Christ Community Church Podcast

Faith brings freedom. We are justified - made right with God - by faith alone. Not by works, not by striving, not by earning approval.In this powerful message, we're reminded of the transformative power of faith and the freedom it brings. The core of our discussion revolves around Galatians 3, where Paul challenges the Galatians' misguided attempt to add works of the law to their faith in Christ. We learn that our righteousness comes through faith alone, not by our own efforts or adherence to religious laws.

"We're called to unity, but we are not called to uniformity. In Christ, we are formed for freedom!" In his sermon, rooted in Galatians 2:11–21, Pastor Mason challenged us to embrace our church's core value of “Unity in Diversity," not as a reflection of modern politics, but as a gospel-centered reality established by Christ. . As believers, we're called to embrace this unity with others across ethnic lines, celebrate diversity in worship and expression, and resist anything that challenges Christ's ultimate authority.

This week's message reminded us: Grace means you don't have to perform for love.

"What is the one thing we're clinging to closer than the cross? What is keeping us from full surrender to Him?"Pastor Kelli unpacks Luke 18, challenging us to examine our hearts and let go of anything we value more than Christ—because true surrender leads to the fullness of life He offers.

"A cruciform life is one that sees the wounded, stops for the broken, and loves without limits."Pastor Derrick walked us through Luke 10:25-37, reminding us that faith without compassion is empty. We are called to follow Jesus' example—the true Good Samaritan.

"If we want to follow Jesus, we must embrace our own death."Pastor Mason opened our series "Cruciformed" using Luke 9:23, where Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him. That means letting go of our own desires, our need for control, and our idea of success because we can't save ourselves. Only He can.

Even in seasons of frustration and drought, God's grace still flows. In Numbers 20, we see how God provided water in the wilderness — not because it was deserved, but because His grace is unmatched.

When the wilderness exposes your idols, will you choose to worship God instead? In Week 2 of The Wilderness Experience, Teaching Pastor Derrick Shields walked us through Exodus 32, revealing the path of idolatry—impatience, compromise, rebellion—and the call to true worship. 

The wilderness exposes our preferences for:- Familiarity over freedom- Complaining to others over crying out to God- Disobedience over dependancePastor Kelli kicks off our new series with a message from Exodus 16, exploring the Israelites' journey through the wilderness and God's faithful provision and kindness along the way.

"As children of God, we are reflecting something to the world... is it the light of Jesus? What kind of light are you reflecting?"Pastor Derrick preached a powerful message from John 1:1-8 and encouraged us to reflect on what it means to live as image-bearers of Christ, strategically placed in our homes, workplaces, and communities to reflect His light.We were reminded that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Let's continue to reflect Christ's light wherever we go!

"It is God's desire to restore intimacy in every one of our lives."In this message, Pastor Derrick takes us through Genesis 1–2, revealing how God designed us for a close relationship with Him. Despite the separation caused by the fall, Jesus, through His sacrifice, makes a way for us to be restored into that intimate connection with our Creator.

We are designed for connection—with God and with others. Yet, our sinfulness often disrupts the loving community we were created to enjoy. Thankfully, God calls us back into that community through the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus.In this message, Pastor Derrick explores Genesis 1 and 2, reminding us that we were never meant to navigate life alone. He identifies seven common barriers that hinder our relationships with others:PrideSelfishnessUnforgivenessFear & InsecuritySinful Nature & Fleshly DesiresPrejudice & JudgmentLack of LoveWhich of these challenges resonate most with you? How can you invite God to heal and transform those areas in your life?

"Through Jesus, the true value of the undervalued is revealed."God deeply values those whom the world often overlooks. As His followers, we're called to reflect that same love by showing others their incredible worth. And don't forget—we, too, are cherished as children of the King!

Gabriel, God's messenger, appeared to Mary, declaring her as one favored by God to bear His son, Jesus. The angel's greeting led Mary to ponder why God would choose to bestow His favor, or grace, on her. Mary's decided response was one of humility and anticipation, providing lessons for us today. 

When there doesn't seem to be enough… EucharisteoWhen things don't go as we expected, or hoped for, or prayed for… EucharisteoWhen God calls you to do hard things… EucharisteoPastor Kelli closes our series on Eucharisteo by reminding us to give thanks in ALL things. 

Today marked the beginning of a new series on gratitude, recognizing our God as the good, generous giver and giving Him ultimate thanks for all we have!Pastor Kelli teaches through 1 Chronicles 29:9-19, reminding us that "the foundation of Eucharisteo is believing that God is a good and generous God."

"Peace with God comes through salvation. The peace of God comes through thankful prayer." Pastor Kelli reminds us that gratitude is the key to overcoming preoccupying worry and embracing the peace of the Lord, which surpasses all understanding.Check out her full message here!

"The mouth speaks what the heart is full of..." Pastor Kelli teaches through James 3, reminding us of the enormous power our words carry with them and the revelation of hearts through them

Our conflicts with others often stem from our own selfish desires, revealing our need to humble ourselves and surrender to God.In the final message of our James series, Pastor Derrick walks us through James 4, urging us to embrace humility and show grace to others, just as the Lord graciously does with us.

“That which we do doesn't save us. That which we do is in us!” Pastor Derrick teaches through James 2:14-26, spurring us on to good works through faith! 

James' goal was to encourage his readers to reflect their faith in everyday actions—being doers of the Word, not just hearers (1:22). This includes gaining God's perspective on wealth and responding accordingly. Pastor Derrick reminds us of these key points:✨ Riches are temporary, but the poor will be exalted.✨ How you acquire and manage wealth matters.✨ Showing favoritism is a sin that leads to ruin.

Pastor Derrick kicks off our new sermon series, Sincerely, James, by encouraging us to shift our perspective on trials. Drawing from James 1:2-8, 12-15, he reminds us to see trials as opportunities for growth, seek God's wisdom in the midst of challenges, and hold onto the promise of blessing for those who remain steadfast in their faith.

Do you need a fresh encounter with Jesus? Pastor Derrick preaches the last message in this series on the Book of John, reminding us that Jesus can restore us, provide direction and recommission us for His work if we will only draw near to Him.

We can be honest with our doubts, because Jesus is willing to meet us where we are with grace, patience and love. Pastor Derrick preaches through John 20:24-31, reminding us that in times of doubt, Jesus welcomes our questions and meets us where we are.

How will you respond to the resurrected Christ? Pastor Jason leads us through John 20, encouraging us that when understood correctly, we find that the resurrection of Jesus is not simply an historical event. There are ripple effects that impact us in ways that not only transform us, but compel us to share the facts of the story with others. 

Pastor Mason leads us through John 18:28-19:16, reminding us of how Jesus' interaction with Pilate on His way to the cross demonstrates that governmental authority is legitimate, but ultimately subject to God's authority. Mason encourages us to remember that Jesus, not politics, should have the most influence on our lives and that... "We do not allow those disagreements to divide us as God's people  because that would betray that we have political loyalties above our allegiance to Jesus, who has united us. And our unity as God's people is a powerful witness that God is King of the cosmos!" 

Pastor Derrick leads us through John 17, encouraging us to pray as Jesus prayed before His crucifixion. Check out the message here!

Suffering is to be expected as a follower of Christ. It is not a matter of if, but when. Yet Jesus reminds us that in the midst of our trials of hatred and persecution, we are not alone.Pastor Jason leads us through John 15:18-16:4, drawing our attentions to the Holy Spirit as our help, strength and comforter in times of need.Check out the message here!

"There is only one way that we can truly abide in Jesus, and that is to make ourselves at home with Him." In John 15, Jesus refers to Himself as "the vine," and we are "the branches," communicating that apart from His love, His spirit and His life, we can do nothing that produces true, lasting fruit. Pastor Kelli leads us in a unique way through the passage, describing what it means to ABIDE in Him in our every day. 

This week, Pastor Derrick led us through John 13, where Jesus humbly washes the feet of His disciples. But what does it really mean for Jesus to wash our feet? And how are we called to "wash" the feet of others?Jesus wasn't only concerned with outward cleanliness; He was pointing to the deeper issues of our hearts and souls.Are there areas in your life that need "washing"? Any sins or attitudes that require Christ's cleansing touch? This week, take time to bring these before Jesus, asking for His forgiveness and renewal.

"Jesus' love for us is not positioned in our physical vibrancy. His love is as deep as it gets!"Through John 11, Pastor Mason encourages us that though our physical bodies are in a state of death, Christ came to give us eternal life and vitality, and He loves us enough to comfort us even in the physical state of death.

“I hope we're not guilty of looking to Jesus because of what He can do for us, rather than who He is to us."In John 6, Jesus introduces us to Himself as the "Bread of Life," and sadly, many disciples departed from Him after hearing this. They wanted what Jesus had but were not as committed when they realized that the true bread was Christ Himself.