La Porte Church of Christ Podcast

In this sermon, “A Name That Became a Warning,” we examine the reign of Jeroboam and the tragic legacy of a man who was given opportunity by God but allowed fear, convenience, and human wisdom to corrupt worship. Through his example, we are reminded that God’s people must worship in spirit and truth, trust God’s promises, respect His authority, and guard against any influence that leads others away from Him. Jeroboam’s failure ultimately points us to our need for a better King — Jesus Christ, whose reign brings righteousness, redemption, and hope.

Following the resurrection, Jesus did more than comfort His disciples—He commissioned them. In Luke 24, the risen Lord grounded their faith in the reality of His resurrection, opened their understanding of the Scriptures, and sent them to proclaim repentance and remission of sins in His name. Connecting this mission with Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5, this lesson reminds us that restored people become sent people. We are called to live as witnesses of the risen Christ and ambassadors carrying the message of reconciliation to the world.

"Is It Right for You to Be Angry?" (Jonah 4:4) Preacher: Joseph Vondenstein When is anger justified—and when does it lead us into sin? In this lesson, we explore God’s question to Jonah in Book of Jonah 4:4: “Is it right for you to be angry?” By examining examples of both God’s anger and man’s anger throughout Scripture, we learn that anger itself is not the problem—it’s how and why we use it. From righteous anger in response to injustice to destructive anger rooted in pride, fear, or jealousy, the Bible helps us discern the difference. This lesson challenges us to slow down, examine our hearts, and use anger in a way that honors God—bringing about change rather than sin. 📖 Key passages: Jonah 4, Ecclesiastes 3, Exodus 32, John 2, Romans 12, Ephesians 4

In this lesson, we explore Ecclesiastes 1, where Solomon examines life lived only from an earthly perspective and reveals the emptiness of chasing success, pleasure, possessions, and wisdom apart from God. If everything beneath the sun is temporary, where can true meaning be found? We discover that while life under the sun leaves the heart empty, life centered on God gives purpose, peace, and eternal hope.

After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter by the sea—not to condemn him for his failure, but to restore him through love. Around a familiar fire, Jesus asks the question that reaches beyond Peter to every heart: “Do you love Me?” In this lesson, we explore how Christ meets us in our failures, restores us without shame, and calls us forward into faithful service. When love for Christ is real, it leads to obedience, transformation, and a renewed purpose as we follow Him.

Rehoboam started strong, chose pride over wisdom, and watched a kingdom divide. This sermon highlights the danger of arrogance, the value of godly counsel, and how God humbles hearts to bring us back to Him.

On the road to Emmaus, two discouraged disciples walked away from Jerusalem with heavy hearts and shattered expectations. Yet the risen Jesus came near, walked with them, opened the Scriptures, and transformed their sorrow into conviction. In this lesson, we explore how Christ still meets confused hearts, corrects us through His Word, and sets our hearts on fire again. When Jesus is recognized, everything changes — direction is restored, hope is renewed, and lives are turned around.

Solomon had wisdom, wealth, and unmatched opportunity—yet he fell. In this sobering lesson from the life of Solomon, we explore how wisdom, blessings, and knowledge are not enough without continued faithfulness. This sermon challenges us to guard our hearts, avoid spiritual drift, and remain faithful to the end.

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a mere event to remember — it is a reality that changes everything. In this lesson, we walk through 1 Corinthians 15 and explore how the empty tomb transforms the message we preach, the meaning of our faith, the way we face death, the way we live right now, and the way we see Jesus. Because He lives, our hope is alive, our faith is meaningful, and our future is secure. The resurrection truly changes everything.

In Psalm 9, we are reminded that praise is not based on circumstances, but on who God is. This lesson explores wholehearted praise, trusting God’s throne, finding refuge in Him, and remembering that while man is frail, God is final.

What does it really mean to be part of the family of God? In this lesson, we explore the difference between simply attending and truly belonging. Looking at the words of Jesus and the example of the early church, we are challenged to move beyond convenience and into commitment. From Luke 9:57–62, we learn that discipleship requires being all in — not divided, not delayed, and not half-hearted. When we understand that the church is not just a place we go, but a family we belong to, it changes our priorities, our presence, and our purpose.

What kind of fruit is growing in your life? In this lesson, we explore the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and what it truly means to walk in the Spirit. This lesson challenges us to look beyond outward appearance and examine the character being formed within us as we follow Christ.

What makes a king good… or bad? In this episode, we examine the lives of kings like Josiah and Ahab to discover that God’s evaluation isn’t based on power or success—but the heart. A powerful study on faithfulness, influence, and responding to God’s Word.

In a world that was rapidly descending into corruption, one man chose a different path—Enoch walked with God. In this sermon we explore the remarkable life of Enoch, the prophetic pattern hidden within the genealogy of Genesis 5, and the powerful testimony about him in the New Testament. His life reminds us that even when the world is walking away from God, it is still possible to walk faithfully with Him.

In this lesson, we explore the danger of falling into comfortable ruts in our spiritual lives. Using Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Luke 11:1–13, we consider how something once extraordinary—walking with God—can slowly become ordinary through routine, familiarity, and complacency. Just as wagon wheels settle into deep ruts that determine the direction of travel, our habits and expectations can quietly shape the direction of our faith. But faith was never meant to settle. This lesson challenges us to lift our eyes, renew our vision, and rediscover the extraordinary nature of a life lived with God.

Is your faith flowing like a river or sitting still like a reservoir? In this lesson from John 7:37–39, we explore the difference between a faith that merely receives and a faith that moves, flows, and pours into the lives of others. Through biblical examples such as Noah, who was moved by faith, and Jesus, who was moved with compassion, we are reminded that true faith is never stagnant. When our hearts remain connected to Christ, living water flows outward—encouraging others, teaching truth, and bringing life wherever it goes.

In this sermon, Spiritual Enigmas: Puzzling Mysteries of the Human Heart, we examine several spiritual contradictions that reveal the condition of our hearts. Through the teaching of Jesus and the wisdom of Scripture, we explore how self-examination, proper priorities, and genuine devotion can resolve these mysteries and draw us closer to God.

Life often feels like a table full of scattered pieces—moments of joy, seasons of struggle, unanswered questions, and unexpected turns. In this lesson, The Master’s Puzzle, we explore how God uses every piece of our lives for His purpose and glory. Through Scripture and illustration, we are reminded that what appears confusing to us is never chaotic to God. When we trust the Master and follow His Word, the pieces begin to fit together, revealing a life shaped by His design and grace.

In this lesson of Asking for a Friend, we explore one of Jesus’ most intriguing statements in Matthew 10:16: “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” What did He really mean? How can Christians live with discernment in a hostile world without compromising purity or love? Join us as we examine the balance between spiritual wisdom and moral innocence, learning how to remain faithful sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd—even in the midst of wolves.

In this lesson from the Book of Ecclesiastes, we explore the timeless question: Is the grass really greener on the other side? Drawing from Solomon’s reflections on life “under the sun,” we examine how comparison steals contentment, how chasing more costs peace, and why true satisfaction can’t be found in changing circumstances. Ultimately, Scripture reminds us that God never promised greener grass—He promised daily bread. This message calls us to stop looking over the fence and start walking faithfully with God, remembering that the only side that truly matters is God’s side.

Truth in the Midst of a Confused Culture draws from Acts 17 as we walk with Paul onto Mars Hill and watch the gospel confront a world full of idols, philosophies, and competing truths. In this lesson, we explore how Paul’s stirred spirit, thoughtful reasoning, and bold proclamation of Christ model for us how to speak truth with compassion and conviction. You’ll be challenged to see your own “Mars Hill,” to understand God’s nearness and authority, and to consider your response to the risen Christ—whether to mock, delay, or believe. A timely reminder that God still calls His people to shine truth into a confused culture.

In this Asking for a Friend lesson, we tackle one of Scripture’s most challenging questions: Did God harden Pharaoh’s heart—or did Pharaoh harden it himself? Walking through the account in Exodus, we examine the biblical pattern of resistance, mercy, and judgment, discovering that God did not override Pharaoh’s will—but ultimately confirmed him in the path he repeatedly chose. Along the way, we explore God’s patience, human responsibility, and the sobering reality that hearts can harden gradually through delayed obedience. This lesson calls each of us to honest self-examination, reminding us that today is the time to respond to God’s voice, before resistance becomes hardness.

Living in the Substance In this message from Colossians 2:6–14, we move from seeing Christ as the fulfillment of God’s promises to learning how to live daily in that truth. After tracing God’s plan from shadow to substance, this lesson challenges us to be rooted, built up, and established in Christ—guarding our hearts from empty deception and resting fully in the completeness we have in Him. A practical call to walk faithfully in Jesus, who is truly enough.

This lesson explores how obedience doesn’t always lead to easy roads, how midnight reveals the heart, and how God still uses suffering to bring salvation. If you’re walking through your own “midnight,” this lesson will encourage you to trust God, lift your praise, and believe that He is still working behind locked doors.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 18 of 18 In this concluding lesson of the Shadows to Substance series, we trace God’s unfolding plan from Old Testament shadows to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 1:22–24, we confront a timeless question: even after God has revealed His Son, what are we still seeking? This message challenges listeners to move beyond signs, wisdom, and personal expectations—and to rest fully in Christ crucified, the complete and sufficient answer to every spiritual need.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 17 of 18 Blood in Scripture is never symbolic alone—it is essential. This sermon examines how the blood of the Old Testament foreshadowed the power, purpose, and permanence of the blood of Jesus.

In this episode, we explore Jesus’ powerful words in John 4:19–26, where He reveals that the Father is actively seeking true worshipers. Worship is more than a place, a routine, or a religious act—it is a life surrendered to God in spirit and in truth. Drawing from Scripture and practical application, this lesson challenges us to examine our hearts, refocus our worship, and become the kind of worshipers God desires.

Discipleship was never meant to be safe, predictable, or boring. In this episode, we explore The Adventure of Discipleship through Mark 1:14–20, walking with Jesus as He calls ordinary people into an extraordinary life of faith. From leaving nets behind to embracing a transformed purpose, this lesson challenges us to move beyond comfort and truly follow Christ. Join us as we consider what it means to repent, believe, and step into the adventure Jesus still offers today.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 16 of 18 Water in the Bible is never just water. In this lesson, we follow the flow of Scripture to see how God used water as a shadow of cleansing, salvation, and new life—fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 15 of 18   Marriage is a picture God painted long before Christ came. In this lesson, we uncover how marriage points beyond itself to the sacrificial love, unity, and faithfulness Christ has with His church.

In this episode, we take a careful look at passages often used to describe Satan’s origin—particularly Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, and Luke 10:18. By examining context, language, and biblical imagery, we ask an important question: are these texts teaching truth about Satan, or have tradition and assumption shaped how they are commonly understood?

In this lesson from John 13:35, we examine Jesus’ defining mark of true discipleship—love for one another—and see how the early church lived it out in Acts 2 and Acts 6. This sermon challenges us to ask whether our love is visible, sacrificial, and strong enough to make Christ unmistakable to the world.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 14 of 18 In this lesson, we discover that Canaan was more than a destination—it was a preview. Get your Bibles ready as we trace how the Old Testament promise of the land points forward to the eternal rest and hope found in heaven through Christ.

This lesson explores Song of Solomon 2:15, using the imagery of “little foxes” to warn that relationships—both marital and spiritual—are rarely destroyed by one great failure, but by small, unchecked compromises that quietly erode faith and devotion. Through vivid biblical imagery and practical illustrations, we are urged to guard what is most valuable by confronting sin and desire early, before subtle neglect spoils the harvest God intends.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 13 of 18 In “From Shadow to Substance: God’s People – Israel & the Church,” the sermon shows how Israel served as God’s chosen shadow, preparing the way for the church—the fulfilled people of God in Christ. Through Jesus, God’s promises are completed, forming one holy people defined not by heritage, but by faith, obedience, and new birth in Christ.

A Better Year Begins With A Better Walk challenges us to move beyond temporary resolutions and pursue real spiritual transformation through a renewed walk with God. Rooted in passages like Philippians 3, Ephesians 5, and Romans 12, this “Sermon & Song” calls us to leave the past behind, redeem the time, surrender fully to Christ, be transformed in mind, and finish the year—and life—faithful to God.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 12 of 18 From the temporary priesthood of Aaron to the mysterious pattern of Melchizedek, this lesson reveals how God used shadows to prepare the way for something greater. Jesus Christ is shown as the final and perfect High Priest who fully removes sin and brings us near to God forever.

This Q&A lesson examines the New Testament teaching on speaking in tongues, clarifying that biblical tongues were real human languages given temporarily to confirm divine revelation—not emotional or unintelligible speech. By letting Scripture speak for itself, the sermon shows that tongues were orderly, purposeful, and never a sign of salvation, pointing instead to faithful obedience and a transformed life as the true evidence of the Spirit at work.

This Q&A lesson examines the New Testament teaching on speaking in tongues, clarifying that biblical tongues were real human languages given temporarily to confirm divine revelation—not emotional or unintelligible speech. By letting Scripture speak for itself, the sermon shows that tongues were orderly, purposeful, and never a sign of salvation, pointing instead to faithful obedience and a transformed life as the true evidence of the Spirit at work.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 11 of 18 In this sermon, Shadows to Substance: Bread and Water, we explore how the manna and water in the wilderness point to Jesus Christ as the true Bread of Life and Living Water. Tracing Scripture from Exodus to the Gospel of John, this lesson shows how Christ alone satisfies spiritual hunger and thirst and sustains believers on the journey from redemption to eternal rest.

Sunday AM Worship Service I (Sunday, December 14, 2025) AM Worship LIVESTREAM Guest Speaker: Joseph Vondenstein In this sermon, we explore why Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God must be received like a child. Through Scripture, we learn how childlike humility, trust, and patience shape a faithful walk with God.

Are we giving God our best—or only what’s left over? This sermon from Malachi challenges us to examine our sacrifices, worship, and priorities, calling us to honor God with wholehearted devotion rather than secondhand faith.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 10 of 18 In our Shadows to Substance series, we see that the Old Testament is more than history—it is God’s divine preview of what was to come in Christ. One of the clearest of those previews is the prophet Elijah, a bold voice of repentance sent to call God’s people back in times of spiritual darkness. Jesus teaches that Elijah’s mission did not end with him, but found its fulfillment in John the Baptist, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” to prepare the way for the Messiah. This lesson traces that powerful pattern—Elijah as the shadow and John as the substance—revealing God’s consistent message to every generation: Prepare yourselves. The Lord is coming.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 9 of 18 In this lesson from the Shadows to Substance series, we explore how the life of Jonah foreshadows the mission, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Though Jonah and Jesus sharply contrast in character, Jesus reveals Jonah as a powerful sign pointing to the risen Savior who offers mercy and salvation to the world.

Wanted: Servants for Christ challenges us to rethink greatness through the life of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve. This lesson calls every believer to humble obedience, loving service, and a life poured out for others—because we are wanted by God, both for salvation and for service.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 8 of 18 In this Shadows to Substance lesson, we trace how David’s life as shepherd, anointed king, and victorious deliverer points forward to Jesus Christ—the Good Shepherd, the Anointed One, and the eternal King. From the battlefield to the throne, David’s story finds its fulfillment in the Son of David who conquers sin and reigns forever.

Life brings hardship as well as joy, yet God calls His people to give thanks in every circumstance. This Q&A sermon addresses how gratitude can thrive in tough times by fixing our hearts on Christ, trusting God’s unchanging goodness, and holding fast to the eternal hope we have in Him.

Sermon Serires: Shadows to Substance Part 7 of 18 This sermon explores Joseph as a vivid shadow of Christ, revealing how betrayal, suffering, and forgiveness became God’s pathway to redemption. Just as Joseph invited his brothers to “come near,” Jesus calls us to come to Him for rest, mercy, and new life in the true Substance—Jesus Christ.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 5 of 18 This lesson traces the striking parallels between Moses and Jesus, showing how God’s plan of redemption moves from shadow to fulfillment in Christ. Just as Israel passed through the sea to freedom, Jesus calls us to obedient faith—culminating in baptism—so we can be delivered from sin and live under His new covenant.

Sermon Series: Shadows to Substance Part 4 of 18 In this Shadows to Substance sermon, we explore how Isaac powerfully foreshadows Jesus Christ—the promised Son, the beloved Son, and the willing sacrifice. From Mount Moriah to Calvary, the shadow gives way to the Substance as God provides the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.