Porter Podcast

Series: If I Only Had grace in hardship 2 Corinthians 12:1-10   give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18    External efforts fail to deliver peace because contentment is an inside job.     I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.   Philippians 4:11    It is difficult to be content...

Series:  If I Only Had “all things” contentment Philippians 4:4-13   Discontent: not happy with who you are, what you have and/or how things are going in your life.           Contentment begins in the heart.   Contentment is not automatic for the believer.      There are natural enemies to contentment.   Contentment cannot be circumstantial.   Philippians 4:11-13   Contentment is something that ca...

Series:  If I Only Had The More Trap  I Timothy 6:6-20   Discontent: not happy with who you are, what you have and/or how things are going in your life.                Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Hebrews 13:5     I Timothy 6:6-19     the danger of chasing “MORE”   ·      We forget the t...

Series: If I Only Had            Pursuing the Wind      Ecclesiastes 4:4-8      Proverbs 14:30   give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18   discontent: To be unhappy with what you have, with who you are and/or with how your life is going     Many people are discontent because they live in comparison mode.   This approach to life will lead peop...

Series: The Church in History The Church and Communion Luke 22:14-22         I Corinthians 11:23-26   Protestant = Someone who protests when the church strays from “the faith once for all delivered to the saints.”   Reformation Takeaways   ·      Scripture is the final authority in matters of faith and practice.                                                           2 Timothy 3:16–17    ·     ...

Series:  The Church in History Moments of Conflict Acts 15:36-41     causes of conflict           ·      Satan is real, and people are sinners.    ·      Sometimes the conflict is not directly tied to sin but rather to changing circumstances.     ·      Often the conflict revolves around a specific topic or issue.       Acts 15:1-14                     lessons for us ·      Faithful Christians can...

Series:  The Church in History Encouragers & Hypocrites Acts 4:32-Acts 5:11     an encourager              Acts 4:32-37   ·      Barnabas was a giver. ·      Barnabas saw potential in people. ·      He was a good cheerleader. ·      He was willing to take a back seat.     hypocrites                    Acts 5:1-14     Hypocrisy can be seen through moral failure, systemic corruption, and opportu...

series : The Church in History The Church on Mission Acts 1:1-8   “These men who have turned the world upside down  have come here too” Acts 17:6     why the first church changed the world   ·      They had a powerful, personal experience with the gospel of Jesus.                                                                             Not every believer in Acts saw the resurrected Jesus, but e...

Series: John the Baptist Matthew 14:1-12 What is Success?     What constitutes a “successful” life?         Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared... Matthew 11:11     Lessons for Us   Believers may experience suffering.   Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening...

Series :   John the Baptist Faith & Doubt Matthew 11:1-6     3 types of doubt ·      Intellectual doubt ·      Spiritual doubt ·      Circumstantial doubt   When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns. Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him,...

Series: Prepare the Way—John the Baptist John—the Baptism of Jesus Matthew 3 Recap   John was an eccentric prophet whose dress, diet, preaching style and message distinguished him from others.  John’s primary purpose was to prepare the way for the Messiah; but what he was known for was his practice of baptism.   John and Baptism   John would immerse ( baptidzo ) people in water to symbolize repent...

Series: Prepare the Way—John the Baptist John—the man and his message Mark 1; Luke 3; John 1   “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared...”   Matthew 11:11 JTB facts Other than Jesus, only John the Baptist’s birth and death are detailed in the New Testament.  Three of the four gospels begin with John the Baptist.    John had mass appeal; some s...

Acts 17:16-34

Romans 12:1-16

Series: In Christ  Personally In Christ  Ephesians 1:1-14   The phrase, “in Christ” or “in Him,” occurs over 100 times in the New Testament.     How many times is “in Christ” used in Ephesians 1:1-14?      Ephesians 1              What does it mean to be “in Christ”?   ·      “In Christ” refers to a state or status.     Theologians refer to conversations about this aspect of “in Christ” as Positio...

Series: Ezekiel Hope in Ezekiel Ezekiel 37-48   Hope involves:  the future, something better and security/confidence.      To hope is to be confident that something better is in the future.   People have not overcome the propensity to fail and remain broken.     Ezekiel 37      hope for the future     6 future promises for the exiles   1.    A return to their homeland 2.    A united kingdom 3.   ...

Series: Ezekiel A Better Shepherd Ezekiel 34   With leadership comes responsibility.   woe to the shepherds     God not only cares about who leads, He cares about how they lead.   Titles do not make you faithful.   The right to lead is inextricably tied to a willingness to sacrifice.    Ungodly leadership is never without consequence.   Two results of abdicated leadership: ·      needs are unmet ·...

Series: Ezekiel Made New Ezekiel 36-37   Since the fall, humanity has been drawn to sin and prone to fail.   People have not overcome the propensity to fail and remain broken.     Ezekiel 36     God is just in His judgment of humanity.      Only God Himself can fix people and reestablish holiness.        Man’s heart was the primary casualty in the fall; therefore, holiness must begin in the heart....

Series: Made New—Ezekiel  Personal Responsibility  Ezekiel 12-22; Ezekiel 18     Recap of Ezekiel    Jerusalem is under threat from the Babylonians, who have taken many leaders captive.   One captive, Ezekiel, receives a call to a prophetic ministry which is guided by four visions.     Ezekiel pronounces both judgment and hope for captive Israel.     Ezekiel 12-17       Judgment will come regardle...

Series: Made New—Ezekiel  When God Brings Judgment Ezekiel 4-11   I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26     Recap of Ezekiel    The people of Israel (Judah) are under threat from the Babylonians who have taken many leaders captive through two separate deportations occurring over a 10-year span.  ...