Port City Community Church Podcast

Our default setting is to try and get as much as possible while giving out as little as we can, which can make us feel like we're constantly trying to protect our interests. But in this struggle, we might miss out on the real power of selflessness. We tend to see denying ourselves anything as oppressive, fearing it might make us seem less valuable or restrict our freedom. But really, holding o...

In a world driven by demands and fixations on the self, Jesus' invitation to embrace the cross stands as profoundly counter-cultural. Embracing the concept of "Jesus equals life" is indeed a blessing, yet it entails a profound calling. Our concerns often obstruct the path to the life that God intends for us. Only through denying ourselves can we become and remain truly available. Jes...

Entering into "messy" conversations with our kids can feel scary. We want to say all the "right" things, and we want to be able to answer any questions they might have. The reality is that  we rarely feel prepared! That is why we are SO excited to tell you about a resource from our church called " Walking Together !"  Walking Together is a book collection designed to...

In the journey towards stability, Jesus, in Matthew 7:7-8, offers a simple yet profound directive: Ask, Seek, Knock. It's not a formula to apply but a call to commit ourselves to truly "seeing" by following Him. Jesus isn't handing out principles; He's elevating the importance of reconciliation. Stability, it turns out, is all about proximity to Jesus. Our stability hinges on...

We need to live with attentiveness to what is happening in our inner worlds.  We have to do routine gut checks and learn to take inventory of our motives.  We should take “snapshots" and allow ourselves (and others) to see what’s happening. The words of Jesus challenge us to confront the messiness of our hearts. At its core, this spiritual expedition calls for a focused examination of our mot...

Jesus introduces a radical reorientation to others—the way of grace and enemy love, extending beyond the first mile to the second. He calls us to take sin and fidelity seriously, emphasizing a commitment to a life that transcends the superficial and embraces the depth of grace. In this transformative perspective, stability isn't a product of our achievements but a result of embracing the count...

In the profound teachings of Jesus, we find a challenge to rethink the foundations of our control. Stability, a sign of maturity, is built on trust—a foundation supporting the weight of our hopes and emotions. What we rely on for security reflects our trust. True stability, found in Christ, brings peace in all circumstances. Fulfilling Christ's purpose means living as His people, navigating ch...

Epiphany is the moment of revelation when something becomes seen or unveiled. Similar to a light bulb moment, it's not about comprehending everything entirely but understanding something in a way that transforms your perception of everything else. The profound impact of encountering Jesus is emphasized, as he is described as the light of the world who entered darkness, making previously unseen...

This Christmas Eve we celebrated the gift of Jesus as Emmanuel, God with us. Join us in listening to this Christmas Eve message.

This year, we are inviting our church to participate in the Personal Retreat Experience. The Personal Retreat is titled "Between Chapters: Honoring Endings + New Beginnings." The Personal Retreat is designed in two parts to thoughtfully reflect on 2023 and to turn the page and look ahead to 2024. Each part has 5 sections. So, to help set a pace through this experience, we will guide our church thr...

Joy is the opposite of cynicism, and if we can't find joy, we're likely to become cynical. Being in the presence of God brings a profound sense of joy. Joy isn't indifferent to our emotions, but it's not just about how we feel in the moment. When we receive joy, we need to be open and ready for it. It's like adopting a posture that lets us take in all the good things from God....

Jesus came to restore what was stolen. He declared, "I don't give peace the way the world does," challenging our worldly notions of peace. We'll uncover the key to experiencing true peace - one that passes our understanding and offers hope and healing to our troubled souls. Peace is not contingent on external circumstances, but on who He is.

Jesus doesn't come to whisk us away from life's challenges but instead walks alongside us in the midst of them. He entered into not only our mess, but also the messiness of humanity and our broken world. The very name "Immanuel" means God with us, signifying His abiding presence as the source of hope. During this week, we’ll explore the dichotomy between a "Hope for" me...

We are so excited to celebrate Christmas together! 🎄 To learn more about our Christmas Eve gathering times & locations on Sunday, December 24th, you can head to www.portcity.church/christmas . For this season, we are trying a new audio podcast of our Christmas-themed devotions. We hope this can be a new way to help you engage in your relationship with God through scripture, reflection, and pr...

Your unique part matters, and it matters greatly to the whole. In the context of a church, the story we tell is not just about doctrines or rituals; it's about the lives of each member making a collective difference. When a group comes together, leveraging their lives for a common purpose, the impact is nothing short of profound. It's a symphony of diverse talents, passions, and gifts, all...

We often overlook a paradox—the ability to leverage our hardships, failings, and weaknesses to draw us closer to God and make an impact for the Kingdom of God. Leveraging the hard stuff means not just enduring it but embracing it. It's about naming our sufferings and sharing our failings, for it's in this raw honesty that allows for healing to take place and hope to spring up. We often run...

We often forget that the sum of who we are—our time, gifts, work, resources, personality, and every facet of our existence—is a divine provision. But here's the catch: God's provision is never meant to end with us; it's meant to be shared for the benefit of others. Why, then, do we so often doubt that we have anything worthwhile to offer the world around us? It's because we hold a...

Our impact is most profoundly felt in the everyday, ordinary moments. We don't have to wait for grand gestures or dramatic events to make a difference. Instead, we have the privilege of offering God our actual, lived lives -- our mundane routines, small acts of kindness, and ordinary conversations. Our identity in Christ is the starting point for us to recognize our potential. It's not abo...

God desires us to have a harmonious relationship with our finances, for it not to be a master over us but a tool we utilize to declare our trust and dependency while making choices that honor Him. Yet, this can only occur when we're willing to do the hard work and get gut-level honest about defining our relationship with money. Financial stewardship is not just a practical matter but a profoun...

Money isn't just currency; it's a window into the depths of our souls. It has an uncanny ability to expose the very core of who we are. When we peer into the mirror of our financial choices, we often find a reflection that might surprise us. Money unveils the condition of our hearts in a tangible way. It exposes our fears, our insecurities, and our trust issues. Our financial habits showca...

Entering into "messy" conversations with our kids can feel scary. We want to say all the "right" things, and we want to be able to answer any questions they might have. The reality is that we rarely feel prepared! That is why we are SO excited to tell you about a new resource from our church called " Walking Together !" Walking Together is a book collection designed t...

If money were a person, what would your relationship with them look like? Would it be a strained, complicated bond or a healthy, thriving connection? Fear can create distance, avoidance can lead to neglect, and pride and arrogance can strain our finances like a bad breakup. Discontentment can keep us constantly chasing more, and selfishness can turn us into emotional spenders. These money struggle...

A meal is a family space. At the table, you’re treated like family. Showing up to the table requires preparation - to consider yourself in the context of others.  The table reflects both our belonging and our invitation to belong.  A meal is a common space and a leveling space. At the table, we experience the reality of what we have in common. It is both an abundant provision and a declaration of...

Unity is one of the most widely accepted ideas, yet it is also one of the most challenging to put into practice. There are growing pains associated with learning to trust and be trusted. We value others for their sense of belonging and acknowledge their contribution to the whole. Mutual concern is what propels unity forward. We face struggles together; when we observe someone going through a tough...

The world needs the Church because that's how Christ designed it. Therefore, we must strive to become the kind of church Christ envisions. We reside in a world that has been greatly worn down, causing us to view trustworthiness as a high standard when, in fact, it should be a fundamental aspect of our humanity. We are responsible for nurturing a sense of belonging as we support one another in...