Published July 1st, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:18.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this is mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. -Ephesians 6:18-19
What does it mean to “pray in the Spirit?” For that matter, what is prayer exactly, and what does God expect of us? How does prayer ‘complete’ the full armor of God?
The Armor of God: Prayer Holds It All Together [18:58m]:
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Published June 21st, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-17.
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these,* take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” -Ephesians 6:14-17
Pastor explains how God’s word as an arsenal can defeat the enemy. What versus of scripture do you hold onto in times of need?
The Armor of God: The Sword of the Spirit [28:17m]:
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Published June 16th, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-17a.
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places… Take the helmet of salvation.” -Ephesians 6:12,17a
Lots of tough stuff happens in life. How does God protect us when it seems that all is lost? To give us an eternal perspective on things, God gives us the helmet of salvation, and Dennis Metcalf we’ll talk with us about it today.
The Armor of God: The Helmet of Salvation [35:42m]:
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Published June 8th, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-16.
“For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places… take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” -Ephesians 6:12, 16
It doesn’t take a big flame to start a deadly fire. You can only imagine the damage that flaming arrows could do to someone! God provides us with a shield to protect us from those arrows, but how do we pick it up? We’ll see today.
The Armor of God: The Shield of Faith [27:22m]:
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Published May 31st, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Acts 2:1-21.
“And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” -Acts 2:2-4
Ever feel powerless? Imagine trying to communicate with a huge crowd, all of whom speak different languages! God came alongside the early Christians and gave them what they needed. Is God still coming alongside us today?
Here are the pictures we took of the congregation (after the kids and their teachers left - we also didn’t get any pix of the band, the nursery, or anyone in the Trinity Cafe, but you know who you are!)
The Power of God: Pentecost! [27:26m]:
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Published May 25th, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-15.
“Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” -Ephesians 6:14-15
Shoes? Who cares about shoes in a battle? And what does it mean to put on whatever will make us ready to proclaim the gospel of peace? What’s the gospel of peace and why would I want to tell anyone else about it? We’ll discuss that today.
The Armor of God: Good Shoes, Good News! [24:08m]:
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Published May 17th, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Philippians 3:8b-9 (the Apostle Paul speaking).
“For his (Jesus’) sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as garbage, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God based on faith.”
According to this passage, a Christian’s righteousness is based on faith in Christ and not on buckling down in strict obedience to God’s ‘law.’ Does this mean we need make no effort to live the way Christ taught us by his example? How does ‘righteousness’ protect us?
The Armor of God: Protected by the Shield of Righteousness [20:52m]:
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Published May 10th, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:12-14a.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist… -Ephesians 6:13-14a
If there’s a “day of evil” coming, what good will a belt be? And why is “truth” the first characteristic mentioned in the description of the Armor of God? We’ll look at the way that truth can protect us. We’ll also look at what kind of harm we’re susceptible when we don’t wear the belt of truth.
The Armor of God: The Belt of Truth [26:22m]:
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Published May 3rd, 2009
in Podcast and The Armor of God (2009).
God’s Word for us today is Ephesians 6:10-13.
“Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” -Ephesians 6:11
Hey, I thought you said that evil was defeated on the cross! Well, that’s true, but the devil hasn’t given up yet. The struggle for the hearts and minds of God’s children continues. What is God’s plan to keep us safe and strong? That’s exactly what we’ll be looking at today & through June.
The Armor of God: Where's the Battle? [29:31m]:
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Published April 26th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is John 20: 24-31.
Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” -John 20:27
Thomas doubted and needed to see the scars of Jesus to believe. What doubts are keeping us from believing Jesus fully?
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4.7
Stop Doubting and Believe! [29:56m]:
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Published April 19th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is John 21: 15-19.
Dan Meyerpeter talks about how to love the shepherd and take care of the sheep. Take a listen.
Love the Shepherd, Love the Sheep [24:40m]:
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Published April 16th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 16:1-8
….he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” -Mark 16:6-7
The women have come to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial, but when they arrive, he’s not there! Even after an angel tells them to go tell the good news to Jesus’ followers, they are paralyzed with fear. Can that happen to us too?
Jesus Is Going Ahead of You [26:03m]:
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Published April 5th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 15:33-40.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ -Mark 15:33-34.
Nobody expected the Messiah - the anointed one - to end up on the cross. Even Jesus himself seems to feel abandoned by God! What good can come from such a terrible tragedy? Today, we’ll look for signs of hope for Jesus’ followers.
The Mystery & Misery of the Cross [11:55m]:
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Published March 30th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 3:1-6.
“And [Jesus] said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent.” -Mark 3:3-4
The religious leaders set a trap for Jesus. Would he help a man whose hand didn’t work even on the Sabbath Day? Jesus was pretty upset by their apathy. What will he do? What will the consequences be? What does it mean for us?
To Heal or to Kill: The Price of Grace [26:54m]:
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Published March 22nd, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 2:23-28.
Jesus excuses his disciples for picking grain on the sabbath: “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.” Is Jesus the ultimate rule breaker?
Please welcome guest preacher Nick Zylstra.
Love that Trumps the Rules [22:16m]:
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Published March 15th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 2:18-22.
“Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.’” -Mark 2:19-20
The Pharisees don’t understand why Jesus’ followers don’t fast twice a week. But Jesus tells them that they’re stuck! It’s time for a new way of being with God - they’re in the middle of a wedding feast! Is Jesus calling for something new today? How is he unsticking us in our 2009 lives?
Jesus: New Wine, New Wineskins, and a Big Party! [27:06m]:
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Published March 8th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 2:14-17.
“When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’” -Mark 2:16-17
Jesus spent a lot of time with people who were looked down upon. That caused quite a stir among the religious “in crowd.” Are we still called to reach out to outcasts? And could it mean that Jesus wants to hang out with me too - even though I don’t have it together?
Tax Collectors, Sinners, and Jesus [29:19m]:
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Published March 1st, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Luke 1:1-13.
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.” -Luke 4:1-2
Why would the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into a place where he would be hungry and would be tempted by the devil? Why was he faced with the biggest temptation after being weakened by hunger? What was the goal? How does God use temptation and trials in our lives?
Led into the Wilderness [31:03m]:
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Published February 22nd, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 2:3-5.
Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’
Jesus healed the paralytic in part because his friends had enough faith in Jesus to take the paralytic to him at any cost. Can you think of a time when you moved “heaven and earth” to help someone meet Christ?
Jesus & the Paralytic: the Power of Intercession [13:56m]:
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Published February 16th, 2009
in Podcast.
God’s Word for us today is Mark 1: 40-45.
“Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’” -Mark 1:41
Jesus is confronted by a man with leprosy - an outcast from society - a true untouchable. Jesus chooses to take a risk and cross strict boundaries to show his love for him. Who do I see as untouchables in my world? How can I see them as Jesus sees them? What boundaries does Jesus want me to cross to do that?
Jesus Touches the Untouchable [21:38m]:
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