The Price Chapel Podcast

The Apostle Paul speaks to an audience of political leaders who are responsible for deciding his fate. Rather than pander, Paul doubles down on sharing the gospel message. In the eyes of these leaders, Paul's testimony looks foolish. Our problem today is we can want to look good before people of importance. Paul's bold stance made him look out of his mind; his character and integrity were more important than his life.

For all sorts of reasons, there are many decisions that stop us in our tracks in life and we don't know which path to follow. This often leads to a season of procrastination on the decisions we need to make. This type of delay can lead us into some dangerous places spiritually. Governor Antonius Felix experienced this danger first hand when he felt conviction, but lacked commitment he found spiritual ruin.

The fear of others often undermines our ability to follow Jesus courageously. We need courage to follow Jesus in calling out religious hypocrisy (within our own hearts and in bigger systems); we need courage to cause good trouble; and we need courage to persevere. But we don't muster this courage on our own; courage is rooted in God's presence and God's purpose.

In Acts 22, Paul stands trial before the religious Jewish leaders sharing the story of his encounter with Jesus. We are often afraid to share our stories because of how others may perceive us, but the story of God at work in your life just might be the most powerful tool in sharing Jesus with others.

APOLOGIES: We installed a new sound system this week and it has affected our live streaming audio. Please forgive the loud hum present in this recording. Acts 21 Paul begins the trip home to Jerusalem from his travels on his 3rd missionary journey led by the Spirit, but there is danger ahead. While the early church leaders greet him warmly and celebrate God's work among the gentiles, other Jewish leaders are enraged by Paul's teaching about Jesus. Paul willingly steps into this violence even though he is warned and his friends "urge him in the Spirit" not to go. When faith and fear collide, how do we discern the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In a powerful message, guest speaker Rob Douglas shares how the book of Hebrews paints the picture of Jesus ascended to the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus is the one who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth; the one who has incomparably great power; the one who is in our corner. The author of Hebrews exhorts his audience to throw off the things that hold us back and to run with perseverance, to not give up in contending for the faith.

Everything changes for a small group of disciples when Jesus walks into the room three days after he was crucified. The rooms he enters are filled with men and women gathered in fear and doubt. There was uncertainty in the days ahead, there were rumors about what would happen and strange talk about Jesus being alive. When Jesus entered these spaces everything changed because he brought peace and hope.

This is Annual Family Meeting Sunday. As we close the books on our last fiscal year, we look back at what God has done through Price Chapel over the last year and look forward to what He will do in the coming year. And in a short Palm Sunday message we look at Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and 4 lessons from how he carries himself in power and humility.

Selfishness drives many of the sinful habits that undermine a flourishing faith and relationship with Jesus. Selfishness undermines personal faith, relationships, and ministry of the church. The Author of Hebrews gives his Jewish audience 10 keys to thwart the power of selfishness in our lives and center our hearts on Jesus.

Guest Speaker Nick Teny shares how the faith heroes in Hebrews 11 point to the enduring character of our faith. Hebrews 12 follows by highlighting the practices of those who have an enduring faith. Sometimes the journey of faith isn't a linear path and we encounter the bumps and twists and turns of life; yet, when we hold to these elements of an enduring faith Jesus carries us through.

Stories of faith are important for our own spiritual journeys. Hebrews 11 captures these stories from Biblical history. They highlight the risky faith of men and women who have placed their trust in God. In truth, we see that while this faith is risky from our perspective, betting on God's promises means we will never fail.

These persecuted believers appear to have experienced a decline in engagement due to persecution, ostracism, apostasy, and arrogance. So, the author addresses this faltering engagement by giving them a call to action; specifically, to provoke and encourage one another.

Jesus blood works like no other blood in history. Jesus' blood was the substitution for our blood; life for life. It washes us clean from our sin. Jesus' blood was spilt as a ransom for us, buying us back from death. Jesus' blood speaks for us claiming victory over the grave. And Jesus' blood provides the forgiveness we need for our all our sin.

Using the metaphor of a shadow the author of Hebrews exhorts Jewish believers to stop chasing the things that are only the vague outlines of the real thing we have in Jesus. Using the Old Testament, he points to the priesthood as the foretaste of Jesus, the tabernacle for the throne room of God, the law for the Word in flesh, and the old covenant promises with the new covenant of eternal life in Jesus. But these shadows are not limited to the ancient Jew. We see modern expressions of them even today. Chasing shadows fuels anxiety, but the good news is that we can chase Jesus instead.

Human history has demonstrated that spiritual hierarchy leads people to put their hope in a human leader instead of God. Hebrews 7 is where the author makes his case through Jewish history that Jesus is the Great High Priest who will hold the office for all eternity in the order of Melchizedek. But, what does this mean for us today? What is the priesthood, what was its purpose and do we need it today?

Can you lose your salvation? Hebrews chapter 6 poses a long debated question in Christianity. When wrestling with questions like these it is important to view them with a Christological hermeneutic. What does Jesus teach on this idea. His parables offer us an effective lens through which to view this question. What we discover is that the problem is that many people taste God's power, but still run away from God's presence. So, when we experience God's power our response must be to follow into a loving relationship with God in obedience.

The author of Hebrews writes his frustration with the Jewish believers calling them out for not growing up in their faith and understanding. Rather than developing their understanding of the new life they have in Jesus, they remained in a posture of waiting. They did not understand the gifts they had in Jesus that were going to waste. Maturity in Christ is knowing Him, living in God's presence and bringing His Kingdom wherever we go.

How well do you rest? Rest is an important aspect of our faith. The author of Hebrews calls his audience to remember God's design for humankind to experience sabbath rest.

The author of Hebrews urges his audience to guard their hearts against unbelief. There is a danger in allowing our hearts to become hardened to the work of God. A hard heart is the result of unbelief which turns to contempt and ultimately negative patterns of behavior. Guarding our hearts takes diligence of nurturing our walk with God.

The book of Hebrews hails Jesus as the pioneer of our salvation. This salvation that Jesus brings carries with it a multitude of benefits, yet we often experience a spiritual drift from the source of our freedom and strength. However, we can be rescued from drifting away if we stay anchored to the pioneer of our salvation.

John the Baptist's story is one of courage, grit, and humility. John's birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel and set him on a path to be the linchpin between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus even says he is the greatest among those born of women.

Revelation 12 envisions an apocalyptic nativity scene where the child that is born is pursued by a dragon. The child represents Jesus who came in love to model the power and heart of God. This model should shape the believer and follower to imitate the loving sacrifice of the child who would ultimately go to the cross for the sins of the world.

The dragon is the most ominous figure in John's apocalyptic account of the Christmas story. Who is this dragon and what role does it play in the Christmas story. John tells us that this dragon is the accuser, Satan, who has made it his mission to steal, kill, and destroy God's beautiful creation and image bearers.

Revelation 12 depicts a cosmic scene filled with symbolism and imagery that overlap in meaning. Who is the woman in this picture. She represents many, in each representation she receives from the Lord power, provision, and protection.

The Apostle John wrote a letter addressed to 7 churches located in modern day western Turkey; we know it today as the book of Revelation. In it are layers of metaphor and symbolism in an ancient style of writing called, "Jewish Apocalyptic Literature." This letter was written to encourage the persecuted church who'd seen violent and horrific acts perpetrated against it. As we uncover the layers of meaning in Revelation 12, one story seems to be clear, we have a part to play in the nativity story.

Sometimes we wonder why it is hard to worship. We see others who pour their heart out to God in song or in prayer and wonder why our soul feels dry. It just might be the case that in order to find a heart of worship we need to begin with a heart of gratitude. Gratitude transforms our hearts reminding us of who God is and who we are. King David demonstrates this throughout many of the Psalms, that his greatest moments of worship begin and end with gratitude.

Practicing gratitude is important for the health and wellness of our communities and our own mental health. Gratitude is the act of beholding an object for the purpose of appreciating it within the context of your experience. When we practice gratitude regularly it warms our affections toward the things we experience, and builds a vision of hope in us, all by God's design.

Jesus' disciples devoted their lives to building up the church, modeling the values and patterns of healthy discipleship. In this week's message, we conclude our discipleship series with a focus on the final phrase in our definition of a disciple: Strengthening God's Church. This commitment is foundational to Price Chapel's core values: Worshipping God, Biblical teaching and preaching, Fellowship as family, Investing in the next generation, and Sending disciples to share Jesus locally, regionally, and globally.

Disciples of Jesus continue following him by sharing the good news of the gospel message. As his followers we are witness of God's grace and power in our lives and so we share it with others. There are three steps to sharing the gospel. First, we need to understand the gospel message. Second, we must be clothed with the power of God. And third, we must be willing to embrace the risk.

In the Gospel of Luke, three different men come to Jesus with a desire to follow him, yet Jesus turns them away, each for a different reason. There is a cost to discipleship that we often don't consider. What will it cost? For some it's their sense of security, for others the priority of relationships, and still for others its time. Regardless the cost, following Jesus yields a life marked by increased joy, hope, and purpose.

Discipleship is a core aspect of being a Christian. A disciple is someone who loves God and others by following Jesus, sharing the gospel, and strengthening God's church. So much of the Bible and Jesus' own teaching is on the topic of relating to others. We often lack empathy for others because we are overwhelmed by the size of the problem. But as we follow Jesus, our capacity grows and his disciples are marked by empathy and compassion for others.

Disciples are marked by a radical love for God. But, our capacity to become disciples hinges more on our desire to obey than our desire to learn. In Luke's gospel we see glimpses of Jesus calling Levi to join the twelve. In Levi's story we see the markers of true discipleship based on radical love: leaving everything behind, celebrating Jesus, inviting friends to the table, and repentance.

The call to be a disciple of Jesus is the greatest honor you can receive. A disciple is someone who loves God and others by following Jesus, sharing the gospel, and strengthening God's church. Our goal in the church is to be a community with a disciple-making culture as Jesus commands in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Election season is a particularly challenging time in church and public life due to the rhetoric that political campaigns employ to win citizens' votes. God's people have a long entangled history with political parties, politicians, and policies because Christian faith speaks into so many matters of public life. From the last few election cycles here are 5 lessons to guide your political engagement this election season.

How do we get where we want to be when it comes to honoring God financially? It begins by creating margin in our lives. Margin-less living is what causes the strain and stress of life whether financially or relationally. Without margin, it is difficult to respond to God's calling in our lives and meet the needs of those He has put in our lives. We can achieve this margin by adjusting our financial pie chart; creating space in how we spend on living, giving, owing (debt), owing (taxes), and growing categories.

There are 5 competing priorities for the use of our money; Live, Give, Owe (debt), Owe (taxes), Grow. When anyone becomes dominant over the others our finances veer into unhealthy places. In the push and pull that happens in our financial management our relationship with God and being good stewards of the resources he has blessed us with always centers us squarely in healthy fiscal wisdom.

There are 4 Hs in financial wisdom. This week we focus on Habits and the 5 Biblical principles to forming healthy habits that offer guardrails to frivolous or irresponsible spending. These habits create buffer in our lives when our wants go beyond our means and they break the power that money has over our lives; so that it serves us rather than the reverse.

The Bible talks a lot about money; in fact, 11 of Jesus' 39 parables touch on finances. Meaning, how we handle our money is a discipleship issue if we are going to be followers of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches that where your treasure is your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). This is because money can become a spiritual stronghold in our lives hindering growth in our journey towards living and being like Jesus. This series will deal with the Four Hs of financial wisdom and today we begin with the heart, looking at the perspectives we have on our finances.

Moses passes the baton of leadership to his willing and competent younger assistant, Joshua. Passing the baton of leadership is a challenge for any family, organization or country. What qualities qualified Joshua for leadership? Moses recognized Joshua's faith, his hunger, and his maturity.

Twice the Israelites confront Moses questioning God's provision in the desert, specifically about water. On each occasion Moses cries out to the Lord and God gives instructions. Comparing and contrasting these experiences gives us insight into our own struggles and how we engage with God. These stories demonstrate that we honor the holiness of God by trusting in His methods of provision. God provides, but not always as we expect.

At a pivotal moment in Israel's history God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. This set of laws contain the building blocks of a healthy public life. Each command brings with it an expectation of what could be if we choose to heed God's wisdom for mankind.

You would think being delivered out of slavery would bring a sense of freedom and joy, a timed marked by celebration and exuberance, but the Hebrew camp is filled with grumblings and discontent. We all have bittersweet times in our lives, moments marked by joy and pain. These moments reveal the true condition of our souls and the temptation is to project this discontentment onto the leaders in our lives; whether spiritual leaders, employers, or political leaders. It's here where we need to examine our hearts for this bitterness and allow Jesus to be our hope and source of life, love and compassion for ourselves and others.

We're excited to bring an interview with our own International Worker (IW), Aubrey Amyx. Aubrey has spent the last year in the African nation of Guinea. She serves on an Alliance team providing childcare and early preschool education specifically for Timothy & Jessica Chapman's two boys, but also for several other IW families in Guinea. Aubrey's role is expanding as she heads back this August to be a teachers aid for a handful of grades. Enjoy this update and keep Aubrey and our IWs in prayer as they continue to share Jesus with some of the least reached people of the world.

Moses encounters God at the burning bush and walks away with the calling of leadership on his life. Moses' identity appears to be in shambles after half a life of not finding a foundation to rest it on. As God places the mantle of leadership on him Moses squirms under the weight of the task by seemingly disqualifying himself for the role. Then he turns his questions of identity inside out, asking God for his name; and the I AM responds with profound depth and cultural insight, cutting to the core of Moses' struggle and revealing the importance of God's with-ness with him.

Moses is one of the greatest figures in Biblical history. He's revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Very little is written on his early life, yet, these years appear to have set the stage for the character he would need in leading God's people out of slavery in Egypt to the boarder of the Promised Land.

We don't receive a manual for how to live life, so it's no surprise that we have little direction or purpose in how we approach life. Yet God designed us with purpose in mind. Knowing your God-given purpose brings clarity to life. Your purpose is your specific contribution to the body of Christ, within your generation, that causes you to totally depend on God and authentically display his love toward others.

We've all been there, tired, eyes heavy, speaker droning and then our head begins to nod as we fall asleep in church. Though most of us don't fall to our death out a third story window as we do and non of us have had the Apostle Paul's words beckon the breath-of-life back into our lungs as the young man in Acts chapter 20 experiences.

As the Apostle Paul preaches the gospel message in the city of ancient Ephesus people begin to respond by believing and following "the Way." This resulted in the status quo of the city being disrupted. As we unpack this story we can easily see the many ways that Jesus usurps the systems, structures, and evils of this world when He is the authority in our lives.

As Paul engages with the people of Athens on Mars Hill, a place designed for debate and dialogue, Paul's gut, his grit, and his grace help him tell a better story about the God the Athenians were missing out on. This contextualized message enables Paul to preach the gospel in such a way that a small group of believers is formed and a church is born in Greece. Paul's example is a helpful tool as we consider the ways in which we are a witness in our community for Jesus

Paul deals with two churches in the book of Acts with different attitudes toward engagement with the good news of Jesus. The church in Thessalonica, as we learn from Paul's letters to it, was prone to laziness; meanwhile, the Berean church was known for its noble character. This tension highlights a struggle we have today, of constantly taking the easy path. Hunger and Hustle are the antidotes to apathy and laziness. But this hunger and hustle is not as our culture describes them. Rather they are a Spirit powered hunger and hustle.