Steve Pinto Podcast

Part 3 of a series titled: Transformed

Transformados Parte 2

A continuation of the series: Transformed

Nuevo Series: Transformdos

"Transformed: The Power of The Gospel in Our Lives."

The Gospel Part 1: Dead, Buried, Raised

Saints and Sinners

Saints and Sinners

The Great Comeback

Saints and Sinners: Dealing with Sin in the Church

Renewed Vision: A Healthy Vision at the Core

Saints and Sinners: Reality Check

Saints and Sinners: Dealing with the Trivial

Saints and Sinners: Shepherds, Not Ranchers

Saints and Sinners Part 8: God's Field, God's Building, God's Temple

Saints and Sinners Part 6: The Spiritual Person, The Natural Person, and The Carnal Person

Saints and Sinners Part 5: The Fools of God

Imagine finding a church without problems…the perfect church? “If you do find one, don't join it; you'll ruin it!” Or imagine if every member of the church was just like you? What kind of church would it be? There is no perfect church… certainly, the Church of Corinth wasn't perfect! No church is! And today, we, the church of the 21st century, are dealing with a lot of challenges.

Imagine finding a church without problems…the perfect church? “If you do find one don't join it; you'll ruin it!” There is no perfect church… certainly, the Church of Corinth wasn't perfect! No church is! The fact that no church is perfect doesn't mean we shouldn't strive toward maturity and growth. In 1 Corinthians, we have a letter where Paul is trying to deal with some inconsistency between belief and practice by reminding the believers of their identity as Saints.

We begin to explore the profound dichotomy of our identity as saints and sinners. And 1 Corinthians will shed light on the struggle of who we, as Christians and the reality of our struggle with sin and culture.

Today I want to speak to you about how to navigate waves of false teaching and how to identify the deceitful scheming of false teachers.   “The topic of false teachers and false teaching is addressed directly in twenty-two of twenty-seven New Testament books… False teachers creep in unnoticed... They appeal to our passions and desires and tell us what we want to hear... They look like us, talk like us, act like us, and claim to be one of us... they are so effective in tricking many unsuspecting believers.” - Alisa Childers Even after we become believers, we are prone to wander from God and the good news of free grace in Christ. Various influences may draw us away, including the sinfulness of our own hearts.

Are You Waiting on God or Is God Waiting on You? It's a question that often comes up when we talk about following and serving God. And you know what? I get it. Sometimes we feel like we're not ready yet. We think to ourselves, “I'm not prepared to take that step. I'm not available to God at this moment.” But here's the thing: there are times when God is actually waiting on us. He's waiting for us to show faith and courage, to take that leap of trust. It's when we finally make that move that we start to see the amazing work of God's hand in our lives.

Are You Waiting on God or Is God Waiting on You? It's a question that often comes up when we talk about following and serving God. And you know what? I get it. Sometimes we feel like we're not ready yet. We think to ourselves, “I'm not prepared to take that step. I'm not available to God at this moment.” But here's the thing: there are times when God is actually waiting on us. He's waiting for us to show faith and courage, to take that leap of trust. It's when we finally make that move that we start to see the amazing work of God's hand in our lives.

Ekklesia (The Called Out Ones) Part 4B: Gather & Scatter (Continued)

Ekklesia (The Called Out Ones) Part 4: Gather & Scatter

Ekklesia (The Called Out Ones) Part 3: Answering The Call

Apparently, many people do not understand the mission of the church. The Church doesn't exist for you. You are the church. You have an assignment. Some might come to church when convenient enjoy everything provided for them. They're involved to the degree that it meets particular needs in their lives. Today I want to speak to you about the church's assignment. I want to speak to you about our marching orders, about our divine assignment, as a church. The church's assignment is clearly laid out for us in Matthew 28:19-20, in a passage that is commonly called the Great commission.

There is no doubt that the church in America, including the Latino church and especially in Southern California, has “lost their social location at the center of culture” (Roxburgh). The church is perceived as antiquated and obsolete.  This is especially true when we think about social discussions at the forefront today. The church is no longer seen as a serious contributor to the significant debate in the general population. The church no longer leads that way. The church has lost its identity.

All this is part of a short series in preparation for Easter entitled: THE GOSPEL. It's all based on 1 Corinthians 15. Something that is really going to help you in these weeks is bringing your bible and following along as we do an exposition of God's word in this chapter. The gospel at its very essence is the story of God and His redemptive relationship with mankind. The word gospel means “good news.” The best news ever is that we can be saved from the punishment and perishing we deserve because of what Jesus did for us. The Gospel is a good message of what God has done for me, what I could not do for myself.  Jesus came to earth to live a life I should have lived, and to die a death I should have died, and… Jesus rose from death so that I may live also; so that because of his work I could be saved.

Every believer should be able to articulate the gospel. If, I was to ask you to define the Gospel, what would you say?   Technically, the gospel at its very essence is the story of God and His redemptive relationship with mankind.   Because God is holy, He cannot tolerate our sin. Sin is anything that offends God's holy character. God gave us the law to show us our sin. Because every person has sinned and has come short of God's glory no one can have an intimate relationship with God.    Because God is just, He cannot overlook our sin. As the just Judge of all the earth, He must judge every sin, and the wages of sin are death. Nothing unclean can enter Heaven, and thus all sinners will be given their place in the eternal lake of fire. God must pronounce the just verdict and penalty. Love doesn't undo the necessity for justice.   But God is loving and has reached out to us. He has provided a way for us to be close to Him that satisfies His holy and just nature. That perfect way is Jesus. Jesus is God. He came to earth as a human. He lived a perfect life and earned a right standing with God. He came to give Himself in exchange for us because we could not earn our own right standing with God.

Featuring: Pastor Ricky Trinidad & Pastor Henry Thomas

“Why do we sing and worship together at Church?” Today, I want to answer that question. I want to speak to you about the foundations of knowing why worship corporately and how we worship together. The people of God sing. The role of music in worship is biblical. After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord (Exod. 15). Singing was part of Israel's formal worship in both tabernacle and temple (1 Chron. 6:31-32, 16:42). The Psalms bear rich testimony that in joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful raise their voices in song to God. Hymn singing was practiced by Jesus and his disciples (Matt. 26:30). The Apostle Paul instructed the church to sign as they learn. (Col. 3: 16-17).

Let's keep it 100! How many of us struggle with temptation? Truth is, everyone who is trying to live a life pleasing to God does. Everybody is tempted and the bible calls us to live victorious overcoming lives. So, we need to learn how to overcome temptation. That is why today, I want to speak to you about identifying the enemies' devices and our proclivities to fall prey to them. My objective today is to identify and track down the traps found in our daily existence which are used by our enemy to hinder our complete fellowship with Jesus and how consequently those things slow the progress of the Kingdom of God both individually and as a community. The good news is that the Bible is replete with raw unedited life. People who made good and bad decisions. People who were negative and positive. People who obeyed God and people that didn't. So, we can learn from them how to overcome temptation.

When it comes to Christian living, willpower is not going to work, because our will is broken. We must be committed to building our heart! We must cultivate the atmosphere where God can work in our hearts, because if our hearts don't follow Jesus, ultimately, we will only see shallow, surface level, transformation.

Having a Heart of a Champion is about striving toward godly character, commitment and courage. When it comes to Christian living, willpower is not going to work, because our will is broken. We must be committed to building our heart! We must cultivate the atmosphere where God can work in our hearts, because if our hearts don't follow Jesus, ultimately, we will only see shallow, surface level, transformation.

When we hear commentators use the phrase “the heart of a champion” they a describing a certain disposition that has nothing to do with winning but everything to do with a particular attitude toward the game. The phrase is used in reference to an athlete's particular character, commitment, and courage. The phrase could just as easily apply to our Christian living. God wants us to strive toward a certain type of heart. I think that the Bible calls Christian to live with a certain attitude and disposition toward life. I think the Bible calls us to have a particular character, commitment, and courage.

A series on how to become spiritually fit and healthy.

We are in the middle of a faith crisis. The church today is encountering two primary challenges among its congregants. Disorientation and Deconstruction (LGBTQ, Hell, Politics, Inerrancy). If we were to overgeneralize, we could say that there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are emotionally based and those who are rationally based. The heart and the mind can be an advantage or an obstacle to belief.

If we were to overgeneralize, we could say that there are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are emotionally based and those who are rationally based. The heart and the mind can be an advantage or an obstacle to belief.

Everyone who has become part of the family of Christ, who has been born into the kingdom of God, who is now a Christian, and who has accepted Jesus has been “called” to salvation! But there is another sense in which all Christians are “appointed” to fulfill special responsibilities and ministries set forth in Scripture on which the life and order of the church directly depend. In other words, now that you have been called to salvation, God calls you to your life's purpose. But there is another sense in which all Christians are “appointed” to fulfill special responsibilities and ministries set forth in Scripture on which the life and order of the church directly depend. Further, I think that sometimes God calls us into different seasons. The Spirit can call us into the wilderness as he did with Jesus. God can call us into a season of suffering, or a season in the valley. Not only that, but I also think that God's call is both a decision and a process. There is a time and place where we say yes and pledge or promise, but there is also the daily commitment to follow through. We answer the call to salvation, but we answer the call to carry the cross on a daily basis. In other words, now that you have been called to salvation, God calls you to God's purpose in your life. You were created with a customized appointment. Nobody has your appointment but you!

Everyone who has become part of the family of Christ, who has been born into the kingdom of God, who is now a Christian, and who has accepted Jesus has been “called” to salvation! But there is another sense in which all Christians are “appointed” to fulfill special responsibilities and ministries set forth in Scripture on which the life and order of the church directly depend. In other words, now that you have been called to salvation, God calls you to your life's purpose. You were created with a customized appointment. Nobody has your appointment but you!

SERMON In Steve's message, we'll learn about an area of division in the Corinthian Church. The division today deals with our manner of emphasis or our approach to understanding God. Perhaps we can call it our personal preference on methodology and perspective on understanding God.

DEVOTIONAL Consumers or Servants? It is crucial to consider the role that social media, gaming, and technology play in our lives. It is all designed for our entertainment. Its airbrushed photos, edited videos, pleasurable movies, binge-worthy shows, and even our newscasts are all designed for our consumption. Today, we are inundated with far more entertainment and information than we can cope with. And we have believed the lie that the world revolves around us, and in the process, we have become self-absorbed and unaware of the world around us. But today I would like to remind you… You were made not just to consume, but you were made to create. You were not just merely created to be entertained but to have a relationship. You were are called not only to be saved, but you are called to serve. This year, I want to encourage you to create and serve others, extending from a loving relationship with Jesus. I want to remind you that you were created for so much more than entertainment consumption; you were created to partner with God to serve and inspire others. You were created to be great. In Luke 22:27, Jesus said, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Greatness is found in service.

DEVOTIONAL In 1 Cor. 5:1-5, Paul addresses the lack of a correct emotional response to sin. It seemed as if the Corinthians had become desensitized to immoral behavior. Sadly, God's people can (are becoming, already are) desensitized to sin. Sin is not a popular word in our culture today. We may even cringe hearing it. But we can't avoid sin, and we must deal with it properly. In this devotional, I outline how Paul deals with the desensitized Corinthians. Immoral behavior had become normalized in the Corinthian church; therefore, Paul encourages the church to (1) define the problem, (2) deal with the sin, (3) grieve the sin, and (4) follow the Biblical steps. More practically: Seek to live a life that aligns to truth over tolerance. Conviction over convenience. Fact over feelings.

LECTURE This podcast is made up of a recorded lecture. Steve teaches about the moral character traits necessary for leading.

LECTURE This podcast is made up of a recorded lecture. Steve teaches about the moral character traits necessary for leading.

DEVOTIONAL Worshipers by Nature: There is a sense in which we become what we worship. We become what we idolize. We are shaped and fashioned by what we love and who we follow. Our attention often runs to what's important to us. And the things we run to tend to be the things we worship. Our distractions reveal who we worship and what we love! Chasing after the latest trend or influence often leaves us empty and tired of life. But remember this, you were not created to be entertained, or to be influenced, you were created to worship God and to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. So, as you go this week, let me encourage you to be careful with the things you fall in love with. Remember, our attention often runs to what's important to us. And the things we run to tend to be the things we worship. And what we worship has a way of shaping who we are.

DEVOTIONAL Believe it or not, the Bible actually has a lot to say about our work. So often we think of worship as something we do on Sunday and work as something we do on Monday. Today, I want to encourage you to live a whole life. A life that is whole—where “soul and role” are aligned. It's time to break down the divide between the sacred and the secular, between the church and the world, between your spiritual life and the ‘rest of our life.' Remove the Sunday-Monday Gap. Connect your Sunday faith to Monday work! Do it all as an act of worship and for the Glory of God! Most Christians think of worship as something they do inside the church. But remember, you can do your job faithfully as an act of worship to God. What we do each and every day is an integral part of our worship to God and our contribution to the work of God in this world. That is why Paul penned these words to the first century church of Colossae in Colossians 3:23-24, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV) It doesn't matter what Job you may have, wherever you may go this week, view your job as worship and do it as unto the Lord. Your work is helping someone, and you are meeting someone's need… and there can be a certain pleasure in that. Almost every job can bring Glory to God because it's a service to someone in need. Work is not primarily about economic exchange, financial compensation, or a pathway to the American Dream, but about God-honoring human creativity and contribution. Can I encourage you to take your faith wherever you go—it is given to you, not just for ministry, but also for mission—to make a difference in your everyday world.

DEVOTIONAL Wouldn't it be nice if every issue were black and white—crystal clear? Every single issue. Every subject. Every day. It would undoubtedly simplify decision-making, conscience issues, controversies and might even prevent some discord. But we don't live in simple times. Life is not simple. We live in a complex world. I think we have lost our ability to think deeply through individual issues, and instead, we have adopted blanket ideologies that represent contradictory views. We don't have the luxury of functioning under faulty assumptions and superficial influence. We stand and fight for righteousness in one area while we neglect and undervalue others. It doesn't have to be that way. We can stand for biblical truth in all areas. We are living in a time of “enigma.” An enigma is a puzzle, something hard to understand. It is in this sense that we need the spirit of Daniel, who was able to decipher enigma. Daniel had “an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding,” and he was able to “interpret dreams, solve riddles, and explain enigmas.” (Daniel 5:12; NKJV) Additionally, we live in a time of biblical illiteracy and are unsure of what God's moral standards are. It is in this sense that I think we need the diligence of Timothy. Paul encouraged Timothy with these words, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJ) So, how do we deal with the complexities and faulty assumptions of our day? Through the tension and the fog—we need to more and more—be able to decipher enigma by rightly diving the Word of Truth. You will never be able to get rid of the tension, but you can learn to navigate it. Let's start by being more like Daniel and Timothy.

LECTURE This podcast is a recorded lecture given by Steve Pinto as he teaches on how we as believers are to live in a technological context.

DEVOTIONAL This podcast is a devotional Steve gives on the integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands. Integrity of Heart and Skillful Hands: How was it that David, the shepherd boy, enters the kingdom as a musician and develops into the king's armor-bearer and eventually becomes the King of Israel? It was David's heart of integrity and skillful hands. Psalm 78:70-72 says, “70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; 71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. 72 And David shepherded them with the integrity of heart; with skillful hands, he led them.” David was a man of character and competence. These verses point out some significant insights into the Lord's assignment and requirement for us Christians and, more specifically, for Christian leaders. One must develop both spiritually and technically. God cares not only about our hearts being right but what we do needs to be done right too. It's not that some the heart but not skill. It's not that some have the skill and not the heart. It's not “either/or” but “both/and” Integrity of heart: an excellent pursuit (of the God who gave us those talents & abilities) Skillful hands: the pursuit of excellence (in our God-given talents & abilities) Integrity of heart: taking root below (invisible resources) Skillful hands: bearing fruit above (visible results) Integrity of heart: the shaping of our hearts (something God does) Skillful hands: the shaping of our hands (something we do) Integrity of heart: needed for shepherding (pastoring, nurturing) Skillful hands: needed for leading (organizing, administrating) Remember that serving God requires both the heart and the hands, both the spiritual and the technical. How we prepare ourselves and how we present ourselves both matters. We must strive for both character and competence.