CCRS Podcast

There are so many things to pursue on earth. You may chase hard after wealth, popularity, power, or comfort. And the world expects you to do this. But, God, has something different for you to pursue. Today, Pastor Phil will explain the exhortation to pursue peace and holiness. It involves making daily, practical choices in the pursuit of holiness. It involves stepping away from things that lead you far from God. It’s about loving others and living as Jesus lived. What choices can you make today to pursue holiness more?

Discipline and correction are sometimes seen as bad words in our culture. It can be presented as more loving to allow all behaviors. And people generally bristle at correction. It’s not really fun to be disciplined. But, as Pastor Phil explains today, it’s crucial for a father, much like God our father, to chasten and correct a child. It’s actually a very loving thing to do. It shows you love someone enough to guide them away from what will destroy them and to the best way to live and thrive.

Our culture today is muddying up the concepts of masculinity, manhood, and even fatherhood. God has given men definite and defined character qualities that are essential in the family, in the community, and in the church. Society is ruining all constructs that God has set in place. Today, Pastor Phil will encourage you to look to Jesus as your example of manhood. Don’t rely on culture’s definition of what a man is but instead model your life after the perfect man, Jesus. Sacrificial. Strong. Wise. Loving.

The apostle Paul relates your life of faith to a race. You’re to run your race with preparation, endurance, and effort. But, it’s important to remember, Pastor Phil teaches today, that you must keep your eyes fixed on the prize – Jesus, as you run. If you take your eyes off of Him, you’re likely to go off course, fall down, or forget why you’re even running. He’s the reason you’re running. He’s your strength for running. Focus on Him and always seek to know and love Him better!

Running is hard and can be exhausting! A life of faith is much like running a race. And in every race, there are moments of excitement and anticipation, but there are also moments of weariness and pain. Today, Pastor Phil explains the race that a believer is to run in life. God has set this race in front of you, and it will require effort and commitment. You can’t just sit out on your life of faith! And though your salvation rests securely on Jesus’ sacrifice, you’re to train, prepare and exert effort in faith.

Is your past full of shameful decisions and things you regret? You may fear these choices will lead God to simply forsake you as a lost cause. However, as Pastor Phil teaches today, God loves and accepts anyone who believes in Him regardless of their past. A prostitute named Rahab believed in God and saved His people, and she was forgiven of her sins and accepted by God. She was loved deeply and fully redeemed. Her life was completely changed. She was made new and you can be too by faith in Him.

There is so much in life that can cause fear to take over and block out your faith. Even when you’re walking with God, you’ll experience things that cause you to fear. Following God’s call for your life will often lead you to unknown places. In these moments of uncertainty, you have the choice to allow fear to overtake you or rest in your faith and trust God. Today, Pastor Phil will encourage you to grow and strengthen your faith through time in His word and in prayer. As you do, fear fades and peace remains.

It would be easy to assume that God would, or at least He should choose the best to accomplish His work here on earth. Yet, as Pastor Phil teaches today, God uses flawed and broken people and covers them with His grace. Despite our tendency to fall back into sin, God will still use His chosen for His purposes. His plans and purposes won’t be derailed. He’ll wrestle with you, convict you and change you into His perfect vessel to do this specific thing. Surrender to Him even now!

Trusting in God and His promises isn’t easy when you can’t see any hint of its fulfillment. Abraham struggled at first to continue to trust God. He even stumbled as he waited. Yet, because of God’s faithfulness, Abraham’s faith and trust grew. Today, Pastor Phil will explain how Abraham continued to see God’s faithfulness and goodness, and that was enough to grow His faith. You can see throughout God’s word the truth of His faithfulness and this is a powerful testimony to help you believe while you wait.

Sometimes it can be hard to believe God’s promises. Sometimes you have to wait and have faith. God promised Abraham a child. And He promised Him a Promised Land and an inheritance. But, before he saw these things, Abraham had to trust and obey God. He was called to go to an unknown land and do something he’d never done. As Pastor Phil teaches today, Abraham obeyed the call to follow and serve God, even in the mystery. He clung to God’s promises by faith and moved forward obediently and expectantly.