Renewal Church Podcast

Renewal Church exists so that people will be made new in Jesus, grow in Jesus, and be released into the world for Jesus. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Death was not the end for Jesus, and death will not be the end for us. Jesus has risen! That statement has the same power today as it did many years ago. There is no grave that could contain Him and no chains that can constrain Him. As we read through the resurrection text, we will ask the question, “How should we think about and respond to the resurrection of Christ in 2023?” Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

One thing is clear in Mark’s account of the death of Jesus — none of this is by accident. This is all according to the plan of God: the arrest, the trial, and the crown on His head. All of this is purposed by God, and in His purposed death we find our freedom from sin. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

As the disciples point out the great architecture of the buildings around them, Jesus takes a moment to warn them about what’s coming: each of those buildings will be destroyed, there will be false prophets and much tribulation, families will be divided, and, ultimately, the Son of Man will return. Jesus’ primary warning to the disciples, and to us, is that we should “stay awake.” We do not know when our king will return, but when He does, we must be awake and ready. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In this section we see the religious leaders trying to trap Jesus. Their main goal is to discredit Him in front of the crowds, and with each question Jesus masterfully responds with grace and truth. What is astonishing is that all throughout their questions they never stopped to ask, “What if He really is the Messiah?” Their questions had one motivation — they wanted to keep the power they had. At the end of this section we see a person who is the complete opposite of these religious rulers: a humble widow who approaches her offering with complete worship and dependency. The question for all of us is, “Who are we?” Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

As Jesus passed by a fig tree on His way to the temple, He took a moment to curse the tree as a reminder to the disciples (and us) of the state of the temple. The purpose of the temple was simple — worship — but it had lost its purpose. The temple in Jesus’ day had come to represent the business and socio-economic dealings of Jerusalem, and it had long since lost its posture of worship. The cursing of the fig tree is the humble reminder that if we are not fulfilling the purpose that God has given us — worship — then we have completely missed the point of our existence. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

The triumphal entry begins the final act of the gospel of Mark. The last five chapters of Mark cover one week in the life of Jesus. Jesus has finally arrived in Jerusalem, and the triumphal entry is a great declaration of intent to His people. In the past He has been careful not to openly declare His kingship. But when He shows up in Jerusalem, He openly declares who He is. Everything in this story is by Divine design. When Jesus walks into Jerusalem, He wants everyone to know the true King has arrived. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

As Jesus gets closer and closer to Jerusalem, he begins to speak more and more about what is about to happen: He is to be delivered, mocked, and killed. The disciples have failed to grasp the mission of Jesus, a failure demonstrated by the question James and John ask Jesus. They are looking to be celebrated – looking to rule – but the kind of kingdom and rule that Jesus is walking towards is not like any kingdom they have seen before. Jesus is walking towards Jerusalem as a servant, and this is the call for all of us. His desire is that we would be a people that walk in this world not to be served, but to serve. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In this text we see two groups: Those who receive the kingdom and those who don’t. Jesus focuses on a group of babies to demonstrate what it looks like to be fully dependent. A baby is fully reliant on its parents to survive. Jesus says that those who approach God like a baby will receive the kingdom. Jesus then focuses on a man who has it all — the title, the money, and the prestige. But even though he has everything, he knows that something is missing. And the question that this young man asks Jesus is very telling, he asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Within that question is a complete misunderstanding of (1) the holiness of God, (2) the depravity of man, and (3) the work of grace over works in our lives. We will never be able to earn God’s favor through our own righteousness, but rather, eternal life is received from God even though they are undeserving of it. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Divorce is one of the topics that has been both painful and divisive for the church. Jesus is clear and decisive as He teaches about divorce, and as the people of God, we must be careful to listen and obey His Word. While Jesus is clear in His words, we must admit that the teaching can be painful and hard to embrace for some. But the promise, if we would have the faith to believe it, remains: marriage is designed by God, and in it we can find joy in Christ. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

What makes someone great? Is it our reputation, our wealth, our career, or the number of material possessions we can amass? Jesus has a tendency to take our assumptions about how things should operate in this world and flip them upside down. In one moment, He challenges the disciples to flip their understanding of what it means to be great in this life. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

When the disciples are unable to cast a demon out of a young boy, Jesus reminds them all that all things are possible for those who believe. The response of the father of the young boy is a good reminder of the faith we should all have. He says, "I believe; help my unbelief." That within us all is the battle of faith and doubt. On one hand, yes, we believe, but on the other, we need divine help in our belief. We also have another important lesson in this text: the importance of prayer. Prayer is the most powerful tool we have to fight the darkness, and without it, we are without hope. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Jesus takes three of His disciples on a mountain where He is transformed to display His full divine nature. On the mountain with Him appeared Moses, the representation of the law, and Elijah, the representation of the prophets, giving testimony that Jesus is the fulfillment of both the law and the prophets. And in this moment, we get a glimpse of the full story of Scripture. The full plan of God is demonstrated by these three on the mountain. Out of fear, the disciples are much like us; they misunderstand the meaning of this gathering, and they are unsure how to respond to the divine holiness of God before them. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

We are at the turning point in the book of Mark. From this point on, the relationship between the disciples and Jesus is drastically different. Jesus asks them a question, and it’s a question that we all have to answer. He asks them, "Who do you say that I am?" And Peter’s answer brought their relationship to a new intimacy that they had not experienced to this point. When Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the text says that "He began to teach them." Now, Jesus is going to speak plainly about His mission—that He has come to suffer and die. Jesus is the Messiah who will lay down His life for our sins. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Demanding a sign, the Pharisees approached Jesus after he performed another miracle by feeding the 4,000. This leads to an important warning for the disciples. He tells them to "beware of the leaven of the pharisees and of Herod." Leaven (see note on 1 Cor. 5:6–7) is a figurative description of the self-centeredness and self-reliance that all of us are tempted to demonstrate. But these things are opposed to what Jesus is and who He calls us to be. Like Jesus, we live with humility and gratitude as we seek to share the love of Christ with others. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

At the end of the story, there is a great promise of the great renewal of all things. We have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, and today we are born again into a living hope. The hope that we live in today is a shadow of what is coming—that at the end of all things, God will bring His final renewal to His creation. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Much of the Bible points to one simple truth: God is coming for us. He is coming to redeem all that has been broken, and He has one providential plan that cannot fail. His aim was to bring His glory forth through all the world, and in His love, He came to die on a cross for sins. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In Genesis 3, we see everything move from perfect to broken—from shalom to rebellion. When Adam and Eve ate from the tree in the garden, all of God’s perfect creation was distorted, and the stain of sin that began then still rules our world today. In order to understand the redemption that is coming, we must first understand the depth of sin, the judgment of God, and our inability to make everything right on our own. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In Genesis 1–2, we see God’s creation of all things, including us as His creatures and image-bearers. Despite the creation account being just two chapters, it sets the stage for the rest of the story and gives us the theological foundation of our faith. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In one of the most surprising and confusing moments of the gospel, we see Jesus test a Gentile woman. This woman comes to Jesus, asking for His help with her daughter. Jesus’ noncommittal response is surprising and may seem offensive. He gives three comparisons: bread (his message), children (the Jewish people), and dogs (Gentiles). The woman’s response to Jesus’ surprising statement (v. 27) is both humble and persistent. As she sits before the Messiah, her faith demonstrates humility before Him, and this moment is a reminder of why Jesus came. He did not just come for the people of Israel; he came so that all nations would be blessed through Him. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

When the Pharisees question Jesus on tradition, He proceeds to completely rewrite their understanding of what really matters to God. The Pharisees had added rules and regulations to God’s law and were intent on enforcing these man-made traditions on Jesus and His disciples. Jesus responds by calling them hypocrites! The Pharisees are hypocrites for two reasons: (1) their actions are merely external and do not come from their hearts, which are far from God; and (2) their teachings are not from God but reflect the tradition of men. What about us? Do we tend to focus on the external things in life, or are we aware of the state of our heart before God? Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In this text, we get a picture of two kings—Jesus and Herod. As Jesus looks out on the massive crowd, we aren’t meant to think of Ezekiel 34, where God condemns the shepherd of Israel. Thus, the contrast between Herod and Jesus: one leads in selfishness, debauchery, and greed, and the other leads in compassion. In this moment, Jesus provides for His people as the true shepherd. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

As Jesus faces rejection in His hometown, He is not deterred from the mission to bring forth the kingdom. The rejection that Jesus and the disciples faced in Nazareth will be instruction for the disciples as they begin their own ministry and face rejection themselves. The question for us is: How are we to handle the rejection of the gospel? The good news is that we are not alone when we face rejection. Jesus and His disciples also faced rejection, and they gave us a model as to what to do when it happens. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In this text, we first see the power of Jesus as He stands in the midst of a terrifying storm and commands the winds and waves to cease. Second, we see Jesus' purpose when He meets an unclean man who has been tormented and alienated from society and frees him from the chains that have bound him. Third, we see the priority of Jesus as He demonstrates compassion for two girls. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In Mark 4, we see Jesus preach three different parables, all of which give insight into the kingdom of God. Jesus uses these parables to illustrate a significant truth. There are two groups: those who seek to understand the kingdom of God and those who don’t. For those who seek to understand, Jesus says, they receive the secret to the kingdom; but for those who don't, the kingdom is folly to them. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is one of the most debated and misunderstood sayings of Jesus during his ministry. We must first identify the difference between common blasphemy and specific blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. And why does Jesus say that blasphemies uttered by men will be forgiven but not blasphemies of the Holy Spirit? At its core, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is when a person persistently attributes to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God—that is, if one makes a flagrant, willful, decisive judgment that the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus is satanic, then such a person never has forgiveness. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In these verses, we will see five moments in the ministry of Jesus, and throughout these moments, different groups will try to define who Jesus is and what He is supposed to do. For the crowds, He was a miracle worker as He was healing sickness and casting out demons; for the disciples, He was the leader of a great healing ministry; and for the Pharisees, He was someone who was disturbing their cultural way of life. But for each group, Jesus demonstrated that there is no box that He will fit into. He has authority like no other, and He will do as He pleases. By the end of these verses, you have two groups. You have a group that is fully committed to Him, and you have another group that wants to destroy Him. What you don’t have is mild amusement, and mild amusement is where much of the culture wants to put Him today. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

"What is this? A new teaching with authority!" This is what we see Jesus do at the start of His ministry. When he calls on Simon and Andrew and tells them, "Follow me," their response is immediate. He is curing people's illnesses, casting out demons, and ultimately declaring his authority. Jesus begins to challenge cultural norms and make people question the possibilities. This is also where we begin to see the Pharisees question His authority, and that sets the stage for the rest of the gospel. The King has arrived, and His arrival has changed everything. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Mark begins his gospel by making a history-shaping claim: Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Son of God has arrived. More than that, Mark uses the word "gospel", which was a term that the Romans would use to announce to their citizens that a new authority has risen to power. But in this moment, Mark uses the term to declare that good news has come to the world: the arrival of the king—the Son of God. In the opening chapters of Mark, we see two significant moments: the baptism and temptation of Jesus. Before Jesus begins His earthly ministry, we see Him submit to His father in His baptism and fully trust in His father in His temptation. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Our hope in Christ is not just a concept, some undefined thing. It is an inheritance, something that is given to the Father’s children. Our inheritance will never get worse, and there is nothing better. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

In the person of Jesus Christ we see the fulfillment of all things. He is the one that the law of Moses points to, He is the one that all of creation has been waiting for, and He is the one we set our hope on. The very Word of God came to dwell among His very own creation, He lived a sinless life, died the death that we deserved, and rose from the grave. And all who would receive Him in faith would receive “grace upon grace.” Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

This world is filled with people, expectations, mindsets, and comforts that all claim to know the path to true happiness. Every day we are tempted to believe what they are selling, but there is only one true Light that has come to the world. There is only one true King and there is only One who is truly worthy of all our affections and worship. The reality is that all have rejected Him. We have all turned from Him, but through the death and resurrection of Christ, we can find our hope and salvation in the assurance that all who come to Him in faith, will be born again. Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Throughout the Old Testament, God was preparing for the coming of the Messiah. The Messiah would come to redeem the people of God from their sins. In the Gospel of John, we meet the final character in God’s preparation for the arrival of the King: John the Baptist. His was the voice that made the final announcement. As we prepare to celebrate the coming of our King, we need to ask: Are we prepared? Have our hearts seen the glory of the King? Visit us online at: www.RenewalChurch.net

Both the books of Genesis and the Gospel of John begin with the words “In the beginning." In both places, we see one central character, Jesus, the Son of God. His Word spoke the world into existence in Genesis 1, and through God’s providential plan of redemption for His people, that Word has come to dwell among us.

Rahab, a Gentile and prostitute, showed remarkable faith by helping the people of God in a great time of need. She displayed what it looks like to have humble faith in a great God. God has the power to redeem and restore whomever He chooses. God chose Rahab not only to assist Israel's spies, but also to include her in the lineage that would lead to Jesus Christ. Her faith would lead to the coming of the true King and Savior that we have faith in today. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Thousands of years before Jesus would die on a cross as a sacrifice for our sins, God commanded His people to offer up their own sacrifice. In the midst of the plagues that God would place on Egypt, God commanded His people to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle the blood of the lamb over their doors. This would be a sign to God that the people in that home belonged to the people of God. It was but a shadow of the ultimate sacrifice to come. That sacrifice would be the perfect sacrifice for all sins. It required faith that saved; faith in the true sacrifice that could save us from our sins. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Moses refused to live a life that enjoyed the sinful privileges of belonging to Pharaoh. Instead he remembered that he belongs to God and chose to identify with the people of God. Moses displayed real faith in the midst of the the fleeting pleasures of this world. He remembered who he is and who God is, and for us, we must remember who we are in the midst of the fleeting pleasures of this world. We belong to God, and our faith must always remain in Him. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

God gave Abraham an impossible test — the offering up of his promised son. Abraham was obedient to God, even when it could come at a great cost to him, but he held onto the promise that God would provide a sacrifice in Isaac’s place. Sometimes faith requires us to embrace the cost of following God. It’s in that space that we see God truly work in our lives and provide for us in ways that we never thought possible. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Sarah is included in the list of the name of the faithful, despite her doubting God’s power at one point. She trusted that God would bring her a son despite her age. Including her in Hebrews 11 is a testimony that having a true faith doesn’t mean that we always have perfect faith, but that we can have faith in the midst of the doubt. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Abraham was told to leave everything, his family, his home, everything he knew. All Abraham had to hold onto was a promise from God. A great promise that would lead to the blessing of all peoples on the earth. By faith Abraham obeyed God and surrendered everything to God’s purposes and plan. Even though he never saw those promises fulfilled with his own eyes, he continued to believe. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Sometimes God requires of us faith that is truly radical. It goes against every grain of our world, and the only logic that can be claimed is an unwavering commitment to a faithful God. Noah follows God’s call despite the circumstances, despite the mockery from others, and God looks at his faith and calls him “righteous.” We must walk with the same sort of faith in today’s world. A real encounter with God results in radical faith despite the circumstances and the mockery. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Enoch is one of the most mysterious characters mentioned in Scripture. There are only five verses about him in all of our Bible, but those five verses are infinitely significant. In those five verses we learn that God commended Enoch “as having pleased God, we learn that Enoch “walked with God”, and that Enoch was “taken up” by God. Meaning that Enoch did not die. The big questions we will answer is, what does it mean to walk with God like Enoch did? Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

We are all offering something in life. We give pieces of ourselves to our family, friendships, career, and for access to comforts in this world. When we do that we are putting faith in those things that I will receive something in return that is desirable. The question is, what are you offering and who are you offering it to? And, is that offering reflective of the worth of the one receiving the offering? What does your offering to God communicate about your faith in him? What does it communicate about His worthiness in your life? With Abel we see that he brought an offering to God that would result in God commending him as “righteous.” The good news for us is that there is an offering presented to God on our behalf. This offering has brought us righteousness and salvation, and it is only when we have faith in that offering that we can truly enjoy and know God. It is the offering that was presented in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Before we jump into the specific people mentioned in Hebrews 11 we first must answer some foundational questions. (1) How does the Bible define faith? (2) Does having real faith mean that a person is void of sin and suffering, and (3) Why does God specifically mention this group of people in Hebrews 11? In Hebrews 11 we see three things that are required in order for someone to have faith; Understanding, conviction, and commitment. In each person mentioned in Hebrews 11 is evidence of those three things. An understanding of who God is, a conviction to live for the glory of God, and the commitment to obey God Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

How should we use the Bible in our daily lives? By looking at what Scripture says about its own purpose and usefulness we will be able to understand how we are to grow in our faith. The Bible helps us understand who God is, who we were created to be, and what to be watchful of that would lead us astray. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Does the Bible actually hold authority over my life? How can a book with a bunch of words that was written thousands of years ago have sole authority on how I live my life? By looking at the reality of how God speaks and reveals himself, we will find joy and confidence in a God who has shown us exactly who He is. The Bible is clear in its intention, necessary for our faith, and sufficient in its authority. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

How do we know that we actually have the words of God in our Bible today? Some have said that the Bible is similar to playing the telephone game. It starts with one message, but by the time you get to the end of the line the message that is presented has been corrupted and in accurate. So, how can we know that what we have today is what God intended to tell us? By looking at the importance of original manuscripts, textual variance, and Scripture itself we will see that the Bible that we have today is trustworthy. It is trustworthy because God has ensured that what we read about Him today is exactly what He wants us to read. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

In chapter 4 we see a terrifying truth — sometimes the sins of our past have a tendency to creep back up. Even after the amazing revival in chapter 3, we see the prophet struggling with the same sin that he had in the 1st chapter. However, despite his attempts to run, God is still pursuing him. What an encouraging truth for us to rest in, that no matter what the God of the universe will still pursue us, despite our sin. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Jonah 3 starts off in the same way that Jonah chapter 1 did, the Word of the Lord comes to Jonah and calls him to go. That one verse teaches us something about our God. He is a God of second chances. It doesn’t matter what our past looks like, God loves to use broken people for His purposes and glory. God calls Jonah a second time and this time Jonah answers. And God uses Jonah to bring about the greatest missionary revival in the history of the world as the entire city of Nineveh repents of their sin and worships God! Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

In chapter 2 we meet Jonah in the belly of a whale, and it’s in that place that He rediscovers the love of God. God saved Him from certain death, and as Jonah reflects on the moment God saved him, he worships. It’s complete and underserving grace. Jonah isn’t able to truly worship until he truly understood the implications of the grace of God, and it’s no different for us. We must fully understand the magnitude of the beauty of the grace of God before we can truly worship. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net