Journey Church Podcast

Who are 'those people' you find hardest to love? On the dangerous Road to Jericho, Jesus shattered expectations by making a despised Samaritan the hero of his most famous parable. The shocking truth? We're called to show compassion to everyone—especially those we'd rather avoid. Remember: we were once the wounded traveler, and Jesus stopped for us. How might your 'Jericho road' look different this week?

Our actions profoundly impact those watching us, especially children who learn faith by our example rather than our words. To guide children toward faith, we should let them witness our struggles appropriately, carefully choose who influences them, recognize the vital role fathers play in faith development, and pray constantly for them. Children often follow the path their parents model, making it crucial that we demonstrate authentic faith in our daily lives. Though we cannot force children to follow God, we can show them what following Him looks like through our responses to life's challenges.

Generosity extends far beyond financial giving, encompassing our time, affirmation, resources, and money. When we reduce generosity to just finances, we risk falling into transactional Christianity or overvaluing wealth. True generosity reflects God's heart—giving what is most valuable to us, just as God gave His Son. We demonstrate generosity when we share our time (our most irreplaceable resource), offer blessings and affirmation to others, share our resources to meet needs, and give financially to support our church and community. This generous spirit acknowledges Jesus as Lord over everything valuable in our lives.

Working for the Lord transforms our approach to our careers, shifting our focus from pleasing people to honoring God. Scripture instructs us to work 'heartily as to the Lord,' meaning with our entire being. This perspective helps us maintain excellence even under difficult bosses or in jobs we dislike. When Christ becomes our true boss, we find the strength to either endure challenging situations or make necessary changes. Ultimately, whether digging ditches or running corporations, our work finds meaning when done for God's glory rather than human validation.

Managing money as Christians means recognizing that all resources belong to God and are entrusted to us as tools for His glory. Three key principles can guide our financial stewardship: learning to manage money well, learning to be content, and learning to ask God for more. How we handle finances reveals our character and spiritual maturity, serving as a testing ground for greater responsibilities in God's kingdom.

Being a blessing to others reflects God's fundamental nature as a blessing God, with over 400 biblical references supporting this characteristic. Blessing can take many forms, from giving gifts and showing courtesy to making a phone call or offering kind words. The New Testament word for blessing, 'eulogo,' combines 'good' and 'word,' emphasizing the power of positive speech. In our critical world, blessing requires intentional actions, careful word choice, and sometimes simply being present for others during their struggles.

Motherhood encompasses both tenderness and fierce strength, as demonstrated through biblical examples like Hannah and Deborah. Modern mothers are called to fight through prayer, protect their families, and lead with wisdom while balancing gentleness with determination. Godly motherhood involves daily pursuit of God, constant prayer, and being present in all moments. Through motherhood, God refines character, teaches patience, and deepens our understanding of His love. While mothers face various challenges like exhaustion and self-doubt, the focus should be on faithfulness rather than perfection.

Building a strong marriage requires intentional effort and commitment beyond the initial feelings of falling in love. Key principles include maintaining open and honest communication, showing consideration for your spouse's needs, and continuing to pursue each other through regular date nights and expressions of affection. The foundation must be built on Christ, providing the strength, grace, and power needed for lasting love. Through dedicated time, meaningful conversations, and small acts of kindness, couples can create and sustain a thriving relationship that withstands life's challenges.

Understanding God's character and developing a biblical worldview are fundamental to growing our faith. True faith isn't about personality type or blind leaps, but rather trusting in the unseen while building upon past experiences with God. Like the Roman centurion who demonstrated remarkable faith, we must investigate, understand, and take action based on our beliefs. Growth comes through progressive steps of obedience, requiring us to honestly evaluate our view of God and identify the next step He's asking us to take.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ restored everything humanity lost in the Garden of Eden. Through His sacrifice, believers receive a powerful inheritance that includes perfect identity as God's children, true freedom from sin, divine authority, and uninterrupted connection with God. This restoration provides ultimate safety, dignity, and complete provision for those who put their faith in Christ. As new creations, believers are empowered to live in victory and exercise their God-given authority.

True contentment comes from understanding that our worth extends beyond material possessions, recognizing that we enter and leave this world with nothing. The love of money, not money itself, poses the real danger by potentially becoming an idol that displaces our relationship with God. Fighting the good fight of faith involves maintaining trust in God while facing life's challenges. Our words and confessions play a crucial role in shaping our beliefs and actions, making it essential to align our speech with God's truth.

Are you making the most of your limited time? When life ends, will you wish you had more time - or wish you had used it differently? Discover biblical wisdom for turning idle moments into meaningful impact. Your time is precious - learn how to invest it wisely!

God equips every believer with unique spiritual gifts meant to serve others and advance His kingdom. These gifts range from speaking and teaching to service and creativity, each specially chosen by God for the individual. While discovering these gifts is important, the true power lies in developing a servant's heart and using these abilities to make a difference. The focus should be on selfless service rather than personal power, as Jesus taught that true greatness comes through serving others.

Biblical church leadership fundamentally differs from secular leadership by prioritizing character over skills. Leaders must exemplify qualities like being above reproach, self-controlled, and hospitable as outlined in First Timothy 3. While skills can be taught, character must be cultivated through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Various leadership roles exist within the church, including small group leaders, children's ministry leaders, worship leaders, and pastors, all requiring strong character foundations.

Is your life marked by chaos or peace?

What happens when authentic love meets ancient paganism? Discover how a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith transformed an entire city and sparked a spiritual revolution worth millions. Ready to experience this transformative love in your own life?

Want to make a real difference in your community but don't know where to start? Discover how simple acts of service and strategic planning can transform lives! The harvest is plentiful - are you ready to answer the call? 

Biblical forgiveness goes beyond simply pardoning others - it's about breaking free from the chains of resentment and hurt. When we hold onto unforgiveness, we create debtor relationships that poison our hearts and affect our well-being. Drawing from Matthew 18:21-35, we learn that having received God's infinite forgiveness, we must extend that same grace to others. The path to forgiveness involves identifying what's been taken from us, consciously canceling the debt, and refusing to hold it against others when memories resurface. This process leads to emotional and spiritual freedom.

Discipleship is a core element of Christian faith, focusing on being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing what He did. It involves learning from experienced believers, growing in biblical knowledge, and applying Christian principles to daily life. Every Christian is called to make disciples, regardless of their experience level or formal position. The process involves prayer, scripture study, sharing life experiences, and building meaningful relationships with others on their faith journey.

Ever wondered if sharing your faith has to be complicated? Discover how simple acts of kindness and authentic conversations can make a powerful impact in spreading hope. Ready to transform your everyday interactions into meaningful opportunities?

Are you fighting a battle no one else sees? Your struggle isn't just physical - it's spiritual. Discover how to overcome the daily challenges that keep you from experiencing true spiritual victory. Ready to transform your spiritual journey?

We sometimes struggle to know and understand God's will. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tells us that part of God's will for us is our sanctification. In this two-part series, we will see that sanctification is not an academic exercise but it helps us understand the call to holy living.

Our pastors sit down and answer the questions you submitted.