Destination Church Spokane Podcast

What do you immediately think of when you imagine a church worshiping together? For each of us, media and our own experiences probably shape our thoughts on this topic. In today's podcast, we'll explore a few principles from Colossians 3:16-17 on the content of our worship together. For example, what exactly are psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs? Is there a difference? What does it mean...

Why would Jesus travel into Samaria, a place most Jews tried to avoid? One reason is to bring good news to a woman with a traumatic history of brokenness. His conversation with her opens a window into Jesus' thoughts on what it means to really worship God. Have you ever wondered what Jesus may say regarding the ways we worship, and what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth? Enjoy di...

Seeing elders established in a local church is an excellent blessing! As we recognize the gift of leadership God has developed in members of the Destination Church family, it's an opportunity to also look at what Jesus and the early apostles taught regarding elders and leadership in general. Radically different than many Western Christians may assume, elders are not domineering CEO-types, but...

As Paul and Silas were in prison, after being beaten, they start to sing hymns to The Lord. As they sing, an earthquake hits and the chains fall off of all the prisoners and the cell doors open. The jailer wakes up in fear that the prisoners have escaped, but Paul calls out, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer then asks how he can be saved too. This is amazing! When w...

Those who don't at first believe the gospel are in good company. When Jesus' closest disciples hear the news of his resurrection from the dead... they don't believe it either!  Is God still committed to spreading the good news through these doubters? Yes, and in this conclusion to our series on Mark, we discover that Jesus wants us on board with proclaiming this same good news! His...

All of the Gospel of Mark has led to this moment. Jesus had said multiple times that he would die, and that he would rise again. Early Sunday morning several women come to the place where Jesus was buried, wondering who will role away the stone for them so they can prepare Jesus' body more sufficiently for long-term burial.  Not only has the giant stone been moved, but Jesus is not there. Wha...

As Jesus is on the cross, the sky over the entire region is filled with darkness. Jesus cries out to His father saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus is experiencing, for the first time, the weight of sin as well as separation from God. Jesus, who had never known sin, is taking the judgment for the sins of all who will believe, so that we can be free. As Jesus breathe...

Jesus knows the root of all of our struggles, weather it be comfort, control, power, or approval. He doesn't plan for us to go through these struggles alone. God intended for the church to be like a family, and if we really are a family then we have each other to lean on in the hard times. We have people we can learn from and be influenced by, and we have people that learn from us. Who is God...

As Jesus is being led into the palace and out to Golgotha to be crucified, the soldiers and the crowds mock Him. A crown of twisted thorns is placed on His head, purple garments are temporarily placed on His body, He is spit on and beaten, and hung up on the cross. The crowd mocks Jesus' authority as they shout, "Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that w...

Early in the morning, Jesus is handed over to Pilate (the Roman leader in the area at the time) and put on trial yet again. Just as the last time, Jesus is accused of many things, but He remains silent except on the matter of if He is the king of the Jews. Following customs, a prisoner picked by the crowd is offered to be released. The crowd is asked if they would like to release a prisoner named...

Can there be any hope now for Peter? The man who promised to stay faithful to Jesus even if it meant prison time or death, has now refused to acknowledge that he even knows Jesus. Three times he has denied it!  Jesus, rather than making Peter earn his love and or work of lifetime to try to earn his salvation, offers grace. He gives us hope for the future by telling Peter that when he has turned ba...

The Sanhedrin meet in the middle of the night, against their own rules, looking for reasons to have Jesus executed. Despite false testimonies against Him, Jesus remains silent. He finally speaks when His identity is questioned. "You are the Christ?" To which Jesus responds, "I am." This answer is enough to have Jesus put to death, as He can now be portrayed as a false prophet. ...

Jesus is in the garden with a few of his disciples when Judas comes with an armed crowd to capture and arrest him. Peter attempts to come to Jesus' defense, and in the process takes off a man's ear! Meanwhile, Jesus displays the excellent wisdom and commanding presence of the king he truly is, while also demonstrating perfect obedience to his Father as he commands Peter and the others no...

As Jesus is knowingly being betrayed and preparing for what is to come, He takes some of His disciples away to pray with Him. They fall asleep... while Jesus spends time in prayer with His father. While understanding that He is about to take all of God's wrath upon himself, Jesus is under so much stress that He literally sweats blood. Jesus is a perfect example to us of what it looks like to...

Why do Christians take "communion" together? Is there more to this than just a religious tradition? We can discover the origins in Mark 14 as Jesus celebrates the Passover feast with his disciples. We also dive into these  questions:  Was the Jewish Passover foreshadowing what Jesus was about to accomplish in Jerusalem? Is his sacrificial death really enough to cause God's righteous...

There's something amazing about extravagant worship that pours itself out wholeheartedly on Jesus. Some may call it wasteful; others may call it over-the-top, but Jesus calls it beautiful. Mary's gift of worship polarizes the crowd around her, maybe even being a catalyst that pushes Judas over the edge:  no longer 'merely' a thief, he will now become  the notorious insider-betr...

Jesus continues to speak about the 'end times', warning us all to stay on guard. Yes, the return of Christ will happen, no doubt about it! However, no one - seriously, no one! - knows when this will be, not even Jesus.  Since only the Father knows this detail, Jesus tells us that our role is simply to stay awake and stay alert. So, how can we do this? We can stay spiritually awake by spe...

Jesus doesn't warn His followers of extreme trouble to come to put fear into us, but because He loves us and wants us to be prepared. For the sake of "the elect" (God's chosen, hand-selected people from all over the world) God has actually put a limit on suffering. He also warns us to be on guard against pseudo-saviors and false "prophets." Make no mistake: anyone and...

As Jesus looks upon the great buildings of the Temple in Jerusalem, He tells his disciples that one day not one stone will be left. He goes on to explain the signs of when this will be fulfilled. Everything happened just as He said it would. Jesus instructs the disciples: stay on course, stay calm, stay aware, stay on mission, and stay patient. Jesus says those who endure to the end will be saved!...

As Jesus teaches a large crowd in the temple courts, He warns against the leaders who put on a show. These are people who put on a false front to earn the respect of others, people whose hearts are not what they appear to be. Jesus then watches as the people from the crowd give their money to the treasury. The wealthy give lots, out of their abundance, but a poor widow gives two small coins, every...

When Jesus is asked what the greatest command of all is, He responds perfectly. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself." Can we really love this way -devoting every aspect of life to God, and loving people the way we want to be loved? Actually, no,  not on our...

When the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus by asking whether or not it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, He responds with wisdom. Instead of falling into their well-laid trap He points them back to God. "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." So, what belongs to God? Everything, including us! And God not only wants us, who are made in His image,...

When Jesus is questioned about where His authority comes from, the religious leaders claim they do not know. He challenges them - and us -with a parable about rejecting a beloved son. Jesus then references Psalm 118, saying, "Haven't you read this passage of scripture: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'" Of course, He is the Cornerstone, a whole...

As Jesus walks with His disciples He teaches them that faith in God can move mountains. We can expect big things to happen when we have relationship with Him and when our prayers align with His plan. 

What Mary and Mary discover at the empty tomb is not just startling; it is history shaping. The resurrection of Jesus has implications for all of us: sin and death defeated, and resurrection life and power released into us as well. "Come and see," says the angel at the empty tomb. Then, "Go and tell." And as we go, we discover even more evidence that Jesus is alive.