Adventurous Living - The Meadow Springs Community Church Podcast

Something is happening in the hills surrounding the villages where Jesus performed so many miracles. His followers had recently witnessed an unmistakeable turning point in Jesus' ministry and now this... can they understand or explain something so incredible? What does it mean for the future as they continue to follow Jesus? 

Jesus continues throughout the countryside and into villages performing miracles, healing and speaking in wonderful parables to large crowds who gathered to listen. His 12 apostles have been called to his side now, and by Jesus' power and authority, they will also proclaim God's kingdom and heal those afflicted by evil. Jesus is "doing" the ministry we are used to hearing about… but what about the...

The word was getting out. So much so that crowds of people were gathering to hear Jesus speak and to be healed. What important thing was he saying, though? "Come to me and be healed", or was it "come to me and be forgiven of your sins." Were the people satisfied with the former, or did they desire the latter? Ask Levi, the tax collector, which one he chose...

Jesus emerged from his time in the wilderness, having cast aside a crafty enemy, to began his Galilean ministry. He went out into the whole countryside, preaching to everyone, everywhere. Many praised his gracious manner and listened with rapt attention as he spoke in the synagogue. Let's stop there. Even though they recognized him as a home-town boy, the listeners took issue with his words. "No t...

We are diving into the first of nine Spiritual Practices we'll study this year. These habits of the faith help us grow in our knowledge of scripture and strengthen our relationship with Jesus. Fasting is our body's natural response to difficult spiritual situations like illness, death, sin, etc. Involving our bodies in this form of "lament" is the same as involving them in praise like raising hand...

As we get a bit further into the book of Luke and specifically the example of Mary & Martha, how do the Psalms allow you to focus and reflect on your relationship with God? The writers that so beautifully crafted this book were desiring to be closer to God. The worship and praise, despair and lament contained in its verses speak to a deep longing that God, in his mercy, would hear and respond to. 

Never has there been a more important time to be the best at something. Jesus was facing a powerful adversary at a time when his body was weak, but his mind and his heart were filled with the promises of his Father. Jesus knew the truth - the power was his and where all others had failed, he would succeed. Evil had no power over him.

As a complement to the theme "The One Thing" for this year, the first Sunday of each month will highlight important habits of the faith that increase awareness of God's presence, promote individual spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Jesus. Do you consistently read your bible? Do you take opportunities to pray and confess your sin? We look forward with great anticipation to what God wi...

Remember John, son of Elizabeth and Zechariah? Just like Jesus, he'd grown up and was now preaching in the surrounding country about repentance and the forgiveness of sins. He told the people what they should and should not be be doing and to say he was getting folks fired up is an understatement, but to what end? What was all the fuss about?

"And as Jesus grew up, he increased in stature, wisdom and favor with God and man." It seems like a natural progression that, in our own 'growing up', we should both grow physically but as believers in Christ, also increase in biblical knowledge, wisdom and foster a closer relationship with the him. But is that actually what happens? How do we meet that goal?

Mary or Martha? It's tough, sometimes, to choose stillness rather than dashing around to prepare for the next thing.  "But, it's got to get done…" we tell ourselves. "I've got a list!" What if it was actually better… in all the ways that really matter… to set the 'to do' list aside and instead, discover THE ONE THING worth being concerned about? We are taking a deep dive into the book of Luke in 2...

The magi... they were travelers from the east who'd arrived in Jerusalem asking some unpopular questions. Clearly, word had gotten out that a baby - THE baby that was the Messiah - had been born. What should have been a serene, blessed event turned into unrestrained jealousy and evil... a path not so different from our much more recent past and even our present.

5th Day of Christmas Imagine the shepherds, awestruck over what they'd just witnessed. They were 'in the fields, abiding' as the song goes and has just witnessed a great spectacle of heavenly glory. They did not waste any time to go check out what they'd been told about the baby. What did they see and experience once they got to him?

4th Sunday of Advent The appearance of the angel in Luke's account of the birth of Jesus is where all these songs originate. The angel proclaims the good news of Jesus' birth to a small group of shepherds who likely envisioned their night going a bit differently. And then, "suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, Glory to God in the...

3rd Sunday of Advent  Gather 'round ye children, come Listen to the old, old story Of the power of death undone By an infant born of glory Son of God, Son of Man So in heaven and earth and below Every knee would bow and worship And every tongue would proclaim Jesus, He reigns with the angels   (c) Andrew Peterson What a beautiful picture of Christ - for those we love and who we want to love & foll...

What a scene… rays of light visible from heaven to a world, weary under the weight of sin and desperately anticipating the birth of the Messiah. Light takes on a new meaning during that night long ago, breaking through a desperate world with a new and glorious promise of what we are worth.

1st week of Advent | O Come, O Come Emmanuel Waiting for God is a constant and ever-present biblical theme. The Israelites waited for 500 years for the promised Messiah - when will the waiting end?

A lot of life happened in the time of Abraham and Sarah. Battles and blessings, tragedy and triumph. All things must come to an end, so what does Abraham 'end' up with? A place … a sacred space realized at the end of a journey that never had a destination.

We know that both good and evil exist... they exist at the same time, in the same place, among the same people and places. It seems with one hand, God is pouring out blessing on those who are faithful and with His other hand, exacting judgement on those who engage in sin and perversion. Consider Lot and his family.... what a mess. Abraham goes to bat for folks that, in all reality, God wanted to d...

Abraham has been patient... he also has become a bit impatient.  "What good is all this if I do not have a son?" he asks. And there it is... Abraham is laser focused on what is missing instead of God's promise of what will be or what already is. Several times God assures Abraham of his promised blessing, even laying out a timeline of future events up until his death. The one thing that was still m...

As our Psalms in 2024 exploration comes to a close, these two represent the extremes - despair and abject praise. Whether we cry out to the LORD day and night about our suffering and affliction (Ps. 88) or whether we praise Him for his greatness with trumpets, tambourines and dancing (Ps. 150) , He hears us… and knows us and loves us. Praise the LORD!

Abraham and Sarah's son, Isaac, is the fulfillment of God's promise to them that He would bring forth from them many nations. They were faithful and patient and followed the call of God to leave all they knew and go. A lot happened before Isaac appeared on the scene, but what about after? What might Isaac have to say about this adventure to nowhere in particular?

Fear causes people to do things that seem to defy their very character and invites into our lives a whole host of problems. Make a big mistake? Tell a big lie to alleviate the consequences. When fear is a stronghold, it causes us to act and react in ways that are detrimental to our relationship with God and with others. Fear has no rightful place in the hearts and minds of believers in Jesus.

"Why do nations rage? Why do the people waste their time with futile plans?" Good questions as we observe the world today. "But the One who rules in heaven laughs. The LORD scoffs at them." Good answers because we are confident of who is in charge.   

The LORD told Abram to leave everything and everyone he knew and go. Go where? Nowhere in particular, but he was told his obedience would be blessed. Not only would he be blessed by following the LORD's command, but all the people who came after him… and all those who came after them… would also be blessed. "All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." vs. 3b His life was sure going...