La Porte Church of Christ Podcast

What makes a king good… or bad? In this episode, we examine the lives of kings like Josiah and Ahab to discover that God’s evaluation isn’t based on power or success—but the heart. A powerful study on faithfulness, influence, and responding to God’s Word.

In a world that was rapidly descending into corruption, one man chose a different path—Enoch walked with God. In this sermon we explore the remarkable life of Enoch, the prophetic pattern hidden within the genealogy of Genesis 5, and the powerful testimony about him in the New Testament. His life reminds us that even when the world is walking away from God, it is still possible to walk faithfully...

In this lesson, we explore the danger of falling into comfortable ruts in our spiritual lives. Using Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Luke 11:1–13, we consider how something once extraordinary—walking with God—can slowly become ordinary through routine, familiarity, and complacency. Just as wagon wheels settle into deep ruts that determine the direction of travel, our habits and expectations can quiet...

Is your faith flowing like a river or sitting still like a reservoir? In this lesson from John 7:37–39, we explore the difference between a faith that merely receives and a faith that moves, flows, and pours into the lives of others. Through biblical examples such as Noah, who was moved by faith, and Jesus, who was moved with compassion, we are reminded that true faith is never stagnant. When our...

In this sermon, Spiritual Enigmas: Puzzling Mysteries of the Human Heart, we examine several spiritual contradictions that reveal the condition of our hearts. Through the teaching of Jesus and the wisdom of Scripture, we explore how self-examination, proper priorities, and genuine devotion can resolve these mysteries and draw us closer to God.

Life often feels like a table full of scattered pieces—moments of joy, seasons of struggle, unanswered questions, and unexpected turns. In this lesson, The Master’s Puzzle, we explore how God uses every piece of our lives for His purpose and glory. Through Scripture and illustration, we are reminded that what appears confusing to us is never chaotic to God. When we trust the Master and follow His...

In this lesson of Asking for a Friend, we explore one of Jesus’ most intriguing statements in Matthew 10:16: “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” What did He really mean? How can Christians live with discernment in a hostile world without compromising purity or love? Join us as we examine the balance between spiritual wisdom and moral innocence, learning how to remain faithful sheep under...

In this lesson from the Book of Ecclesiastes, we explore the timeless question: Is the grass really greener on the other side? Drawing from Solomon’s reflections on life “under the sun,” we examine how comparison steals contentment, how chasing more costs peace, and why true satisfaction can’t be found in changing circumstances. Ultimately, Scripture reminds us that God never promised greener gras...

Truth in the Midst of a Confused Culture draws from Acts 17 as we walk with Paul onto Mars Hill and watch the gospel confront a world full of idols, philosophies, and competing truths. In this lesson, we explore how Paul’s stirred spirit, thoughtful reasoning, and bold proclamation of Christ model for us how to speak truth with compassion and conviction. You’ll be challenged to see your own “Mars...

In this Asking for a Friend lesson, we tackle one of Scripture’s most challenging questions: Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart—or did Pharaoh harden it himself? Walking through the account in Exodus, we examine the biblical pattern of resistance, mercy, and judgment, discovering that God did not override Pharaoh’s will—but ultimately confirmed him in the path he repeatedly chose. Along the way, we ex...

Living in the Substance In this message from Colossians 2:6–14, we move from seeing Christ as the fulfillment of God’s promises to learning how to live daily in that truth. After tracing God’s plan from shadow to substance, this lesson challenges us to be rooted, built up, and established in Christ—guarding our hearts from empty deception and resting fully in the completeness we have in Him. A pra...

This lesson explores how obedience doesn’t always lead to easy roads, how midnight reveals the heart, and how God still uses suffering to bring salvation. If you’re walking through your own “midnight,” this lesson will encourage you to trust God, lift your praise, and believe that He is still working behind locked doors.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 18 of 18 In this concluding lesson of the Shadows to Substance series, we trace God’s unfolding plan from Old Testament shadows to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:22–24, we confront a timeless question: even after God has revealed His Son, what are we still seeking? This message challenges listeners to move beyond signs, wisd...

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 17 of 18 Blood in Scripture is never symbolic alone—it is essential. This sermon examines how the blood of the Old Testament foreshadowed the power, purpose, and permanence of the blood of Jesus.

In this episode, we explore Jesus’ powerful words in John 4:19–26, where He reveals that the Father is actively seeking true worshipers. Worship is more than a place, a routine, or a religious act—it is a life surrendered to God in spirit and in truth. Drawing from Scripture and practical application, this lesson challenges us to examine our hearts, refocus our worship, and become the kind of wors...

Discipleship was never meant to be safe, predictable, or boring. In this episode, we explore The Adventure of Discipleship through Mark 1:14–20, walking with Jesus as He calls ordinary people into an extraordinary life of faith. From leaving nets behind to embracing a transformed purpose, this lesson challenges us to move beyond comfort and truly follow Christ. Join us as we consider what it means...

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 16 of 18 Water in the Bible is never just water. In this lesson, we follow the flow of Scripture to see how God used water as a shadow of cleansing, salvation, and new life—fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 15 of 18   Marriage is a picture God painted long before Christ came. In this lesson, we uncover how marriage points beyond itself to the sacrificial love, unity, and faithfulness Christ has with His church.

In this episode, we take a careful look at passages often used to describe Satan’s origin—particularly Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, and Luke 10:18. By examining context, language, and biblical imagery, we ask an important question: are these texts teaching truth about Satan, or have tradition and assumption shaped how they are commonly understood?

In this lesson from John 13:35, we examine Jesus’ defining mark of true discipleship—love for one another—and see how the early church lived it out in Acts 2 and Acts 6. This sermon challenges us to ask whether our love is visible, sacrificial, and strong enough to make Christ unmistakable to the world.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 14 of 18 In this lesson, we discover that Canaan was more than a destination—it was a preview. Get your Bibles ready as we trace how the Old Testament promise of the land points forward to the eternal rest and hope found in heaven through Christ.

This lesson explores Song of Solomon 2:15, using the imagery of “little foxes” to warn that relationships—both marital and spiritual—are rarely destroyed by one great failure, but by small, unchecked compromises that quietly erode faith and devotion. Through vivid biblical imagery and practical illustrations, we are urged to guard what is most valuable by confronting sin and desire early, before s...

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 13 of 18 In “From Shadow to Substance: God’s People – Israel & the Church,” the sermon shows how Israel served as God’s chosen shadow, preparing the way for the church—the fulfilled people of God in Christ. Through Jesus, God’s promises are completed, forming one holy people defined not by heritage, but by faith, obedience, and new birth in Christ.

A Better Year Begins With A Better Walk challenges us to move beyond temporary resolutions and pursue real spiritual transformation through a renewed walk with God. Rooted in passages like Philippians 3, Ephesians 5, and Romans 12, this “Sermon & Song” calls us to leave the past behind, redeem the time, surrender fully to Christ, be transformed in mind, and finish the year—and life—faithful to...

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 12 of 18 From the temporary priesthood of Aaron to the mysterious pattern of Melchizedek, this lesson reveals how God used shadows to prepare the way for something greater. Jesus Christ is shown as the final and perfect High Priest who fully removes sin and brings us near to God forever.