Flood Church - Audio Podcast

XXIII - The Satisfied Life (Week 7) Join us as we welcome back pastor Andy and pastor Matt, closing out our series, "XXIII: The Satisfied Life" on Psalm 23 by looking at what it truly means to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The household of God is marked by abundance, diversity, and love.

 XXIII - The Satisfied Life (Week 6)Join Kith & Kin, Pastor Damean, and Pastor Grace as we continue our series on XXIII: The Satisfied Life by looking at how dying to our false selves leads to truly living without lack.

 XXIII - The Satisfied Life (Week 5)Join pastors Scot Wildey and Grace Wilkinson as we continue our series on Psalm 23, "The Satisfied Life" by looking at faith, and what it means to trust God and rely upon Him in the face of fear and uncertainty.

 XXIII - The Satisfied Life (Week 4)https://diveintoflood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/XXIII_-The-Satisfied-Life-Week-4.m4aThis week Pastor Damean will be digging into Psalm 23:4. We are looking at what it means for the rod and staff of the Lord to protect us when we walk through the darkest valleys.

 XXIII - The Satisfied Life (Week 3)https://diveintoflood.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/XXIII_-The-Satisfied-Life-Week-3.m4aThis week Pastor Damean Easter walks through Psalm 23:3. We look at what it means to be guided by God no matter the season we are facing.

XXII - The Satisfied Life (Week 2)In a culture that prizes self-sufficiency and rugged individualism, embracing our identity as God's sheep doesn't come naturally. However much we may value our personal agency, no amount of savvy can measure up against the kindest, wisest, most loving Being in the universe. Psalm 23:2 depicts the Shepherd God leading us, his sheep, to green pastures, quiet waters, and soul refreshment. That is the picture of the spiritual life - it is the ongoing process of allowing God to be our Shepherd. As we embrace our identity as God’s sheep and learn to recognize and follow our Shepherd God's voice, we will be led to the deep soul refreshment and rest that only God can give.

A World of Trouble: Good Grief (Lament)Join pastors Matt Hammett and Damean Easter as we continue our message series, "A World of Trouble: Life in the Midst of Anxiety". As Scripture famously says, Jesus wept. However, most of us don't know how to practice good grief. We avoid grief because we’re afraid of the pain it will cause, but the truth is that good grieving can actually heal that pain and bring us more in touch with the pain of the world and the joy of the Lord. This message from Pastor Matt is about how we learn to lament like Jesus. Access the Lament Worksheet here: https://diveintoflood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Lament-Worksheet.pdf

A World of Trouble - Hurting but HopefulToday is Pentecost! Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the first followers of Jesus, the miraculous events that surrounded that transcending moment. The power of God to bring people together in unity is something our world desperately needs right now, and I invite you to pray with me as we continue our gathering.

A World of Trouble - Grace for PerfectionistsToday we're continuing our series called A World of Trouble: Life in the Midst of Anxiety. There’s a level of anxiety in our world today, so much that is unknown and uncertain about the future, our health, finances, jobs, kids, and loved ones, that many of us can’t help but feel stressed and anxious. Jesus tells us in John 16 that in this world there will be trouble, but he also offers us hope, and a way of life and relationship with him that isn’t dominated by worry. This series is about the life Jesus offers us - a life marked by God’s peace and non-anxious presence. A life that is grounded in the unshakeable kingdom of God.

A World of Trouble: Pursuing PeaceThis Sunday we hear a comforting and inspiring message from Pastor Matt about what it means to experience the peace of Christ not in spite of our circumstances, but in the midst of them. God is always present to us with open arms, ready to receive all of our fears, worries, and concerns.

A World of Trouble: Trusting God in TrialsToday's message, looks at the story of Jesus and the disciples at sea when a terrible storm threatened their lives (Mark 4:35-41). In the midst of this terrifying ordeal, Jesus was asleep in the boat. His response to their cries for help revealed to his disciples - and to us - how to take hold of the peaceful, non-anxious life Jesus offers us in the midst of every storm.

A World of Trouble - Life in the Midst of AnxietyWe welcome guest speakers and Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere for a timely and valuable teaching on the importance of befriending our emotions and empathy. Jesus doesn't shame, avoid, or reject us because of our emotions - instead, Jesus wants to love us in the midst of our emotions, and teach us how to befriend our emotions.

A World of Trouble: Adversary vs. AdvocateWe welcome Pastor Damean Easter for an encouraging and inspiring word about self esteem. How do we love ourselves well in a world of comparison? We need to dethrone the inner critic in our lives and seek to live under Christ's grace and truth. Also, enjoy a throwback music video as we celebrate Mother's Day.

EASTER | Strength for Today Bright Hope for TomorrowIn the moments in-between - after the death but before the resurrection of Jesus. In many ways, it’s like being in the eye of a storm - a moment of calm in the midst of turmoil.  I imagine this was a day of immense sorrow and disorientation for the first disciples, freshly grieving the loss of their friend and Lord, Jesus. You see, they didn’t know what you and I know. They didn’t know that there was a new day dawning. They didn’t know Easter Sunday was coming.

Providence: SurroundedThis week, we look at a passage in 2 Kings 6:8-23. Where do we turn when we feel overwhelmed, when it seems like we're surrounded with no way out?

Providence: God's Provision in Desperate TimesIn 2 Kings, Elisha comes across a widow faced with an impossible choice -  pay a debt that she doesn’t have the money for, or send her sons into slavery as payment? Her anguish is palpable, and in the midst of her crisis Elisha says these five simple yet magical words: How can I help you?

Providence: The Pathway of TransformationThis is an unprecedented time in the history of our world. Each of us are desperate for some type of change. Societally, we are all desperate for hope. God is the source of hope, healing and change. Yet we have a part. Guest speaker Rich Villodas shares with us today the true pathways of change, breakthrough, wholeness and ultimately transformation.

Providence: BurnoutThere came a point in Elijah’s ministry where he had careened way past burnout, and into despair. But it is also there, at the end of his rope, that God meets him and gives him exactly what he needs.This Sunday we continue our new series Providence: Desperate Times, Disparate Measures, by looking at how God provides relieffor Elijah’s burnout.

Providence: Desperate Times, Disparate MeasuresWhat does it look like to remain faithful in times of cultural unrest and unease? How do we continue to put our trust in God in difficult times? When we face a scary diagnosis, when we don't know how we're going to make rent or pay the bills, when we feel surrounded by scarcity, how do we stay grounded in God?This Sunday we begin our brand new series Providence: Desperate Times, Disparate Measures, looking at the lives of Elijah and Elisha, who show us what it means to live by faith in any circumstance.

Still Small: Stepping OutAs we grow older, we become more risk-averse. We try to avoid being hurt or making mistakes. But the rule of risk and reward still applies - it is only through taking risks and trying something new that we learn just what we’re capable of. In the spiritual life, this means listening closely to God, discerning where we think he might be leading us, and then taking the leap. We may be right, we may be wrong, but we’ll never know if we don’t dive in.This Sunday we conclude our series, Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life by looking at what God is inviting us to step into next.

Still Small: IndifferenceCulture tells us that only those who remain relentlessly driven and laser-focused achieve their dreams. We believe that we can get what we want by gripping tight to our goals and never letting go. But God beckons us into another way of being, a way that requires surrender, and a willingness to relinquish even our deepest wants and desires for the sake of what God desires for us. This is counter-intuitive, confounding even, but it is the only path toward truly discerningand doing God’s will.This Sunday we continue our series, Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life, by looking at how we learn to embrace the freedom that comes with letting go.

Still Small: One Track MindFor followers of Jesus seeking to discern and do God’s will, we need to pay close attention to when, how, and how often we’re turning to our own logic, reason, and intellect to make decisions. Since God has given us this incomparable tool, we also ought to trust God to guide us in how to use it for our good and God’s glory.This Sunday we continue our series, Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life, by looking at how to use our heads in the practice of discernment.

Still Small: Wise CouncilWhen it comes to making decisions in our own lives, it’s essential to surround ourselves with people who will listen to us, but who will also listen to God on our behalf - and then tell us the truth in love, even if it’s not what we want to hear. The same is true for being a voice in the lives of others; we need to listen well to them and to God for them, without personal agenda or ulterior motive. In the church, this is communal discernment, and it’s one of the fundamental pillars of discerning God’s presence and activity in the world.This Sunday we continue our series, Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life, exploring how we practice being a community who discerns.

Still Small: Heart FeltIt’s a mind-bending mystery that the Spirit of God dwells in each of us, but this is what the life of discernment is all about - learning how to be increasingly attentive to the leading of this Wonderful Counselor in the day-to-day.This Sunday we continue our series, Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life, looking at the ways that God takes the initiative to make Himself known to us.

Still Small: Trusting God's Goodness... AlwaysOur capacity to seek God in seasons of fear, pain, and loss, when it’s hard to sense His goodness and love, is one of the primary ways we practice discerning God’s voice. This Sunday we continue our series,Still Small: Discerning God’s Voice in a Noisy Life, looking at how to experience our good and loving God in every circumstance.

20/20 VisionIt seems appropriate to begin the new year by renewing our commitment to the shared vision for the universal Church, and how God has called Flood to be a unique expression of that vision. What can we learn from one of the most effective and influential congregations of the early church in Antioch about how to become a transformational, Christ-centered movement of hope & healing in our culture and context today? And what does it mean for you and I to commit our lives to this movement?

All of the Above: GodOn this special Christmas Eve,  we will reflect on Jesus as God, this great gift that God gives us through his Son. God present with us.

All of the Above: Human(s)Jesus came to teach us what it means to be fully human, to live the life God intended for us to live. Where we got it wrong, he got it right and showed us the way. Too often, Jesus’ humanity has been minimized, but the truth is that it is precisely because he was human, just like you and I, that the Gospel is so compelling. God, because of his great love for us, came to be with us.This Sunday we continue our Advent series, All of the Above, looking at the roles Jesus has fulfilled and still fulfills - as High Priest to free us from shame, as King to give us unity and strength, as Prophet to give us direction, as a Human who walks with us, and as the God who saves us.

All of the Above: Prophet(s)In the Old Testament, the role of a prophet was to listen for God’s voice, and then faithfully live out the message they receive while communicating it to their community. For Jesus, his prophetic message was simple and resolute - a new day has come, the Messiah is present, the Kingdom is here, and salvation is available. This message is as true today as it was then, with one very important addition: now, we too are invited into that role of prophet, to listen for God’s voice and respond to the message.This Sunday we continue our Advent series, All of the Above, looking at the role Jesus has fulfilled and still fulfills as Prophet, the one who speaks and gives us direction.

All of the Above: KingWe live in a world increasingly marked by division and hostility.  How does Jesus as King bring unity? How do we experience the unifying power of the King?

All of the Above: Priest(s)Waiting can be so hard sometimes, especially when we know that what we’re anticipating will be so sweet and wonderful. Every year, the church enters into a season of waiting called Advent - a time of joyful expectation and preparation for the birth of Christ. This season celebrates that Jesus Christ has come, He is present in the world, and He will come again in power and glory to right all wrongs and make all things new. But what does it look like to wait well, even as we affirm that Jesus is alive today?This Sunday we begin our Advent series, All of the Above, looking at the roles Jesus has fulfilled and still fulfills - as High Priest to free us from shame, as King to give us unity and strength, as Prophet to give us direction, as a Human who walks with us, and as the God who saves us.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Mary (The Momager)Our relationships with our moms can be complex, layered, and complicated - but psychology tells us that it’s one of the most important and foundational connections we have, and it has major implications for everything from how we manage stress to how optimistic and confident we are. Even Jesus, God made flesh, had a deeply complex relationship with his mom, Mary. Yet throughout the Gospels, we see how he navigated both loving and honoring her, and staying obedient to the ultimate purpose to which he was called.This Sunday we conclude our series,Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For,by looking at Jesus’ relationship with his mom. 

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Paul (The Outside Hire)Before his miraculous conversion experience, Saul thought he was zealously doing God’s will by seeking to wipe out this new sect of Judaism called “the Way” that followed the crucified (and resurrected) Jesus. It took being literally knocked to the ground by Jesus for this violent and threatening man to learn the truth. It makes me wonder, how often do we think we know who the “enemy” is… and what if we’re wrong?This Sunday we look at Jesus’ post-resurrection relationship with Saul/Paul in our series,Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Pilate (The Political Other)One of the fundamental problems of the 20th century is this posture of “othering” - viewing and treating others as intrinsically different from ourselves. In turn, we align ourselves against whatever (and whoever) doesn’t fit into our view of the world. Othering is not just about liking or disliking someone. Rather, it is based on the often unconscious assumption that a certain group poses a threat to us. These pre-judgments are largely driven by outside influences (like politicians and media coverage) that reinforce our presuppositions. This was just as true in first century Judea, as the political and religious influences of the time made Jesus the ultimate “other” for their own gain. Nevertheless, Jesus dismantles this “othering,” and his ways of being continue to have life-changing implications for those who seek toserve and follow him.This Sunday we look at Jesus’ relationship with thepolitical authority of the time, Pontius Pilate, in our series Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Judas (The Backstabber)Everyone faces betrayal at some point in life; regardless of the magnitude, the sense of the loss of trust and faith in both the culprit and the relationship itself can be devastating. In the Gospels, Judas’ betrayal of Jesus set in motion Jesus’ arrest, sham trial, and brutal execution. How Jesus responded to the act of betrayal and his betrayer shows us something essential about the purpose of grief, forgiveness, and acceptance. This Sunday we look at the complicated relationship between Jesus and Judas in our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - James & John (Friendship Cliques)Even Jesus’ disciples, as the end of his life was drawing near, tried to form an inner circle to curry his favor. In response, Jesus teaches them a life-altering lesson about what itreally means to be on the inside. This Sunday we look at how Jesus responds to friendship cliques in our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Martha (The Perfectionist)Perfectionism and the pressure it imposes on us and those around us can distort reality and leave us hopelessly striving for something that doesn’t exist. The truth: nothing in life is perfect. This is the message Jesus wanted to tenderly impart to one of his closest friends, Martha. Driven to the brink of exhaustion by her perfectionism, she risks missing the Perfect One sitting right in front of her.This Sunday we take a deeper look at Jesus’ friendship with Martha, the Perfectionist, in our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends?  Difficult People Worth Fighting For

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Nicodemus (The Churchy Know-It-All)Ultimately, the need to be right is really about being in control, about needing to understand exactly how the world and everything in it works. That’s why, when we’re inevitably confronted with some mystery that we don’t understand and can’t control, it can send us spinning. We see Nicodemus in this exact situation in John 3, as Jesus reveals some confounding and wondrous information to this Churchy Know-It-All.This Sunday we look at Jesus’ relationship with Nicodemus in our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Kids (The Ankle-Biters)Children didn’t have a lot of rights in the first century. They were to be seen and not heard, considered of little value because by society’s standards, they had nothing to offer. However, in the Gospels we discover God’s soft spot for children. Jesus is gentle and kind with them, and passionate about protecting them from harm. Not only that, but Jesus uses them to teach some of his most important lessons about who really matters in God’s Kingdom.This Sunday we look at Jesus’ tenderness for kids in our series,Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For. 

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Simon (The Religious Hypocrite)Jesus had a lot to say about the pervasive disease that is hypocrisy. As a perfect human, he didn’t harbor any hypocrisy within himself - but he could see it in others, and didn’t hesitate to call them on it and call them into a better, more integrated way of life.This Sunday we continue our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For, by looking at how Jesus loved - and confronted - the religious hypocrite, Simon.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Matthew (The Party Animal)Jesus was no stranger to parties - but he also never compromised who he was or whose he was in those spaces. Instead, Jesus found a way to connect with the partiers and call them back to their true selves.This Sunday we continue our series, Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For, by looking at Jesus’ encounter with a party animal who needed a new scene.

Why Can't We Be Friends? - Peter (The Annoying Friend)Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus encountering and engaging with all kinds of difficult people, and loving each of them perfectly. This Sunday, we start a brand new series called Why Can’t We Be Friends? Difficult People Worth Fighting For, that will look at some of the pivotal relationships in Jesus’ life, and what we can learn from Jesus about how to love one another, even if (or when) it is difficult.

Ex: To Be Continued...This Sunday our journey through the story of the Exodus comes to an end. Just as the last chapter of Exodus does not conclude the epic adventure narrative of God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites in the desert, so too our journey continues into this next season as a church. The question is, what do we need to carry with us as we continue this next season together? 

Ex: Show Me Your GloryAs we approach the end of the Exodus story, it’s clear that Moses and God have reached a new dynamic in their relationship. After forty years of talking with God, learning to obey and seeing His provision over and over again, Moses has come to see that God’s presence is all he truly needs and wants. When given the choice to enter the Promised Land without God, Moses dismisses it out of hand. If you’re not going, he says, then neither am I. This exchange leads to one of the more majestic moments in Scripture, when God permits Moses to catch a glimpse of His glory. God gives us glimpses of His glory, too - but if we’re not looking for it, it can be easy to miss. 

Ex: Discovering Your CallingThe question of our vocation can become daunting, and we begin to fear we might make the “wrong” decision. Thankfully, God shows us another way. God doesn’t want our vocation, or calling, to be a burden - He intends it to be a blessing, both to ourselves and those around us. Not only that, but He will show us how to live out that calling as we follow Him.This Sunday we look to an unassuming character in Exodus to understand what it truly means to discern God’s calling, in our summer series Ex: A Deliverance Deferred.

Ex: Home is Where...When the Israelites finally arrived at Mount Sinai, they probably thought that after such a long and difficult journey, things were finally going to settle down and they could learn a new normal. However as we know, this is not to be. Instead, they will spend the rest of the Pentateuch (all the way through Deuteronomy) bickering, disobeying God’s and Moses’ commands, and generally being ornery, obstinate, and grumbly.Like the Israelites, too often our lives are marked by conflict - miscommunications and misunderstandings that lead to us either being hurt, or hurting others.  In a world made up of different backgrounds, cultures, upbringings, and communication styles, we want to learn ways to celebrate the things that make us unique in environments where everyone can feel valued, respected, known, and understood.

Ex: More Than WordsA powerful image of miraculous rescue is exactly what God wants to remind the Israelites, as they finally arrive at Mt. Sinai and prepare to receive His covenant. But can the Israelites surrender to God’s call to obedience and worship? Find out as we continue our series on Exodus calledEx: A Deliverance Deferred.

Ex: Leading LeadersMoses has all the makings of an incredible leader, but finds himself in dire need of help from an outside perspective to rise to the occasion. This Sunday we look at how biblical humility creates space for others to lead through our series, Ex: A Deliverance Deferred. 

Ex: Revisionist HistoryAfter their miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea, the Israelites find themselves in a desert - but it’s not an island, and no one’s having a good time. They’re thirsty, hungry, and they’re beginning to believe that things in Egypt weren’t so bad. To their credit, things certainly don’t look good. However, they’re forgetting one very important thing: God is still with them, and has promised them not only freedom from slavery, but a land of abundance where they will be free to serve and worship God.

Ex: Home FreeIn the story of the Exodus, just when it looks like the Israelites have finally been delivered out of slavery by God’s mighty and miraculous works, mediated through his servant Moses - Pharaoh goes back his word. Instead of letting God’s people go free, he decides to pursue them into the desert to subdue and re-enslave them. This will prove to be a perilous choice.This Sunday we hear from Andy Kelly in North County as he explores what it means to trust in God when all seems lost.

Ex: Pass Over‘Why is this night different from all other nights?’This question initiates one of the most significant elements of the Passover, reading the story of the Exodus from Egypt. You see, remembering what God has done, and passing those memories down through the generations, is one of the central pillars of the Jewish faith. It is how we recognize that the God of the Exodus - of miraculous deliverance, divine justice, and abounding mercy, is the same God who is alive and active today.This Sunday we look at the account of God’s justice and mercy through the first Passover in our series, Ex: A Deliverance Deferred.