Iowa City Church Podcast

What does it mean when the Bible says that God is light ? It means God is glorious, God is true, and God is good. In a world filled with darkness, confusion, fear, and shame, God invites us to step into the light. In this message from our Love God series, we discover that God's light doesn't expose us simply to condemn us—it reveals the truth, leads us out of darkness, and brings freedom. When we...

What does it mean that God is holy ? In Isaiah 6, Isaiah encounters a God who is completely set apart, pure, and unlike anyone or anything else. Seeing God's holiness causes Isaiah to see himself more clearly—but it also leads to cleansing, forgiveness, and calling. In this message from our Love God series, Daniel McCoy reminds us that when we truly see God for who He is, our response is worship,...

What does it really mean to love God? Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. But to truly love God, we first need to know Him as He really is. In this opening message of our Love God series, we turn to Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 and His remarkable statement: "God is Spirit." We all have a tendency to put God in a...

From the time we are young, we're taught to climb the ladder—work hard, accomplish more, move up, and become successful. There's nothing wrong with pursuing excellence or using the gifts God has given us. But what happens when climbing the ladder becomes our definition of a successful life? In Mark 15, what appears to be Jesus' greatest defeat is actually the coronation of the King. At the cross,...

Have you ever felt like you've let God down? Maybe anger got the best of you, an old habit returned, or you made a decision you regret. In those moments, guilt and shame can leave us wondering, What does God think about me now? Does He still want me? In this message from the Gospel of Mark, we join Jesus and His disciples on the night He shared the Passover meal with them. Jesus knew what was comi...

The Most Important Thing What matters most to God? In Mark 12, Jesus is asked one of the most important questions anyone could ask: "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" His answer cuts through all the noise and gets to the very heart of what it means to follow Him. Jesus teaches that loving God and loving people are not two separate commands, but two inseparable expressions of a...

In this sermon we continue  our summer sermon series,  Come Follow Me , as we journey through the Gospel of Mark. In Mark 4, Jesus tells one of His most well-known parables—the Parable of the Soils. While the seed remains the same, the condition of the soil determines whether it takes root and produces a harvest. Through this simple yet powerful story, Jesus invites us to look beyond the surface a...

In this episode of Come Follow Me , we continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark by exploring one of the most surprising aspects of Jesus' ministry: the people He chose to follow Him. When the long-awaited Messiah arrived and the Kingdom of God broke into the world, Jesus didn't begin by recruiting kings, religious elites, or cultural influencers. Instead, He called ordinary fishermen and wo...

In a world filled with bad news, uncertainty, and endless distractions, the Gospel of Mark opens with the greatest news ever announced: Jesus Christ has come. In this message, we launch our summer series, Come Follow Me , by exploring the life-changing good news that stands at the center of the Christian faith. Discover why Jesus is the answer to our deepest needs for hope, forgiveness, purpose, a...

I was baptized as a baby—is that enough? In this message, we explore one of the most common and sensitive questions people ask about faith and baptism. Rather than relying on tradition or personal experience, we turn to Scripture to discover God's purpose and design for baptism. Join us as we examine what the Bible teaches, why baptism matters, and how understanding God's Word can bring greater co...

What happens when we die? It's one of life's biggest questions—and one that every person must eventually face. In this message from our Asking For a Friend series, we explore what the Bible teaches about life after death, why the resurrection of Jesus changes everything, and how the promise of eternity reshapes the way we live today. Discover the hope, confidence, and assurance that followers of J...

Many Christians wonder, "If I follow Jesus, why do I still struggle?" In this message from Luke 5, we discover that Jesus didn't come for people who have it all together—He came for people who know they need Him. Explore the difference between forgiveness and transformation, and find hope that God is patiently at work bringing healing and change to every area of our lives.

In this message from our Asking For A Friend series, we tackle one of the most difficult and emotional questions people wrestle with: Why would a loving God allow hell to exist? Looking closely at the teachings of Jesus, this sermon explores what hell is, why it exists, and how God's justice and love work together. Most importantly, this message points us to the hope of the gospel and the heart of...

Why does a good God allow evil and suffering? If God is all-powerful, couldn't He stop it? And if He loves us, why doesn't He? In Part 5 of our Asking For A Friend series, we wrestle with one of the most difficult and personal questions people ask about faith. This message explores what the Bible teaches about evil, suffering, free will, and the heart of God toward those who are hurting. Whether y...

In this sermon podcast we tackle one of the most important—and often misunderstood—questions of the Christian faith:  What's the deal with the Trinity?  In a culture where God is often reduced to a vague feeling or distant idea, the Bible reveals something far more personal and powerful. God is not just one being to believe in—He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: one God in a perfect community of l...

In Part 3 of our Asking For a Friend series, we explore a question that continues to surface in conversations about faith: Don't all religions lead to God? It's an honest and important question—one that deserves thoughtful, biblical clarity. Whether you've wrestled with this personally or are engaging with others who are exploring what they believe, this message will help you better understand wha...

In this sermon podcast, we launch a brand new sermon series called Asking For a Friend —where we take on some of the toughest and most honest questions people are asking about life and faith. And we're starting with a big one: Can I trust the Bible? Whether you've wrestled with that question yourself or know someone who has, this is a conversation that really matters. We believe the Bible is God's...

What if the resurrection of Jesus isn't just something we celebrate once a year—but something that reshapes how we live every single day? In this message, we wrestle with a big and honest question: Can a rational, intellectually honest person really believe that Jesus rose from the dead? And if the answer is yes, then it leads to an even more personal question: What does that mean for my life? Tog...

Have you ever noticed how much space God takes up in the book of Exodus? After rescuing Israel from slavery, God gives detailed instructions for building the tabernacle—a sacred place where his presence would dwell among his people. From the garden of Eden, to the tabernacle, and ultimately to Jesus, the story of the Bible reveals something remarkable: God desires to live in relationship with us....

Well, that didn't take long. Just weeks after entering into a covenant with the God who rescued them from slavery, the Israelites turn away and bow down to a golden calf. It's easy to read that story and wonder how they could fall so quickly. But the deeper question is this: Is idolatry just an ancient problem—or do we still struggle with it today? In this message, we explore what the golden calf...

In this message from Exodus 19, we explore one of the most important moments in Israel's story—when God meets His people at Mount Sinai and clearly defines what a relationship with Him looks like. Before giving commands, God reminds Israel of His grace: He rescued them from slavery, carried them through the wilderness, and brought them to Himself. Then He invites them into a covenant relationship...

In this sermon we'll be walking through Exodus 15–17 and discovering an important truth:  the wilderness isn't about comfort—it's about becoming God's people.  After rescuing Israel from Egypt, God didn't lead them straight into ease. He led them into testing. Not to harm them, but to shape them. In the same way, God often uses seasons of difficulty in our lives to form our trust, deepen our depen...

In this sermon we continue our important series through the book of Exodus. When we read about something amazing in the Bible--like God parting the sea and leading former slaves to freedom--how should we respond? Is it mainly something that should make us feel good? Is it a hint that God wants to part the seas in our life--winning the battles we hope to win? As we walk through Exodus 14, we will l...

In this sermon we explore Exodus 11–12, a powerful story of God's rescue and mercy. In a moment of great fear and uncertainty, God made a way for His people to be saved and brought out of slavery. This passage reminds us that the Lord sees His people, knows their suffering, and faithfully provides deliverance when there seems to be no way forward. We'll also look to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose b...

God's people often find themselves in moments that feel overwhelming and impossible. When Moses obeyed God and confronted Pharaoh, the result was not immediate freedom, but deeper hardship: the same number of bricks, now without straw. Many of us know what that feels like. What do we do when following God seems to make life harder, not easier? In this sermon, we'll look at how God meets His people...