East End Christian Church Podcast

No, the video itself isn't twisted - its just the introduction played before each of the Twisted series of sermons.

If there is one amazing gift that God has given us, it is love. But, not the idea of love that we have become so accustomed to. God's love is more than just romantic feelings or a strong desire or the devotion of Romeo and Juliet. God's love is sacrifice, it thinks of others before self in many ways it is contrary to what we know as love. Of course God's greatest gift is the adversary's greatest weapon.Love means Sacrificev16 - This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothersReal Love is Physicalv18 - Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.Real Love is not Risky - It Removes Riskv20 - For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything

What does it mean to be free? Sometimes we think it means we can do whatever we want - but that is way too selfish of an attitude. Freedom gives us the ability to do for others instead of simply looking out for ourselves. Self-Focus leads to sin and slavery, sacrifice leads to freedom.Freedom Isn't FreeIf the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. - v36Freedom is a ChoiceEveryone who sins is a slave to sin. -v34Freedom is a LifestyleThen you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. -v32If you hold to my teaching, you are truly my disciples. -v31

Money itself isn't bad. It can do great things when used correctly. It is when money is used incorrectly that problems start. When we recognize where money comes from and how it should be used, it can be a wonderful tool. When we think only of ourselves money gets twisted into greed and we get twisted in the process.Money is FROM GodMoney is FOR GodThrough Other PeopleThrough the ChurchMoney becomes greed when we focus on US instead of GOD

Why do bad things happen? Where does evil come from?Only God has the power to create something completely new. (Everything man has "created" is actually just rearranging the stuff that was already there.) Everything God created was good. So, where does the bad stuff come from. We read in the Bible that Satan (the accuser, the tempter, the adversary) is a liar. Some of his greatest lies are taking the good things God has created and twisting them (or our understanding of them) into something they are not. This has happened since the very beginning and it still happens today. Genesis 3:1-6 tells the story of the first twist.Doubt - "Did God Really Say?"Question God's word and His willDeceit - "You will not surely die."Remove or reduce the consequencesDesire - "You will be like God."Focus on you, not on God

So, we've identified that we need to be filled only with Jesus and started to look at what it is that keeps each of us from being filled. Now, how do we bring all of this together? How do we keep from becoming like the Jerusalem crowds who welcomed Jesus into the city with palm branches and singing, then shouted for his crucifixion just a few days later? In order for this to happen, we have to take a good, solid look at ourselves and make some changes.Stop the Routinev9 "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan Woman"Yield to God's Wayv19 ""I can see that you are a prophet"Go - Worship & Tell - v20 & 39v20 "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain..."v39 "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony.

Americans are switching religions and churches at record rates. We are used to being given choices in everything in life, why should church be any different? The only time we don't keep choosing is when we've found something that works. So, what is the church's purpose? What is it meant to do? The answer can be found in the interaction Jesus has with a Samaritan woman he meets at a well. Here we find what the church is supposed to do and what keeps us individually from achieving that goal.

We all know we’re supposed to forgive, but why? And how much? And who? When Peter comes to Jesus with these questions, he responds with what can seem like a simple answer and with a parable. Together these answer the questions and show us that mercy is an attitude, not an account. An Attitude - v21-22We Give - v23-27We Receive - v28-31An Ultimatum - v32-35

The church exists for a number of reasons, but they all focus on relationships - the relationship between God and his people, the relationship that exists between those people and the relationship they have with those outside the church. Jesus confirmed this when he was asked about the greatest commandment. In order for a church to survive, it must find a balance between and within these relationships. Who better to ask about these relationships than those people who live them out on a daily basis?WorshipSing and Serve - Matthew 4:10EdificationKnow and Do - 1 Peter 2:5FellowshipWork and Play - 1 Thessalonians 5:11EvangelismReaping and Sowing - Matthew 13:1-30

Sin cuts. It divides us - people from God and people from people. One of God's Goals for us is to work to undo the damage that sin does. We have to look at how sin divides us and what we can do to pull people back together instead of pulling each other apart.Individual Importance - v12-14Everyone is the ONEStart Small, Stay Simple - v15-17Limit the AudienceDivine Design - v18"your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" - 6:10Stronger Together - v19-20

Do you ever feel like you're fighting a losing battle? Like you keep trying and trying, but never get anywhere. There are times when we all feel that way. We see a goal and we try to get to it, but we can't ever seem to get there. Sometimes we set the wrong goals. Sometimes there are obstacles in our path that we just can't get past. And sometimes those obstacles are us. God gives us goals that we should all have for our lives, goals that we can all reach. But, we can only reach them if we learn not to get in the way.Welcome the Weaker - Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. v5Open YourselfCut the Cause - If your hand or foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. - v8Sacrifice YourselfDon't look Down - See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. - v10Examine Yourself

We all have secrets, things that we are afraid to tell anyone for fear of what it would do to the relationship. So, we hide these things inside, we push them down and try to cover them up. But, in truth these secrets act like a wedge between us and other people. The more we push them down, the further we push people away. If these secrets are sins, they drive the same kind of wedge between us and God. We long to feel close to God and to live real, authentic lives, but in order to do so we have to face the truth for real.InsideTrue to Ourselves"You are the man!" - 2 Samuel 12True to GodHe will forgive us - 1 John 1:9OutsideTrue to OthersConfess your sins to EACH OTHER - James 5:16True to Life...and the truth will set you free. - John 8:32

“Just follow your heart.” “Find your own truth.” “What’s true for you isn’t necessarily true for me.” “There is nothing that is absolutely true.” Sound familiar? Have you heard these ideas before, from Hollywood or your friends or neighbors? Maybe you even think this for yourself. Sometimes things just feel right when at another time they felt wrong. There are some things that you’ve heard are wrong that just feel so right. How can we know that there is such a thing as absolute truth that applies to everyone. If we as Christians have found absolute truth, how should we respond to it? What should we do with it?We cannot move or bend the truth:In those days Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. - Judges 21:25"You have let go of the commands of God and are hanging onto the traditions of men.” - Mark 7:8We must follow the Word of truth as it is written: Matthew 4v4 - “It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”The Truth sustains usv7 - "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”The truth is provenv10 - “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”The truth guides us

The world we live in doesn't know what truth is. We are used to being lied to, cheated and swindled. We forget what the world looks like without wool pulled over our eyes. In the midst of this, we have come to think that there is more than one truth, more than one right way. If we want to handle the truth properly, we have to recognize that in the midst of this culture there is only one truth. There is only one way. Some may think this idea is arrogant or closed-minded, but that doesn't make it any less true. That's the great thing about truth - it's true.1 Kings 18:16-39The Truth sheds Light - v18The Truth demands a Choice - v21The Truth has POWER - v391 Tim 2:5-6 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men...

Do you know who you are? Do you act like it? We can know that God made us special, that he created us for a purpose, that he loaned us this life for a reason - but if we don’t act on this knowledge it doesn’t do us any good. We must remember that God made us salt and light that is useful and powerful. No matter what the situation, faith makes a difference.Matthew 5:13-16You are the Salt of the Earth - v13not JUST flavorbut ALWAYS saltyYou are the Light of the World - v14-16not JUST shiningbut NEVER hiding

You work hard. You do the right things and say the right things. You persevere despite the opposition, but why? Because it’s the right thing to do? Because God said so? They are good reasons, but not the right reason. Love must be our motivation, our guide and our sustenance. BUT, what happens when we don’t feel that love? We felt it before, but it seems to be gone now. We often try to find something else (some new teacher or group or program or book) to bring that excitement back. God doesn’t say to find something new. He says to go back to basics.You're Doing well... - v2 BUTYou've forsaken your first love. v4Tongues - Love = Noise (1 Cor 13:1)Knowledge + Power - Love = Nothing (1 Cor 13:2)Good Deeds + Sacrifice - Love = Nothing (1 Cor 13:3)SORenew Your Love - v5Remember the height from which you have fallenRepentRe-Do the things you did at first

What’s important to you?What do you invest in? Things that make you noble, or things that make you just like everyone else? Throughout history it has become apparent that most men do not value anything but themselves. The same cannot be said of God. If we are going to lives our lives on loan from God, we must do what God would have us do with them. This means valuing the things that God values and living according to those values.Isaiah 32:8 - But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.A Noble Man Values Purpose - v1-2...if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. - 1 John 4:11-12Noble Plans Value Preparation - v3-4Seeing - Hearing - Knowing - TellingNoble Deeds Value People - v5-7Do you SEE this woman? - Luke 7:36-44

Jacob wanted to be someone else. He was jealous of what his brother had and what he was going to get. Sound familiar? In today's world we are constantly told what we should want and what we should try to be. But what about what God wants us to be? He created us as individuals with specific talents, faults, friends and connections to serve Him. Plus, he gave us a new life in His son, one fraught with benefits that enable us to make the most of the life God loaned us.Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17As a new creation in Jesus, YOU Are:A Child of God - John 1:12A Friend of God - John 15:15Forgiven - Psalm 103:2-3Loved - John 3:16NEEDED - Matthew 9:35-38We LIVE in the harvest field. God put us there because He needs us there.

What do you do to get ready for church on Sunday? What should you do? If we look at the reasons for having a regular church service, it becomes clear that we have a lot to do before we come to church - and I'm not talking about your hair or your make-up. We have to prepare our hearts, minds and most importantly our attitudes before we even think about worshiping God and fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters.It's NOT about ME!"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices...this is your spiritual act of worship." - Romans 12:1It IS about HIM"God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached..." - 1 Corinthians 1:21It IS about THEM"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." - Luke 19:10"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Matthew 22:37-39

Why do you attend the church you attend? Chances are that at some point someone you already had a relationship with invited you. This is the way that an overwhelmingly large majority of church attenders first came to church and it is the way that most people who are not Christians will become Christians. Before He was taken up to heaven, Jesus gave us the job of creating disciples in all the world. This process doesn't start on Sundays. It starts on Mondays, when we go back out into the world and create relationships with others, giving them a fleshly, personal link to God.Prepare a Plan"...he had compassion on them..." - Matthew 9:36Pray, Pray, Pray"Devote yourselves to prayer..." - Colossians 4:2Personal Petition"...make the most of every oppoortunity" - Colossians 4:5I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

When a fault is found in the foundation of a building project, work is immediately stopped and the problem is removed. When sin appears in our lives we tend to not do the same thing. We go on living, trying our best to pretend that nothing has happened. If this goes on too long we lose our hatred of sin, we cease to be aware of its damaging effects and we wonder what could have caused the problems in our lives. When the Israelites returned from exile to rebuild the Temple, they knew they had to get rid of the sin in their midst that had been plaguing them for generations. If we are to rebuild our relationships with God, we must rid ourselves of the sin that has weakened that relationship in the past. It is not enough just to rebuild, we must ReBuild Stronger than before.ConfrontContrite - Isaiah 66:2bAppalled at our sin - Ezra 9:3-4Bothered by its impact - 9:7Concerned for a future with sin - 9:14Confess - 1 John 1:9Admit we did wrong - 10:2Blame only ourselves -Call on God for ForgivenessControl - Hebrews 10:22Actions - 10:3ConscienceBow to God as Lord

There is something sad about an unfinished building. So much promise and hard work that will never reach its full potential. Does God feel the same way looking at our lives? What gets in the way of our efforts to build a relationship with God? What can we do to overcome these obstacles? And why are they there in the first place?OppositionComes looking for us - Ezra 4:1-4Can hinder us, but not stop us - Ezra 4:5, 24Building Despite OppositionGod's Word and God's People - Ezra 5:1-2Always Do the Right Thing - Ezra 5:8-10Opposition Becomes Opportunity - Ezra 6:8-10James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds...