Passion City Church DC Podcast

“The peace of God is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of flourishing.” — Kicking off The Missing Peace series, Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with God’s solution to the lack of peace we often feel in our lives. We see that the solution is not a list of principles; it’s a person: the Prince of Peace. The hope we can have today is knowing that even when everything is falling apart, we have the Prince of Peace, and we can trust Him. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Closing out the Trust Issues series, Pastor Ben Stuart answers this question: How can we know that the Scriptures we hold today are what was written down originally? In this message, we take a look at the history of the preservation of the Scriptures concluding that we can have confidence that they hold true and we see God’s true heart for His people. — God preserved His Word so you would know that He came for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Continuing our Trust Issues series, Dr. Darrell Bock from Dallas Seminary walked us through an exploration of one of the big questions that many of us struggle to reconcile: what about the gap between when events occurred and when they were written down? Can we have confidence that the Scriptures we hold today faithfully recount the life and work of Jesus? Dr. Bock explains three things that help us understand the gap: orality, memory, and eye-witnesses. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Christian hypocrisy is maximized when the resurrection of Jesus is minimized.” — What if the greatest barrier to Christianity is Christians? Kicking off our new series, “Trust Issues,” our friend Timothy Ateek from Breakaway Ministries joins us this week to talk about what happens when Christians become calloused to the beautiful reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Timothy Ateek reminds us that the resurrection gives us freedom from the past, power in the present, and hope for the future! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You want to marry someone you trust. This week Pastor Ben Stuart closes out the Survival Skills series by taking a look at Proverbs 31 and what to look for in a spouse. Proverbs 31 describes a trustworthy woman: one who is prudent and shrewd, has grit and perseverance, is industrious and generous, and is sacrificial and thoughtful. — “As you enter into the difficulties of life, you want someone who has your back, isn’t going to stab you in the back.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Words are powerful. For many of us, some of our deepest pains are because of what someone said or didn’t say to us. A simple arrangement of words has the power to drastically change a situation and perspective. — The book of Proverbs encourages us to apply wisdom to the way we use our words. Will we build others up with the way we communicate, or will we use are words to tear others down? This week Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through how honest truth, spoken at the right time with the right intention in mind, has the ability to be life-giving to ourselves and others. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Money can build a house, but it can’t build a home. Money can give you food on a table but it can’t give you fellowship.” In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart takes a look at what the book of Proverbs has to say about money. It has power, and can be used to build up or tear down. Proverbs helps us to see money as a gift from God and gives us wisdom about how to handle it well. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When we look at the grand scope of our lives, we see that most of us spend the majority of our time at work. As believers, how do we navigate the work world in a way that’s glorifying to God and life-giving to others? — In this powerful message, Mike Distefano challenges us to use the power we’ve been given in the workplace for the good of those around us. In a society that often seeks self-promotion and personal success, we have the opportunity to choose a different path. By understanding our identity as children loved dearly by God, we get to enter the work world FROM and place of acceptance and not FOR it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In an overly sexualized world, we often find ourselves feeling lonely, as emotional intimacy has been separated from sexuality. In this week’s message Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us that we are not made to give our bodies without our hearts. Each of us have the opportunity to have relationships that are healthy, life-giving, and glorifying to God. In this powerful message we learn how to build relationships that flourish, trading in a consumer mentality for a covenant mentality. What kind of mentality are you approaching your relationships with? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 — As humans, we’re all hardwired for community. Isolation as a whole is not good for the human machine. That’s why a form of torture is solitary confinement - being completely separated from human interaction. The question, however, is what kind of community are we surrounding ourselves with? — In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart guides us through what the book of Proverbs has to say about friendships. The truth is, the people we walk with determine our path. Are those within your community pointing you toward a life of flourishing or a life of destruction? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“Love is disadvantaging yourself for others. Foolishness is disadvantaging others for yourself.” — The book of Proverbs describes two paths in life: the way of the fool and the way of the wise. In this part of our Survival Skills series, Pastor Ben Stuarts teaches us through both paths, challenging us to seek humility as our first step toward a life that flourishes. With humble hearts and desire for wise council, each of us can set our feet on the path of the wise. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // “What you need most in life is not a change of circumstances. We as humans are capable of messing up even the most ideal of circumstances. What we truly need most in life is the ability to flourish regardless of our circumstances.” — This week Pastor Ben Stuart kicked off our new series, Survival Skills: Wise Moves in a Wild World. The truth is, the world we live in is messy and unpredictable. But the good news is that Scripture gives us a guide to flourish regardless of what comes our way. In this new series, we’ll dig into the book of Proverbs in hopes of strengthening the muscle of wisdom in our lives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // There is a deep desire in the hearts of humanity to be known, valued, and recognized. In today’s culture, we are encouraged in this idea that it’s all about us, our fame, and making our name known. But what happens when the follower count isn’t enough? What do we do when we seek fame and are left feeling empty? The truth is, we will never find satisfaction in self-absorption, but we will find it in radical self donation. In this game-changing message, Pastor Ben Stuart poses a challenging question to each of us: Are you building a tower for your own glory, or are you using your life as an altar for His? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

“We have the power of life + death in our mouths today.” — On ABOVE + BEYOND Sunday, Pastor Louie cast vision for the future of our House and took us through the idea that our future is ultimately shaped by what we believe + humbly speak for our lives. This is a look at the BEYOND we believe God is calling our House towards. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // What does it look like to connect with the Spirit of God? We all have a desire for a spiritual walk, but how do we know that our lives are truly being guided by the Spirit? True spirituality is not a life free from struggle, rather, it’s constant dependence on God in the midst of pain. With the Word of God educating us, the Spirit of God empowering us, and the community of God carrying us, we have the tools we need to live lives that glorify Jesus! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // We all want to be connected to something that takes us further than we’d go on our own. We all want to be a part of something greater, something spiritual. But what is true spirituality? — This week Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through the meaning of spirituality. To truly be spiritual is to be rightly related to the Spirit of God, and the beautiful thing is that God wants that for us. That’s why He sent His son to die on the cross. Not just so that we’d be forgiven, but so that the barrier of sin could be moved out of the way and we could return to intimacy with Him. — Will you join us ask we ask the Spirit to hoist the sails of our lives and guide us through the days ahead? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Louie Giglio // Jesus is the ultimate place-maker. Through Him everything around us was created, and by His sacrifice, a place for us was made in His Father’s House. — As followers of Jesus, we are called to be place-makers in our own right. To set the table for the people of our city to sit at and experience all God has for them. This is how we step into a broken and wandering world, with open hands and a place made ready; but in order to do that, we will need to be willing to go above and beyond where we’ve ever been before. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // As we continue our journey through the book of Ephesians, Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through the new way of life described in Ephesians chapter 4. — When God gets ahold of our hearts, our way of life changes. Our new identity in Christ brings new activities in our lives. The way we speak changes. The way we treat people changes. These new ways of life don’t come from a place of striving to earn acceptance, but from a place of already being accepted. — When we are adopted into the family of God, we join the mission of being a fountain of life for the world. How are you bringing life to the world around you? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // The spirit of God is all about unity. In Ephesians Chapter 4, we are called to bear with one another in love. When we love each other, we love God. This is the heart of unity. — In a culture with increasing individuality, we may start to think that unity means uniformity, but this is not the case. In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart explains how unity and diversity go hand in hand. When we link arms with those who are different than us, we’re stepping into a greater God-story. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // The people that are making the greatest difference in the world are the ones that have had a difference made inside of them. — Sometimes life gets hard. What’s left to catch us when the bottom falls out from under us? This week, Pastor Ben Stuart talks about the importance of letting Jesus dwell in all areas of our lives. — When Christ is able to enter all areas of our heart, we become rooted and grounded in love. It is here that our lives begin to look different. Sometimes the best change doesn’t come from a change in circumstances, but a change in perspective. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // In a day and age where there seems to be rapid growth in hostility between people groups, God is calling us back into the family. — This week Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us in a message about unity. In a breakdown of Ephesians Chapter 2, we find that the grounds for unity is humility, and the goal of unity is Glory. When we love each other with a contributing spirit instead of a critical one, Jesus gets the glory! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 — New identities bring new activities. When we accept the gift of grace and are raised with Christ, our lives begin to take on new activities. It is not because of our actions we are saved. Rather, it is because we are saved that our lives begin to look different! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // The best change is not a change in circumstances but a change in perspective. — In week two of our Worthy series, Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through the second half of Ephesians 1. Here, Paul prays for the Church in Ephesus with a notable approach. Paul doesn’t ask God to do something new for His people. Instead, he asks that our eyes be opened to the beauty of who God is and what he’s done for us. — The more we know who God is, the more we know who we are. There is purpose, peace, and confidence in those who know Him. From there, true life change begins. Do you know what you have? Do you know who you are? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // Partakers become proclaimers. When we taste and see that The Lord is good, the most natural thing to do is celebrate Him! — To kick off our new series, Worthy, Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through the spiritual blessings we’ve been given in Christ (Ephesians 1). These gifts are offered freely to us. All we have to do is say yes! — As we begin to understand the gifts we have in Christ, our most natural response will be to worship Him! We are made to worship the things that have value and God is the most valuable thing. He is worthy! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // Because the world of information can be tapped into at any moment, it has invaded every moment. — What do we run to when we’re in pain? What do we do when we’re uncomfortable? The truth is, many of us tend to look for ways to distract ourselves from what’s really going on within us, usually through technology. — This week Pastor Ben Stuart challenges us to turn away from diversions and toward intimacy with Jesus. What if we sat with our Creator in moments of discomfort rather than numbing our pain with distraction? If we stopped to listen, we might find that God is trying to speak to us. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // There’s a tendency in us to run from the leadership of God, and there’s a tendency in God to chase after us. We love that about Him when it involves us or people we like, but what about when that same grace is extended to our enemies? — In Jonah chapter 4, Jonah is angry with God for offering grace to his enemies. Jonah’s problem is with love. This week Pastor Ben Stuart challenges us with this question: Do we have a problem with love like Jonah does? Are we able to extend the same grace to others that God has extended to us? — While we were Jesus’s enemies, He died for us. Having experienced this great love, may we share the same love to everyone in our lives! After all, those who know grace show grace. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // The grace of God is powerful enough to save anyone. The heart of God is compassionate enough to want to. — If your heart is going to beat in rhythm with God’s, you need to know what His heart is like. God never counts people out. In compassion, He moves toward the hurting. He dives into the depths and rescues the lost, and He doesn’t stop there! He uses our pain as a platform to invite us into His rescue mission. — God used Jonah’s biggest embarrassment for his biggest ministry, and He can do the same with us. We don’t have to have mountains of wisdom, we just have to need God share how His grace met us in our mess. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // There’s a tendency in God to chase us and give us life, not because of something beautiful in us; because of something beautiful in Him. — That's the thing about a gift. Whether you feel worthy or not doesn’t matter. God's love is not motivated by or contingent upon your worthiness, after all, grace is when undeserving people receive an unbelievable gift from an unobligated giver. — Grace is a gift, and to honor the Giver we have to not only accept, but enjoy the gift. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // Washington D.C. In 1981 Steve Callahan's 21-foot sailboat was holed beyond repair sometime in the middle of the night. For the next 76 days he drifted in nothing but a life raft. Having lost a third of his body weight, dehydrated and starving, Steve Callahan fashioned three pencils into a device that allowed him to gather his bearings from two fixed points in the sky, steer himself into a current, and survive. — Fixed points are the only things that we can really use to find our bearings, and in this message from Pastor Ben Stuart we look at the journey of Jonah to find two fixed realities that we can use to know the direction God is wanting us to head, and we must, for the storms are coming and without the proper directions we will not make it through. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pastor Ben Stuart // We all love stories; tales of good and evil, legends of heroes and tragedies of villains. It's why we flood into bookstores and theatres, to escape into stories we believe could never be our own. — But here's the thing, many of us will walk through life without realizing that we are actually a part of the greatest story that has ever unfolded. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus isn't isolated to scriptures and sermons, it's the moment where all of our stories went from hopeless to filled with possibility. — Afterall we are all guilty, separated from God by our sinful nature. A cursory glance around proves to you no matter what your thoughts on God that there is something broken in humanity. But Easter, Easter is the realization of the greatest Hero of all time. A Savior who took on the Cross for each of us; declaring the death of death and the beginning of Life for all who put their faith in Him. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.