Springville Church of the Nazarene's Podcast

In this sixth letter to the churches, Jesus had no words of confrontation for the Christians in Philadelphia. He commends them for their obedience, allegiance and endurance. This letter is full of hope and encouragement to Christians today if we too, will remain faithful. What doors has God opened before you and will you be faithful to go through them?

This letter from Jesus to the church in Sardis is a "Wake Up!" call to a sleeping, dying church in a city that, by the end of the first century, was often nicknamed "The City of Death." Pastor Mark teaches from the historical, geographical, and biblical setting about the curse of, the cause of, and the cure for a dying church. Don't miss this!

Jesus has more words of commendation for the church in Thyatira than any other of the churches. However, his words of confrontation are equally as strong. A very clear correlation to the church today, Jesus warns that it is not the time for compromise but it is the time for commitment. It's time to "Gear Up, Gird About and Grip Tight!"

In Jesus' third letter to the churches in Revelation 2:12-17 He addresses the church in Pergamum. In a city where "Satan has his throne....where Satan lives," Jesus commends them for their steadfast allegiance to His Name. Yet, not everything was right with everyone. There were some in the church who had compromised their loyalty with idolatry and immorality. Pastor Mark brings the...

The second letter from Jesus was addressed to the church in Smyrna, called the "Jewel of Asia" by Alexander the Great. Perhaps the key verse is Revelation 2:10 - "Do not be afraid...be faithful." Being a Christian in Smyrna was more perilous than living in any other city in the Roman Empire in the first century. From the pen of the One that best understands what it means to be...

In this first of His seven letters to the churches, Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus, commending them for their deeds, determination, and doctrine. "Yet, I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." Don't miss this heartfelt and passionate plea to remember, repent, and return to the passion and enthusiasm of our early relationship with Christ!

In this introductory lesson from the book of Revelation, Pastor Mark teaches verse by verse through the first chapter of Revelation. This teaching lays the foundation for the future study of Revelation 2 through 3 and Jesus' letters to the churches. Revelation 1:3 promises: "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what...

This is the third and final in a series on Home Improvement. The answer to so many of the world's problems begins in the home and these lessons have turned our minds back to God's blueprint. This week the incredible responsibility of parenting is covered with concise scriptural instructions. The study of Deuteronomy 6:1-15 will encourage and challenge parents, grandparents and any who ha...

The second lesson in a three part series deals with scriptural guidance and encouragement for wives. I Peter 3:1-6 offers clear instructions on how a wife is to demonstrate submissive attitudes and actions toward her husband.

Yes, God does have a blueprint for how husbands are to live with and react to their wives and it is clearly laid out in Scripture. Working from the foundation of "mutual submission" Pastor Mark teaches from Ephesians 5:21-33. As you listen you will discover five key ways how a husband demonstrates submissive actions toward his wife.

Guest speaker, Doug Bartlett, explores Hebrew 12 and how the Christian runs the race of life. A fitting lesson in/around the 2016 Summer Olympics, you will be challenged by Doug's inspirational thoughts from these key verses in Hebrews, as well as other scriptures that liken our Christian lives to an olympic race.

Guest pastor, Lon Heighton, teaches from John 4 and Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well.

Did you know that our life experiences - spiritual, painful, educational, and ministry experiences - all work together to "shape" us into the unique, significant individuals we are for God's glory? In this final lesson in the series, we learn how God uses our various life experiences to teach us to trust Him, to build our character, to help us to minister to others, and to accomplis...

Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified Bible) tells us: "Train up a child in the way he should go..." Literally, that Hebrew phrase is "according to his/her way." One translation uses the phrase: "in keeping with his/her bent." The truth is, we are all "bent" differently. We call it our personality, or temperament. By God's design, we all have differing dispositions...

The third lesson in the series Shaped for Significance, deals with our God given abilities. When we specify our talents/skills and then allow the Lord to sanctify them to His service, our lives become vibrantly useful to Him and all those around us.

Continuing in the series Shaped for Significance this lesson helps us discover how our heart's desires can actually be as unique to us as our fingerprints. As we learn to detect and define these heart passions and line them up with God's Word we will find our lives full of the joy and fulfillment God intended.

God uses these 5 things to SHAPE each and every one of us: Spiritual Gifts, Heart (Passion), Abilities, Personality, (Temperament), Experiences (both good and bad). In this first lesson we study the "S" - Spiritual Gifts. Paul in I Corinthians 14:1 encourages us to "eagerly desire spiritual gifts". As a Christian do you know what your gift/gifts are? What is a spiritual gift? H...

Just like we expect a child to "grow up" - to mature - so we should expect that a disciple (God's child) would grow up, spiritually. In fact, the Bible tells us that we are all to mature and become like Jesus Himself. Who He is and what He does is who we are to be and what we are to do. This practical lesson deals with HOW we pursue maturity in the Lord.

Why should I become a "member" of a local church? What is required to become a partner here at Springville Church of the Nazarene? Is membership really biblical? What's the big deal, anyway? In this second lesson in the series we take a fresh look at Our Story, Our Statements, Our Strategy, and Our Steps as it concerns membership - what we call "partnership" in the local f...

#1 of 3 in a mini-series of lessons on the life purpose of "discipleship." A true disciple chooses to follow the Master, Jesus, learning from His instruction and following His example in all he/she does, says, and thinks. In this lesson we learn about "covenant" - how God has established a "new covenant" with all humankind and how we may enter that covenant relationsh...

Many, many questions arise on the subject of "Giving" - the "offering," of the time in our Sunday worship when the bag/plate is passed and we drop in our tithes and offerings to the Lord and His Church. For sure, the mention of "giving" elicits all kinds of "attitudes." This Bible lesson takes a closer look at our our attitudes toward giving.

An in-depth Biblical explanation of What, Why, When and How of water baptism. With so much confusion about baptism in the Church today, this lesson focuses on what the BIBLE has to say about this essential subject.

To "Admonish one another" (Colossians 3:16), or "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15), is caring enough to confront. What are some biblical and practical do's and don'ts for this mutual admonition? Learning how to speak the truth in love to one another is a vital part of really loving one another.

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you" (Romans 15:7). In this 6th lesson in this "fellowship" series, we look at what "acceptance" really is and is not. Then, we give some suggested steps to help us begin to be more accepting of those who are different than us. Grab your Bible, open to Romans 15:1-7, then give a listen as we grow together.

Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." So, how do we put this into practice in our everyday relationships? Jesus told a story in Matthew 18:21-35 that helps us to understand this important "one another" more fully. Don't miss this practical lesson on a topic that touches the lives...