The Core Podcasts

What is God thinking right now? Answer—More than you know. While humans tend to think small, logical, natural thoughts, God's mind soars to higher places, higher than the heavens are above the earth. There he thinks about illogical grace, supernatural power, and freely pardoning wicked people.

The famous phrase “I think, therefore I am” has a powerful application for God's people. What we think about determines how we are in our day to day lives. Think about what is true, good, noble, beautiful, and biblical, and you will get one step closer to the peace and joy that Paul describes in Philippians 4.

Do you have questions about God? Or about faith? Or about different religions, different churches, and different ideas? We all do, but often we are scared to ask them. That is why The CORE's Q&A Sunday started. In place of a regular message, we will take time to anonymously ask questions and find the passages with Jesus' answers. We hope you can join us for Q&A Sunday!

Do you have questions about God? Or about faith? Or about different religions, different churches, and different ideas? We all do, but often we are scared to ask them. That is why The CORE's Q&A Sunday started. In place of a regular message, we will take time to anonymously ask questions and find the passages with Jesus' answers. We hope you can join us for Q&A Sunday!

Did you know that the name, Jesus, was a common everyday name in the New Testament? There were lots of baby boys given that name. Jesus however gave new meaning to that name. Because of that new meaning, we have new meaning in life. Your birth certificate states your legal name. Your name on it legally identifies who you are. The Gospel writer Matthew records how Jesus' name gives us a greater identity than any birth certificate. The benefits are greater than any legal piece of paper. You're invited to come hear the new legal name you have before God.

It doesn't take a Bible scholar to see the amount of stress that preceded the birth of Jesus. Roman occupation. Raised taxes. A mandated journey. Terrible timing. A pregnant fiance and a steep climb to Bethlehem. No room in the inn. Can you imagine it?! But in the midst of that stress and chaos, Jesus was born. These details are a gripping reminder that God isn't waiting until life is peaceful and perfect to bless us. Instead, he shows up in the middle of personal, political, and relational drama and offers us Jesus, the one sent to save.

In the 1st century, motherhood was everything. That meant that Elizabeth, old and infertile, had nothing. But God worked a miracle to take away her shame and weave her into the story of the coming Savior. In a similar way, God reaches out to us, in our sin and shame, and offers us the miracle of grace, a connection to the Savior who has already come.

In the 21st century, the Virgin Mary is a household name. But in the 1st century, Mary from Nazareth as a nobody, a humble and sometimes hungry girl from the hills of upper Galilee. When Gabriel announced the news to Mary, she was stunned and overwhelmed with joy. So are we. Jesus saves us, fills us, and lifts us up to join him in his Kingdom, a blessing we don't deserve but absolutely enjoy.

The first Christmas is filled with all kinds people - and not just young people. Luke's main characters include Zechariah, Elizabeth, Anna, and Simeon, faithful Christians whom God blessed to be a part of his Son's story. The first two Luke introduces us to are Zachariah and Elizabeth. And yet their story is like many people who have loved God - being faithful isn't without discouragement or disappointment which makes being full of faith hard. These two “past their prime” 1st Christmas Christians reminds us that God answers prayer.

Luke's Gospel begins with a clear reminder that the story of Christmas is more than a story. It is history, verified and recorded by eyewitnesses. The point of that careful research is to help people like Theophilus, and people like us, to be certain of the Christmas promises that we are about to hear.

The end of Job is simply stunning. What will God say to his suffering son? How will God answer all of Job's questions about pain, grief, and loss? How will God convince Job that He is still worth worshiping? The final chapters of the book provide the answers, which are a surprise and comfort to anyone who is suffering in this life.

What strikes most readers of Job is how long the book is. The fairly short introduction and conclusion are dwarfed by dozens of chapters of words—Arguments. Complaints. Accusations. Laments. But perhaps the wordiness is the point. Perhaps Job is structured to prove to us that suffering is a long and challenging journey, even for the faithful, a journey that tests us and forces us to run back to our living Redeemer.

Job's friends comfort him in his grief…for a while. As time goes on, however, their presence turns sour and an epic argument beings about Job's life and God's plans. This message forces us to reflect on what we say (and don't say) when suffering takes over our story.

Just when Job's life seemed to be as bad as it could get, Satan struck again, tearing away what little earthly joy Job had left. Even Job's wife breaks, cursing God and begging for death. Yet, even then, Job clung to his belief in the goodness of God. How can we respond with such trust when it feels like God is kicking us while we are already down?

Job suffers a level of pain and loss that few, if any, of us will ever experience. Yet he responds with nearly unfathomable faith, allowing God to be God, and praising him no matter what blessings are given or taken away. How can we respond with such trust in the face of our darkest moments?

Do you love God or just use him? Satan posed this question about a faithful believer named Job, and God didn't object to the line of thinking. Our Father longs to be loved, not simply used for a healthy and happy life. Satan's question is good for us to ponder too. Would we love God if he was all we had? Or would we curse him to his face?

Controlling ourselves when face-to-face with temptation is one of the harder parts of the Christian calling, a challenge so great that Jesus himself taught us to pray about it in the Lord's Prayer. So, how do we do it? Answer—in a Group. God loves to use the power of other people to help us fight against temptation, a detail that can be seen throughout the proverbs, the wisdom that encourages us both to be self-controlled and to rely on the wisdom of others.

Patience is the ability to endure a painful situation without losing it, a virtue that is vital for the Christian faith. In a world where pain happens, sometimes because of our connection to Jesus, we must learn how to handle our struggles without giving up on our Savior. This is one of the many reasons why we Gather for worship, giving us examples of people who are going through the same situations, yet still praying, singing, and declaring that Jesus is worth it.

If you were unjustly accused of a crime, brutally beaten, and tossed into a prison cell, what would you do? While such things may not happen to you any time soon, you will endure plenty of unexpected losses and deeply felt pains in your life. This is why the story of Paul and Silas in prison is so powerful. These two early Christians faced their suffering with bold, peaceful faith by praying and singing to God. This detail in Acts 16 reminds us of the spiritual power of a Grow Root, that is, having a daily connection with our heavenly Father.

A famous theologian once said that you couldn't truly enjoy something until you had told others about it, which is why sharing good news blesses both the speaker and the listener. The gospel of Jesus works the same way. Despite all of the challenges and fears, “Going” and talking about Jesus is a gorgeous reminder of every good thing that is ours through faith in Christ.

Most people would agree that we could use more kindness in our world. Gentleness. Warmth. Consideration for others. Yet such character qualities are challenging when the whole world seems selfish, angry, and anything but kind. So, how can Christians stand apart from such a world? This message focuses on the kind, generous, Giving heart of Jesus, and Christians' connection to him, a relationship that changes us into kind, gentle, generous people.

Sometimes God doesn't seem to be fair. Sometimes God gives undeserving people blessings that they do not deserve. Sometimes good things happen to bad people. But Jesus knows that there is good news when God gives people good things they do not deserve.

What if it cost you to follow Jesus? What if you had to give up something you treasure? What if you had to repent of what used to make you proud? Would you still follow him? Jesus reminds us today that whatever we lose for his sake will be nothing compared to what we gain.

A short bedtime prayer. Another average church service. A Bible story with the kids. These mundane routines seem too small to be powerful. But Jesus knows better. Our Savior says that small steps can lead to big blessings.

Why does this life have to be so complicated? Why can't we just get rid of evil in our cities, neighborhoods, and churches so that everything will be better? Jesus knows why things are not so simple.

Music is one of God's greatest gifts. The beauty of harmonies, melodies, and well-crafted lyrics speak to our hearts in a way that few others things in life can. Perhaps the only thing better than good music is music filled with good news, that is, of a God who loves us when we don't deserve it. That message, embedded in the power of music, can stir our souls and make us sing praises to our Savior like never before.

Why doesn't God's Word always seem to work? We share it, read it, and hear it, but it doesn't always seem to change us spiritually? Is something wrong with the Word? Is something wrong with us? Jesus knows the answers to these questions.

Jesus knew the church at Philadelphia had little strength after suffering intense persecution. Yet, he praised them for holding on to the Truth they knew. In the same way, when we feel like we have no strength left, Jesus shows up to encourage us and promise us a bright, eternal future.

Jesus knocked at the door of the church of Laodicea. Why? Because they needed to be rebuked so they would repent, despite their high self-esteem and strutting confidence. In our day, Jesus does the same thing, knocking on the doors of our churches and hearts, calling us to humbly repent and enjoy the glory of his presence.

Despite its glossy brochures and impressive social media following, the church at Sardis was, in the eyes of Jesus, dead. “Wake up” the Savior commanded, “before it's too late!” For a church with a solid reputation, glossy brochures, and a trendy new website, we must turn our ears toward Jesus and ask what God, and not man, thinks of our church.

Jesus judged the church at Thyatira for the company it kept, tolerating a spiritually toxic teacher in their congregation. Our Savior's words force us to open our eyes, look in the mirror, and look around to make sure that our teaching is pure in the sight of the One whose eyes are “like blazing fire.”

Despite severe pressure, the church at Pergamum did not deny the name of Jesus…but it did compromise its standards. Churches today face the same temptation, to believe that they are being faithful to Christ while subtly compromising their values. This message calls us to repent, hold to all of God's standards, and trust that Jesus is well worth it.

While Jesus never promises us an easy love, he does promise us two immensely important blessings: His knowing presence and eternal life. In our day, his promises have not changed, meaning that we can suffer well, trusting that our Father knows what we are going through (Father's Day connection!) and has the crown of life waiting for us at the end.

Jesus knows everything that happens. In every church. In every soul. He proves that by judging the church at Ephesus, praising what was good, pointing out what was bad, and demanding an end to all that was ugly and ungodly. In the same way, our Savior judges our lives out of his deep concern for our faith and our faithfulness to the Father.

John describes the indescribable day when he saw the risen Jesus, glowing and glorious. This image reminds us that Jesus is not meek and mild, but the mighty Son of Man who sits in glory at the right hand of God, ruling over all of creation for the good of his Church. In the midst of our own suffering, such a vision gives us comfort and allows us to endure until He returns.

We live in a world of us-them, a culture of our people-their people. Such divisions are often the line where love stops, even among those who confess Jesus as their Lord and their Savior. Yet Jesus himself urged his first disciples to love not only one another but also the “other,” the enemy, the outsider, and the unlike-us people in their lives. Our Lord does the same thing today, encouraging us to treat them like our Father has first treated us.

Why is there so much hate in our world? If t-shirts, Pinterest posts, and Bible passages tell us to love one another, why do we so often choose the opposite of love? Jesus' simple answer was that our hearts love to hate, because love is hard. Love costs us. Love is sacrificial. Love isn't self-seeking and we love to seek ourselves. Since we love to put ourselves first, hate becomes our first choice. This message helps us to see the battle behind our daily choices to love and the selfless Savior who gave up his life to prove his love for us all.

Most people, even unchurched people, know that Jesus taught us to love one another. In addition, perhaps the most quoted Bible passage in contemporary culture is “Do not judge,” a phrase meant to end any disapproval of another's behavior. Yet few people have closely read the words of Jesus to understand what he meant (and didn't mean) by “love.” This message looks at Jesus' life to study his call to love, his confrontation of sin, and his willingness to die for even his enemies.

One of the fiercest debates in this generation is the definition of the word “love.” Some define love as speaking the truth, no matter how hard it is to hear. Others define it as acceptance, approval, and applause. Therefore, what one side calls love, the other calls hate. And vice versa! So, what is love? This message opens up to the most love-packed passage in Scripture and searches for God's definition of love.

Although we all would prefer to stay positive and only speak when we have something nice to say, our souls need more. We need clear teaching on what is true and what isn't so that truth isn't lost in our generation. Jesus' brother Jude encourages us to fight for the faith and guard the truth that has been entrusted to us.

If our hearts can deceive us and the world can mislead us, certainly the church is a good source of truth. Well…maybe. Since the hearts of church leaders can be deceived and many people can follow their teaching, God wants us to be people who cling to his Word, respectfully listening and diligently testing those who claim to speak the truth. John urged and the Bereans modeled this Word-first search for truth.

Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles warned us about looking within ourselves for truth. So, should we look out to our friends, family, and culture? Jesus' friend John would stiffen up at that assertion. John knew the world is often filled with an immoral majority. In this message, John warns us about what is popular in the world and turns us back to what is preferable to God.

If one message has been repeated to this generation, it is “Be true to yourself.” Since churches, religions, and families are so obviously flawed, we are taught to turn inward in order to find it what is true, beautiful, and right. But how do we sift through the countless (and sometimes conflicting!) desires that we find within? And how can we tell anyone to change their behavior if they are just doing what their hearts desire? This message explores one of the most important claims of our time and urges us to look elsewhere to find certain truth.

“Life” is one of the Bible's most loaded words. Jesus called himself “the Life,” offered people “abundant life,” and often spoke of “eternal life” through faith in his name. But what does that all mean? This message discovers the true meaning of life so that we can enjoy every moment of the eternal life we have through Jesus.

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement.” Few sentences are as important as this one from Romans 3. But its beauty and power depend on our understanding of the very technical word “atonement.” On this Good Friday, let's slow down long enough to grasp what atonement means so we can appreciate all that the cross of Jesus has to offer.

Any Christian who has celebrated the Lord's Supper has heard the phrase “the blood of the (new) covenant.” What percentage of Lord's Supper-takers who could define these loaded words, however, remains in question. Let's unpack Jesus' loaded words from the night he was betrayed and enjoy the Supper like our Lord always intended.

Few things are as trendy as the cross. Pastors, bikers, and pop stars tattoo the cross on their bodies, an artistic shape that seems to mean all things to all people. But what did the cross mean in Jesus' die? When we confess that Jesus was “crucified under Pontius Pilate,” what images should come into our mind? This message goes back to the origins of the cross and the stunning message that the King of Heaven died on one for the forgiveness of our sins.

Sanctify is a highly technical term that is rarely, if ever, used in our day-to-day conversations. Yet its meaning is beautiful and intensely practical for those who long to live with a clean conscience as they follow Jesus. The author to the Hebrews explains how we became sanctified and the freedom Jesus gives to his sanctified people.

Jesus loved to teach about the Kingdom of God. More than love, more than grace, more than forgiveness, more than heaven, and more than hell, Jesus was caught speaking of the Kingdom. But, for 21st century Americans, the idea of a “kingdom” feels more cloudy than clear. So, what did Jesus mean? What challenge is there in the message of the kingdom? What comfort?

To our minds, “justify” means to explain yourself in order to get out of trouble. In spiritual terms, some say that justification is the teaching that makes or breaks the entire Christian Church. So, what does it mean? And what does it have to do with what we believe and how we behave? Paul can't wait to answer these vital questions for our faith.

Most people today are familiar with faith. Christians have faith. Buddhists have faith. Atheists have faith in science and humanity. But what does the Bible mean by faith? If we are saved by grace through faith, what are we actually saying? What is faith, where does it come from, and what does it mean to walk “by faith”?