Podcasts about love god

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, May 24, 2026, Pentecost Sunday. “We Know Who We Are” series. ​​​​Texts: Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-22​​​​   Last Tuesday evening, I found myself seated at a table listening to live jazz in the nave of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC. The occasion was the celebration for my mentor, Rev. Dr. Serene Jones upon her retirement as president of Union Theological Seminary after an extraordinary 18-year tenure. It was such a gift not only to be in the room with and for Serene, but to reflect on her influence upon my life through her words, actions, and friendship. And when she rose at the end of the evening to address the crowd, she urged all of us to pay attention to the prompting of Spirit and to follow God's call on our life.   It was a gift to receive this charge: to ponder, remember, and honor God's call upon my life and how Spirit has been falling afresh on me at every age and stage of my journey. Sometimes Spirit's meddling and God's call have felt aggravating, disruptive, heavy, and even painful. But, with every twist and turn along the way, God has brought me through and Spirit has stirred me to keep going.   And the truth is, I didn't always recognize Spirit's presence while it was happening. Sometimes it was only later, looking back, that I could see how God had been nudging and guiding and sustaining me all along. Maybe you know something about that too. Maybe Spirit has shown up in your life in ways you didn't fully recognize at the time—in a relationship that changed you…a burden you couldn't shake…a moment of courage you didn't know you had…a conviction that kept growing in you…a grief that opened your heart…or a persistent tug toward compassion, justice, mercy, or love.   And it makes me think about how we focus just one day of the liturgical year on the miraculous story of Spirit blowing into the community of Jesus's disciples and setting them on fire to move out into the streets to tell God's deeds of power. But, really, Spirit is at work in all sorts of ways all the time.   I get it, though, why we make a whole day out of Pentecost. It is a powerful story, the church's origin story really, of the moment when the disciples realized that Jesus' promises would be kept—that the Holy Spirit would baptize them and empower them to continue the saving work of God in the world. That very day they did things that seemed impossible—they spoke in ways that people from all over the known world could understand. And in that moment Peter recognized and proclaimed the fulfillment not only of the promise of Jesus, but the prophecy of Joel. That God would pour out Spirit upon all flesh, empowering all to have visions and dream dreams and prophesy. It's very dramatic—like a sci-fi movie that brings unlikely people together acrossunimaginable odds to do extraordinary things—with the bonus of great special effects. And I love it! But I also recognize that Pentecost wasn't the first time Spirit showed up among the disciples. Maybe it was the first time they recognized so clearly the Spirit who had been carrying them all along.   How else were they able to have the courage to leave their familiar lives to follow Jesus? How else were they able to go into villages and tell the good news and care for the sick and those struggling with their demons? How, apart from Holy Spirit, did they feed the five thousand? How did they stay together after the trauma and terror of crucifixion?   And maybe that's why I love the quieter story in John chapter 20 so much. The disciples have had the wind knocked out of them. By grief, fear, trauma. By watching everything they thought was going to happen collapse before their eyes. They are huddled behind locked doors, trying to figure out what comes next.   And then Jesus comes among them—not first with demands or instructions, but with peace. “Peace be with you.” And then he breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” And honestly, I need to receive this right now and am pretty sure I'm not alone. I believe many people have had the wind knocked out of them. By grief. By fear. By the cruelty and chaos of this moment. By exhaustion. By disillusionment with the church. By watching Christianity so often get presented as domination instead of service, exclusion instead of welcome, certainty instead of compassion.   And on this Memorial Day weekend, many of us are carrying grief not only for lives lost in service, but also for the deep fractures in the country those lives sought to protect.   Many of us wonder whether the church can still mean something beautiful. Whether faith can still sound like Jesus.   We need the story we tell today! John and Acts tell it differently—but perhaps they are showing us two movements of the same Spirit. In John, Spirit comes like breath in a fearful room—restoring peace, courage, and life to weary people. In Acts, Spirit comes like wind in the streets—pushing those same people beyond fear and beyond every barrier to bear witness in a broken world.   But it is the same Spirit. The Spirit who restores breath to weary people. The Spirit who revives people who have had the life knocked out of them. The Spirit who reminds fearful people who they are.   And only then comes the sending. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you…” Notice that Jesus does not come into the room and say, “Once you've resolved all your fear…once you feel confident…once you fully understand everything…THEN I'll send you.”   No. The doors are still locked. The disciples are still afraid. And yet Jesus breathes Spirit into them anyway. God's mission doesn't wait for us to feel ready. Spirit meets us in the midst of fear, uncertainty, grief, and confusion—and sends us anyway.   What does it mean to be sent by Jesus as Jesus is sent by his Father? If the accounts of Jesus' life are our guide, then it means that we, like Jesus, are sent into the world to bring healing into places of suffering, hope into places of despair, mercy and forgiveness into places of sin, comfort into places of grief, peace into places of violence, love into places of hatred. To be sent as Jesus is sent is to be bearers of God's life in the world, to put our lives on the line for the sake of justice, and to stand in solidarity with those who are hurt by the systems of the day.   As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are a people who are not only gathered into the family of God—those who “go to church”—but we are also, inherently, a sent people, called to BE the church all the time and in every place we are.   Think for a moment of the life-giving rhythm of our bodies breathing in and breathing out. A healthy body needs to do both. The in-breath of the Body of Christ—the church—is the Spirit gathering us in to be loved, supported, fed, strengthened, and given purpose through sacrament and worship and study and community. Every Sunday or whenever we gather, the Body breathes in, takes in God's grace and power. And the out-breath is like the Spirit of God blowing out across the chaos of the world at the very beginning, bringing peace and new life. The “sent-ness” of the church is like that—the church moving out into the chaos and brokenness of the world to bring love, mercy, healing, and hope. Every day between Sundays the Body exhales, breathing the Spirit into places thirsty for life and hope and kindness.   As the founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, famously said: Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.   I remember during the painful debates and divisions of the United Methodist General Conferences of 2016 and 2019, one of the pieces of legislation brought to the floor proposed changing the United Methodist mission statement—which is “To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”—by dropping the second half: “for the transformation of the world.”   I was aghast at the idea. It felt like a vision of discipleship focused only inwardly, as if Jesus followers were meant to crowd back into locked rooms and focus only on their personal “disciple” ticket. It sounded like a church withdrawing its prophets from proximity to the powers and principalities that so desperately need their voice. It sounded like a church trying to hold its breath. I'm happy to say the legislation didn't pass. Because the story of this day—the story of Pentecost, the story of the work of Holy Spirit in and through disciples across the ages—is clear: Spirit always exhales—sending us into the world to embody the love and justice of Christ. The way we say it at Foundry is “Love God. Love each other. Change the world.”   And so I want to extend to you the same charge I received from Serene: pay attention to the prompting of Spirit who is always at work and respond to God's call on your life. Every day. In all the ways and places and by whatever means you can. And if you aren't sure where to begin, I invite you to decide right now on one act of service or outreach you will do this week, even small, for the wider community. Just do one concrete act of service beyond your usual routine. It could be running an errand for a friend who needs a hand. Or calling your state or federal representatives. Or paying for someone's meal. Or any other thing that Spirit prompts.   Because Spirit has been nearer than you realized all along. And Spirit will keep giving you breath—and wind at your back—to move beyond yourself and into the wondrous, love-fueled mission of God.

GROWING UP IN OKLAHOMA, I vividly remember summer days that were so hot you didn't want to do ANYTHING except lie in the shade and drink sweet tea! This week, we launch our "Dog Days of Summer" series, where we'll explore the conditions that cause us to become apathetic in our faith and how to overcome the temptation to call it quits. From the Front Porch to the Front Lines! The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp  

* You can get the sermon note sheet at: https://family-bible-church.org/2026Messages/26May31.pdf * We are entering into the second half of our study of the book of Ecclesiastes. Over the past two weeks, we have considered the importance of Remembering Our Creator in Our Labor and in Our Season of Life. In each of those studies, we saw the importance of redeeming time and the importance of our consideration of others. * Today, we turn to that Consideration as our focus ... Remembering Your Creator in Your Consideration of Others. * As we considered the topic of Remembering Your Creator in Your Pursuit of Wisdom, we saw that there are actually two "wisdoms" - "Worldly Wisdom" and "Heavenly Wisdom." One of the primary distinguishing factors between these two wisdoms is who is targeted beneficiary of our actions. "Worldly wisdom" is self-focused because we are truly our own god. "Heavenly wisdom" focuses upon God and others as it seeks to be aligned with the greatest commands: to Love God and to Love Your Neighbor. * Paul encouraged believers to have the "mind of Christ" which would be revealed in how we treat, or consider, others. Philippians 2:1-5 states, "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." * Today, we will examine how this mindset is the antithesis of that of those who have a worldly mindset. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on May 31, 2026 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.

Do you struggle with shame due to your past? Do you feel the heaviness of unworthiness and are desperate for change in your life and in love? In our heartfelt conversation, special guest Loral Pepoon shares her " Led to Lasting Love" God Story about her midlife devastation due to her past relationships and why she carried the weight of unworthiness that negatively impacted her health and career as a creative team leader. She shares how God healed her heart for a new life of healthy love. Loral is an award-winning author of Led-to Lasting Love, is a writing coach, book editor and beach enthusiast and resides in Nashville with her husband and cat. Enjoy listening to Loral's faith-building and encouraging God story!

This week Dr. Gregg Mays opens his Bible to John 14:21 to teach us about the importance of having our love be followed by obedience to God. If you want to live a right life for Christ, you must love others. Jesus teaches in John 13 that people will know that we are His disciples by our love for one another.Foundation Scripture: John 14:21; John 13:34-35How can Agape Leaders serve you?   Please find us at:         Website:  http://www.agapeleaders.org/    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-mays/      Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/agapeleaders.org      Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agapeleaders10/ Bible Break With Agape Leaders: http://www.agapeleaders.org/daily-devotionTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greggmays            YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCmM7ETR652mLtDSKSjda-pwGet Your Copy of the A Word Wednesday Devotion: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Word+Wednesday+Devotion&ref=nav_bb_sbRead Dr. Mays' book Practical Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=practical+leadership+lessons+from+an+average+leader&crid=259U5RNS5J5W5&sprefix=Practical+Leadership%2Caps%2C102&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_20 Give to ALCFM: http://www.agapeleaders.org/store/p15/Agape_Leaders_Christian_Fellowship_Ministry_Support.html

Love God, Love Others (Hebrews 8:6-13)

SINCE THE 90'S.... That's how long Kitri and I have known the Brogdens, and for as long as I've known them, they have had one driving ambition: to reach the unreached with the message of the Gospel in the most challenging and dangerous places in the world. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL AT IT. I vividly remember reading the early reports, "Letters From Narnia," and thinking, "i want to be where the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is at work like He is in those places!" Their story of faith and faithfulness has inspired me numerous times over the years, and l am confident it's going to inspire you this week as well. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

Hosea 4:6 (KJV) Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV) John 14:15-31 (TPT) John 16:12 (AMP, The Voice)

Continuing with our series “Shema”, today Pastor Kuulei teaches that Loving God with all of our SOUL involves more than emotion and affection... it is the seat of our will, our consciousness... our entire LIFE FORCE.  The Shema challenges us to this depth of Love for God in our walk as Believers.Key Scriptures:Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Luke 1:35-37, 46-47, Romans 8:28, 12:1

Life is moving faster than ever — and your marriage is paying the price. Between work, kids, sports schedules, ministry, and the endless ping of your phone, it's no wonder couples feel stretched thin and quietly disconnected. Burnout doesn't always look dramatic. Sometimes it just looks like two tired people sharing a calendar.In this episode of Marriage Monthly, Gabe and Melissa break down 5 practical ways to protect your marriage from the burnout that's quietly wrecking so many couples right now. This isn't theory — it's the real, daily stuff that keeps a marriage strong when the world is doing everything it can to pull you apart.You'll hear honest conversation about why so many couples are running on empty, the simple habits that refill the tank, and why God's design for marriage actually prevents the burnout most couples accept as normal.Key Points Discussed:Why loving Jesus the most is the #1 thing that keeps everything else alignedHow to synchronize your schedules so you stop competing for timeWhy having something to look forward to (big or small) keeps connection aliveHow to "contain the competition" — phones, in-laws, kids, and everything fighting for your attentionWhat real unity looks like spiritually, emotionally, and physicallyThe simple drive-time habit that helps Gabe and Melissa stay caught upBible Verses Referenced:Matthew 22:37–40 — Love God, love your neighbor Ephesians 5:16 — Redeem the time, because the days are evil Psalm 20:4 — May He grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed Genesis 2:24 — The two shall become one flesh Philippians 2:2 — Be of one mind and one purpose

Simple Faith: Faith in Five with Rusty George is a daily podcast designed to refocus your heart on Jesus—one moment at a time. In just five minutes a day, Rusty explores who Jesus is, why He matters, and how simple faith can transform everyday life. Whether you're new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, these short, meaningful episodes offer clarity, encouragement, and truth you can carry with you all day. Simple. Honest. Centered on Christ.

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Key Outcomes Scott Sullivan and John Spencer (Discipleship Team Leader at Sherwood Baptist  Church in Albany, GA) introduced FORMED, A Discipleship Culture Blueprint, a new resource developed over 2.5 years to help Georgia Baptist churches create disciple-making cultures rather than programs. This resource addresses the core question: How do we reach new people, connect them to the church, move them to spiritual maturity,  and launch them to multiply. Resource Overview FORMED Structure: • Four core elements: Real Relationships, Transformational Teaching, Disciple Making Environments, and Intentional Multiplication • Built from dozens of pastor roundtables identifying common church struggles. • Developed by Scott Sullivan, Ray Sullivan (now Pastor at First Waycross), and PJ  Dunn (overseeing Revitalization at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board) • Will be taught through six regional cohorts led by trained leaders, including John. Key Definitions: • Culture: The shared expression of beliefs, values, and rhythms that define an  organization's identity; "how it feels" rather than just mission or vision• Disciple (Georgia Baptist definition): A committed, passionate follower of Jesus  Christ, based on 2 Timothy 2:1-7's four generations of disciples and three-word pictures (soldier, athlete, farmer) Critical Leadership Questions Three essential questions every pastor should answer: • Do we have a culture of discipleship, and is it working? • Do you have a definition of a biblical disciple for your people? • Does the culture and success of the ministry depend solely on you as the leader? Core Principle: "I hope so is not a strategy" - churches cannot keep running the same play if it's not helping them win. Real Relationships Framework Foundation: Jesus invited disciples into a relationship ("follow me"), not a program - discipleship happens best within relational contexts. The Rebar Principle:• Like rebar tied together before concrete is poured creates tensile strength,  intentionally tied relationships provide reinforcement when storms come • Without tied relationships, ministry cracks under pressure • You cannot pour ministry on top of relationships you never tied together 2:00 AM Friendships: • Deep, loyal, hesed-type Old Testament connections that never walk away • Many mature believers lack these foundational relationships Sherwood Church Model Disciple Definition at Sherwood: Know Christ, Love God, Unite with Believers, Serve the World, and Entrust the Gospel - visible everywhere (classrooms, atrium, new member materials) to maintain cultural focus. Sherwood on Mission Class: • Equips members to live gospel-centered lives daily, not just share gospel facts • Most valuable component: hearing stories of others interacting with people in their  zones (work, home, neighborhood) • Available to share with other churches upon request Practical Implementation: • Michael Catt established Wednesday morning Cracker Barrel group with 5-6 men  who could speak candidly into his leadership • Prayer walking neighborhoods with an online sign-up chart tracking coverage across  Albany • Daily Bible reading groups (using MacArthur Daily Bible) meeting at 6:00 AM Overcoming Barriers to Connection Common Church Barriers: • Poor or insufficient signage around campus • Greeters who overwhelm rather than read people appropriately • "Holy huddles" that look inward rather than outward • Inadequate nursery facilities that parents don't trust • Inefficient processes (coffee stations, check-in) that create frustration. Key Insight: Confused people don't move; they wander - clear signage and processes are essential. Cultural Shift Required: • People want to be noticed, not just noted (Luke 19 - Jesus didn't just see  Zacchaeus, he went to his house) • New member classes must set expectations: "Your job as a disciple-maker is to  welcome people to your life, not just your seat." • Tell stories constantly - in baptisms, classrooms, social media, pulpit - to inspire and  give ideas Intentionality Over RandomnessMinistry Trap Warning: The managerial trap of settling to manage people rather than shepherd and disciple them - easier to manage groups than invest intimately in messy lives. Personal Disciplines for Leaders: • Start with personal abiding - "I can't lead what I don't do." • Distinguish between being in the Bible for your people (sermon prep) versus being in  the Bible for yourself • Pray specifically: "Lord, who do I invite in?" • Most successful ministry comes from one-on-one, one-on-two investments over time. Example: John invested ten years in a man who came hungover most mornings; now that man is leading a college ministry. Multiplication Mindset: • Invite younger leaders into discipleship groups to pass the torch • Equip them to replicate: "Now you go find some guys." • Story: A man moving to North Carolina took extra MacArthur Daily Bibles to start  groups there Practical Opportunities Beyond Sunday Services: • Partner with existing community services (food banks, deliveries) • Prayer walks in neighborhoods • Student car washes • Leverage natural contexts (pickleball example: introvert wife built new friendships,  led couple to church, provided support during medical crisis) Church Facility Design: North Metro Church built a massive foyer/mall effect holding 500 people, transforming culture by giving space for pre-service connection rather than herding people like cattle. Action Items • Georgia Baptist Mission Board Discipleship Team: Launch FORMED resource by the end of April, release four podcast episodes every two weeks for cohesive learning • Regional leaders (including John): Prepare to lead cohorts using  an overview/introduction approach (Matthew Gibb's piece to be distributed) • Churches interested in Sherwood's On Mission materials: Contact John Spencer at johns@sherwoodbaptist.net for manual/digital copies Closing Principle "A church that is easy to attend but hard to connect in will always struggle to multiply.  Bet the farm on relationships - Jesus did."

The Next 100 - Week 1 ABOUT US Welcome to Life Foursquare Church in Decatur, Illinois! We're a vibrant, diverse community of believers who are passionate about our core purpose: Love God. Love People. Make Jesus Known. We believe church is more than a Sunday—it's a family. Whether you're joining in person or online, you belong here! We'd love to hear how God is working in your life through this service. Share your story, prayer requests, or simply connect with us at office@visitlife.org . NEXT STEPS Did you say “yes” to Jesus today?

Pastor Bryan Laws  

Do you find yourself using prayer and worship to avoid your internal turmoil? In this episode of Triggered and True, Brian Friesen and Laura Duncan explore the thin line between genuine faith and "medicating with God," a form of spiritual bypassing where we use religion to escape our pain rather than inviting God into it.  We tackle one of the most common objections to emotional healing: Is the Compassion Method Biblical? Laura shares her journey from performing "religious routines" to having a felt experience with Jesus, explaining how our earthly wounds can often skew our perception of a perfect Heavenly Father. 

We are to love our God, the Father, with everything we have. Our whole heart, our whole mind and our whole soul and strength. Let's look at why we should love God and see how much God loves us.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." We hear it all the time, but how often do we actually do it? Often, we give God our "leftover" heart or our "distracted" mind. In Part One of our new series, we're diving deep into the Greatest Commandment. It's the foundation for everything else we do. If the vertical relationship isn't right, the horizontal ones usually struggle, too. Question for the comments: Which of those three—heart, soul, or mind—do you find the hardest to stay consistent with lately? Let's talk about it.   

LIFE CAN SOMETIMES BE A MESS... and if you are a mother, you know this is especially true. The reality is that throughout life, we find ourselves in messy situations, whether that's with our relationships, our parenting, our finances, etc. So the question is not, "How do I avoid messy situations?" but rather, "How do I find meaning in those messy moments, and what does the Lord want to speak to me through them?” That is what we will be discussing this week as we dive into Genesis 29, unpacking how we find meaning in the mess. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose, and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries, go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

We want to hear from you! Send us some Fan mail! This week on Go & Do, Candis Shupe walks through Moses's final teachings before his death and explores the powerful truths he wanted Israel to remember before entering the promised land.In this episode, you'll discover:

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

This morning Pastor Blake will be continuing his series entitled, "You Asked For It"  focusing on messages you'd like to hear about from the Easter survey. Today he is ministering on the top topic of parenting with "Helping Your Children Love God".

Last week was about sending; this week is how to be sent. Jesus gave the most important commandments: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. We have to adore God so much that we would do anything for him. And the second part, loving our neighbour, is a particular focus this morning. We are commanded to love our neighbour because God loves us, and loves our neighbour. We need three things: a teapot, representing relational contacts with those around us; a big porch, representing a place where people can shelter and experience God's love and the fruits of the Spirit in others; and the cross, the only source of the costly love that we need to share.

I Love God Ps.145

Promises For Those Who Love God by Word Mission Church International

Pastor Katrina gives a beautiful message on what it looks like to be a faithful woman of God's love. Whether you are a physical or spiritual mom, your influence over loved ones is eternal!

This is the essence of what it means to love God: to be satisfied in him — not just his gifts, but God himself, as the glorious person that he is.

Have you ever set a lofty goal, reached it, only to discover that it did not satisfy you in the way you were sure it would? Over the years, I have discovered the real reason I often feel so apathetic when I've finally arrived. It is because the destination, the project, or the product was never the right goal to begin with. Rather, what they produce is what matters. Connection, experiences, and perspective are what we truly long for. When we realize this, we begin to set very different goals… much like Nehemiah did. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose, and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries, go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

In this episode, John and Don sit down with Andrew Hermann to explore what it means to be an effective communicator using the FLOP method—Focus, Listen & Link, Own/Others’ Stories, and Preparation. They break down each element with practical insight and real-life application, helping you communicate more clearly, connect more deeply, and lead conversations with purpose.

If you're honest, this is something a lot of us wrestle with quietly.You love God, you want to change, you've prayed about it, you've tried to walk away from it… but somehow you still find yourself back in the same place again.In this video, we talk about why that cycle can feel so hard to break and what's really going on underneath the surface. Not just behavior, but the deeper battle that every believer faces when it comes to sin, temptation, and growth in Christ.This isn't about shame. It's about clarity, honesty, and hope.

Wait… Who Were the Nephilim? | CPXL S2 Bonus EpisodeCPXL, or CrossPoint Extra Large, is your midweek companion to the weekend message from CrossPoint. Each episode takes a deeper dive into the Sunday sermon—exploring the text further, unpacking broader themes, and offering practical ways to live out God's Word. Designed to equip and encourage Everyday Missionaries, CPXL helps you Love God, Grow Up, Serve All, and Live Sent.This week on CPXL, Pastors Andy Addis and Eric Franklin step into one of the most mysterious and often misunderstood passages in the Bible—Genesis 6:1–4 and the Nephilim. Exploring the connection to the Anakites and other references throughout Scripture, they unpack what we can confidently know, what remains unclear, and why this topic has sparked so much curiosity. Rather than getting lost in speculation, this conversation focuses on how to approach difficult or confusing passages with wisdom, humility, and trust in God. Together, they invite listeners to wrestle with the tension of mystery in Scripture while staying grounded in what God has clearly revealed.CrossPoint is one church in many places, seeking to reach our communities with the true hope and freedom found in Christ. We do this as ordinary people who are being changed by Jesus to do extraordinary things.Find out more at https://crosspointchurch.comGive at https://crosspointchurch.com/giveConnect at https://crosspointchurch.com/connect#crosspointchurch #gospel #jesus #church #CPXL

If you're honest, this is something a lot of us wrestle with quietly.You love God, you want to change, you've prayed about it, you've tried to walk away from it… but somehow you still find yourself back in the same place again.In this video, we talk about why that cycle can feel so hard to break and what's really going on underneath the surface. Not just behavior, but the deeper battle that every believer faces when it comes to sin, temptation, and growth in Christ.This isn't about shame. It's about clarity, honesty, and hope.

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Pastor Tyler shares his heart for The Church: the global Body of Christ. Together, we can fulfill the prayer of Jesus that we may be one...so that the world will believe in Him. We can love God by loving His people and uniting together in Christ!

Pastor Tyler shares his heart for The Church: the global Body of Christ. Together, we can fulfill the prayer of Jesus that we may be one...so that the world will believe in Him. We can love God by loving His people and uniting together in Christ!

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Join our Senior Pastor, Rev. Steve Hogg, every weekday morning as he gives his insight on a chapter from the Bible. At First Baptist Church Rock Hill, we exist to Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples. Connect with us on: Twitter - @FBC_RH Instagram - @fbc_rh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaptistRH​​

Thank you for tuning in! This is a recording of Downtown Community Church's quarterly "Church Family Meeting". This meeting was held at the church on April 19th, 2026. Everyone who calls DCC their home church was invited to attend! The purpose of this meeting was to share where the church is, where God is calling it to go, and how the congregation can be a part of it.After listening to this recording, we encourage you to fill out this Church Family Meeting follow up form. This form is to share your thoughts, submit any questions you would like to receive follow up on, and let us know if there is a ministry you are interested in leading/serving in at our church. If you submit a form, someone on leadership will follow up with you. In this recording you'll hear from Lead Pastor, Ben Keampfer, Pastor/Director of Ministries, Nate Schaidt, and Director of Operations, Delaney Stoner. Some topics covered in this meeting are church governance, staffing updates, future groups structure, and a 2026 Q1 finance update. Thanks for being a part of our mission to Love God, Make Disciples, and Be Great Neighbors in Tallahassee and Beyond. Happy listening!Link to view PDF of Church Family Meeting Slides - 04.19.26Support the show

Ep 356 | Love Works: Love God, Part 2 | Chris Conlee | Apr 26, 2026Support the show

Is God calling you to take a step of faith for your one more? Who will be sitting in that one more seat that you've been praying about? So often, when you start making progress towards what God is calling you to, the mockers start making noise. In the book of Nehemiah, we see that Nehemiah sees his position, possessions, and talents as gifts from God to be used for the good of others. One thing is for sure, when God gives the word to move… pack light and travel fast. You will be surprised to see how God works through your faithfulness. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

From ROI to EROI: How One Entrepreneur Is Helping Eradicate Bible Poverty by 2033 What happens when a retail entrepreneur has a Holy Spirit moment at a Bible dedication ceremony in Guatemala — and never looks at business the same way again? In this episode, host Justin Forman sits down with Mart Green, co-founder of Mardel Christian bookstores and a driving force behind Illuminations, a collective impact initiative uniting Bible translation organizations around the world with one audacious goal: eradicate Bible poverty by 2033. Mart shares the origin story of Illuminations — from a small table of five CEOs and five resource partners meeting monthly in a Dallas airport admirals club — to a movement now involving 300+ people from dozens of organizations who've helped accelerate Bible translation from a projected finish date of 2150 down to 2041, with faith believing for 2033. He also opens up about his family's mission statement, his daily rhythm in God's Word, and what stewardship really looks like when you stop being an owner and start being a steward. Key Topics: The Guatemala moment that shifted Mart's lens from ROI to EROI (Eternal Return on Investment) How Illuminations was built brick by brick — starting with three organizations and growing to a 300-person annual gathering The Stanford Collective Impact framework — and the sixth element Stanford missed (communal prayer) How AI and technology are accelerating Bible translation, cutting projected timelines by decades Why generosity, humility, and integrity are the only character traits Mart looks for in a partner The Green family mission statement: "Love God intimately. Live extravagant generosity." Mart's daily scripture rhythm and the O-I-O-I framework (Open, Insight, Obey, Intimacy) Notable Quotes: "In that moment, I kind of went from ROI to EROI. What's the eternal return on investment?" — Mart Green "Satan always attacks at the point of unity. I guess it's because it's powerful." — Mart Green "There's only two things that last forever — God's Word and the souls of men and women. So if I can get those two combined, it's less of a responsibility." — Mart Green About the Guest: Mart Green is a second-generation entrepreneur and son of Hobby Lobby founder David Green. He co-founded Mardel Christian bookstores at age 19 and has since become a major force in faith-based philanthropy. He is a key resource partner in Illuminations, the world's largest Bible translation collective impact initiative, which is working to ensure that every people group has access to God's Word in their heart language by 2033. Mart and his family of 50 — all living in Oklahoma City — operate from a shared mission: to love God intimately and live extravagant generosity.

Send us Fan MailVIDEO PODCASTJesus stated the greatest commandment was to love God with all your heart, mind, strength.....with absolutely everything you have.   How do we do this and what does it look like?   What are the results, and what can a person accomplish who is fulfilling this number one great commandment?   Has this been the message of the "church"?   If not, why would the church ignore the focus of what our Savior stated as the Greatest Commandment?   What is the power unleashed when followers of Christ truly organize their lives around fulfilling this great commandment....to Love God with all of our Hearts?   When a heart changes to make this it's number one desire....it's everything!! Restored Gospel  - Scripture Search and Study Resources Contact us:restoredgospelpodcast@gmail.comMusic by Michael Barrett

In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study on "The Way of Trust and Love" and focus on Chapter 5: God's Infinite Mercy. We reflect on the paradox of true strength—how becoming little, dependent, and surrendered before the Lord is the very place where His strength takes root in us. We also talk about what it means to live with a pure heart, not by striving harder, but by bringing every part of ourselves into honest communion with Christ and allowing His kindness to call us higher. This week, as we wrestle with fear, worry, and the temptation to rely on ourselves, we encourage you to be reminded that it is God's love that heals, restores, and leads us to freedom.    Heather's One Thing - Dwelling Place by The Belonging Co.  Sister Miriam's One Thing - The Sacrament of Reconciliation  Michelle's One Thing - Living Easter: 50 Days to Practice Resurrection by Laura Kelly Fanucci Michelle's Other One Thing - March Madness!   Journal Questions: What has the Lord convicted me of this Lent? What is the Lord inviting me to abandon to His Divine Providence? How can I be more present to the present moment? What graces have I received this Lent?   Discussion Questions: How is the Lord inspiring you to change? Where in your life are you just surviving? When was a recent time you experienced discouragement? How were you placing trust in yourself? How have your eyes been opened this Lent?   Quotes to Ponder: "Thérèse says to Jesus in one of her poems: "I want to love you like a little child, I want to battle like a warrior bold."" (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 90)   "Let's return to the subject of trust. We have seen how we should nurture our trust. It is fragile, but it can be increased and strengthened by listening to the Word, by prayer, by the acts of faith we make in difficult moments, and by the experience of God's faithfulness. Now I wish to make a point that is simple but has wide implications. I can put it in the form of a question: What is the basis for our trust? What does it actually rest on?" (Father Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Page 92-93)   Scripture for Lectio: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16)   Sponsor - Into the Deep: This episode is sponsored by Into the Deep, a Catholic company creating beautiful faith formation resources for families. One of the most powerful ways to help children grow in faith is through beauty. Sacred art has always been part of how the Church teaches the Faith by helping believers contemplate the life of Christ, the mysteries of the Rosary, and the stories of Scripture. Into the Deep creates thoughtfully designed resources that help families rediscover this tradition at home. Their Paintings + Prayers Cards pair classic sacred paintings with traditional Catholic prayers, inviting children to slow down, look closely, and enter into prayer through the beauty of art. It's a simple but powerful way to enrich your family's daily prayer rhythm. They also offer several Catholic picture study resources perfect for families and homeschoolers: The Parables of Jesus - Children encounter Christ's teachings through sacred masterpieces depicting the Gospel parables. The Mysteries of the Rosary - A unique way to help children meditate on the rosary by contemplating sacred art presentations of each Mystery. Fra Angelico Artist Study - Discover the life and work of the Dominican friar whose paintings captivate the moral imagination. These resources are designed especially for families who want to cultivate wonder, contemplation, and a deeper love for the Catholic Faith. If you want to bring sacred art into your home and help your children encounter Christ through beauty, visit intothedeep.co.    Timestamps: 00:00 Into the Deep 01:20 Intro 02:07 Welcome 06:01 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder 06:36 Being Little Yet Strong 09:25 Bringing Everything into Communion 13:06 Excavating Our Hearts 15:39 Transforming Fear into Love 19:57 Being Content with Today 22:04 God's Kindness Leads Us to Repentance 24:34 The Power of Gratitude 27:39 One Things