The Living Word Church Podcast

PastorJosh explores Matthew 26:1–16, contrasting the plotting religious leaders, the complacent disciples, Judas’s betrayal, and the woman who anoints Jesus with costly perfume. The sermon challenges listeners to move from distant, utilitarian faith to a worship that faces the cross directly, offering everything in response to Christ’s sacrificial love.

This episode explores Luke 9:51–56 and the journey of Jesus toward Jerusalem, showing how our personal stories collide with God’s story through the encounters with Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus. Blending biblical parallels, Pastor Josh's own salvation story, and an invitation to “set your face” toward a new life, the message calls listeners to choose faith, healing, and transformation this Easter season.

This episode walks through the Exodus story—Passover, the Red Sea crossing, and the journey to Mount Sinai—highlighting the contrast between Pharaoh’s cruelty and God’s mercy, rescue, and provision. It also examines the crisis of waiting, the golden calf as a sign of impatience and doubt, and the call to trust that God is always working for the good of those who wait for Him.

Mark 5:21–43 recounts two interwoven miracles: Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleads with Jesus to heal his dying 12‑year‑old daughter, and a woman with a 12‑year bleeding condition is healed when she touches Jesus’ cloak. Jesus honors the woman’s faith, tells Jairus to “just believe,” and raises the girl from death with the words “Talitha kum.” These stories show God’s faithful power meeting human trust, even amid fear and doubt.

This episode explores the Bible's redemption story, tracing how God prepares a place for His people—from Jacob and Joseph in Egypt, through the Exodus and David's kingdom, to Jesus as the living Tabernacle. It contrasts survival-mode settlements with God’s promised place, urging listeners to seek God’s presence, purpose, and the Holy Spirit to operate in the place He has prepared.

This sermon explores the book of Ruth as a portrait of biblical redemption: not merely forgiveness, but being bought back into belonging through God's loyal love (chesed). Through Naomi’s loss, Ruth’s steadfast commitment, and Boaz’s redeeming action, Pastor Josh traces how ordinary faithfulness becomes God’s means of provision and restoration. The message shows how personal acts of loyalty and kindness participate in God’s larger rescue story — leading from a small family to the line of David and ultimately to Jesus — and calls listeners to live out that redeeming love today.

This episode explores 1 Peter 2:4–12 and Psalm 127 (with Psalm 128), showing how believers are "living stones"—temples where heaven and earth intersect. It connects the Psalms' prayers to present faith, the vocation of work as worship, and the comfort that God builds, guards, and remains faithful across generations. Through reflections on parenting, anxiety, and baby dedications, the message encourages trusting God’s partnership in building lives and passing on faith, finding rest and purpose in the reality of God’s presence today.

This sermon explores the Advent theme of peace, focusing on Isaiah 9 and the title "Prince of Peace" (Sar Shalom). It contrasts the violent, fearful world of Jesus' birth with his humble, sacrificial life and explains peace as wholeness, not merely the absence of trouble. Through Scripture, personal stories of grief and gratitude, and practical challenges, Paster Amy invites listeners to live out Christlike peace by showing kindness, generosity, prayer, and sacrificial love during the Christmas season and beyond.

This episode explores Isaiah 8:19–9:7 and the Advent message: don’t seek spirits or empty optimism but inquire of God. It traces Israel’s dark fear, the prophetic promise of a coming light in Galilee, and the birth of a child called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Drawing on stories from Stockdale to Bonhoeffer, the sermon distinguishes Christian hope from naive optimism, describing hope as waiting with expectation in God’s fulfilled and yet-to-be-completed promise, and calling listeners to live as carriers of light in the in-between.

This episode recounts Joshua 3–4: the priests carrying the covenant step into the Jordan, the waters part, and twelve stones are set up as a memorial at Gilgal to teach future generations. Interwoven is a Pastor Josh's personal testimony about the 38-year story of Living Word Church — humble beginnings in garages and libraries, community-building, and how those "stones" of memory reveal Gods faithfulness and inspire courage to move forward.

This episode walks through the story of Job — his prosperity, sudden loss, raw lament, and the long debate with friends about suffering and divine justice. God answers not with explanations but with a whirlwind, inviting Job into wonder and humility; the sermon draws a bridge from Job to Jesus as the true righteous sufferer and the hope of resurrection. Practical takeaways include honest lament, quiet presence with those who suffer, worship beyond outcomes, and trusting God's wisdom amid mystery.

This message explores the biblical story of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8–37) and Pastor Amy's reflections on how God begins, sustains, and completes our lives. Using personal anecdotes and Scripture, the message emphasizes making room for God, trusting Him through loss and disappointment, and seeking the promise-maker in times of brokenness. Listeners are invited to release control, embrace the rock in hard seasons, and allow God to bring restoration and purpose—reminding us that nothing is wasted and God is the promise keeper.

Part 2 in the series "The Way of Wisdom" examines Ecclesiastes as a critical voice in the wisdom tradition, contrasting Proverbs’ ordered guidance with the teacher’s verdict of life as hevel (vapor). Pastor Josh walks through the teacher’s experiment with pleasure, work, and wealth and the repeated refrain that many pursuits feel fleeting and inexplicable. He highlights three hard realities under the sun—time’s march, universal death, and life’s randomness—then points to the poem “a time for everything,” practical steps to find joy in the present, and the author’s final call to fear God and keep his commandments. It closes by showing how Jesus, as wisdom embodied, gives lasting meaning beyond the mist.

This episode Pastor Josh begins the new series on the way of Wisdom exploring the last part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as the unveiling of kingdom wisdom and contrasts two ways to build a life: Jesus’ way (wisdom) or man’s way (folly). Drawing on Proverbs as wisdom literature, Pastor Josh explains how wisdom is God’s creative instrument for living well, and invites listeners to seek Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and community as they pursue skillful, grounded living in every area of life.

In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Josh shares personal insights from a transformative journey of spiritual growth and discovery. Over the last year and a half, profound experiences and divine interventions have revealed the intricate ways God works within us, leading to a deeper understanding of redemption and grace. Amidst challenges and unexpected dreams, the speaker reflects on a powerful message that God imparted, showing how past sermons and experiences can provide renewed hope and guidance. In recounting these experiences, themes of faith, redemption, mercy, and the unfailing love of God are explored. The sermon delves into profound spiritual concepts found in Ephesians 2 and explores the tensions between longing and hope, suffering and grace. With personal anecdotes and scriptural insights, the episode illustrates the transformative power of God's mercy during life's hardest times, aiming to inspire listeners to trust in divine sovereignty and find solace in His promises.

In this episode, we explore the profound concept of celebration as more than just an act of festivity but as a fundamental spiritual practice. The sermon draws from both the Psalms and the experiences of the Apostle Paul in Athens, underlining the importance of recognizing and celebrating the divine in everyday life. Pastor Jos reflects on personal milestones, particularly the transformative journey of marriage, illustrating how intentional celebration prevents us from forgetting the significance of our relationships and the beauty of everyday moments. Musical references, personal anecdotes, and scriptural insights are seamlessly woven together to inspire listeners to find joy in life's rhythm. Listeners are encouraged to see every breath as a miracle, recognizing God's presence in all things, and to celebrate not just through grand events but in daily gratitude and connection to both God and community. The message concludes with a powerful reminder that what we fail to celebrate, we risk forgetting, emphasizing that through celebration, we honor the life God has given us.

In this episode, we explore the importance of scripture in the life of a spirit-filled church. We delve into the teachings of Paul, emphasizing the balance between experiencing the Holy Spirit and staying grounded in biblical teaching. As the modern church navigates cultural moments and spiritual experiences, we are reminded of the eternal foundation provided by scripture, reflecting on its relevance amidst changing times and ideologies. Through real-life experiences and biblical examples, the discussion highlights the role of scripture in guiding believers towards a life that honors God and others. Insight into the significance of teaching, preaching, and living out the Word underscores the need for a theologically sound community that embraces both scripture and the experiential presence of God.

This episode delves into the profound significance of community and love within the church. As we gather together, we recognize the special bond and support that comes from being part of a church family. The message underscores the importance of unity and how it reflects God's love, echoing the teachings of Jesus to love one another. Through shared experiences, encouragement, and the power of togetherness, listeners are reminded of the divine connection that cannot be replicated in isolation. Join us as we explore the transformative power of community and the blessings it flows when we walk in unity, supporting and growing with one another in the faith. Let's appreciate the precious gift of each other and continue to foster an environment where God's love is mirrored through our actions and relationships.

In this deeply insightful episode, journey with Jesus and His disciples as they navigate their ministry from Judea through Samaria, exploring themes of baptism, worship, and spiritual truth. Discover the transformative conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, which challenges traditional views of worship and introduces the revolutionary concept of the Spirit within believers. Uncover what it means to be the modern-day temple, where God's presence now dwells in His followers, celebrating a call to embody divine truth and love in everyday life. This episode calls on listeners to reimagine their personal and communal spiritual practices as living models of God's kingdom on earth.