Mission City Church

The Bible wasn't written with every detail of every story listed. It leaves room for interpretation and meditation on the things it leaves out. It's important for us to make a practice of contemplating on these details instead of rushing past them.

If you've ever struggled to understand the Bible this episode and series is for you! We discuss what biblical context means, general rules for reading in context, and why context is so important for understanding scripture. At the end we even give some helpful resources for you to better understand the Bible.

If you've ever wondered how to pray different prayers or wanted to have some variety in your prayer life, this is the episode for you! We cover multiple ways to pray including journaling, examen, breath and more!

Captured and put into exile, the people of Israel in Jeremiah 29 find themselves wondering what to do next. God gives them a surprising answer - seek the welfare of the city you are in for in its welfare, you will find your welfare. Imagine living in a place that is not your home, surrounded by people who don't follow your God, committing to their good. Maybe it's something we can still le...

According to Todd W Hall's research in the book relational spirituality the three things most guaranteed to produce spiritual transformation are deep long term friendships, suffering, and contemplative prayer. If it's so impactful, why don't we talk about it more? In contemplative prayer we slow down, listen, and are conformed into the image of God.

9  Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.[ a ] 10  Your kingdom come, your will be done,[ b ]     on earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us this day our daily bread,[ c ] 12  and forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from evil.[ d ]

One of the greatest gifts we have as christians is prayer. Scripture challenges us to pray continuously. How is that possible and what does it look like?

Once per year God made a way for the Israelites to fully atone for the sins of the people. This sacrifice included two goats. One goat was meant to be killed to satisfy the penalty of their sin and one goat was to be exiled to satisfy the separation from God their sin caused. Why don't we continue this process today? And who are the goat demons?

Why do we struggle so much to be intentional in relationships? How often are two people both hoping the other will reach out? Maybe we are all just lacking a little follow through. In today's episode we explore what it looks like to follow through and be intentional in building spiritual friendships.

In the book of Ezekiel we find a story of a vision that God gave to the prophet Ezekiel of a valley of dry bones that he brings back to life. God is showing us that He brings dead things back to life. He does that for us when we put our faith in Jesus to restore and redeem us and He also does that when life feels like it's lost its meaning. When life feels dry and lifeless, we have a place to...

As David prepares to die he calls his son Solomon to his side to share with him his final instructions. David reminds Solomon that as long as he and his descendants follow the commands of God there will always be a member of their household on the throne of Israel. David wants his lasting impact on his son to be encouraging him to follow God. We also are all leaving a legacy in the lives of those...

Building spiritual friendships takes time and intentionality. We have to put ourselves out there and risk not getting back what we are looking for. This is scary and can be a painful experience. In part 2 of our conversation we look at how to best share and respond in moments of vulnerable conversation. How we respond and how we are responded to in moments of vulnerability can make or break a frie...

Have you ever felt like the relationships in your life lack something? Maybe you enjoy spending time together and have fun shared experiences but lack a deeper connection. Do you have crucial friendships in your life that push you to grow spiritually? If you find yourself lacking in any of these areas, we are here to help! In part one of our conversation on building spiritual friendship we talk ab...

1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of Godour Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2  To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer  4  or to devote themselves to myths and endl...

2  When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2  Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lordhas sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3  The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lo...

After David's sin with Bathsheba God sends a man to reveal his sin to him. David had been so consumed with his own desires and scheming that he had lost sight of God's commandments. We also get lost in our own lives and plans and forget about the good way of life God commands us to live. We know we won't be perfect, so how do we respond when we know we have sinned against a perfect God...

31  Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:  2  “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’  3  The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lor...

2  When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2  “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,  3  and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you...

1  When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him.  2  So his attendants said to him, “Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.” 3  Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.  4  Th...

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” 57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t kn...

19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid[ a ] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while...

As humans we naturally want to hide or cover up things we have done wrong or make us uncomfortable. This truth goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. This response often leads to even more damage and sin in our lives and those around us.

11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew...

12 The Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a...

11 In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joabout with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out ab...