Restore Church Podcast

Resist the temptation to conform to the world! To be transformed from the inside out means to look more like Christ. To look more like Christ means as believers we will look less like the world. We are guaranteed a counter-cultural life! Yet, since Jesus is who He says He is, we know He can be trusted and every promise is set in stone. With Jesus, we don't fight for victory; instead we fight from...

Whether you are single or married, you have the daily opportunity to display the love of Christ to everyone you meet. Singles honor God by praying specific prayers and seeking the will of the Lord. While those within a marriage covenant reflect Christ's love for His church, as they walk in obedience to Ephesians 5.

Within the marriage covenant, two people become one in every way. But what happens when the two individuals still act on their own selfishness within covenant? The security, honesty, and healing is jepardized inside of what was designed to be a place of refuge. 

Be careful which voices you listen to! As 1 John 4 encourages us, test the spirit to see if the counsel you are receiving is from the Lord. Knowing the difference between the voice of the enemy and the voice of your allies is key. The voice of an ally will help you master sin before sin masters you! 

How will you respond if your life doesn't progress like you hoped? How will you respond to trials and even tragedy? Both of these questions draw out the heart of the believer and where their true faith and hope rests. If you never achieved one more thing, would you be satisfied with Christ and where he has brought you?

Over the past 10 years, the Lord has shown His favor towards His church. We have seen miracles, baptisms, and so much more! As time progresses, we will continue to strive to be the church of Acts 2:42; devoting ourselves to the teaching of scripture, fellowship, commuion, and prayer! 

In Matthew 22, Jesus shares the two greatest commandments: (1) Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and (2) Love others as ourselves. How do you know you're committed to loving God? When you delight in serving the Lord, our desire to please Him in word and deed continues to deepen. We begin to grow in Christ-like love towards His people. We can't help but share his love with others!      

You need "Rooftop" friends! As the Lord leads you, you need to be surrounded by friends who  encourage, correct, and help you get into the presence of Jesus! Just like the friends of the paralyzed man in Mark chapter 2, be a friend that gets people to Jesus by any means necessary. 

Everyday, human beings find new things to be worried about! Whether it be finances, relationships, or even the future, we have a constant internal battle for control of timelines and outcomes. Matthew would remind us in chapter 6 that God has promised provision for every need to believers who simply surrender control and seek the kingdom of God first!

BE CAREFUL! Honor is rare when familiarity is high. When we become all too familiar with Jesus, we are blind to who Jesus truly is and to his mighty hand moving!

In John 15:11, Jesus' purpose for sharing His words of life is for every believer to obtain FULLNESS of joy! Not a fleeting happiness or some kind seasonal contentment, but a lasting joy that doesn't come from our circumstances. This is a joy that peacefully rests completely in the hope of Jesus Christ!

In the midst of all the chaos, King Jesus comes to provide a peace that goes beyond human understanding to guard our hearts. Will you make room for peace? Where there is a temptation to store vengeance, conflict, and offense, choose to allow the Lord to fill your heart with peace and allow it to determine every thought, word, and deed.

"Other men see only a hopeless end, but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope."- Gilbert M. Beeken As followers of Christ, we have a hope that is both present AND future; going beyond the grave. If all you have is hope in God, you have all you need and more in this life!

Suit Up and Boot Up! In Ephesians 6, Paul implores every believer to stand against all manner of evil. Often times as followers of Christ, we can think we have the strength to fight the flesh and the wickedness around us. Yet, it is only through putting on the full armor of God that we receive the strength and power to fight!

Are you being protected by the full armor of God?! In the beginning of Ephesians 6, Paul says it is not enough to stand firm against all evil. In a world filled with deception and wickedness, we must also daily pursue truth and righteousness in the fight for peace!

When we choose to follow Jesus, we choose to follow Him into battle. The constant battle between flesh and spirit will either create an opportunity to lean on God's strength or discourage and completely debilitate us. Paul suggests that the only way to stand firm in the battle is by putting on the whole armor of God. Are you ready for battle?!

Scripture says "to know good and not do it is a sin" (James 4:17), but what do you do when your flesh is weak?! How do you combat the urge to satisfy fleshly desires? In Romans 12, Paul would say a key component is being fervent or passionate in spirit; relying fully on the power of the Holy Spirit in the face of temptation!

In Paul's writings to the church at Ephesus, he deals with relationships of all kinds. In chapter 6, he points the believer to God's relationship to man. Paul encourages every believer to recognize God's care and plan even in the mundane things. Thought obedience to God, service to others, and leadership, God longs for us to not only be good stewards, but also to love like Jesus!

Paul addresses the relationship between child and parent in Ephesians 6:1-4. How do you raise your child up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord? Well, Paul would say there are responsibilities for both the child and the parent. Children have an obligation to obey their parents. Yet, the parents are called to love, lead, and make disciples!

In Ephesians 5:28-33, Paul emphasizes the importance of marriage and how to love your spouse as Christ loves the church. Pastor Marc points out many main ideas from this passage including: the self denial and serving within marriage, God's original design for intimacy, the reflection of Christ and His church within marriage, the gift of marriage, and the love of God on display inside of marriage.

In Ephesians 5, Paul lays out the biblical framework for the relationships we have here on earth. In verses 25-30, Paul encourages husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church! Loving your spouse sacrificially and beneficially creates a beautiful connection and intimacy that reflects the love Christ has for his bride, the church.

Paul fleshes out the biblical instructions for relationships in his letter to the church at Ephesus. In today's culture, the western world will find the instructions for wives to be offensive; while the non-western world will find instructions for husbands to be offensive. Paul begins with the instructions for the wife in Ephesians 5:22-33 encouraging wives to submit to their husbands as their hus...

WATCH YOUR STEP! In Ephesians 5:15-21, Paul encourages every believer to watch how he walks in the light. A believer's walk is a testimony used to share the gospel AND an avenue to connect to the body of Christ! Whether it's in singing, thanksgiving, or surrender, the body of Christ is strengthened when it unites under one sound!

Michelangelo once said the sculpture was already inside the marble, he just had to chisel away what didn't belong. In Ephesians 5:11-14, Paul says our lives are meant to do the same thing: reveal what's real by exposing the emptiness of darkness. When we walk in the light, our lives become evidence that God's way is better, drawing others to Him.

We live in a world full of competing voices, narratives, and agendas and one of the hardest things we face is knowing what's actually true. Ephesians 5 reminds us not to be deceived by empty words but to walk as children of light, pursuing what is good, right, and true. This message calls you to examine what you believe, where your influences come from, and whether your life lines up with God's tr...