn't listen to what the actual man was saying to their faces. In the same manner, when Jesus warns them a third time of his impending death, but they can't understand. This is so frustrating because the disciples had the OT scriptures and could plainly read of not only the Messiah's arrival, but his death as well. They chose not to. We must not fall into the same pattern, and cherry pick scripture or take it out of context. We must keep the full story in perspective, especially the Holy Week narrative.
Scripture References:
Luke 9:21-22
Luke 9:43-45
Luke 18:31-34
With Easter coming soon, Pastor Josh discusses one of the most prolific Old Testament prophecies surrounding the Messiah and His life and death. Join us for an amazing account of God's plan being in place long before the events would unfold.
There was clearly a plan in place before the coming of the Messiah. God has left breadcrumbs all throughout time to tell of the coming king. In Daniel, we see as the prophecy is revealed to him that God's plan is exact. By crunching the numbers and calculating the times given, we see that the time between the decree and release of Hebrews and the commissioning of Jesus into ministry is correct to the day. Wow! How amazing to know that God is in the finest of details. We also can see that God does not begin a story without a conclusion. Just as clearly as He lays out the coming of the Messiah, He gives details of his crushing. He shows Daniel what will happen when the Messiah is no more, and how the Jews will react. The end of the prophetic word given also shows that the story has not yet been completed. There will be trials and tribulation to come, and we must be ready. We also must be just as ready for the return of Jesus! There is incredible encouragement in knowing that God had a plan for Jesus, mapped hundreds of years before his birth and that one day, He will return so that we may be with him!
Scripture Reference:
Daniel 9:25-27
As we have concluded our S.o.S series, Pastor Josh takes some time to address the elephant in the room. This one-off discussion about Jesus working in the timing of the Father in the miracle of Lazarus is especially timely for us today, battling the current state of our world.
The book of John recounts several of Jesus' miracles and His amazing works on earth, proving His deity. The account found in chapter 11 speaks of Jesus' greatest yet...the raising of the dead. Lazarus was one of Jesus' closest friends. Yet, when he became sick, Jesus waited several more days to visit him. This bizarre timing actually was intentionally done so the work of Christ could be magnified and build the faith of those around Him. We see that God works in His timing so that He can receive the most glory possible! When Jesus sees the faith in Martha, He acts and raises her brother up, calling him out of the tombs. Jesus is also intentional here, but in a different way. He waits for faith to be shown to move. This should encourage us that our faith matters! We can be the agent of change in moving God's hand to action. In this time, we must be prepared to pray and seek God out to restore, rebuild and revive our situations.
Scripture References
John 1:1-44
As we wrap up the S.o.S series in interesting form, Josh discusses the keys to making sure commitment never ceases in your relationship. As the culmination of all that the book teaches, commitment is an important step in maintaining the process and keeping your relationship strong. Join us tonight, and be sure to come back each Wednesday moving forward for more discussions!
As we see at the end of chapter 6, we see Solomon exhibit forgiveness in the midst of the conflict he was in. Forgiveness fuels the fire to the relationship and keeps it strong. This is important for our relationships as well. "I'm sorry" should be one of the top phrases in relationships and should never get old. We also see the attention that they give each other in chapter 7. This attention is able to keep the commitment to each other strong. Solomon paying attention and giving new, fresh compliments to his bride should challenge us all to do the same for our significant others! Words and time are played out in the final chapter, as we know their importance for these two in the book. These are the very things that we should not only give each other, but give to God as well. This is done through seclusion and prayer.
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 6:4-10
Song of Solomon 7
Beginning the second half of our S.o.S series is Lifepointe Discipleship Pastor John Luttman. Pastor John leads many ministries within the church, and his 55+ years of ministry makes him one of the wisest men on the team. This wisdom is shown in the discussion of intimacy and romance that takes place. This is the natural progression in relationships, but still must be controlled and kept in right standing with scripture.
Solomon and his now bride are together after the wedding. They are alone and ready to give themselves to each other physically. We see a deep admiration and respect, especially in how the man speaks about his wife. There is an excitement, there is reason for celebration, but it has to be at the right time. God's best plan for relationships is to wait until marriage to have sex.
Without the commitment and covenant, pain and heartbreak are the only outcomes on the other side of sex. As Pastor John shares the metaphorical language in each verse, there is clearly beauty in the conversation and interaction. Thank God for healthy physical relationships!
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 4:1-16
Song of Solomon 5:1
Communication was the last point of the message last week and now receives its own message. The importance of communication is massive in the success of our relationships, as our very own Pastor Josh speaks on it this week.
After all of the positive conversation and lovey-dovey talk between Solomon and his new bride to be, we get to a rather tough conversation between the two. Solomon is very clear that his willingness to hear from his past wives was non-existent and now finds himself inviting the Shulamite woman to speak to him. To share her heart. We learn from verse 14 that in relationships, we have to have a desire to hear from our significant others. We must ask to hear from each other so that both parties can be on the same page moving forward. Otherwise, someone gets left behind. We learn in verse 15 that like Solomon pleads with his love to "catch the foxes" that ruin the vineyard, we must do the same. The little cracks in communication can turn into holes that sink the entire thing, so we have to be intentional about tough conversations. We cannot shy away from things we have to discuss. The talks that air the "dirty laundry" discussed last week are crucial. At the end of the chapter and moving into chapter 3, we see what this does for the woman and how it makes her feel. Good communication will intensify feelings for the person we love. If there is respect, admiration and honesty, the next logical step is to become physical. We have a desire to show our love through our actions. But as she searches for him and is craving him in every way, he takes a step back. Solomon repeats in Chapter 3, verse 5 what he said in Chapter 2, verse 7: to "not awaken love until it so desires." For the second time, he shows restraint and the desire to remain pure. We are to extend our communication skills to our boundaries, and not compromise them. Even if it means repeating ourselves!
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 2:14-17
Song of Solomon 3:1-5
Pastor Josh speaks on courtship in the third week of the Song of Solomon series. Courting is a lost art in the dating culture today. One that is needed and essential to maintain healthy relationships leading into marriage.
Continuing to read of the conversation between Solomon and his love, we grasp onto the fact that there is clear excitement about how they feel about each other. This leads to both parties having a commitment to each other that goes deeper and deeper with time. We too, have to be excited about our relationships to make certain that the work put in them is worth it. There also must is a clear engagement between the two in the story, and as the seasons change and time passes, they still feel the same way about each other. Like the seasons, relationships in the modern day are hard work. Not every second is lovely or pretty and that is okay. But endurance is needed so that the relationship is sustained. Communication is the last example we read about this week for how to court a guy/girl in relationships. This will lead to some heavy conversations but like the woman and Solomon when they explain how they feel toward another constantly, we are to keep clear communication open to discuss and define the relationship. This will help the relationship flourish and grow past the surface-level questions and the physical attraction we might feel.
So how do we know we are ready to court someone? How do we know if we are to even be dating at all? These things are necessary:
- Gathering wisdom in determining character, Consistency in dating, Sensitivity in communication, Patience in letting the relationship move
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 2:8-14
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Ephesians 5:25-27
Proverbs 25:16
Continuing the S.o.S series, Pastor Josh speaks on dating with the students. Dating, while not being a custom of Old Testament culture, is massively important in youth culture.
After reading about the attraction of Solomon and the Shulamite woman in only 7 verses, this week showcases their interaction in the courtyard and at the dining hall. This "date night" between the two depicts the infatuation they both share, and how they create time and space for their relationship to flourish. This time allows them to truly know each other moving forward. They also cultivate a healthy respect for one another that continues to deepen their relationship. This respect allows for the relationship to be taken into a place where a physical need is being urged. Solomon, in chapter 2, slows the advance down and urges his love to "not awaken love until it so desires." This puts restraint on the date, which is necessary for dating to be something that glorifies God. These three things: Time, Respect and Restraint, are the key to successful dating relationships.
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 1:1-7-17
Song of Solomon 2:1-7
February is a month of love and relationships. To kick it off, Pastor Josh begins a new series entitled "S.o.S" simply abbreviating the Old Testament Song of Solomon (or Song of Songs). Attraction is the beginning of the story in the book, and drives every event and emotion after it. It is the same in our romantic lives as well.
This verse-by-verse breakdown allows us to read about what attracted Solomon and this woman together. The important thing the both highlight is not their looks or status but their character. Solomon, this beautiful man, is looked at not for his attractiveness but his name. His very character. Likewise, the woman who directly speaks of her burnt skin and meager looks, is noticed not for her lack of attractiveness but her ability to honor and be committed to her love. In the same fashion, we must build our own character up and not be consumed with our appearance. Attraction is not merely physical. In fact, if it is heavily physical, the relationship becomes shallow and falls away very quickly. As we work on ourselves, we must also create standards that filter through people so we may be with those of great character. This two-fold approach to dating and relationships help us to have a Godly attraction to those of the opposite sex.
Scripture References:
Song of Solomon 1:1-7
As we end the month and the "Fresh Start" series, Pastor Josh tells the story of Josiah, the young kid found in 2 Kings. Josiah changed the entire culture for the time he was alive through the brave action to turn back to the Lord after decades of defiling the covenant.
Josiah exhibited humility when he found the Law that was preserved. He didn't disregard it or run from it, but tore his clothes and repented. Humility is the key in experiencing spiritual renewal for us today! The major response of Josiah was to clear out the temple. To restore it back to its rightful place as only the home of Yahweh. He takes the false gods, their followers, their relics...everything, and burns it outside of the temple. If our bodies and minds are the temples we watch over, then we must also make sure we clear it from time to time and place God where He belongs in our lives. The final take away from the message is that young people should never allow themselves to be underestimated. This repentance and turn back to the Lord began with a king who was 8 when he took reign, 16 when he began following God and 26 at the time of this story. Young people can and will make the difference. They will and are leaders. What a perfect encouragement to close out the discussion over the last few weeks!
Scripture References:
2 Kings 22:18-20
2 Kings 23:1-4
Pastor Josh continues the "Fresh Start" series this week, discussing Jacob's wrestling match with the Angel of the Lord in Genesis. Like Paul, the story changes Jacob's life forever. Jacob has a close encounter with God in this all-night wrestling match. At this point in the story of Genesis, Jacob is at the end of his rope. He has betrayed his father, stole the birthright from his brother and struggled in intense conflict with his father-in-law.
Jacob was desperate for God to intervene in his life. Our desire should have the same desperate hunger for the presence of God throughout our entire walk with Him. We also see that, as we did in the previous week, close encounters with God have life-altering implications. With Jacob’s hip dislocated, there was a physical reliance on God to sustain him from that day forth. But there was also a change in how God saw Jacob's soul as well. Close encounters allow for God to change us and to work in us. Without going deeper and drawing near to the Lord, we might never see Him truly work in our lives. Struggles are also an identity that we are to lose. Just as Jacob crossed the river with a new name and new identity, we have the opportunity to do the same. God has stamped us new creations in Him!
Scripture References:
Genesis 32:22-31
In the first youth service of 2020, Pastor Josh begins a series on fresh starts, new beginnings and radical changes. Opening "Fresh Start" is an in-depth look at Paul and his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Like Paul, our response to the calling of Jesus should first be a recognizing of our sin. Without this as our foundation, there is no need to grow closer with God and follow His prompting. We are also to dig deep into prayer, making it the center of everything we do so that we can recognize God's voice and believe Him for whatever we need, whether it be a miracle, healing or provision. Finally, an obedient response to the calling of the Lord is key in unlocking all He has for us. Without Paul stepping into his calling, two-thirds of the New Testament wouldn't have been recorded. What a blow that would have been! We, too, have an enormous role in furthering the Kingdom and the account of Paul in Acts encourages us to do as he did.
Scripture References:
Acts 9:1-19
Acts 7:54-8:1