York Alliance Church Message Podcast

Galatians 5:16-26 The command of Paul is not to modify our behavior to flow in line with person of Jesus. We are not simply to resist the works of the flesh and pursue the fruit of the Spirit. Rather, we are to walk in step with the Spirit and our lives will show objective evidence of the presence of Jesus.

Galatians 5:1-15 Freedom is not so that we can indulge the flesh but so that we can love selflessly.

Galatians 4:21-5:1 As followers of Jesus, we have been set free. We must stand firm in our freedom and not return again to slavery under the law.

Galatians 4:1-20 Every heart longs to belong. Through Christ, the Father brings us out of slavery into sonship.

Galatians 3:23-29 God gave the law to us as a guardian to point us to the one who can give us fullness of life. Through Christ the walls that divide us are torn down and we are united in Him.

Matthew 28:1-10 Encountering the risen Christ transforms our deepest fears into great joy.

Galatians 3:10-22 There is no other pathway to abundant life. No amount of religious work brings us into the family of God. The work has been done by Jesus.

Righteousness has always come by faith and is expressed through our obedience to the Spirit, who forms us to live out our identity as the blessed children of God.

Galatians 2:11-21 The confrontation between Paul and Peter leads us to our own confrontation–how will we respond to the call to die with Christ and allow His life to be lived through us?

Galatians 2:1-10 The gospel reveals real freedom and must be communicated without compromise.

Galatians 1:10-24 Paul recounts his story of encountering and being transformed by the love of Jesus. For all who are in Christ, we have a parallel story. The love of Jesus doesn't come to us because we've earned it or because we are so rebellious and evil. Rather, God loves us and transforms us into people of love because He Himself is Love.

Jesus + Nothing = Everything Galatians 1:1-9 Paul begins his letter emphasizing two key ideas: his apostleship and even more importantly, the gospel of Jesus. The gospel is not a new religious formula or a system for salvation. Rather, the gospel is good news that dramatically changes the world.

Our Mission should you decide to accept it, is to overcome the seduction of our wealth and comfort and to sacrifice so every nation, tribe, people and language are represented around the throne of God. The Mission demands focus and intention. The Mission is not asking if you are called, it’s asking will you obey.

The Power of Our Identity Language in Christ (From the Series) Vision 1 Peter 2:9 I will explore four dimensions of identity in Christ - personal, familial, communal, and leadership - in a comparative framework, illustrating how a Christ-formed identity becomes a visible and compelling witness to His love and beauty. We bear witness to Him through who we are in Him, not through methods, religious or moral pressures.

A Family for All People Galatians 3:23-29 Central Thought: Through faith in Christ Jesus, we are adopted into the family of God. This transforms us—giving us a place to grow, shaping our new identity, and grounding us in God’s promises. As God’s children, we are blessed not only for our own sake, but so we can be a blessing to the world.

Building Communities (From the Series) Vision Jeremiah 29:5-7; Zechariah 8:1-8 We don't have the mission of community but, rather, we are a community on mission.

Romans 12:1-2 While we have the role of pursuing Jesus, it’s His mercy that transforms us

Those who experience the forgiveness of God will choose to engage intentional spiritual formation and increasingly become like Jesus and do what He did, receiving entrance into His eternal Kingdom.

Regifting 1 John 4:7-21 We become people of great love the more we actively receive the gift of God’s love and give it away to others.

Waiting for the Unseen Hope Luke 2:22-35 We often find ourselves in a season of longing for something that we don’t yet have. We are called to wait well as we live in the Kingdom focused on the hope that is already but also not yet.

Waiting Well (From the Series) Witnesses Luke 2:36-38 The story of Anna provides an example of what it means to wait for the hope that has been promised. Her example in response to the first coming of Jesus gives us a pattern as we wait for His second coming.

The First Witnesses (From the Series) Witnesses Luke 2:1-20 "How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given." Except for two notable exceptions: the shepherds and the magi received a personal invitation to the party, reminding us that there are many ways to receive the good news, as long as we are willing to receive a King and not seek to be king ourselves.

Connecting with Jesus (From the Series) Family Worship Sunday Philippians 4:6-7 Prayer invites us to connect our hearts with the Creator of the universe. By recognizing our need and His ability, we step into the Advent story. Prayer connects us to the One who has come and will come again.

Washing in the Word 1Thessalonians As we complete our journey through 1 Thessalonians and our practice series and get ready to move into the Advent season, it's appropriate for us to stop and rest in the presence and promise of Jesus. While we read it like a book within the library of Scripture, Paul's letter to the Thessalonians was not a book but a letter. As such, the first listeners heard it as a single unit. It can be helpful for us to do the same.

Jesus - Lament for the World (From the Series) Lament: Practice Series Luke 22:39-46 Jesus lived the answer to the deepest cries of our lament--how can such pain come from a God of love, and where are you in the midst of my pain? The incarnation answers both--Jesus shows us love in the midst of suffering and He gives us His presence forever.

Jeremiah (From the Series) Lament: Practice Series Lamentations 3:16-26 Jeremiah's dark words reflect the reality that suffering is a result of a sinful world. God is not far away condemning us, but He's also not forcing obedience. Rather, He joins us in our mourning, and it's His presence that brings us hope.

David (From the Series) Lament: Practice Series Psalm 13 David's many laments emphasize the transition from self-focus to God-focus as lament moves from complaint to worship. It's only when we learn to cross that bridge in lament that we have a new understanding of who God is.

The book of Job is about the problem of God. We assume our good behavior and adherence to the law brings blessing and that our sin brings suffering. But that's not how God works. Lament is the process of staying connected to God in our pain so that we can truly worship Him.

Our Job, His Job (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 5:22-28 Paul closes his letter by reminding us to live as signposts in the world that point to the present and coming Kingdom of God. But the real work of transformation is done by God Himself. We are simply called to be positioned for His work in and through us.

Handling Prophecy (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 5:19-21 What we think about God shapes everything. Our knowledge must be grounded in Scripture, yet open to the Spirit’s voice – listening, testing, and holding fast to His truth.

1 Thess 5:16-18 Paul lays out with great clarity the will of God for our lives. His language moves beyond admonition to a way of living. Following Jesus isn't just something we do with part of our lives--it's a 24/7/365 reality for us.

While we respond to Jesus individually, we are called to live in community. Living together as followers of Jesus is both necessary for and a signpost of life in the Kingdom.

The day of the Lord is hopeful for those in Christ, dreadful for those who refuse Him, and certain for all. In light of the certainty of Christ’s return, we should encourage one another and build one another up spurring one another on to good works.

His Past is Our Future (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 4:13-18 The intent of Paul's instruction is simply to remind all of us that what has already happened to Jesus will happen to each of us. Our future hope, based on Jesus Himself, should be a constant encouragement.

Vision Sunday: All of Jesus Colossians 1:15-23 All of Jesus for the whole person for the whole world isn't just a catchy sentence; it gives us clear direction both as individuals and as a church. The beauty and glory of Jesus remind us of the incredible power of His work in us and the scope of His mission in the world.

Changing: The Word (From the Series) Family Worship Sunday Isaiah 55:10-13 The Word is the only real foundation for our spiritual formation--through the reading and teaching of the Word, we encounter Jesus, the glorious image of the Father, and have the opportunity to be transformed into His image.

1 Thess 4:1-8 Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the core of life in Christ is pleasing God, and that they, like us, can often be derailed by the flesh. The call to please God is a call to true freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Three Prayers (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 3:11-13 A church shaped by love, community, holiness, and the anticipation of Christ’s return becomes a signpost pointing toward hope.

Love and Struggle (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 2:17-3:10 The deep affection of Paul for the Thessalonian church is evident through his commitment to them and concern for them. The activity of evil in the world might produce suffering and trials, but faith gives us the strength to persevere.

A Model Life (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 2:1-16 Paul’s story, which serves as a model for us, is fueled by deep, self-giving love and produces a life of integrity and steadfastness in the midst of opposition.

A Model Church (From the Series) First Thessalonians: Signposts 1 Thess 1:4-10 The church at Thessalonica was held up as a model church because they followed Jesus with joy even in the midst of affliction. We are not called to be a perfect church until Jesus returns, but we should strive to be a model of faithfulness in the midst of a broken world.

When we have a certain future, we can live in a way that reflects that future. In the already and not-yet of the Kingdom of Heaven, the church is called to live as a signpost that points to the reality of that Kingdom. This happens through faith, love, and hope.

We allow God to meet us by confronting our lack of satisfaction that drives us to consume.

The more you get, the more you want. Most of us live captive to a desire for more, and the only way to break free is for us to choose to limit what we have and to practice generosity. Freedom in the Kingdom of God includes being free from the desire for more.

If we are called to Become Like Jesus, that includes the way Jesus spoke. And didn't speak. We are often unaware of how we use speech to manipulate people. By learning to embrace silence we deepen our confidence in God.

Simplicity is first a focus on a single thing or, in this case, a single person. What your life is centered around will define who you become, for better or for worse.

The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray is a beautiful model for us as we approach God. Using the short-hand ideas of pause, rejoice, ask, and yield, we learn to powerfully engage God in prayer.

The prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray is a beautiful model for us as we approach God. Using the short-hand ideas of pause, rejoice, ask, and yield, we learn to powerfully engage God in prayer.

Jesus declared the present reality of the Kingdom of God, and our hearts can become a place where God's rule and reign is effective and complete. When we pray we increasingly become representatives of the Kingdom.

Prayer begins with the recognition of who God is: both the Almighty Creator and our Daddy. When we hold together the transcendence of God along with His eminence, we start to understand the mystery of prayer.