Living After Sunday

When we are saved, we are brought into God’s family. The language scripture uses is adoption. This adoption is not based on our performance but on God’s action, canceling our debt and making us heirs with Christ. So being a christian is more than forgiveness it's adoption that gives us access to God's presence as his children.

One of the greatest promises in scripture is that we have no condemnation because of what Christ accomplished. Romans 8:1–11 shows how Jesus paid our debt in full and how the Spirit now empowers us to live with new desires, free from guilt and shame.

How do grace and discipline work together? Grace is the starting spot! Grace tells us that we have received unmerited favor and that it’s not because we have done anything to deserve it. Because of grace, we then get to participate in spiritual disciplines like reading the Bible, praying, worship, and even fasting, which allow us to enjoy God’s presence by focusing our time and attention on him.

Grace is not just a safety net but is what gives us new life in Christ. Grace means sin no longer calls the shots, so by the Spirit’s power we can resist old desires, offer every part of ourselves to God, and rest in his full acceptance instead of chasing worth in ourselves or others.

God’s grace can be confusing because it confronts us with two truths at once: we are far more sinful than we want to admit, yet far more accepted in Christ than we ever dared hope. Grace is God’s generous, undeserved approval that fully covers the believer’s sin and gives a new status of “redeemed,” even while growth and struggle continue. That same grace then energizes and directs a life of obedience to Jesus, never as a license to sin, but as the very means by which we learn to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, believers are justified, reconciled to God, and saved from His wrath. This brings true peace (shalom), a fresh start with God, and a restored relationship. This peace gives us the ability to face suffering in our lives, knowing it will produce perseverance, character, and hope in us and this hope does not put us to shame.

Abraham’s life shows us what it means to have hope “against all hope,” to face hard facts without weakening in faith because we are persuaded God will do what He has promised. As we walk through Romans 4, we see that faith is a gift, hope is a settled persuasion about who God is, and even when we hit the rocks, He still calls us to trust Him and rebuild on His grace.

When we come to God, he is the one who redeems us, buying us out of the indebtedness of our sin. Because of this, God declares there is no room for boasting in ourselves, since he alone justifies us. So when we boast we are to boast in christ.

Sin not only affects us, it distorts our motives, our mouth, our mind, and every part of who we are, and ultimately it leaves us without a proper fear of God. A reverent fear of God is not a cringing terror that makes us run from him, but a deep awe and respect that makes us afraid to grieve or dishonor the One who loves us and gave himself for us.​ When we truly fear God in this way, we start to take his holiness, his kindness, and his promises more seriously than our own desires or the opinions of others. That kind of fear draws us closer instead of pushing us away, leading to more honest confession, greater trust in his grace, and a deeper, more joyful relationship with him.

God’s wrath is not an emotional outburst but His holy response to real evil and injustice. God’s wrath actually reveals His commitment to set the world right and how the arrival of Jesus deals with sin once and for all. God's grace in Christ gives real hope to resist sinful desires and walk in true freedom.

The gospel truly changes everything. In this podcast, we walk through the book of Romans to see how the good news of Jesus Christ promised long ago and fulfilled in his death and resurrection reveals God’s righteousness and reshapes real life. As we listen to Paul’s heart for the church, we discover how this gospel brings salvation to Jew and Gentile alike and forms one people learning to live by faith.

God wants us to live the good we ought to do. When we take God's place as judge and believe we can govern our lives in the future, we are taking God's role. We are instructed not to slander and not to presume upon the future. By doing this, we recognize God's place and plan for us.

When we think of faith and works, we should think of them like the body and the spirit—both working together—because the body without the spirit is dead. James wants to remind us that an active faith is always lived out. Like Abraham and Rahab, they believed God and demonstrated it in real time through their actions. We will look on how faith and works work together for our good.

Favoritism, at its core, literally means “to receive one’s face”—an ancient expression for showing partiality. It’s the act of favoring one person over another based on outward appearances, status, or other superficial factors. This kind of discrimination can quietly make its way into the church, undermining the unity and love that should define Christian community.

Have you ever thought about anger and the Bible? The Bible tells us to be slow to anger and quick to listen. But what does it really mean to have anger? It's not about exploding in rage or being indifferent—it’s something different. As Ephesians tells us, we can be angry and not sin. God is transforming us into His image, and in that process, we are becoming more and more like Him. God Himself is slow to anger and abounding in love, and His grace has the power to transform our lives—so that we can become more and more like Him.

Temptation can arise from many different sources. In his letter, James explains that temptation originates from our own evil desires. So, how do we overcome these desires and become the person God wants us to be? When we confess our struggles and actively pursue godly desires, we begin to uncover the abundant blessings God has prepared for us as believers. In this process, we also find the strength and power to resist the wrong desires and say no to temptation.

James encourages believers to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials. When facing trials you are to think have a settled contentment which is difficult because trials involves so many emotions. As Jesus faced trials we will face them and God's grace will meet us on the journey and help us to persevere making us mature. We also find the irony of trials make us more humble compassionate people.

The book of James is a remarkable book of encouragement wisdom and faith. James who wrote the book is the half brother of Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem. James speaks about how faith and works work together and what it means to truly love one another.

The resurrection of Jesus is more than just a historical event—it’s the evidence of God's victory over the enemy, over death, and the assurance that our sins have been paid for in full. But when you think about the resurrection, what comes to mind? Is it just a series of facts, or is it a living hope for the future?Jesus' resurrection is not only proof of what has been done, but also a sign of what is to come.

When Jesus enters Jerusalem, He is declaring Himself as King. But why do we wrestle with the concept of a Savior? To truly talk about a Savior, we must first confront the uncomfortable reality that we need saving. A Savior not only rescues us, but also promises something new is on the way—a transformation that brings hope and renewal. This is why Jesus truly is the King we need.

Contentment is defined as being sufficient or adequate in one’s self, so what does Paul mean when he says he discovered the secret of contentment? Paul teaches that attachments themselves aren’t the problem, but that true contentment comes when our loves are rightly ordered, with Christ as our highest affection. This kind of contentment grows as we find our strength in him

What wouldn't we give for peace of mind? The Bible is clear that our thinking shapes our peace and true peace isn't just the absence of conflict; it’s the fullness of life that comes from being made whole in Christ. The scripture encourages believers to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy. It outlines practical steps for dealing with anxiety, including prayer, changing thought patterns, and practicing gratitude. Through this approach, believers are reminded that peace can be achieved, even when faced with uncertainty.

Anxiety doesn’t just erode peace; it can completely destroy it. So, how do we confront the anxiety that holds our hearts and minds captive? The Bible tells us that through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, healing our relationship with Him. Anxiety often focuses on future uncertainties, clouding our ability to live in the present. But God’s peace transcends our understanding and serves as a protector, guarding our hearts and minds like a military patrol. The Apostle Paul encourages us to tap into this peace through Thanksgiving and petitions in our prayer and fighting to maintaining this peace in our lives.

Paul encourages believers to follow his example as he follows Christ. In doing so, we recognize that we are headed in a direction together as a true community of believers. Paul also calls us citizens of Heaven, and this citizenship should inspire us to function like a colony, united in service and community. Being citizens of Heaven gives us great hope, knowing that when we see Jesus, our bodies will be transformed. What an incredible hope it is to live in light of this future! Because of this, we should stand firm in the Lord.

The Christian life is like entering a race, one full of twists and turns that can sometimes feel discouraging. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages believers to press on, no matter the challenges they face. In this discussion, we’ll explore some of the struggles that can cause us to stumble in our journey and why it's crucial to keep running the race.

Paul is telling the church in Philippi that they will encounter visitors who will claim they are lacking in righteousness. Paul himself, however, could boast more than anyone—he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, and had incredible zeal for God. Yet, he considers all of these things as garbage compared to knowing Christ. The same applies to us: we often try to earn righteousness on our own, often by telling others, "I’m a good person." Paul wants us to recognize that the issue isn’t with righteousness itself, but with where we think it comes from. We continuously seek approval, whether from others or from within, approval that only God can grant. So, how do we secure righteousness from God? Christ became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God. Through this, we are made right with God, which empowers us to live out the good works we are called to do, all because of our standing with God through Christ and this is what he wants the church to understand. They are righteous already because they know Christ!

When you think about giving, what comes to mind? For many people in the church, financial giving isn't something we engage in for various reasons. However, we can learn from the church in Philippi, which gave a collective gift and sent it to the Apostle Paul through Epaphroditus. Because of the Gospel, we are encouraged to give, as Jesus gave to us.

When Paul informs the church in Philippi that he is sending Timothy, he does so to provide them with an example of how they should live in a way that is worthy of the Gospel. As believers, it’s essential for us to both have an example to follow and be an example to others.

Grumbling is a natural part of life, but should it be? Paul instructs us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, a process known as sanctification. As we engage in this journey, we come to realize that it’s God working in us, and as a result, we begin to grumble and complain less. In this discussion, we explore the reasons behind our grumbling and how we can shift our focus to the work God in turning us into children of God.

What does it mean to be united with Christ? In Philippians, we learn that our union with Christ brings us encouragement, the comfort of His love, and much more. Being “with Christ” is at the heart of unity and humility, for this is where it all begins. Jesus, in His humility, revealed the depth of His love and perfect unity with the Father. He emptied Himself, and in doing so, was exalted above all things. Join us as we dive into what it truly means to be united with Christ and how this union transforms us.

"To live or die, that is the question." As Christians, we are filled with profound hope. When we die, we enter into Christ's presence, awaiting the final redemption of our bodies when God will create a new heaven and a new earth. Yet, in the meantime, we face suffering in many forms. This suffering can be discouraging, but Christ is with us through it all. The Apostle Paul encourages us, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel." This call isn't just about our inner hearts; it extends to how we live out our faith in this world.

Suffering is an inevitable part of life. When Paul writes to the church in Philippi, he is enduring both personal hardship and public criticism. Despite these trials, Paul remains undeterred, confident that God will continue His work in believers until the day of Christ.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings people together despite our background or differences. Because of our relationship with Christ we become a community of believers or as Philippians calls it "holy people." As this church gathers together under recognized leadership "overseers and deacons" they participate as a church community and come alongside the apostle Paul as he is in prison in Ephesus. This partnership is act of friendship and kindness.