Encounter Community Church

Do you believe at your very core and in every fiber of your being that Jesus loves you? You may be surprised to realize that your faith may be strongest when you think it is the weakest. Sometimes, what is taught is security actually leads to greater insecurity in our faith. What if we flipped the script?

It is a fact of life that we all go through suffering at some point in life. This issue is, what do we learn from it? How do we take the disappointments of life to build us up, make us stronger, increase our influence, grow in our trust in God?

Many times, we hear about the miracles. We celebrate the successes. We are drawn to God showing up big. But, what if there is something better on the other side? Did you know that the greatest act in the history of mankind was the result of unanswered prayer?

“I think it's time for our relationship to reach the next level.” This is usually code for it's time for us to get sexual. Also, there is question of how many times do you go out before you have sex with someone. In this podcast, we get very real and very candid about sex. Ken shares everything that he wishes he had known and hopefully it helps you avoid some of the mistakes he made in life. If you are married, he also gives suggestions on how to rekindle your flame.

Look at the circle of people you have in your life; do you think you can rely on them when the going gets tough? Do they challenge you and make you a better person? If you don't have those people, how do you find them? What do you look for?

If friendships and relationships were bricks, then trust would be the mortar that holds them together. How do we develop that trust in a healthy way? How do we know that someone is trustworthy? Link to see Relationship Attachment Model: www.encountercommunity.church/podcasts/2022/2/17/how-to-build-trust-without-breaking-your-heart

We have seen the story too many times. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl jump into a relationship far too quickly. Boy and girl break up because they never truly knew one another. This is not just true of dating and marriage. What is the secret to truly knowing someone and being known by someone?

Everyday, we face a battle right between our ears. The lies we believe not only impact our responses, emotions, and actions. They can create negative character traits that cause us to struggle. Have you ever been frustrated because you try to change but continue to fall back into old patterns? Today, we wrap up the winning the war in your mind series by looking at practical tools to reclaim our brains back from the lies that believe.

Negative experiences of our past tend to color our perspective on the circumstances of our present. How do we disarm the pattern of thinking that can undermine our success, relationships, friendships, career, etc? Grab a pen and be ready to take notes on what can lead to your breakthrough.

If our greatest battle is in our mind, how do we change our thoughts? How do we drown out the lies that hinder our lives? This week, is a week we rediscover hope and break free from that negative train of thoughts that hinder and defeat us.

Our thoughts are powerful. They change our perspective, impact our decisions, and influence our habits. But what do we do when we become trapped by our thoughts, unable to escape negative and unhealthy thinking? Let's learn what it means to win the war in our minds. Questions for the thought audit: DEFENSE (protecting your mind): Are my thoughts tearing me down?Do I think worried thoughts?Does my self-talk cause me to shrink back in fear?Do my thoughts cause me to keep people at a distance?Are my unhealthy thoughts keeping me from the life I want?Are my unhealthy thoughts keeping me from the life God wants for me?Are my thoughts negative, toxic, or self-deprecating?Does my inner voice tell me I'm helpless or that life is hopeless?Do I find myself skeptical of others? [Your Notes] Do I lean toward imagining worst-case scenarios? OFFENSE (moving towards God): Are my thoughts building me up?Do I think peaceful thoughts? Does my self-talk inspire me to take faith risks? Do my thoughts help me get closer to others? Do my thoughts reflect my faith? Are my thoughts God-honoring? Do my thoughts reflect my hope in Christ? Do they inspire me to believe I can make a difference in the world? Do they equip me to become more like Jesus? Do my thoughts connect to the vision God has for my life? Groeschel, Craig. Winning the War in Your Mind (pp. 23-26). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To contact Ken: encountercommunity18749@gmail.com

Christmas season may be over but the gifts are not. The celebration of a new year is a gift from God because it is the chance to be reinvented and become something new. However, the key is to learn what to get rid of to make space for the new.

Where do you find completion and wholeness? The bigger questions is, “If you lose it, do you lose you?” Many times, we don't know where to turn for completion until it is lost. We wrap up 2021 by looking at finding a wholeness that can never be taken away from us.

What is it that makes someone a champion? Why is that important during this holiday season? Jesus being our champion means that He will fight for us and in this podcast and we'll explain how.

Christmas is more than the origin story of Jesus Christ. The gifts of Christmas are pregnant with incredible possibilities of what Jesus could offer to us. What if, Christmas not only open the door of eternity with Jesus but it offers gifts that can be applied to our lives right now. This week, we explore the first gift - a perfect counselor to guide us in our life and our choices to be the best version of ourselves.

Are there decisions that we could make and practices that we could implement that builds a rock solid faith? People with a rock solid faith have implemented these three practices in their lives. https://www.encountercommunity.church/bible-study

One element that shows up in the life of people with rock solid faith is a value of and for relationships. They understand that their success is built on the shoulders of those who invested in them and gave them that opportunity. Then, they take what they have learned and invest it into someone else. Who are the people for whom you are grateful? Who is grateful for you?

When you hear the stories of people with incredible faith, you'll find that many are involved in serving others in some capacity. Nothing causes us to depend on God more than pushing through our inadequacies to help other people. Serving in ministry gives us a chance to see God's faithfulness and in turn builds our trust in Him.

How do we get that rock solid faith? We're talking the kind of confidence that cannot be shaken during the rough spots of life. They say that, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” What do you do when life hands you the whole orchard?

It is true that we have a limited amount of energy. With that being true, are we using that energy to be our best self? Are we investing our energy into things that will replenish us or will drain us?

How do we overcome the habits, mindsets, and shortcomings that defeat us? You have tried getting rid of tempting stuff. You have tried working harder. You have tried ____________ (fill-in-the-blank). But, what is the key to defeating what defeats me?

Why would God choose me? At my best, I am still flawed. Maybe His choice of me is not based on what I thought it would be. How does God choose people? The answer may surprise you and lead you to look at and think of Him and you differently.

If we look around us, we can see the brokenness that exists in our world raising a very simple but challenging question. What are we going to do about it? How can we become harbingers of hope? How can we bring healing to this nation? Are we willing to take on that responsibility?

Is it true that you can be a Christian and not be a part of church? What if there is something that we're missing? If you are still a part of a church, we explore how to get the most out of it.

There is so much competition for our attention. Just think about the apps on your Smart TV. Then, you add in social media, family, work, boss, kids,friends, etc. Is the current pace of life, information, and distraction suffocating our souls? How does this affect our soul and what is the soulution?

What is the secret sauce of prayer? In today's podcast, we will talk about what to pray about and give practical tools that will help add focus and value to your prayer life.

Have you ever walked into the a gym to get in shape and be intimidated by all of the machines? The same can be said about reading the Bible. Where do we start? Do we just open it up and start reading or is there a plan that we can follow? This week, Ken gets into the motivation for reading and the how to create a rich experience when you read and study it. Links discussed in the podcast: Read the New Testament in 40 Days Read the New Testament in a Year Sample reading plan included with messages S.O.A.P. method S - Scripture O - Observation A - Application P - Prayer Can be taken to apply to any passage of scripture. S-write down the passage that you are reading. Pick a verse or two that grabs your attention.  O-write out what you see happening in the passage. A-identify at least one action, mindset, or practice that you want to implement into your life P-write out a prayer for implementing the application Link to Ken's sample

Many of us have been there. You start to work out and maybe even see some results but somewhere along the lie you lose your motivation. You start reading your Bible, praying, or other spiritual habits only to lose your mojo. How do we maintain our discipline over the long haul? Why is discipline even important? Why do I need it at all?

Many of us have been taught what it looks like to be a good Christian. But, what if that misses the mark? What if our idea is contradictory to the idea of Jesus? This week, we explore the path and how to know if we are on the right one.

Jesus challenged us to love our neighbor as ourselves. But, what if I don't even like myself? How do I love someone with something that I don't have? This week, we look at two obstacles that stop us from loving ourselves and how to overcome them.

Ken's special guest this week is Ariel Mariano, Encounter's worship leader. She has recently released an EP. In this podcast, she shares the story of her journey and how the EP is a dive into her soul. She shares her challenges with heartache, pain, singleness and the power of hope. Click here to listen to Ariel's EP on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/album/0Of5C9424EVCnycnzsmoRW?si=Rad77xonQgKQ8dbBE_Xhfg Click here to support Ariel by purchasing her music on Apple Music. https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-him-hurt-inside-me-ep/1564709218

God has designed our lives to have a story to tell. A major component of that story is our journey of becoming who God created us to be. We become as we learn how to love God with all that we have. This week, Ken dives into what that looks like.

What does it take to create a safe environment for change? Every single one of us has a weakness. Family should be a haven that allows us to struggle, process, learn, and overcome our shortcomings.

According to statistics, the current divorce rate is 40 to 50 percent. Although it is better than decades past, there is still room for improvement. How do we keep our family from failing and becoming a statistic?

What if you could change the trajectory of your family? Many times, we do not catch the drift of our family until we hit a crisis. Developing a family vision will set the tone for the family you want, redirect a struggling family, or strengthen a healthy family.

Is it possible to disagree without drawing battle lines? With the growing divide happening in America, we must learn how to stand on the opposite side without declaring my opponent my enemy. This week, Ken looks at how to disagree without burning bridges.

Mom's are a beacon of love for us. Many of us owe our successes to her. However, moms can also be the ones that we take for granted. The job of a mom is tough and can be overbearing. This week, we give our moms some of the love that they have given to us.

There can be nothing more devastating than betrayal. How do you recover when someone you trusted breaks your heart?

One mistaken post, statement, pic, or video can get you fired and possibly destroy your future. The tide of anger seems to be growing with the increased capacity of social media to influence our lives. In this age of cancel culture, how do we deal with angering situations without allowing it to consume us?

Marriage isn't easy, even for the most in love couples. When we say, "I do," we have a dream of what our marriage could be. But then, reality and the challenges of life kick in. It is possible to rediscover the dream and restore your love.

Who is that person who made a significant difference in your life? Did you know that God has called and expects us to do that for someone else? In our final installment of how to be the GOAT, we examine the one mark that makes all GOATs great and that is to inspire, support, resource, and build others to achieve their own greatness!

Have you ever met someone that just had "it"? You couldn't quite put your finger on it but, there was something about them. One thing that all GOAT's have in common is that "It" factor.

What does it mean to be great? If we are going to be the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), we need to figure out what is greatness and what Jesus says about how to attain it.

Imagine stepping into your God given greatness. What would it look like for you to begin to discover and and live out your gifts, talents, and calling? You can step into your greatness as a dad, mom, wife, husband, student, teacher, employer, employee, etc. Here is how to lay the foundation for it to become reality.

How do you know when your faith is real? If you go to a cardiologist, they may put you through a stress test on a treadmill to measure the health of your heart. We will see how Jesus allows us to go through stress tests of life to give us confidence in our faith.

Just imagine that you are going out to do your everyday, mundane practice and all of a sudden you meet the Savior of the World. In this one moment, you are exposed to your unrealized potential and favor that await those who follow Him.

Bills, relational problems, physical challenges, and other hardships can be so pressing that we fail to realize our true and greatest need. This week, we look at not getting the two confused and accepting God's solution.

2020 and the beginning of 2021 has exposed a missing ingredient in America. What's the secret sauce of the overcoming life? What do we need so that problems do not have final the say?

2020 was an incredibly tough year for so many of us. How do you navigate life when the swells are monstrous, the winds are impossible, and you cannot get your bearing? What if the bottom drops out and the boat sinks? How do you hold on to hope when you want to throw in the towel?

Many of us watched the insurrection on the Capitol filled with disbelief. Can this be happening in America? Where do we go from here? What's the hope of our nation? Can we overcome the tough issues that divide us? Ken shares our hope and yes we can!

Why is it that we struggle so much with keeping resolutions? Maybe the problem is not the resolution but the motivation behind it. This week, Ken examines the not so hidden secret that may help us to make our resolutions a reality.