Podcasts about pastor matt

What if ICE visits our church? How are we doing after the LA Fires? And how can the Church can help rebuild and heal? In this heartfelt episode of Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other, host Corey Nathan welcomes back the Reverend Dr. Matt Colwell, Senior Pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, CA. A theologian, author, and community leader, Matt opens up about losing his home in the devastating Eaton Fire, his deeply personal approach to immigrant justice, and the evolving role of the Church in times of social and political crisis. A long-time friend and spiritual guide to Corey, Matt shares how Scripture and lived experience converge to shape his ministry and public witness. What We Discuss: How the Eaton Fire profoundly impacted Pastor Matt and his congregation What it looks like for a church to take a public stand on immigration and ICE enforcement The intersection of Scripture, politics, and social ethics in Matt's faith journey Why churches are legally preparing for ICE visits—and how they're doing it The essential role of community, memory, and physical space in recovering from trauma Strategies for engaging in tough conversations across ideological lines Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Matt opens up about life after losing his home in the Eaton Fire [00:03:00] How experiences in Guatemala and seminary shaped Matt's understanding of faith and justice [00:07:00] Corey and Matt explore deriving political views from scripture and the ethical challenge of self-trust [00:14:00] Book recommendations: Lincoln's Greatest Speech, The Dearly Beloved, and more [00:18:00] The emotional aftermath of losing a home and the power of community response [00:31:00] What the grieving process looks like when you lose not just a house, but identity-defining memories [00:42:00] ICE visits to churches in Downey prompt new sanctuary policies at Knox Presbyterian [00:47:00] How the church legally designated private spaces to protect undocumented individuals [01:03:00] Corey's candid reflection on preparing emotionally for hard political and religious conversations Featured Quotes: "When a pillar is pulled out from under you, it's powerful to feel like God is present—and the church community is present." – Rev. Dr. Matt Colwell "I don't trust myself either. That's why I need to hear different voices and read Scripture in community." – Rev. Dr. Matt Colwell "I prepare for difficult conversations by rehearsing a mindset—not what I'll say, but how I'll listen." – Corey Nathan "It's not just stuff—it's tied to relationships. Losing those memories feels like losing part of your identity." – Rev. Dr. Matt Colwell Resources Mentioned: Our God is Undocumented by Ched Myers and Matthew Colwell: orbisbooks.com/products/our-god-is-undocumented Knox Presbyterian Church, Pasadena: knoxpasadena.org Pastor Matt goes viral: www.instagram.com/p/DLP84OWM-4c/ Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice: www.cluejustice.org

Pastor Matt concludes the series on the Sermon on the Mount.

Pastor Matt gives a message looking into the life of Joseph.

We continue in our series on Daniel and learning more about what made him so REmarkable.

7-23-25

Join us for a powerful sermon on the importance of authenticity in our faith journey. In this message, we explore Romans 12 and the Apostle Paul's call to let love be genuine, abhor what is evil, and hold fast to what is good. Discover how to live a faith-filled life without masks, embracing the true transformation that comes through the Gospel.Join us Sunday's 8:15 | 10:00 | 11:45 Authentic Church 2416 N Center St Hickory, NC 28601 (Beside Planet Fitness) GIVING To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: https://authenticchurch.com/give GET CONNECTED Ready to check out Authentic Church in person? We can't wait to meet you in person. Simply fill out the form below and we'll make sure to give you the VIP treatment upon your first visit. https://authenticchurch.com/plan-a-visit ABOUT AUTHENTIC CHURCH Authentic Church exists so that people will have an authentic encounter with God, be set free, and grow in Christ. Our mission is to help each person at Authentic believe in Jesus, belong to family, inspire true worship, walk in God's Spirit, and build the kingdom of God.

In this episode of the Northwood Church Matters podcast, Pastor Matt, Pastor Bobby, and Rachel discuss the growing trend of New Age practices within the Christian community. They explore the roots of New Age philosophy and its modern expressions—like energy healing, chakras, and especially Splankna, a so-called “Christian energy healing” method. Can believers participate in these practices if they remove the spiritual elements? Is it possible to mix Christianity with New Age thinking? With biblical clarity and pastoral insight, the team answers these questions and reminds us why true healing is found in Christ alone.

Tune in with us this week to hear from Pastor Matt on some of the important keys that re have from the bible on how to love and serve our spouse unconditionally.

Acts 1:12-14

Today, Pastor Matt guided us through the book of Zephaniah, exploring God's inevitable judgment of evil while highlighting the mercy and grace available to believers—a transformative hope that shapes generations to come.

This is part 14 of "The After Party," our series at Fusion Christian Church on the book of Acts. Follow along as we explore what happened to the church after Jesus ascended to heaven. In this sermon, Pastor Matt teaches through the conversion of Saul and what we can learn from it.Without Christ I am considered an enemy of God.Before Saul's conversion, he was an enemy and persecutor of the church. He approved Stephen's execution, he dragged Christians from their homes to put them in prison, and he was on his way to Damascus to do even more damage. What many people don't realize, is that without Christ, we are enemies of God just like Paul was. We might not have hunted down Christians like Paul, but sin makes us all enemies of God by nature. Fortunately, we don't have to stay that way.God loves me as he finds me.Despite being God's enemies, God made a plan to reconcile us to himself. He demonstrated his love for us by sending Jesus to die on the cross even though we were dead in our sins. God loves us even at our worst.God's love is too good to leave me there.The next part of God's plan to save us is to actually change us from the inside out. He makes us alive and sends the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we might become more like him. Nobody is beyond the grace of God.Paul called himself the worst of sinners, and what his dramatic conversion story shows us is that nobody is too far gone to be saved. As long as we draw breath there is time for us to turn back to God. I change from adversary to ambassador.When we do change, when we do believe in Jesus, we go from being God's enemies to his emissaries. Instead of fighting against him, we fight to deliver his message to everyone who will listen.Paul's story can be your story.If you have been far from God, or if you feel like the worst of sinners, it's important to remember that God can change you too. If you repent and put your faith in Jesus, God will adopt you as his own and begin to change you from the inside out. Will you make that choice today?

This sermon explores the theme of transformation in the Christian life, emphasizing the importance of humility and a God-centered perspective. Pastor Matt uses the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector to illustrate how God values a humble heart over self-righteousness. The message challenges listeners to examine their own attitudes, urging them to adopt a posture of humility and dependence on God's mercy rather than pride in their own accomplishments.

Watch as Pastor Matt preaches from Galatians at South Woods. You can find out more about South Woods at www.southwoodsbc.org

Pastor Matt is teaching on worshipwhat it really means, and what the Bible has to say about it. Worship isnt just a feeling; its an action. Scripture shows us that worship involves our whole selvesheart, soul, mind, and body. Together, well explore the different postures and expressions the Bible invites us into as we respond to the greatness of our God.

Epistle to the Romans, Part 14: Romans 8:1-11, The Heart of Romans, Part 1This week, Pastor Matt unpacks Romans 8:1–11 in a message titled "Tabernacle Communities"—a powerful look at how the Spirit brings life, freedom, and belonging to God's people.

Sunday July 20, 2025: Pastor Matt continues in our teaching on our shared life of union in Christ and how from our location "in Christ" we are to pray and live our every moment of our lives in His glory.We are not praying from separation, we are not trying to get God's attention or twist His arm to answer our cry, we are fully accepted sons and daughters learning to knock from the rhythm of His heart and agree with His desires to be seen in the earth.You were born for union.

7-16-25

7-20-25

We continue in our series on Daniel learning how consistency matters in being REmarkable.

Pastor Matt continues our sermon series, "Jesus is Greater"

Episode Summary:Sometimes the thought to share the gospel isn't a one-time thing—it's a persistent, nagging feeling you've had for weeks or months about a specific person in your life. You know God's been pressing on your heart to speak up, but somehow you keep delaying.This episode of Gospel Talks dives into that relational evangelism comfort zone—the space where familiarity and fear collide and keep us from obeying God's call.Host George Binoka talks with Pastor Matt Fagan about how to recognize that inner tug, how to overcome the comfort and hesitation that hold us back, and why it's so important to move beyond guilt or pressure and evangelize out of love—for both God and the person we're called to reach.Based on Pastor Fagan's insightful article, What Gets You Out of the Chair?, this conversation offers encouragement and practical steps for anyone stuck in a relational comfort zone.Episode Highlights & Chapter Markers:00:00 – Introduction to Relational Evangelism02:54 – Stepping Out of Comfort Zones05:36 – Navigating Personal Relationships08:33 – The Role of Compassion in Evangelism11:24 – Motivation Behind Evangelism14:15 – The Danger of Guilt in Evangelism17:06 – Glorifying God Through Evangelism19:50 – Humility in Success22:35 – The Importance of Perspective25:25 – Final EncouragementsRelated Resources:

Pastor Matt concluded his series on the Lord's Prayer by examining the textual history of Matthew 6:13b ("For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen"), which appears as a footnote in many modern translations. He explained the process of Biblical transmission from original manuscripts to modern translations, noting that the Bible's reliability remains uncompromised despite textual variations. Pastor Matt demonstrated that while Matthew 6:13b may not have been in the original manuscripts, it functions as a fitting doxology that accurately reflects Biblical truths found throughout Scripture, particularly echoing King David's prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:11. The sermon also analyzed the structure of the Lord's Prayer, showing how it begins and ends with God's glory while addressing man's needs in between. Pastor Matt emphasized that this model prayer covers our past (forgiveness), present (daily bread), and future (deliverance from temptation) while teaching us to approach God with both intimacy and reverence. He concluded by encouraging listeners to use the Lord's Prayer as a mirror for spiritual self-examination rather than a source of discouragement, inviting them to yield their lives to Christ.

This week, we continued our study in Mark 13:1–13. Pastor Matt spoke about the struggles we face in the “in-between”—the time between Christ's first coming and His return. As followers of Jesus, we urge you to remain steadfast and endure to the end. Don't seek peace apart from Him, because true peace is found in Christ alone.

This morning, Pastor Matt Wakefield delivers a powerful message on the theme: "How We War in Worship."Drawing from the rich narrative found in 2 Chronicles 20, Pastor Matt unpacks how worship is not just a passive act, but a dynamic spiritual weapon used to engage in spiritual warfare. Pastor Matt emphasizes that praise is a weapon—not one forged of human strength, but one that shifts the atmosphere and invites God's presence to move on our behalf. When we worship, we are not ignoring our battles; we are positioning ourselves to let God fight for us. Throughout his message, he outlines 7 expressions of worship—practical and biblical ways we can outwardly express our praise—and shares 6 foundational truths about praise, each pointing to the power, purpose, and spiritual authority that praise carries. He boldly declares that when praise goes first, we don't have to force the breakthrough—we simply watch God bring it. Just as the enemies of Israel turned on themselves when Judah praised, we too will see confusion fall on the plans of the enemy when we exalt God above our circumstances. In the end, Pastor Matt leaves the church with a call to live a lifestyle of worship—not just on Sunday mornings, but in every moment we face opposition. Because in worship, we don't just survive the battle—we declare victory before it even begins. The vision of Mercy Culture is to take people from corporate encounters with God to daily personal encounters with God. At Mercy Culture, one of our unique characteristics is that we are a presence driven church. We are not built around any person or ministry. We are built around the presence of God. Each week, you will hear a teaching from our Lead Pastors, Les and Nikki Cody or another leader in our community. To learn more about Mercy Culture, visit https://mercyculturewaco.com 

Laws Of Sowing And Reaping // Pastor Matt Heck

John 19:16-27

Pastor Matt continued our sub-series on Habakkuk today, diving deeper into chapters 2 and 3. We explored what it means to wrestle with God while holding onto faith—and how our trust will ultimately be proven true if we remain steadfast in belief.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Cooke-7-20-25.mp3 Is. 49:6–7 I'll also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Kings will see & arise, Princes will also bow down. The scribes & Pharisees postured as those very messengers—God's agents summoning the nations into covenant blessing through the coming Messianic King & royal conqueror. They came bearing the terrifying texts—of a King who would subdue the nations, break rebels with His rod, shattering them like clay pots. What a message—take the carrot, or get the stick. The combined fear, & prophetic expectation would make a man skip line at the circumcision booth! But it only looked like evangelism.  Underneath the robes & rituals was hunger for influence—& income. Each convert meant another tither. Another disciple of the system. Another soul under the thumb of rabbinic control. They weren't shepherds seeking the lost. They were salesmen securing revenue. The Great Commission was nowhere in sight—but the great commission check? That was cashed. Listen as Pastor Matt unmasks the devil's evangelists showing why Christ's harshest words weren't for pagans, but for false preachers.

Throughout Scripture, God always redirects his people to live according to His perfect will. His primary method was through specific individuals attuned to hear God's voice. These were the Prophets. In this series, Pastor Matt will take us through some unique stories of the Prophets' lives and how their actions and words continue to influence us today.

xNehemiah 6-7 | Faithful to Fulfill, Part 29 | 7/20/2025 | Pastor Matt Jones. This week, Pastor Matt walks us through Nehemiah 6–7 to explore how God empowers His people to stay focused, finish strong, and fortify their faith, even when the opposition won't quit.

Join us for a timely message from Pastor Matt called Traps, Taxes, & Taking Sides. In a world full of political division and pressure to pick a side, we'll see how Jesus responded when He was put in the same situation. This message will challenge us to think about where our loyalty really lies and what it means to truly follow Jesus. Don't miss this powerful reminder that we belong to God above all else.

Collecting Courage is One Church's current series. In this series, One Church is exploring the scriptures to remember the faithfulness of God. This week, Pastor Matt, shares about patience and how it is a marker of a Christian's life as exemplified in the scriptures. The scriptures that Pastor Matt are listed in the order that he shares them during his message. The scriptures were John 13:20-27, John 18:3-11, Mark 15:16-20, John 19:25-27, Luke 23:32-34, Mark 15:27-32, Luke 23:39-43 & 2 Peter 3:3-9. We apologize for the hum that happens throughout the sermon.For more information about One Church, check out our website, becomingone.churchtrac.com .Follow us on Facebook or Instagram: @onechurchville

This sermon addresses the generational tensions within the church. It draws parallels between the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra's time and the ongoing transformation of worship in modern churches. The pastor uses the example of singing "new songs" to God, as repeatedly mentioned in the scripture, compared to the rebuilding of the temple. Pastor Matt suggests the solution comes in honoring the past and investing in future generations. The message encourages unity in the church despite differences, reminding the congregation that worship is ultimately for God, not for personal preferences.

harvestva

Our wrap-up session of the Book of Revelation. In Christ Alone! - Thank you for joining us. Please submit any questions or requests to: Pastor Matt's email: mgrimm@cstoneepc.com Thadd's email: thadd@truth316.com Planted intro/outro: Straight Through by Groove Bakery | https://groovebakery.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ 

This week, we tackle one of the most pivotal proclamations in church history—salvation by grace alone. In Acts 15, the early church wrestles with a critical question: Is Jesus' grace enough, or do we need to add religious requirements? As Paul and Barnabas report how Gentiles are coming to Christ, some insist on circumcision and law-keeping for salvation. But Peter reminds them—and us—that grace can't be earned, it shows no favoritism, and it demands a response of gratitude, not religious striving.We often create our own chains of performance—rules, expectations, or spiritual checklists. But Jesus broke every one of those chains. He set us free from trying to earn God's love. So stop striving and start living in joyful response to His grace!Key truth: We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus alone—no additives, no exceptions, no chains.

7-13-25

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In this episode of the Northwood Church Matters Podcast, Executive Pastor Darin Garton sits down with Pastor Matt to share the heart and purpose behind his upcoming sabbatical. You'll hear why sabbaticals matter for long-term pastoral health, the emotional and spiritual challenges Darin anticipates, and how time away can benefit not just the pastor, but the whole church.

Pastor Matt asks the question; What does greatness look like? God's view of greatness is service. Anyone can be great because everyone can serve. Simple of act of service can open up doors to great things. Bring a meal to someone who is in need, offer a ride to bring people to Church, carry a towel metaphorically in service of others.

Pastor Matt launched a new sub-series on Habakkuk today, exploring how God is still in control amid our uncertainty and how we can continue to rely on Him even through life's toughest challenges.

https://www.maynardvillefellowship.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Matthew-23_14-Woe-to-the-Wolves-In-Shepherds-Clothing.mp3 Listen as Pastor Matt uncovers the horrifying irony of those who wore the robes of shepherds while devouring the most vulnerable sheep. Each of the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, reveals the same chilling indictment: religious hypocrisy dressed in pious theater, preying on widows and the weak. Listen in as Jesus thunders judgment from Ezekiel and Zephaniah, declares covenantal divorce on a corrupt nation, and warns all who dare pose as Shepherds for personal gain: “You will receive greater condemnation.”May we all take refuge in the True Shepherd—the One who doesn't devour His sheep, but lays down His life for them.

Nehemiah 5:1-19 | Faithful to Fulfill, Part 28 | 7/13/2025 | Pastor Matt Jones. Pastor Matt is picking up where we left off in the sermon series “Faithful to Fulfill,” which is a sermonic survey of the post-exilic section of the Hebrew Bible, picking up in Nehemiah chapter 5. Pastor Matt presents a timely message about internal injustice, spiritual blindness, and God's call for courageous, humble repentance within the community.

Collecting Courage is One Church's current series. In this series, One Church is exploring the scriptures to remember the faithfulness of God. This week, Pastor Matt, shares about the clothing we as christians put on and the difference they make. Colossians 3:12-14, Galatians 5:22-23.For more information about One Church, check out our website, becomingone.churchtrac.com . Follow us on Facebook or Instagram: @onechurchville

7-9-25

Pastor Matt continues the series on the Sermon on the Mount with message from Matthew 7.

We begin our summer series Songs For the Road with Psalm 120—the first of the Psalms of Ascent. This raw, honest song reminds us that the road of discipleship doesn't always start with joy; sometimes it begins in distress. Pastor Matt unpacks this pilgrim prayer that cries out for justice and longs for home. And in that place of desperation, the good news rings true: God answers. He hears us, He moves toward us, and His answer—then and now—is Jesus.For more information about Integrity Church, visit our website, http://liveintegritychurch.org Connect with us on social media throughout the week to stay up to date on events and things happening at Integrity! Instagram: @integrity_church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liveintegrity/

In this episode of The Debrief Podcast, Pastor Matt and Tammy Brown dive into some of the most pressing and personal questions facing Christians today—from immigration and justice to protests, discernment, and the way we judge ourselves. With honesty, biblical insight, and real-life perspective, they unpack how to navigate complex cultural and spiritual issues with both compassion and conviction. Whether you're feeling torn, confused, or just curious, this conversation offers thoughtful guidance and encouragement for your faith journey.