C3AK Podcast (Christ Community Church, Alaska)

There are all kinds of cute, trite, and even "right-sounding" phrases out there, which people genuinely believe are either A) In the Bible, or B) Things God would agree with. Unfortunately, they aren't either of those things and, often, do more harm than good. Does God really want you to "be happy"? The word happy shows up in the Bible about 10 times. The word joy shows up about 163 times. Maybe t...

There's a mind blowing story about resurrection, in the Bible, that happens just days before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. There's another story right after Jesus' resurrection. They're astonishing, revealing, and incredibly encouraging. More than that, they have so much to do with the promises God makes to us through the Bible about our own lives, deaths, and resurrection! And, most...

Pastor Tracy examines the events of Palm Sunday and the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. It's an incredible story of how even the ones who seem to follow and celebrate Jesus can suddenly find themselves cursing His name.  Do we really want God, on His terms...  or are we putting limits on Him to get what WE really want? Using stories from the Gospel of John, we'll spend a few weeks thi...

Pastor Tracy takes us into the third week of the "Absent God" series with the question "Are you coming to God for God, or are you coming to God for what your heart’s really after, and that’s something else?" Using the story of the feeding of the 5,000, he explores this question in terms of figuring out just how God tried to work in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. Do we really want God, on...

Pastor Jason takes the second Sunday of the newest Sunday Series where he'll teach about the sovereignty of God through the story of the paralytic at the pool of Bethsada. Using stories from the Gospel of John, we'll spend a few weeks thinking about small things, and huge things with everything in between Link to VIDCAST of this message: https://youtu.be/aqld6d-OzEg Online giving portal: https://c...

Pastor Tracy kicks off the newest Sunday Series where we'll consider how it seems that God is absent from our suffering. Using stories from the Gospel of John, we'll spend a few weeks thinking about small things, and huge things with everything in between Link to VIDCAST of this message: https://youtu.be/fUIdsyU9u_0 Online giving portal: https://c3ak.churchcenter.com/giving Text2Give: 84321  (inst...

Pastor Jason closes our Sunday Series, and shares his personal story of divorce. It's vulnerable, and powerful, and full of hope. As a companion we STRONGLY encourage you to follow it up with a listen to Pastor Tracy's message on divorce from October 18th, 2015. We really feel like we can't do it any better today, than we did then. You can find the audio version here: https://c3ak.podbean.com/mf/p...

Pastor Tracy's message on divorce from October 18th, 2015. We really feel like we can't do it any better today, than we did then. The law of love is the paramount command for the follower of Christ.   Online giving portal: https://c3ak.churchcenter.com/giving Text2Give: 84321 (instructions here: https://www.c3ak.com/donate)

Pastor Tracy returns in the next to last week of our Sunday Series, and tackles the topic of fear. Finishing out the message with the Zach Williams song "Fear is a Liar" is powerful and moving.  Link to the music video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQTnREEtuNk   Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspiration and roadmap. Link to VIDCAST of this message:  h...

In the sixth week of our Sunday Series, Guest Speaker Joseph Greeson speaks about the debilitating issue of depression, and suicide. The companion scripture of Psalm 42 also shows us, even way back then, people who loved God and were loved by God, sometimes felt desperately alone, and wrestled with depression. A bonus of the Randy Stonehill Song "Broken Places" puts a beautiful finish on this diff...

In the fifth installment of our Sunday Series, Guest Speaker Don Ashley gives his personal perspective on loneliness, after his return from a lengthy sabbatical where, often, no one near him spoke his language. With some truths from the Bible, and common sense advice, he offers hope and understanding for those who feel alone. Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspir...

On the fourth Sunday of the NEW 2018 Sunday Series, Pastor Tracy discusses the very common issue of doubt, which often springs from disappointment. How does God see us when we find oursleves in the valley of doubt? We go back to the book of Job for some wisdom, and encouragement. Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspiration and roadmap. Link to VIDCAST of this mess...

The third Sunday of the NEW 2018 Sunday Series, finds Pastor Tracy tackling the growing, and difficult issue, of anxiety with some powerful words from the Bible, practical advice, and plenty of empathy. Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspiration and roadmap. Link to VIDCAST of this message: https://youtu.be/v2Hpa5HJSSc Online giving portal: https://c3ak.churchcen...

In the second Sunday of the NEW 2018 Sunday Series, Pastor Jason addresses our tendency to judge ourselves so harshly, because we don't always "get it right" Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspiration and roadmap. Link to VIDCAST of this message: https://youtu.be/iC-VQ8Tn1Oo Online giving portal: https://c3ak.churchcenter.com/giving Text2Give: 84321  (instruction...

In the first Sunday of the NEW 2018 Sunday Series, Pastor Tracy sets the stage for the next several weeks of message, considering what it means to live in a world that simply isn't OK!.  Credit to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and John Ortberg for the inspiration and roadmap. Link to VIDCAST of this message: https://youtu.be/M57L8ZvcpAg  

In this Third Sunday of Advent 2017, Pastor Tracy follows our fantastic C3AKids Christmas Program with some words about the Advent Theme of Love...  and how it is the central theme of everything God calls the follower of Christ to do. Sorry...  No VidCast this weekend! Link to Advent Video for this Sunday: Psalms for Advent Collection Video « The Skit Guys

In this second Sunday of Advent 2017, Pastor Jason takes us through the Advent Theme of God's Peace for humanity. Link to VidCast of this message:https://youtu.be/9qvjbOqyTks Link to video used in today's message: Psalms for Advent Collection Video « The Skit Guys    

In this first Sunday of Advent 2017, Pastor Tracy reminds us, just as the early believers of God waited for the Messiah to arrive, so we also wait for His return. Yet still, we enjoy the possibility of His kingdom on Earth, today. Link to VidCast of this message: https://youtu.be/9qvjbOqyTks Link to video used in today's message: Psalms for Advent Collection Video « The Skit Guys

In the midst of trying times, both personally and on a large scale beyond ourselves, it can be difficult to find a spirit of thankfulness. Honestly, we may look around our lives and simply not see much to be thankful for. But, the Bible teaches us, even in the midst of those terrible times, we have MUCH to be thankful for. Join us as we look at Psalm 136, and learn about how to choose to be thankf...

Pastor Tracy gives notes and suggestions on how to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the context of conversation, instead of by means of a "presentation".  The power of the Gospel is for our lives today, as well as eternity. It makes perfect sense that we should be able to find the holy opportunities to share it in the midst of our everyday lives.   Link to materials used in today's message:...

Pastor Jason Souza of Christ Community Church, Alaska takes on the next to last week of the "Dying to Know" series, tackling the doctrine of Glorification. If the Gospel really is Good News, we firmly believe it has an incredible impact on our life here on Earth. But, to truly be Good News, we also believe the Bible teaches that everyone will have Eternal Life, either in the Kingdom of Heaven with...

Don Ashley of Christ Community Church, Alaska takes on the fourth week of the "Dying to Know" series, tackling the doctrine of Sanctification. This message deals with the essential question, "What should the natural result of following Jesus look like?"   Link to Video Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RPE6HkX1Pk&t=17s    

Pastor Jason Souza of Christ Community Church, Alaska takes on the third week of the "Dying to Know" series, tackling the doctrine of Justification. This message deals with the essential question, "How can a righteous God call us friends, even His children?"  Link to Power Point resource and Bible references: https://www.c3ak.com/sermon-resources Video Podcast Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Pastor Tracy Simmons of Christ Community Church, Alaska kicks off the first weekend of the "Dying to Know" series. As Christians, if we truly believe Jesus is the answer for the world, we MUST be willing to share it with others. But, what if we don't fully understand what it takes to become a Christian? How can we effectively share something we don't know for ourselves?  In this introduction to th...

Pastor Tracy Simmons of Christ Community Church, Alaska takes on the second week of the "Dying to Know" series, tackling the doctrine of Regeneration. This message deals with the essential question, "Does the Good News of Jesus Christ actually DO anything?" Furthermore, if we say we are a Christian, yet haven't experienced any kind of transformation from who we were B.C. or we look and act just li...