The Genesis Daily Podcast: Recent Episodes
Genesis Community Church
A weekday podcast for those connected to Genesis Community Church in Spring,TX. We’ll discuss church life, ministry opportunities, behind the scenes planning, and thoughts on disciple-making.
We bring in Dallas Seminary's Department Chair for Theological Studies, Dr. Michael Svigel, to discuss Santa, gnomes, Christmas trees, and what we really know about the Historical Santa.
Follow Dr. Svigel on Twitter: @Svigel
Urban Legends of Church History: Amazon
The Gospel Coalition: The Quest for the Historical Santa
Merry Christmas to all!!!
Luke 4:22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
https://genesiscommunity.church/understanding-the-elders-responsibility/
Hans and Bart (or Bart and Hans) discuss the above post and dive further into how elders function at Genesis.
We are back (whoops) with Friday's episode. How can we join in with others in unique ways that shows them value?
Rachel wanted to share some of her experience growing up in churches and what she appreciated about you guys.
Phil. 2:14 ¶ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, Phil. 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Sometimes the random details carry more significance than we know.
Commentary referenced: https://www.amazon.com/Judges-You-Reading-Feeding-Leading/dp/1610458044
Joey Franks joins us to go a little deeper into the information he shared Sunday morning RE: church finance.
Even on a Tuesday, real ministry is going on with the church family—in small, ordinary, meaningful ways.
How do we focus on missions and evangelism as a church? (Note: The "missions" side of this isn't spoken of nearly as much as it could've been.)
What's going on with serve teams? What's going well? What can we be on the lookout for?
I know, I know. I said "Connection" last episode title and am not saying "Growth" this time. I'm not consistent.
This episode talks about the purpose and structure behind our d-groups.
Tough to do, especially when it reveals parts of us we don't want to see. But, at the same time, it is really needed.
Reset episodes help us know what's on the horizon for the church (at least event-wise).
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34260820/2022-mlb-all-star-game-pete-alonso-10-step-plan-winning-home-run-derby
Looking at Jesus during the Feast of Dedication reminds us just how all-encompassing his ministry was (and is!).
How do we apply shepherding strategies at Genesis? List keeping isn't a new thing but it certainly is valuable.
On one of my favorite topics (shepherding) it can become hard to not want to go down my own passions and rabbit trails.
One in the line of generations of believers, Jordan tells her story of God's faithfulness.
Over the past week a lot of life happened through the people of Genesis, and it was a gift.
How do we keep good friendships? How do people in ministry try it? This was a good question. Hope the answer serves you.
Take some time today and listen to Candice share her story of salvation, God's grace, and his faithfulness to her over the years.
Genesis member Candice Wilson-Stykes joins the podcast to talk about her recent blog post on God's grace.
To read the post, go here: https://genesiscommunity.church/gods-great-grace/
Psalm 37 is one of a few psalms that help us process seeing people who don't know the Lord succeed.
When God calls at three years old, you respond. Listen to Faith tell her story of understanding who the Lord was early on, and how he's been with her ever since.
Took a member question and made an episode about it. Shoot an email to us if you have more questions.
Pray for the elders meeting, come to the Thursday night men's gathering, and consider how we might be able to serve others.
We are one week out from our first summer session. This episode dives a little deeper into the flow of the night and why we are doing them.
What does our reading remind us of when it comes to our conversations with those far from God?
We did it! We got Adam on (we referenced him in yesterday's episode) to share with us about pastoring in rural America. Listen in and pray for the transition at RHMA.
Learn more about RHMA here.
My friend Adam is a good guy for many reasons, but one stands out.
Who can we check up on?
Preacher kid, missionary kid, third culture kid. Genesis member Hannah Franks tells us about her faith journey, dealing with anxiety, and trusting God through it.
How do we tackle a passage that likely isn't original to John? Do we act like it is? Do we ignore and move on?
The article from Dr. Wallace which gives more information on the scholarly discussion. https://bible.org/article/my-favorite-passage-thats-not-bible
What is our two-day kids camp going to be? How can you get involved?
Register here: https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1299439
Questions? info@genesiscommunity.church
You can see more in this sermon quote from Spurgeon (source):
The wedding garment represents anything which is indispensable to a Christian, but which the unrenewed heart is not willing to accept, anything which the Lord ordains to be a necessary attendant of salvation, against which selfishness rebels. Hence it may be said to be Christ's righteousness imputed to us, for alas, many nominal Christians kick against the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of the Saviour and set up their own self-righteousness in opposition to it. To be found in Christ, not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, but having the righteousness which is of God by faith, is a very prominent badge of a real servant of God, and to refuse it is to manifest opposition to the glory of God, and to the name, person, and work of his exalted Son. But we might with equal truth say that the wedding dress is a holy character, the imparted righteousness which the Holy Spirit works in us, and which is equally necessary as a proof of grace.
Sharing some more on trinitarianism and why it matters, and previewing a Sunday announcement.
Also, it isn't 2020 anymore—but my (Hans') brain might still be stuck there. Got the "Mother's Day 2022" part wrong.
We share the heart and structure behind some of the events that are coming up this month and through the summer!
https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/unproxy/registrations/events/1251976
We underestimate the impact we can have by reaching down and showing interest in a younger generation.
A lot goes un in academia that makes its way into the pews. But we don't usually know about it until it happens.
In this episode we bring on Dr. James Frohlich, Old Testament Professor, to discuss the Dead Sea Scrolls, Bible translation, inerrancy, and why it all matters.
It's a good one.
Bart joins us again to discuss his recent blog post on the incarnation.
https://genesiscommunity.church/why-the-incarnation/
Along with church planting Sunday, we talk about our passage and see how everyone has an opinion of Jesus.
Listen in at Genesis member Bart Stykes shares his testimony. Hear how the Lord worked in him over decades.
We've discussed it before, but today we take a (slightly) deeper dive into Eugene Peterson's The Contemplative Pastor.
Check your footnotes. The Day of Atonement has an interesting textual interpretation. Every english translation has to decide.
How can we think about our gathered time to increase the amount of interactions we can have with our church family?
We share some of the items upcoming this weekend, how early the practice was, and end with a song clip about Holy Saturday.
No episode tomorrow—Good Friday.
See you soon.
Chris Katulka, from Friends of Israel, shares a summary of the offerings we've been reading about in Leviticus. More than that, he connects them to the finished work of Jesus.
Radio archive: https://radio.foi.org/
Jew and Gentile Podcast: https://jewandgentile.podbean.com/
Col. 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Col. 1:29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
What a weekend (especially if you were a part of what went on Sunday). Proud of this church. Specifically, though, it is great to remember that God is on the move.
A reminder of things coming up this weekend and how we try and pursue outreach as a church.
We can't always say "at this day and this time I put my faith in Jesus." Many of us simply know that the Lord has called us, has changed us, and is still working in us.
Listen to Genesis member Justin Hines talk about his journey growing up into home all the way into adult hid and how the Lord was so kind to him.
Before jumping into some discussion from Sunday's passage we share about some of the activities that have been going on at our church.
At the 1/4 mark of the year we consider our Live/Work/Play lists and consider that in light of Paul's apostolic passion.
How can understanding the disciple's pathway help us with margin? We talk about this in the membership class (and sometimes on the pod), but we wanted to give a little refresher.
A brief foray into elder topics. Not all, but some of the main ones for our meeting Tuesday. :-)
In this episode I share a brief story about how I (Hans) am working to apply what we spoked about this week in John 6.
When we see the NT we see a regular engagement with the church family. How can we try and pursue the same type of life?
We are taking four Sundays to go through John 6. There is one main point throughout (Jesus is the Bread of Life), but the slow pace lets us highlight different aspects of the discourse.
We got to talk with the administrators at Schindewolf—our partnered school—to hear how student life is and how we can be in prayer for them as they finish their semester.
Brad joins us again to discuss the Jesus in the Passover event in April.
Interested in registering? https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1149860
Get to know Genesis member Brad Flack—whose faith journey has brought him far and wide. Hear of his heart for people, his heart for learning, and his heart for helping people understand God better.
How did people miss Jesus? Well, Jesus lays out a few of the reasons at the end of John 5.
How can praying for a cat be a potential way God is moving people to himself? Hear how the Lord is working at Carisma's apartment complex, ways you can pray, and ways you can get involved.
Parents have a huge influence in the faith of their children. Funerals do, too. Hear how Lyndsey's family spoke from life and vocation to teach her about Jesus.
Thanks to all who helped get the care packages together. Be in prayer for that. And if you've seen more people during our service on Sunday, you might feel as if there are more people. You aren't mistaken.
Bart Stykes joins us to discuss his recent blog post on the Genesis blog about sufficiency. Check it out:
https://genesiscommunity.church/what-does-it-mean-to-say-scripture-is-sufficient/
Welcome to March! We give an update on our youth ministry and share some about having an everyday faith.
With a new crisis in the world, how do we pray? How do we sift through information and help our families know how to pray? Here we provide a few resources to consider:
Joshua Project
Operation World
Radical
Exodus 2 reminds us of a simple pattern of how God moves—how he is faithful to what he has revealed and promised.
You are a part of what God is doing in someone's life—whatever step that might be.
Book referenced: https://www.amazon.com/Contemplative-Pastor-Returning-Spiritual-Direction/dp/0802801145
The Lord can use all kinds of different situations to reveal to us our need for him. Even when we longboard.
Listen to Nolan Holland talk about his faith, baseball, and how he learned of his need to keep pursuing Jesus.
Antioch is an interesting place. We start seeing the buzz in Acts 11—where they are first called Christians.
Are we ok not getting credit? I hope so for myself, for our church, and for the sake of Jesus.
(The community groups and d-groups kind.) We do a bit of a review on where things have been and what we are hoping for in the year upcoming.
"Jesus Christ" is more than a cuss word.
Take some time to listen to Genesis Member Courtney Maffett talk about how Jesus changed her and sent her on a path of trusting in his kindness as a heavenly father.
We took some time Sunday to determine where a quotation mark might go. It matters (and it sort of doesn't matter) and we explain here.
Most around here know her as Nana—one of the matriarchs of Genesis. Through living in a small town, to church buses, to promptings from the Holy Spirit to consider the condition of her soul—listen to the story of God's goodness to Nana.
We spent some time in today's episode interviewing our worship pastor, Matt Brantner. We talked worship, when covid hit, attendance trends, as well as what we are working on now. It's a bit longer but we hope you take some time to listen!
Johnny shared the reasoning for standing during the reading, so we discuss it here. That and some follow-ups on John 3.
Our ladies retreat is a month out, and you can help us make is successful by providing items for teacher care packages! Listen to Rachel McGaughey share about the opportunity that is before us.
Signup for the retreat here: https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/unproxy/registrations/events/1083079
Signup for care package supplies here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4ca8af28a1f94-teacher
From a profession of faith at 7, to a youth camp after high school, to a bride-to-be, to an MS diagnosis, to good church and bad churches—listen to Derek Maffett share about the constant faithfulness of God in it all.
Well a Hans mess up led to no live stream. Thus, after today's pod outro he spends 15 minutes highlighting the sermon ideas for you.
Also, fill out the prayer form. https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/people/forms/331322
Can God add to our number with new converts? Can he bring swift and transformational revival? Can he send us to the ends of the earth? Is that too hard? No.
See how Jesus used moving churches, changing pastors, and a good bit of time to change Courtney. Many of us have process testimonies—where God is working in us over time to draw us to Jesus. How do you relate to Courtney's?
Also, fill out those prayer names! https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/people/forms/331322
Also, for a more accurate history on the Catholic presence in Louisiana, go here: https://64parishes.org/entry/french-colonial-louisiana (Hans was only about 200 years off).
We made two slight adjustments to the service yesterday. Did you notice them? That and what we will be seeing as we head into the "Book of Signs" make up this Monday edition of the Genesis Daily.
Check out https://stratus.earth/ for a new way to understand the spiritual climate around the world.
Also, fill out that prayer form!
https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/people/forms/331322
Fill out the form for us to be praying for people in your life!
https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/people/forms/331322
Bring a friend on Sunday.
Read John and enjoy!
All of us—when captivated by Jesus—have the awesome privilege of pointing others to him.
The prayer cards we introduced aren't our entire strategy, but they are part of a bigger picture of regularly praying for those who don't know the Lord.
Grab the card, set your alarm for 10:02, and get praying.
Along with our D-Groups (many starting in January), we have other ways we want people to march along with us in our reading plan.
- Read the Bible (Our 2022 Plan)
- Sign Up with Dwell (app)
- Grab a Journal (Seeing Jesus Together)
As we get into 2022 we are going to spend time as we have it to hear from our members about how Jesus changed them.
Listen to Zach McGaughey share about how people bringing him to church changed his life.
It was a different Sunday as we deal with how the surge is affecting our corner of the world. Still, it was great. Looking forward to a new year!
Remember those around you this weekend might be hurting.
Also, we'll be back with new episodes in 2022!
Merry Christmas!
Book rec Thursday.
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Moments-Certain-Experiences-Extraordinary/dp/1501147765
Great Sunday. Let's never forget to be engaged with those who are coming into our space. If you're a member, you're a host.
We get to hear from Curtis Simmons, principal at Schindewolf Intermediate, to learn more about our partnership with them and ways we can pray for the school.
It's good from time to time to hear how things are going financially at the church. Where do we stand? How is the year finishing? Where have we seen God provide?
Jon Weichbrodt joins us to give the Q3 update.
Our twelve (or ten plus two) "Community Matters" series is over. We discussed corporate worship. That andhow a sermon excursus can come about are on today's episode of The Genesis Daily.
Being a faith family and also sharing some of the seemingly menial parts of our lives seems unnecessary. But perhaps it isn't. How can the faith family help us make better decision—even when it comes to car repairs?
Preaching on membership can be difficult for us because it deals with authority. That's tough. But God knows it is for our good.
As we head into Acts we would do well to remember that Acts is a book full of transitions. We discuss it. We also discuss the reading plan that is coming up for 2022. Buckle up.
The calendar always changes. With the series "done" and community group curriculum done this week, what changes happen in the calendar as we head into the holidays?
We ended where we began . . . but better. A New Heaven and a New Earth. Where is all of this headed and why does it matter?
A few items new and noteworthy.
Also: we're taking next week off. Not for any particular reason, but because it is just good to break sometimes.
Luke 15:1-2 give us a reminder on what a good church focuses on—or what the life of Christ through a church actually can attract. May that be our focus.
When you read through 2 Cor 1:1-11, you might wonder "How does this relate to me?" Without over-hyping suffering, how do we speak of it?
We want to walk by the Spirit—even if things don't go our way. What happens when we seek to live vulnerably and it backfires?
The reading plan and a new journaling method are here for 2022. Seems small, but these are really important ways for us to engage the Word together.
Journal: https://seeingjesustogether.com/
Our other preachers are providing our discussion questions. What happens when you run out of communion? And what's coming up?
Jesus gives a stern rebuke to those who think that Bible knowledge equals life. May we hear him today, too.
Baby don' hurt me. :-)
Including yesterday, three of the next four sermons will be preached by people from within our community. Justin kicked us off this week with love.
We bring on our women's ministry team leader to talk about the Ladies LIFT event this month and the events coming up on December and February.
To get on the 10/23 waitlist, go here: https://gccspring.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/995147
Matthew 8 shows us something about Jesus' power that we might neglect if we aren't reading carefully.
Join us as we interview one of our members, Carisma, regarding her ministry at her apartment complex. Hear what she does and how you can join in.
If you want to join team Carisma you can email info@genesiscommunity.church and we will get your info to her.
We look at some of the items to know about and pray for in the month(s) ahead and also review the results of a Spirit-filled life.
I (Hans) share about a challenge that someone gave me a while back. That challenge became a prayer request and the Lord has been faithful to answer it.
What a beautiful picture we get in Nehemiah 8-9 of (1) hearing the Word and (2) confessing corporate sins—even ones you weren't alive to know about.
If you desire to pray more (great!) but sometimes just aren't sure what to consider (or who to pray for), maybe consider these three parts of your life and relationships.
Regardless of if we are up or down, we can remember that Jesus is doing something in and through us.
A few Rap Snacks (or Takis, or Doritos) can go a long way in making a teacher's life better. And we have a great opportunity.
Don't forget one of the most significant ways you can serve those in your life. Prayer.
A few more conversations this week had me thinking about other ways to apply our passage from Sunday. Why pursue sermon application anyways? And what other ways can we live out our unity?
We hope you were with us Sunday. If not, here's some behind the scenes on the passage and the sermon development.
That fifth part of our disciple's pathway is "go." We know we need better ways (structures) for helping our members pursue it. There might be an opportunity and we are investigating it right now. We'd love your prayers.
Sometimes we get the wrong mentality when we serve. Other times we just overcommit (or undercommit).
Some of you know the song. Daniel is such an amazing book and reminds us of the resolve to have in the face of adversity (amongst many, many, many other things).
How does Sunday's sermon get more directly applied to the pain we all can experience when at a church?
Genesis 3 gives us a worldview. The cross adds redemption to that. How do we live in between (1) what is and (2) what will be?
Our reading in Ezekiel has us reading about ANOTHER temple that is to come. How do people interpret this temple? How does a 10yo think about it?
Referenced in the episode:
- https://templeinstitute.org/
- https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/ezekiel-sees-new-temple
New series starts don't happen that often (2-3 times a year maybe?). In this episode we share about some of the origins for the series and impressions for the first Sunday.
We welcome back Scott Bradford to discussion the counter-cultural opportunities that exist for us in this present world. Yes, we talk Covid. To a degree, we talk about vaccination. to another degree (and a more important one), we talk about Jesus.
Multiple conversations over the past weeks and months got me thinking (and probably lots of us) about why in the world we pursue building our personal brands in the first place.