Eagle Brook Church Podcast

If you’re in Christ, you’re no longer defined by what you’ve done wrong—you’re defined by what Jesus Christ did right. Because, on the cross, Jesus died to pay the penalty for sin so you don’t have to live in shame and condemnation anymore. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand unpacks how forgiveness is immediate and complete for those who choose to follow Christ and confess their sins.

We all have areas in our lives that we struggle with again and again—anger, fear of the future, losing control of our words, addiction. We recognize the problem and how it’s hurting us, yet we can't seem to fix it. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt explores what it takes to defeat the sins that control us.

When we make the decision to follow Christ, that’s just the beginning of learning how to live a new life. We’ve been set free from sin, but we still face the tension between the old life and new life. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt discusses how, through obedience to Christ, we can weaken the grip sin holds on our lives—but we must daily decide if we’re going to pursue that life of obedience or a life of sin.

From the moment we accept Christ, our old life is gone and our new life begins. When we’re baptized, we symbolically and publicly identify with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection—and celebrate that we have been raised to life with Jesus! In this message, Pastor Jason Strand teaches about what baptism is and why it’s such a significant step in our walk with Christ.

When we put our faith in Christ, we are made new and are freed from the power of sin. But if the old life is gone, why do we still struggle with sin? What does it look like to live like a new person? In the message, Pastor John Alexander wrestles with these questions and unpacks what it takes to live as a new you—dead to sin, and alive in Christ.

There is no quick fix to redeem a relationship. But God can do some of his best work in a struggling marriage. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand discusses what it takes to prioritize your marriage, fix what’s broken, and find healing if you've experienced the pain of separation or divorce.

Sexual intimacy in marriage is directly correlated with relational intimacy. And that relational intimacy stems from the little exchanges that occur every day—a smile, a nod, a touch, a kiss, or simply turning toward each other when you speak. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt unpacks the small relational changes that can have a huge impact on the intimacy and overall health of your marriage.

Men and woman are different. But here’s the good news: God made our differences for a reason. In fact, it’s those differences that God will use to complement and help you through life and marriage. But great marriages don't just happen—they require time and intentionality. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand will show us that, ultimately, a healthy marriage requires a foundation of two people who are willing to put God first and look to him to meet their needs and change their hearts.

God created us for relationships, with him and with others. Choosing the right person to date and marry is one of the most important decisions you (or your kids) will make—because relationships can either be the greatest source of joy in life or the greatest source of pain. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt explores the challenges of dating and finding the right person, and crucial tips to keep in mind in the process.

What do you do when you get news that drains the color out of your face—when you get a notice of betrayal from a spouse or friend, or a medical report that turns your life upside down? Most of us think the worst and lose all hope. But in this message, Pastor Bob Merritt takes a look at how Joseph reacted quite differently when he received unthinkable news.

Between work, kids, after-school activities, social events, and making dinner, most of us feel like we have way too much to do. Add the chaos of the holidays and it's over. But in this message, Pastor Jason Strand looks at what it means to slow down our pace and turn to God for guidance. Because, when we take time to sit at the feet of Jesus, he will restore our souls and give us peace beyond measure.

Most of us have lost sleep over our kids—sometimes literally, when you have a baby that wakes up every two hours or a toddler who jumps in your bed at 3 am, and sometimes simply from worrying over when your teenager will come home or about the decisions your adult child is making. There’s so much to worry about as a parent. But Jesus tells us not to worry—not because he’s minimizing the weight of parenting and how out-of-control it can make you feel, but because he knows that worrying cannot add a single moment to your life. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand shows us how we can actually let go of that worry and entrust our children to God.

What would life be like if we were no longer afraid—afraid of the future, of being alone, of not having enough money? So often, we let our fears overtake us, forgetting that God is bigger than any fear and offers peace beyond measure. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt talks about how we will certainly face difficulties in this life, but that God will go with us and he is worthy of our trust—so we no longer need to fear what we can’t control.

Have you ever lost sleep over a heated disagreement or harsh words? Most of us have. Because criticism and conflict are never comfortable—and often we don’t know how to deal with them. But in this message, Pastor Jason Strand teaches about what it truly means to handle conflict in a godly manner and what it looks like to live at peace with others.

Technology now allows us to reach not only the people who come to church every weekend, but reach people across the country and around the world. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt introduces Online Church and how it will allow us to reach even more people for Christ.

Jesus came to earth with a singular mission: to seek and save the lost. And He gave us that same mission. We each have specific circles of friends, neighbors, and co-workers, along with unique abilities to connect with others. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand reminds us that God has strategically placed us around lost people so that we can speak his love and saving grace to those around us—one person at a time.

Tithing can be difficult to wrap our minds around. What does God need with our money anyway? But what it comes down to is that it’s much more of a heart issue than a money issue. Do we really trust God to provide? Are we truly putting Him first in our lives? In this message, Pastor Jason Strand looks at the heart behind tithing and how it can help us experience God in a new way.

"In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!" [Luke 15:7] No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God will do anything to find you and save you. And when one person is found and returns to God, all of heaven erupts with joy. In this message, Pastor Bob explains how this passage from Luke applies to Eagle Brook Church, and why our mission is to reach people for Christ. We, too, are focused on the one, not just the ninety-nine—and it has been our focus and mission from the beginning.    

When we offer up a dangerous prayer like, “Send me,” we’re taking a risk—because God may send us out of our comfort zones, to a situation we never would have gone on our own. But it’s worth the risk. In this message, Pastor John Alexander explores what it means make ourselves available to God and his plan. Scripture Card

Change is hard. We often need it, but we also don’t really want it. We’re comfortable in our own mess; we like things the way they are. But God wants to change us—he wants to give us a new life. In this message, Pastor Jason Strand challenges us to ask God to change us, and put in the hard work to make that change happen.

What would happen if we started praying more boldly, asking God to search our hearts and minds? It’s dangerous, because God might show us some things that are really difficult and painful to look at; it takes courage to pray that prayer. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt focuses on David’s dangerous prayer in Psalm 139, and challenges us to ask God to reveal our sins to us and lead us to a better way.

Who are the great people in your life—the people who have offered wisdom and helped you become who you are today? When we have great people in our lives, they help us to make great decisions. And we can be the person of wisdom and sound judgement in someone else’s life, too. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt teaches us about the importance of surrounding ourselves with great people and how Jesus desires to be the central part of your inner circle.

Are there doors in your life that you sense are a trap? From a distance, they look sort of fun and exciting, but when you get closer you realize they're a trap. In this message, Pastor Jason teaches us three specific ways to stay away from forbidden doors.

Why does God close doors? Even when we believe that He has a plan for our lives, it can be hard to accept when He tells us no. But sometimes there's a very good reason why. In this message, Pastor Bob Merritt explores how to trust what God is doing in our lives.