LW Church Podcast

When Jesus faced his first temptation from Satan, the issue at hand was about a lot more than just getting something to eat. The stakes of the encounter tempted Jesus to undermine his faith that God can be trusted. The same is true for us whenever we try to meet a real need the wrong way.

Behind every temptation is a reality of what is really at stake and one main question. By learning to understand the root objective of temptation, we can be empowered to resist it.

As far as God is concerned the words that we speak have great power. The right word, spoken at the right time, can change someone's life for the good.  And the wrong word, spoken at the wrong time, can crush someone's spirit. Words can start a fight, words can start a war and yet words can reconcile and heal relationships.  Our words have disproportionate power.

This sermon explores the concept of "broken soundtracks" - negative, untrue thoughts that play repeatedly in our minds. Jason emphasizes the importance of identifying these harmful thought patterns and replacing them with truth from God's Word. We must actively engage in renewing our minds through reading Scripture, speaking declarations of truth, and singing praises to God. The ultimate goal is to align one's thoughts with God's truth and live out a life that reflects this renewed mindset.

Guest Speaker Larry Walkemeyer shares 5 characteristics of a river Christian.

As we celebrate Easter we learn that God placed us in the story to reveal His love demonstrated on our behalf.

A look at the cross of Christ through the lens of Mary Magdalene reveals a deep resilience in character that exceeds doubts, disappointments, and distractions.

Have you ever made a decision because of someone else? Wanted to do one thing but did something else because of others? As we continue our series Cross Examined, Jason teaches us about people pleasing by examining the life of Pontius Pilate, a people pleasing politician.

Have you ever been betrayed before? Betrayal hurts deeply. As we start our new series, Cross Examined, Rick teaches us about the worst betrayal of all time as we cross examine the life of Judas.

The heart of God is characterized by generosity. When we give Jesus access to our life, we give him access to our resources.

We're challenged to see ourselves as 'sent' Christians, carrying the extraordinary treasure of the gospel in our ordinary lives. The story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3 serves as a compelling reminder of our purpose beyond the walls of the church. 

Your faith grows best when you encourage others along in theirs. Discipling someone else doesn't have to be complicated; it is simply having relationships with Kingdom purpose.

We all have a story to tell. For those of us who are in Christ that story gets even better. We were not rescued so that we could stay saved and silent. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to continually share with a lost world the ongoing story of God at work in us and around us.

Someone or something is forming and shaping your life. What we are trying to do in this series is learn how our lives can be Formed by Jesus to honor him and impact the world. As we continue that learning today, we are focusing on how that formation happens through New Life.

Serving at Living Water lets you use your unique gifts, talents, and passions to make a real difference in the lives of those who attend our various ministry environments. It's also an opportunity to build meaningful relationships and witness firsthand how God is transforming lives.

Growth doesn't happen in rows, it happens in circles. We were created to be formed by Jesus in the context of community with others.

You are destined to be formed by Jesus and to become like him.

Often times we struggle to understand how faith works. We know it should look certain ways on the outside, but we aren't quite sure what is happening on the inside of us. This message explores some of what that process looks like as Christ works within us.

As we celebrate our Next Gen, we want to be mindful of the role God has given us to play in their spiritual development. We don't all have the same calling, but we all share an equal commitment.

From the beginning of Genesis, God has placed a direct deposit into every person's body. On top of that, every believer is given spiritual gifts by God to fulfill a purpose for their life. What are you doing with what you have been given?

As we start the New Year, our focus does not begin with what we do, but with what God has already done.

Our words matter. With them we carry the power of life or death.

Matthew's version of Christ coming to the World Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12-       Focus on the Magi and the journey they took to bring worship and honor to Jesus-       Contrast with the negative response of Herod when threatened  The decision we need to Make: -       Will you pursue the greater purpose Jesus has for your life?

In his sermon, Jason discusses how often our Christmas plans go awry and draws parallels to the unexpected circumstances surrounding Mary's miraculous pregnancy. He emphasizes that when God changes our plans, we can either embrace this change in faith or reject it in fear, highlighting the beauty of God's purpose over our expectations. Jason elaborates on how God's invitations often come at inconvenient times and may lead us to experience discomfort but ultimately guide us to something greater. He encourages us to trust in God's plan, noting that while our responsibility is to obey, the outcomes rest with Him.

The mystery of Christmas is not found primarily in the circumstances of the birth of Jesus, but in the identity of the baby in the manger. We must dare to ask, “Who is Jesus?” We must decide if we will reject him or revere Jesus. In this message on Philippians 2:5–11, we will learn:The Question We Need to Ask.The Baby We Need to See.The Decision We Need to Make.

The God of the universe became flesh and dwelled among us. He did this so that we could understand him, so that he could relate to us, and so that he could win us back!

Continue to study the book of Philemon as we explore additional methods and resources available for studying the Bible.

Reading the Bible is one thing. Understanding it's another. When you can do both, it's truly life changing. God speaks to us through His Word, so let's learn How to Study the Bible together.

Pastor Jason works through some of the questions that we submitted throughout the series.

Often our relationships get stuck because of conflict.  Even when we do try to get past it we tend to be either peace-fakers or peace-breaker, rather than peace-makers.    The Bible gives us some pretty clear instructions on how to approach conflict resolution with someone.  Do we care enough about unity to fight to achieve it? 

So when do we get over it? What does it look like to be hurt but still open the door for future healing? In week three we will learn how to reconcile the consequences of actions with grace for the future.

Not every offense requires a heart to heart. Sometimes our expectations are actually unrealistic because we are assuming things that aren't actually true about the nature of the relationship. Week two will explore four types of hurt (attack, accident, healing, growth) and four circles of relationship (confidants, constituents, comrades, crowd). The type of hurt and the circle of relationship should greatly influence what steps need to be taken in response.  

What makes us blow up? What is behind that? What do we do when we feel like we are right and justified with being upset? Sometimes we come out guns blazing and the message gets lost because of the messenger. Week one will focus on helping us take a breath to determine whether we are acting out of a desire to win the case or solve the case.

No one gets to the monumental moment of baptism alone.A towel bearer is:Not perfect, but growingIntentionally sharing what they are learningJoining Jesus in his passionWill you be holding a towel next New Life Sunday?

If we're honest, most of us want what's comfortable, or easy, or whatever keeps us from having to fulfill our responsibilities. But that fleeting comfort will never lead us to embrace lasting joy. Let's see why it's worth it to avoid what's comfortable now, embrace a divine discomfort, and chase an eternal comfort in Christ.  

Seeking approval from others almost always lets us down. It's easy to obsess over what people think, be sensitive to criticism, and have a hard time saying “no.” We must decide to focus on pleasing God instead of seeking approval from others.   

Do you ever feel the pressure of chasing perfection? When our standard is perfection, the grass will always look greener somewhere else. But there's a way to overcome the pursuit of perfection that so often weighs us down. We will discover how to choose people over perfection, and a perfect love over our own performance.

Find your strength in true wisdomReject the voices of perfectionismFace your imperfections honestlyLet your limitations lead you to JesusChoose perfect love over perfect performance

Our lives do not consist of an abundance of things. We don't need more of what is temporary, we need more of what is eternal. Chasing after money and stuff is robbing us. Leverage your money to pursue true riches.

Choose purpose over popularityKnow the difference between prominence and significanceWe are not called to be famous, we are called to be faithful

Intercession: The act of prayer on behalf of another  Intercession teaches us the heart of Jesus Intercession exposes the field of battleIntercession unleashes the power of GodIntercession reveals a plan of action

God is my Father, and He wants me to ask Him to meet my needs.God answers prayers based on the needs of today, not the wants of tomorrow. Prayer requires our participation.God's desire for confession is not just transparency, it is vulnerability.

Define what needs to be forgiven:Transgressions are forgivenSins are coveredIniquities are no longer countedThe forgiveness of sin is far more than a transaction; it puts us on the path of transformationGod's desire for confession is not just transparency, it is vulnerabilityRegularly practice confession:Invite the Spirit to search youConfess openly what you discoverTrust the promise of forgiveness and healing

Adoration begins with attention Adoration is a reminder of who God is so that He can remind you who you are Adoration brings us into alignment Adoration is the fuel of prayer and worship 

The goal of prayer is to get God Hypocritical prayer: public declaration without personal devotion Pagan prayer: ritual without relationship Pray what is real  Pray as you can  Prayer starts with presence 

Suffering is the painful process of unlocking God's fullness in your life.Be a doer not a don'ter:1. Offer hospitality 2. Use your gifts to serve 3. Speak the very words of God Trials create deep connection with Christ. How to Endure:1. Humble yourself 2. Lighten your load 3. Stay alert 4. Stand firm