Speaking of Grace

WholeLife Church Retreat 2023: This year's speaker is Georgia Cumberland Academy Chaplain Josh Woods, who will share a message of how Jesus invites us to "Follow Me...Just as You Are." This episode contains Friday night's message from Josh Woods. This year's Church Retreat was held at Camp Kalaqua from March 24-26. #WholeLifeRetreat #ThisIsWholeLife

Holy Encounters: Reasonable Doubt - Melanie Bockmann In this series, we look at three "holy encounters" when Jesus doesn't act like Jesus (or at least like the Jesus we might expect). This week, we will talk about how Jesus responds to a key moment of doubt from one of his own. What’s your reflection on this message? Reach out to us with your questions and comments using the information below: ■ T...

Holy Encounters: Sibling Rivalry - Melanie Bockmann In this series, we look at three "holy encounters" when Jesus doesn't act like Jesus (or at least like the Jesus we might expect). This week, we will talk about Jesus' favorite people. What’s your reflection on this message? Reach out to us with your questions and comments using the information below: ■ Text/Voicemail:   407-965-1607 ■...

Holy Encounters: Table Manners - Melanie Bockmann In this series, we look at three "holy encounters" when Jesus doesn't act like Jesus (or at least like the Jesus we might expect). This week, we will talk about Jesus' table manners.. What’s your reflection on this message? Reach out to us with your questions and comments using the information below: ■ Text/Voicemail:   407-965-1607 ■ Ema...

Follow Me: The Inclusivity of the Call - Ken Wetmore Jesus’ call to follow is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor, as demonstrated by his conversation with Mary and Martha. Jesus called sex workers,, tax collectors, fishermen, and many others who, according to tradition, served Jesus’ mission in ways unique to them–but all were part of the movement forward. What’s your reflection on this message? R...

Follow Me: The Cost, Part II - Ken Wetmore What happens when the cost is too much? What happens when Jesus asks for something that we think is too precious to give? Many of us look at the story of the rich young ruler and write the young man off. Jesus didn’t. What is impossible for humans is still possible for God. This week’s #WholeLifeReflections: What is your greatest earthly treasure that if...

Follow Me: The Cost, Part I - Ken Wetmore Jesus pulled no punches when it came to the cost of following Him. Unlike some preachers today, Jesus made it clear that earthly comfort and riches are not the results of following Him. This week’s #WholeLifeReflections: Why do you think Jesus wants us to count the cost of following? What does “Jesus first” look like in your life? What are the things the m...

I'm On My Way to the Canaan Land - Furman Fordham, Jr. Salvation is both delivering out of (justification) and bringing into (glorification), which like the Hebrew’s journey from Egypt to Canaan, includes being taken through (sanctification). Strange things happen, however, as we are going through—things like yearning to return to Egypt. But praise God, another strange thing that happens as we go...

Follow Me: The Response, Part II - Ken Wetmore Bartimaeus shows us that we can claim Jesus’ gifts before they are given. As Jesus brings healing to us, our hearts overflow with gratitude, and we follow Him down the road. This week’s #WholeLifeReflections:  What is your favorite road trip you have ever taken? What made it your favorite? Where is your focus? Is it on the destination or is it on...

Follow Me: The Response, Part I - Ken Wetmore Phillip demonstrates that when Jesus calls us to follow Him, the natural response is to tell others what Jesus has done for you and invite them to “come and see.” This week’s #WholeLifeReflections asked:  What products/ideas/friends have you shared with others recently? How does Jesus make your life better and you better at life? How can you invit...

Follow Me: The Called - Anderline Bredy Jesus called disciples from many walks of life. Perhaps the most surprising was Matthew, a reviled tax collector. As Matthew later retells the story, he recalls that Jesus said He didn’t come to call the righteous to follow Him, but sinners. Jesus accepts sinners and turns them into followers. What’s your reflection on this message? Reach out to us with your...

Follow Me: The Invitation - Ken Wetmore Jesus invites us to follow Him. He invites us to reimagine the use of gifts and talents. As we follow Him, we achieve far greater things than we would have on our own. This week’s #WholeLifeReflections: If repentance is “to turn away from what we are doing and embrace what God is doing wholeheartedly what God is doing wholeheartedly,” have you repented? What...

ARISE: Reflections 2022 - Ken Wetmore The end of anything is the beginning of something new. What lessons from this year will you take into 2023? How has God arisen in your life during 2022? How have you chosen to arise this year? On the final day of 2022, we’ll reflect on the goodness of God. Reach out to us with your questions and comments using the information below: ■ Text/Voicemail: &nbs...

Send your lessons learned, how God has arisen in your life, and how you have chosen to Arise during 2022! Ken will choose one of your submissions from the podcast responses and read it during 1st or 2nd service on 12/31/22! We will read all responses with permission on next week’s This Is WholeLife podcast and pass along any confidentially you wish! Send your response via text or voicemail to 407-...

Arise to Christmas: Arise to an Unexpected Savior - Ken Wetmore Sometimes we find the greatest love in the most unexpected places. Surely, as the shepherds, magi, and others viewed Jesus, they must have felt surprised that Israel’s Messiah was a helpless baby born into a poor family. However, this is how God loved this world, He gave His only Son so that anyone willing to embrace the unexpected wi...

Arise to Christmas: Arise to Unexpected Opportunities (The Innkeeper) - Ken Wetmore The replacement of fear with joy is one of the great messages of Christmas. The Innkeeper denied himself joy while the shepherds embraced it. This Christmas, choose joy. Our #WholeLifeReflections:  What is the difference between happiness and joy in your life? Think of a time or times you have found joy unexpe...

Arise to Christmas: Arise to Unexpected Challenges (Herod) - Ken Wetmore God has a way of disrupting our plans and expectations. Those disruptions are an opportunity to choose between two paths: Peace or Violence. This Christmas, arise to peace even when unexpected challenges come your way. Our #WholeLifeReflections:  What makes you angry? What is the fear behind the anger? Are any of your fe...

Arise to Christmas: Arise to Unexpected Decisions (The Malingering Magi) - Ken Wetmore Throughout the Christmas story, we encounter people who are called to arise to faith. The Magi is one of the greatest examples of this. They exhibited faith by believing the Scriptures and following a star to Jesus. They showed their faith through the gifts they brought. They acted in faith to leave by a differe...

Arise to Christmas: Arise to Unexpected Blessings (Elizabeth & Zechariah) - Ken Wetmore Jesus' first Advent was foretold by prophecy and was the hope of Israel. Zechariah and Elizabeth longed for the Messiah but also ached for a child of their own. Little did they know that, even after they had given up hope for that child, God had not forgotten them. In meeting their longing for a child, God...

Arise to Thanksgiving - Ken Wetmore It's Thanksgiving, so it's that time of year when we count our blessings. However, is the way we usually count our blessings the full extent of what God means when the Bible tells us to be thankful? Is it possible God is calling us to arise to a fuller expression of thankfulness? Our #WholeLifeReflections this week were both so crucial to the message that we inc...

Dangerous Worship: Dangerous Living - Ken Wetmore Living a life of service is an act of worship. What do we risk if we go “all in” and follow Jesus’ example of being a servant to all? What stood out to you this week? Let us know by reaching out with any of the links below! ■ Text/Voicemail:   407-965-1607 ■ Email:   podcast@wholelife.church SUBSCRIBE NOW:  This Is Whole Li...

Dangerous Worship: Dangerous Expressions - Richard Hickam How many of our senses are we allowed to use in worship? What do we risk when we push our comfort zones and allow worship to happen in creative new ways? This week’s #WholeLifeReflections asked: What is appropriate/inappropriate for worship for my family? What were some of the dangerous expressions of worship in the Bible? Is there an expre...

Dangerous Worship: Dangerous Community - Tami Cinquemani  Who should be allowed into the community of worship? What do we risk by holding a large, inclusive picture of God?"  This week’s #WholeLifeReflections asked: What lies have you allowed yourself to believe that have caused a separation in your relationship with God? What lies have you allowed yourself to believe about others that have...

Dangerous Worship: Dangerous Desire - Ken Wetmore What is taking God’s place in our lives right now? What do we risk by allowing God to be the greatest desire of our hearts?  This week’s #WholeLifeReflections asked: What is the most dangerous thing God has asked you to do? How did it turn out?? How do you make worship more than a church service? What does God like about how you are worshiping...

Great Question: What Is the Kingdom of God? - Ken Wetmore Jesus says, "it is like . . ." and then tells a parable. Scripture says, "It's in you,” "It's among us," "It's coming," and "It's here," so what does Jesus mean when he says, "the Kingdom of God?” This week’s #WholeLifeReflections asked: Go to biblegateway.com and type in quotes, “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven.” Read through the ve...