MLC Ministries Podcast

Difficult conversations. At some point, we all have to have one, but what is the best way to approach those discussions? Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Acts 8:26-39 to give us three questions to ask yourself before you have a difficult conversation.

We’ve all heard the saying: Bad things happen to good people. Pastor Chris Emmitt leads us through Acts 6, where we find Stephen, who is on trial for spreading the word of Jesus. Through this story, Chris challenges us to consider what it means to stand for what is right and forgive for what is wrong.

Just because we can do everything doesn't mean that we should do everything. Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to the story of the early church found in Acts 6:1-7 to give a biblical example of how to know your limits and ask for help.

In Acts Chapter 4, we find Peter and John on trial for spreading the greatness of Jesus. Pastor Chris Emmitt uses this passage to show us that we should be a reflection of how awesome Jesus is, not ourselves. No matter if people like us, dislike us, disagree or agree with us, they should know that we are close to Jesus.

In this message, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines the first church described in Acts Chapter 2. Chris explains how the Church is built on consistency and community. This message challenges us to think about our own faith habits and how our personal faith community can be more unified around Jesus.

Our past moments of fear and failure don't remove future opportunities for confidence and conviction. Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Acts Chapter 2, where the Holy Spirit falls on the people of Jerusalem during Pentecost. Peter follows this amazing act of God with a confident and convicted sermon and brings 3,000 people to Christ. Chris explains how like Peter, our past moments of fear and failure don't remove future opportunities for confidence and conviction.

In this Easter message, Pastor Chris Emmitt reminds us that Jesus keeps His promises. In our current world, it feels like the only certain thing is that there are no certain things. But Jesus promised He would die and come back and the empty grave is proof that Jesus keeps His promises! Jesus offers us purpose for our lives, forgiveness for our sins, and assurance of eternity in heaven.

The journey through a difficult time in life can be long and painful. In this message, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Romans 5 to remind us that the road to hope may be paved with pain but it never leads to disappointment. This message will leave you encouraged to keep going when you find yourself on the road to hope because the Lord is using this time to build endurance and character.

During times that challenge our faith, we often have more questions than answers. In this message, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Matthew 8 and the story of the Roman officer who had an urgent, humble, knowledgeable, and active faith in Jesus. This message will leave you challenged to work on one attribute of our faith to grow in your daily walk with Jesus.

Unprecedented times often come with clouds of uncertainty that overshadow our lives. Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Luke 8 to remind us of how the disciples responded in the middle of a storm and what Jesus did when they woke him up. (Yes! He was taking a nap in the storm.) Chris challenges us by asking: Where do we put our faith? Is it in the things we can control? Is it in our own knowledge and abilities? Or is it in Jesus who is the One in control and the One who knows you?

In uncertain times, something as simple as our favorite food can bring relief and a sense that everything is going to be okay. In a special message, Comfort Food, Pastor Chris Emmitt shares the importance and need for comfort verses to rely on, especially during uncertain times. This message will point you to scripture that will remind you that: God is for you. God protects you. God is forever.

In the second week of our series, Not Your Average King, Pastor Luke Lezon, looks at the baptism of Jesus found in Matthew 3. Through these verses, Luke examines how we often feel broken, messy and unworthy of God's love due to our sin. However, our mess matters to God and He can reach you wherever you are.

Pastor Nathan Castleberry opens up our series, Not Your Average King, by looking to the example of Jesus found in John 4 to show us how to navigate truth with grace. As Jesus shows us in this story of His encounter with the woman at the well, He separates our worth from our failures.

In the final week of our series, Hunting Good, Pastor Chris Emmitt dives into Romans. Chris lays out how Paul struggled with the pressures of sin just as we do today. This daily battle against sin and temptation so often begins in our minds. This message will leave you encouraged to run from sinful thoughts and replace with godly thoughts.

In week three of the series, Hunting Good, Pastor Chris Emmitt discusses how God's plan for our lives often calls us outside of our comfort zones. That's certainly what He did to Moses, who in turn came up with some pretty good excuses for why he shouldn't be obedient. Chris describes how we, like Moses, have our own excuses, self-doubts, and stubbornness. However, it is always better to go with God's plan than our own good excuses.

How do we find the good in not-so-good situations? In week two of our series, Hunting Good, Pastor Chris Emmitt answers that question by looking at how God used encouragement in the life of Gideon (Judges 7:2-7, 9-22) and how Gideon's story applies to our own.

In our broken world, it's easy to feel bombarded by negativity. In week one of the series, Hunting Good, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Paul's second letter to the Corinthians to teach us how to intentionally seek out the good in our world. This message will leave you not only inspired to seek and find the good around you but to tell people about the good you find in them!

Forgiving others who we feel have wronged or hurt us is difficult. However, the emotional and physical toll of harboring unforgiveness in our hearts hurts us more than the other person. In the final week of our series, Overrated, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Matthew Chapter 18 to show us how to let go of the weight of unforgiveness.

In week three of our series, Overrated, Pastor Chris Emmitt discusses how quitting is overrated. Chris lays out how Paul focuses on the finish line and not the scoreboard of life. This message will leave you encouraged to forget the past and to reach out to the future with Jesus. After all, the best version of you is the one who follows after Jesus wholeheartedly.

Worrying gives us a false sense of control over the things in our lives that are out of our hands. In week two of our series, Overrated, Pastor Chris Emmitt asks: Why do we spend so much time doing something that adds nothing to our lives? Jesus teaches how much God values us and has a plan for our lives. This message will leave you encouraged to spend as much time searching for God as you do the things of the Earth.

Launching our new series, Overrated, Gerald Fadayomi underscores how we expect success, fame, and notoriety to lead to a feeling of significance. However, Jesus teaches that significance is found in servitude. Significance isn't about climbing the ladder of success. It's about being the ladder. This message will show you how.

You are meant to live in the land of fruit and honey. In this message, Pastor Nathan Castleberry gives us practical and biblical guidance on how to live a life not stuck in a rut but instead live a life of obedience, faithfulness and stewardship over the things that God places in our lives. This is what leads us to an abundant life.

Have you ever felt like you were waiting for something hopeful to happen in your life? Maybe you were (or are) suffocating from the stress, pressure, busyness, sadness, or brokenness in your life. You are not alone. Pastor Chris Emmitt looks at the story of Simeon (Luke 2:25-32) to show us how Jesus brings us HOPE, even in the waiting.

For a lot of us if we were filling in the blank for what this Christmas is… STRESSFUL would very easily fit in the blank. In this message, Gerald Fadayomi looks to that first Christmas through the eyes of Mary. Gerald shows us how, even with all the stress she encountered, that Mary still found a way to treasure the moment. He gives us an easy way to put that into practice in our own lives.

During Christmas time, we often get caught up in the activities, nostalgia, and feelings of the season but miss the most important thing. In the second week of the series, This Christmas Is, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Matthew chapter 2 and the story of the wise men visiting Jesus, Chris describes how many of us move through Christmas thinking that the office parties, gifts, and food will be enough, but we are looking for fulfillment in the wrong things. Chris encourages us to find Jesus and let Him be enough.

Is this Christmas not what you were expecting? You are in good company. In week 1 of our series, This Christmas Is, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to the difficult crossroads that Joseph faced when Mary told him she was pregnant. Chris shows us that Joseph took the next step in obedience to God even though he didn't know the whole plan. And God asks us to do the same.

God gave each of us unique talents, abilities, and skills. It's all part of His plan and design for our lives. In this message, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to Romans 11 and 12 to encourage us to figure out the gifts that God gave us and determine how we can use them to glorify Him.

It can feel intimidating to spread the message of Jesus. Thinking about our own flaws and the large number of people needing the gospel can feel overwhelming. Pastor Nathan Castleberry examines Ephesians Chapter 4 and dives deep on the history of the church and the disciple Paul. Nathan describes how Paul and the 12 disciples traveled far and wide witnessing the good news of Christ. Nathan closes by describing how the community of Christ is made of believers acting locally and thinking globally.

Whether you need a break or are about to break, rest can be found in Jesus. In the final message of the Under Pressure series, Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to passages found in Matthew and 2 Coriinthians to help equip us to live our lives under the approval and authority of Jesus...not the world.

Life is difficult and at times unfair. As Christians, we can stand firm by armoring up. Pastor Chris Emmitt teaches us about the armor of God and how we can put it on each day. At the end of his message, Chris is joined by special guest, Mitch Harris, a former professional baseball pitcher and U.S. Navy Lieutenant, who offers a unique perspective on putting on God's armor.

Pressure from work, school, parents, friends, social media, activities, and more can give us a literal headache. In the second message of our Under Pressure Series, Pastor Chris Emmitt turns to a story found in 2 Kings 6:14-19 to show us that the power of God is greater than the pressure of the world. This message will leave you encouraged and give you practical tools to help with the pressures you encounter.

Life comes with pressure. Raising a family, starting a new job, going to school, and budgeting our time and money adds pressure to our lives. In week one of the series, Under Pressure, Pastor Brian Haas examines chapter 17 of Exodus and describes Moses' ability to stay steady under pressure. Brian states the importance of resting, sharing the pressures of life with others and taking a moment each day to know that Jesus in control no matter our circumstances.

Wrapping up our series, All the Family Feels, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Deuteronomy 6. The message stresses the importance of ingraining God into the daily life of our family and highlights simple ways of being resolute in faith, setting frequent reminders and establishing a routine for integrating God into family life.

Pastor Chris Emmitt continues our series, All the Family Feels, by looking at Matthew 9:9-13. In this message, he shares what makes the MLC Family, well, the MLC Family and why we are so grateful for the grace of God.

In our families, we can often feel pressured to create moments and memories that live up to expectations we see in movies, on television and in books. When our family outings, dinners and vacations don’t meet those expectations, we can get discouraged. In the fifth week of our series, All the Family Feels, Frank Bealer examines First Corinthians 15:10 to offer us guidance on how to respond from a place of grace during those times.

In Week 4 of our All the Family Feels series, Pastor Chris Emmitt refers to the story of David and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-8) to show us how the older generation can connect with the younger generation and how the younger generation can connect with the older. After all, a generational gap doesn't have to mean a relational gap. It all starts with the right heart

The Apostle Paul states that we should always pursue peace, but stress and personalities often lead to family drama. In the third week of our series, All the Family Feels, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines First Samuel and describes how Abigail exudes peace and sensibility in a stressful situation threatening her family. If you need help in how to pursue peace in the middle of your family drama, then this message is for you!

We are bombarded daily by television and radio ads, billboards and social media competing for our attention and focus. In the second week of our series, All the Family Feels, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Joshua 24 and describes the importance of a united family unit. Chris details that a family united and committed to the LORD is strengthened against the negatives and tragedies in life.

Technology has affected and filled every aspect of our lives often changing the interactions and time spent between family members. Launching our new series, All the Family Feels, Ted Lowe examines the impact of technology on our family, work, and the quality of life that most of us live. Ted references interactions between Jesus, Martha, and Mary and lists ways to disconnect from stress-inducing technology and increase happiness and family interaction.

We often focus on the things in life that we don't have and overlook the truly awesome things that God gives us. In the final week of our series, Meaningless, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Chapter 11 of Ecclesiastes. Chris describes King Solomon's conclusion that God turns our lives from meaningless to meaningful. This message gives practical ways to rejoice in life and remember that the sacrifices of Jesus and the mercy of God are the reasons for all the goodness that we have.

We often think that increasing our paycheck and living a more comfortable lifestyle will satisfy our desire for more fulfillment in our lives. In the fourth week of our series, Meaningless, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes. This chapter examines the pursuit of wealth by highlighting that it is never satisfying and should be treated as a gift rather than a goal.

Pastor Chris Emmitt continues our Meaningless series by looking at what Ecclesiastes says about friendship. God created us to live in relationship with Him and each another. This message will leave you encouraged that the messiness of real friendship is worth the meaning that is forged from it.

Life is filled with ebbs and flows, peaks and valleys and times of victory and defeat. In the second week of our series, Meaningless, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes. Chris describes the writings of King Solomon detailing the different seasons of life he experienced. Chris explains how God's scope for our lives is eternal and larger than we can comprehend while the sequence of our life is seasonal and more beautiful than we know.

We often fill our lives with hobbies, activities, and comforts with the expectation that we will be fulfilled and find purpose. In the first week of our series, Meaningless, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Chapter 1 of Ecclesiastes. Chris describes how King Solomon indulges himself with luxuries but still finds his life meaningless without God. Chris explains how meaning and purpose are delivered from Jesus when we allow Him to saturate all aspects of our lives.

When our lives change because of our relationship with Jesus, sometimes the response of others is less than enthusiastic. How should we respond when that happens? Pastor Chris Emmitt looks to the story of a blind man who was healed by Jesus (John 9) to provide the answer.

Pastor Chris Emmitt focuses on the story of Paul and Silas (Act 16:22-30, 35-40) to show us that as Christ followers, we should pray and praise no matter the pain or the prison we find ourselves in. If we only pray to God and praise Him when we "felt like it," Satan will do everything he can to make sure we never feel like it. Lead with obedience and let your feelings follow.

Patience. It's something so many of us struggle with in life, especially during seasons of waiting. In this message, Pastor Chris Emmitt takes a closer look at Psalm 40:1-5 and gives us a series of questions to ask ourselves while we wait patiently for the Lord. By the way, your prayers do not go unheard.

In life, when we know what to expect we often lower our expectations. Pastor Nathan Castleberry examines what happened when Isaiah had an unexpected, life-changing encounter with God and how it launched Isaiah’s life down a path to create more life change for others. This message challenges us to grow in our readiness to serve others in Jesus’ name.

What if you aren’t experiencing spiritual growth? Pastor Chris Emmitt answers this question with practical advice found in Luke chapter 8. This message will challenge you to get to the root of the problem in your life and spur you on to experience real, lasting growth.

How do you respond when you feel overwhelmed? In the fourth week of our series, My Life. My Response, Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Joshua 1 and focuses on how Joshua overcame challenges and insecurities to lead the people of Israel after the death of Moses. Chris uses Joshua's example to give us specific ways to respond to God when we feel overwhelmed in our own lives.

How should we respond when someone in our life goes above and beyond for us? In the third week of our series, My Life. My Response., Pastor Chris Emmitt examines Second Samuel and how David exemplifies the importance of appreciating someone's sacrifice for us. Chris describes how our heavenly Father gave the ultimate sacrifice and how we should live our lives in eternal gratitude rather than grandeur.