You "are" salt and light . All the time. Rain or shine. The only question is this: will you allow your actions to reveal the reign of God? The sermon today is titled "Reign or Shine." It is the third installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on September 3, 2023. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. Thi...
Sep 05, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 3
This isn't my best life; but it is my blessed life. If your "best" life still awaits, how can you experience a "blessed" life even in the midst of trials and pain? Jesus shows us promises to accept, portraits to be admired, and pathways to be attempted as we walk hand-in-hand with the Blessed one, Jesus Christ. The sermon today is titled "Your Blessed Life Now." It is the second installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:3-12 (ESV). O...
Aug 28, 2023•35 min•Season 3Ep. 2
See the Sermon on the Mount as an invitation to find new things to love, and a new community that shares our new loves. This fall, let’s sit at the feet of the master teacher as we learn together what it means to live the good life. The sermon today is titled "The School of Christ." It is the first installment in our series " One Sermon That Changed The World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:1-2 (ESV). Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 20, 202...
Aug 21, 2023•31 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 21, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 108
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 21, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 107
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 19, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 106
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 19, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 105
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 19, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 104
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 18, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 18, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 102
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 18, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 101
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 17, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 100
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 17, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 99
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Aug 17, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 98
Ulysses stuffed his ears to avoid the siren song, but Orpheus chose a different tact . Faced with the options of welcoming the siren song, withdrawing from the fight by stuffing up his ears, or conquering through violent power and might, he chose to offer up a more beautiful song. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The sermon today is titled "Salt & Light." It is the last installment in our series " The Church Before The Watching World. " The Scripture reading is from Matthew 5:13-16 (ES...
Aug 15, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 97
The world feels gray. Sometimes we sing “this world is not my home.” Other times we sing “This is my Father’s world.” Which is it? The answer, of course, is “yes.” This is an important truth when discussing how to engage culture. And it helps us adopt the role of “witness.” The sermon today is titled "Bearing Witness." It is the third installment in our series " The Church Before The Watching World. " The Scripture reading is from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Sid...
Aug 07, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 96
The kingdom of God grow in the midst of the kingdoms of the world. The kingdom of God can be found in every country, consisting of those of every tribe, tongue, and nation. Think about the implications of this. Let’s learn the politics of Jesus. The sermon today is titled "Not of This World." It is the second installment in our series " The Church Before The Watching World. " The Scripture reading is from John 18:33-38 (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on...
Jul 31, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 95
In AD 150, a letter to Diognetus claims that Christians deny the Greek gods, live in poverty, remain faithful in marriage, and welcome persecution. They respond to abuse with love. This is the church before the watching world. Or is it? The sermon today is titled "Naming The Gods." It is the first installment in our series " The Church Before The Watching World. " The Scripture reading is from Romans 2:21-22 (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on July 23, 2...
Jul 23, 2023•41 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Church growth is about the Spirit at work through genuine relationships . “Our good news didn’t come to you only in words. It came with power. It came with the Holy Spirit’s help. He gave us complete faith in what we were preaching. You know how we lived among you for your good” (1 Thess 1:5). The sermon today is titled "How Churches Grow." It is the final installment in our " Community " Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:47 (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Chris...
Jul 17, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 93
You may be the only Bible our neighbors ever read . You know and I know “there is no way to love Christ and not love his church.” But they don’t know that. We want people to love Christ. What Christ are they seeing in you and me? Christians are called to live “a life that needs God’s love to explain itself.” So be winsome to win some. The sermon today is titled "Having Favor With All." It is the twelfth installment in our " Community " Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:47 (ESV) . Orig...
Jul 10, 2023•22 min•Season 2Ep. 92
Any married couple can tell you this lesson learned the hard way: there is no substitute for quality time together . And while quantity does not equal quality, increasing the quantity provides more opportunity for the quality. But hearts on fire for Christ, solely focused on the one their hearts adore, long for this. With glad and generous hearts, the church loves and serves. The sermon today is titled "Glad and Generous Hearts." It is the eleventh installment in our " Community " Series. The Sc...
Jul 03, 2023•24 min•Season 2Ep. 91
What is giving all about? Hear the true story of a giving people. Giving is part of who we are, since we are children of the Father of every good and perfect gift. Giving is part of the fabric of our lives because we are clothed with Christ the Giver. Giving flows from the depths of our souls, for we are indwelled by the Spirit who is the Giver of Life. The sermon today is titled "As Any Had Need." It is the tenth installment in our " Community " Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:45 (...
Jun 27, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 90
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 22, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 89
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 22, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 88
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 21, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 87
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 21, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 86
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 21, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 20, 2023•23 min•Season 2Ep. 84
Read the Bible with Gospel Lenses. When God says he will bless the entire world through one man. When all cry out for deliverance from Egypt, or Assyria, or Babylon…and God comes to their rescue. When outsiders beg for mercy, and dare to touch the face of God, and they find overwhelming grace and acceptance. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Every section of Scripture—Law, Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, Letters, and Apocalypse—tells of God’s relentless rescue mission, reconciling the world in and ...
Jun 20, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 83
[Note: audio issues in the original recording] Unity is complicated. Creating unity has often failed us (Gen 11). Maintaining unity is what will heal us (Eph 4). By the Spirit, we have “all things in common” (Acts 2:44). The only question is this: what will we do with it (John 17)? The sermon today is titled "All Things In Common." It is the ninth installment in our " Community " Series. The Scripture reading is from Acts 2:44 (ESV) . Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy...
Jun 19, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 82
