Podcasts about life in christ

What does it look like to follow God's call—even when it leads you far outside your comfort zone?In this episode, Tom sits down with Paul Perissien—husband, dad, and Executive Director of Mission Haiti—for an honest conversation about faith, family, and leadership.Together they talk about:How God used unexpected turns to lead Paul into ministryThe joys and challenges of international mission workWhat it means to trust God when the path isn't clearHow to live with obedience and courage at home and in leadershipPaul's story is a reminder that saying “yes” to God's call isn't always easy—but it's always worth it.The Giving Life Podcast: Conversations about being a man whose life in Christ gives life to others.Watch the video version on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ZPwPD5zKx6w More info about Restoration Generation - www.resgen.org

Pastor Kelly Soiles contrasts the world's counterfeit happiness with the deep, steady joy that comes from being rooted in God's Word, reflecting on Psalm 1:2-3. She invites us to trade the chase for a Scripture-fed life in Christ.

271. Ways to Engage with Youth, Teens, and Gen Z in Church and at Home with Dr. Kara Powell   *Transcription Below*   1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV "so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."   Kara Powell, PhD, is the chief of leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, and the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration. Named by Christianity Today as one of "50 Women to Watch," Kara serves as a youth and family strategist for Orange, and she also speaks regularly at national parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith Beyond Youth Group, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, and the entire Sticky Faith series.   Kara and her husband, Dave, are regularly inspired by the learning and laughter that come from their three young adult children.   Questions and Topics We Cover: What insights do you have to share on Gen-Z? When it comes to navigating intergenerational tensions, how can we practically turn our differences into superpowers and unite together? In your most recent book, entitled, Future-Focused Church, you begin with writing that the brightest days of the church are still ahead. What led you to that realization?   Thank You to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Other Episodes Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce: 127 Generational Differences with Hayden Shaw 2 God-Honoring Relationship Between a Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law with Author of The Mother-in-Law Dance, Annie Chapman   Stories Sampler from The Savvy Sauce Stories Series: 233 Stories Series: Surprises from God with Tiffany Noel 235 Stories Series: Ever-Present Help in Trouble with Kent Heimer 242 Stories Series: He Gives and Takes Away with Joyce Hodel 245 Stories Series: Miracles Big and Small with Dr. Rob Rienow 246 Stories Series: Experiencing God's Tangible Love with Jen Moore   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 2:13) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    I'm thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Their weekend marriage retreats will strengthen your marriage while you enjoy the gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org.    I am so honored to introduce my guest for today, Dr. Kara Powell. She is the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary and the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute. She's also founder of the 10x10 Collaboration and named by today as one of 50 women to watch. She is also extremely humble and insightful as she's going to discuss how we can leverage the power of stories and questions in our relationships at church and in our family and in beyond, and this is to model the life of Jesus. Make sure you also stay tuned in through the end because she's going to share a plethora of conversations and questions specifically to ask when we're engaging in conversation with young people, whether that's our own children and teens or our grandchildren or people in the community or our churches. It's some questions that you don't want to miss. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Kara.   Dr. Kara Powell: (2:07 - 2:09) Oh, it's so good to be with you and your audience, Laura.   Laura Dugger: (2:09 - 2:13) Well, I'd love for you just to first give us a snapshot of your current life and share what's led you to the work that you get to do today.   Dr. Kara Powell: (2:14 - 4:06) Yeah, absolutely. So, let's see. I'll start with family. Dave and I have been married for I think 27-ish years, and we have three kids who are 24, 22, and 19.   Our youngest is a college freshman, and so we're technically empty nesters, but I actually like the term open nesters better because our kids come back, which we love. They come back in the summers and sometimes after college. And we actually, since I live in Pasadena, California, which had the fires in January, we actually have another 22-year-old young woman living with us, which we love.   So, we love having my husband, Dave, and I love having young people around, whether it's our own three kids or the young woman who's living with us. And I'm also a faculty member at Fuller Seminary, and while I certainly teach periodically, my main roles at Fuller actually have to do with leadership beyond Fuller. I'm the chief of leadership formation at Fuller, so I oversee all of Fuller's non-degree offerings, and then I'm the executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, which is a research center that studies the faith of adolescents.   And I love that question, what got me to the work that I do today? Well, God would be the answer to that, but I was a long-term youth pastor here in Southern California at two different churches, loved teenagers, and Fuller was getting ready to start a new research center that was going to listen to the needs of parents and leaders, and then do research to answer those needs. And that really intrigued me, because I love young people, and I love research, and I love real-life ministry and family.   And so, I thought, well, I would love to hear more about that center, and I've been at Fuller now for over 20 years.   Laura Dugger: (4:07 - 4:17) Wow, that's incredible. And quick side note, I'm just so sorry for everything that you all endured in January with all the fires.   Dr. Kara Powell: (4:17 - 4:39) Yeah, it's heartbreaking, and in some ways, in many ways, devastating. And I'm grateful for how God is working through churches and working through God's people. So, there's all sorts of bright spots in the midst of the pain.   But yes, please pray that churches and God's people would be salt and light, because it's going to be a few years of rebuilding.   Laura Dugger: (440 - 4:43) Yes, Lord Jesus, may that be true. Amen.   Dr. Kara Powell: (4:43 - 4:44) Yeah, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (4:45 - 5:17) And I know with your background, you've studied practical theology, and you also have this broad knowledge of psychology. But some churches haven't studied psychology as much, and so I think that typically leads to less of an appreciation for it. But my fear is that they may miss out if they completely ignore it.   So, will you share some of the benefits that you've seen that come from applying God's truth from any of theologies?   Dr. Kara Powell: (5:17 - 8:14) Yeah, yeah. Well, at Fuller Seminary, we have two schools. One is our School of Mission and Theology, which I'm an alum of and a faculty member in.   And the other is our School of Psychology. And so, Laura, you asked a question that's right at the heart of what we love about training leaders and therapists. And in fact, my favorite statue at Fuller, the title of it is Planting the Cross in the Heart of Psychology.   And that's exactly what we believe. So, you know, God's made us as holistic people. And I love thinking both about how is our theology driving us as well as our psychology.   And you know, one way to think about our psychology, a colleague of mine at Fuller talks about people's losses and longings. And that phrase has been so helpful for me. Like, what are people's losses and longings?   And how is that connected with how they're responding? So, so much of our work at the Fuller Youth Institute relates to young people. And I remember coaching a senior pastor who was experiencing a lot of resistance to prioritizing young people from senior adults.   And what the senior pastor realized is, of course, I shouldn't say of course, but in this particular church, when he was saying we need to prioritize young people, those over 60 felt like, wait, that means I'm not going to be a priority. People who are older often already feel that here in US culture. And so, no wonder that was intimidating, that was threatening, that felt like a loss to those senior adults.   And so, I love what the senior pastor ended up doing is he implemented one of our principles of change that we recommend, which is people support what they create. And so, if you want to build ownership, then how can you involve as many people as possible in creating whatever you're trying to develop? And so, the senior pastor went to the senior adults and apologized for sending a message that, you know, made them feel like they were not going to be priority.   And instead, he said, how can we make this church a church that your grandkids would love to be part of? And that connected with those, you know, post 60, most of whom were grandparents, whether their grandkids live locally, or, you know, globally, they wanted their church to be a place where their grandkids and other young people would connect. And so, you know, he turned senior adults feeling like they were peripheral, to really feeling like they were partners in what God was doing in the church.   And so, yes, I would invite us all to think about what are people's losses and longings? And how is that contributing to how they're responding to whatever we're all experiencing?   Laura Dugger: (8:15 - 10:20) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Friends, I'm excited to share with you today's sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Do you feel like you need a weekend away with your spouse and a chance to grow in your relationship together at the same time?   Winshape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that provides weekend marriage retreats to help couples grow closer together in every season and stage of life. From premarital to parenting to the empty nest phase, there is an opportunity for you. Winshape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even when it seems things are going smoothly, so that they're stronger if they do hit a bump along their marital journey.   These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of Winshape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham and Chattanooga. While you're there, you will be well fed, well nurtured and well cared for. During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication and more.   I've stayed on Winshape before and I can attest to their generosity, food and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, windshapemarriage.org/savvy. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org/S-A-V-V-Y. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Well, Kara, you've also done so much research on young people and just in general, I'd love to hear what insights do you have on Gen Z?   Dr. Kara Powell: (10:20 - 14:16) Yeah, yeah. Well, we at the Fuller Youth Institute, we have spent a lot of time studying and doing research on Gen Z, which tends to be those who are 14, 15 and up. Our very youngest teenagers are all actually now Gen Alpha, but we'll talk about Gen Z.   And as we've looked at the research, we've landed on three words which we think well describe Gen Z. First, they are anxious. And if we look at young people today, they do have unprecedented levels of mental health challenges, anxiety, depression, stress, even suicidal thoughts.   And so, we do a lot of training to help parents and leaders understand mental health and how they can be a safe space and get young people the help they need. So, this is an anxious generation. This is an adaptive generation.   This generation is so creative and entrepreneurial and visionary. You know, while there's a lot of downsides to technology, technology also helps young people know more about what's wrong in the world and sometimes take steps to make what is wrong right and restore God's justice to our world. And so, this is an adaptive and creative generation.   And then in addition to being anxious and adaptive, this is a diverse generation. Here in the U.S., we crossed a line in 2020. In the midst of everything else that happened in 2020, we crossed a line where now 50% of those under 18 are young people of color.   So, for your audience to just keep that in mind that 50% of those under 18 are white and 50% are young people of color and that percentage of young people of color is likely going to continue to grow. So, I would say those are three key attributes to this generation. And then, you know, when it comes to what this generation is experiencing spiritually, I really appreciate what my friend and fellow podcaster Carey Nieuwhof has described with young people that they are both in revival and retreat.   And, you know, we see data for both. There's so much that's encouraging about how young people are responding to Jesus. They're open to Jesus.   We're seeing this especially on college campuses. They're responding in mass on college campuses in some really beautiful ways. Both InterVarsity and Crew are seeing that.   But then this generation is also in some ways distancing themselves from the institutional church. Springtide Research Institute did some study of 13- to 25-year-olds and found that 13- to 25-year-olds in the U.S. are almost three times as likely to say they've been hurt by organized religion as trust organized religion. So, our 13- to 25-year-olds are distrustful, a little cynical about institutional religion.   And so, we have our work cut out for us to build trust back. And let me just say, sadly, we have earned young people's lack of trust by the way that by our moral failures, by the way that we have not been as loving as Jesus wants us to be and as young people want us to be. And so, the good news is the way that we re-earn trust with young people is by little acts of kindness and consistency.   So, anybody listening can rebuild trust with a young person. The research on trust shows it's not about heroic acts. It's about sending a text and saying, hey, I'm praying for you.   It's about remembering a young person's name at church. It's about showing up at a young person's soccer game. So, in the midst of this generation and being both revival and retreat, there are practical steps that any adult can take.   Laura Dugger: (14:17 - 14:36) Wow, that's so good. You've got ideas now coming to me for how to pour into even the youth group. This is probably a very random idea, but how great would it be to have a Google calendar of all of their events and then whoever in the church is available to go support? That would just be a practical way.   Dr. Kara Powell: (14:36 - 15:45) Okay, so, Laura, you have just named actually one of my favorite ideas that a church that is here in Los Angeles is doing. They created a Google calendar and volunteers as well as parents can add information. But then what this church did, they started with a Google calendar and then it's a church of about 300 people.   And so, they have now started every Sunday morning. They have a slide with what's happening in young people's lives for the next week. So-and-so is in a play.   So-and-so has a basketball game. So-and-so has a Boy Scout activity. And so, adults in the church, often senior adults who have some extra time, are showing up at kids' events.   Plus, every week they're prioritizing young people. So, when you're a young person in that church and every week there's a slide about you and your friends and what's happening, that says something to the young people sitting there. So, yeah, you're-I actually love that idea.   And especially for smaller churches, I think that's one of the big advantages of smaller churches is we can be more intimate and caring. So, yes, let's please do that.   Laura Dugger: (15:46 - 16:00) Oh, that's so good. I love hearing how that played out. And now I'm also curious because you mentioned it's Gen Alpha behind.   Do you have any insight onto them as well?   Dr. Kara Powell: (16:00 - 16:27) Well, you're going to have to have me back because we are just-we received a grant from the Lilly Endowment, who's funded much of our research to study Gen Alpha. And they're just getting old enough that we really can, quite honestly. And so, like literally this week we are working on survey questions for Gen Alpha.   And we'll have more in the next year about what's similar between Gen Z and Gen Alpha, as well as what's different. So, I'd rather wait and save that for later.   Laura Dugger: (16:28 - 16:34) That sounds great. I'm especially interested in that generation. That is all four of our daughters would fall within that. So, I can't wait to hear your findings.   Dr. Kara Powell: (16:34 - 16:36) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (16:38 - 17:15) And I think it's also bringing up, I'm going to link to a previous episode, Generational Differences with Hayden Shaw, because I don't know if you feel this same way. I think millennials especially got pegged as the generational bias put on them was actually confused with their life stage. And Hayden's the one who wrote about that and drew that to our attention.   So, that's helpful to sift out as we're thinking of young people too, because sometimes older generations can look down on younger generations and see some of the shortcomings. Do you see that as well?   Dr. Kara Powell: (17:16 - 18:55) Oh, for sure. For sure. I think we compare young people to who we are now instead of remembering our 13 and 19 and 25 year old self.   And so, I mean, that's one of our biggest pieces of advice when it comes to young people is instead of judging them, how do we journey with them? How do we really empathize with what they're experiencing? And when we are tempted to judge young people, let's just start at, well, let's just stop and ask ourselves, would we want to be a young person today?   It's so very challenging to be a young person today. I mean, mental health alone, like if I think about my tendency to, as a teenager myself, to compare myself with others, to be worried that I was left out. I mean, if there was a cell phone that showed me everything my friends were doing without me, and I'm stuck at home, like no wonder that young people feel more anxious.   I think I would really be struggling with anxiety if I was a teenager now. I mean, honestly, even at my age, I don't check social media on Friday night or Saturday night, because I might be, Dave and I might be having leftovers and either working or watching a movie on Netflix. And I go on social media and my friends are out with their husbands and having this phenomenal time.   And at my age, that makes me feel insecure, let alone imagine being a 13 or 18- or 22-year-old and navigating that. So, so yes, I think how can we empathize instead of finger point?   Laura Dugger: (18:56 - 19:12) Oh, and you write about how to navigate intergenerational tensions. How can we practically turn our differences into superpowers and unite together? And I guess, especially in the church?   Dr. Kara Powell: (19:12 - 22:39) Yeah, yeah, great question. So, one of our books is called Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager. And we studied young people to try to understand the deep questions driving them.   And we landed on three. Identity, who am I? Belonging, where do I fit? And purpose, what difference can I make?   Identity, belonging and purpose. And those are that's such a helpful framework to understand young people and to empathize with them.   First off, I would say all of us are wrestling with identity, belonging and purpose. And when I feel emotional heat about an issue, if I feel insecure about something, it's usually because it's pricking at my identity, belonging or purpose. And so, that helps us realize that we navigate those questions, too.   But then also for the we who are parents, stepparents, grandparents, mentors of young people, you know, if a young person we care about is doing something that feels a little odd, a little askew, a little bit, that's not like them. If we can take a step back and ask, OK, what are they wrestling with? Is it identity?   Is it belonging? Is it purpose? That helps us empathize and know how to either ask a better question or, you know, give a little bit of hope rooted in whether that's rooted in scripture or in our own experience.   And so, yes, with our with our three kids, when I take a step back and ask, OK, they're saying something that feels odd or unlike them or I'm surprised this is provoking this response in them. Is it is it their identity, belonging or purpose that's at play here? It's like the penny drops and I come to understand.   So, I would say, you know, if we can wear those identity, belonging and purpose lenses, that really helps us understand young people. The other thing and, you know, I'm a professor, so I would give myself about a C plus in what I'm going to share next. OK, so if this is something I'm working on, it's this it's never make a statement if you can ask a question instead, never make a statement if you can ask a question instead.   And so, the more that we can ask questions about what young people are experiencing, like why, why, you know, in a very nonjudgmental way, like I'm just curious. And I start a lot of my questions with that. I'm curious.   I'm curious, like what does tick tock mean to you? Then, you know, that that can open up a real conversation instead of them feeling like we're somehow judging them for their technological use. I was proud of myself yesterday.   Like I said, I give myself about a C plus on this. But yesterday I was talking to my daughter about something. And I asked her, like, well, because she had stepped up to lead something.   And so instead of offering my advice, I said to her, well, you know, what do you think you did well as you were leading? And is there anything that you would want to do differently? And we were in the line of a fast-food place.   And I thought, yes, way to go. I ask questions instead of making statements, instead of offering my opinion. So, and sometimes we have to offer our opinion, for sure.   But just as a general rule, we can ask questions, especially the older our kids get. They respond to that better than us always sharing what we think.   Laura Dugger: (22:39 - 22:47) Well, and I also think you're even modeling this in the way you share stories is humility. So, when you partner that together, that seems very powerful.   Dr. Kara Powell: (22:48 - 23:53) Yeah, yeah, absolutely. My one of my kids said something so interesting. At Mother's Day, my husband asked each of them to share something that they appreciated about me and which was wonderful to receive that affirmation.   And one of them and I I'm not going to reveal the gender here because I haven't asked this child permission to share this. But what my child said was that I was asking them for advice in a way that made it feel more like we were becoming friends. And I had asked this child for advice in the last couple of months about a couple situations.   And so, again, my kids are 19, 22 and 24. So, you know, it's different with younger kids. But for those of us with older kids, it was significant to this child of mine that I was asking them for advice.   And so, I want to keep doing that. I want to keep doing that. So, because I truly do want their perspective.   Yeah, I truly do want their perspective. And it means something to them when I do.   Laura Dugger: (23:54 - 25:28) Yes, absolutely. And I'm thinking back, this may have been like episode three back in 2018. But I talk with Annie Chapman.   She had written the book, The Mother-in-Law Dance. And what you're saying, she pointed out that what makes us a great parent and especially a great mother, the first half of our children's life or the first portion of our children's life at home, it's the opposite of the latter years. And so, you're right.   You're not probably going to ask your five-year-old for advice. But at your kids' phases, that is significant. Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights?   Make sure you access all of this at TheSavvySauce.com by clicking the button that says Join Our Email List so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month. Enjoy.    This discussion with young people is also tied into your recent and optimistic book.   So, I'll hold it up here. It's in and you did co-author this with Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang. So, it's entitled Future-Focused Church, and you begin with writing that the brightest days of the church are still ahead.   So, what led you to this optimistic realization?   Dr. Kara Powell: (25:28 - 26:23) Yeah. Yeah. Well, first, God, you know, this is where being a practical theologian comes into play.   Like I'm always trying to understand what is God up to in this situation and just the way that God is constantly working, redeeming, recreating. So, you know, that's the heart of my optimism and Jake and Ray's optimism as fellow co-authors. And then also Future-Focused Church is based on research we did with over a thousand churches where we journeyed with them in the change process and just the way that they were able to make changes that made them more loving, made them more hospitable to young people.   So, it's, you know, it's people like your listeners and churches like those that your audience is part of. That's what made us optimistic is to see how God is working through actual churches.   Laura Dugger: (26:25 - 26:40) I love that. And even near the beginning, it was on page 26, you succinctly gave a definition of a future-focused church. So, will you share that definition and also elaborate on each one of the facets?   Dr. Kara Powell: (26:40 - 29:17) Yeah, yeah. So, it starts with a group of Jesus followers. And, you know, if you look at the original Greek for church, ekklesia, it's not a building.   We use that phrase incorrectly when we say, you know, I'll meet you at church and we mean a building. It's actually those who are called out or from. So, it's always people in the New Testament.   And so, we believe a church is a group of Jesus followers who seek God's direction together. And that's really important to us is this isn't about what Kara, Jake and Ray think you should do or what the church down the street is doing or even what your denomination is doing. It's you seeking God's direction together.   So, and we could have stopped there, honestly, a group of Jesus followers who seek God's direction together. But then because of the time we've spent with over a thousand churches, because of our commitment to young people, because of what we see happening these days, we added three what we call checkpoints, three things that we think should be priorities for churches these days. One is relationally discipling young people.   And, you know, we were intentionally using the words relationally discipling. It's not just entertaining. It's not just standing near young people at worship service.   But how are we actually investing in young people? And then secondly, modeling kingdom diversity. Again, if you look at our country ethnically and racially, we are a diverse country.   And so, how can we model that? How can our churches reflect what our neighborhoods are? And then thirdly, tangibly loving our neighbors.   Jesus said that, you know, they will know that we are Christians by our love for another, for each other, as well as our love for neighbors. And so, how can we make sure that we are really a place that is salt and light? As I mentioned, you know, we are trying to be in Pasadena as churches these days as we're recovering from the fires.   So, we encourage churches to look at those three checkpoints in particular. But then again, we want churches to figure out what God is inviting them towards. So, maybe that's more prayer.   Maybe that's being more involved globally in evangelism, you know, whatever it might be. Seek that direction together. But then what we try to do is give a map to get there, because a lot of churches know what they want to change, but don't know how to bring about change.   And so, that's actually what the bulk of our book is about, is helping leaders know how to move their church from here to God's direction for them.   Laura Dugger: (29:18 - 30:27) And that's incredible that you walked with so many churches through that process. But I was especially encouraged by you being partial to sharing stories. And so, we recently did an entire stories series on The Savvy Sauce, and it was so compelling and faith building.   I can link to a sample of those in the show notes. But you write about stories shaping culture. And I just I want to share your quote and then ask you how we can actually implement this.   So, your quote is from page 57, where you write, “Organizational culture is best communicated and illustrated by stories. As well modeled by Jesus, one of the best ways to shift the culture of a church is through the disciplined and consistent telling of clear and compelling stories that invite a different culture and way of being.” So, Kara, how have you seen this done well?   Dr. Kara Powell: (30:27 - 33:10) Yeah, yeah. Well, I think about whatever system we're in, whether it's our families or whether it's our churches or whatever organization we're in. Yeah, our stories become really the key messages of what our culture is.   And so, I want to go back to that church that we were talking about that had a Google calendar and now does a Sunday announcement every week of kids' events. Well, that church is also capturing stories of the 81-year-old who showed up at the 16-year-old soccer game, who didn't even know her all that well, but just had a free Thursday afternoon and knew that she was playing. And the pastor who was also on the sidelines at that soccer game, who ended up talking to both the parents of the 16-year-old and the 81-year-old.   And so, that became a story for that church of how different generations are supporting young people. And so, that pastor has told that story multiple, multiple times. You know, I just think about in our family, our kids love hearing our stories.   And that's part of how they I mean, it's a big, a big theme and how they come to know what it means to be a Powell. So, you know, earlier I said, you know, I said, never make a statement if you can ask a question instead. I think the exception to that, Laura, is if we're going to tell a story because stories communicate so much.   One of our one of our children is struggling with being anxious about something. And I was anxious last night. I never lose sleep.   I so rarely lose sleep. But I did last night. I was up for about an hour and a half in the middle of the night, finally ended up having a prayer time.   And that helped me go back to sleep. But I'm looking forward to telling my child, who's also struggling with anxiety, that story of me experiencing some, you know, 3:00 a.m. anxiety and what eventually helped me is kind of reflecting on a mantra I feel like God's given me. And I want to share that with my child, not to nag them, but just to let them know that, you know, in our family, this is how we want to try to respond to anxiety.   And maybe my story can be helpful for you the next time that you're struggling with it, which might be today. So, so, yes, the more that we can share our present and our past experiences, whether it's as individuals, families, organizations, the more that we communicate the cultural values that we want.   Laura Dugger: (33:11 - 33:45) That's so good. And I love how you're relating that to parents as well, because from the very youngest ages, tell me a story. And if it's like if we remember a story of them when they're a child, they just grasp onto that.   And we when we're tired at the end of the night, if we run out of our stories, we love even just reading aloud true stories of other people, too. OK, and I'm partnering then thinking of stories and one of your facets about I love how you said it. I'd love for you to repeat. Is it strategically discipling, relationally discipling?   Dr. Kara Powell: (33:45 - 33:46) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (33:46 - 35:03) OK, so my brother and sister's church, I'm just going to highlight theirs because I love something that both of them are doing with our nieces and nephews. They just have them, the youth, write down three names of somebody in a different generation above theirs that they would enjoy getting to know, spending time with. And then they get matched with one of those people and they enter a yearlong mentorship relationship.   And I'm just thinking, one, their mentors all happen to be open nesters. And the male and female who have mentored our nieces and nephews, the female took our nieces, would send them a copy of a recipe, say, get these groceries this week. I'm coming to your house on Tuesday and we're going to cook all of this together and have it ready for your family dinner.   Just so practical and that they just build a love for each other. And then a similar thing with our nephews, where whatever that mentor's skill was, he was great at even making, I think, wood fired pizzas and just showing them practical skills, but relationally investing. And you see the youth's growth and maturity from that discipleship.   Dr. Kara Powell: (35:03 - 36:17) So, yeah, that's awesome. And not only the young people, but the adults, too. Like what's been so great, Laura, is, you know, while much of our research has looked at how adults change young people and how churches change young people, every time we study that, we see how young people change adults and churches, too.   So, you know, for that male and female who are mentoring your nieces and nephews, how they come to understand more about themselves, God, life, scripture, as they're spending time with young people, that's just really, really powerful. So, I also want to highlight, I love how your example, how it starts by asking young people, like who are some adults that you would like to spend more time with that you look up to? And, you know, we would do that with our kids when we needed babysitters.   Like who are some adults that you would like to get to know and how wonderful then that we could ask those adults, especially if they were of babysitting age, to come and be with our kids. And that way we were getting the babysitting we needed and our kids were getting the mentoring that they needed. So, so, yes, I think, you know, giving a young person some agency and who they spend time with, that's really beautiful in that example.   Laura Dugger: (36:18 - 36:21) Oh, that's and that's genius for a family life.   Dr. Kara Powell: (36:21 - 36:22) Yeah, exactly, exactly.   Laura Dugger: (36:23 - 36:39) Well, you also share some other helpful tips for churches, such as considering questions like, would anyone miss our church if it closed down? So, do you have any other practical tips that you want to make sure we don't miss?   Dr. Kara Powell: (36:39 - 40:19) Yeah, yeah. I think, yeah, I'll offer a few questions that we have found really helpful. And I'll start with questions when your kids are in elementary and then I'll give a couple of questions when your kids are older.   So, so one of the questions that we love asking at dinner when our kids were in elementary was, how did you see God at work today? And I will say that when I first raised that question, one of my daughters said, “Well, mommy, I can't answer that question. And I said, why not?”   She said, “Well, I don't have a job. How did you see God at work today? So, then we had to say, well, how did you see God working today?”   And I, you know, and equally important as our kids asking that question is that we were, excuse me, as our kids answering that question is that we were answering that question. And so, so, you know, any way that you can involve meaningful sharing, whether it's a dinner, whether it's a bedtime and that you are sharing, too. So, so that that's been a great one for our family.   And then when your kids get older, a couple come to mind. One is two pairs of questions actually come to mind. One is, you know, the phrase never make a statement.   Maybe you can ask the question said sometimes we do need to offer our advice as parents, our perspective. And I have found when I do that with my kids is now that they're late young adults, if I ask them first, well, what do you disagree with and what I said and give them an opportunity to critique what I said, then and then I ask a second question. OK, well, what might you agree with and what I said?   They're far more open to sharing what they agree with if they first have had a chance to critique me. So, I offer that as in those moments when you do need to offer your opinion or perspective, how can we still make it a dialogue? One way is to invite your kid to critique you.   And they'll probably point out things that you do need to reconsider, or at least it's good to hear those from your young person. Another pair of questions that that I have found so helpful with our kids is as they get older and really come to own their own faith. I love asking our kids, what do you now believe that you think I don't believe?   And what do you no longer believe that you think I still believe? So, what do you now believe that you think I don't believe? And what do you no longer believe that you think I still believe?   What I love about that is that it's making overt that our faith is going to continue to change and grow. And that's true for all of us. And it also makes differences discussable, because I'd far rather know how my kids' faith is changing and how it's different or similar than mine than not know.   And, you know, as we've asked our kids those questions over the years, sometimes their answer is like, not much has changed. Like, you know, but other times they do have different opinions that they want to share with me. And then I try to have that non-defensive, oh, OK, well, I'm curious.   Then again, starting phrase with I'm curious and then asking a question has given us some of the best conversations. So, you can get really tangible. How did you see God at work today?   But then as your kids get older, ask questions that that are more open-ended and can help you really understand where your kids are at.   Laura Dugger: (40:20 - 41:15) I love that.    And I'm just thinking if people are listening like I listen to podcasts, it's when I'm on the go, when I'm doing a walk in the morning or if I'm cleaning around the house. And if you don't get a chance to take notes, we do have transcripts available now for all these episodes, but I would think so many people have written in about dialogue and questions for teenagers and how to handle.   And I love the way you responded to all of that. So, even grab the transcript and write down those questions and try them at dinner or bedtime tonight. But then even thinking of churches for practical tips, what do you have as far as hospitality and the impact that it could make if we're building relationships through hospitality?   But you also call out three ways to build relationships through sharing meals, sharing stories and sharing experiences.   Dr. Kara Powell: (41:15 - 43:08) Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think you've named it, Laura. How do we have a hospitable, open heart and open churches?   And I just want to go back to this question. Like, is our church a place that our kids and our grandkids would want to be part of? And if we keep asking that question, I think it helps us prioritize the next generation and make space for them at our meals, within our stories and within our experiences.   Now, I will say this, you know, I talk so much about intergenerational relationships and bringing the generations together. Like, I do think there's a time and a place for 16-year-olds to be on their own and 46-year-olds to be on their own and 76-year-olds to be on their own. It's just finding that balance of when do we bring all the generations together?   And then when do we want to have those special life development, life stage development conversations ourselves? And most churches are swinging far more toward we keep generations separate and need to swing the pendulum back to how can we have shared meals together? How can we serve together in ways that are shared?   And, you know, I'll just say this last thought when it comes to sharing experiences, especially those that are service. You know, a lot of churches have young people who are serving. They're in children's ministry, they're in sound, they're in tech, etc.   And that's awesome. And I think the question becomes, like, how can that young person be more than just a warm body who passes out graham crackers? And how can I think, OK, I'm teaching third graders and I'm also trying to mentor this 15-year-old who's working with me with the third graders and same with sound.   So, you know, anytime you're interacting with young people, it's an opportunity to influence, especially as you're sharing more about yourself.   Laura Dugger: (43:10 - 43:15) Love that. And you seem like an idea person as well. So, I'm going to bounce another idea.   Dr. Kara Powell: (43:16 - 43:16) Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (43:16 - 43:45) What I'm gathering is obviously we're keeping Jesus at the center and you're not downplaying the need for scripture or Bible study. And those kind of things but also adding there is value in I'm thinking shared experience. Specifically, I'm thinking of pickleball.   It's something that appeals to a wide age range. What if your church had invested in a pickleball sport to do something that could bring people together? So, what are your thoughts on that?     Dr. Kara Powell: (43:45 - 45:22) Yeah. Yeah. Pickleball, you know, senior adults who need tech help from teenagers.   That's another great way to connect people. I mean, any kind of shared interest 1 Thessalonians 2:8 is such an important scripture passage for me when it comes to discipleship. And Paul writes that we were delighted to share with you not just the gospel, but our very lives.   And so, how can we share life, whether it's pickleball, whether it's pizza? I'm running out of alliteration here. I was trying to do something else that started with P.   And for leaders who are listening, how can you take what you're already doing and make it more intergenerational? So, that's the other thing we like to tell churches is whether it's pickleball or whether it's well, we're already serving at the local homeless center to help people who are unhoused. Well, instead of that only being a youth event, maybe make that an all church event and see if adults come who can be mentoring young people.   So, you know, I love what one church did. Many churches have done this, actually, when they're looking for small group for homes where small groups can be for young people instead of going to like the parents of the teenagers. What if we go to our senior adults or our open or slash empty nesters and see if they'll open their homes?   Because then it's bringing more adults into contact with young people. And those adults who open their homes can also open their lives. So, yeah, just continuing to ask, how can we make this more of a connection across generations?   Goodness.   Laura Dugger: (45:22 - 45:39) And you have so many ideas and some of these are mentioned in this book, but you've also written many more helpful resources. So, will you give us an overview of the other books that you've authored and share a bit of what we might find if we read? Dr. Kara Powell: (45:39 - 46:42) Yeah. So, our most recent book, as you've mentioned, is Future Focus Church, and that's especially geared to help leaders know how to move a ministry from where they are now to where God wants it to be. It's been so great to journey with leaders through that.   Probably our best book that offers a ton of questions you can ask young people is Three Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, where we get into identity, belonging and purpose, which I mentioned. And we have over 300 questions that an adult, whether it's a family member or a mentor or a neighbor or congregant can use with young people. And then the last one I'll offer is The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family comes out of our previous Sticky Faith research.   How do you help young people have faith that lasts? We have a special chapter in that book for grandparents. So, for any grandparents who are listening, that whole book and that chapter is a great resource.   But also we have had a lot of parents, stepparents say that The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family has been one of their favorite books.   Laura Dugger: (46:43 - 47:02) That's incredible. I'll have to link to those in the show notes for today's episode. But I'm sure you're aware we are called The Savvy Sauce because Savvy is anonymous with practical knowledge.   And so, as my final question for you today, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Dr. Kara Powell: (47:03 - 48:16) That's a really good question, Laura. OK, I'll say I'll share the first thing that came to mind when you asked it. Gosh, probably 10 or 12 years ago, I read a book and from the book I adapted a phrase for my work life and my personal life, which is if it's not a definite yes, it's a no.   As a busy mom, as a busy employee, as a busy leader, I see potential in so many things. And so, I want to say yes to so many things. And then I end up tired.   I end up empty. I end up not being able to say yes to something maybe better that comes a month later because I've already committed to, you know, plan my seventh graders camping trip or give a talk or, you know, whatever it might be. And so, that phrase, we made it a six-month experiment in the Foley Youth Institute as well as in our family.   Like it's not a definite yes, it's a no. And it really helped us say no to things, trim and I think find a much more manageable pace. So, as we pray, as we pray, it's not a definite yes, it's a no.   That's been game changing for me.   Laura Dugger: (48:17 - 48:57) Well, I love how much you've modeled applying these things at your work or in our church, but also in our family life. It's all transferable. And Kara, this has just been a super special conversation because you've been on my list to have a conversation with for over a decade, probably since I got my hands on Sticky Faith.   And I just appreciate we've been talking as we were praying before we were recording. You desire so much, not only for young people, but for all people to experience this abundant life in Christ. And I'm so grateful for you and just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Dr. Kara Powell: (48:57 - 49:03) Oh, my pleasure, Laura. And thanks to you and how you serve your audience as well as our world. It's been an honor.   Laura Dugger: (49:04 - 52:19) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.    Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.    We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.    That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.    This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.    Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.    And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.    First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.    You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.    We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.    And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.    And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

In this sermon from Romans 3:27–31, Paul confronts three big questions: What becomes of our boasting? Who belongs to God? And does the law still matter? He reminds us that salvation is by grace through faith alone, leaving no room for pride—our only boast is in Christ. God is not just the God of one group but Lord over all people, calling both Jews and Gentiles to faith in Him. And while we are justified apart from works, the law still reveals God's design for human flourishing, guiding us toward life in Christ. True freedom comes from full surrender, not partial surrender, and our lives are meant to display humility, gratitude, and hope as we live as Christ's ambassadors in the world.

On the first day of a camp where Alan teaches teens entrepreneurial skills, a student said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you? I can tell.” Before Alan said he was a Christian or wore his favorite socks and ties decorated with Christian symbols, the teen said he saw Jesus through Alan’s words, actions, and attitude. They discussed how they could better represent Jesus wherever they go. Saying we’re Christian and wearing clothes with Christian messages are good things. However, the Bible teaches that the way we live and love as we share the gospel are the true identifiers of those who follow Jesus. The apostle Paul and the other believers in Corinth were compelled, or driven, to please God by living with an eternal perspective while sharing Him with others (2 Corinthians 5:9-14). When we’re committed to living for Jesus instead of for ourselves, the Holy Spirit changes our perspective, character, priorities, and ways of interacting with others (vv. 15-17). Our new life in Christ is intended to represent Him while we point others to Him, “as though God were making his appeal through us” (vv. 18-20). Empowered by the Spirit, we’re given the joy and responsibility of representing Jesus wherever we go.

Episode Description:In this episode of Chosen One, we explore God's call in Jeremiah 1 and how it applies to us today. Before we were formed, God already knew us, set us apart, and equipped us with His Spirit to fulfill His purpose. We'll talk about overcoming doubt, trusting God's strength over our own, and the courage it takes to live as His chosen in a world full of opposition. Like Jeremiah, we're called to tear down old ways, build new life in Christ, and boldly share God's truth—because we are chosen, and He is always with us

The Christian life isn't just about thinking differently—it's about living differently. In this powerful Bible study from the "Christ Over Culture" series, Pastor James D. Gailliard unpacks Colossians 3:5-11 to show us what it looks like to cut away the habits, sins, and associations that no longer fit a life in Christ.Using the Lazarus Principle (John 11:44), Pastor Gailliard explains that resurrection requires cooperation, community, and trust. We are not called to try harder, but to trust deeper.Key takeaways from this lesson:Execute the enemies of your soul (vv. 5-6)Treat as dead what Christ has already defeatedRely on God's power and the support of communityAlign your daily choices with your new identity in ChristListen now and learn how to purge what doesn't fit anymore so you can live fully in the victory Jesus has already secured.Support the showThank you for listening to this podcast! Follow Pastor James D. Gailliard on all social media @jdgailliard and get connected with Word Tabernacle Church by going to https://wordtab.net/ #EveryoneThriving

Spiritual formation isn't a once-and-done event. It's a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus. In this message, Ben Pinches explores what true discipleship looks like, how to navigate seasons of doubt and challenge, and why spiritual practices are not the goal, but rather the pathway to deeper intimacy with God. From growing in faith and holiness to learning love in action, discover what it means to keep maturing as a disciple of Jesus in every season of your life. Together, let's press on toward the fullness of life in Christ and His call to be part of the Great Commission.

Have you ever felt like parts of your old life still cling to you, even after following Jesus? In this episode, Christine Caine unpacks Colossians 3 and shows us what it really means to take off our “old clothes” and put on the new wardrobe Christ has given us. Discover how to walk in compassion, kindness, and forgiveness instead of anger, malice, and bitterness—and why your spiritual wardrobe is essential for a fruitful life in Christ.  Listen in & uncover: - Why Paul uses wardrobe imagery to describe spiritual transformation. - The difference between “old clothes” of sin and the “new clothes” of Christ.- How to daily choose the wardrobe that reflects your identity in Jesus.  Get your free Episode Reflection Guide here.  + + + + +  Christine Caine is a speaker, activist, and best-selling author. She and her husband, Nick, founded the anti-human trafficking organization The A21 Campaign. They also founded Propel Women, an initiative that is dedicated to coming alongside women all over the globe to activate their God-given purpose. Each week she brings you a Gospel-centered message filled with Biblical truths that will equip and empower you to step into the life God has for you.

The people who repent of sin and place their faith in the person andwork of Jesus Christ are brought into the household of God, thecommunity of faith called the church, sharing a common life in Christ.

Have you ever wondered what the Bible means when it says we were “dead in our sins”? Tune in this week, as we walk through Paul's powerful words in Ephesians 2:1–10 and discover the hope of being made alive in Christ. We'll unpack what it means to be spiritually dead, how God's mercy and grace revive us, and what new life in Christ looks like, marked by humility, purpose, and freedom.

What if making disciples didn't require a curriculum? In this episode, Jeremy and April pull back the curtain on their Life on Life discipleship blueprint and reveal why transformation happens best through impartation, not information. From showing someone how you underline your Bible to sharing the family systems that actually work in your home, discipleship is about passing on your real life in Christ. Jeremy shares his simple 5-minute prep method that fuels 90-minute training sessions, while April walks through how she disciples busy moms with practical rhythms and Titus 2 wisdom. This conversation will change the way you think about discipling others - simple, reproducible, and deeply relational. In this episode, we talk about: 0:00 Intro 1:54 Why we don't use curriculum 3:39 How do you actually train without curriculum? 8:04 Prompts to find your catalogue of trainings 12:24 Jeremy's training example 18:51 April's approach to discipling stay at home moms 26:33 Low-prep discipleship works ---

From Sunday 28 September 2025, Michael Thomas has a message from the book of Romans title "Death in Adam, Life in Christ" Romans 5:12-21fbcmw.org

Ephesians 6:10-19 Adapted from an outline by Dr. Warren Weirsbe The Enemy We Fight (vv. 10-12) The call to stand The need for strength The Equipment We Wear (vv. 13-17) Belt of Truth Breastplate of righteousness Boots of the gospel of peace Shield of faith Helmet of salvation Sword of the Spirit The Energy We Need (vv. 18-19) Prayer for others Prayer for ourselves More To Consider In contrast to modern skepticism toward evil spirits, Paul pictured the churchs battle for survival as a struggle against the devil, demons, and malign supernatural beings (see 2:2; 3:10). Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1770). Holman Bible Publishers. In the first half of his letter Paul prayed that his readers would come to know the power of God which was demonstrated and is operative in the Resurrection of Christ. That power had been demonstrated, too, in the readers conversion to Christ. Each persons conversion is a Resurrection from the deadness of sin to life in Christ and deliverance from the prevailing forces of sin. Now, in this last chapter, Paul reminds his readers that in all their future they will have to rely on the same Resurrection power. We may be tempted to think that our enemies are human and then to seek to fight with worldly weapons. But our real enemies are the spiritual forces that stand behind all institutions and seek to control the lives of persons and nations. Dunnam, M. D., Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon (Vol. 31, pp. 236237). Thomas Nelson Inc. The soldier's first article of faith is summed up nowhere more eloquently than in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U.S. Grant: "I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place you would come--if alive." This is the unwritten, unspoken but unbreakable contract of the battlefield: You will leave no one, dead or alive, in the hands of the enemy. U.S. News and World Report, July 29, 1991, p. 5.

Sermon by Davy Lee on September 28, 2025. 

God's separated people who have the certainty of eternal life in Christ and the resurrection should not grieve the death of their loved ones in the Lord like the world but distinctively show their holy hope in heaven. Don't Grieve Your Deceased Brethren with a Worldly Lack of Hope in Heaven.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, host Hunter invites us into day 270 of our journey through the Scriptures, sharing readings from Ezra 4, Psalms 113 and 127, and Luke 9. Together, we'll witness the opposition faced by the Jewish people as they rebuild the temple, rejoice in the psalms of praise and wisdom, and follow Jesus as he sends his disciples, feeds the multitude, and reveals the true cost—and reward—of discipleship. Hunter weaves these passages together, reflecting on what it means to find real life in Christ by letting go of the world's definition of success and embracing the way of the cross. The episode concludes with heartfelt prayers and a warm reminder: you are loved. Join us as we seek wisdom, encouragement, and strength from God's Word on this September 26th. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Losing to Gain: The Way of the Cross If you hang on to your life, making it about you, insisting on your own way, you will lose your way. In the end, all your effort to gain will be a loss. The world's siren song is self and success. We think these are the marks of real living, the fruit of our hard work, the result of our cunning and sweat and our dedication. The world tells us that we will win and live with big bank accounts, big churches and big egos. That's the way of the world. And too often it can become the way of our churches, the way of our own lives. But Jesus points to something else. He points to the way of his kingdom. He says that we can gain all of the world and lose our soul. The way to live, the way to win in this kingdom is to daily take up a cross. People who carry crosses are giving evidence of their death. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth. Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels, a plentiful harvest of new lives.” The life released in death is released in resurrection power, not the power of the flesh. And its results are abundant. The results are lives awakened to the love of God who comes to deliver us from our success and cravings for life on our own terms, those things that lead to nothing in the end. Jesus shows us the way to his kingdom. He shows us that he is the way to life and love and abundance by finding our lives in him, to be awakened to the life that is ours in Him. But we must turn away from the siren songs of this world and turn up the sound and music of heaven, the sound and the song of our Lord and Christ, who tells us, “Follow me and you will truly live.” And that's the prayer that I have for my own soul. That's the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that's the prayer that I have for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Jesus isn't just looking for leaves—He's looking for fruit. In Mark 11:11–14, we see a fig tree that looked alive but was empty, a picture of Israel's outward religion without true righteousness. This week, Pastor Korey reminds us that real life in Christ comes from abiding in the Vine, not just looking spiritual on the outside, and calls us to examine what fruit God is growing in us today.

What if God could take away someone's desire for drugs in a single moment? He can and He did!In this episode, Tom sits down with Ryan Revell—husband, dad, business leader, and follower of Jesus—for a powerful story of brokenness, freedom, and lasting hope.Together they talk about:Ryan's journey through years of addictionWhat led up to the miracle of Jesus setting Ryan freeThe five basics that keep Ryan walking in lasting freedomHow Ryan's faith now fuels his leadership, family, and everyday lifeRyan's story is raw, real, and full of hope—a reminder that no one is too far gone and that freedom in Christ truly lasts. Listen now at resgen.org/podcast or wherever you stream your podcasts.The Giving Life Podcast: Conversations about being a man whose life in Christ gives life to others.Watch the video version on YouTube - https://youtu.be/uJaaTWevv_IMore info about Restoration Generation - www.resgen.org

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

Some longtime friends dropped by for a visit and they told us a moving story of what had happened to their son. Tom had been a missionary pilot in Mexico - one of those spiritual heroes, I think, who take the Gospel and God's help to places where it could otherwise never go, including a mountain village in Mexico where the pilots have been God's instruments to launch a mighty work for Christ. And then came the crash. With three missionary pilots and several passengers aboard, a defect in their plane's almost new engine caused a terrible crash. Tom was one of those who survived that crash that could very well have killed everyone. The villagers who loved them actually traveled hours to reach them and rescue them. Tom's body was really badly shattered, and his recovery was long, grueling. But then he was flown back to the area where he ministered. His parents really choked up, and so did we, when they told us what happened as he got off the plane. There to greet him was a crowd of cheering Mexican friends. And they were holding a banner that simply said "Welcome home, Captain Tom!" I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your 'Welcome Home.'" I'm hoping you and I can get a "welcome home" like that in heaven someday. It all depends on what we live for in the years until we get home. In our word for today from the Word of God, Paul clearly lays out what matters most to him about the legacy of his life. In 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, he writes these words to the people that he's invested his life in spiritually: "What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." Paul is looking forward to getting to heaven and seeing a lot of people that he touched for eternity. That's the welcoming party he's looking for. Basically, Paul says there are two things that matter in life: the Savior you serve and the lives you touch. That's your reward for the years you spend on this planet, that's your legacy, that's your joy. Well, at least it's supposed to be. It's possible that your life's priorities have gotten a little inverted by the pressures and the people and the problems that tend to fill up your life. You've been taken over by a truckload of earth-stuff. One friend of mine summed it up pretty well the other day. When someone asked him if he's ever played Trivial Pursuit, he said, "Every day." He wasn't talking about the game. He's talking about his life. Just hearing about Pilot Tom's "welcome home" was an important values-clarification reminder. If you've become consumed and sidetracked with a lot of stuff that's non-eternal, maybe it's time to get with Jesus and replace your agenda with His agenda to "seek first His kingdom" (Matthew 6:33). And if you're a little weary or discouraged in your faithful service for Jesus, I hope you'll be encouraged by the thought of the reward you're building, the legacy you're developing and the lives that have been touched by your sacrifices who will be thanking you forever. The people you've risked to take to heaven with you will be there, humanly speaking, because you cared. The lives that have been touched by the ministries you've given to will, in the Bible's words, be "credited to your account" (Philippians 4:17). All that really matters is what's going to meet you when you get to heaven. First, your Savior who will welcome you with the words you have lived for, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And the people your life in Christ has touched for eternity. Who knows, maybe they'll be holding a banner with your name on it that says, "Welcome home!"

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

If you look at the testimony of scripture from Genesis to Revelation, you will see that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal God. To draw people into a relationship with God. To transform people in that new life in Christ. And then to reproduce the very life of Christ within the individual experience and within the corporate experience we call the church. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1170/29

In this stand alone sermon, Pastor Frank Bennett shares the POINT of Evangelism. It's important to PRAY for those God has chosen you to reach, to OWN your responsibility to share your faith, the INVITE those around you to church and a new life in Christ, to listen to the NEEDS of those you come in contact, and to share your TESTIMONY of what Jesus has done in your life.

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

A church played Pink Pony Club during their worship service… but what does this say about the state of modern Christianity? In this video, Christian Barrett reacts to the viral clip and walk through why this matters, how the Bible calls us to something higher, and how we can guard our churches against drifting from God's truth.We'll talk about:Why playing secular songs like Pink Pony Club in church undermines the gospel.The danger of straying from orthodox Christianity.How God's Word, Jesus' identity, and our new life in Christ keep us grounded and the need for the Word to be SupremeIf you're passionate about defending the truth of Scripture, discipleship, and worship that glorifies God, this video is for you.Chapters:00:22 – When churches stray from orthodox Christianity03:18 – Reaction: Singing Pink Pony Club in church04:25 – How do we avoid drifting from truth?05:11 – Way #1: The Word of God is inspired07:05 – Why we desperately need the Word of God07:50 – Way #2: Remember who Jesus truly is10:05 – Way #3: Declare that we are new creations in Christ12:55 – We are called to something greaterMake sure to subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmetMinistry For more resources, visit emetministry.org Follow us: on Instagram instagram.com/emetministries on Spotify:⁠ open.spotify.com/show/3xqsSY1AJZQe0IeYdibocD?si=Z53PRwgMQMS7TM1CkWTYlQ on Apple Podcast: podcast.apple.com/us/podcast/the-four-fold-disciple/id1505547928my reading list:⁠ https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/74696644-christian-barrettFair Use Disclaimer:This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. All clips used are protected by the Fair Use Doctrine within Title 17 of the United States Code. This doctrine safeguards the use of copyrighted material for transformative purposes, such as commentary, criticism, review and news reporting. Under Title 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who makes a false, bad faith, or misleading copyright claim or uses a copyright takedown to infringe on free speech, criticism, or commentary can be held liable for damages to the content creator.Hosseinzadeh v. Klein, 276 F.Supp.3d 34 (S.D.N.Y. 2017); Equals Three, LLC v. Jukin Media, Inc., 139 F. Supp. 3d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2015).

In this powerful message, we're reminded of the spiritual warfare that surrounds us as believers. The central theme revolves around Romans 12:19, which teaches us that vengeance belongs to God alone. We're called to navigate this world as ambassadors of Christ, responding to injustice and persecution with love and prayer rather than retaliation. The speaker draws parallels between God's ordained authorities (like law enforcement) and our role as spiritual warriors, emphasizing that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of darkness. This perspective challenges us to renew our minds and approach conflicts with a Kingdom mindset, trusting in God's justice rather than taking matters into our own hands. As we reflect on this message, we're encouraged to examine our hearts, pray for those in authority, and stand firm in our faith, knowing that our redemption draws near.

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh.

It's impossible to ignore our sin. Our flesh continually battles the new nature given to us in Christ. While our internal struggle can feel discouraging, there is hope for victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.Further explore sin and the law from Romans 7 with Pastor Chuck Swindoll. Discover why Christians still battle sin after trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.Learn the truth you need to accept. Embrace the realistic portrait of a struggling Christian. Pursue new life in Christ, even as you fight against sin and your flesh. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29

Today we talk about martyrs and what they mean to our life in Christ. How do we respond to mobs without rationality and how is a Christian to respond to modern attacks. Foxes Book of Martyrs: https://amzn.to/4nagWlD A few points: 1.) I think Charlie Kirk was martyred MORE for the Republican cause than the Christian, though I would accept him as both. 2.) I do not count this as a CHRISTIAN martyrdom specifically because his venue was political, not gospel-orientated. 3.) ANYONE on ANY side of the political isle should mourn the loss of a political martyr. 4.) ANYONE who is praising a man's death, or interfering with that man's mourners are purely evil or under the influence of DEMONIC activity.

Being born again means starting a new life in Christ, where our trust shifts from self-dependence to relying on God. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:33 that when we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” all our needs will be provided for. This shows that the new birth is not only about spiritual renewal but also about entering a relationship with a Father who cares deeply for His children, promising to supply every necessity as we walk in faith.

It's easy to claim new life in Christ—but what proves it's real? This Sunday, we're asking a bold question: What should your life look like if you've really been born again? Peter gives us the answer—and it's both beautiful and costly.

It's easy to claim new life in Christ—but what proves it's real? This Sunday, we're asking a bold question: What should your life look like if you've really been born again? Peter gives us the answer—and it's both beautiful and costly.

Romans 7:6 — What makes Christians different from others is that they have been granted a new mind and new desires by the Holy Spirit. This new life in Christ puts believers in a new relationship to the law of Moses as now the law is written upon the heart of every believer. This creates a heart of worship that is not focused on the externals of religious acts, but on the orientation of the heart. True worship flows out of a heart renewed and freed from the curse of the law and the power of sin and flesh. In this sermon on Romans 7:6 titled “Life in the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is emphatic that this new relationship to the law does not bring about antinomianism since all of God's commands are good and just. It means that Christ fulfilled the law and gives believers a new heart that has new desires. The end of the law is not a license to live in sin but it comes with the joy and privilege of seeking to love God and neighbor out of the new person that Christ Jesus is fashioning all believers to be. Sanctification cannot be separated from salvation and glorification because Christ Jesus is the one who begins and completes salvation.

Romans 7:6 — What makes Christians different from others is that they have been granted a new mind and new desires by the Holy Spirit. This new life in Christ puts believers in a new relationship to the law of Moses as now the law is written upon the heart of every believer. This creates a heart of worship that is not focused on the externals of religious acts, but on the orientation of the heart. True worship flows out of a heart renewed and freed from the curse of the law and the power of sin and flesh. In this sermon on Romans 7:6 titled “Life in the Spirit,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is emphatic that this new relationship to the law does not bring about antinomianism since all of God's commands are good and just. It means that Christ fulfilled the law and gives believers a new heart that has new desires. The end of the law is not a license to live in sin but it comes with the joy and privilege of seeking to love God and neighbor out of the new person that Christ Jesus is fashioning all believers to be. Sanctification cannot be separated from salvation and glorification because Christ Jesus is the one who begins and completes salvation. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/603/29

In this episode, I open up and share my own salvation story—how God rescued me and gave me new life in Christ. Moments like the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk remind us that life is short, tomorrow isn't promised, and eternity is real. But we cannot let this be just a one-time emotional catalyst. My prayer is that we carry the fire for Christ and the urgency for the salvation of others with us every single day.I promised to include the Roman Road to Salvation—a clear and powerful way to understand and share the gospel:Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”Romans 10:9–10 – “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”Romans 10:13 – “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”We are called to live with eternity on our hearts. The gospel is not just good news—it is urgent news. My encouragement to you is this: don't wait for a national tragedy, a loss, or a wake-up call to stir your boldness. Share Christ now, love people enough to point them to salvation, and live surrendered to His mission.If you've never made the decision to follow Jesus, I invite you to pray, believe, and surrender your life to Him today. And if you're already walking with Him, ask for fresh courage and boldness to share your faith with your family, your friends, and even strangers who need the hope of Christ.Let's not waste this moment. Let's keep the fire burning.I am always love to connect with you!Don't hesitate to reach out!Personal Instagram: @racheljmitchellPodcast Instagram: @livingonmissionpodEmail: rachel@racheljmitchell.comJoin my next six week round of coaching!

Fr. Harry Linson Bigler and Fr. Anthony Perkins reflect on recent tragedies, including the anniversary of 9/11 and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, to explore how the Church prepares us for death. They discuss the difference between modern avoidance of death and the Church's ancient practices, showing how prayer, liturgy, and the lives of the saints form us to face mortality with peace and faith. Drawing on Scripture, the funeral services, and examples of martyrdom, they remind us that bodily death is not defeat but a passage into eternal life in Christ.

The author of the Book of Hebrews makes the case that we simply can't stay with the basic, elementary teachings about faith and spiritual growth. We must move forward to a deeper and more mature understanding of our life in Christ. This makes sense, doesn't it?Main Points:1. Here's an important truth: God wants you to grow spiritually. He wants you to mature and develop a strong faith. He wants your understanding of his Word to grow so that you can move past the elementary stages and move on to deeper doctrines.2. We grow by being diligent in our pursuit of knowing God. We read and study His Word. We develop a consistent prayer life. We grow as we regularly gather with other believers and we share our faith together.3. If you want to grow in your faith, begin to take small steps of obedience to Jesus. With every step, you move away from the basic, elementary teaching and advance to maturity.Today's Scripture Verses:Hebrews 6:1 New Living Translation - “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”2 Timothy 2:15 - “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”James 1:22 - “But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

In this message, Pastor Ike Miller explores the deep reality of the cross as both an act of horrific violence and the means of our salvation. Drawing on scripture and theology, he shows how Jesus' traumatization confronts the gravity of sin, while also revealing God's healing power. This sermon invites us to wrestle honestly with suffering and discover the hope of new life in Christ.

Week Six - Power to AbideThis episode features Dave Russell sharing his journey of faith and what it means to live the “exchanged life” in Christ. He explains that the gospel is not about striving for a better life but receiving a completely new one—marked by union with Christ, freedom from condemnation, and fruit that comes from abiding in Him. The conversation emphasizes surrender, identity in Christ, and daily reliance on the Spirit as the true path to transformation.Today's episode ties with the sermon from September 14 called "Power to Abide"Watch today's episode on Youtube

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comColossians 3Believers must set their hearts and minds on heavenly things, not earthly desires. Having died to their old lives and been raised with Christ, they are called to cast off sinful behaviors like immorality, anger, and slander. Instead, they should clothe themselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Forgiveness is key, just as Jesus forgave them. Above all virtues, love binds everything together in perfect unity. Paul emphasizes letting Christ's peace rule in their hearts and encourages believers to be thankful. The message of Christ should dwell richly among them, expressed through teaching, wisdom, and songs of praise. In all they do, they are to act in the name of the Lord Jesus. Lastly, Paul addresses family dynamics, encouraging wives, husbands, and children to embody Christ's presence within the home. If we are raised in Christ, we must flee old habits that no longer define us in Him, like sexual sin or bitterness toward others. In our daily lives, we should actively choose purity of heart, compassion, and forgiveness, even when it is hard. When tensions rise at home, work, or with friends, we must remember to let Christ's peace guide our responses. Love must be the foundation of everything we do, being featured in our family. In every situation, whether speaking, working, or serving, we are called to do it all in Jesus' name with thankfulness. True transformation is about growing into the image of Christ—reflecting His character and honoring Him in every relationship, every decision, and every moment.   Loving Father, thank You for raising us to new life in Christ. Help us to set our hearts on things above and to let go of anything that pulls us away from You. Clothe us with character traits that emulate Christ. Empower us to forgive as You have forgiven us, and let Your peace rule in our hearts. May love guide all we do, and may the message of Christ dwell richly within us, especially in our marriage and homes. Whatever we say or do today, let it be in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to You always.  Thought Questions: What helps you keep seeking things above and set your mind on heavenly things? How is this more than morning prayer and bible study? In what way is love the perfect bond of unity? What helps you show patience, compassion, and forgiveness for those who wrong you? “It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Why is this mindset vital in the home, with marriages and relationships between parents and children?

In this powerful sermon, we delve into the profound themes of faithful witness, grace, and peace from the book of Revelation. Reflecting on the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, we explore the courage and conviction required to testify to Jesus with our whole lives. This message examines how the concepts of grace and peace are integral to facing persecution and challenges as followers of Christ. Journey with us as we uncover the boundless grace and peace offered by God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ. Discover how history, both biblical and contemporary, offers us insight and inspiration to remain bold in our witness, advancing the kingdom of God amid trials. Join us as we navigate the 'Wonderful World of the Apocalypse' and find reassurance in the transcendent hope that life in Christ offers.

One of the hallmark attitudes of a focused Christian life is being thankful. The very foundation of our Christian beliefs is the fact that being redeemed from sin and death by the love and sacrifice of Jesus is a gift that is in every case beyond our ability to earn or deserve. We are freely given life in Christ, and therefore we have great motivation to live in a state of gratefulness. That being said, how far should this grateful attitude go? Is it really supposed to encompass each and every experience we have? Does being thankful in everything mean we should never be sad or anxious? There is a profound challenge requiring a necessary spiritual discipline before us if we are attempting to live with gratitude in all circumstances. We base this on 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” This teaching builds on two prior principles— “Rejoice always” and “Pray without ceasing”—to form a triad of Christian conduct that fosters spiritual resilience and peace. To meet this challenge, we must accept that true thankfulness is not a fleeting emotion but is instead a cultivated state of perception. It means viewing life's hardships—grief, loss, uncertainty—through the lens of trust in God's providence. The Apostle Paul models this in 2 Corinthians 12, where he expresses gratitude for unanswered prayers, recognizing that weakness becomes strength when Christ is present. True thankfulness in everything can be described as being: • A spiritual lens that reshapes how we interpret suffering. • A gateway to peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6–7). • An active expression, not just a feeling—meant to be lived and shared. Paul's Epistles demonstrate that thankfulness should be expressed both to God and to others. His joy over the Thessalonians' faith despite their persecution illustrates how mutual encouragement strengthens the body of Christ. There are MANY reasons for us to be thankful daily. Here are just three core reasons daily gratitude is in order: For our calling to follow Jesus (Colossians 2:6–7) For Jesus' sacrifice which is described as an indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) For God's enduring faithfulness and creative power (Psalm 92) Ultimately, thankfulness is a spiritual discipline that equips Christian believers to endure trials, uplift others, and align with God's will. It's not about denying pain. It's about trusting that even in pain, God is present and purposeful.

Pastor Gabriel Hughes preaches from Romans 6:5-8 to read about how we were once dead in sin and a slave to it, but we have been set free and given new life in Christ. Visit providencecasagrande.com for more info about our church!

We continue The X Commandments series with “Do Not Murder.” Murder is more than taking a life—it begins in the heart with hate, offense, and unforgiveness. Jesus showed us that anger equals murder in seed form, and only radical love can overcome it. From Cain and Abel to the cross where the innocent was condemned and the guilty went free, this message exposes the spirit of murder and calls us to radical love, forgiveness, and life in Christ.

To be “in Christ” means everything changes—past sins are paid for, a new life is given, and a fresh perspective is born. Paul reminds us that Christ's love compels us to live for Him, not ourselves. Today's message highlights what unites every believer: death with Christ, life in Christ, a new perspective, and a brand new nature.

Romans 6:22 — It should be unthinkable to the Christian to return to their old life. In Romans 6:22, Paul emphasizes a depiction of what it is like to be in Christ Jesus and it is a simple argument to those who consider themselves a Christian. In the sermon from Romans 6:22 titled “Servants of Sin,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones underlines that a Christian is one who has undergone a profound change, because only a Christian can truly discuss a true difference between their past and present. That is because a Christian has been set free from sin. God regenerates and creates the Christian anew. A Christian has the power to resist the devil while a non-Christian does not. Sin becomes just a nuisance in the daily life, not a master. Once a Christian grasps that they are now enslaved to God and righteousness, they realize that they truly have no right to continue on sinning. The result of this great change is a fruitful life in Christ. If there is no fruit, one is not truly a Christian. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener to analyze their life and actions to determine if they are living in a fruitful life as slaves to righteousness.