Renew Communities Teaching Podcast

Our world is full of options. Who to vote for, where to work, what to do or buy or think. These options all hold a promise that if one thing doesn't work out for you then maybe that next thing will. Most of us love to keep our options open just in case. Then Jesus comes along and says I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE which seems to leave no other option. Could that really be good news?

Have you ever felt pressure to do something for God but not really known how to actually accomplish it? Have you ever given your best effort to try and be a better person and still felt like you fell short? In week 6 of the our "I Am" series we discuss how Jesus being the vine solves these problems and helps us understand the real job he's called us to do.

Have you ever said, "If only God would have showed up, I would have what I hoped for." In this message, we take a look at a story where Mary and Martha say the same thing to Jesus. "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died." And it's into this tension, this pain, the darkest moments of life, that Jesus speaks, “I am the resurrection and the life.” We are going to explore what that meant for Mary and Martha and what it means for us today.

Jesus says “I am the light of the world,” but what does that mean for us today. In week 2 of our series we talk about the role Jesus plays in forming us, filling us and pushing back the darkness and what responsibilities we have when when we encounter Him.

How much of what you think about on a daily basis has any long lasting value? Think about what you're worried about right now - will it even matter in 6 weeks? In John 6 Jesus encourages us to seek things that have eternal value instead of the things that come and go. Jesus says He is the Bread of Life and He can truly satisfy our souls.

In 2017, sexuality has become a primary focus and identifier in our culture. As Christians we have to ask how following Jesus affects that in our own lives and what might happen if we allowed our own sexuality to encounter Jesus. In our final week of Love, Sex and the Kingdom of God we dive deep into questions of what makes us human and how Jesus impacts our view of sex, sexuality and desire.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus could possibly be the answer to have a healthy marriage? Could you ever imagine your marriage being an example of what God intended marriage to be? In week 2 of our series we look at what Jesus has to say about marriage, we talk about how knowing more about who God is can help you understand what your marriage could be and we look at practical ways for you to live this out in your marriage.

During the first week of our Love, Sex & the Kingdom of God series we explored what Jesus had to say about singleness and how that teaching can impact the way we live our lives together as a church. Whether your single or married, God works to bring Kingdom impact in every season of our lives.

In every interaction we have God has given us the opportunity to make an impact on the people we intersect with. In week 5 of our Encountering Jesus series we look at how Jesus used his words and actions to empower others to be all that God made them to be and we discuss how you and I can follow Jesus in empowering others as well!

If you're a follower of Jesus you've been called to be a missionary in your everyday life. The primary way for us to do that is through loving our neighbor. Neighboring is a key part of our Renew Rhythm and in week 4 of our series we discuss how Jesus defines who our neighbor is and what it actually means for you and I to love our neighbors.

Have you ever wished you could do the things that Jesus did? Part of the beauty of the Rhythm of Renewal is that you can and the eating rhythm is the easiest way to get started! Jesus loved to eat with people. If you read through the Gospels he's always sitting around a table with people and every single meal ended up changing the life of those who were eating with Jesus. In week 3 of our series we talk about why hospitality is at the center of Christianity and how you could use meals to point people to Jesus.

As we kick off our year focused on Encountering Jesus we're unpacking The Rhythm of Renewal and looking at how Jesus engaged in these practices and how we encounter him as we do as well. In week 2 we see the value that Jesus placed on the Scriptures and how it shaped his identity and direction. We also talk through what keeps us from engaging with the Bible and discuss a little of how to make it a regular part of our lives.

Many of us start the new year with transformation in mind. We want to do, be, think or accomplish great new things. What if the transformation you were looking for is really found in an authentic encounter with Jesus Christ. Join us as we kick off a year long focus on encountering Jesus and hear what Jesus may want to do in you.

The original Christmas story is full of all sorts of appearances and promises from angels. One of the things that was promised was that Jesus was going to save people from their sin. While sin isn't something we generally talk about at Christmas part of what makes heaven and nature sing is the fact that through Jesus the curse of sin can be removed and there will be freedom! Listen as we talk about how you can find this freedom through the Christmas story!

With all the emotions surrounding the holiday season have you ever wondered what the announcement of Jesus' birth is supposed to feel like? Why do we so easily buy into false announcements during the holidays? What does it look like to truly live within the Advent announcement? In week one of our Joy to the World series we discuss these questions and how to find joy in what this season really means.

Have you ever felt like the money you make or the things you own somehow own you? Have you ever wondered why Jesus cares so much about what his followers do with with the money and the wealth they have been given? In the final week of our Be Rich series we look at what ought to motivate Christian generosity, why it can be so hard to be generous and what kind of impact our generosity can have on our own lives.

One of the issues most people have with money is that no matter how much we have we never feel like we have enough. In the 2nd week of our Be Rich series we take a look at how much extra we really have, what we’re doing with that extra and how we can be more generous with what we’ve been given.

Rich people live in denial. They won't admit they're rich. No matter how much you have, there's always someone who has more. You might be surprised to learn that most of us are rich. And one of the dangers of being rich is discontentment. The more you have, the more you want. Wealth has side effects. If you're rich, you're at risk. How do we avoid the pitfalls of wealth?

In our final week of the Rooted series we talked about how God's Kingdom taking root in us as individuals and a church creates a space for those who don't know Jesus to find radical love that welcomes them no matter what. As part of this sermon we discuss how we as Christians should live following the election of our new president and interact with those we agree and disagree with.

This Sunday we held our first worship gathering in our new facility and took a look at how God uses us to help bring Kingdom growth. If you've ever sensed God's call to do something - big or small - but wondered how He could ever work in or through you you'll hear how God calls, how God provides and what it looks like to say yes to the things God wants to do in you, others and the world around us.