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Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. Disciplines create the space for that formation to happen in and through us as we encounter the presence and power of God.Our All-Family Gatherings begin with a short workshop or story on missional living and/or microchurches. This week, we continue our series of workshops on spiritual formation and disciplines with a guided meditation around the practice of silence and solitude.
Once you can put a pin in your passion and you've gotten the gist on God's call on your life, then you begin imagining with the Holy Spirit on what the convergence looks like. This message helps unpack that last part. As we wrap up this short series, we are not wrapping up our commitment to pursue the callings God has put on our lives and the passions He's sparked hearts. Join us in praying for a missional imagination that looks for new ways to punch holes in the darkness all around us!This new sermon series is all about realizing that our driving passions might just be what drives us into God's mission. Have you ever considered what your passions are? Maybe camping, cars, a sport, a hobby, an era in history, a type of tech, etc. ... What if the thing that stokes your inner fire is the very light Jesus wants to use to punch holes in the darkness all around us? Join us for service every Sunday at 9:15am or 11:00am (EST). Here are ways to connect with us!Text TODAY to 937-358-6565 to let us know you decided to say 'Yes!' to Jesus leading your life. Text BAPTISM to 937-358-6565 to find out more about getting baptized as an expression of your new faith. Text SERVE to 937-358-6565 to find a serve community to join that matches your skills and passions. Text PRAYER to 937-358-6565 to let us know how we can be praying for you!And if you would like to support The Valley Church financially, you can GIVE online via our website: www.thevalley.church/give.Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videosLicense code: 1EBH3J7EM5DURCTO
Psalm 67 shows us the right way to seek God's blessing: not individually, but communally. We should ask God to show favor to his people, because the flourishing of the church leads to the flourishing of the nations.The word "blessing" might be overused in religious circles, but it gets at something profound: we all want God's blessing. We want God to favor us, to smile upon us, to be happy with us. Series Description: The Psalms are the song book of God's people, and each summer we mine their riches. Their imagery, poetry, and theology invite us to deeper worship of God and remind us of his unchanging character.
1. Know that God has a mission 2. Participate in the mission of God
What happens when the institutions we've trusted start to crumble and we realize they were never meant to carry the weight we gave them? Today, I'm joined by Angie Ward. She invites us into a deep reimagining of the Church, not just as a building or an organization, but as a Spirit-formed people living on mission together. Angie has spent decades in both church and parachurch worlds, and she brings hard-won wisdom and clarity to a question many of us are asking right now: what is the Church supposed to be? We talk about the historical split between church and parachurch, what it would look like to move from siloed excellence to shared mission, and why this cultural moment might be the perfect time to rethink everything - not out of panic, but out of trust. We discuss institutional collapse, missional ecosystems, scarcity vs. abundance, and how to step into new paradigms when the old ones stop working. If you're sensing the shaking in the foundations and wondering what's next for the people of God, join us as we imagine an ecosystem of missional extensions. Angie Ward (PhD, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of leadership and ministry at Denver Seminary. She is the author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty and I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of Their Calling. Angie has over thirty-five years of leadership experience in church, nonprofit, and higher education ministry. A sportswriter in a previous life, Angie loves running, basketball, humor, and movies. She and her pastor-husband live in Denver. They have two grown sons and one very spoiled beagle.Angie's Book:Beyond Church and ParachurchAngie's Recommendations:Good AuthorityCompeting Against LuckSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Friar TimeThrough meaningful interviews and heartfelt conversations, Friar Time, hosted by Fr....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show
A sermon taught by Brad Lindsey on the phases of marriage and how we must be missional in our marriages.
Send me a text! I'd love to know what you're thinking!Josh Hayden, the author of Remissioning Church: A Field guide for Bringing a Congregation Back to Life, shares wisdom from his own journey—moving from church planting to leading a 158-year-old congregation—and he helps us understand the difference between revitalization and remissioning. He also talks about the power of what he calls “creative destruction” and reflects on the hope that churches and people really can change. If you are a ministry leader wondering how to lead your church through deep transformation and discovering a renewed mission, you'll find both encouragement and practical guidance in this conversation.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Josh Hayden explains that remissioning involves inside-out transformation of the church through discipleship for the sake of neighbors and the world.Revitalization focuses on refreshing existing programs, while remissioning addresses deeper, DNA-level transformation.Josh Hayden underscores the importance of listening first—both to the church and the neighborhood—before making plans for change.Markus Watson highlights the challenge new pastors face in established churches, including resistance, sabotage, and managing change.Remissioning leaders must exegete both their congregation and their community to identify gaps and opportunities for meaningful connection.Josh Hayden stresses that successful remissioning requires teamwork; pastors must not attempt change alone.Markus Watson reflects on the emotional challenges of change, including the shame spiral that can occur when a church confronts its shortcomings.Josh Hayden illustrates the shame spiral with an example of unnoticed “No Running in the Halls” signs that undermined stated values of hospitality.Remissioning involves inviting the congregation into a process of repentance, learning, and transformation, rather than imposing outside solutions.Josh Hayden shares how tradition-to-innovation means honoring a church's history while translating it into practices that serve current needs.Experiments in ministry should create shared experiences that allow for evaluation, learning, and adaptation over time.Josh Hayden describes creative destruction as embracing necessary endings so new life can emerge, drawing analogy from nature and industry.Effective change involves creating feedback loops, town hall conversations, and allowing time for the congregation to process and adapt.Not all experiments or changes need to succeed; failed experiments still provide valuable lessons for ongoing transformation.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Josh Hayden:Iwa Collabora websiteBooks mentioned:Remissioning Church, by Josh HaydenCanoeing the Mountains, by Tod BolsingerRelated episodes:16. Canoeing the Mountains, with Tod Bolsinger192. Leading Change Without Authority, with Roy Inzunza264. Building a Future-Focused Church, with Kara Powell, Jake MGet Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.
In this sermon, we explore the anatomy of Christian worship: the what, why, when, how, and who.Human beings aren't just thinkers or lovers or doers; we are worshipers. And the Bible calls us to worship God. So what exactly does that look like? Series Description: The Psalms are the song book of God's people, and each summer we mine their riches. Their imagery, poetry, and theology invite us to deeper worship of God and remind us of his unchanging character.
Text: John 15.1-11 Speaker: Leo Almeida Date: June 8, 2025
What It Takes To Be A Missional Disciple (Others) Speaker: Edmund Chan Scripture: Matthew 10:16-11:1
Send us a textPull a seat up at the table and join us in a conversation with Mike Lazenby with the IMB. We continue the recent theme of further understanding MS Baptists' partnership with the missional sending arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Hear ways you can lead your church to a sending, missional, church with help from our Mississippi regional connection at IMB. Around the Corner Events: All Events: mbcb.org/eventsJune 9: Mississippi Baptist Fellowship at SBC - DallasJune 10-11: Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting - DallasJune 24-28: HearSong Worship Arts Camp July 8-11: SMACK CampJuly 8-12: Super Summer July 24-26: State Literacy Missions & Christian Job Corps ConferenceAugust 7: Impact Training - FBC PhiladelphiaAugust 11: Impact Training - North Greenwood BCAugust 12: Impact Training - FBC TupeloAugust 18: Impact Training - FBC LaurelAugust 19: Impact Training - FBC NatchezContacts: Jon Martin, Chief Strategy Officer - jmartin@mbcb.orgTanner Cade, Communication Services Director - tcade@mbcb.org
In this sermon, we explore the reality that each one of us needs a greater vision of the God who is provider, powerful, and personal. Whether you are a Christian or not, everyone has an idea about who God is. And how you view God has massive implications for every facet of your life.Series Description:The Psalms are the song book of God's people, and each summer we mine their riches. Their imagery, poetry, and theology invite us to deeper worship of God and remind us of his unchanging character.
Our Next Guest: Pastor Jonathan Winningham // Romans 1:8-17
How is God moving in East Asia?
Join us for our FINAL episode of work friends where we talk about church planting and missional community with Darcy Dueck, the pastor of Citizens Church in Elmira!
In this sermon, we examine the truth that God is just judge, and we explore why that's good news for the world.Psalm 64 is a psalm full of reversals: the wickedness of humanity is upended and judged by God. Series Description: The Psalms are the song book of God's people, and each summer we mine their riches. Their imagery, poetry, and theology invite us to deeper worship of God and remind us of his unchanging character.
Alan Hirsch helped to open up a new way of thinking among church planters and leaders all over the world. But what made him start writing and speaking prophetically? What shaped his ministry along the way? Ralph and Alan talk about their younger years and how formative moments and God's persistent pressing created the unique voice that they both brought to the evangelical world.
In Acts 8, we see a shift in the spread of the Jesus movement. The persecution, culminating in the martyrdom of Stephen, caused the Church to scatter, and the message to spread to surrounding nations and people groups. This is all because a small group of people listened to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and did what he asked them to do. This is particularly on display in the life of Philip, who has the opportunity to tell people he never thought he'd meet all about Jesus. Through his interaction with a man from Ethiopia, we learn that when you are following the voice of the Spirit, he will take you to people and to places you never thought you'd go.
Five Principles for Missional Ministry 1. Pray for Laborers (vv. 1-2) 2. Find Persons of Peace (vv. 3-9) 3. Know When to Go (vv. 10-12) 4. Speak for the Lord (vv. 13-16) 5. Rejoice in Heaven (vv. 17-20)
Focus: Faith in Jesus is activated as the Spirit guides us intentionally and passionately into the lives of our friends and neighbors. As we listen and follow the Spirit's guidance, we discern which friend the Lord is leading us to reach by proclaiming the Good news about Jesus. We rely on the Spirit to guide us to know who and how we can support and teach as we grow together in following Jesus. Luke 10:1-7
Focus: Active faith means sharing life deeply with others in genuine friendship. We journey together, with mutual care and connection. Paul's example of authentic love shows that true friends don't just share the gospel—they share their lives. Our lives intertwine, allowing the life of Jesus to flow freely and uninterrupted. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Focus: Christians often suffer from indecisiveness or wishing they knew what God's will was for them in a decision. Once decided, we often suffer from tunnel vision. Sometimes God wants to change our direction even mid journey. Listening and discerning isn't limited to convenience, and it doesn't end once we start executing a plan. Acts 16:6-10
Focus: Active faith that is following the Holy Spirit requires humility. We must be willing to challenge our own understanding in the face of God's word. While our understanding is used in discerning, assuming it's always right puts us at risk of missing where He leads. Are we following and learning from God, or are we limited by our own understanding and unwillingness to learn? Acts 10:9-33
Focus: Active faith that is discerning the Holy Spirit's leading requires courage. Letting go of the easy choice for an alternative can often be unsettling, and sometimes even terrifying. Of all people God could send you to, imagine it's the one person christians are actively running from. But where there is no risk, there is also little room to be surprised by God. Acts 9:10-18
In this sermon, we explore the reality that Christians are called to bear one another's burdens in such a way that we are participating in one another's sanctification.As disciples of Jesus who are filled with the Spirit, Christians are called to bear one another's burdens. But what exactly does that mean? And why, a few verses later, does Scripture exhort us that "each will have to bear his own load" (Galatians 6:5)? Series Description: Clericalism & Consumerism are two ever-present dangers for the church. Clericalism over-emphasizes the role of priests, bishops, and pastors, leaving ministry to “the professionals.” Consumerism causes us to relate to the church as a vendor of goods & services. To counteract these tendencies, we need to understand the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
In this episode, Cory and Brian explore the mDNA (Movement DNA) of missional-incarnational impulse. This mDNA has been a missing component in the Western Church for too long. We have been called not to missional activity, but to live on mission, embodying the teachings of Jesus in our communities. We include practical examples of missional living, the significance of personal calling, and the practices that shape a missional lifestyle, such as building relationships and creating spaces for community engagement. All of this conversation is rooted in a desire to see gospel flourishing in all aspects of life.
Text: Luke 10.3-4 Speaker: Lance Williams Date: May 11, 2025
In this message, Pastor Chan teaches on the history of church missions based out of Matthew 24:14.Today's Message Text: Matthew 24:14 Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!
In the third message of our series entitled Missional Church, Pastor Chan delivers an inspiring and challenging message about the impact and importance of culture in missions and missions in culture.Today's Message Text: 1 Corinthians 9:13-23 Thanks for listening in to The Ridge's Sunday Audio podcast! Although we hope you are greatly blessed by listening to this message, we also believe it's important to belong to a local body of believers. If you live in our area, we would love to worship with you on Sunday mornings at 8:00a, 9:30a, or 11:15a!
In this sermon, we explore what it looks like to live out the call to "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you."Throughout his ministry, Jesus Christ welcomed both outsiders and insiders, both the tax collector and the religious scribe. His ministry broke down social, political, and economic barriers. And because Jesus is our Great High Priest, his followers, who have received the welcome of Christ, are called to embody the same welcome and hospitality. Preaching Series Summary: Clericalism & Consumerism are two ever-present dangers for the church. Clericalism over-emphasizes the role of priests, bishops, and pastors, leaving ministry to “the professionals.” Consumerism causes us to relate to the church as a vendor of goods & services. To counteract these tendencies, we need to understand the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
One thing that is made very clear in the book of Acts: when you follow after Jesus, suffering is unavoidable. Jesus invites us to join him in his mission, but in doing so, we also join him in his suffering. This reality is on full display in Acts 7 and 8, as Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr. In his final moments, Stephen reflects the story and the heart of Jesus to the world and to his murderers. Instead of destroying the Church, Stephen's suffering becomes the catalyst for its rapid spread across the world.
Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others. Disciplines create the space for that formation to happen in and through us as we encounter the presence and power of God.Our All-Family Gatherings begin with a short workshop or story on missional living and/or microchurches. This week, we continue our series of workshops on spiritual formation and disciplines with a conversation around fasting.
Whose responsibility is it to teach in the local church? Because Jesus is our great high priest, all Christians are called to "teach and admonish one another" (Colossians 3:16). In this sermon, we explore what it looks like to live out this command in the ordinary life of a local church community.
This special message from Isaiah 6 challenges us to live a healthy missional life marked by compassion, courage, and sacrifice. Rooted in God's holiness and grace, we're invited to respond like Isaiah—“Here I am, send me”—as we consider how to serve future generations, honor Christ, and walk faithfully in our season.
Text: Luke 10.1-12 Speaker: Lance Williams Date: May 4, 2025