GDLC Audio

Koinonia with Jesus

Announcements March 24, 2024

of Sin

The Israelites are headed around the land of Edom and are growing impatient, so they again start to speak against God and Moses. The root of all sin is pride, which is an inflated sense of self. The Israelites had started looking to themselves, and this led them into many different forms of sin. God needed to get their eyes back on Him, and He did so by sending venomous snakes as a punishment for their disobedience. This same venom of sin also runs in our veins, and this weekend, we repent of ho...

of Sin

The Israelites are headed around the land of Edom and are growing impatient, so they again start to speak against God and Moses. The root of all sin is pride, which is an inflated sense of self. The Israelites had started looking to themselves, and this led them into many different forms of sin. God needed to get their eyes back on Him, and He did so by sending venomous snakes as a punishment for their disobedience. This same venom of sin also runs in our veins, and this weekend, we repent of ho...

Session 8 - Just Like Jesus

This chapter focuses on honesty, integrity, and the weight of our words as followers of Christ. Max starts with a lighthearted look at exaggeration—fishing tales, golf scores, and boasting about children—before diving into the deeper issue of lying. Though we strongly discipline our children for lying, we often justify it in our own lives. This leads to reflection on how God views even small falsehoods and whether He truly cares about "little fibs." The chapter challenges readers to stop minimiz...

Session 10 - Just Like Jesus

This chapter focuses on turning hardships into blessings—what Max calls transforming “garbage to gold.” It challenges readers to reflect on whether they naturally look for the good in difficult situations or tend to dwell on pain and negativity. The ultimate example of garbage to gold is the crucifixion of Jesus. While human actions—Judas' betrayal, the religious leaders’ schemes, and the Roman execution—brought about Jesus' suffering (Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, 47-56).

of Fear

The Israelites have sent spies out into Canaan to see if they can take the land from these people. God has already promised them this land, but they are questioning their own strength and, in so doing, are not acting in faith. Fear is always the opposite of faith and we also walk in this same wilderness of fear as we look at the things of this world and doubt. This week, we repent of our fears and are reminded again that if our God is for us, then who can be against us?

of Family Conflict

In Numbers 12, we are brought into the Wilderness of Family Conflict as we see Miriam and Aaron arguing with Moses over who he chose to marry. They are jealous of Moses and act in arrogance and pride as they publicly shame him. God Himself has to intervene and remind Aaron and Miriam that God had chosen Moses to have a special relationship with, and it is not their business to question God. The reality is that we all live in the same Wilderness of Family Conflict as we deal with arguing, jealous...

of Family Conflict

In Numbers 12, we are brought into the Wilderness of Family Conflict as we see Miriam and Aaron arguing with Moses over who he chose to marry. They are jealous of Moses and act in arrogance and pride as they publicly shame him. God Himself has to intervene and remind Aaron and Miriam that God had chosen Moses to have a special relationship with, and it is not their business to question God. The reality is that we all live in the same Wilderness of Family Conflict as we deal with arguing, jealous...

Session 7 - Just Like Jesus

This chapter focuses on being "on track" in life, using our God-given gifts for His glory and the Kingdom. Max illustrates this with a golf story where he unknowingly played the wrong fairway, using it as a metaphor for being off the life course. The chapter then challenges readers to embrace their role as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), actively inviting others to church and sharing the Gospel.

of Child Sacrifice

In the time of the Israelites, there was a wicked false god by the name of Molech, and one of the ways they would sacrifice to this god was to bring him child sacrifices. In Leviticus 20, we read how serious God is that no one will harm one of His children in this way. Children were sacrificed on the altars of false gods then, and they are sacrificed on the altars of our false gods now. Then the god was Molech, and now the false god is ourselves. We live in the wilderness of child sacrifice, and...

of Poor Leadership

In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy on who is counted as worthy of leading, teaching, and shepherding God’s people, and so often we ...

Announcements March 10, 2024

of Poor Leadership

In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy on who is counted as worthy of leading, teaching, and shepherding God’s people, and so often we ...

Session 8 - The Gospel of John Part 3

Session 7 - The Gospel of John Part 3

Session 9 - The Gospel of John Part 3

Session 6 - Just Like Jesus

This chapter focuses on developing a deep excitement and longing for worship—engaging in God’s Word, preaching, singing, and the Lord’s Supper. It challenges believers to reflect on whether they eagerly anticipate worship each week. Max emphasizes that worship is the most important thing Christians do, as it brings them into God’s presence. He draws from Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses' face glowed after encountering God, and asks how worship today transforms believers. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 furthe...

of Now and Not Yet

In Exodus 33, Moses is begging God to show him HIS full glory. Moses is tired of the Wilderness of the Now and Not Yet. This week, we are reminded of our own frustrations of only partially seeing, understanding, and experiencing what it means to be a Child of God. We know there is an incredible promised land coming where the frustrations of this wilderness will be a distant memory, but until that day, we see but in a mirror dimly. This week, we are encouraged that there will be a day that we wil...

Announcements March 3, 2024

of Idols

The Israelites come to Mt Sinai and are waiting for Moses to return with instructions from God. Moses is taking a long time, so they decide to turn to something else to be their protection and provision. The Israelites make themselves an idol and replace the true worship of God for something of this world. We also walk in the wilderness of idolatry, where we often replace the true worship of God with things of this world. It might not be a golden calf, but idols come in all shapes and sizes. Any...

of Idols

The Israelites come to Mt Sinai and are waiting for Moses to return with instructions from God. Moses is taking a long time, so they decide to turn to something else to be their protection and provision. The Israelites make themselves an idol and replace the true worship of God for something of this world. We also walk in the wilderness of idolatry, where we often replace the true worship of God with things of this world. It might not be a golden calf, but idols come in all shapes and sizes. Any...

Session 6 - The Gospel of John Part 3

of Weariness

While the Israelites are in Rephidim, they are attacked by Amalek, and it says in Exodus that as long as Moses held up his arms, the Israelites prevailed, but the problem was that, over time, his arms grew weary. Aaron & Hur came to prop up his arms, and they did all they could to help Moses keep his arms up so they could win the victory. I think we can all relate to being in the wilderness of weariness. When it is hard to lift our hands to bless others, to lift our arms in praise, to lift o...

of Quarreling

The Israelites moved on from the Wilderness of Sin and entered Rephidim, and immediately, they began to quarrel with Moses because of the lack of water. To quarrel is to have a heated argument or discussion, and many times, it is related to trivial things. When people lose trust in God, they often resort to control & ego, and this will then lead to quarrels. We walk in this same wilderness of quarreling, and we all need the reminder from 2 Timothy 2:23: “Have nothing to do with foolish, igno...

of Quarreling

The Israelites moved on from the Wilderness of Sin and entered Rephidim, and immediately, they began to quarrel with Moses because of the lack of water. To quarrel is to have a heated argument or discussion, and many times, it is related to trivial things. When people lose trust in God, they often resort to control & ego, and this will then lead to quarrels. We walk in this same wilderness of quarreling, and we all need the reminder from 2 Timothy 2:23: “Have nothing to do with foolish, igno...

Announcements February 25, 2024

Session 5 - The Gospel of John Part 3

Session 5 - Just Like Jesus

This passage explores the concept of deep, intimate relationships—first with a close friend and then, ultimately, with Almighty God. It challenges the reader to reflect on their personal relationship with God and whether they experience true intimacy with Him.

of Grumbling

As the Israelites continue in the wilderness, they come into the Wilderness of Sin, and they begin to grumble because of the lack of food. To grumble is to complain about something in a bad-tempered way. Their lack of trust in their God as their provider caused them to act entitled and prideful and led them to grumble against God Himself. The sound of grumbling is always a nasty sound in the ears of our God and something that today we repent of in our own lives and come back to a place of trust ...