The Paradox Church - Video: Recent Episodes
The Paradox Church
The Paradox Church is located in Downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Our work is to Preach the Gospel, Plant Churches, and Push Back Darkness.
Spiritual transformation is rooted in our union with Christ rather than religious effort or self-improvement strategies. True growth occurs when we remain deeply connected to Jesus, allowing the gospel to naturally transform us from within. This process is nurtured through faith, love for others, and hope in God's promises. While practices and knowledge have their place, authentic spiritual development stems from our relationship with Christ rather than external religious activities.
If you find yourself in the wilderness, there is a place to go – The Secret Place of Thunder.
There is a battle for belief raging in us every time we suffer. Do we really believe that our future glory is far greater than our present sufferings?
We all experience times when God seems distant and unconcerned with our pain and suffering. But the writer of Psalm 42 gives us a road map for navigating these dark nights of our souls.
Being Holy isn't about not sinning, it's about becoming more like Jesus. So what's the difference?
The Church is called to be set apart, not just for God, but for the world around us as well.
God created sex and our bodies to be holy and good, but we all experience sexual brokenness. How should we live in light of this?
Prophecy doesn't have to be scary or weird. It's a powerful way that God still uses to speak to his people today.
Is God's will hidden from us? If not, why does it seem so hard to discern sometimes? We continue our series with a practical message on how to know God's will for our lives.
Does God still speak to us today? Join us as we kick off a new series talking about hearing the voice of God.
We wrap up our series in Luke talking about the significance of the Ascension of Jesus.
Is it possible to be passionate about our faith while we still struggle with doubt? If so, how?
What is The Lord's Supper really about? How should it impact the way we live today? We continue in the book of Luke talking about the significance of The Passover meal in Luke 23.
We continue in the book of Luke with the story of Zacchaeus and the Parable of the Ten Minas.
The Christian life isn't becoming a better version of yourself, it's following in the path of Jesus towards desperate dependence on God.
How do you view God? Join us as we discuss how our theology and what we believe about God affect how we live.
We continue in the book of Luke talking about having a Gospel culture of forgiveness and reconciliation.
We discuss the challenging passages found in Luke chapter 16, covering topics like money and divorce.
Pastor Jim teaches about the heart of God on display in the parables of the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son.
What does your faith cost you? Listen in as Pastor James Lepine talks about the cost of following Jesus.
Pastor Jim teaches on The Parables of the Wedding Feast & Great Banquet given by Jesus.
We discuss Jesus's response to Herod seeking to kill him and the declaration of his authority.
Pastor Jim teaches on the important topic of justice and judgment, and how this intersects with the love of God.
For the final week of EHD, guest speaker and author of The Common Rule, Justin Whitmel Earley, shares his story and what he's learned about the power of habit.
We continue the discussion on emotional health talking about the importance of taking control of our lives and habits in a digital age.
We continue in our Emotionally Healthy Disciples series talking about how to experience freedom from our pain.
Pastor Jim talks about the pain of past sin, regrets, and how to move forward in light of God's grace.
Discipleship Director, Nathan Johnson kicks off our series talking about communing with God through the Bible.
Pastor Jim continues in the book of Luke talking about the importance of Fearing God above all else.
Pastor Jim teaches on the Holy Spirit for week one of the new series, Faithful Witnesses.
Pastor Jim teaches on the important topic of what it means to have a friendship with God.
Pastor Jim teaches on the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, and what it means for us today.
Pastor Jim talks about the search for purpose and meaning in life and what Jesus has to say about it.
Pastor Jim speaks on the importance of God's Glory being revealed through Jesus and its implications for us today.
Pastor Jim Essian preaches about Cultural Value #4: "We Fight for Kingdom Moments." See the attached .pdf for our Spiritual Gifts Index.
Pastor James preaches from Ephesians 2 as we talk about Ethnic Conciliation and Racial Reconciliation.
We join with other Acts 29 churches to talk about planting churches. Pastor Jim teaches out of the book of Acts.
Dustin Agular continues our in the book of Luke, teaching on how to live a fruitful life.
Have you ever truly thought about the implications of Jesus' resurrection? Hear this special Easter message on the hope that we have in Jesus because of His resurrection.
What is your reaction when someone hurts you? What is our response to those who disagree with us? Join us as we continue our series in the Gospel of Luke.
Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 5:1-11. Have you truly been undone by the presence of Jesus?
Continuing our series in Luke, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 3:23-4:13 on the temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness.
In week nine of our series in the book of Luke, Pastor Keynenn Parker of Pillar Church preaches out of Luke 3:21-22.
In week eight of our series in the book of Luke, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 3:1-20.
In week seven of our series in the book of Luke, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 2:39-52.
Dustin leads us in a powerful message from Luke 2, continuing our investigative study of the Gospel of Luke.
In week five of our series in the book of Luke, Matt Shelton, Pastor or Music, and Arts, teaches out of Luke 2:1-21.
In week four of our series in the book of Luke, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 1:39-80.
In week three of our series in the book of Luke, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 1:26-38.
In the final week of our series on Desire, Pastor Jim teaches out of Psalm 73 on desiring God.
In week four of our series on Desire, Pastor Jim teaches out of James 4:1-17 on desires and relationships.
In week three of our series on Desire, Pastor Jim teaches out of 1 Timothy 6:6-21 on desiring riches.
In week two of our series on Desire, Pastor Jim teaches out of Luke 16:1-15 on desiring revival.
In week one of our brand new series on Desires, Pastor Jim teaches out of Matthew 13:44-46 on desiring God's Kingdom.
Pastor Doug Logan closes out our series teaching through the book of John chapter 18, verses 33-37.
"There’s a role and purpose for government and there’s a role and purpose for the church, and they are distinct…And the church must be, as MLK taught us, “The conscience of the state" — and we do that from a place of gospel power...We walk into the public square and the political sphere to influence and speak with moral credibility and gospel clarity, not to assimilate and lose our souls. What does it profit you, if you gain the whole political world, but lose your soul?"
"We're gonna see in our text today that Jesus is over government, over politics, Lord over all of it…and what that means and how we should respond."
Our guest preacher, Jonathan Leeman, walks us through Psalm 2. Jonathan is the Editorial Director for 9Marks, a ministry that exists to equip church leaders with a biblical vision and practical resources for building healthy churches.
"One day we won’t have any more elections — no more red states, blue states, donkeys, elephants — cable news will go to hell where it belongs, in everlasting torment! insert winky face
We won’t need any more elections, we won’t need to hear any debates, we won’t need to wonder if we can trust them, no more picking the lesser of two evils, because our King conquers evil! The politics of the world will become the politics of the Kingdom of God.”
"Does Jesus ghost us when we sin? How do you imagine He looks at you when you sin? How have you responded to people lately in their sin? We're in our second to last week in our study through the book of Galatians, and the Apostle Paul gets super practical...especially in our age of cancel culture. See how the gentleness of Jesus changes you."
Only Jesus can reconcile us to one another, only Jesus can redeem us from ourselves, only Jesus can restore this mess we’re in...the answer to all the relational and racial and cultural and political messes we’re in is Jesus.
'For freedom Christ has set you free...' The human heart doesn’t default to a dependence on grace and faith, but a dependence on self and works...So we have to stand firm…we have to fight for freedom…we have to stay needy. We need all of Jesus, not just part of Him.
Pastor Jim is back this week to continue our series on Galatians. In these verses Paul uses a story about two women and two sons of Abraham to teach us about two approaches to Christianity. One through legalism, self-reliance, and self-justification. And one through grace and the promises of God.
Are you tired of the constant performance of trying to show others that you’re good enough? Join Dustin Aguilar as he discusses moral relativism... and how to pray like a tax collector!
"Comparing yourself to others makes you self-righteous; comparing yourself to God makes you self-aware."
In this section of Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, he suggests that our sin isn't our biggest problem.
Pastor Jim reminded us of the objective truths Paul teaches to the Galatians in chapters 1-2 and showed us how Paul, with righteous anger and godly jealousy, moves into the subjective, experiential aspects of the Christian life in chapter 3.
The Gospel of Free Grace changes how we interact with groups and categories of people around us...it calls us to fight for freedom, and it calls us to offer free grace to all people...even those who disagree with us or who are different.
James hosts Jessica Dinsmoor, our Prdx Village Ministry Leader.
Prdx Village exists to unite our community to care for families whose children have experienced trauma. We desire our families to know they have a place at the table and to delight in the gathering around them.
Jim continues our series in Galatians chapter 1 verses 11-24 and walks us through the gospel, and that we never need to add to it.
Get to know Pastor Matt Shelton, hear his heart for the church and music, and learn more about his sabbatical.
James Lepine, our Executive Director, walks us through the beginning of the book of Galatians which warns us against false teachers and false gospels.
Deacon of Orphan Care, Bethany Edwards, joins Heather Thompson on the podcast to discuss how we care for orphans during a pandemic (even if you aren't fostering or adopting!).
Our last sermon of the series wraps up by answering the question, What sustains you in suffering?
Jamey Ice, a small business owner and partner at Paradox, discuss ways we can support local businesses and how small business owners can operate right now.
On Easter Sunday, Pastor Jim taught through John 20 and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Deacons of City Renewal, Ty and Sarah Bowden, discuss ways we can serve our city right now and in the future.
Palm Sunday marks the last week of Jesus' life and in this sermon we look at Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and study all characters in this part of the story.
Faith Brown, Director of Operations, and Haylee Bowden, Preschool Director, explain ways that the church can love and serve singles during this pandemic.
James Lepine and Jim Essian's first live podcast episode. They provide updates in response to COVID-19.
Heather Thompson, Family Ministries Director, talks with Jim Essian about Family Discipleship.
Hosted by James Lepine, this episode discusses the changes in place in response to COVID-19.