Skip to main content
MCC Podcast

MCC Podcast

By Miamisburg Christian Church

Weekly Messages from Miamisburg Christian Church
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

"Serve"

MCC PodcastOct 24, 2017

00:00
26:57
Which side of Hosanna are you on?

Which side of Hosanna are you on?

This Sunday I will be sharing about what happened on that first Palm Sunday (although they would not have called it that). The occasion was Passover Week, a time when thousands of Jews from all over Palestine made their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem.


This event was the remembrance of the story we read in the book of Exodus of the Jews leaving their slavery in Egypt for the promised land. And it was one of the Annual Feasts that all Jewish males were required to attend regardless of where they lived.


Now the usual population of Jerusalem was approximately 30,000 people. But each year at Passover, thousands of Jews would come to the city. The estimates of visitors range from 150,000 to 2-1/2 million.  


And in the midst of this crowd Jesus rides into town on a donkey. And the surprise is, you may find yourself in that crowd. I’m looking forward to sharing that.

Mar 25, 202427:07
How Can I Be Sure I Will Go to Heaven?

How Can I Be Sure I Will Go to Heaven?

This week John wraps up his letter to the early church by addressing a question that they had in the first century that many people still do today.

How can I be sure I will go to heaven?

It’s important that we get this because it is vital to our spiritual emotional well being. Disciples of Jesus can be sure of their eternal life.

John is wrapping up his letter with this 1 John 5:13-15 (NIV): I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Just how secure is our salvation? This topic seems to cause a lot of anxiety, especially for those in the church. This Sunday Mike will talk about why it does and what John says about how we can be sure.

Mar 19, 202431:48
Almost Truth, Isn't

Almost Truth, Isn't

This Sunday as we look at 1 John 4, I am going to remind you of something I’ve said before: almost truth, isn’t. This week I get to share what John says about false teachers and the truth. And this will impact us and God - us and each other - and others and God. That’s a lot! Here’s why this is so important: if you don’t know what the truth is, almost truth sounds like it. It sounds like something Jesus would say. It sounds like something the church should be all about. It’s almost truth. But almost truth, isn’t. We need to know what God says. We need to know what the culture is teaching. You need to know what you and your children are learning from the shows you watch. All of us are being discipled. We need to be aware of who is discipling us and our family. It was a problem in the first century church. And today.

Mar 12, 202430:48
From Enemies to Family: True Love Means More

From Enemies to Family: True Love Means More

What is love, baby don’t hurt me.


Joking aside, love is one of those words our culture loves to throw around. We use it as a description of our enjoyment of a good cup of coffee, or how great a meal is. And at the same time use the phrase to describe our deep affection for a spouse, a friend, or a family member. To say the word “love” has been muddied in our world is an understatement.


So I’ll ask you again, What is love?


Well, John, the apostle of love, paints a picture of what true love is. Echoing the lifestyle of Jesus himself John shows us that true love is shown by our actions and honesty with one another.


This week Eric will unpack what that means for us as a body of believers who are called to love one another well.

Mar 04, 202430:07
Jesus defends those who belong to Him

Jesus defends those who belong to Him

Did you know that you can confess, repent, and be forgiven, all from the comfort of your own home? I found a sight called Absolution Online and you begin by selecting a category (some sins occur in more than one section): -10 Commandments -The 7 Deadly Sins -Internal Sins -Physical Sins -General Sins I also found an app called Sincerely - Off My Chest. It seems that people want to get things off their chest. So they publicly acknowledge things like: -I removed the book jackets from trashy novels so that I look more sophisticated. -I think I’m racist. -I’m the anonymous caller who told your boss that you’ve been stealing. One author said, “Like some of our readers, I’ve never personally asked God for His forgiveness, but recently I’ve come to realize that most of us, religious or not, seem to be indulging in some form of confession on a pretty regular basis.” Religious or not, we feel the need to get something off our chest. This week I’m looking forward to sharing what John says about sin as we look at 1 John 2.

Feb 27, 202428:37
Why is community important today?

Why is community important today?

This week I get to kick off our series on the book that we call 1 John. This book is actually a letter written by John. I don’t know if you know this, but Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James, two of the 12 apostles, the Sons of Thunder. You can find where Jesus gives them that nickname in Mark 3:17. It seems that it may relate to an incident when a town rejected Jesus and they wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy it. You can find that story in Luke 9:53-54. My guess is that you grew up with kids in your neighborhood or at your school who could have earned that nickname. My brother and I were called the “Most Destructive Kids On The Block” but that’s another story. I tell you that because when we get to this letter of John toward the end of the New Testament, John is now called The Apostle of Love. The Son of Thunder became the Apostle of Love. That’s what Jesus can do in your life. As we look at how John encourages us through what he wrote to the early church, you will see that he weaves threads of relationship, authenticity, love, and truth throughout his words. I’m looking forward to walking through this with you.

Feb 20, 202433:06
You Have a Spot at the Table

You Have a Spot at the Table

Let me tell you 3 things I know about your decision to follow Jesus, without knowing your story. You had already heard the message, probably. It wasn’t like someone came to you in your 20’s or 30’s and said to you, “Jesus died on the cross for your sins” and you responded, “What? He did what? Are you kidding me?” There are a few, but for most of us the message wasn’t new. And it wasn’t simply the message. It WAS the message, but it WAS ALSO the messenger. There was something about THAT person combined with the message combined with your current circumstances. You. Whether you see it or not. Whether you are ready to accept it or not, you have been and will continue to be perfectly positioned by God, because of who you are and the experiences you’ve had, to be the person God wants to use in someone else’s life to help them follow Him. In our Journey series we have been reminded that disciples of Jesus are following and being changed by Jesus. This week I get to remind us what it means to be committed to the mission of Jesus.

Feb 13, 202430:49
Beyond Baptism: Being An All In Disciple

Beyond Baptism: Being An All In Disciple

This weekend we will be looking at one of the very things that has perhaps caused people to struggle with church; they have seen too many whose lives often don’t match their words. Did you know that last year we helped 53 people make their commitment to Jesus through their baptism? Which is great. But we all know that making that initial commitment to Jesus is not the finish line. It’s actually closer to the starting point of our faith journey. And when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, there is a decision we make once, about making Jesus Lord of our life. Now to be sure, we need to recommit to that daily, to remind ourselves and Jesus of Who He is in our lives. And that calls for an initial change of our lives - that is what Rich hit last week. But there is another change that happens for the REST of our lives. It is a spiritual growth that is designed to continue as long as we breathe. Just like we expect to grow physically, we expect to grow spiritually. Does that make sense? The problem that many outside the church have with people who go to church isn’t that they make their commitment to Jesus through their baptism. The problem is that too many stop there. This week, Mike will be speaking about how our faith journey includes “being changed by Jesus.”

Feb 06, 202431:40
How To Be A Dedicated Follower Of Jesus

How To Be A Dedicated Follower Of Jesus

We kick off a new series this week called Journey and week 1 is all about being a follower of Jesus.

Feb 06, 202432:25
Holiday Field Guide: Disillusionment

Holiday Field Guide: Disillusionment

This Sunday, in our Holiday Field Guide series where we are looking at how to survive the holidays, we will be looking at how to survive disillusionment. This is a significant issue for many of us at MCC and in our culture, especially around the holidays. Sometimes we get so caught up in the lights, gifts, and even the pace of Christmas that we don’t notice that there are others who, quite frankly, are a little disillusioned about faith because of those things. This week Mike will take us back into the passage we looked at last Sunday to guide us through why Joseph dealt with being disillusioned and what he did about it. And what we can do about it ourselves, as well as help others, today.

Dec 11, 202328:09
Holiday Field Guide: Family

Holiday Field Guide: Family

It may be fair to say that most of us have never been lost in the woods….but picture it: you’re lost, you have no supplies - no food, no water, no shelter. What would you do first? Where do you begin? How do you figure out what is safe? Sounds like you need a field guide! A field guide is basically a manual for identifying natural objects, flora, or fauna in nature. It can provide survival tips and tactics, and show you what is safe to eat, what you can use for shelter, navigation, etc. This series will be a field guide for us - to show us how to navigate the holidays. We’ll look at how to navigate relationships, our emotions, our thoughts, our choices, and our faith so that we stay on course and don’t end up “lost” in the busyness of this time of year. This kind of field guide will help us keep Jesus at the center of this Christmas season. This week Josh will be talking about family. Navigating the terrain of family relationships during the holidays can be treacherous - we’ll be looking at 3 character battles you’ll want to seek God’s help to fight (and win) to successfully navigate this Christmas season! We’ll be looking for direction from Matthew 1- the story of the journey Joseph and Mary took together to be used by God to bring about the birth of Jesus.

Dec 04, 202340:02
The Heart of Generosity

The Heart of Generosity

I think when most people think of generosity, they think of a specific act. Somebody had an unexpected expense. They can’t afford to get it fixed. Somebody hears the news and swoops in to save the day. The bill is paid and life is back to normal because someone wrote a check! Is that generosity? I’d like to think that, yes, that was generous. But does that one act paint the picture of what God says generosity is through His Word? I would submit that a single act of generosity can be displayed without a real heart change. You see, that is what God is up to. As He shapes our hearts to reflect His character, He is trading us a “heart of stone” for “a heart of flesh” Ez 36:26. This week Rich will walk us through a look at the things we should see in the life of a disciple that is being changed by Jesus. Paul talks plainly about them as he concludes the first letter to the Corinthians.

Nov 27, 202337:12
The Power and Purpose of Communion

The Power and Purpose of Communion

The church in Corinth was like other churches in the first century in that they met at night and had a tradition of gathering for a church fellowship supper prior to their worship service. Apparently their pitch-in dinners provided not only an occasion for fellowship but gave the wealthy a chance to share their abundance with the poor. That might have been the best meal some of the slaves and unemployed members would have all week. Then, after the meal, they had a worship service and served communion. But over the course of time, as often happens, what was intended for good deteriorated into irreverence. The rich got tired of waiting for the late-arriving slaves who worked until sunset, so they just ate early leaving only the scraps for the poor. Others got to bickering among themselves over who really ran the church and they split up into separate cliques that always ate together. Some drank so much wine at the fellowship meal that they got drunk. When the worship time came they were so inebriated that the Lord’s Supper was meaningless. And while we don’t tend to have those problems, there is potential for a problem today. Perhaps you’ve experienced it: Communion can become just another thing we do without really thinking about why we do it or why it’s so important. This week Mike will be sharing how Paul reminds us why, how we take communion, is important to God.

Nov 20, 202337:09
Spiritually Gifted for a Purpose

Spiritually Gifted for a Purpose

As we prepare for this weekend, I want to remind you that Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, which he started, about problems that they are experiencing that are causing divisions in the church. One of the divisive issues concerned spiritual gifts. This Sunday, I am going to completely encircle what Eric was talking about last week. He gave the central message when it comes to spiritual gifts, the heart of the message if you will. When it comes to gifts and/or worship, the heart of the message is the heart of the believer. Love must sit at the center of ALL we do. I want to pause for a moment to reflect on applying what Eric said this past Sunday. As I write this, Issue 1 has passed in Ohio. That breaks my heart and I believe breaks God’s heart as well. As we respond to this with people in conversation, or on social media, we must do so in a way that does not sound like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1). Our goal is to help people see Jesus in us so they will be drawn to Him. It doesn’t mean we don’t speak truth, but we do it in a way that reflects His grace. Have the first conversation with people in such a way that you can have a second conversation with them. This week we will see that the church in Corinth is confused about spiritual gifts. They are using spiritual gifts to make much of themselves. They even see spiritual gifts as a litmus test of spiritual maturity or even spiritual power and it has created rivalries that are tearing the church apart. Look above to be reminded of what we are calling this series. It still happens today. This Sunday I’m looking forward to sharing what Paul was saying and how it plays out here at MCC.

Nov 13, 202329:57
Love Should Shape Our Speech

Love Should Shape Our Speech

Have you ever noticed that there are just some people who give you their opinion and have no concern about how others feel about it? Or maybe you know someone who is spot on with their beliefs, but how they communicate it isn’t the most kind? Perhaps you know someone who is faithful in volunteering, but they are doing so for the wrong reasons. This week Eric will remind us that our primary motivator as disciples of Jesus should be love that comes from the outpouring of us receiving the generous love of God. And as love motivates us we become reflections of Jesus to a world in desperate need of him.

Nov 06, 202323:09
What Role do Men and Women Play in the Church?

What Role do Men and Women Play in the Church?

The roles of men and women are possibly as misunderstood today then any point in history. Instead of searching for what is socially acceptable or agreed upon by the majority, let’s take a look at what God was doing by design. Genesis 1:27 says, “In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” This week Rich will remind us that as Image Bearers, it’s clear that we are to reflect something, or better said, Someone. God knows us too well to leave our roles undefined. He is clear in scripture. The problem is our execution. We will take a look at the ways God calls us to live this out in our divinely unique roles.

Oct 30, 202341:57
Fighting the Battle Against Temptation

Fighting the Battle Against Temptation

I’ve made a big deal out of the fact that Corinth was the home of the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. And that had a HUGE influence on the morals of the city.


But I’ve also mentioned that it was a port city, so they had access to trade and tourism and became a place where different lines of thought and philosophy flowed through; all kinds of ideas from around the world about different gods to worship and how to live your life. As you can imagine their culture was filled with temptation. Just like ours.


This week we will be reminded of some “hard to hear” truths about temptation and some promises that God makes to His children about when temptation comes your way.

Oct 23, 202330:34
What Maturity Looks Like

What Maturity Looks Like

If someone is looking for a church, what should they be looking for? If you have ever moved into a new city and you’re looking for a church, maybe you’ve asked that question. What is that set of criteria? I’m wondering how many of us have even pulled out a piece of paper and written down a set of criteria that you’re looking for. That allows you to not be driven by feelings, but by a well thought out answer. For others, perhaps you’ve gone with how you’ve felt. Maybe you were encouraged, challenged, or were yelled at. Some of us have never asked this question. We’re going to have Paul help us answer that question this weekend. And in all fairness to the text, it’s not the question he’s answering, but it’s in his answer to the Corinthians question that we’ll find the answer to ours.

Oct 16, 202328:35
Wisdom in Freedom

Wisdom in Freedom

When you hear the word freedom what do you think about?

Soldiers?

America?

The right to do whatever you please?


Freedom is one of those words we love because it largely benefits us. But what happens when our freedom becomes a stumbling block for others? How can we set aside our freedom so that others might grow?


This week Eric will help us uncover what it means to set aside our freedom so we can experience what true freedom in Christ brings.

Oct 09, 202327:18
God's Design for Intimacy in Marriage

God's Design for Intimacy in Marriage

Last week Paul addressed how sex in the Corinthian culture was influencing the church (rather than the church influencing the culture). This week Paul addresses sex inside marriage. What he is talking about in chapter 7 answers one of the questions they have written to him. And it may surprise you, but God actually has a lot to say about the subject of sex. Now it shouldn’t surprise us because God thought it up, and He thought it was a good idea. This is an area where most of us agree with God. The problem is, God’s voice on this subject is often distorted if it’s listened to at all. We are inundated with images and messages about sex all the time in our culture. And we’re not sure we want to hear about it at church, but again, God has a great deal of wisdom to give us. We’ll see that this weekend.

Oct 02, 202328:57
Does Porn Really Hurt Anyone?

Does Porn Really Hurt Anyone?

I hope you have been enjoying our walk through the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. One of the advantages of sitting in a book like 1 Corinthians is that you get more of a feel for the background of the people and why they are doing what they are doing. We also get to be reminded that what was true for/about them is true for/about us. I had a guy come up to me in Kroger one time and say - “Hey, you’re that preacher at the church aren’t you? You are darn funny!” Except he didn’t say darn. I didn’t quite know what to do. So I said, “Thanks.” Is it ok for me to admit that I love that? I don’t want to be a part of a church that is full of sanitized, mature believers; nor the opposite, a lot of immaturity. There needs to be some growth and maturity going on, and Paul recognized this. I think at times you and I need to be reminded of it as well, that growth is a process. Sometimes we need to grow up. And sometimes we need to grow young. We’re all in process, regardless of where we are with Jesus, but at the same time we shouldn’t excuse away prolonged immaturity. They were relatively new Christians trying to figure out not only how to follow Christ, but also how to be a church. That’s a very difficult thing and so they were struggling. They were wrestling with some of their former ways of thinking. Paul is trying to correct that. One of the areas they were confused about was sex. So we’re going to talk about that this week and next week. I’ve made a big deal out of the Temple to Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love, being in Corinth. In chapters 5 through 7 Paul talks to us, through what he writes to them (and again, keep in mind they are new to church) and in these chapters his primary focus is sexual immorality. This past Sunday, in chapter 5, we saw one of the issues that was tied to it. The next 2 weeks we will see that sin connected to sex was not just one person’s problem. And I will remind you that what was true of their culture is true of ours. This week I’m looking forward to walking through what Paul said about what is happening in our culture. I’ve asked Mark Graham to join me as we look at the impact porn has in our homes and what it has to do with sex trafficking.

Sep 26, 202344:56
Navigating Judgement in the Church

Navigating Judgement in the Church

This week Paul will talk about judging others. So let me ask 3 questions:

Do you like to be judged?

Have you ever judged someone?

Is it ever appropriate to judge another person?


Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” That’s from Matthew 7 in case you want to look that up because there is more to that teaching.

Our culture is constantly saying we shouldn’t judge.


But did you know that Jesus also said - “Be sure to do what the Pharisees teach, but don’t follow their example because they don’t do what they teach.”


That sounds kind of judgmental.


If you are wondering about this, this weekend I get to share what Paul writes as he lays out for us the principle in chapter 5 that Jesus demonstrated for us in His life for us about judging others.

Sep 18, 202329:41
Who do we follow: 1 Corinthians 3

Who do we follow: 1 Corinthians 3

This Sunday Eric will continue our conversation around unity as we dive into 1st Corinthians chapter 3. 

As Paul addresses the “who do you follow argument?” happening in Corinth, he reminds the church that he, Apollos, and Cephas all belong to the church. 

And that the church belongs to Jesus, 

and Jesus belongs to God. 

So exo facto all things are God’s. 

The leaders of the church, the ministry volunteers, the church goer who sits in the back and leaves first thing, all belong to God. 

I hope you’ll join us this week as we learn what it means to have a right view of others, ourselves, and everyone in the Church belonging to God.



Sep 11, 202326:03
3 Characteristics of a Christian Leader

3 Characteristics of a Christian Leader

We have seen in the last 2 weeks that this very young church is in an urban setting and there are a bunch of new disciples of Jesus. The whole Christianity thing had just been invented. With a bunch of new people come a bunch of new opinions and new ideas and perhaps some soapboxes. People could show up and they had their ideas and their opinions and there is some division in the church. What the church needs now is some mature leaders to hear both sides of the stories, make a decision, and keep going. Stay on mission. Stay focused. Instead they are arguing about their leaders. And because division can destroy a church, Paul addresses unity for 1/4 of this letter. This week I get to help us see how Paul shows them, and us, what leaders should look like, how we should view ourselves, and how the church should see leadership.

Sep 11, 202328:60
Achieving Unity in the Church

Achieving Unity in the Church

Last week we looked back 100 years to see what life was like here in the U.S. This week we’ll see a few predictions that people made in 1923 that they thought would be true about life today. While some of them are not accurate (at least at the moment), some are hauntingly similar to everything happening in the world right now. What’s true in the world, is true in the church. The more some things change, the more others do not. 


This weekend we’ll see an issue they had in the church in Corinth in the first century which could tear the church apart, is still an issue in the church in the 21st century, and still has the ability to tear the church apart. It can tear MCC apart. This week we’ll see what Paul has to say about unity in the church. And in the process we’ll see what unity is, and what it is not.

Aug 28, 202329:05
The Local Church: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

The Local Church: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This week we will begin to walk through the letter Paul wrote to the church in the city of Corinth to find out that it’s not just true of the US one hundred years ago, but the church 2000 years ago. We will also see what we can learn from them about how to respond to people and issues in our culture today.

Aug 21, 202331:21
Finish Well: Acts 28:31

Finish Well: Acts 28:31

This Sunday I get to conclude our Ekklesia series by jumping straight to the last verse in the book. For the last few weeks we’ve been following how God used Paul.

Paul, who helped start at least 10 new churches in his life.

Paul, who wrote 13 of the of 27 books in the New Testament.

Paul, who influenced people whose names appear on books in the New Testament, people like Mark, Luke, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and others whose names you may recognize: Barnabas, Silas, Apollos, and Aquila and Priscilla.

In the big picture, in the grand scheme of things, when we consider the eternality of God's Kingdom and the work that is done in His Name, in terms of lives that are affected not merely for a lifetime but for all time, it seems fair to say that Paul “lived on mission.”

Why was that? And is it possible that what made Paul's ministry so successful and to leave a legacy of so many touched and changed lives for the sake of Jesus, is it possible that those things can be true of you and me and even what God is doing through us here at MCC as well?

Aug 14, 202331:17
Live on Mission: Acts 18

Live on Mission: Acts 18

By now, you should be seeing some obvious characteristics of the early Church. Acts doesn’t paint a rosy picture of first century Christians. We see personality clashes and differences of opinion regarding strategy. The missteps of God’s people trying to be a part of Kingdom building.

This week Rich will guide us through chapter 18 where we see the fruit of Christian’s loving God, loving people and living on mission. Did you think we came up with that on our own?!?

Take a few minutes to read through chapter 18. Familiarize yourself with the people in the story. Dig around in the background and even look at what they go on to do.

Your investment in the lives of your neighbors is a wonderful part of God’s redemptive plan. That’s what it means to Live On Mission!

Aug 08, 202326:28
Attitude: Acts 16:25-34

Attitude: Acts 16:25-34

For this weekend, to get you thinking about what we’ll be seeing that God chose to reveal about Himself through His church then (and His church now), fill in this blank:

Outside of the Spirit of God, one of the most powerful tools the early church had was __________.

How would you answer that?

Miracles?

People sharing their faith?

Good deeds?

There are a lot of ways to fill in that blank. This weekend may surprise you as we will be in Acts 16 with Paul and Silas, in prison, singing.

Jul 31, 202326:52
Witnessing: Acts 12:15-13:13

Witnessing: Acts 12:15-13:13

This week we see another HUGE moment in Acts. The first 12 chapters focus on the work of the Apostle Peter and the church in Jerusalem. But beginning in chapter 13 that focus shifts to the Apostle Paul and the church in Antioch. So this week we will see what God is saying to us about being a witness for Him.

Jul 24, 202323:15
Everyone means Everyone: Acts 10

Everyone means Everyone: Acts 10

This Sunday is special as we turn a corner with an event in the life of the early church. What we talked about last week, the conversion of Saul (later known as the Apostle Paul) was a major event for the early church, this week is about to be a bombshell.

And if this is your first time reading through Acts, you probably won’t pick up on this.

And maybe if you’ve read this book many times, it’s possible you still did not pick up the significance. 

Today we read about a man named Cornelius who became a disciple of Jesus. And he was a Gentile. The FIRST Gentile convert to the church. And I know we’ve talked about this, but a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. So for all of you who are gentiles like me, this is a pivotal moment for us.


Jul 17, 202327:22
Acts Podcast Episode 5 | The Gospel For Everyone

Acts Podcast Episode 5 | The Gospel For Everyone

Eric and our intern Leah talk about the gospel.

Jul 11, 202313:21
Acts Podcast Episode 4 | Sanctification

Acts Podcast Episode 4 | Sanctification

Eric and Josh talk about sanctification.

Jul 11, 202331:24
Imperfect People: Acts 9:1-19

Imperfect People: Acts 9:1-19

This week, we will continue our study of Acts and early church disciple making. This series has been so fascinating to examine and I am really excited to hear what Mike will share with us about Paul!

Jul 10, 202326:01
Boldly Proclaim: Acts 6-7

Boldly Proclaim: Acts 6-7

Kingdom work. It’s a call for us all. Not just a pastor, not just a select few, but for all who call on Jesus as lord and savior. This week Eric will be diving into Acts chapter 6 and 7 as we learn from an early disciple of Jesus, Stephen, and discover what it looks like for us to proclaim the Gospel and step into Kingdom Work.

Jul 03, 202328:27
Courage: Acts 4

Courage: Acts 4

The 1st Century Church was a remarkable thing to observe! There are so many things that we can see that marked a pretty discernible difference from then to now. Words like passion, commitment, and sacrifice are prominent in my mind. This Sunday we will be studying Acts 4 together. Please read through it a time or two before Sunday. That chapter's stand out word to me is Courage. We will talk through why. See you then!

Jun 28, 202340:28
Devoted: Acts 2:42-47

Devoted: Acts 2:42-47

We are taking several weeks to look at the church and what the Bible tells us happened when the church started and how that plays out today. Last week I shared that the word that we translate “church” is the Greek word “ekklesia” which means, “the people called to assemble for a specific purpose.” The church, in Jesus’ mind, was never merely a location, it’s always been people who come together for a specific purpose. At MCC we say that we come together to be equipped to Love God, Love People, and Live on Mission. God was about to build a kingdom without borders, and He would call it the church. The Book of Acts is a history of the church written by Luke. And when we want to understand what God intended the church to be, this is where we look. And last week we looked at the church being born and taking its first breath, the first message of the church, 3000 people being baptized. And we were off and running. This week we will see what happened immediately after.

Jun 20, 202325:31
Acts Podcast 3 | Holy Spirit

Acts Podcast 3 | Holy Spirit

Eric and Chad sit down to talk about the Holy Spirit.

Jun 20, 202323:11
Decision: Acts 2:36-41

Decision: Acts 2:36-41

If you missed last week, we have begun a series of messages where we will walk through the book of Acts. We’re calling it Ekklesia.

 

The Ekklesia means a people called to assemble for a specific purpose. It’s understanding that God gathers us (like on Sundays) so He can send the church into the world, as opposed to the church being a building where we open the doors and expect the world to come to us.  

I love that Acts 17:6 (KJV) tells us that the church bought into the idea so much that it had the reputation of turning the world upside down!  So for the next several weeks we are looking at words that describe the kind of church that God sends to turn the world upside down.

And last week we saw the beginning of the birth of the church. And Jesus told His disciples to wait for the gift His Father would send. (Acts 1:4). That gift they were waiting on was the Holy Spirit.

And in our verses this week, the Holy Spirit shows up! And we see how He sends His Holy Spirit to us today. 

Jun 13, 202329:15
Acts 2 | The Essentials For Salvation

Acts 2 | The Essentials For Salvation

This week Craft sits down with Mike and Rich as they talk through the Essentials For Salvation

Jun 12, 202334:30
Unleashed: Acts 1:1-8

Unleashed: Acts 1:1-8

The church has not always existed.  I’m not talking about MCC. Did you know that 50 people met in May of 1954 to start MCC?  I’m talking about THE church.  

If you go back to the beginning of the Bible in Genesis, the church is not there.  But in all fairness, nothing else is either, except God. 

The church is nowhere in the Old Testament.  

The church is nowhere in the gospels.  

It isn’t until Jesus has gone back to heaven that the church shows up. 

And the church turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6 ESV). 

We are looking at how God did and does turn the world upside down through the church. We will be settling into the book of Acts, the story of the beginning of the church, to see how God wants to turn our world upside down through us. This week we will begin at the birth of the church in Acts 1.


Jun 07, 202327:35
ACTS: The Context Of Luke/Acts

ACTS: The Context Of Luke/Acts

This week Craft sits down to talk with Mike and Rich about the context of Luke and Acts and how to understand the biblical context!

Jun 05, 202325:06
Future/Past: Past

Future/Past: Past

This Sunday Mike will conclude our Future/Past series. Last week I got to honor and encourage our graduates, and not just them but all of us, about the future and the traps that can catch us and negatively impact our future. This week Mike will help us look back. Just as important as it is to look forward, it’s equally important to have moments where we look back. We’ll see why. And we’ll look back as individuals, as disciples, and as a nation. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

May 30, 202325:39
Future/Past: Future

Future/Past: Future

This week, as we celebrate our graduates, we kick off our new series, Future/Past, where we will be looking at what God has for each of our futures as well as why it’s important to remember our past. There are a few times each year where it naturally makes sense to look ahead to the future: January when a new year begins, May when students are graduating, and August when students head back to school and the regular rhythm of life returns after living the summer rhythm of life. However, whenever we get into a conversation around our future each one of us has a few different traps that we can fall into. However as we will find in scripture God has a way for us to escape each of these traps or avoid them all together. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

May 22, 202326:38
Be Childlike

Be Childlike

You’ve probably heard this before but Abraham Lincoln said, “The greatest lessons I’ve learned were at my mother’s knees.” Perhaps you too. But we also want to acknowledge something about this Sunday right out of the shoot. Mother’s Day is not an easy day for everyone. For some because you agree with Abraham Lincoln, your mom was great, but she is gone. Maybe this is your first Mother’s Day without her or maybe it’s been many, but it just hurts, especially on the day set aside to honor moms. Or maybe your mom was not loving, or worse, and today is a very difficult day. Or maybe you’ve tried to be a mom, and can’t. I am so sorry. I want you to know that our hearts are with you. But for those who have or had moms who loved you well, for those of you who ARE moms who reflect well the smile of God to your families, we want to honor you this Sunday. So we will conclude our He Gets Us series with a message about children. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

May 15, 202321:46
Justice

Justice

This Sunday we will be taking a look at a red hot topic: Justice. Notice I didn’t say social justice? There’s a huge difference between the two. We live in a time that cultural pundits change the meaning of words/phrases. If you don’t define the terms, we could be misled or even worse, you could confuse the people that you are asking God to help you influence. What is God expecting us to do? How can we show love AND tell the truth at the same time. It is not only possible, it’s our job as Christ followers! We will look at the OT book of Micah and the teaching of Jesus in the NT Gospels. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

May 09, 202335:05
Love Your Enemies

Love Your Enemies

We seem to be living in an Age of Outrage. Everybody seems mad, and it’s not getting any better. It feels like we’re living in the Divided States of America. And in America these days, Christians are often seen as part of the problem rather than part of the solution. If we aren’t careful, we can get sucked into the mayhem, and we’re just one more angry voice. Is it possible to say that sometimes there are moments when our anger gets the best of us? James reminds us (James 1:20), “Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” Actually, more often than not, it produces the opposite. Our anger very quickly can turn to hatred. And no one wants to be accused of that. Let me ask, what is your emotional response to: “Jesus loves the people we hate?” Jesus walked our earth at a time when hatred was alive and well, so He Gets Us. The real question is, how do we respond in such a way that others see Him living in us? How do we respond, in an age of outrage, in such a way that it helps others get Him? ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

May 01, 202331:14
Jesus Made Space for Everyone

Jesus Made Space for Everyone

If I asked you to name 3 of your friends, who would come to mind? By the way, Mike is going to ask you that question this weekend. And then he’s going to ask you, “Why do like them? Similar hobbies? Same interests? Personalities? Good sense of humor? Easy going?” Maybe you’ve just always been friends. You know how he asks questions to set up the question he really wants you to think about? That’s what he’s doing here. He really wants you to think through this: “Why do they like you?” What is it that people see in you that they like? Even more: What is it that Jesus sees when He looks at you? This weekend we are going to be reminded that Jesus invites everyone through the story of Matthew. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

Apr 24, 202324:05
Jesus is the King Who Gets Us

Jesus is the King Who Gets Us

This weekend we are taking what we started last week and turning a bit of a corner with it. Last week we were talking about how we can be Just Like Jesus. This week we’re going to begin a look at how Jesus was just like us. And what that means. And why it's important. And what difference it makes to our culture to hear that He Gets Us. Can this help our culture, which doesn’t know much about Jesus, and who doesn’t have a positive view of the church? How do we let people know Who He is and why they should turn and follow Him? We follow His lead. This Sunday we’ll begin with a question Jesus asked His disciples about Who He is. And this Sunday we will ordain Meghan Fritsch into ministry during our 11:00 service. Meghan has been with us since September of 2017 serving as our Director of Nursery and Preschool Programming. As part time staff she has always gone above and beyond to serve our children, their families, and our volunteers. It is a great honor to get to set her aside for ministry. ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

Apr 17, 202326:49
Just Like Jesus

Just Like Jesus

This week we turn a corner in our Just Like series because as we celebrate Easter, we will see how we are Just Like Jesus. Or, at least, how we’re supposed to be just like Jesus. Part of what we will look at this weekend is 1 John 4:17 which says, “In this world we are like Jesus.” What does that mean? The corner we will turn is we will spend several weeks working this out in our He Gets Us series that starts April 16. Perhaps you have seen He Gets Us on a commercial during the Super Bowl or in the ads or on a billboard or on a race car. This week one journey hands right off to another. Our Bible reading plan for next week is called Jesus Revealed Pt. 13 - No Greater Love. This plan will walk you back through what happened in the upper room leading to the cross, but each day will have with it something for you to do. It will ask you to lean into what we will be reminded of this weekend: Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18) ____________ Make sure to download the Bible App to help you develop a habit of reading scripture: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/ Also, join Right Now Media for free as a member of our Church: https://exploremcc.org/right-now-media/

Apr 11, 202328:41