Eagle Brook Church Podcast

The Bible says that we will be enriched in every way so that we can always be generous. That’s a powerful promise, but do you believe it? Sometimes our own fears and insecurities dominate our lives, and generosity feels impossible. But now is the time to fight against these fears and remember that God gives us everything we need so that we can give to others. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand reminds us that when we live in this type of faith, our lives become the pathways to reach the least of these.

Responding to the poor is a very big deal to God, so it’s a big deal to our church. But thinking about how to respond can sometimes feel overwhelming—what steps do we even take to help those who are suffering, sick, or in poverty? In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt unpacks how simple it can be to serve and meet the needs of others. While it may take courage to step outside of our comfort zones, when we do, we are bringing Heaven to Earth.

There is a power in the name of Jesus Christ that isn’t found anywhere else in this world. And this power transforms lives—it’s what gives you a second chance, a fresh start. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand challenges us to accept this free gift from God and experience the kind of life transformation that can only be found in Him.

Every family has its issues. And it’s those issues that often make us want to flip our families like some people flip houses. But in this message, Pastor Jason Strand reminds us that whether our marriage needs a major demo or just a fresh coat of paint, God is in the business of restoring them to their original beauty.

Nobody plans on divorce, but it happens to about half of all married couples. How? Every day, couples stand at a crossroad where they have a choice to either move toward one another or further away. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt unpacks the emotional cost of divorce and the steps couples can take to strengthen their marriages.

As humans, we have a tendency to take things that God created for our own good and twist them. But how can something good become harmful? In this message, Pastor Jason Strand digs into how our culture and sinful natures have distorted sex to be something far different than what God intended and explores what it looks like to redeem the sacredness of this gift.

The choices we make, the words we use, and how we spend our time are more powerful than any other force in our child’s life. Because nothing forms a child’s faith, values, or relationships more than their parents. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt speaks wisdom into the process of parenting, exploring how to be a positive influence and raise honorable, faith-filled children.

There are millions of people on dating apps, yet somehow finding the right person to date and marry doesn’t seem to be getting any easier. Dating can be a long, discouraging process. But, no matter what our relationship status is, we’re not alone. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand unpacks some steps to take before dating and reminds us that we can trust God to love us and guide our steps in the process.

This has been another incredible year for our church. We opened our sixth campus in Anoka, launched Online Church, and strengthened partnerships with churches and organizations in our community and around the world. The reason we celebrate these accomplishments is because they allow us to keep fulfilling our mission of reaching people for Christ so that lives are transformed. Join us as we take some time to reflect on what God has done at Eagle Brook in this past year and look ahead to more exciting opportunities in 2018.

For some, Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and wonder. For others, it's a brutal reminder that life isn't perfect. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt challenges us to put our trust in God, even when life doesn't go according to plan—something even Mary and Joseph had to learn that first Christmas.

When we hold onto resentment, it tends to hurt us more than the person we’re holding it against—but we have a tough time letting go of it. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand unpacks how to uproot bitterness and do the hard work of choosing forgiveness over resentment.

We all face times in life where we feel anxious—whether it’s over a health issue, a relationship, work, money, or kids. And for some of us, it’s a burden we face on a daily basis. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt explores what it means to rely on God in the midst of anxiety, outlining some practical steps to overcome it.

Most of us have at least one habit that we’d like to break. That’s easier said than done—but it’s not impossible. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand outlines the steps we can take to begin changing the negative patterns in our lives and find freedom from the destructive habits that bind us.

None of us will get through life without some level of regret—from choices we’ve made, from damaged relationships, from sin. The good news is, we don’t have to live as prisoners to those regrets. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand reminds us that, in Christ, we can find freedom, forgiveness, and restoration from all of our regrets.

Money can be a huge source of stress and tension in our lives. But the stress we feel around our money generally isn’t really a money issue—it’s a trust issue. Which begs the question: Who or what are we trusting with our lives and our money? In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt digs into why God asks us to trust Him with our finances and how He calls us to respond to Him with generosity.

Managing our money can be tough. The world tells us to make more, spend more, and get more. But God’s financial plan is different—He calls us to give, save, then live off of what’s left over. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand explores some simple steps to help you take control of your finances, find contentment, and start managing our money in a way that honors God.

What does it look like to have a powerful and effective prayer life? You sit down and pray, but then what? It’s so easy to give up when we don’t get an immediate answer. Or maybe our prayer is so vague, we don’t even notice when God does answer us. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand explores what three qualities will strengthen our prayer lives and deepen our relationship with God as a result.

For many of us, the biggest fights and sources of tension in our relationships stem from comparison and jealousy. So, what can we do about it? In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt shows us what it means to curb those habits, humbly put God at the center of our lives, and learn to be grateful for what we have instead of always wanting more.

Scripture speaks numerous times about the immense power of our words—they can build someone up or tear them down. In this message, Pastor John Alexander explores how the words we use every day—whether in speech, text, email, or social media—lead to either life or death. We’re reminded that, for better or worse, the words we use reveal what’s going on inside our hearts.

Hearing and doing are two different things. And when it comes to faith, one can’t live without the other. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand emphasizes that our faith in Jesus Christ should affect every part of our lives—from what we think and believe to how we act, spend our time, and care for others.

No other book in the Bible tells us how to live our lives and face our problems better than the book of James. We’re all going to face challenges in life, but the question is: How will we respond to them? In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt teaches us how to build a foundation of strength—so that when a crisis comes, we’re prepared to face it.

Relationships are central to who we are—God created us to need and be in community. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand stresses the importance of investing in relationships that are filling you up rather than leaving you empty. Because, when it comes to living out our purposes, who we surround ourselves with is of the utmost importance.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. We can’t achieve our purpose in a matter of days or even weeks. So, what will it take to get there? In this message, Pastor Jason Strand demonstrates that to move toward our purpose, we have to take a lot of small steps. But it’s in the daily, tedious steps that breakthroughs are born.

Most people don’t know what their purpose is. And missing out on our God-given purpose is throwing away an opportunity to make a difference in this world. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt demonstrates how we can discover God’s purpose for our lives by answering three simple questions.

God wants your life to be more than mediocre; He created you to do great things. But it all starts with a dream. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt challenges us to dream big—because as you begin to take steps toward your dreams and hopes, you will discover your God-given purpose.