Iowa City Church Podcast

Have you ever noticed how much space God takes up in the book of Exodus? After rescuing Israel from slavery, God gives detailed instructions for building the tabernacle—a sacred place where his presence would dwell among his people. From the garden of Eden, to the tabernacle, and ultimately to Jesus, the story of the Bible reveals something remarkable: God desires to live in relationship with us. He doesn't stay distant—he draws near. In this message, we explore how Jesus is the true tabernacle—the place where God meets with his people—and what it means to intentionally make space for his presence in our lives today. In a world where our schedules, attention, and hearts easily become crowded, we're confronted with a simple but powerful question: Are we making space for Jesus? Join us as we open God's Word and discover what it looks like to center our lives around the presence of God.

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:6a15e48a-3181-4d25-804b-e0d5a142895e-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Well, that didn't take long. Just weeks after entering into a covenant with the God who rescued them from slavery, the Israelites turn away and bow down to a golden calf. It's easy to read that story and wonder how they could fall so quickly. But the deeper question is this: Is idolatry just an ancient problem—or do we still struggle with it today? In this message, we explore what the golden calf reveals about the human heart and why we are so prone to replace God with lesser things. As we continue our journey through Exodus, we'll discover God's call to return to wholehearted devotion—even in a world full of competing idols.

In this message from Exodus 19, we explore one of the most important moments in Israel's story—when God meets His people at Mount Sinai and clearly defines what a relationship with Him looks like. Before giving commands, God reminds Israel of His grace: He rescued them from slavery, carried them through the wilderness, and brought them to Himself. Then He invites them into a covenant relationship where they will be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Just as every meaningful relationship eventually asks the question, "What are we?", God also calls us to define our relationship with Him. Through Jesus, the new covenant makes that relationship clearer than ever. The question we're left with is simple but profound: God has defined His relationship toward us—how will we define our relationship with Him?

In this sermon we'll be walking through Exodus 15–17 and discovering an important truth: the wilderness isn't about comfort—it's about becoming God's people. After rescuing Israel from Egypt, God didn't lead them straight into ease. He led them into testing. Not to harm them, but to shape them. In the same way, God often uses seasons of difficulty in our lives to form our trust, deepen our dependence, and shape our hearts to love Him more fully. If you've ever wondered why God allows certain struggles or why the journey feels harder than expected, this message will encourage you. God is not distant in the wilderness—He is forming you there. Join us as we open God's Word, and allow Him to continue shaping us into the people He has redeemed us to be.

In this sermon we continue our important series through the book of Exodus. When we read about something amazing in the Bible--like God parting the sea and leading former slaves to freedom--how should we respond? Is it mainly something that should make us feel good? Is it a hint that God wants to part the seas in our life--winning the battles we hope to win? As we walk through Exodus 14, we will look at what the parting of the Red Sea really does mean for our lives.

In this sermon we explore Exodus 11–12, a powerful story of God's rescue and mercy. In a moment of great fear and uncertainty, God made a way for His people to be saved and brought out of slavery. This passage reminds us that the Lord sees His people, knows their suffering, and faithfully provides deliverance when there seems to be no way forward. We'll also look to Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood was shed so that judgment would pass over us and new life could begin. Whether you're feeling weary, uncertain, or longing for hope, in this sermon we want to provide a space to hear again of God's grace and to be reminded that our safety and salvation are found in trusting Him. We would love for you to worship with us as we sing, pray, and listen for what God wants to speak into our lives.

God's people often find themselves in moments that feel overwhelming and impossible. When Moses obeyed God and confronted Pharaoh, the result was not immediate freedom, but deeper hardship: the same number of bricks, now without straw. Many of us know what that feels like. What do we do when following God seems to make life harder, not easier? In this sermon, we'll look at how God meets His people in seasons of exhaustion and frustration, and how we can continue to trust and follow Him—even when we feel we have nothing left.

In this sermon we are continuing our sermon series through Exodus with part two of the story. We'll look closely at Moses' reluctance to step into God's mission for his life—leading God's people out of slavery. Even after God promised to be with him and to work powerfully through him, Moses was convinced God had chosen the wrong person. His plea was simple and honest: "Please send someone else." At the heart of Moses' hesitation is something many of us can relate to. Before this moment, Moses had already tried to rescue his people—and he had failed badly. What do we do when God calls us to something we've already failed at? Listen to this teaching and discover how God meets us in our fear, our doubt, and even our past failures.

As we step into a new year, we're asking an honest and important question: What does it really mean to follow Jesus? In this sermon we'll look at Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3—a loving but challenging call to move beyond comfortable, halfway faith and into a life of full surrender. Whether 2025 was a year of joy, struggle, growth, or disappointment, this message speaks directly to where we are and where Jesus is inviting us to go next. Following Him was never meant to be "part-way"—it's an all-in invitation to real transformation, freedom, and life with Him. You'll hear a hopeful and grace-filled reminder that Jesus doesn't walk away from us when we struggle—He stands at the door and knocks. He offers forgiveness, clarity, rest, and renewal to anyone willing to open the door and follow Him fully. If you've felt spiritually stuck, lukewarm, or ready for something different this year, we would love for you to give a listen to this encouraging and challenging teaching about what it means to really follow Jesus.

In this sermon we're launching a brand-new Christmas series called Seeing Christmas with Fresh Eyes, and we're kicking it off by looking at a story we think we already know—Mary's. We've heard the Christmas story so many times that we forget how shocking, unexpected, and downright messy it really was. But when we pause and look again with fresh eyes, we discover a God who writes stories differently than we would… and a God we can trust even when our own lives take sharp, unexpected turns. Mary's encounter with the angel wasn't calm or polished—it was confusing, frightening, and full of consequences she didn't choose. Yet in the middle of her questions, she anchored herself to one unshakeable truth: "For no word from God will ever fail." And with remarkable faith, she prayed, "I am the Lord's servant. May Your word to me be fulfilled." Her response reminds us that when life feels unpredictable or overwhelming, we can hold tightly to what God has spoken over us—His promises, His character, and His unfailing love.