Destination Church Spokane Podcast

At times, life can seem overwhelming! Though Psalm 16 isn't a Mother's Day psalm, there are lots of applications to motherhood. Every one of us, including moms, can find fresh hope as we rediscover that God is a refuge, even in life's most difficult moments. Psalm 16 is a good reminder that: we are surrounded by holy people in progress, being shaped by His grace; God has an amazing inheritance for us, offering Himself to us fully; and His word guards and guides us, bringing clarity in confusion. Most importantly, when we entrust ourselves to Jesus, we are trusting in a resurrected Messiah who walks with us through every trial and who promises eternal life.

God is truly magnificent, and the majesty of His Creation is meant to leave us in awe as it points us to Him. From the the wonder of stars and galaxies to the voices of tiny children, all Creation testifies to the greatness of God. In the vastness of it all, we may wonder why God would give such dignity to humans, and Psalm 8 poses this same question. And it's in this question that God speaks prophetically about one "son of man" in particular, who the New Testament reveals to be Jesus. In Him, we discover our own dignity as sons of Adam and daughters of Eve.

Psalm 2 describes the nations raging against God. God is not nervous or in the least bit intimidated by this, but instead ... He laughs! God is truly sovereign and when we stand with him we can have confidence. All the sovereign power and glory the Father has He has promised to Jesus His Son, and part of that promise includes the nations of the earth. All nations are invited, and wise, to draw near in reverence and awe to "kiss the Son." We too are invited into the joy of living under the reign of Jesus the Messiah, the King of the Nations.

Is Jesus really the one? Is He the promised Messiah, and did He really rise from the dead? Maybe most importantly, is there really hope promised to us in His name? People are still asking these questions today, and for Jesus' first followers, they took some convincing of the answers! In Luke 24 we revisit the resurrection story, and discover how Jesus reveals Himself through relationship and through the Scriptures themselves. It was important to Him that His disciples' hope in Him was rooted not only in their experiences - as important as those are! - but also in the foundation of the prophetic Scriptures.

Jesus had been determined to go to Jerusalem. He had also been predicting his coming death and resurrection, and though no one seemed to understand what he meant, his purpose was clear. As Jesus now rides into Jerusalem on a young donkey, the crowds cry, "Peace...!" but the peace he is bringing will look so different than any of them could imagine. His peace will extend to every nation, tribe, people, and language, and it will come through a cross.

What do we mean when we say we willingly receive and actively pursue relationship with recognized apostolic and prophetic ministries? What is the role of these foundational gifts in the twenty-first century church? We tackle these questions and more in the final session of Core.

Over time, healthy families... grow! A church that is embracing biblical core values can expect God to keep adding to them. Our God, who 'moved into our neighborhood,' for our benefit helps us to understand that we our local church exists both for the good of one another and for those who are not here yet. We all have a significant role to play as we partner in God's mission in the earth "to seek and save the lost," and that means asking some important questions: "Where has God positioned us?" "Where is He positioning us now?" The answers to questions like these will help us embrace the growth God brings and the multiplication God initiates.

Our God very generous! His generous grace awakens generosity in our own hearts, too. This frees our hearts from possessiveness and fear, transforms our priorities, and is a significant part of becoming more like Jesus. God's kingdom is a generous one and it is advancing through His generous people. 

Is God worthy of our worship and praise? If so, how can help lead our hearts into genuine worship of Him in times where we may not feel particularly worshipful? Learning how to lead our hearts according to the gospel rather than to be led around by how we feel in a particular moment is an important part of our discipleship. Learning to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) are part of that process. As we explore our value of being 'a worshiping people,' we talk about the choice to engage our minds, mouths, and even our physical bodies in praising God, and the promise that accompanies Christ's invitation to do this.

What does it mean to be a charismatic church? It isn't about music style or hands-in-the-air expression; it's so much more than that! It means embracing the gifts of God among us, enjoying fellowship in the Spirit together, and functioning in the many gifts He gives. When we embrace this as a family we will not only enjoy and be refreshed, but also stand in awe of God's presence among us as He refreshes others through us.

God sets the lonely into families. In Christ, we are adopted, not into an 'organization,' but as sons and daughters, as brothers and sisters of Jesus. Embracing healthy local church family includes learning a lifestyle that prioritizes fellowship together, loving one another, one another's success, and enjoying real life together. The early church grasped something wonderful about practicing our faith as a family, not only in more formal gatherings, but also throughout the week. They became living evidence to the world around them of God's amazing love. Imagine what God will do today in a church family who embraces one another like this!

When Jesus is preparing for the cross, the resurrection, and then to ascend to His Father's side He tells the disciples that it will be for their advantage for him to go away. This must seem very hard to understand for them, and still is for many today! He commissions them to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and then says... "Wait!" The Holy Spirit is coming, and this - He - is the big advantage. They will receive power to be effective witnesses, enabled to communicate to their own culture and to the cultures of the world through the life-giving, refreshing, infilling of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is both a Spirit of mission and fresh, living water for our own thirsty souls! Every follower of Jesus is meant to come to Him and drink deeply of the Holy Spirit, finding relational effectiveness for powerful ministry. In Part 6 of our Core series, we explore these foundational truths, including the New Testament pattern of people receiving the Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, when thousands of people believe the message of the gospel, immediately Peter and the other apostles encourage baptism in water as part of their immediate response. What is it about water baptism that is so important, and what does it mean to be immersed into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? And how long should a new follower of Jesus wait to be baptized? Acts 2, Matthew 28, and Romans 6 help answer these questions and more regarding this Core Value of being baptized in water.

As Christians, it's vital that we understand this truth: our relationship with God is not based on our works, but in the finished work of Christ. Through faith in Jesus and what He has accomplished on our behalf, His righteousness becomes our righteousness. God chose freely before we were ever born to send His son to do this for us. God Himself chose to give us this life-transforming gift of grace! As we continually embrace Him, our lives will become more and more a reflection of His amazing grace.

When Jesus taught the disciples  what we often refer to as 'The Lord's Prayer' He wasn't just giving them lines to recite but a relational strategy for life-giving prayer. Prayer is an effective, powerful practice, and it's important for every disciple of Jesus to learn the disciplines that foster sustainable, effective prayer. Like the early church we discover in the Book of Acts - a people regularly under pressure, persecution, and various pressures of life - we can become a praying people that sees God move in our day!

Over the course of history many have dedicated their lives and even sacrificed their lives to translate and produce copies of the Bible so that people can access the Scriptures for themselves. What is it about this book that has caused people to give their lives to make it's words available to others? Within the Bible we have God's instruction about Himself, about us, and about how we are to live our lives. Psalm 119 describes it as "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This is why "we purpose to learn, to instruct, and to submit ourselves to the teachings of the Bible as our first and final authority."

God instructs and enables us as His people to be fruitful and multiply. And if growth means anything, it means... change! And transformative change is built right into the Big Vision and blessing of God. He brings people from all walks of life together through Christ for a new purpose. The people of God are gathered to shape, change, and bless neighborhoods, cities, and even entire nations. According to God's good plan, His church is helping others become all that God has designed them to be. 

God is pleased to share His joy with us! When Jesus is born into the world, there is much purpose behind such joyful news, and Jesus Himself will later announce the "Why" behind His coming. The birth of Jesus is the birth of the long-awaited Messiah, and we have reason to join the celebration!

Real love is costly, isn't it! God's love for us, the kind of love that gives and invests, is being revealed in Matthew's account of the Christmas story. When Joseph finds out Mary is pregnant, his plan is to divorce her. God changes his plan with the kind of love that changes the world! What kind of love is this? A merciful love; a love that communicates and includes; a love that protects and invests; the kind of love that is present and with us always. As it is in Mary and Joseph's complicated life situation, God's love is still all of these things for us today.

Did Jesus come to bring peace? Absolutely, but not in the way that the people of His time were expecting. Jesus brings a peace that includes reconciliation, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and favor. As He brings salvation to us in these ways, He also challenges us to partner with Him, extending them to others as well. Christ came to serve and die for "us," and also for "them." Through Christ, we are made one, an amazing gift so desperately needed in our world!

The prophecies of the coming Messiah were well-known to the Jewish people, stirring hope in hearts living in captivity. Yet, when the angel Gabriel first bings news of practical, tangible hope that sets up the coming of the Messiah, Zechariah is not quite ready to believe it. Six months later, Gabriel brings word to Mary that the long-hoped-for Messiah is going to come through her, and she responds differently. Hope is coming, and hope has a name: Jesus. The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Son of David, and Son of the Most High God - these are being fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who brings us a forever hope!

Even with the living water of God, drought still comes here on this earth. Famine and floods still bring hard times. But when these times come that is the time to stay near the river of God. He has blessing for those who root themselves into His faithfulness and depend on the life that comes from Him. The life that He brings will not fade or wither.

The story of Boaz and Ruth is a bit of a Hallmark love story, isn't it! Yet, right at the end we get the reference to Judah and Tamar, a story of a whole different kind: deceit, manipulation, and sexual immorality. Both of these ancestors of Boaz's family brought a level of "crazy" into the family tree, and yet this is the family of tree of none other than King David... and King Jesus! Our own family history - or present! - is no barrier to the blessing and redemption that God is able to bring. Like Judah and Tamar, we too can be forgiven and our stories redeemed.

Everywhere the River of God flows, even through desert regions and the farthest reaches of places long dead, there will be new life! Jesus Himself gives this living water that brings His life to the world. The Gospels of Luke and John both tell stories of Jesus directing fishermen to cast their nets into the water. Though these fishermen had been unsuccessful after much labor, after following Jesus' instruction their nets were full to overflowing. Where Jesus is, He brings life! When that life draws its nourishment from Him, it continues to flourish and does not fade. Our lives can be like this!

Life can flourish close to the river, so throughout history, settlements and major cities have tended to establish along rivers or estuaries. In Ezekiel 47, we see the river of God flowing from His presence out into the world. What begins as a trickle builds momentum, depth, and width: from ankle deep to knee deep, then continues to grow, from waist-high to "deep enough to swim in", and we are swept up in His purpose. Every step of the way is an invitation to us to follow along, test out, and wade into the river of God's presence and purpose in the earth. And everywhere that river goes, life can flourish!

God is more than faithful as we step out in faith into what He is calling us to do. In Proverbs 24:27 that step of faith is into the field; for Nehemiah that step begins in prayer, then leads to a conversation with the king, and leads him all the way to from Babylon to Jerusalem. We may feel like the commission is too big, but as we prepare the field where God is sending us, He will also bless the work. This is true across the world and locally. Cameron Oliver encourages us in these things as he and his family prepare for the their faith-filled move back to South Africa to plant City Light Church in Capetown!

Like so many before and after her, Ruth had experienced relational pain. Her first husband had died, and they had not had children. In rescuing and redeeming her, God brought not only a husband, but broke the barrenness over her life as well. She was able to have a child! God brings fruitfulness and new life to us today as well, breaking barrenness through Jesus our Redeemer. Wonderfully, the way Jesus redeems us leads to the reconciling of peoples, blessing of nations, and the release of God's promise into new generations. Like Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi, our stories are joined with God's Big Story to bring redemption to the most far-reaching fields we could imagine.

Boaz and Ruth want to marry each other, but Boaz has to make sure this is legally worked out with a different marriage prospect for Ruth! He picks the right time, and we too can know that God is choosing the right timing as He works on our behalf. Boaz takes full responsibility for handling this correctly. Is there going to be a cost? Yes! But there are also great benefits. This is true for us too. There are costs for us in following Jesus, but the benefits of redemption far outweigh those costs! Jesus wants relationship with us, He considers us worth redeeming, and He won't rest in His pursuit of His people! (Apologies for the mystery pulsing sound in the background of this week's recording!)

Ruth pursues Boaz and he pursues her, with much blessing and dignity. What a reflection Boaz is of Jesus' heart for the people of God, both in the way He pursues us and in the way He blesses, welcomes, and desires our pursuit of Him! The way He guards and shepherds our lives as we pursue Him in faith will stir confidence that He will do everything in His power to redeem us completely.

Something happens when we awaken to the kindness and provision of God. Naomi recognizes Boaz's favor on Ruth and her heart that had been so stuck in grief now begins to make plans for a hopeful future. Ruth trusts Naomi's plan and takes bold initiative of her own as well. God is calling us as His people to pursue Him, not passively, but with great faith and daring! Because Jesus is so committed to us, we can take great hope in Him as we plan to love, serve, and pursue Him and His kingdom purpose.

We are redeemed, and God has not forgotten us! Boaz's extreme generosity toward Ruth caused Naomi to take notice, and she realizes that Ruth has met one of their family redeemers. God has led Ruth right into His blessing, care, and provision. As Ruth discovers that Boaz is a kinsman redeemer for her, so too the Scriptures reveal Jesus as the Redeemer for all of us who will believe in Him. His blessing is oh-so-much more than monetary and not at all limited to our physical provision, though He cares about those things too; God also provides a deep spiritual provision for the soul. As the story continues, Ruth stays under the protection of Boaz according to his instruction, resulting in continued grace and favor for her and Naomi. When we stay near to God's people, working in His fields regularly, we can expect Him to bring a regular harvest in our lives that will bless not only us, but those around us too.

Such generosity! Boaz shows Ruth great favor that baffles her. After all, they've just met; why would he do this for a foreign woman? Boaz had heard of the sacrifices Ruth made to follow God and acted graciously toward her, setting her up for success she never could have found or accomplished on her own. Like Ruth, we, once foreigners to the kingdom of God, have been shown great favor in Christ! And then He recognizes the sacrifices we make in serving Him and one another, rewarding us beyond anything we deserve in His generous grace. Never underestimate the generous grace of God extended to us in Christ, or the power of our generosity toward others to point them to our gracious Savior!

As Ruth's story continues, she's now in Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, and not knowing anyone in a foreign land she begins to look for favor. She meets Boaz and finds great favor with him, including protection, guidance in the community, and provision.  As the church we need these things as well. We need the favor of God, and our God is seeking a people He knows are in need. Like Boaz's favor toward Ruth, God's favor and provision for us are much bigger than just enough crumbs to get by. His favor is a bountiful feast and it's ready for us in the home he has prepared.

Have you ever felt like the worst evangelist ever? One of the amazing things about the story of Naomi and Ruth is how God kept drawing Ruth even as Naomi kept giving her all the reasons to turn back. God can overcome our weakness too, and use our imperfect efforts to draw people into His purpose for their life. Calloused hearts? He can soften them. Great resistance? He can overcome it. Great trauma? God can transcend it. And when we feel like we've come to the end of ourselves? God is just getting started! 

As the beautiful story of Ruth begins, the scene is anything but beautiful. In Bethlehem, the House of Bread, there's a famine. In their desperation, a family of four leaves the land and fields of God's Promise to go into the fields Moab. The Moabite people were considered cursed by God, but the sons of this family marry Moabite women. After tragedy and trauma, only the women are still living, but God's bigger plan begins to unfold. God's drawing pursuit of both Naomi and Ruth reflects His pursuit today of those who have walked away from His promise and those who have never known God and His ways. People who have left the church due to  and people who have never been a part of God's family can hear the wonderful good news: there is bread in God's house again and it's time to come home! Someone told Naomi that good news, and we have the privilege of spreading the news still today.

Do you know the purpose of prophecy in the New Covenant? Does your church family cultivate a genuinely prophetic atmosphere that also builds away from manipulation? What should we do with prophetic words that may seem unclear or maybe a bit "off?" As a New Testament prophetic people of the Spirit of God, it's vital that we understand how to weigh and test prophecy. In this message, Jon Meek reminds us of several practical ways to receive prophetic words and evaluate them according to Scripture and the testimony of Jesus.

"Everyone here sends their warm embrace to everyone there. Be sure to extend your warm embrace to one another in Christ." Paul's final words to his much loved friends in Philippi reflect the family relationship that the church is meant to enjoy. God's gracious embrace of us empowers us to extend grace to one another, in our own local church and to the family that is spreading across the nations! God's grace is truly on our family, on our going, and on our unity. What a fitting finale for Paul's letter to the church in Philippi!

When we develop a culture of grace, the gospel will shape our generosity. Giving has the opportunity to become an expression of our genuine fellowship and partnership with one another, leading us to take responsibility beyond ourselves. And more than mere obligation, giving also becomes an expression of our worship; God receives it as a beautiful aroma, a pleasing sacrifice to Him. As we learn that our Father really does care for us too, giving becomes an expression of our faith in Him. Like the Philippian church, we can discover a gospel-centered approach to giving, knowing Jesus is our supply.

Paul was very grateful for his friends in the church in Philippi. He rejoiced in the Lord for their pattern of support for him, and for what it revealed about their hearts. Though Paul was in prison, he had learned how to stay satisfied and fulfilled, even if his friends hadn't been able to help him. Contentment is learned, and we mature in this God-honoring part of our own discipleship. Whether we have much or little, we are able to do all the things that God has commissioned us to do, not through ourselves but through the strength that comes through Jesus Christ.

It's easy to say, "Be anxious for nothing," but actually finding true peace is going to take some intentional focus. The good news is that God promises to help us walk in peace when we put our faith in Him. How? First, it's important that we get the frame - the Big Picture - right. In the Big Picture, our future and our present is secure in Christ. Secondly, learning how to focus: to proactively take delight in God, and to dwell on the right things. Finally, as we learn to follow the example of others who are applying the first two, the promise is this: "...and the God of peace will be with you."

At the beginning of Philippians 4 Paul speaks into a relational or leadership issue between two women. He points out that they are on the same side and need to work together in the same direction. Sometimes our own interpersonal issues or ideas of how to advance God's mission can inadvertently cause division in the church, sometimes significant enough that it takes help from other leaders to bring reconciliation. The good news is that Jesus is our perfect example of unity and leadership! When we submit our lives to Him, He can help bring a unity in the church that paints a beautiful picture of what God intends human relationships to be.

We are not spiritual settlers who stay put, satisfied with where we are, because we have not yet 'arrived' in our faith. We press on toward our calling in Jesus, learning to live out the Citizenship we have in His kingdom. Paul encourages the church in Philippi to keep their eyes towards what is ahead rather than the sinful past - or even past success - which is behind them. Like the church in Philippi, we too are following Jesus and His perfect example all the days of our lives!

Like people everywhere, we can get caught up worrying about our pedigree, status or qualifications. We may try to justify ourselves through all kinds of endeavors or consider ourselves righteous based on the good we've done. In Philippians 3 Paul points out that if anyone could be considered righteous through their works it would be him - what a bold statement! -, but that even he falls far short of Jesus' righteousness. Our righteousness comes only through Jesus; it is from Him and Him alone. We cannot depend on our own goodness to justify us but instead we can joyfully depend on the goodness and righteousness of Christ.

Even strong church communities will face challenges to their faith, so are there safeguards we can build into our faith to help us stand firm? Paul brings this up at the beginning of Philippians 3, and we address three safeguards in the first three verses. The first is joy, a hallmark of the Christian faith. The second safeguard is being aware of legalism and its hallmarks that are so contrary to the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. The third is an awareness of who we actually are in Christ, finding our justification in Him rather than in 'the flesh.' These three safeguards work together to help us remain confident in Christ Himself, living out the Good News.

The New Testament talks a lot about churches, and the way Paul describes the church is wonderfully compelling. A healthy church is becoming more and more a diverse family joined together in apostolic partnership, giving themselves to the Lord. "Church" is not just a cold organization, but is made up of real people, people like Timothy and Epaphroditus. As a sent people, the church is commissioned to spread the news of Christ to all peoples of the world, including right where we live.

God's heart for the Church is not that we would just stay in one place. The God who created us also created us for mission. He wants us to be built up as sons and daughters in a family and then sent out, carrying the clear mission of Christ. It takes faith to be sent, and it means learning to make our home in Christ, trusting Him. It will be costly, and it will mean getting out of our comfort zones. This is true, whether we are called to the nations 'out there' or called to the nations right here in our own city or town. 

How can we identify genuine prophetic ministry in the church today? Are there hallmarks in Scripture to help us evaluate this? Absolutely. Rather than leaving the church fearful and uncertain, New Testament prophetic ministry expresses the love of Christ for His people, moves us forward in faith, and builds up the whole church, encouraging, and restoring hope. Do we need prophecy in the church today? Yes, we do. Sam Poe reminds us of this essential and life-giving role of prophecy in the local church today.

No matter who you are, no matter where you are, God wants to build a sure foundation into your life. What kind of foundation is this? Whatever other distinctives we have, there are four key things that every local church is meant to build well: the foundation of grace, of family, of life in the Holy Spirit, and of mission.

Are we called to mature in Christ? Absolutely. Are we called to do it in our own strength and ability? No. God Himself is at work in us both to will and to work in us, helping us to outwork His purpose in the earth. We are a people who shine like stars, and God is committed to helping us shine brightly and effectively. Together, we can rejoice in the ways He is maturing each of us; we can celebrate one another's sacrifice, service, and faith exploits. All of life, even our hardship, is an opportunity to shine.

Who is this Jesus that we worship? Is He so full of His own reputation that He's hard to be around? Is He always focused only on His own advancement? Paul's description of the attitude of Jesus reflects something different altogether. Embracing humility, even unto death. And not just any death, but death on a cross. Because Jesus was secure in the Father, He didn't need to grasp for authority, and neither do we. We don't have to compete with one another, and that wouldn't reflect Jesus at all. We can have the same humble attitude that Jesus did, serving our Father and one another with complete trust that the Father will take excellent care of us. And then one day, we will ultimately join with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ together, across the globe and across generations, bowing our knees and exalting Jesus. His name is the name above every other name!

After Jesus rises from the dead, He reveals himself to many of His disciples. For whatever reason, Thomas is not present for these first encounters, and for a full week he is hearing the claims of Jesus' resurrection, but does not believe. Thankfully, Jesus includes skeptics like Thomas! He invites Thomas to look and to touch and to believe. Jesus is still helping and influencing our faith today, coming to us and revealing Himself in various ways. He often reveals himself through His Spirit working through others. He also reveals Himself through the Holy Spirit-inspired story of Scripture. Just as Jesus came intentionally to help a disciple like Thomas to believe,  He also knows just how to reveal Himself to us.