Camino Church Lessons

In the final episode of the Advent Season, Pastor Steve sits down with Pastor Geoff Gibbs of Encounter Church to discuss the main character of Advent, Jesus. Thank you all for being such dedicated listeners this year as we navigated the podcast world. From all of us at Camino Church, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Today, Pastor Steve is joined by Pastor Rusty Price (the man who needs no introduction) and the pair discusses John the Baptist.

In this week's episode, Pastor Steve discusses the Wise Men with Pastor Chayo Martinez of Camino Church. The Wise Men, also known as the Magus, were sent by King Herod to follow the star and find young Jesus. They brought three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And that was only the beginning... Chayo Martinez is the Pastor of Circles and Student Ministries at Camino. Native of Seattle, Washington, he, his wife Diana, and their three children moved to Charlotte in January 2021. Not only is he a pastor, husband, and father, he is a music fanatic and a diehard Seattle Seahawks. Enjoy!

On today's episode, Pastor Steve sits down with Dr. Cal Robertson to discuss the Shepards roles in Advent. Dr. Cal Robertson teaches Hebrew, Biblical Aramaic, Introduction to Old Testament I, Introduction to Old Testament II, The Problem of Evil in the Old Testament, and Theory and Practice of Ministry at Gardner-Webb's School of Divinity. He is a native of South Carolina and has two sons with his wife, Cathy. He is interim pastor at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Shelby, North Carolina.

In this episode, Pastor Steve discusses Joseph with his friend and coworker, Pastor Bobby Price. Who was Joseph? Was he technically Jesus' step-father? Or do we consider him Jesus' earthly Father? How could someone have such faith in an unexplainable situation? Bobby Price is Executive Pastor of Camino Church and for many years, worked as a missionary in South America. He is a husband of 31 years to his lovely wife, Jill, and father to their three sons.

We all know the story of Mary, Jesus' mother. But have you ever considered what it was like to have been a fourteen (maybe fifteen) year old virgin girl, unmarried and engaged, who becomes pregnant with the son of the Holy Spirit? In this Episode, Pastor Steve is joined by his former professor, Dr. Sophia Steibel of Gardner-Webb's School of Divinity. Dr. Steibel is the professor of Christain Education and Spiritual Foundation and is from Brazil, where she taught at South Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary and Baptist Religious Education Institute, in Rio de Janeiro.

Zechariah was a priest from Levi who served the Lord during King Herod's reign in Judaea. Elizabeth, his barren wife, was a daughter of Aaron. One day, an angel comes to the couple and says that they'll bear a son. "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb" (Luke 1:15). This child would be known as John the Baptist. Molly Flynn is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Camino. She is married to Samuel and mom to two boys, Calvin and Theo, and is expecting her third child in May.

It's November and you know what that means: it's the start of the Holiday Season! More importantly, Advent begins on November 28 and to prepare, Pastor Steve has something special planned. Listen here and get ready for the next season of Camino Church Lessons, starting this Wednesday!

In this final episode of the Luke/Acts mini-series, Pastor Steve and Dr. McConnell discuss the temple, Jews and gentiles, existing with others as a community and other major themes. This series is available now on YouTube. Stay tuned for more information about the next series of Lessons, as Pastor Steve dives into the Advent season.

Today, Pastor Steve and Dr. McConnell dive into the book of Acts. They discuss literary elements, the temple, a characterization of the early church in the New Testament, and more than we could ever summarize here. Grab your bible and a pen (if you're one of those people) and get ready to dive deeply into scripture. Next week, the last episode of this mini-series with Dr. Jim McConnell will release. If you've enjoyed this conversation, be sure to subscribe and follow this podcast. Like Camino Church on Facebook and visit us online at caminochurch.com.

Welcome back to a new season of Camino Church Lessons! During this first episode, Pastor Steve and Dr. McConnell introduce the series and what will be discussed over the next few episodes. We hope you enjoy!

In this episode, Pastor Steve and Dr. McConnell discuss sharp edges (and no, we're not talking about knives), the incarnation principle and women's roles in the ancient world. How do we as Americans, step into the shoes of someone who is truly suffering, terribly poor, yet still has the strongest faith in Christ? Let's find out what Scripture says.

To slash or to dash: Luke and Acts. In the second episode of the Luke and Acts mini-series, Pastor Steve and Dr. McConnell continue introducing the two books. They cover literary structure, liberation theology, Jesus' ministry and much, much more.

We're back! Did you miss us? Season 3 of Camino Church Lessons airs WEDNESDAY, September 29th. We can't wait for you to hear this four part series, featuring Dr. Jim McConnell on the book of Luke and the book of Acts. See (or hear?) ya soon!

On the last episode of this season, Pastor Steve invites Dr. Jim McConnell, to reflect on the Parables of Jesus. Dr. Jim McConnell is the Associate Dean of Gardner-Webb's School of Divinity and Associate Professor of New Testament Interpretation. After working as an electrical engineer for fourteen years, he began teaching and working full-time in church ministry. He earned his Master of Divinity Degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and went on to earn his PhD in New Testament from Baylor University. Stay tuned for the next season of Camino Church Lessons, coming in October!

The Parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:36-50) In this week's episode, Pastor Steve teaches the Parable of the Two Debtors. This teaching follows the story of a dinner party where a promiscuous woman anoints Jesus and dries his feet with her long hair. It is seen that the woman loves Jesus more than the wealthy host does, because she feels that she has been forgiven for greater sins, though all sins are considered equal in God's eyes. In this story, Jesus affirms the woman's forgiveness and attempts to teach that He sees her, no matter the life she lives. Jesus invites those he's telling the story to to embrace this woman and welcome her into the community of God's people. This parable is often related to the anointing in Matthew 26 and Mark 14, the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) The Parable of the Good Samaritan is not only one of Pastor Steve's favorites, but is a well-known parable that teaches a fundamental lesson. Jesus encourages us to love our neighbors, but not just by sympathizing with their situations. We're called to actively love others regardless of who they are, where they're from or what they're going through. This Parable is the story of a man who was travelling to Jericho from Jerusalem. On his journey, robbers beat him and left him for dead on the side of the road. Both a Priest and a Levite passed by the man, unconcerned with his condition. Then, a Samaritan, an unlikely ally, passed by and went to the dying man's aid. He banadaged the man's wounds and took him to get help. He didn't expect a penny in return. This is how Jesus wants us to love our neighbors. Go and show mercy to those who need it.

The Parable of the Talents and Minas (Matthew 25:14-30) On today's episode, our host is joined by Reverend Dr. George Shears III. The pair met years ago as students at Gardner-Webb's School of Divinity and today, met in Concord, N.C. to discuss the Parable of the Talents and Minas. The conversation made us consider how our personal biases shape our interpretation of scripture and that maybe our viewpoint isn't always the most understanding one. Food for thought, really. George is Senior Pastor of Greater Fellowship Baptist Church and leads an online ministry called @repinjesus. Give Pastor a shout and check out his pages! This Parable is a part of the Eschatology Parables.

The Parable of the Friend at Midnight (Luke 11: 1-13) This week, Pastor Steve goes solo and teaches the Parable of the Friend at Midnight. This parable follows the story of a man knocking on his neighbor's door in the middle of the night, asking for help. After much convincing, the neighbor eventually agrees to help, despite the inconvenience. The parable teaches us that it's important to still seek God and persistently pray, even if we feel like God isn't listening. The Parable of the Friend at Midnight is a part of the God and Prayer parables collection.

This is an episode you do not want to miss! The Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-15) Today, Pastor Steve invites friend and fellow Pastor, Sheldon McIver. The two discuss the Parable of the Unjust Steward and how leadership, honesty and several other themes in this story relate to current, real world issues. Trust us, you're going to learn a lot in this episode. Sheldon McIver is Senior Pastor at Upper Praise Ministries in Mooresville, N.C. He also leads a motorcycle ministry and an online radio show, Retro Philosophy. In December, he and his wife, Shelly, will head to California on their motorcycle in hopes of bridging the gap between the East and West Coast motorcycle ministries. To learn more about the McIver's ministries, visit www.http://upperpraiseministries.com/2015/, search Upper Praise Ministries on Facebook and search Retro Philosophy on Facebook and YouTube.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12:1-12) In this week's episode, Pastor Steve invites back Pastor Rusty Price, CEO and Founder of Camino. The pair discusses the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, their friendship and what it's like to serve as Pastors and work for a nonprofit. The Parable of the Wicked Tenant follows the story of a landowner who rents his land to tenants. Once it was time to pay rent, the landowner sent his servants to collect rent and reap the harvest. But when they arrived, they were beaten, driven away and some even killed. The landowner then sent his only son, and he was killed as well. This parable was taught to Jewish religious leaders who disputed Jesus and his ministry. Jesus taught that the leaders (tenants) were denying the truth (servants) and therefore, turning their hearts against God (the landowner) and his beloved son (the son).

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) The Parable of the Prodigal Son is the story of a father that has two sons. The younger son asks his father for his inheritance early, then leaves his family and squanders the fortune on an extravagant lifestyle in another country. He returns home empty-handed, expecting his father to be upset with him for his recklessness. However, upon the son's arrival, the father welcomes him back with open arms and rejoices. This narrative is interpreted as a teaching about reconciliation and reflects the mercy of God. No matter how bad a person or situation may have been, God will always welcome His children back with open arms, rejoicing. This Parable is the final parable in the Loss and Redemption Parables collection, following the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15: 1-7) and the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10) Pastor Steve begins the episode by explaining how important interpretation of the parables is. It is important to read with an open mind. If we want to understand Jesus' intent of the parable, we have to put ourselves in the shoes of first century palestinians. The Parable of the Lost Sheep is the story of a shepherd losing one of his 100 sheep. The shepherd leaves behind the 99 and searches far and wide for his lost sheep. Upon finding the lost sheep, he rejoices. This parable is a metaphor for how God will always seek the lost one, or the sinner, who is led astray. The Parable of the Lost Coin is the story of a woman losing one of her ten coins. Often in this time, coins were given as gifts to women, so coins not only have monetary value, but hold sentimental value too. This story is a reflection of how God sees every person as valuable. If someone walks away from Him, he is saddened and long awaits for them rejoin him. Once they do, He is overjoyed and thankful that they are home.

The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) Today, Pastor Steve invites Camino's own Cassandra O'Neal. She serves as Camino Church's Minister of Ministries and is known for her role as worship leader at Camino Church. During the week, she works as an instructional designer at Camino University, where she develops online training for staff, the church's congregation and beyond. On top of that, Cassandra is an international recording artist, actress and author. Wow, Pastor Steve really should have rolled out the red carpet for this one. The pair discusses the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds by examining what it means to sow good seeds and bad, as well as waiting to reap the crop of the harvest. They compare the parable to today's culture and uncover some hard truths. You don't want to miss this!

Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 1-23) The Parable of the Sower may seem like an account of poor farming practices, however, the significance of this parable is much deeper. As Pastor Steve outlines in this episode, the sower spreading seeds is a metaphor for God spreading his message. Although some seeds may fall onto the path or into the thorn bushes, this parable reveals that it is not only the responsibility of the seed to grow. It is equally important for the soil to nurture the seed. The same is true for Christians. God may speak to us, but nonetheless, our faith and dedication to Him must be nurtured. We have to actively allow the word of God to sink in deeply and surround ourselves with a community of other believers to grow with. This parable is a part of the Kingdom of Heaven Parables. This collection speaks specifically on what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, how to find it, and how the Kingdom grows. Other parables to note in this category are “The Wheat and the Weeds” (Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43), which we'll cover in the next episode, “The Hidden Treasure” (Matt. 13:44), “The Pearl” (Matt. 13:45-46), “The Growing Seed” (Mark 4:26-29), “The Leaven” (Matt. 13:33, Luke 13:30-21).

In the first episode of the Parables of Jesus series, Pastor Steve will outline the season and then begin to explain what a parable is. He'll explore why parables are used in the bible, how to read them and how they're used as extended metaphors. We'll also take a look at the characteristics of parables and how to interpret them. Settle in and grab a pen and paper; this episode is full of background information to launch us into this exciting new series on the Parables of Jesus. Stay tuned for an episode every week with familiar guests and new ones too! Be sure to like us on Facebook at “Camino Church” and subscribe to the podcast, wherever you're listening from.

Welcome back to Camino Church Lessons! In this teaser episode, Pastor Steve introduces our next series: Lessons on the Parables of Jesus. The first episode will premiere on Monday, June 28. During this season, Pastor Steve will have special guests from within and beyond Camino Church. You don't want to miss it! Be sure to subscribe to Camino Church Lessons on your favorite podcasting platforms and like us on Facebook at Camino Church. We'll see you on Monday!

Today, Pastor Steve invites special guest Rev. Dr. Hector B. Custodio aka "Pastor Benny" from Camino Church. As they reflect on the grace, mercy, and peace of God, Pastor Benny shares his story as one of the ten founding members of the New York Latin Kings street gang. After being wrongly convicted for murder in the second degree, he spent 20 years in prison, or what he likes to call it, "a human warehouse." Pastor Benny not only found God during his time in prison, but he began working towards a better life. He started by earning his GED while incarcerated and upon his release attended Andover Newton Theological School, now apart of Yale Divinity School, where he graduated with his PhD in Ministry. You don't want to miss this episode!

Today, Pastor Steve will teach from the Epistle of Jude. The letter is written by Jude and addressed to Christians who are called, loved by the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. Jude offers judgement on false teachers, just as John did in his epistles. Jude explains several examples of evildoers and warns of their fates. These people have relied on themselves, defiled flesh, rejected authority, and blasphemed the glorious ones. Jude reminds Christains to keep themselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Today, Pastor Steve teaches from 3 John. Bad religion is not just about bad doctrine, it's also about bad leadership. This letter is unique because it is written to an individual, Gaius, yet the advice can be taken by any church leader. John calls leaders to evaluate their own doctrine, ethics, and hospitality in order to best serve their congregations. Pastor Steve reminds us that the message of the Gospel never changes, yet the church's communication methods should in order to meet people where they are. More so, leaders should follow truthful authority and welcome others.

In today's episode, Pastor Steve teaches from 2 John. We begin reviewing the background of the book, learning about the structure, author, audience, and themes. John stresses the importance of love and how we are commanded to love one another, just as he wrote in 1 John. This letter also serves as one of advice and counsel to the “lady elect and her children,” warning against false teachers travelling from church to church. In verse 9, he writes: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.” John reminds us to not receive said teachers, nor partake in their wicked works.

Join us for the final episode of the 1 John series, as Pastor Steve reflects on the book with our first ever podcast guest, Pastor Rusty Price. The pair discusses the humanity of Christ, temptation and tendencies, spiritual growth, and what it means to love others for the Kingdom. You don't want to miss this! Next week, Pastor Steve will dive into 2 John. Check us out on YouTube at “Camino Church” and click the Lessons playlist to watch all of the episodes. Follow us Facebook: Camino Church Instagram: @camino_church

In this episode, we will review the role of the Holy Spirit throughout 1 John. Pastor Steve will read through examples that John offers in this book, as well as referencing other passages in scripture. The Holy Spirit's role is to be a witness to Jesus Christ and to be a testimony of truth to God.

John begins the final chapter of 1 John, highlighting that only a certain type of faith can conquer the world; faith that is built on obedience and love. Not only is John talking about the physical world, but he speaks of the fleshly, evil, cultural world that we live in. Those that believe in Jesus Christ, will conquer. As chapter five comes to an end, John addresses testimonies, sin, and prayer. He concludes the chapter reminding us that Jesus Christ is the true son of God and in Him only, is eternal life.

In the beginning of chapter four, John reflects on how false doctrine and false prophets affect the world. He warns Christians to “believe not every spirit” (v. 1), but to know the Spirit of God. As Pastor Steve continues, we learn that true love originates only from God and that “God is Love.” John reminds us that we must love one another, simply because God loves us. Before we ever whispered a prayer, attended a worship service, or reached out to a fellow believer, God loved us.

As we continue reading in chapter three, Pastor Steve examines the importance of “Love One Another.” John is describing a deep and abiding love, which John believes will draw the community together. This kind of love can only come from God. Pastor Steve discusses the example of Cain and how we shouldn't live in death, as Cain does. Just as the Jews are taught in Deuteronomy 15, we're called to treat the foreigner, the alien, the sojourner, just like they're a part of our community. This is the heart of the gospel. Believe in Christ. Love One Another. Keep His commands. Abide in Him. We know that He abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. (1 John 3:23-24)

Today, we're reading in chapter three, where John begins with “Children of God.” John uses parallelism to teach and make connections for the audience about sin in our lives as it relates to God. Pastor Steve then examines how love and sin affect our communities and the world. He argues that the strength of our Christian communities are only as strong as the quality of the people and families in them.

Pastor Steve begins this episode with what the phrase “the last hour” means. We learn that theologically it is the end of times, but chronologically it is not. As we finish reading chapter two, the apostle John teaches about the antichrist. Pastor Steve emphasizes how important language and grammar are in scripture, specifically the difference between a “false Christ” and the “anti” Christ.

As we continue in chapter two, Pastor Steve reflects on what we read in the last episode and begins to dive deeper into what true love is. We examine what John says about loving the world and how it can lead to us turning our backs on God. Pastor Steve wraps up the episode with verse 18 and what John means by the phrase “the last hour.”

Join us as Pastor Steve begins chapter two with the passage “Jesus Our Advocate.” Jesus Christ advocated for us and the world at the cross, as the atoning sacrifice. Pastor Steve explains how scripture focuses on the doctrine of truth, because truth is only revealed through the gospel and the redemption of Christ. He finishes this episode by examining the first several verses of “The New Commandment,” which calls us to remember the old commandment and walk in light, loving others.

Pastor Steve finishes chapter one by examining a major theme: God is light. The apostle John teaches that if you're walking in light, you're walking in fellowship with God, because of how Jesus' blood cleanses his followers. Pastor Steve then goes on to explain gnosticism and the example of the Johannine people. Just as we may, these people strayed away from God and walked into darkness.

In this episode, Pastor Steve explains what the “Royal We” means and how it relates to scripture. In the first four verses, the apostle John offers a clear perspective on eternal life, including a past, present, and future understanding. John teaches that humankind is built for a relationship with God and that we have God sized holes that can only be filled with the joy that is deeply rooted in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Steve introduces the book of 1 John by teaching us about the author, the audience, the purpose, and the overall themes. This letter was written to Christians in exile, just as we are today. 1 John also explains how important it is for us to walk in light, love, and reject the world as it is, knowing that there is only one true God.

Welcome to the Camino Church Lessons Podcast! In this series, we're walking through scripture in an expository format with Pastor Steve Sellers of Camino Church. Twice a week, our host will dive deep into the word of God, in hopes of expanding our knowledge of the Holy Bible by encouraging us to be good students of scripture.