Flagstone Church of Christ

We fight spiritual and emotional battles; we fight for the success of our friendships and marriages. And yet sometimes we end up losing those "battles" - not necessarily because we were overpowered or overwhelmed, but because we quit fighting. How do I keep from quitting too soon and walking away from the fight before it's finished?

April 29, 2021 // // From the fall of creation God had a plan to bring his cherished creation BACK to himself; back to the garden of intimacy and connection with Him. But as humans continued to display pursuits of making THEMSELVES gods, God's plan to reunite heaven and earth looks a little different... A long term plan that included specific stages of increased connection. // In this episode of U...

As I get better at recognizing where my enemy is attacking me and choosing to fight, I may find myself struggling to feel like I'm winning or even gaining any ground. The problem might be that I'm not getting to the root of the problem, I'm not fighting the "core" battle. How do I figure out where the core battle is, and how do I get better at fighting the battles that matter most?

April 22, 2021 //  // After the fall of man in Genesis 3, things just seem to get worse for mankind, God's GOOD creation. Not only has the connection between God and man been severed forcing the domains of heaven and earth to split in two, but human beings continue to make the SAME mistakes that were made in the garden time and time again. We want to play the part of God in our own lives... S...

We have an enemy who wants to attack us, a ruthless adversary who wants to wreak havoc in our lives with problems, addictions, and ungodly choices. We're called by God to fight off his attacks, to battle against Satan's influence in our world and in our lives. And one of the keys to success in this fight is to fight the battle before it happens. But what does that even look like? How do I do that?

April 15, 2021 // // In the Fall of Creation depicted in Genesis 3, Eve gave up EVERYTHING, a perfect garden and perfect communion with the creator... for a snack? And this was the very decision that spit the domain of Heaven ON Earth to Heaven AND Earth. So what's was at the root of the decision, and what does it have to do with us? Unfortunately, we too make the same boneheaded decisions. But is...

Whether we realize it or not, those of us who have put our faith in Jesus are in a fight. We have an enemy who is on the attack, and we have to choose how we are going to respond. Are we going to sit around and do nothing? Are we going to surrender? Or are we going to put up a fight?

April 8, 2021  // Heaven is where God is, and earth is where humans are. Pretty simple, right? But what if that wasn't God's original plan? Not only that, but what if God's purpose from the beginning was to bring "heaven" to earth? What does that do to our understanding of God's purpose and plan for our lives?  // Join Marshall and Brandon as they start a conversation about heaven and ea...

Jesus hinted at it, mentioned something related to it, and eventually talked plainly about it - He was going to die and rise again. And yet His disciples and others were still surprised by the resurrection and just didn't see it coming. However, the resurrection completely changed their focus and their mission from that point on. Can I say that the resurrection of Jesus has changed anything about...

In this LAST episode of our series in 2 Peter 1, we've moved through Peter's whole list of "ingredients" to become "partakers in the divine life" like faith and love and brotherly kindness and self-control. But after his list he makes sure to remind his audience of the importance of the USE of these ingredients in increasing increments. "Use it or lose it" in our terms. What could happen if we neg...

March 25, 2021 // Finish the sentence: I LOVE _____ so much! Assuming that our answers would be incredibly varied somewhere between "my lovely kiddos!" and "hot dogs at the ballpark!". Such a WIDE degree of answers begs the question: "If we use that word consistently in meaning, then do I love my kids with the same degree as I love that ballpark frank?" WE WOULD HOPE NOT!  // In this episode,...

I'm active, I'm involved, I'm successful, I'm accomplishing things, I'm winning... so why do I feel empty? Why do I feel unmotivated? Why am I exhausted? It's called "Burnout," and if we ever experience it, we almost never see it coming. What do I do when I'm blindsided by burnout?

March 18, 2021 // Kindness is a good thing, maybe even one of the best things. When we show kindness to someone else, it makes them feel good and makes us feel good to. But Peter is more specific here when he says that we need to be more active in showing "brotherly kindness." What's the difference between that category of kindness and "regular" kindness? And how do I know if I'm being brotherly k...

::Sorry for the late start of the stream - we had technical difficulties::  Let's be honest, we would prefer to never experience any difficulties or challenges in our lives. But even if we have to go through hard times, it would be nice to see those experiences coming, wouldn't it? Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with a hardship is that it caught us by surprise. We weren't ready for it....

According to a recent survey, 8 in 10 Americans carry significant debt. Credit cards, mortgages, car loans, student loans - we are a society steeped in debt. But many of us never expected to be carrying the debt load we're carrying. We feel like we suddenly looked up and we owe thousands of dollars to creditors, and we never saw it coming. How do I get myself free from this overwhelming burden? An...

March 11, 2021 // Christians are supposed to be "godly," right? That seems like it's kinda assumed - if you're a follower of God, then you're godly. But there's more to godliness than just saying you believe in God and are trying to be a good person. // Join Marshall and Brandon as we talk about what godliness actually looks like and why Peter said it matters so much.

We have those times in our lives when things seem to be going great - we're moving forward, we're healthy, our relationships seem to be going well. And then - bam! - we get blindsided. Something we weren't ready for derails whatever it was that was going so well, and now we're struggling and trying to figure out what to do next. What do we do when life surprises us?

March 4, 2021 // Perseverance doesn't sound very fun. Choosing to keep going when there's adversity, when things are tough? Who really wants to do that? But Peter tells us that if we don't persevere, if we don't endure hardship, we can't fully experience the life God wants to provide for us. Peter himself struggled with perseverance sometimes though and had to watch how Jesus kept going, even when...

Loneliness was already a real struggle that affected many people on a daily basis, and the covid pandemic has seemed to make the problem even worse. But is it wrong for me to feel lonely? Is there anything I can do about it, or do I just have to try to smile and suffer through it? 

February 25, 2021 // Of all people that maybe shouldn't be telling others to exercise self-control, it would be Peter. The man had ongoing "control issues" - not with wanting to control others but with not always being able to control himself! But after years of walking with Jesus, towards the end of his life Peter recognized that one of the KEY INGREDIENTS to a good life is to learn to maintain s...

Christians aren't supposed to be depressed or anxious, right? They're just supposed to always have peace and joy. But what if that's not my reality? Can I still be a good Christian and struggle with depression? Can I still consider myself to have faith while at the same time struggle with worry? Dr. Karl Wendt shares some special insights that will help us debunk some myths about depression and an...

 

Events over the last year, especially being on lockdown and having to socially distance, have put a spotlight on some struggles many of us are having with certain relationships. Marriage strains, parenting issues, and resentment with certain friendships seem to be on the rise in our communities. It's a real struggle, and yet it's something many of us have a hard time being honest about or seeking...

February 11, 2021 // Peter says that one of the key INGREDIENTS to add to our spiritual walk is GOODNESS. But what does it mean to be "good"? How do I know if I'm being "good" enough? Is there a cap or a limit to how good I'm supposed to be? // Join Marshall and Scotty as they talk about how Jesus models goodness for us and then calls us to embody goodness in our own lives.

While physical ailments can become overwhelming burdens, emotional struggles can be just as unbearable, if not more so. Over the last year we've seen mental health issues like depressions, anxiety, and loneliness steadily increase in our community. Let's take an honest look at some of the motional struggles many of  us have in common and discover together how our God can heal and our church f...