Podcast appearances and mentions of steve mickel

We have our brand new (and strikingly beautiful) 5,600 square feet, two story addition done and ready to be dedicated to the Lord for the advancement of his Kingdom in and through us as his people. The LORD lives in us by his Spirit as together we proclaim the name and ways of Jesus. He does not live in a building, but his people. And yet…a place is important, and through place, much ministry can happen. We dedicate this new facility with this in heart and mind. We have many guests joining in our celebration, including our founding pastors, Bob and LaDonna Hasty, as well as our current Northwest District Supervisor, Steve Mickel.

Pastor Steve Mickel, our Foursquare District Supervisor, shares a special Palm Sunday message.

What sounded like nonsense was news too good to be ignored: The crucified Jesus was alive!

When the Samaritans reject Jesus, the disciples ask permission to call down fire on them. Jesus rebukes them, and then tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. Like the disciples, our bias towards violence is broken by a God of mercy.

As carriers of the death and life of Christ, we are conformed and transformed into the image of Christ. Our identification with and participation in the cross of Christ informs every aspect of our lives and our relationships.

Countless have been to church and many claim Jesus as savior, but it's difficult to seek discipleship. We must allow ourselves to be formed to the way of Jesus by our practices and community.

Jesus sees us and listens to us. This seems like a simple thing, but in a world where loneliness runs rampant, being seen and known can be the first step to living a life of hope, peace, love and joy. Accepting the love of Jesus changes everything. It gives us a new perspective on ourselves and our fellow humans. When we accept the love of our Wonderful Counselor is makes space for working toward and caring about others and that leads to living in peace and working towards the flourishing of all creation.

The people of God were waiting for deliverance through a Mighty God, a heroic God that would come with swords blazing. Instead he shows up in the smallness of a baby. How do we reconcile what we think a Mighty God should be with how he actually displays his mightiness and brings hope to the world.

In the face of injustice, a price must be paid. We all have a label we deserve to wear for the rest of eternity. There is a price for our sins and our wrongs and it's way too rich for our blood. But God…paid the price himself to set us free. This is grace.

We've long loved the metaphor of being an "Army for the Lord." It can be confusing. Especially today. Jesus offers a beautiful metaphor in the form of shelter from the storm. Jesus teaches us from the ethos of the Beatitudes and the pathos of the cruiciform that which gives Christianity it's distinctive beauty. This is the beauty we must embrace.

Patience, prayer and sacrificial love will mark the lives of true followers of Jesus. 

The world is confused and confusing, true religion cuts through the noise and leads us to eternal perspective (and this perspective is seen most profoundly in the way we communicate.)

For good or for evil, the body lies right at the center of the spiritual life…one can immediately see all around us that the human body is a primary barrier to conformity to Christ. But this was never God's intent.

For good or for evil, the body lies right at the center of the spiritual life…one can immediately see all around us that the human body is a primary barrier to conformity to Christ. But this was never God's intent.

Mark contrasts what the religious leaders think about Jesus and what his disciples think about Jesus. In many ways, all of us are blind to knowing Jesus. Knowing who Jesus is does not happen immediately or a one-and-done decision; it is a progressive understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do. Although we are all blind in one way or another, the difference between the disciples and everyone else is their openness to hear, to learn, and to obey. They constantly leaned in and asked genuine questions, not to trap Jesus, but to learn from Jesus.

Mark contrasts what the religious leaders think about Jesus and what his disciples think about Jesus. In many ways, all of us are blind to knowing Jesus. Knowing who Jesus is does not happen immediately or a one-and-done decision; it is a progressive understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do. Although […]

Mark records many parables. The first parable he records is the key to all the other parables. It is the key to understanding the secret regarding the kingdom of God (vs. 11-13). Yet very few people will truly listen and lean in to understand Jesus' secret, the mystery of Christ. Jesus desires that people would not […]

Mark records many parables. The first parable he records is the key to all the other parables. It is the key to understanding the secret regarding the kingdom of God (vs. 11-13). Yet very few people will truly listen and lean in to understand Jesus' secret, the mystery of Christ. Jesus desires that people would not just acknowledge who he is from a distance, but would be curious enough to lean in and try to understand the mysteries of the kingdom. To fully experience the hope of the gospel requires a level of curiosity that keeps us coming back to Jesus for truth and clarity.

Eternal Gifts are gifts that connect us more closely to the reality of eternity – and possibly gifts that will only be truly valued on the other side of this life. Persecution reminds us that a better day is coming.

Being poor in spirit (without other options) and acquainted with sorrow connects us to the presence of Jesus in ways we could not be otherwise. Questions to answer: What does it mean to be poor in spirit? How does a life look that possesses “the kingdom of heaven”? How can mourning & comfort lead to happiness?

As we move into the future, the mission and message God gave us is unchanging: we exist to equip men, women, and children to extend the life and love of Jesus in their world by helping them know Jesus and become more like him.

Series: All Things New - 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting A prayer for God to have his way in our church, city, and nation. God desires to do a new thing through his renewed people. New relationships. New awareness and support. New imaginations which lead to new action. A call to a new way of living in community with others

God wants to renew our hearts and our minds in 2021. To be conformed into the image of Christ.