Sunshine Community Church's Podcast

Ezekiel 25 Have you ever had a moment when someone picked on your sibling, spouse, or child? I bet you thought something like "hey - I can pick on my little brother, but NOBODY else does!" If we, who are sinful, can think like that, how much more will God, who is perfect, protect his children from their enemies? And he is able to do it even at the same time he is challenging, growing, and refining...

Ezekiel 24  This story is the most difficult of the sign acts God asked Ezekiel to do. It seems cruel and hard to understand, and it is hard to read. At the same time, though, it is a powerful way for God to help his people start to understand his own heart and to begin to think and feel in ways that match him. God is certainly not a human, but he definitely wants us to know that he has a heart an...

Father's Day message from Josh Hendricks on John 5:19-44

Ezekiel 23 Sin is ugly. Sin is insanity. Sin is deadly. And yet, the Enemy of our souls can make it look pretty amazing. Much like an angler decorating a lure to fool a fish into taking the hook, Satan likes to make his plans seem fun, popular, and downright irresistable. The truth is that the only real anitote to tempation is to have our deepest desires satisfied by Someone better. Sin can seem a...

Ezekiel 21-22  The book of Ezekiel tells the story of God's faithfulness and the undeserved restoration he provides to his people in Jesus Christ. In chapters 21-22, God tells Ezekiel to warn the people that the sword of his wrath is coming to them. When we needlessly and callously shed the blood of others, we will face the sword of the Lord, unsheathed for justice's sake. It is far better for us...

Leviticus 5:1-13; Mark 12:41-44 This message discusses the importance of equal sacrifice. We all have different means, motives, and opportunities in our journey as stewards. The real question is how different people on the same journey can still be equal partners in the work of God's Kingdom. This passage shows us that, when we pour ourselves out as a team, we must take turns investing according t...

Acts 2: 1-39 This message commemorates both Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Day. While we celebrate those who give their lives to protect and serve others, we can't help but think of Jesus and how his sacrifice inspires the best in others. The best kinds of stewardship and giving leave freedom for others who live after we are gone. 

Matthew 9:35-10:33 Our mission partners teach us what it means to live on mission in our own neighborhoods. This passage shows us that when we offer ourselves in mission, we do so knowing God has already perfectly met our needs; the lost have nothing, and we have Jesus! 

1 Thessalonians  Stewarding and giving ourselves means closeness with God. When we give of ourselves, it often hurts; it certainly did for God when Jesus went to the cross for us! Real stewardship isn't a reciprocal transaction or investment; rather, it is about a self-emptying sacrifice. 

Romans 12 We talk a lot about the idea that God has given each and every one of his people a gift. Stewardship is definitely about using the gifts he has given us well; but we often overlook the most amazing and precious gift he gave us - ourselves! Every human being is created in the image of God and every believer holds immense value and worth because of what God spent to save us. We don't just...

John 20:24-31; Acts 4:13-31   Our Players in the Passion series concludes with two more players- you and me! The story of Jesus and his suffering isn't meant to live in the rear view mirror - it is meant to keep enfolding and including new believers into the family of God. As we consider the Bible's accounts of Jesus, we need to understand that it was written down for US- we are meant to share the...

John 21  Simon Peter is a brash, bold, and even comical character amongst the twelve apostles. He was often first to shoot off his mouth, and therefore first to be embarrassed, blessed, or exposed for his bad motives. When the chips were down for Jesus, though, he ran. He denied even knowing Christ. In this passage, we see that Christ even saves us from our past mistakes and has the power and will...

John 19:23-42 Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were two secret followers of Jesus. They were inspired by him in private, but were afraid to declare their love for him publicly. Something about the kind of death he died and his willingness to publicly identify with sinners like us changed them, though. In light of Jesus' shameless love for us, secret disciples can't stay secret long! We are called...

John 20:1-18 On the first Easter Morning, Mary Magdalene was the first of Jesus' followers to encounter the risen Christ; she was frightened, but her fear led to utter joy and relief when she finally understood the miracle God had done. Jesus sent her to tell others- he has been comforting and commissioning witnesses like her ever since! 

Luke 23:13-43 This message discusses Barabbas and the two criminals who were crucified alongside Jesus. They were all "bad guys," but they also all represent you and me! We deserved the robber's death, but Jesus took our place.

Luke 2: 6-12, John 18:28-19:16; 10:17-18 This message focuses on some of the villains in the story of Jesus' Passion. The Jewish king and the Roman governor were people with vast wealth, influence, and power in that part of the world and in that period of history. Herod and Pilate had power to sentence Jesus, and they were used to using their power on a whim. However, they didn't have the divine r...

Hebrews 2 This series studies characters in the betrayal, arrests, trials, torture, execution, and burial of Jesus of Nazareth. The first main character is Jesus himself! Jesus' unique qualification for his saving role make him a perfect Savior and compassionate high priest for us; he is supreme and unparalleled!

1 Peter 1:3-12 The term "Passion of the Christ" refers to his sufferings and death; we will be studying about Jesus' characters in the biblical accounts about him. These vantage points help us to envision the world-changing character, love, and grace of the most arresting personage in the history of the world: Jesus of Nazareth.

Matthew 25:31-46 In the book of Matthew, Jesus shows us we will not only have to give an account of our own lives but also the deeds we have done for others. Jesus shows us that God's commissions are real and come in a body just as he did. We must follow Jesus by coming in the flesh to the world.

Guest Preacher - Josh Hendricks Revelation 20:11-15. Do you have any books you would recommend as must reads? In Revelation God shows us there are two books we should be intensely interested in: the book of our deed, and the book of life. It is important for us to recognize that this life is being recorded, in minute detail, including the motives of our hearts. What does it take to have your name...

Acts 2:42-47 This message concludes our "Music of the Spheres" series focusing on intentionally sharing our faith. We believe this will happen most consistently when we take the message out to our community and connections, and commit ourselves to seeing others for Christ.  

Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Acts 8:26-40 Not all of us travel regularly, but most of us will find ourselves on the road every now and then on a vacation or trip. Often, we check out and hide out, enjoying the rare opportunity to be anonymous or more self-focused. But what if God has other ideas about our vacation or business trip? What if we could enjoy a break from our normal routine, while also staying o...

Acts 18: 1-4; Ephesians 6:5-9 Christians often have a love-hate relationship with the workplace. Biblically, we see that work is created to be good, and that God made us to be fruitful and influence others with the work of our hands. The place where you work is fertile ground for outreach; it takes some discernment and planning, but the office holds a rich harvest!

Luke 20:45-47; Acts 17:16-21 A lot of life happens in the marketplace. We certainly shop in person less now, but we still have the option to use a human-operated check out late at the grocery store, get to know our barber/stylist, remember the name of that office administrator at our doctor's office, and ask about the kids of our mechanic. The truth is that when we shop, we sort of have a captive...

Psalm 78:1-8; Joshua 24:14-24 The first sphere of influence is the womb, and the home comes shortly after! We need to protect and nurture life and faith in our own homes before we can be credible and effective in sharing into other spheres. Each household needs to have a clear sense of where its loyalties lie and who is the King and Head of the household. Jesus loves our families, and he desires t...