CCW Podcast

If ever a man lived under the pressure of temptation it was Paul, the apostle. In one passage, he talks about being ”hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Yet this amazing man always seemed to find a way of escape. When faced with a temptation, he invariably came through to victory. Paul, therefore, is qualified to speak on the subject of temptation. Are you facing temptation? If, so are you standing your ground or going under? This Sunday, we will look at 1 Corinthians 10:6-13), which tells us how to have Liberty Over Temptation.

We have made it CCW! It’s taken 10 weeks, but we are closing out the freedom book of the Bible this Sunday. Paul does not tiptoe his way to the close. He ends with a grand finale. He pens one of the most important lines in all of scripture, "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Paul makes a freedom declaration: to enjoy the liberty of being a Christian, we must forgo the counterfeit vanities this life affords, and follow fully the cure from our curse - the Cross of Christ! Without the Cross of Christ there is no Christianity. Thank God for the Cross! Isaac Watts penned these words:

“When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.”

Join us for this Sunday's message as we bring closure to the sermon series, Of Life and Liberty - The Freedom Cross.

If we aren’t vigilant as Christians, we can put ourselves on a pedestal and begin to disregard those who don’t seem to measure up. In Galatians 6, Paul warns those who are growing to 1. restore anyone who has fallen and 2. bear the burdens of fellow believers. He uses the picture of farming to illustrate the importance of living in the liberty of sowing good seed at every opportunity, with a resulting promise of productivity: “And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we will reap if we do not faint” (Galatians 6:9). Join us this week as we continue our sermon series Of Life and Liberty - Freed to Lead.

Have you ever seen fruit growing apart from the vine, tree, or plant to which it was connected? Of course not! It is impossible for fruit to flourish or even stay alive if disconnected from its source.

In our walk with Christ, we must stay in His presence or we will not mature or bear spiritual fruit. Paul implores the Galatians to walk in the freedom all of us have through the Holy Spirit to strengthen us against the flesh. In His Spirit is the marker of Jesus for every believer enabling them to have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Join us Sunday as we look at Freed to be Fruitful.

Have you ever said, "I just can't resist __________" (fill in the blank)? Paul says, in Galatians 5:17, "The Flesh fights the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things you wished." Every human existence is saturated by this conflict of Flesh and Spirit. You have already dealt with it several times today. It is like a daily tug of war, and whichever side we resist will be the one that is starved. This Sunday we will look at the mind, motives, and movement of this battle, and how we can be "Freed from the Flesh."

In Galatians 5, Paul talks about two things that never seem to go together - running and baking. He said in Galatians 5:7, “you ran well” but then... a little leaven got in and “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). It didn't take much leaven - just a little and distraction sets in. We will face many temptations and distractions. From the beginning of our day with our quiet time, Satan will attack us and try to take our focus off God and others, causing our walk to be ineffective. Paul says don't get caught up in dissensions temptations, and distraction, instead LOVE! Join as we continue Our sermon series Of Life and Liberty - Freed to Love.

In 1970, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song we used to sing often in church with the line: "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God - I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by his blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod…” I hope you have lived to see what it means to have a Church family! In Galatians 4, Pauls says we went from slavery to freedom as heirs, sons, and children adopted through Jesus. We went from slavery to children of a King, and that should change the way we view life's circumstances. We are heirs of all the resources of the King! I am so glad to be a part of the family of God! Join us as we continue our sermon series Of Life and Liberty - Freed to be Family.

Have you ever felt tricked? Paul says, “Who has bewitched you…?” (Galatians 3:1) Throughout the ages, legalism has been a ploy of Satan to bewitch God's people into realm of "Grace Plus.” Legalism is a congregational killer! We are reminded that to "rely on works of the law" isn't a roadway to righteousness, but to a curse. The law is not freedom, but it points us to our need for Jesus Christ’s grace alone for freedom. Join us as we continue our sermon series Of Life and Liberty - Freedom from Legalism.

You got some kind of problem or something? Just saying that phrase sounds like fighting words. The truth is we all have some kind of problem, and the biggest problem might be refusing to admit we have a problem. This Sunday we are continuing our sermon series, Of Life and Liberty. We’ll study Galatians 2 and talk about fighting for freedom by handling problems.

Have you ever stood and watched something unbelievable? A sunset, the ocean, a rainbow, or a monument like the Grand Canyon? The feeling of looking at God's handiwork can best be described as awe-inspiring. There’s no doubt some things can only be attributed to an incredible God.

The transformation in Paul's life, mentioned In Galatians 1 and Acts 9, is as awe-inspiring as the masterpieces we see in creation. Saul’s (Paul) life was radically changed when he saw Jesus; he would be forever freed! Everybody could see a difference. His life was dramatically affected by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. Nothing was the same for Saul, and it never would be again.

Join us this Sunday as we continue our new sermon series, Of Life and Liberty, to hear the testimony of "The Greatest Missionary ever Freed.”