Christ 2r Culture Podcast

Everything God has done for us in Jesus is greater in every way. One of the greatest things God has done for us in Jesus is the completeness of our forgivness. We can not be any more forgiven than we already are through Jesus!

In C.S. Lewis' novel, Prince Caspian, there is a famous scene where Lucy rushes to Aslan the lion, falls between his front paws and buries her face in his mane. Aslan the lion represents Jesus. When Lucy is resting in his mane, she says these famous words. "Your bigger!", says Lucy. Aslan says, "That is because you are older, little one… every year you grow, you will find me bigger." C.S. Lewis' point is the more we grow in Christ, the bigger Christ becomes. In the first message of this Christmas series, we study the opening verses of the book of Hebrews to help us see that Jesus is greater and bigger than we can comprehend.

What is it about a Christian's character that will lead to their church either leaping or stumbling into the future? Acts 11 tells the story of two churches and how clinging to the unhealthy parts of our past hinders the progress of the gospel.

What are the essentials to be saved by Jesus? What kind of people can be saved by Jesus? These are the important questions we answer in Acts 10. Join us as we discover what we need to know and believe to be saved from our sins by Jesus.

Who are the people you wouldn't have over for dinner? Why wouldn't you have them over? Peter needed to understand that Jesus died for all people. Not just some people. He needed to open his home to everyone so they could hear about Jesus.

When God looks around for an individual He can use strategically for His kingdom, what kind of person does He choose? In this study, we discover the qualities of a life God uses to grow His kingdom, as well as what can hold us back.

Fatalism is the feeling that our marriage will never improve, our children will never repent, and our work will only get worse. As Christians, no matter what we face, we are not fatalists. We do not lose hope because of Jesus. In this study, we learn how, when we least expect it, Jesus can turn impossible situations around.

How far is too far gone? Could Jesus save Adolf Hitler? Should Germans have bothered to pray for the salvation of Adolf Hitler? If we sin repeatedly, will Jesus give up on me? Join us as we discover what God says about his ability to save the worst of sinners.

Jesus tells the story of the wheat and the tares. His point is that in the church, there will always be those with fake faith as well as genuine faith. How can we tell the difference between faith in Jesus that saves and faith in Jesus that doesn't? As we continue our study in Acts, we encounter a man named Simon, and from him, we learn about faith that doesn't save.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk had an unintended consequence. Instead of diminishing his Turning Point USA organization, it exploded with growth. The same thing happens with the church. Join us as we explore how attempts to destroy the church end up making it grow.

History repeats itself. In Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin, he shows how easy it is to repeat the sins of our forefathers instead of avoiding them. Just as the Israelites rejected Joseph and Moses as their God-given leader and savior, the Sanhedrin rejected Jesus as God's leader and savior in their day. It is easy for our hearts to do the same thing.

When was the last time God seemed slow in answering our prayers? In Acts 7, Stephen shows us how God's plans for his people are often fulfilled over generations, not minutes. He also shows us how to see Jesus in Old Testament history and how easily we can repeat the sins of those who lived before us.

Everyone one of us has heroes we follow. It could be an influencer on social media or an elder who lived their life well. The question is, are we following the right kind of person? In Acts 6, we are introduced to Stephen, a man whose life is worth following. Join us as we learn what gave him, and can give us, a life worth imitating.

What does a biblical church look like? How do you know if you are part of one? As we look at what the EFCA believes about the church, we learn a little about the history of the church and what the Bible says is essential for being part of a healthy one.

While we are a society that is more connected than ever, loneliness is out of control. It devastates people emotionally and psychologically, and everyone wants a friend. We will do almost anything for companionship. The good news is Jesus has not left us alone! In this message, we look at how the Holy Spirit is with us and what he comforts us, so no matter what we face, we are never alone.

The Bible talks about sin. What does sin look like? What are the different ways we commit it? Join us as we get a glimpse of the Bible's panoramic view of sin and see how it leaves us desperate for Jesus.

Jesus is universally recognized as a great moral example, an insightful teacher, and a defender of the poor. The question of Jesus being fully God divides the world. The Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Buddhism teaches that Jesus was not God but an enlightened man like Buddha. Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet of God, but not the Son of God. Which is true? Join us as we put our finger in the biblical text to find the true identity of Jesus.

Is the Bible worthy of our trust? Many consider it an old fantasy book akin to Harry Potter. It is historical fiction, not grounded in reality. College professors also sow doubt in tender minds, claiming the Bible is riddled with errors. Is this the truth? Join us as we examine logical and historical reasons we can trust the Bible.

Anthony David, who plays for the Mavericks, went through growing pains. In 18 months, he grew 8 inches, making him the most sought-after high school athlete in his senior year. His growth spurt had rewards, but it brought the challenge of forcing him to relearn his game. Similarly, church growth has challenges and rewards. In this study, we learn how to face growth successfully.

As a church, we are reaching our community with Jesus. What kind of reactions should we expect? How can we be more effective when we speak about Jesus? What do we need to remember when in an awkward situation under pressure? These are some of the important questions we will answer in this study.