Renewal Church Podcast

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

We all run from God. There is something inside of each of us that makes us naturally gravitate towards sin. It’s the story of the Bible from page to page, but it’s only half the story. We may run from God, but He will always chase us. That is what we see in Jonah 1 — the man of God attempts to run from God, but God, in His grace will always pursue! However, sometimes His means of pursuit is not always easy. God will use many things in this life to get our attention. In this case, God uses a massive storm, and the storm will not cease until the man of God surrenders completely to God. It’s the same for us. The storm will rage until we fully surrender to the Lord of our souls. Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

Do you know how to be content in the midst of any circumstance? There is a beautiful peace when you can have confidence in Christ in the worse moments of your life and the best moments of your life. That it doesn’t matter if you are brought “low” or “high", your mind is still set on Christ.

Visit us online at: http://www.RenewalChurch.net

How do we have true peace in this world? Peace can seem like a metaphor rather than a possible reality. However, Paul tells us how we can actually have true peace. He tells us what to do with the anxieties that paralyze us. And he tells us how to do live a life that has sustained peace by disciplining our minds to focus on the things of Christ.

How do we have true peace in this world? Peace can seem like a metaphor rather than a possible reality. However, Paul tells us how we can actually have true peace. He tells us what to do with the anxieties that paralyze us. And he tells us how to do live a life that has sustained peace by disciplining our minds to focus on the things of Christ.

What do we do when we disagree with others in the church? How do we work through our differences with truth and grace? Here we see an example of two believers who disagree and are in need of reconciliation. We will look to the words of Jesus in Matthew 18 to help us understand how we are to have lasting reconciliation.

We see three distinct themes in this text — (1) discipleship, (2), the path of the unrighteous, and (3) citizenship. All of these things work together. As we move towards the goal of Christ we are to imitate those who are more mature in the faith, mindful of those around us who lead us astray, and with a mindset that we do not belong to this world. We belong to another world altogether. We are sojourners in this place and true citizenship is with Christ.