Intersections Podcast

Do you have a hard time fitting in? As Christians in today's world, it has become increasingly more and more difficult to belong in a society and culture that is agnostic. If you take your faith seriously, you are going to be a bit of a misfit in this country.

When a person truly understands just how much he/she has been forgiven, it will create a love for God that mere religion never will. Those who are grateful for God’s grace are not just moved emotionally, they are also eager to serve Jesus.

“If the kingdom of God is here why is the world still so messed up?” Why are there still evil leaders, terrorists who bomb, abusers who traffic kids, crazies who shoot up schools, and bigots who spew hate if God is sitting on the throne? If God’s rule is a present reality, not just a hopeful expectation why does the world seem to be getting worse, not better? Let's find out together!

Many of us are familiar with Jesus' words, "Do not judge," yet often we stumble in trying to understand exactly what those words mean. For thousands of years, followers of Jesus have debated and clashed over exactly what we can or cannot say and do when it comes to fellow men and women. We will begin to unpack those three controversial words in the context of Jesus' stories, and we will discover a...

Victory over envy? How can we focus on our own blessings rather than the blessings of others? Let's find out!

Do all rich people go to hell? Or do all poor people go to heaven? We live in a world where the chasm between "the haves and haves not" keeps growing wider and wider. Are we aware of this? Do we care? Do we see those who are in need? Are we willing to meet not only their physical but also their emotional and social needs? These are not easy questions, but for our own sake and others, we must ask t...

Matthew 13:45-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”    All those who choose to accept and live under the rule of Christ are part of the kingdom of God. The blessings of being in the kingdom of God are unequaled. Those who take hold of this treasure enjoy the b...

It might be tempting to think that the human race is basically good and just needs a tune-up. Eat healthy, exercise more, read some good self-help books, and maybe correct a few mistakes, and we are good to go! The only problem with that is it is a complete lie from Satan. The world is broken. People, on their own, are completely helpless to save them from themselves. We will look at parables that...

“The Prodigal Son is one of the most popular parables of Jesus, perhaps because we all can find ourselves in the characters presented. This story powerfully illustrates God’s love and concern for the lost and his care of the saved. Come join us as we look into the mirrors of our own lives and come face to face with overwhelming love.”

Luke 11:9-11, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” God does hear, He does care, and He will respond. Is there a guarantee the response will be the one we desire? Nope. But, we can be assured his response will b...

We don’t love to be saved; we love because Christ saved us. We don’t love to get into the Kingdom of God; we love because it is the Kingdom of God's way of life. How do we love our neighbor as we love ourselves? How can we love others as God loves us?

Very few things grab and hold our attention like a story. “Apart from personal experience, stories are the quickest way to learning.” An effective teacher will work hard to find the right story to tell at the right time, because of the power it has to shape understanding. No teacher has ever used story better than Jesus. He told stories that entertained, shocked, mystified, and enlightened His lis...

The Light, Jesus Christ, shining among us, in us, and through us is absolutely necessary to bring out the beauty of this diverse family. For this reason, it is so important to keep our focus on Jesus. It has been said that if you focus on Jesus you will get unity while a focus on anything else will inevitably end in division. It is not easy for we are so different - ethnicity, personality, income...

Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let ANY unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” It is so important that we do not use unwholesome language! But, do you know who is hurt more than the unwholesome language? The Spirit of God living inside of us.

How does misusing the name of God hurt others? If we do not use God’s name with reverence it can lead others to believe that God is not one who needs to be taken seriously or who deserves to be honored; that He can be treated as common, ordinary, rather than set apart. How can we ensure that we do not misuse God's words and His name for our own sake?

What do you want to be when you grow up?” Many of us heard this question in our childhood and probably had dreams of being a pro athlete, a firefighter, or a doctor. What did God create you to do? How can you fulfill that calling to benefit the expansion of God’s Kingdom? Let's explore these questions and the powerful ways that God empowers each person with the skills they need to glorify him as w...

We all lie. Not only do we lie, but the vast majority of us also lie about being liars. How pervasive is lying in our society? On average, a typical 10-min. conversation 60% of people tell two to three lies. Robert S. Feldman, a psychologist at the University of Massachusetts, who is responsible for these findings, said, “People tell a considerable number of lies in everyday conversation. It was a...

“Love – Are you sure you know what that means?” It is very hard to follow an instruction that is unclear.  Some (or all) of us have a very hard time following instructions that were written in a foreign language and then translated into English by a person whose native language is not English.  Three different words are translated as “Love” in the Bible and they are not synonymous. &nbsp...

The word “restless” in the original language paints the picture of a caged animal that is pacing back and forth just waiting for the opportunity to be let out so that it can go after some unsuspecting prey. James wants us to know our tongue is no different than that animal. Yes, it may be caged in at the moment, but don’t be lulled into thinking it won’t strike given the opportunity.

How we use our words is a matter of great interest to God. So, for the next few weeks, we are going to look at what The Word has to say about our words. Words have power and control in our life, Proverbs 18:21, "The tongue has the power of life and death." The words we choose and how we use them, however, will determine whether or not we actually reach the destination. Let's all find out how we ca...

"You 've been canceled!" In our current cancel culture, people are stingy with second chances if they are willing to give them at all. Canceling people who have unpopular views has been going on for a long, long time, and the cost of it is so high. It can be the knock-out punch to a career, a reputation, or a relationship. If you think you can bounce back quickly from being canceled...

Have you ever been railroaded? Do you ever feel at the moment that God is in control? Most of the time we don't. Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” How can good come out of a railroad job? Find out now!

This final prayer of Jesus reminds us that we have a purpose in this world. A purpose that is far greater than simply making money or a name for ourselves. What is that purpose?

What did the last final 7 days of Jesus look like here on earth before he came to the cross?

As hard as we strive to live a good life, there will be times when we fail. We will lose our cool, say something inappropriate, engage in sinful behavior. When that does occur we need to own our wrongdoings, ask for forgiveness, and commit to doing better. Whatever you do, don’t let Satan sell you on the lie that there is no hope. God is calling us to "Live On Mission" a mission to make disciples....