The Assembly Line: Recent Episodes
The Assembly Pastoral Team
Each week The Assembly Line offers practical advice and teaching from Scripture for people in each phase of their journey in Christ. Whether you're in vocational ministry, a new believer, on the fence, or in the midst of life's varying seasons, this podcast is perfect for you!
We conclude our study on Romans as we consider the importance of unity within the church.
After 11 chapters of diving deep into the depths theology, Paul shifts his focus in Romans 12. Here, Paul transitions into putting theology into practice. What does this look like for us?
Romans 9-11 are arguably some of the most confusing passages of the New Testament. But we should not ignore the tough questions or topics the Bible gives us. We dive deeper today into the richness of God's Word.
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Over the text of Romans 3-5, Paul shifts from the problem of sin to the solution of Christ's atonement. We consider the good news of the gospel after learning the depths of the bad news.
We begin a new study for the summer titled "TL;DR." The aim of this study is to provide the major themes and verses of Romans and Paul's Prison Epistles amidst the busy schedule of summer. Today, we turn to Romans 1-3 and consider Paul's theology regarding man's sinfulness.
Resistance comes our way in many shapes and sizes. At times, we will face opposition because of our faith. How will we respond?
Following Easter, we may find ourselves surprisingly weighed down by life. Today, we consider five trustworthy sayings that point us to truth over our feelings.
Today, we reflect on the fact that, on this Good Friday, there are two paths available to man. One path is broad and leads to destruction. The other leads to life. Which path are you on today?
In Psalm 25, the author writes, "For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great." We consider this verse as we approach Easter.
For many of us, we will shed tears in the midst of sowing. But that doesn't mean we stop sowing seeds.
Believers are called to make disciples of all nations. Too often, however, we fail to make disciples in our homes. Where do we even begin?
As we Spring Forward into a new season, let us consider a time for change in our spiritual lives. The bitterness of unforgiveness will keep us from living in the warmth of God's love. Today, we're reminded of our command to forgive others.
Paul invites us to a lifestyle where we rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. But is this possible?
In Genesis 26, Isaac builds an altar. But why? How does this translate to our modern lives?
In Genesis 22, Abraham's faith reaches its ultimate test. But what if this story is really about the son? More specifically, what if this story is about the Son who would serve as our substitute for salvation?
Alone and on the run, Hagar feels that no one sees nor hears her. But one encounter changes everything. Realizing that she had been seen and heard by the One who created her gave her the strength needed to press on. The same is true for us today.
Genesis 11 contains one of the more interesting stories of antiquity and introduces how language began to change. How are we to make sense of the story of these ancient babblers?
In Genesis 3, mankind rebelled against God. Following their sin, the first couple sewed fig leaves and hid from their Creator. But God would not allow them to remain hidden and in such poor attire. Instead, God provided.
There was a period of time that man, without sin, enjoyed the presence of God. That period did not last long, however, when sin entered the scene and mankind was banished from the garden. But this isn't the end of the story.
We begin 2022 by diving into Genesis. Today, we consider the fact that mankind is made "in His image."
We close out 2021 by remembering the wonder of Jesus' first coming! Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
We find ourselves celebrating Christmas in the second year of the pandemic. Over the course of the two years, we've likely experienced bleak seasons. What can this Christmas hymn teach us about the bleak midwinter?
Ever struggle to find peace in the midst of the constant barrage of noise in our lives today? How can we block out the noise?
As Thanksgiving approaches, we consider how we can begin practicing thankfulness in our daily lives.
Americans are constantly tired, and many Christians feel the weight of living a life without rest as a result of the external pressures many face. But aren't we commanded to rest? Why do we fail to set aside time to rest? Today, we analyze four benefits of rest that will help us adopt rest as part of our routine.
In America, especially the South, college football unites us and divides us. We can become deeply attached to our favorite teams to the extent that they truly get all up in our feels, win or lose! But is this healthy? Or are we dangerously drifting into idolatry?
Life is full of pressure, externally and internally. At times, we become overwhelmed. We often respond irrationally, but is there a better way?
Melancholy: pensive sadness, the gloomiest of spirits. As a Christian, we sometimes feel guilty or ashamed for such seasons of melancholy, but we don't have to. We look to Elijah's story and how God spoke softly, in a gentle whisper, in the midst of Elijah's despair.
Feeling "not enough" is a heavy, wearisome emotion that many of us deal with more than we'd like to admit. How should we address such emotions like this?
In Haggai, we see the people of God living their lives with mixed priorities. As we go through the ebb and flow of life, we can easily become distracted and tempted to pursue the world's standards rather than His. What if God asked you to do the following meditation: "Give careful thought to your ways." How would you respond?
"[T]he righteous shall live by his faith." The most memorable verse in all of Habakkuk. How does it apply to us today as we endure some of our greatest hardships?
Nahum preached to Ninevah, the same city that Jonah preached to. The only difference is that this time, there was no repentance and judgment came. What can we consider from Nahum today?
The prophetic books of the Bible can be the most daunting and confusing if we're honest. Which part applies to my life now? Which part applies to the future or the past? As a result, we sometimes breeze through the major prophets while ignoring the minor prophets, but is there something that we can learn from the "minor leagues" as well? Today, we look at the message of Obadiah and discover two considerations for our lives.
Psalm 100 gives us a short, succinct description of what worship looks like in our lives. It commands us, invites us, and reminds us of the things of worship. If you need a reminder of why corporate worship matters, tune in to this episode.
Today we pause and pray for Afghanistan. Sometimes our hearts can be so heavy laden that our hearts struggle to find the right words. How do we pray in silence?
We live in the present, but often, our focus rests upon the past or the future. The past often robs us of joy by instilling guilt or pain. The future burdens us with anxiety and false hope. What does the present offer us?
As we conclude our study on the model prayer, we ask that God would deliver us from evil, especially in the midst of our trials. Thankfully, our God is a deliverer!
Forgiveness--much easier to seek from God than to offer to others. But, we are called to do both. This episode focuses on our daily need to come to the Father seeking forgiveness of our shortcomings so that we may live in victory over sin daily. With such victory we may live in freedom and freedom to forgive.
"Give us this day, our daily bread." How often do we pause and reflect upon the miraculous reality in which God provides for us daily all that we need? Not only is this prayer a request for God to meet our physical needs but our spiritual. Providentially, He has done just that when Jesus came as the "bread from heaven" to give us life and grant us our deepest sustenance imaginable for all of eternity.
One of the most humbling lines in the model prayer occurs when we pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done..." These two prayers are related and yet not exactly synonymous. What does each line mean? We find out on today's episode.
For many believers, prayer can be the weakest area of our faith. We find it easier to serve and do rather than sit and listen. In a world full of demands and busy schedules, how can we rearrange our prayer lives in a way that opens up our hearts to the wonder of communion with God? Thankfully, Jesus provided the model prayer for us in Matthew 6, and it all begins with humble prayers.
As we conclude our study in James, we consider what active faith looks like even in seasons of suffering. No matter the seasons we face we can remain confident that God is compassionate and merciful, and He is with us.
In the First Century, there was division within the Church caused by serious quarrels and tension. Why? People were clinging to "friendship with the world." Sadly, these issues persist today. Many congregations have conflicts within as well as without. What must we do to avoid such "wars within?"
On this Father's Day weekend, we reflect upon 2 Corinthians 1:3 where Paul reminds us that our God is the Father of mercies.
Two types of wisdom are often in conflict in our lives: wisdom from the earth and wisdom from above. James yet again teaches us that wisdom, like our faith, will be evidenced by our actions. In other words, we can judge wisdom based upon the words and deeds on display in our lives. Which wisdom is on display in your life today?
James 3 clearly reveals the danger that the tongue possesses. We all stumble in many ways, but the one who doesn't stumble over what he says is perfect. Who can truly say this about themselves? Instead, we often see the realities of the "deadly poison" that is the tongue. How can we overcome such poison?
Water leaks are common issues that can cause major problems. What can they teach us about sin? Perhaps more than we would like to admit.
What does James really mean when he asks, "Can that faith save him?" in James 2? Perhaps there's more than meets the eye in what James is really saying. Rather than living our lives with passive faith, we should be living our lives with active faith. But how?
Favoritism is "the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another." How often do we struggle by showing favoritism within our society, our homes, and our churches? Today we consider how we may overcome the sin of favoritism by clinging to our faith in Jesus.
Often we hear James's command to be quick to listen and slow to speak and quickly rush past that part. That's kind of the point! We often bring our thoughts and preferences into the Bible, especially in conversations with others. So, maybe we should be quick to listen to the Word to best guide our speech to others.
When we lack wisdom, we are to ask God in faith believing that He will provide. Often though, we are divided in our belief and our doubt, even if we don't want to admit it. We're tossed "to and fro" between hope and belief. How can we overcome this tendency when we lack wisdom? By asking God for wisdom!
How do we respond to trials and temptations in this life? Are we to respond to both with joy? We kick off our study in James as we consider these questions.
It's the week after Easter. Now what? In light of a controversial pastor's tweet, Sean shares why the resurrection matters more than ever.
Though the world seems to spiral into chaos, and many of our lives are entrenched in our own storm, we can remain steadfast in hope as we trust in God's promises. Good Friday didn't seem so "good" 2,000 years ago, but a promise was made in the Garden of Eden. The head of the serpent was finally crushed--though it took centuries for the promise to be fulfilled. It's easy to lose hope in dark times, but the promise still remains!
The American society has diluted the sanctity of marriage. Perhaps now is the time for the Church to celebrate the beauty of marriage as we point people to Christ in our marriages.
Millions of Americans received their third stimulus check recently. As a believer, how can we faithfully steward this money during such a unique time? Is it possible that we are being invited to participate in the beginning of a generous movement to spread the gospel to the world?
As the seasons begin to change and spring is on the horizon, our lives may similarly be on the cusp of change. Are we ready to step into the life God has called us to? Are we afraid that we're unqualified or that the world is against us? God has given us this essential promise: I am with you, always. Instead of living underneath the paralysis of fear, we can be strong and courageous.
Suffering isn't popular. It isn't desirable. But...it is inevitable. 1 Peter 4 teaches us of two distinct types of suffering that are going to be obvious in the last days. First, there will be suffering associated with sinfulness. Secondly, there will be suffering for the sake of Christ. How will we embrace the suffering for the sake of Christ? Should we prepare ourselves beforehand?
We've spent a lot of time building some crucial blocks onto our foundation of faith in Christ this year. What's the point of being rooted in all this knowledge if we aren't prepared to share it? Today, we consider the balancing power of growing in our knowledge of Christ and being ready to share that hope with others.
Repentance. A word rarely used in churches today, yet it was one that Jesus used early. Is repentance necessary in our lives beyond the moment of belief in Christ? Should we be practicing regular repentance? The answer? Yes.
Many believers stress over the concept of sharing the gospel. Where do I start? How many verses are required? There's no magic formula! Jesus has provided the saving work. The Spirit of God draws man unto Himself. We simply share the gospel. So, we must be rooted in the gospel, which begs the question. What IS the gospel? Join this episode to begin laying your foundation of belief in the gospel so that you may be affirmed and share your faith with others.
Who is the Holy Spirit? What is He doing in our lives? When we realize the answers to these questions and more, we become further rooted in our faith.
In a world in which thousands of religions persist, how can we be confident in our faith in Jesus? Can we really know that He is God with so many "paths" up the mountain to God, to borrow from Pastor David Platt? Join this episode as we look at one familiar passage with fresh eyes to see the truths proclaimed by Christ. Yes, we can have confidence in knowing that Jesus is God!
The basis of Christian belief is typically found in the Bible. Today, however, rising skepticism grows towards the Bible, even in Christian circles. Can we truly believe in the Bible? Does the Bible explicitly give us reason to believe that God is the author and inspiration for Scripture? We quickly identify a few ideas that all Christians should carry in their "apologetic notebook."
In order to live a life of resolve, we must first understand what we believe. Beginning with this episode, we look to establishing roots for our faith in the midst of a tumultuous world.
2021 has officially begun! How will we handle a new year in light of all that we experienced in 2020? We may make resolutions and set new goals, but will we succeed in keeping them? The first step towards change begins with living with resolve. We begin the new year by focusing on resolving ourselves to grow in our faith.
We close 2020 with a reminder to go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is Lord! As we celebrate Christmas, may we be reminded that the hope we have is in Christ. Let us share this hope with the entire world.
Joy to the World is commonly heard throughout the world during the Christmas holiday season. What if this song wasn't actually written to be sung as a Christmas hymn? Join the podcast to find out the history of this song and how we can still rejoice in what God has done and will do in the world.
Almost 180 years ago, O Holy Night was penned by an obscure poet in France. Today, this song is sung by millions every year across the globe. Hear the story of our the song grew into the Christmas hymn it is today and be encouraged in your faith this Christmas in 2020.
The first two kings of Israel were polarizing opposites in many ways. As we consider each of their lives today, can we learn something valuable about ourselves?
Is it possible to have genuine concern for others? Philippians 2 has much to tell us on this topic. Find out how genuine concern is the first step to unity, today.
Things may seem like they're falling apart all around us. When that happens, it's difficult to keep it together. Maybe we're not supposed to keep it together by ourselves. Instead, we are to focus on the one who holds all things together. Find encouragement from Colossians 1 today.
In John 11, Jesus told Lazarus to come out of the grave. The problem? Lazarus was still wearing his grave clothes. Is there something similar happening in our lives today?
2020 continues to rage and roar. It's only fitting we're nearing the end of the election cycle for this year. We see constant movements on social media that say, "Vote like your life depends on it." But shouldn't we, as believers, vote like other lives depend on it? Should we even vote? Are we further uniting or dividing the church today with our political views?
Jesus teaches us that one who puts the hand to the plow and looks back is unfit for service in the kingdom of God. What does this mean? Have we properly counted the cost of being a disciple?
With everything going on around us in 2020, have you asked if it's the end of the world yet? The best way to answer this question is in light of Scripture and not our emotions. Today we look at Paul's writing in 2 Timothy 3 that details the character of man in the last days.
Psalm 115:1 demonstrates a life that is lived without any motivation of pride. Is it possible that we can live our lives with the desire that resonates in this song? "Not to us, O Lord, not to us. But to your name be the glory!"
If someone asked you who the first disciple of Jesus was, what would your answer be? Peter? James? John? Those would be wrong. Tune in to learn valuable lessons about the first disciple of Jesus that we should replicate in our lives.
Today there seems to be lines of division everywhere that we go. Our news outlets force us to pick a side it seems like. As a result, we adopt the mantra, "If you're not for me, you're against me." Jesus said, "Love your enemies." He didn't say ignore them. Join Sean as we discuss loving "enemies" in 2020.
In this episode, Pastor Jody shares the heartbeat behind the current state of affairs at The Assembly. Even though the world may be in turmoil, we believe God is going to do great things. It begins by recalibrating our focus and becoming the church He has called us to be. Hear what Pastor Jody has to say!
Join us today as we recap our study on Love Does. Embrace the challenge. Live out love.
Today Pastor Andy Setiawan joins The Assembly Line to discuss his journey into ministry and his passion behind what he does. Andy serves as the YTH Pastor at The Assembly and serves on the worship team as well.
We continue studying Psalm 1 today by looking at verses 2 and 3. How much time do you spend meditating on the Word of God? All day and night? Is that possible? Are you living your life like a tree with fruit? If not, are you a withering plant? Join The Assembly Line as we discuss these two verses.
In this episode we hear from a recent college graduate who shares the importance of community and church involvement during those four years. Many students fall away from the faith in their first year away from home. Christian shares with us his story and encourages us to open up our homes and involve students as they join our communities away from home.
Today we walk through Psalm 1:1 as we begin our week by looking to the Word. The first psalm provides us with wonderful teachings we should commit to memory and application in our lives. Join us as we look at the first verse.
In this episode we introduce you to another pastor on staff at The Assembly, Christy Taylor. Christy serves as our Creative Arts pastor. It should go without saying that as a result, Christy is the most creative member of our team. Today Christy shares with us her dream to lead worship, and how that dream shifted recently.
One of the key factors of leading well is striving towards excellence. Some of the most well-known and admired leaders lead with excellence. What does living with excellence driven leadership look like for Christians today? Is it really that important? Join us as we discuss this topic.
Integrity can be defined as "the state of being whole and undivided". All leaders must lead with integrity. Unfortunately, many people suffer from "Two-Face Syndrome" in our society today. There is much division within a person's desire to lead and their actual standard of leading. How does one aspire to live with integrity in their leadership? What about faith? Join us as we consider leading with integrity as we follow Jesus well.
Today's episode highlights one of our pastors on staff at The Assembly, Matt Taylor. Matt serves as the Executive Pastor and oversees a plethora of ministries. In this episode we introduce you to Matt and his story as to how he grew in the faith and into the ministry.
As we begin discovering essential qualities all leaders must have in common we begin with self-awareness. In order to lead, it's imperative to know who you are. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you function? Once you understand yourself, then you can begin to understand how you should lead others well. Join us for today's episode on leadership.
Within the last few years several well known figures in Christianity have stepped aside from their faith citing their lack of belief in God. Often these transitions into disbelief stem from the presence of evil and suffering in the world. People ask, "If God exists, then how could suffering exist?" Today we share our thoughts as we consider this question.
Most of us enjoy reading to learn, escape the chaos of our day to day routines, or just simply out of leisure. In the midst of a slower pace of life for many due to COVID-19 many people find themselves searching to read books to pass the time. Today, Pastor Jody and Sean discuss different books that have impacted their faith journey and provide recommendations for a summer reading list.
Spending weeks at our homes due to COVID-19 has put many of us in unfamiliar territory. In this episode we discuss how leading our homes into the new normal can help create healthier families across the world in light of such a dire situation we face due to this virus. We share some thoughts from our team as to how one may lead their family well so that you may implement them into your homes.
Today Sean and Jody discuss leadership lessons learned during COVID-19. Everyone has been affected by the virus thus far in 2020. Our lives have changed dramatically. Today we share how we initially dealt with the impact the virus had on the church as a whole and ways in which we learned to love others even while social distancing.
Today we discuss the vision behind The Assembly Line. Jody Gurley and Sean Turnipseed discuss the motivation behind launching this podcast as well as covering the themes to be highlighted throughout the year. Tune in weekly for new episodes!
Do you struggle with commitment? Have you been hurt by others who have failed to honor their commitments to you? The odds are that all of us have a tainted view of this word. However, Jesus perfectly demonstrates what true commitment looks like. Today we look at Jesus' commitment to us.
COVID-19 has interrupted our lives in almost every way. Due to several restrictions, our social interactions have been halted and as a result many of us are feeling lonely. Do you believe Jesus is with you in your loneliness? Do you believe Jesus understands you in this season? Join us as we consider the humanity of Jesus yet again and find restoration in this Savior, fully God, fully man.
COVID-19 has affected all of our lives. Our sense of normalcy has faded. So many emotions have overtaken our thought process, and I believe many of us are wrestling with the feeling of grief. We look to Jesus' humanity and realize that He knows our grief well. We look to Jesus as our Savior to know that He is able to restore us and heal us in our grief also!
We've all felt like we didn't really have a place in church. Some of us consider ourselves "average" in our stories, our gifts, and our talents. "The church doesn't want us. Jesus doesn't want us," we may think. Today, we look to how Jesus called average men from their average lives into an extraordinary journey. Jesus loves us enough to honor our identity and yet He cares about our future to call us into a relationship with two words: Follow Me.
We conclude our series on Ruth. Ruth takes matters into her own hands in chapter 3 and Boaz seems to be working on missing his opportunity for love early in chapter 4. But we see that Boaz had a plan all along. This final sermon helps us realize the careful orchestration of the story that God was working out for His glory and our good. From Ruth and Boaz a child is born, beginning the lineage of King David. The kinsman redeemer, Boaz, simply pointed towards a greater redeemer in Jesus Christ.
We continue our series on Ruth as we focus on the birth of desire. Desire is a good thing in our lives when it's taken in a healthy balance. Today we look at the sovereignty of God who is orchestrating every event of this story, and even our own!
We begin a new series studying the Book of Ruth. In this first sermon we examine three characters from Ruth 1: Elimelek, Orpah, and Ruth. Each character provides us with a learning opportunity in the life we live. No matter what our relational status may be we can assuredly benefit from studying the Book of Ruth.
Starkville turns 1 year old today! This campus launched 2/3/2019 and today we are excited about celebrating a whole year in Starkville. Pastor Jody Gurley speaks on this special day to commemorate the journey that got us here while focusing on "getting there".
In a world full of distractions we often find ourselves busy. We're so busy that we fail to rest, which leads to becoming easily distracted. Today we consider the biblical concept of rest.
Life isn't always easy. As a matter of fact, we often face seasons in which great adversity stands before us as believers and even non-believers. At times we may feel overwhelmed to the point of despair or depression. The emotions we feel can be real, and we need not be ashamed of them as Christians. Instead, we must give them a name and give them to God. Let us grow together in the seasons of joy and despair. We turn to Psalm 13 as we consider the reality of discouragement and how we can make sense of our mental and emotional struggles in the midst of our faith.
As we begin 2020 we launch a new sermon series titled "Been There". Our first sermon of the series focuses on priorities. How many times have we set goals or New Year's Resolutions in our lives simply to fail to reach them? We've all been there. Is there anything we can learn from the Bible that will help us focus on our priorities? After all, what should our main priority be? We have one opportunity to make the most of this life. Let's make sure our priorities are worth pursuing!
On the final Sunday of 2019 we reflect on the concept of "trust". Trust is simple to spell yet difficult to experience. If we wish to see God do great things in our lives we must learn to trust in His perfect timing. Let's take our trust to a new level in 2020.
We begin a new series exploring the wonder of Christmas through the creative world of C. S. Lewis' Narnia. Sticking with the storyline of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe we examine the concept of "winter without Christmas". The entire world of Narnia was trapped in winter from the White Witch's spell much like our world struggles with the effects of sin. What hope do we have if winter persists and Christmas never comes? Today we look at Edmund and Lucy and how we relate to these two characters in a world that often is riddled by the effects of sin, or "winter without Christmas".
The conclusion of our series on contentment hinges upon the question many wonder but are too afraid to explore: can we be content with God? Should we even ask this question? What does contentment with God really look like and how can we actively seek to pursue this in our lives today? We turn to Philippians 4 once again to discover the answer.
It's tempting to find joy in the things of this world. We often wrestle with the desires to focus on eternity without living with attachments too strongly tied to the here and now. With the season of thanksgiving upon us and gratitude, we reflect on the joy of contentment found in Christ, not in things.
"Americans are Becoming more Miserable, and There's Data to Prove It". This article title was published earlier in 2019 by The Washington Post. How is it possible that we live in a society today with more money, more education, greater medical advancements, technology that connects us like never before, and yet we're becoming more and more miserable? Have we forgotten what it's like to enjoy contentment with one another in our relationships? Do we believe there is a secret to contentment in this life, or are we simply settling with what we're experiencing? In part one of our new series, Contentment, we examine how to experience contentment in our relationships heeding Paul's advice in Philippians 2.
Does our resurrection matter? Does God have plans for the Earth and all of Creation for eternity or do we simply float on clouds forever? Is there time in Heaven? Will we know each other? Is there sex in Heaven? The Bible doesn't answer all of our questions, but there is plenty to get us started on the right path of fruitful discovery. Heaven is for real, and Heaven is forever.
When you consider the loved ones we've lost, do you ever ask yourself: what are they doing now? Are they with the Lord? Are they sleeping? Are they worshipping? Let's be honest for a moment...have you considered the idea of Heaven as...boring? Today we look at several passages of Scripture that prove to us that there is a plethora of activity ongoing right now in the present Heaven.
When is the last time you thought about Hell, or even heard someone talking as though they truly believe in Hell? In our culture today we often reject the idea that Hell exists and wrestle with our desires for God to conform to our preferences. Hell is one of the most difficult truths of Christianity, but it is not one to be ashamed of. We need a basic understanding of Hell so that we find ourselves honoring God's love and justice to an even greater capacity.
All Sons and Daughters wrote a song titled "Rest in You" with the following lyrics: You cannot change, yet You change everything. If God is involved, things are always changing--how can the Church not be an agent of change in communities around the world? On Pastor Appreciation Day for 2019, Mississippi District Superintendent Pastor Bob Wilburn speaks on six keys to a difference making church.
The Church is founded by the love of Christ, but often we live as though love isn't the dominate theme of our lives. As we conclude our series on the Church we examine Christ's love for the Church. Does Christ care for the Church? If he does, shouldn't we? We must love one another in light of His love for us. May this be true in the Church today.
Since the First Century Christians have gathered together to participate in Communion and Baptism. Admittedly, we may take these ordinances for granted and fail to understand their purpose in our relationship with Christ and one another. Dr. Joe Wilmoth shares the importance, purpose, and wonder of the two ordinances of the Church.
The Church isn't something new in the 21st Century. From the time of Jesus' ascension the Church began to experience incredible growth. Traditions that many take for granted today were performed daily in the homes of believers scattered across the known world. What were these believers doing in "church"? Why do we do some of the things that we do in our worship services today? Perhaps the early church served as a model of how we respond to God in our gatherings today. Maybe there is more to the reasons behind why we sing, fellowship together, hear a sermon, and read God's Word.
Join with us as we look to Romans 10 to discover how salvation is achieved and how the message of salvation is spread throughout the world. From this Word, we believe that each believer is given the opportunity to send and be sent--it's not an either/or command.
Every year we host two events honoring our missions efforts at The Assembly. We celebrate what God is doing around the world and rejoice in our opportunity to give generously to see His kingdom advance. Guest speaker Andy Estrella shares a powerful truth with us this morning: if we love God, then we love His mission.
The pressure of anxiety is real in our society today. Millions of Americans suffer from phobias and other fears in their lives that cause extreme anxiety. Our jobs, relationships, families, educational pursuits, and so forth are all plagued with stressors of anxiety. In the midst of our struggle we often feel alone. We feel that we can't share our doubts, worries, concerns, or fears inside the church. As we look to the Word of God, may we be set free from the false views associated with the pressure of anxiety in our lives today.
Too often we are faced with the pressure to blend in rather than stand out. At times we forfeit our moral standards simply because society wants us to look and act in ways deemed acceptable by ever changing standards. In 1 Samuel 17 David faces the giant, Goliath, but in this story is a hidden pressure of conformity by King Saul to tempt David to embrace an identity unknown to David. We turn to this epic story of heroism to discover how David faced two giants that day: Goliath and the giant of conformity.
Many struggle with the pressure of perfection. We seek perfection in our jobs, education, families, relationships, and even our faith. Jesus commands us to "be perfect" in Matthew 5. Can we be perfect? Or is Jesus helping us find the release from the pressure of perfection we find ourselves suffering from in this life?
We end our study in 1 John with a powerful reminder that we can rest assured that our salvation in Jesus is solidified. John ends his letter much like he began it by focusing on proper belief in Jesus Christ. We do not have to wonder who Jesus is according to society--He tells us in His Word that He is the one true God.
Today's sermon discusses love 27 times in our reading of 1 John 4:7-21. By now hopefully you understand why they referred to John as the Apostle of Love. In this sermon, we examine the origins of love, celebrate the reality that God is love, and identify the power of love in our lives. Guests Taylor and Cody Griggs share how God's love has inspired them to move to Ecuador as missionaries at the closing of service as well.
1 John 3 focuses on the wonderful love that God has shown us to be called children of God. What kind of love is this indeed! Today we look at the reality of God's love for His children, and how we, as His children, must represent His love to others. After all, when we see children acting a certain way, do we first blame the child or the parent? May we give our society a positive reflection of our Father.
Fake News is a headline that often dominates our society in 2019. The truth is, fake news has been circulating since the Garden of Eden, and unfortunately it has crept into the church today. How do we know false teaching when we hear it? What can we expect from false teachers? We turn to 1 John 2:18-27 for guidance.
In the first half of the second chapter in 1 John we recognized three distinct loves--the faithful love of God, the proof of our love to God, and the dangerous love of this world. John writes to Christians in a powerful way to remind them of God's love for them to forgive them in their failures. He also challenges his readers to consider their obedience to God's command to love one another while warning us of the dangerous love the world often tempts us with. Join us for part two of The Struggle is Real!
In today's world we face many struggles within our lives, even our faith. As we begin this new series, we are going to look at 1 John to help strengthen our understanding of true fellowship with God and man. The timeless value of the Word will play a key role in our lives no matter what generation we identify with. Before we dive into what this fellowship looks like we must first understand the source of this fellowship made possible by Jesus Christ. Right belief guides right behavior. Join us as we discover the beauty of 1 John 1!
3.1 billion people are considered unreached with the gospel today. These people are often forgotten someones in our society. As we look to Acts 8 and the story of Philip and the Eunuch we realize two important truths: someone needs to hear the gospel, and someone needs to teach the gospel. Which "someone" are you?
Mother's Day is the 3rd highest attended church service every year while Father's Day remains one of the lowest attended services. Where is the love for pops? Today we look at one of the most arguable forgotten fathers in the history of humanity--Joseph of Nazareth. What can we learn from a man that is fairly silent in the pages of Scripture? Let's find out together!
On Pentecost Sunday we look at the often forgotten concept of revival. We examine Nehemiah 8 as we consider the unity among the people of God to know His Word and hear from Him. Is there something more to the life we are living that needs to be revived?
Many of us are forgetful if we are willing to admit it. Often times we can even forget the wonderful truths found in God's Word. Today, we look at the often abused, and sometimes forgotten, grace of God with an examination of the backstory of the song "Amazing Grace". We explore the life of John Newton, the writer of the song, and the conversion of Saul in Acts 9.
Forgiveness is something we cherish in our Christian faith. For some reason, though, we fail to give forgiveness freely to others. Perhaps we've forgotten how much we've been forgiven for, or maybe we've never fully accepted the forgiveness offered to us in Jesus!
The Old Testament makes up 75% of the Bible available to Christians today. Yet many Christians focus only on the 25% of the New Testament to create the foundation of their faith. Unfortunately, some pastors even dismiss the Old Testament's value to our faith today. We take a journey exploring how the Old Testament is still relevant to our lives today as we explore some truths about God's Law, His prophets, and an image found in Ruth that is greater realized in Jesus.
A common belief in our society today postulates on the idea that we can progress in our faith individually apart from the local church. With so many resources at our disposal through technology we often drift away from the gathering of fellow believers due to different preferences in our own lives leading us to feel as though church doesn't actually matter. We explore three identifiable factors that should exist in the church to disprove this notion and realize that church matters.
In the first sermon of our new series, Misconceptions, we look at a common phrase made famous by Tupac Shakur: Only God Can Judge Me. We examine the issue within our society that claims all judgment is negative and begin to understand the role judgment plays in the lives of believers.
Following our Palm Sunday sermon we look at a unique perspective about the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Jesus wasn't the only one crucified that day, and we focus on the conversation He had with the criminal on the cross. In essence, the resurrection can be summed up with one question: do you believe?
On this Palm Sunday we look at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem for what would become the week leading up to His crucifixion. The very same crowds that cheer jubilantly for their perceived King's entrance on Sunday shout "Crucify!" by Friday. As we look to this day we consider the humanity of Jesus, a Savior who is near and dear to our struggles, our temptations, and our pain.
To conclude our series Money Talks we explore the problems associated with living a life entirely focused on what we attain in wealth and possessions. We look at the teachings of Jesus in Luke 12 with further guidance from Paul in 1 Timothy 6 to help us live a life that is not consumed by greed but instead storing up treasures in heaven.
Money. Our favorite topic to discuss...outside of the church! In our first sermon relating to the Bible and money we dive into God's Word to answer three questions: 1) What does the word "tithe" mean and what is it's origins in the Bible? 2) What does the New Testament say about giving? 3) How much should we give (or keep)?
Our Values Series concludes with a study on the identity crisis facing many Americans today. "Who am I, really?" is a question many fail to answer with honesty. Through the pursuit of self-awareness we accumulate labels that define us but only momentarily. The journey of our identity began in the Garden of Eden and ended in the Garden of Gethsemane. Only Jesus can define us eternally, and we all need a new identity in Christ characterized by all that He accomplished when He came to us.
In the third installment of our Values Series we look at the concept of doing more. Today, many in our society are doing less or believing in accomplishing the bare minimum. We look to Jesus' example of generosity to inspire our own desires to go beyond and do more with what God has given us. We do more so that God will be made known in our lives and throughout the world.
Our second value, Community Matters, is only true if we grasp the weight of our first value: Jesus Centered. In this sermon we look at the reality that everyone belongs because of the barriers torn down by Jesus, and our new life in Him prevents our old life from separating us from God and from each other. Everyone belongs and community matters.
In the first sermon of our new series we take time to look at one of our four central values we hold dear to our mission and vision at The Assembly--Jesus Centered. Pastor Sean shares from John 14 and Colossians 1 the uniqueness of Jesus and how we can trust that He is the only way to everlasting life.
We conclude our vision series on Nehemiah. This message details the emphasis of fighting for your families and your communities knowing that the next generation's hope has great dependency on the current generation's faithfulness. When we've given it all that we can we can rest in the assurance found here in Nehemiah: God will fight for us.
We continue our study in Nehemiah with Chapter 4, verses 1-12, as we focus on how we handle adversity in our lives.
Teamwork makes the dreamwork! Here we look at Nehemiah 3 and realize the beauty of the unity found among the laborers with Nehemiah.
Pastor Sean Turnipseed shares the vision for Starkville through the Old Testament story of Nehemiah.