Escape urself Podcast

Sunday, May 25 2025Worship at the ParkRomans 7:14-25 Have you ever known exactly what you should do but for somereason struggled to do it?  Or have you ever known exactly what you should not do but for some reason you did it anyway?  You are not alone in this struggle.   The author of Romans had the same struggle we still have today.   Thequestion is not how can we be set free from this struggle.  The question is who will set us free! 

Sunday, May 18th 2025Romans 7:1-13 Freedom From…When you come to Jesus and offer your life to Him we areoffered freedom from so many different things. Freedom from the power over sin in our lives.  Freedom from spiritual death and separationfrom God.   But what about freedom fromthe law? 

Sunday, May 11 2025Romans 6:15-23Slaves to Rightousness

Sunday, May 4th 2025 Dead or AliveRomans 6:1-14 Which are you?  Dead to sin or alive in Christ?

Sunday, April 27th 2025What is greater? Original Sin or Original Grace?Romans 5:12-21 Last week we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus! This week, we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! And we will do that every week until Jesus calls us home or He returns! This week in the book of Romans we will be reading about how much greater the one righteous act of Jesus is than the trespass of Adam. This truth is important to understand and it happens to be a perfect follow up to resurrection Sunday. We cannot wait to share it with you.

Sunday, April 20th 2025 This Sunday is resurrection Sunday, Easter, as we call it. But before Jesus walked out of that tomb on Easter morning, He had shared something with His closest friends.   He and the disciples were gathered together on Thursday night in an upper room.   He shared many things with them that night.  One of them was this truth found in John 16:20.  “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”  Their grief would turn tojoy?  They did not know why they would soon be grieving.   The next day as they grieved there is no way they understood how that grief could possibly turn to joy.  Then came Sunday.   God has been turning the grief of man into joy since thebeginning.  Maybe you are in a place of grief today.  The trials of this world have left you beaten and broken.  Would you consider coming to Jesus and allowing Him to turn your grief into joy as only He can?

Sunday, April 13th 2025The Lord's Supper…This Sunday, we began Holy Week. A week we set apart to remember the last week of Jesus' life as well as His death, burial, and resurrection. We want to invite you and your family to come and be a part of it with us. Maybe you remember the events from earlier in life. Maybe you have never had them shared with you before. We pray that God gives us an opportunity to share them with you this year. And to let you know that it all happened for you.

Sunday, April 6th, 2025 The Last Supper…This week, we will begin our 3-week Easter series.  We want to invite you and your family to come and be a part of it with us.  The truth of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection must be shared with everyone.  Maybe you remember the events from earlier in life.  Maybe you have never had them shared with you before.   We pray that God gives us an opportunity to share them with you this year.  And to let you know that it all happened for you. 

Sunday, March 30th 2025 Romans 5:1-11God Really, Really Loves us Romans 5:88 But God demonstrates his own lovefor us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.He did this for you.

Sunday, March 23rd  2025 Romans 4Abraham's FaithWho was Abraham? How was Abraham saved?  When was Abraham saved?  What were the elements of Abraham's saving faith?  Why does this matter to us today?  

Sunday, March 16th 2025 Romans 3:21-31Justified by Faith What does that title even mean?  Justified by faith?  What does it mean to be justified?  What is true saving faith?   In our text this week Paul simply explains why and how this is true.  It is abeautiful picture of how much God loves us and the lengths He went to to save us.  These are the foundational truths offaith in Jesus and we cannot wait to share them with you.

Sunday, March 9th 2025 Romans 3:1-20Nobody?  Really, nobody? 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11  there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” That seems like such harsh language, but it is the truth.  Paul is trying to relay this truth so that everyone knows salvation is simply not possible on our own.   We all must accept the grace that is found through faith in Jesus in order to be saved. Who was Paul talking to?  How does that relate to us today?   We can't wait to share all of that and more with you on Sunday.

Sunday, March 2nd 2025God is fair, we are not...Romans 2 One of the biggest complaints against the Church and against Christians is that we are too judgmental. Another is the hypocrisy that can exist within the church. Can these accusations be accurate? Absolutely. Should they be? No. In this chapter of Romans, Paul begins sharing how the people of God have gotten it wrong for a long time. As well as how we need to keep these attitudes out of the church today. It is a challenging chapter for us all.

Sunday, February 23rd 2025Romans 1:18-32Is winter over yet?  I really hope this past week was the last of the cold and the snow.  This winter has been hard on many people.  Not only have we had more snow and cold than the past few years but it seems there is more sickness goingaround as well.  What a blessing it would be if we all took a moment and checked on our family, friends and neighbors tosee how they are holding up.  This week we will continue our discussion of Paul's letter to the Romans.  What some people call the greatest explanation of the Gospel in all of the Bible.   This week Paul shares with us the truth of our disobedience.  God absolutely loves us.  So much that He gave His one and only Son Jesus to die in our place.  But God is also true to His Word. 

Sunday, February 16th  2025 Romans 1:1-17This week we will being our discussion of Paul's letter tothe Romans.  What some people call the greatest explanation of the Gospel in all of the Bible.   But what is the Gospel?  Some simply say it is the good news.  The good news about what?  Why is it good?  We could not be more excited to begin toshare this good news with you this Sunday! 

Sunday, February 9th 2025Romans 1:16-17I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."This verse is our theme as we begin a study of one of the most powerful letters in all of the New Testament. Paul's letter to the Roman church has been called the greatest explanation of the Gospel in all of the Bible. Why is this letter held in such high regard? Maybe you have heard the word Gospel before and you are wondering what the word even means. Over the next several weeks we will go through the entire letter together. We want to be very intentional about challenging the believer throughout this series. But we must also must be just as deliberate about informing the prebeliever about the truth and love, and grace and mercy, and righteousness of God. So that they can come to a saving knowledge of Him!

Sunday, January 26 2025Lord, Help Me Be Generous with my treasures and my resources.How generous you are just might be determined by what you think about these three things. Time, talent, treasures. When someone asks you to serve, whose time are you giving up? When someone is in need of skills you have, are those your skills? When you consider giving and you look at your finances, whose money is it? If it is your time, your skills and your money it will be very hard to be generous. However, if it is God's time, after all He created it and He alone knows how much you have. If it is God who has blessed you with the skills and abilities you have. If we realize that everything we have is actually owned by our Heavenly Father in the first place, then generosity in all three areas becomes an act of thanksgiving back to our God! Using our time, talent, and treasures for His glory is an act of worship!

Sunday, January 19th 2025 Lord, Help Me Be Generous with my talents, skills, and abilities.   How generous you are just might be determined by what you think about these three things. Time, talent, treasures. When someone asks you to serve, whose time are you giving up? When someone is in need of skills you have, are those your skills? When you consider giving and you look at your finances, whose money is it? If it is your time, your skills and your money it will be very hard to be generous. However, if it is God's time, after all He created it and He alone knows how much you have. If it is God who has blessed you with the skills and abilities you have. If we realize that everything we have is actually owned by our Heavenly Father in the first place, then generosity in all three areas becomes an act of thanksgiving back to our God! Using our time, talent, and treasures for His glory is an act of worship!

Sunday, January 12th 2025 Lord, Help Me Be Generous with my time. How generous you are just might be determined by what you think about these three things.  Time, talent, treasures.  When someone asks you to serve, whose time are you giving up?  When someone is in need of skills you have, are those your skills?  When you consider giving and you look at your finances, whose money is it?  If it is your time, your skills and your money it will be very hard to be generous.  However, if it is God's time, after all He created it and He alone knows how much you have.  If it is God who has blessed you with the skills and abilities you have.  If we realize that everything we have is actually owned by our Heavenly Father in the first place then generosity in all three areas becomes an act of thanksgiving back to our God!  Using our time, talent, and treasures for His glory is an act of worship!

Sunday, January 5 2025   2025 has begun!   What's your plan for the new year?  2025 was so far into the future, most of us probably thought it would never happen. But now we are here!  So, do you have any special plans for the new year?  Here is what we know.   Even if you do not have one single thing on your agenda, God does.  Even if you do not have a relationship with Him, He is pursuing one with you.  Have you ever wondered if your life is what God wants it to be?

Sunday, December 29, 2024 Not what I expected…   Christmas has come and gone and the new year is upon us but before we get there, I have a question for you.  Have you ever been disappointed?  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, December 22nd, 2024 Holy Night for ALL the peopleLuke 2:8-20 Because Jesus came we must… How would you finish that sentence? This week we will look at one final role the shepherds played on that Holy Night when Christ was born. There is a challenge for each of us within their example from that night. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Holy Night of Great Joy! Luke 2:8-15 What is your life filled with?  Is it happiness?  Is it stress?  Is it family and friends?  Is it pain and sorrow?  Is it busyness, anxiousness, fear, or doubt?  This season seems to bring out several of those in the lives of many.  The truth that we will share this week from scripture could be summed up this way.  Jesus came for ALL the people to bring us GREAT JOY.   And yes, that ALL includes you and me.  But what is joy?  Where do I find Joy?  How do I obtain joy?    Those are great questions!  We pray that God will persuade you to listen so we can begin to reveal the answers to you from the Word of God.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, December 8th 2024 Holy Night…For ALL the People Luke 2:8-15   Thank you for taking a moment to read this.  We don't know who you are but God does.  He knew that today you would be randomly reading things online and come across this opportunity to connect with Him.  It is the time of year when Christmas is on everyone's mind.  We don't know how you feel about Christmas but we do know how God feels about you.  He loves you. No matter where you have been or what you have done, He loves you and He sent His Son Jesus for you.  The truth we will share this week from scripture could be summed up this way.  Jesus came for ALL the people.   And yes, that ALL includes you and me.  It does not matter if you feel like an outcast. If you are a little economically less fortunate. If you have a work schedule that keeps you from being part of everyday life.   Maybe you feel like you have no influence or no one will listen to you.  Maybe you are isolated or lonely.  Have you thought to yourself that your life seems meaningless or that you are unwanted?  You might be a lot like the main characters in the Bible verse this week.   No matter how you feel, God still has a good and perfect plan for your life!  A plan of redemption for you!  A plan that gives you incredible meaning and purpose and value!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Nothing is impossible for God... I cannot sum up the phrase that the angel Gabriel shared with Mary in this short description. What I can do is tell you that those words from the angel were both a declaration and an invitation. A declaration of the truth that nothing is impossible for God. An invitation for Mary and Joseph to remember all the ways God has done the impossible throughout the history of their people! It is also an invitation for us to remember the impossible works of Jesus and the impossible way that He loves us and has changed our lives. Thanks for listening! We hope to meet you in person at Berea soon! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

This week we have invited Dr. Jim Evans from Community Christian Counseling to join us. There has never been a greater need for Biblically based Christian Counseling. This ministry works with all ages and a variety of mental health and life issues that people face. We are grateful for the work that this ministry does throughout the Wabash Valley, across Indiana and even in other countries via online counseling. https://communitychristiancounselinginc.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

We are really excited about the next few weeks here at Berea!  As we prepare for the holiday season, we are going to take a look at one of our greatest focuses here at Berea.  This family of believers has been devoted to this calling for a very long time.    Missions are one way that we reach out to the world around us with the love of Jesus. This week we will be taking a look at 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. How are we to persuade others? What is it that Jesus' love compels us to do? How are we to view the world around us? What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ? We cannot wait to share these important truths with you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Our theme for these next few weeks is “The Heart of God”. Throughout this series we will be highlighting a few of the missions we support here at Berea. Our family at Berea has a heart for missions. We have partnered with 17 different missions ranging from East Asia to right here in Brazil. It is incredible to see the ways that God is reaching people in need through these different ministries! But we long to be more than just a donor to these missions. We want to know them. We want to know their heart for God and the ways in which they are sharing the love of God with those they are reaching out to. We desire to have a relationship with every one of the missions we support. This week we will be sharing with you a ministry based in Terre Haute. You might have even seen their mobile unit right here in Brazil. It is the Crisis Pregnancy Center of the Wabash Valley. This ministry's mission to is support and encourage women and even the potential fathers who find themselves expecting a child and are uncertain what to do. This is a very important ministry that works every day to save the lives of the most vulnerable in our society and provide resources for expectant and new parents to provide for their child. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, October 27What an incredible day it was as we began to share with you the Heart of God through some of the missions that we support here at Berea Christian Church. Today we sat down with the director of Camp Illiana, Ben Miller. We are excited to partner with this incredible camp and to see the ways that they are reaching out to children and students of all ages with the love of Jesus! We encourage you to listen to all that our camp does throughout the year. And we pray that you might consider sending your student or young child to camp in the Summer of '25! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, October 13thThe Lion is Greater...Today's word is meant to remind us that King Jesus is greater than... Greater than what? Greater than the politics, the divisiveness, the hatred, the anger, and the evil that has separated our nation. We pray that today's message inspires you to be a part of the process to change things. It is an opportunity to give thanks to our God who has put us in this free country at this time and has given us the freedom to vote. The opportunity that so many have fought for and even died for. Beginning with Jesus. The one who willingly gave His life, without even trying to defend it so that we could have an even greater freedom in Him. Whose you are should influence every decision you make in life. We know that our God is on the throne and it is in Him alone that we place our trust. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, October 6th 202410:00 a.m.One step closerGod has laid some incredible things on the hearts of the leadership, staff, and family here at Berea. He has begun to lay out a vision for the church He desires for us to be. God has truly blessed us with an incredible opportunity at this moment in history to reach out and love people one step closer to Jesus in ways we have never dreamed before. This week we will begin to share some of that vision. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, September 29th  2024 10:00 a.m. Several times in the New Testament the church is referred to as the “Bride of Christ”.  Have you ever thought about what all that means?  How special is that title?  This is how Jesus sees His church and it is for this church that He will return!   The question becomes, what are we doing to get ready?  How are we, the Bride, preparing for His return?   God has laid some incredible things on the heart of the leadership, staff, and family here at Berea.  He has begun to lay out a vision for the church He desires for us to be.  God has truly blessed us with an incredible opportunity at this moment in history to reach out and love people one step closer to Jesus in ways we have never dreamed before.  This week we will begin to share some of that vision.  We will also be challenging our family at Berea to join together in a unified time of fasting and prayer leading up to a night of worship on Sunday, October 6th at 6:00 p.m.  It would truly be an honor to have you join our family this week.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, September 22nd 2024   If Jesus is not the Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all.     Matthew 22:37-40, some of you might recognize these words. “‘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.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   Are you all in?  This week God has led us to challenge our family here at Berea with all of the opportunities that He has given us to love others one step closer to Jesus.  We would love for you to join us and take that next step. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, September 15th 2024Heaven… Rev 21:1-3Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. What will Heaven be like? Where is Heaven now? How will things work in Heaven? On and on and on the list of questions go. We hear all kinds of really bad theology about Heaven, especially at funerals. John's revelation gives us a glimpse of some of the features of what it all looks like but it certainly does not paint the full picture. There are bits and pieces of information about Heaven throughout the Word of God but what awaits the faithful is even greater! This week we will focus on how you feel about Jesus' return and spending eternity with Him. Are you waiting for His return, or are you eagerly anticipating it? There is a huge difference! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, September 8th 2024 Grit Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   Grit can be defined as “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.”  Have you ever thought about this characteristic in relationship to faith?  We are to run with perseverance.  We can't give up, we can't quit.  But it is more than just hanging in there, it is more than just working hard or self-control or self-discipline.  We use those motivators to get through things that we do not want to do or things we have to do.   This race that we are running is our life, our life to be lived for God. Our hope in Him motivates us to finish the race. His love for us inspires us to press on.  His plan for our lives gives meaning to EVERYTHING we do, everything we go through.  Please consider joining us this week as we encourage one another in our faith. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, September 1st 2024 The Good Book   2 Timothy 3:16-17  16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   What good could come from words written between 2,00-3,500 years ago.  We are now living in an information age that bombards us with an overwhelming amount of information 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Unfortunately, we have learned much of that information will prove to be inaccurate at best, complete lies at worst.  What are we to do?  How are we to separate the truth from the lies?  There is a way…   This week we will not be focused on the Bible itself, but the power found within.  Within its words is a power inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.  A power to heal, to change lives, to alter your eternity.  Join us this week as we share the importance of the Good Book, God's Word within our lives.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, August 25th 2024Mentoring2 Timothy 2:2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.We are looking at 52 core passages, core principles found in the Bible that help to build the foundation of our faith. This week's verse presents a truth that many believers may not realize. As a follower of Jesus, we are called to help guide and direct other believers and prebelievers alike closer to Jesus. To help set an example in the faith for them. We will not be perfect examples because we are human but we serve a perfect God that can use even our imperfect examples to lead others to Him. The family of faith should be the best place to seek and find mentorship. However, too many believers are either unaware of or unwilling to take on that role. Please join us this week as we are challenged by the Word of God to both become a mentor and to seek out a mentor within our own life. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, August 18th 2024 Worry Philippians 4:6 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   Worry, no one is worried right now.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong in this world? In past ages it seemed that most people worried about the unknown.  Today with the 24/7 news cycle, social media, information overload the unknown has become known.  And so we worry.  And our God knew we would do just that.  So He gave us a formula to help us deal with worry and anxiety.  That formula is revealed to us through the apostle Paul in Philippians 4.   God's Word can and will help us through our anxiety, fear and worry.   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, August 11th 2024HumilityPhilippians 2:5-75 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.What does it mean to be humble? That is really not a word we use much these days. Honestly, it is not a very popular way to live. The idea of putting others first goes against nearly everything the world stands for. As a Christian, this should be our greatest call. Why is it so important? How can we live a humble life? Who can we look to as an example? We cannot wait to share the answers to all these questions and more this Sunday. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, August 4th 2024UnityEph 4:4-7There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.What a beautiful passage! This is the reason that everyone who believes in Jesus and has accepted Him as their Lord and Savior can stand united. This is the most important thing. But when you think of the word unity, does the church even come to mind?Jesus prayed to His Father for all of His followers to be unified in the same way that He and His Heavenly Father are unified. Complete unity. How are we doing with that? It has to break His heart to see how far we have strayed from His desire. How can we become the Church that God desires? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, July 28 2024 Grace Ephesians 2:8 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God   What is God's grace?  Who can receive it?  How can I get it?  God's grace is amazing!  Wait, that sounds like a song title?  Why do we still sing a song from the 1700's?  Because the words of Amazing Grace continue to express the power of the grace of God and bring people to realize their need for the grace of God.  This week we will share with you some of the most powerful words in the Bible.  Words that were reinforced by the life, ministry, death burial and resurrection of Jesus.     It is only through the grace of God that anyone can or will ever be saved.  Yes, it is that important.  But the grace of God should do so much more in the life of a believer.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, July 14 2024To know the will of God1 Corinthians 2:16“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Is it possible to know the will of God? Does He want you to know His will? The answers are simply yes and yes. The difficult truth is that “God is often more interested in revealing His will to us than we are in receiving It”. (Mark Moore, Core 52, 291) If God truly wants us to know His will then what must we do to discover it? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, July 7 2024Change Romans 12:2“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” God desires for all of us to change. Several years ago we came up with a simple phrase, “You will never be who God wants you to be by remaining who you are today.” This change begins when we change our mind and choose to follow Him. When accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. But the change should continue throughout our life as the Spirit of God molds us and shapes us more and more into the image of Jesus. The change will likely happen fast at times. While at others it might seem nonexistent. But it should never stop. And it all begins with our core verse for today. Have you begun to conform or change to the patterns, the thinking, the ideas of this world? Then please take this verse to heart and allow the Spirit of God to begin the transformation within you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, June 30th 2024FreedomRomans 8:1“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”No condemnation, the ultimate freedom. This week is an amazing reminder of the freedom that God helped to establish through mankind at the founding of our great nation. But there is a greater freedom that we have the opportunity to experience. A freedom that is not offered by any nation on earth nor can it be taken from you by any law of man. A freedom found only in the Truth of Christ. Jesus, who in John 14:6 tells us that He is the way, the TRUTH and the life. In John 8:32 Jesus challenges His followers telling them that if they hold to His teachings, then they will know the truth and the truth will set them free! A freedom only available to those who fully accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. A freedom we cannot wait to share with you this Sunday. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, June 23rd 2024A New Beginning: God's Solution to RacismActs 17:26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.“God's solution to racism”, you might be wondering what that might be? Does God have some revolutionary formula for ending one of man's most evil creations. Racism has been and is a successful war waged by satan through us, humanity. The very idea of racism opposes the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ in every way. It is satan's attempt to pit humanity against one another using God's glorious creation and the diversity found within as the source of the tension. The Church should be the most culturally, ethnically, economically diverse group of people on planet Earth and certainly within our community. How could that possibly happen? Thanks for listening and please help us out by sharing this message with others. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

The core verse for this week comes from the words of Peter on the day when the Good News of Jesus was shared with a huge crowd for the very first time.   When Peter was done, the crowd was cut to heart in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit had moved among the crowd and they knew they had to respond but they did not know how.  So they asked Peter what they must do.  “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”     Baptism is focused on throughout the New Testament.  Paul and the apostles emphasized it.  Jesus was baptized and commanded us to baptize others. How could we have made something so straightforward and simple, into something so controversial for some faith traditions and completely ignored by others?   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

Sunday, June 2nd 2024A New Beginning: The Holy SpiritActs 1:8This week's core verse takes us to a mysterious place. A plan that God has put into place to change us from the inside out. A power in the world that can soften the hardest heart and change the greatest skeptic into a believer. It is literally the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit that God has sent to dwell within all of those who believe and have given their lives to Jesus. This incredible gift is our focus this week. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

To Know: Through CommunionJohn 6:53The Core verse for today might be the most controversial teaching Jesus ever taught. His teaching was about what we call communion today. We will discuss why this was so controversial then and exactly what communion is all about for us today. This is one of the most important times of our service each week. It is also the only celebration that is shared by every church throughout history. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

May 10, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. To Know: Through WorshipJohn 4:24What do you worship? What does it mean to worship? It has been said that everybody worships something, is that true? If that is true than why does humanity have that in common? I know too many questions. This week we will share with you a conversation that Jesus had with someone who society believed He should not have been talking to. In this conversation He shares that true believers must worship God in Spirit and in truth. In order to do that don't we have to know what that means? Please join us to find out more this week. Have you ever wondered about God? Maybe you have even thought about going to church some Sunday. It does not matter if you have not been to church in a long time or if you have never been before. Our family at Berea would love to have you join us this Sunday. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

May 5, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. To Know: The Love of GodJohn 3:16You are loved. Not just with some worldly feeling but you are truly loved. You are loved with an unconditional, unmerited, unchangeable, sacrificial love. Did you know that? If so, have you embraced that love? If not, we pray that you are willing to explore this truth and find out more about this love that is pursuing you right now. This week we will share what some say is the most famous verse in all of the Bible. But just because it is famous does not mean that it is understood. Please join us as we share this incredible truth. Have you ever wondered about God? Maybe you have even thought about going to church some Sunday. It does not matter if you have not been to church in a long time or if you have never been before. Our family at Berea would love to have you join us this Sunday. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support

April 28, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. To Know: The IncarnationJohn 1:14We are studying 52 of the core principles, the foundations of our Christian faith. If you are curious, exploring or even having doubts about God and His plan then please allow God to use this opportunity to help you grow and learn. This week we are talking about the incarnation of Jesus. Yes, that is a big word. We will define it more fully on Sunday but in its simplest form it means to take on flesh, to become flesh. This is exactly what God did when He sent Jesus to Earth. Born as an infant to Mary and to live a fully human life in every way with one exception, He never sinned. Do you believe that God could or would do this? Much of the world does not. Many believe that if there is a God there is no way He would ever lower Himself to become one of us. Christians absolutely must believe this truth. It is an essential part of the identity of Jesus. Join us this week as we share why this is so important. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/escape-urself-podcast/support