CCRS Podcast

There are so many things to pursue on earth. You may chase hard after wealth, popularity, power, or comfort. And the world expects you to do this. But, God, has something different for you to pursue. Today, Pastor Phil will explain the exhortation to pursue peace and holiness. It involves making daily, practical choices in the pursuit of holiness. It involves stepping away from things that lead yo...

Discipline and correction are sometimes seen as bad words in our culture. It can be presented as more loving to allow all behaviors. And people generally bristle at correction. It’s not really fun to be disciplined. But, as Pastor Phil explains today, it’s crucial for a father, much like God our father, to chasten and correct a child. It’s actually a very loving thing to do. It shows you love some...

Our culture today is muddying up the concepts of masculinity, manhood, and even fatherhood. God has given men definite and defined character qualities that are essential in the family, in the community, and in the church. Society is ruining all constructs that God has set in place. Today, Pastor Phil will encourage you to look to Jesus as your example of manhood. Don’t rely on culture’s definition...

The apostle Paul relates your life of faith to a race. You’re to run your race with preparation, endurance, and effort. But, it’s important to remember, Pastor Phil teaches today, that you must keep your eyes fixed on the prize – Jesus, as you run. If you take your eyes off of Him, you’re likely to go off course, fall down, or forget why you’re even running. He’s the reason you’re running. He’s yo...

Running is hard and can be exhausting! A life of faith is much like running a race. And in every race, there are moments of excitement and anticipation, but there are also moments of weariness and pain. Today, Pastor Phil explains the race that a believer is to run in life. God has set this race in front of you, and it will require effort and commitment. You can’t just sit out on your life of fait...

Is your past full of shameful decisions and things you regret? You may fear these choices will lead God to simply forsake you as a lost cause. However, as Pastor Phil teaches today, God loves and accepts anyone who believes in Him regardless of their past. A prostitute named Rahab believed in God and saved His people, and she was forgiven of her sins and accepted by God. She was loved deeply and f...

There is so much in life that can cause fear to take over and block out your faith. Even when you’re walking with God, you’ll experience things that cause you to fear. Following God’s call for your life will often lead you to unknown places. In these moments of uncertainty, you have the choice to allow fear to overtake you or rest in your faith and trust God. Today, Pastor Phil will encourage you...

It would be easy to assume that God would, or at least He should choose the best to accomplish His work here on earth. Yet, as Pastor Phil teaches today, God uses flawed and broken people and covers them with His grace. Despite our tendency to fall back into sin, God will still use His chosen for His purposes. His plans and purposes won’t be derailed. He’ll wrestle with you, convict you and change...

Trusting in God and His promises isn’t easy when you can’t see any hint of its fulfillment. Abraham struggled at first to continue to trust God. He even stumbled as he waited. Yet, because of God’s faithfulness, Abraham’s faith and trust grew. Today, Pastor Phil will explain how Abraham continued to see God’s faithfulness and goodness, and that was enough to grow His faith. You can see throughout...

Sometimes it can be hard to believe God’s promises. Sometimes you have to wait and have faith. God promised Abraham a child. And He promised Him a Promised Land and an inheritance. But, before he saw these things, Abraham had to trust and obey God. He was called to go to an unknown land and do something he’d never done. As Pastor Phil teaches today, Abraham obeyed the call to follow and serve God,...

He’d never heard of a flood. Or of rain, for that matter. But Noah heard God’s word and heeded the warning. He obeyed God and built the boat, despite the craziness of the command. He believed God and understood the judgment He was sent on the earth. Noah recognized God’s power. Pastor Phil will encourage you to take seriously the warnings of things not yet seen as Noah did. And seek to share the w...

Many times believers will seek God to fill all their needs and wants and offer to serve Him for the rewards He gives. Yet, God desires, instead, for you to seek Him to know and love Him apart from what He gives you. Today, Pastor Phil will explain true faith and how to pursue God. You must genuinely believe He exists and seek Him with a sincere heart. You can’t seek Him, demanding your own will, b...

Can you say that you walk with God daily, moment by moment in an intimate relationship with Him? Do you seek Him in prayer in all your thoughts and decisions? Today, Pastor Phil will encourage you to stop viewing God as a far-off, unknowable God, but instead as your Father who wants to be with you every moment. In faith, turn to Him, seeking His peace, guidance, and wisdom. He desires this kind of...

God's creation can be truly breathtaking, from the Grand Canyon to Mount Everest, the world is full of God's divine creativity... And in today's message, Pastor Phil will encourage you to take a deeper look at the creation around you... God's creation isn't only to be beautiful, its very existence shows that God's power and His presence are always near to you. He's never far from you and your situ...

The world around you has been telling you your whole life that if you want something, you have to work for it. And while good work ethic and self-motivation are both valuable skills, there is one thing in life that we can't work hard for... Salvation. In today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that, unlike your degree, car, or home, the free gift of salvation is 100% just that, a gift. The pr...

Do you remember a time in your childhood when a parent told you that couldn't do something, and you just couldn't understand why? It's most likely that your parent saw something that could potentially harm you, so they made a choice to keep you safe... And in today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that God is much like a wise and caring parent. While you may not see it or understand it, God...

Today, Pastor Phil will share with you an aspect of forgiveness that you may not think of regularly. Did you completely stop sinning when you became a Christian? No! On this side of eternity, we're all still imperfect in communion with a perfect God... And yet through salvation, we have forgiveness... But forgiveness is not just a one-time event. Forgiveness is a continuous process that happens ea...

Exhort. Now, this isn't really a word that you might be using in your everyday vocabulary but its importance in your life and the lives around you are incredible... So in today's message, Pastor Phil will share with you that the Bible calls Christians to exhort one another. To exhort means to walk with someone, particularly through something difficult. We've all been in situations where we could h...

Sometimes the Christian faith and life can become confused with serving on Sunday, volunteering at Christian events, or volunteering in the community. Now while these things are all well and good, in today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that God's favor can't be earned. God didn't send Jesus because He felt humanity had earned a permanent sacrifice. He sent Jesus because it was the ultimat...

In today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that not only will the world try to define who you are but so will the enemy of your soul. Satan will try to destroy you and your relationship with Christ through doubt in yourself. Thoughts like Christ couldn't possibly forgive you, love you, or have died for you are all lies from the enemy himself. When you're struck with these kinds of lies, it's...

In today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that as a Christian, your identity is found in Christ and nothing else! The world around you will try to tell you that your identity is found in your job, relationships, or what you can give to others... But when you choose to live into the identity that the world gives you, it clouds how God sees you and it clouds the path that God has chosen you fo...

Perfection can be viewed as the thing you need in order for God to love you... And today, Pastor Phil will remind you that that couldn't be further from the truth. God loves all of His children, whether they're imperfect, trying their best, or breaking His heart. The truth is, that God knows that perfection isn't something that can be achieved in this life. That's why He offers believers His Holy...

The Old Testament followers of God went to offer sacrifices once a day and on the holy day of atonement. If sin was committed, they had to wait until the next sacrifice to be made right with God again... And today, Pastor Phil will remind you that you can ask for forgiveness at any time. There's no special time or place, all you need to do is confess your sin and ask God to forgive you. He promise...

In today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you of the good news that Jesus is coming again! He will return to the Earth to destroy evil, defeat satan, and bring true peace. For those of you who have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you'll be raptured. Raptured just means that someday, at any time, Jesus might decide to take you to be with Him before you pass... And at another time, Jesus w...

Since the fall of humanity in the garden of Eden, sin has proven itself over and over to be deadly. The consequences of sin, no matter how small, always catch up. All those nights of excessive drinking, drugs, and other destructive behaviors will eventually cause problems... And in today's message, Pastor Phil will remind you that because sin leads to death, forgiveness leads to life. When God for...