People's Church Arnold Podcast

In the Christmas story there are many different aspects, and characters. Today we will look at the forgotten people. Who are the forgotten people of our world? The people who are behind the scenes who make the everyday essential things happen. So many of these people are nameless and even forgotten but they are important. Scripture Text: Luke 2:8-20 

Mary with an unspeakable joy sang the first song of the Incarnation. Critics have alleged because of the greatness that this song could not have been sung by the young Mary. It is too theologi­cal, too poetic, too beautiful, but they underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to empower a willing vessel. Mary’s song, is like a beautiful woven tapestry of Scripture. Scripture Text: Luke 1:46-56

The announcement of the arrival of John the Baptist who would be the forerunner of Jesus is an important part of the Christmas story. Zachariah and Elizabeth were godly people who feared God, but there was one primary source of disappointment in their lives. Elizabeth had never been able to bear children, and in her culture that was considered a disgrace. However, they never stopped believing and...

When we think of the disciples we think of very special people, but they were men with many faults. In this passage we see that very clearly. We are seeing pride rear its ugly head. Unfortunately, it raises its head in all of us at some time. Scripture Text: Matthew 18:1-14

Grace—God’s grace is one of the most beautiful words in any language. In Luke chapter 7 we meet an unnamed woman. She had an understanding of grace that few people have. Living in a day were grace rarely showed its face; having been transformed by grace she captured the meaning of grace. Scripture Text: Luke 7:36-50

Living right begins with right thinking. Thinking on this earth is horizontal or human thinking—we need vertical thinking which is God thinking. We need help to think like God. Scripture Text: Matthew 16:21-28

Moses went to meet with God at a place called the tent of meeting where he could talk things over with God. As Moses went out, the Israelites stood by their own tents and watched to see what would happen. They eagerly watched as the glory of God come down in a pillar of cloud. As soon as they saw that, they knew their mediator was meeting with God. Even after the debacle of the golden calf God sti...

Paul has prescribed the essential spiritual armor and weapons to fight this spiritual battle. Every New Testament writer talks about the spiritual warfare. We do well to heed their warning and prepare ourselves in the manner Paul instructs us. Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:18-20  

As you think back, there are probably some good friends over the years with whom you have had some memorable shared experiences. God places special people in your life during different stages. It was that way with Paul because Tychicus was a good friend put in Paul’s life at just the right time. It is remarkable the bond that grows between friends as you are sharing the gospel on the front lines....

Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:17

Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:15-16

Spiritual battles are being fought all over this earth.   The Apostle Paul introduces us to his perspective on spiritual warfare. Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:13-14  

Today in our world most people believe the Devil is an imaginary character. There is no widespread belief in a supernatural powerful being that is against all that is good. Shockingly, many Christians are influenced by this kind of thinking even though they say they believe in the Devil they do not live out their lives with that belief. Paul's biblical worldview is that we are in the middle o...

The biblical view of work is very positive. Work is where we earn a living and express our skills and talents. We take satisfaction from having done a good job. We do our work as unto the Lord. We may work for a company, but as Christians, we know our work ethic is to God. He gave us the job and the ability to do it, so we do our very best. In doing our best, the company benefits. The skill and ab...

Despite what our world tells us today having children is a blessing that will bring wonderful dividends. Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:1-4

Paul talks to us about our time. He exhorts us to be good stewards of our time and see that we spend it wisely not foolishly wasting it away. Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:15-21  

Because we are light, we have a huge responsibility in the world. How are we who have been transferred from darkness to light to live? Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:8-14  

Christianity has by far the most exalted sexual ethics of any religion. The New Testament charges us to pursue purity. How were the Ephesians supposed to navigate in such a sinful city that had complete acceptance of sexual perversion? Today the same thing exist and there is animosity toward anyone who does not agree. They were supposed to follow Jesus’ example just as we are. Scripture Text: Ephe...

Often times we think the work of the Spirit is to empower us to exercise one of the nine gifts that Paul mentions so that we will be a witness for Christ. We would not be wrong to think this is all. However, the work of the Spirit is much more . It is involved in the sanctification process or our maturity and growth as a Christian. The greatest work of the Spirit is to produce the fruits in our li...

The Apostle Paul talks to the Ephesians about their clothes, but not the ones on their bodies, but the ones on their souls. In this passage Paul tells us what we need to put off and what to put on. It is the wardrobe of the redeemed. Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:17-24

In a day when the church grows from anything to featuring celebrities to sports personalities to jumping on the latest trend, whether biblical or not, church growth can mean many different things. Paul however, in his letter to the Ephesians gives the church the principles for spiritual growth. He explains how God grows a church through living out the gospel in unity.   Scripture Text: Ephesians 4...

When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians he was in a Roman prison. He does not call himself a prisoner of Rome or Caesar but of the Lord. Even though he is in prison, he attributes his present circumstances to the Lord. Remarkably, his attitude reflects his understanding of God’s sovereignty and power. Scripture Text: Ephesians 4:1-6  

The letter to the Ephesians is an explanation of what the Gospel is and, if believed, what it does in our lives. How it changes us in every way. This epistle also describes the church's role on this earth and our commitment to it. Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:14-21  

To us today the word mystery conjures up the idea of something unsolved. That is what we think of in regards to a mystery, but, in New Testament Greek the work musrerion means something which is beyond natural knowledge, but has been opened to us by divine revelation . Scripture Text: Ephesians 3:1-13

Scripture Text: Ephesians 2:19-22