Embrace Podcast

Beginnings are the best! Whether it's the beginning of a vacation or the beginning of a meal, beginnings are amazing. The same is true with the beginning of the world: Creation. In the beginning we were at peace with God, ourselves, and God's creation—things were the way they ought to be. Life isn't like that perfect beginning anymore, but we can still find ways to live out that beg...

On today's podcast we sit down with our lead pastor Adam Weber! We chat about what it means to have be attractive and proactive with our lives, and how small steps matter. Take a listen to what was CUT FOR TIME in this week's message! Listen to the THIS LETTER IS FOR YOU part 4: http://podcast.iamembrace.com/329369/1290526-attractive-and-proactive Watch the message here: https://online.i...

In our everyday lives, Jesus is calling us to two things: to be attractive with our words and proactive in our actions. Whether we're with people who don't know Jesus, or people who have been following him for a long time, these two areas are so important. It's up to us to be Jesus to those around us. How will you influence people with your words and your actions? 

On today's podcast we sit down with our Sertoma Campus Pastor Travis Finke! We chat about his famous "hole in one", and more importantly we get to talk about what it means to have access to Jesus plus how to allow Him to rule our hearts. Take a listen to what was CUT FOR TIME in this week's message! Listen to the THIS LETTER IS FOR YOU part 3: http://podcast.iamembrace.com/3293...

Do you actually believe the words of the Bible can change you from the inside out? That's what Colossians chapter 3 is promising us, that if we put on the things of God's Word—kindness, humility, patience—and take off the things that are holding us back—greed, hurtful words, selfishness—that we will be made new. How cool is that?! We're a new creation because of what Jesus did for u...

This weeks episode we sit down with Brian Rock and chat about his latest message in our "This Letter Is For You" Series! We dive deeper and uncover what was CUT FOR TIME in his most recent message. Listen in on a great conversation about fitness, faithfulness, and how to say yes to God when he calls you to go deeper.

A lot of us believe that being a Christian is simply the answer to a question: Yes, I believe in Jesus. And then that's it. But what if answering the question isn't enough? What if God is calling us to something more? What if He's calling us to go deeper still? Going deeper means we actually follow. It's often painful and uncomfortable, but it makes our relationship with Jesus...

On today's podcast we sit down with our St. Croix Campus Pastor Austin Walker! We chat about his most recent message in our new series, This Letter Is For You! Take a listen to what was CUT FOR TIME in this week's message!

A lot of the time, the world tells us that Jesus isn't enough for us—we have to have more, do more, be more, in order to have it all. But the truth Paul shares in the book of Colossians is this: Jesus is supreme in every way and sufficient for every day. Jesus plus nothing really does equal everything. If we have Jesus, we have everything. 

This week we sat down with Travis Waltner to chat about his most recent message in our Dumb Things Christians Say Series, "Share This If You Love Jesus." We talk more about dumb superstitions, sports, and what it means to just BE with God. Join us as we ask what was CUT FOR TIME in this week's message!

Have you ever gotten one of those emails that says, "share this if you love Jesus?" Yeah, it might seem kind of dumb, but part of us probably feels guilty not forwarding it on—because what if Jesus really will love us less if we don't?? This kind of thing might sound silly, but it points to a larger issue of making our faith in Jesus superstitious instead of sincere. When we go thro...

This week we sat down with Adam Weber to chat about his most recent message in our Dumb Things Christians Say Series, "Have You Heard About ______ ? We Should Pray For Them." We had a blast talking about gossip, being there for a friend, and getting sunburns while sitting outside! Check out our conversation about what was CUT FOR TIME and so much more!

Let's be honest, we've probably all said something about another person and attempted to disguise this gossip as a prayer request. Sadly, it's pretty easy to do. But this isn't the example Jesus sets for us. Instead of talking about someone, Jesus always stood with people. He knew gossip distances us, while love brings us closer. Instead of talking about someone and saying we s...

We're in a series called Dumb Things Christians Say, and our 57th Street Campus Pastor (Brian Rock) gave a great message all about the phrase "Love The Sinner Hate The Sin."  There's only so much time for a message during the weekend. So we sat down with Brian to chat about what was CUT FOR TIME plus much more!

As people, we use the phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" as a way to show others we still "love" them even if we disagree with them. But is hating their sin really what Jesus calls us to? Actually, Jesus asks us to love the sinner. Period. What if instead of spending so much time hating the sins of others we put that energy into getting rid of our own sin, loving people for...

We're taking a look back on all God did during the Ripple Effect series! Listen in as we recap all 5 weeks of the series and have some laughs along the way.  Want to listen to the series? Click here!

You've probably heard the phrase, "God won't give you more than you can handle," before. It's comforting, a nice thing to say when people are hurting. But the truth is, God WILL give you more than you can handle. Life happens, things get out of control, the worst-case scenario does occur. Thankfully though, God never gives us more than HE can handle. God shows up, because...

This Easter, we might be tempted to look at the criminals hanging on the cross beside Jesus and think we're one or the other—we either doubt Jesus or we believe him, we're either good or bad. But really, the only difference between the two men is that one of them believed the man in the middle: he believed he fell short, he believed Jesus was perfect, and he believed Jesus could rescue h...

So often we think of doubt as a bad thing, when really it's about the direction our doubts take us: away from Jesus or towards him. Jesus will always be the man in the middle, the place where we can bring our doubts and questions, and he's not moving. When we bring our doubt to Jesus we find that he cares for us, he loves us, he wants the real us, and ultimately, he will answer us. What...

So often we can turn what we do for a living into our life. Jesus flips that concept upside down, calling the disciples to not simply be fishermen, but to be fishers of men. He does the same with us today. We're no longer just a teacher, accountant, or nurse, instead our purpose is found in the people we interact with, the people we invite to a life greater than any they've ever known.

At some point we each have to decide whether or not we want to follow Jesus with our lives. This looks different for each of us, but we all go through a process of seeking, hearing and ultimately deciding who Jesus will be to us. Where are you at today? If you've already decided to follow Jesus with your life, are you being faithful to that promise?

So often we tend to be consumers rather than contributors, especially when it comes to church. But when we take a look at the early church found in the book of Acts, we're given an example of fellowship where everyone shared, everyone participated, and everyone contributed. What would it look like for church to look a little more like that? What would it look like if we simply saw a need, and...

We all exist inside a big circle with the people who are like us. But Jesus calls us to step outside that circle, to go to the places where everyone is not exactly like us. One of the ways we can go outside our circles is by getting connected to the country of Haiti. Ripple effects begin when we go somewhere new. Don't be afraid to connect, sponsor, give, and go through our partnership in Hai...

When the need's so great, it's hard to think about how God could possibly use what we have to offer. But Jesus keeps it simple: just give what you've got! Whatever you have, put it in the hands of Jesus and watch him multiply it, whether that's through your job, your connections, or your finances. Ultimately giving starts with us.

Finding peace with yourself physically, chemically, and psychologically is so important, but true peace is something that only comes from God. We can live in three different places when it comes to finding peace with God: the natural person, under the rules, and under God's love. It's only under God's love that we can find true peace, true grace, true joy.