God Centered Life

Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if there were no decisions to make on a daily basis? What if that singular focus was applied to religion? How would your faith change if there weren’t so many “flavors” of faith surrounding us? We’ll continue our look at the opening verse of Colossians to wrestle with that question. Colossians 1:1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

Is God enough? If we’ve grown up in the church, we may quickly answer “Yes!” But what if we drill down into the implications of that answer? What if we start asking the tough questions about how that plays out in our everyday lives? We’re heading into the book of Colossians for a study called “Jesus Is Sufficient.” Colossians 1:1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We seem to have an appetite for movies that depict special powers and muscular brawn defeating evil. That makes this passage seem so counterintuitive: not by might, nor by power. Our access to God might be our super power! Zechariah 4:1-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do we limit the importance of the Christmas story? You can’t have Christmas year ‘round, can you? What happens if you zoom out just a bit? Heading into the Gospel of John to pull our final insight into the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. John 1:1-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gospel is called “The Good News.” Given the world in which we live, you’d assume that good news spreads instantly around the world. But for some reason, bad news tends to spread more quickly. Why is that? Luke, chapter 1 is our destination. Luke 1:5-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gospel of Luke presents a wonderful account of the birth of Jesus, but in our series looking at the foundations of Jesus' ministry here on earth, we’re going to zoom out a bit and capture the joy found in the bigger picture. We’re exploring the Non-Religious Christmas. Luke 1:5-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Gospel of Mark is our landing place today as we explore the foundations of the Christmas story in each of the Gospels. But while the manger is not exactly lush, we’re heading even further afield to find inspiration… in the wilderness. Mark 1:1-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever thought about where you would fit into the Christmas story? Maybe a shepherd, perhaps the inn keeper? What if we expanded the typical Christmas narrative to include a much wider range of characters? We’ll do that as we explore a “Down to Earth Christmas.” Matthew 1:1-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If we get used to the story of Christmas, we can miss how extraordinary the whole story really is. Our hope for this message is that we can get a new sense of how amazing Christmas really is and bring some life into our celebration. Luke 1:26-38 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it mean to “wait on the Lord”? And how does the need for comfort, a serious need for comfort, coexist with an admonition to “wait on the Lord? The greater the need for comfort, the greater the urgency, right? Isaiah addresses this for us. Isaiah 40:12-31 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If a friend describes to you something that you’ve never seen, there is a risk that the mental image created won’t match the actual object. Isaiah helps us pursue comfort by challenging us to check the image of the almighty God that we hold. Is it even heading in the right direction? Or is it tragically too small? Isaiah 40:12-31 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s so easy to draw a line between power on one side, and tenderness on the other. So how do we reconcile both of those qualities in perfect presentation, combined into one? Isaiah presents the comfort found in digging deep into the sovereignty of God. Isaiah 40:9-11 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is great value in community, being with people who understand and care. But is that the primary source of comfort? Does God work primarily through others? How does that work for the lonely or isolated? We continue our pursuit of Comfort from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 40:6-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comfort is coming, but is there a call for us to prepare for that provision? Is comfort a something we wait for, or pursue? Are we to ignore our circumstances, or is there a different mindset to adopt during hard times? We’ll look at this question today. Isaiah 40:3-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps you're feeling that God has lost sight of you. Perhaps you're frustrated that others who you know aren't following Christ seem to have an easier time than you. God has a word of comfort for you. We need to live in the light of the future hope of the Messiah's return. Zechariah 1:7-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a word appears twice consecutively in the Bible, it’s meant to emphasize that word. In the Old Testament, God’s people have just been told they’re going into exile. And yet, the prophet Isaiah says “It’s going to be okay.” The Word of God raises us above our circumstances, both then and now. Comfort, comfort. Isaiah 40:1-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christ also gives comfort and shelter. He shelters from outward wrath and gives comfort for inner weariness. Are you feeling innerly weary? In Christ, you'll find comfort. You're never alone.  Luke 10:23-24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is the spiritual privilege that comes of going on mission for Jesus? It's important that we know what is given to an individual and what is special about following Jesus, so that we can extend it to anyone else. Luke 10:23-24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Until a man is converted and knows it, he is not the slightest use to God. Are you converted? Do you know it? Do you have the assurance of your faith? If so, you are released to get out and serve. Luke 10:22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The real, true God must be bigger than my mind can comprehend. So if I have any view of God that I can entirely comprehend, it must be a false god. It is so important that we have in our minds who God actually is, not just what we think he is. Luke 10:22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israelites are back in the Promised Land, but are they returning to their bad habits? God sends his prophet Zechariah to say there's hope beyond their current situation—and hope of another Promised Land far in the future with the Messiah. Zechariah 1:7-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The way to achieve joy is not to focus on our feelings. The focus on the negative creates unhappiness. What is even worse is that the focus on the self generates the unhappiness of narcissists. It's a self-esteem nightmare! Joy is a wonderful fruit of a vital relationship with God, even in the midst of turbulent waters. Luke 10:20 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...

It is standard, accepted truth in the world today that we are all good, and we do not need saving. Of course this is not what the Bible teaches. But long-time believers can have a tendency to assume they've heard teachings before rather than letting the gospel drive their daily behavior and shape them. And once you assume the gospel, you are that much closer to abandoning it. Luke 10:9-12 Learn mo...

The messaging has shifted down through the years on the cross and what it means. Some have a clear understanding, but others think of a piece of jewelry or a religious symbol. The message has gotten blurred. Luke 10:9-12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To offer prosperity if we believe enough is pastorally cruel. It raises unrealistic expectations and it's experientially naive. It's counter to the teaching of the Bible, most obviously in the book of Job, not to mention the cross of Jesus himself. Most of all, to offer prosperity is to offer too little. Luke 10:5-8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices