Listen in on the lessons shared at the Stones River Church in Murfreesboro, TN. A church of Christ.
In this week's message, Dean Dunning delves into the narrative of Lazarus from John 11, examining the complex emotions of Mary and Martha as they navigate the tension between their urgent request and Jesus' purposeful delay. Dunning emphasizes that while human perspective often focuses on the "if only" of missed opportunities, Jesus uses the situation to provide a radical revelation of Himself as the Resurrection and the Life. The sermon concludes with a powerful call to trust in divine timing, illustrating that what appears to be a hopeless ending is often the beginning of a greater display of God's glory.
John explores the significance of "Refreshment Sunday," using the biblical account of Nehemiah and the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge to illustrate how spiritual pruning leads to a radical, newfound joy. He emphasizes that while the season of Lent involves introspection and repentance, believers are ultimately commanded to find strength in God's forgiveness rather than wallowing in shame. By centering on Nehemiah 8:10, King highlights that the "joy of the Lord" is a communal strength meant to be celebrated and shared with those in need. What are some "old, brown growths" or habits in your life that might be choking out new spiritual growth right now? Why is it often difficult to allow God to "cut back" these areas of our lives close to the ground? How do you distinguish between healthy conviction that leads to change and "wallowing" in shame or guilt? How does humility actually provide us with more spiritual strength than pride does? How does sharing what we have with others—sending portions to those unprepared—reinforce our own spiritual strength? Who in your current circle—work, family, or community—needs you to point them toward the "joy of the Lord" this week?
Dean Dunning shares a story from a childhood deer hunting trip in the Michigan woods that left him paralyzed by the fear of an imagined threat. Drawing parallels to our spiritual journey, Dean explores the foundational message of Romans 5. He discusses how being justified through faith allows us to experience peace with God and find purpose in our trials. Rather than being overcome by hardship, we are invited to "rejoice in our sufferings" because of the spiritual chain reaction they produce: suffering builds perseverance, perseverance develops character, and character fuels a hope that never disappoints.
Dean Dunning explores the essential rhythm of solitude, community, and service by reflecting on Henri Nouwen's A Spirituality of Living and the life of Jesus in Luke 6. He encourages you to find their identity in God through prayerful solitude, creating a healthy foundation for meaningful relationships and compassionate ministry.
We continue with chapter 5 and get into chapter 6.
As we begin the season of Advent, let's dive into the core theme of hope.
Lauren Person dives deep into the internal and external ministries that SRC offers, featuring each ministry's leader(s) as a celebration of the work God has done in Murfreesboro and the opportunities we all have to assist these ministries.
(The audio may be distorted due to a computer error and the method in which the audio was captured.)
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:1-3 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Guest speaker John Mark Hicks unpacks Matthew 5:4 as we continue our series of "What is so Good About the Good News?"
© 2020-2026 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
