Christ Community Church Podcast

"To be faithful to Jesus, to abound on mission, it's worth suffering." - Pastor MasonWe often believe that faithfully following God should lead to easier paths and better outcomes. Yet in 2 Timothy, Paul writes from prison, facing execution and abandonment, with unwavering confidence in his purpose. He challenges Timothy to embrace suffering for the gospel rather than seek comfort or safety. While sacrifice may look different for us today, even inconvenience can cause us to hesitate. Are we willing to let go of our expectations of an easy Christian life and faithfully respond when God calls?

"If you want a fire to remain, you've got to pay attention to it. You've got to tend it. You've got to fan it into flame."Pastor Kelli teaches from 2 Timothy, challenging us to consider what it means to remain faithful to the mission God has placed on our lives. Through Paul's final words to Timothy, we're reminded that God advances His mission through ordinary people who choose faithfulness, even when circumstances are difficult.We also explored the encouragement of 2 Timothy 1:7: God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. These are the gifts of the Holy Spirit that help us stay on mission when fear, sin, or weariness threaten to pull us away.The question is simple: Are we tending the flame of what God has placed within us, or have we allowed it to grow dim?

"There is no one else who can do what God has called you to do... like you do it!"Drawing from Ephesians 4, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 12, Pastor Kelli explores how gifts ranging from apostleship and prophecy to mercy, helps, and healing are not relics of the early church but living, active expressions of God's power at work in ordinary people today! 

What if the very gifts you have been given are not accidents, but carefully chosen expressions of God's design for your life? In this message, we explore the profound truth that every believer has been entrusted with spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit, not as rewards to be earned or positions to be applied for, but as divine endowments given freely and purposefully. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 12, we are reminded that these gifts are not meant to create a hierarchy among us, but to unite us as one body with many distinct and necessary parts. 

"If we believe that everyone is called, then do we also see every person in our church as a potential missionary to be equipped and mobilized?"Pastor Kelli reminded us that we are all called to be on mission.We are not spectators waiting to be served. We are people being trained and sent. The message invites us to ask two honest questions: What has God gifted me to do that can bless others, and where has He placed me right now to do it? When we begin to see our everyday environments as divinely appointed platforms for the spread of the gospel, everything changes.

"I surrender to you, God. And you know what that brings? An intimacy with him we may have never had before."What does it look like to answer when God calls? Pastor Kelli takes us on a journey through some of the most compelling stories in Scripture, each one revealing a different and deeply human response to divine invitation. From Moses standing before a burning bush, full of self-doubt and excuses, to Gideon hiding in a winepress while being called a mighty warrior, to Jonah running in the opposite direction entirely, we see ourselves reflected in each of these figures. The central truth threading through every story is the same phrase spoken again and again by God himself: I will be with you. The call is never issued without the promise of presence.

"We must believe in our head and in our heart that we are beloved children of God. Our identity must be secure in who we are and not on what we do."What if the most important thing about us has nothing to do with what we accomplish, where we work, or what role we play in life? This message challenges us to reconsider the very foundation of how we see ourselves. Before we can truly understand what we are called to do, we have to settle the deeper question of who we are.

"When we come near to the Lord, our proximity to him changes our perspective. We no longer value the things that the world values, but our values start to align with what he values."Pastor Suzie reminds us through Psalm 73 that emotions like envy, jealousy, anger and longing for what another has often come when we take our eyes off of Jesus and onto what we lack in this earthly, temporal realm. She encourages us to remember our eternal perspective and to take hold of what the Lord has for us now and in the life to come!

"Rather than being a liability we need to eliminate, our vulnerability is really an asset we need to embrace that's designed to propel us into fulfilling God's calling for us."Psalm 8 highlights the tension of who we are: small, fragile people made from dust, yet deeply valued and entrusted with responsibility over creation. Set against a backdrop of struggle in the surrounding psalms, it reminds us that our weakness is not a flaw but part of God's design.

"True rescue comes when we cry out to Jesus, when we realize that life's problems are not something we can deal with on our own, but we realize that we have a Savior that loves us and cares for us."Riley Higgins preached from Psalm 118, reminding us that when life closes in and we feel trapped, our first instinct is often to run to false refuges instead of God. The psalm points us to the only true source of rescue: crying out to Jesus, who moves us from the narrow places into the spacious freedom found in Him.

"Before there was an empty tomb, there was a cross. Jesus himself entered suffering, injustice, humiliation, and death. Yet through his broken body and shed blood, God brought freedom and salvation to you and I."Pastor Jason invites us into an exploration of Acts 16 to wrestle with a profound truth: God's presence remains constant whether we find ourselves in seasons of suffering or freedom. 

"God wants to make those people His people. The way that God wants to make those people his people is he wants to do it by partnering with us."Acts 10–11 challenges the idea of “those people.” We all build invisible barriers like politics, culture, and beliefs, but God is in the business of tearing them down.Through Peter and Cornelius, God shows His heart. No one is unclean or outside His grace. The Holy Spirit falling on Cornelius' household makes it clear that God's love goes beyond our categories.So the question is who are “those people” in our lives? God invites us to rethink our barriers, see people as He does, and step toward them with prayer, openness, and action.

This powerful message confronts us with the radical transformation of Saul of Tarsus, a man so consumed with hatred for Christians that he actively sought their destruction. We encounter the concept of a 'holy invasion'... those moments when God breaks into our lives uninvited, disrupting our plans and exposing our need for change.Just as a doctor's uncomfortable diagnosis can save our physical lives, God's intervention in our spiritual lives, though sometimes jarring, is an act of profound love. The striking account from Acts 9 reveals that no one is beyond redemption.

In a world saturated with broken promises, we discover a profound truth: our God is a promise keeper. This exploration of Acts chapter 2 takes us to the moment when heaven touched earth in an unprecedented way at the Day of Pentecost. What God promised in Acts 1, He fulfilled in Acts 2, demonstrating that His word is absolutely trustworthy.

"The Holy Spirit makes the mission possible, powerful and prolific."The book of Acts opens with a powerful commission that resonates through the centuries to our lives today. We discover that our faith was never meant to be a private affair tucked away in the corners of our hearts. Jesus' final words before His ascension weren't suggestions but a prophetic declaration: we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we will be His witnesses. This isn't just about the original disciples, it's about us. The message challenges our tendency to compartmentalize faith, keeping Jesus separate from our daily interactions at work, school, or in our communities.

"When we are crucified with Christ so that we no longer live, we are no longer seen, but it is Christ who lives through us."What does it truly mean to follow Jesus? This powerful message takes us beyond Palm Sunday celebrations to the heart of discipleship found in Matthew 16:24-26.

"If we are not transformed by the power of the next stage, the inescapable default is that we continue to be conformed to this one."This powerful exploration of Romans 12:1-2 challenges us to reconsider our expectations about spiritual transformation. Many of us have absorbed a version of the gospel that emphasizes our sinfulness so heavily that we don't actually expect real change until heaven. We've internalized messages that keep us stuck, whether from difficult childhoods, repeated struggles with sin, or just the relentless negativity of our cultural moment. But here's the revolutionary truth: God's expectation is that we experience next-age transformation right now, in this present age. 

At the heart of this message lies a profound examination of three interconnected questions that shape our entire spiritual existence: What is our view of God? What is our view of ourselves? And what is our understanding of the gospel? These aren't merely theological exercises but deeply personal inquiries that determine how we live, love, and serve. The sermon draws us into Mark 1:14-15, where Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God is at hand, calling us to repent and believe. 

What if the God of the universe is speaking to us every single day, but we've simply forgotten how to recognize His voice? This message takes us deep into John 10, where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep by name. Just as newborn babies recognize their mother's voice within weeks of birth, and sheep distinguish their shepherd's call from all others, we too are designed to know the voice of our Creator.

This sermon explores Jesus' teaching on prayer, specifically the Lord's Prayer.  Pastor Kelli emphasizes that prayer is fundamentally about relationship with God as our Father and involves several key components: adoration, surrender, petition, confession, and deliverance from spiritual warfare. The central challenge is to move beyond rote recitation and pray with "shameless audacity," persistently and boldly asking God for things beyond our capacity, trusting in His limitless resources.

"I abide so that I can abound. I can't abound without abiding. Abiding without abounding is the disciple without a mission."At the heart of this message lies a profound truth that challenges us to examine the relationship between our spiritual intimacy with Christ and our active participation in His mission. Drawing from John 15, we're confronted with Jesus's powerful declaration: 'I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.' But here's the revolutionary insight... it isn't just about bearing a little fruit; it's about abundance, overflow, and leftovers. This sermon unpacks a critical tension many of us face: the balance between abiding and abounding.

"May we become the body of Christ for the broken and dying world around us. That we would truly be the hands and feet of Jesus to a broken and dying world that we would awaken the broken to a life of wholeness found in Jesus."Kelli's message takes us deep into the heart of what it means to be a praying church and the body of Christ in a broken world. Drawing from Ephesians 1:15-23, we encounter Paul's passionate prayer for the church—a prayer that transcends time and speaks directly to our own spiritual journey today. At its core, this message challenges us to move beyond prayer as a mere checklist of requests and into meaningful, transformative conversation with God. We're reminded that prayer changes us more than anything else, serving as the pivot action that shifts everything in our Christian community. 

"The greatest testimony we have to this broken world is the unity of the church. And the greatest defense to the influence and powers of the enemy is the unity of this church." - Pastor KelliIn His final prayer before the cross, Jesus revealed that our greatest witness to the world is not programs or strategies, but unity. Rooted in John 17, this message calls us to live as one, just as Christ prayed we would.

We celebrated a holy transition as the baton was passed from Pastor Derrick to Pastor Kelli Wommack. With Superintendent McAvoy speaking on calling and Bishop Cowart reminding us of the moment Pastor Derrick first stepped into this role, we were invited to reflect on God's faithfulness past, present, and future.Rooted in Acts 13, the message reminded us that calling does not originate from human institutions or personal ambition, but from the Holy Spirit Himself. As the church in Antioch gathered in prayer, fasting, and worship, God spoke clearly, showing us that He often reveals His will when we posture ourselves in desperate dependence on Him.

This Advent message takes us deep into Isaiah 7, revealing how the virgin birth challenges us far beyond mere intellectual acceptance. When King Ahaz faced a terrifying military crisis, God didn't just offer him proof... He challenged him to trust. The sign of a virgin conceiving wasn't primarily about satisfying doubt; it was about demonstrating God's faithfulness to save His people when they're besieged by brokenness. Today, we face our own sieges: death, broken relationships, financial stress, mental and physical struggles. Like Ahaz, we're tempted to panic and seek security in all the wrong places... substances, obsessive control, or false saviors that care nothing about us. But the virgin birth reveals something staggering: God Himself stepped into human history to fight our battles. 

"The messiah brings true joy to broken people!"This Advent, Pastor Kelli led our church through Isaiah 35, inviting us to rediscover true joy. She reminded us that biblical joy is transcendent, transformative, and contagious, not something we manufacture or tie to our circumstances. In a weary world, Pastor Kelli pointed us to the hope found in Christ's first and second coming, where God's presence turns deserts into blooming gardens. Through Isaiah's words to the exiled people of Judah, we were challenged to move beyond fleeting happiness and embrace the settled assurance that God is in control, a joy meant to reshape our perspective and be shared with a world longing for hope.

This powerful exploration of Isaiah 11, Pastor Jason challenges us to see ourselves not as spectators of ancient prophecy, but as participants in the same mission that ancient Israel failed to fulfill. We're confronted with uncomfortable questions: Have we replaced worship of the one true God with modern idols? 

This Advent sermon explores God's global mission through the lens of Isaiah 2:1-5, examining how the church has inherited ancient Israel's calling to reveal God's kingdom to the nations. Pastor Mason Stewart emphasizes that mission is not merely about sharing a message but about living as a community that embodies the kingdom of God.

"Transformation begins when I stop focusing on what's wrong with them and confessing what is wrong with me."This message takes us deep into Matthew 7:1-12, where Jesus addresses one of the most misunderstood teachings in the Bible. The distinction between judgment and discernment becomes crystal clear: judgment declares a verdict on someone's worth or destiny, while discernment evaluates behavior through the lens of God's truth. 

In a world obsessed with being seen, liked, and followed, we're invited to rediscover the transformative power of the secret place.Drawing from Matthew 6, this exploration of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount challenges us to examine our deepest motives: Are we performing our faith for applause, or are we pursuing genuine intimacy with God? The message unveils three essential spiritual practices: giving, praying, and fasting, not as religious obligations to showcase, but as sacred rhythms that reshape us from the inside out.

"The gate leading to the hard way is narrow. We have to actually look for it to find it. And in order to enter it, we must leave everything behind."In her message, Pastor Kelli confronts us with one of Jesus' most challenging teachings from Matthew 7: the reality that following Christ requires choosing the narrow gate and difficult road rather than the easy path our culture constantly offers. Jesus teaches that the blessed life, the kingdom life, isn't found in easy choices but in counter-cultural surrender. The narrow gate requires leaving our baggage behind—our self-righteousness, pride, and sin—and entering one at a time through intentional decision. This isn't about mere moral behavior versus immoral behavior; it's about genuine heart transformation versus outward religious observance. This message calls us to absolute surrender, reminding us that God shows us the way, Jesus is the way, and His Spirit empowers us to walk that way.

"Jesus is saying here that our greatest witness to a watching world is not our doctrine. It's not our systems. It's definitely not our buildings. The greatest testimony to a watching world is that God could somehow bring together people who are radically different and make them one."Bishop Keith Cowart was our guest speaker this Sunday, and he taught about the awesome distinctives that make us Free Methodists. His message centered on the profound concept of unity within the church, rooted in the very nature of the Trinity.

n this powerful message on Christ-compelled multiplication, we're challenged to embrace our role as disciples who make disciples. The key scripture comes from Matthew 9:35-38 and Matthew 10:1-7, where Jesus models compassion, prayer, and empowerment. We're reminded that multiplication was God's original design, seen in Genesis 1:22-28 with the command to 'be fruitful and multiply.' This isn't just about numbers, but about transforming lives through the power of Christ. The message draws an interesting parallel between physical and spiritual multiplication, comparing disciples to apple seeds that have the potential to grow into orchards. As we reflect on our own faith journey, we're challenged to ask: Who are we walking with? Are we holding tightly to our faith or actively passing it on? This call to multiplication isn't just for a select few – it's for all of us who follow Christ. Let's open our eyes to see the harvest around us, allow Christ's love to compel us, and step out in the authority He's given us to make disciples who make disciples.

"God-given revelation is the foundation on which all the other values stand."In his message, Pastor Derrick reminds us of the paramount importance of God's Word in our lives. The sermon revolves around the concept of 'God-given revelation,' emphasizing that Scripture is our foundation, our plumb line, and our true home. We're challenged to become 'people of the book,' regularly engaging with the Bible not just for information, but for transformation. The message draws from 2 Timothy 3:14-17, highlighting that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. An intriguing parallel is drawn between the discipline athletes undergo for physical competition and the spiritual discipline we need through Scripture. This message is deeply relevant to our faith journey, urging us to make God's Word the atmosphere of our minds and the anchor of our souls, especially in times of uncertainty or cultural shifts.

n Derrick's message, we're challenged to embrace God's vision of a diverse, unified church. The sermon takes us on a journey through Revelation 7, where we see a breathtaking picture of heaven: people from every nation, tribe, and tongue worshipping together. This isn't just a future reality; it's a call for us to start living it out now. The message urges us to break down barriers, cross cultural divides, and truly embrace one another in Christ. It's a reminder that our differences aren't meant to divide us, but to enrich our worship and community. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to examine our own lives. Are we actively seeking to build relationships with those who are different from us? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to break down walls in our hearts and communities? This message isn't just about church; it's about how we live out our faith every day, in every interaction.

"Justice refuses to walk by while mercy draws near. Humility sets aside prejudice and takes risk."In this powerful message, Pastor Derrick challenged to embrace 'love-driven justice' as a core value of our faith. The sermon delves into Micah 6:8, reminding us that God requires us to 'act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.' This isn't just an ancient command, but a vital call for today's world. We're urged to consider how we respond to injustice and division, especially in light of recent events that have polarized our communities.