Eagle Brook Church Podcast

What wows you? Is it creation—flowers in the springtime, the beauty of a sunrise, or the vast ocean? Perhaps it’s human beings, with all of our unique complexities, quirks, and passions. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt digs into the joy of being wowed and explores how we can develop an increased awareness of what God has created for us and what He created each of us for.

What wows you? Is it creation—flowers in the springtime, the beauty of a sunrise, or the vast ocean? Perhaps it’s human beings, with all of our unique complexities, quirks, and passions. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt digs into the joy of being wowed and explores how we can develop an increased awareness of what God has created for us and what He created each of us for.

Enough is a word rarely used today. Our culture tries to convince us that whatever we have is never enough—that if you don’t have the latest phone, the newest car, or the biggest house, you’re missing out. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt explores what it takes to say enough in our busy, stressful lives and find true rest and contentment.

A lot of us don’t like asking for help—but no matter how smart, strong, or good we are, all of us will get to points in life where we need it. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt challenges us to identify people in our lives who we can rely on for help and encourages us to use the abilities God has given us to help others as well. Read Your Bible   //    Find Support

Gratitude is a mindset, a way of seeing the world. It’s what helps us turn toward God rather than dwelling on all of the things we don’t have. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand unpacks what it looks like to practice gratitude—and how that practice develops a dependence on God while improving our overall well-being.

Every day, we are faced with decisions—some small and inconsequential, and others that will change the trajectory of your life. When it comes to these major crossroads, we have to be willing to say no to some things so we can say yes to the most important things. In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt digs into the life-changing power of saying no.

God made 7,457 promises to us in the Bible—promises to save us, forgive us, strengthen us, guide us, and resurrect us after we die. But how do we get in on these promises? In this message, Pastor Jason Strand shows us how one simple word is the key to receiving these promises. Because all we have to do is say yes to God.

We all have chasms in our lives, relationally and spiritually. But God's power shows up best in chasms. In fact, that's what Easter is all about. In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt takes a look at the greatest chasm ever crossed: when Jesus bridged the gap between us and God. He rose from the grave to heal us, forgive us, and restore our relationship with God and others.

God wants us to grow in all areas of life and faith. But that growth doesn’t always come easily. In this message, Pastor John Alexander challenges us to put in the time and effort to grow, in order to truly become who God created us to be—moving us from unhealthy to healthy, broken to whole.

Faith is something that most of us are familiar with on some level. We have faith that the sun will continue shining or that our car will start in the morning. But faith in Christ is a little different. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand teaches us that genuine faith in God means believing in something we can’t see and trusting Him even when life isn’t going well. And this kind of faith—well, it’ll change your life.

God’s grace is greater than any sin ever committed. And that’s good news, because we all sin on a daily basis. In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt unpacks the beauty of grace—how it frees us from guilt and shame, transforms our lives, and allows us to live a life of freedom that can only be found in Christ.

Sin is something we all deal with. And it shows up in uncomfortable ways—often through shame, fear, and blame. It’s the cause of every hurt, lie, and injustice in this world. In this message, Senior Pastor Bob Merritt reminds us that regardless of our flaws, God can take whatever is wrong in our lives and make it right; He sees all of our sins and forgives us anyway.

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.