Adventurous Living - The Meadow Springs Community Church Podcast

Putting on your clothes in the morning takes on a whole new meaning. Could you use help from Stacey & Clinton?

Two cultures. Two ideas of how things should be done... and they are on a collision course.

Jesus is the crux of the Christian message and the crux of the problem for those who oppose it. Not much has changed in 2000 years and unfortunately, "In Jesus' name" are fightin' words.

When Jesus left the earth, the presence of God moved from being NEXT TO us to IN us. This is a game changer, for sure. The Spirit of God is now given not just to prophets and kings or folks tasked with a special job, but it is given to all people. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world and in all people's hearts and lives and circumstances, pointing them to Jesus and calling them to faith.

What we do in this life echoes in eternity. Much like the ripples that go out from the point where a child has tossed a pebble into the water... those ripples intersect with others and so on. When Jesus Christ created His church, He dropped a stone in the water and there have been ripples. Whether they reach the shore remains to be seen.

In the eyes of the world, the end to our story - the greatest story ever told - just might seem too good to be true.

"Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea The Great High Priest whose name is Love Who ever lives and pleads for me." Soak that in.  Jesus is always interceding on our behalf. Because of His strong and perfect plea and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, the Father in heaven looks at us and says, "Because of what my Son has done for you, you are free to go, and I give you all the things in heaven."

When death tries to swallow the Author of Life, death can't contain it...  doesn't understand that darkness cannot stand in the face of the Bringer of Light.

It was a clear and majestic declaration, yet no words were spoken. And now we say, "Rejoice, our King is here."

Most of us won't be giving our lives for Jesus Christ in an epic, "going out in a blaze of glory" sort of way. We will lose our lives for Jesus in all the little things that seem like nothing, but really are everything.

Caearea Philippi was not a friendly place in the minds of the Jewish people. In fact, it was the "Sin City" of the ancient world, yet Jesus took His disciples there. Did even those 12 men, loyal followers of Jesus, need to decide once and for all to what and to whom they were giving their lives?

Finding a home full of brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. My name is_______", they say. "And if you ever need_______". We cannot be the family of God without other people. Fill in the blanks.  

It isn't a myth or cleverly told story. It is a first-hand, personal and life-changing encounter that ignited the hearts of people to follow Jesus.

Are you an evangelist in your own church? Are you sold out for God's Word or do you just tip-toe through its pages? Do you dive in for the feast of a lifetime or do you just nibble around the edges and leave hungry? 

He redeems. He provides and He protects so that we can live in community with one another practicing love, faithfulness, generosity, justice and mercy.

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Old Testament. If we think "I've got to do all these things and do them this way", we'll never get it right. Jesus tells us He will instead fulfill the law. God knows we aren't capable of perfection and He promises to cleanse our hearts of flesh and provide for our ultimate redemption.

"You tell the truth... but not the whole truth," Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well. Why such a gentle approach? Because His purpose was to highlight her pain, not her sin. Jesus wanted to expose her real need - she thought she needed water to drink; but He knew that her thirst was much deeper.

Where Adam failed, Jesus succeeded. Where the nation of Israel failed, Jesus succeeded. Friends, where you and I have failed, Jesus has succeeded and He, the One undefeated by temptation, is our champion and our hope.

There's one problem with Christmas. We gear up, decorate, sing the carols, exchange the gifts then take down the decorations, put away the gifts and go on as before. For all the drama and festivity surrounding it, does the birth of that little baby - the Christ child - make any real difference in our lives?