Escape urself Podcast

Sunday, February 27 2022

*Special Announcement*

At the close of this message, we took time to pray for the brothers and sisters we have in Christ who are in Ukraine.  The closing is based on Psalm 31.  Please take time to listen and then share this with others.

This week we are in Luke 6.  Jesus’ ministry has just begun.  The teachings and miracles have just started.  He selects 12 from among the many that have begun following Him to be His apostles.  What do you know about these men prior to their encounter with Jesus?  We will take a brief look into who they were and then dive into one of the teachings of Jesus that has changed the world.  Whether you currently believe in Jesus or not, it would be very hard to argue that His teachings have not changed the course of human history in many ways.  It would be an honor to have you join us to explore not only that change, but the change that can take place in each of us as well.

Things are changing!

Luke 5:33-39

After Jesus’ first “teaching” in His hometown they took Him out of the church service and tried to throw Him off a cliff.  What He presented on that day and throughout His ministry was a Messiah that did not fit the mold.   A Messiah that was not who they had always thought He would be.  A Messiah that did not do what they thought He should do or say what they thought He should say.

Jesus came to change things in a way that people were not prepared for.  In today’s confrontation, Jesus is questioned as to why He doesn’t do what other religious leaders do.   His answers leave them stunned but they made complete sense.  How do His answers apply today?  It would be an honor to discover that with you this week.

Thank you for listening this week!  God is doing some incredible things in our midst.  As you listen, if you are compelled by the Spirit to join us in prayer and fasting this week it would be an honor to partner with you.

May God bless you.

What did He say?

Luke 4:14-30

This week we will begin looking at all of Jesus’ teachings that are recorded in the book of Luke.  As we begin this study have you ever wondered, “What if Jesus never taught these things?”  Now I am not a what-if guy.  But in this case, we will be looking back at what Jesus taught and wondering how the world might be different today if He never had?  This is an appropriate question for today, as the world seeks to erase the teachings of Jesus.  Do the people that are attempting to pretend that Jesus did not exist have any idea of the impact His words have had on all of humanity for the past 2000 years?  We also face another challenge from those that take the words of Jesus out of context.  This can happen in the church as well as outside.   There are those who twist the words of Jesus to fit their personal feelings or agenda rather than allow His words to help form them into the person Jesus desires them to be.

These are a few of the reasons why it is so important for us to know what He taught, to know what it means, to see how it applied to those He was speaking to as well as how it applies to us today.  What an honor it is to learn from His Word together with you.

Sunday, February 6 2022

How important is He to you?

Your first thought might be, “whose He?”  Great Question.  He is Jesus.  From that point, there are many ways to answer the question.  If you are not a follower of Jesus yet, then you might respond “He’s not important at all.”  It only makes sense.  If you are a life-long follower of Jesus then you might respond “He means everything to me!”  Which is wonderful.  But most of us probably fit somewhere in between.  Oh yes, Jesus is important to us but…

If you did a quick evaluation of your life to see how involved Jesus is what would you find.  How are His teachings are evident in your life?  How is His love is shown through you?  How important is He to you?  This week we look at the lives of 3 different people and see how important Jesus was to them.  He longs to have the same relationship with you as well.

In the book of Luke, the closest followers of Jesus were able to hear, see and experience some amazing things.  None more amazing than what happens in Luke 9 to three of Jesus’ closest friends Peter, James, and John.  Even with all of the miracles and teachings of Jesus, the disciples struggled to fully understand who Jesus was and what He came to do.

If those that were closest to Jesus at the time struggled, then is it any wonder that people today have struggles as well?  That is why it is such an honor to get to share the story of Jesus’ life with you.   To talk about difficult topics, to help us all understand the teachings of Jesus and how they apply to our lives today.  Please join us as we learn and grow together.  If you are searching for truth in this world, God is excited to reveal it to you.

Thank you for listening and please share this with those that need to hear about Jesus.

What would you say?

Luke 9

Have you ever read about the miracles of Jesus?  Throughout His ministry on Earth Jesus performed countless signs and wonders.  Each of them revealed how much He personally cared about the individual or individuals who were impacted.  Each miracle also allowed Jesus to reveal who exactly He was.  These signs and wonders revealed the power of God over every element of the physical and spiritual world.  The impact of these miracles combined with the teachings of Jesus have changed the world.

As we continue this week with one of the most famous miracles of all found in Luke 9, we pray that you will consider joining us.  We pray that what Jesus did then will open your mind and heart to what He wants to do now in your life.

***Please note that there are about 5 minutes of the message missing.  The recording software locked up during the message.  Thank you for your understanding.

January is half over…how has the year started for you?

Maybe your year is off to a great start!  What a blessing that is.  Maybe you have already had some struggles and difficulties in this new year.  Maybe the uncertainties that surround us have already begun to overwhelm you.  The culture we live in is based on fear.  Fear of the known.  Fear of the unknown.  The world wants us to live in fear.  Jesus does not.

We have started this new year looking at the miracles of Jesus as recorded by Luke.  This week there are two desperate people who have sought out Jesus in faith, believing that someway somehow, Jesus can help them.  Even when the situation changes and all hope seems to be lost Jesus assures the man “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”  That is hard to do.  Please join us as we discover what that looks like for us in this new year.  We welcome you just as you are.

Thanks for listening!  Please, share with others that are in need around you.

The New Year is off and running!

By the end of this next week, the month of January will already be half over.  How has the year started off for you?  Are you headed in the direction you hoped to be or have there already been setbacks?  As we head into this New Year we are striving to let God be God.  To fully turn things over to Him.  To allow Him to change us in this new year.  We want to declare together in this New Year that Jesus is the most important thing that we all have in common as the Church.  No matter what comes our way, what challenges await, we agree to put Jesus first above all else!  It would be a blessing to have you join us.

As we start the New Year, we are looking at the miracles of Jesus through the writings of a man named Luke.  Luke is writing so that we may be certain of the things which we believe.  His words will help grow your faith as a believer.  But these same words can help lead you to faith if you are searching.  This week Jesus challenges His disciples to answer the following question, “Where is your faith.”  He asks us the same question today.

Sunday, January 2 2022 @ 10:00 a.m.

Happy New Year!  It is incredible to think that the New Year is here already.  God has chosen to give us another day in a New Year!  God has great plans for you!  He has great plans for us, the church here at Berea!  He wants to use us in ways we have never dreamed before!  He wants to grow us closer to Him than we have ever been.  He wants to move us to become a closer more loving community than we could ever imagined.  And we want to invite you to join us!

As we start the New Year, we are looking at the miracles of Jesus through the writings of a man named Luke.  Luke is writing so that we may be certain of the things which we believe.  His words will help grow your faith as a believer.  But these same words can help lead you to faith if you are searching.  This week’s miracles show us a man whose faith amazes Jesus.  Imagine having faith that amazes the very one that the faith is in!  The second miracle allows us to see the compassion that Jesus has for those that are hurting.  What He did in that moment caused all those there to be filled with awe and wonder.  We cannot wait to share both of these with you as we start this year together.

The final week of the Christmas series

The Wonderful Words of Christmas.  What is your favorite word that is associated with Christmas?  There are so many words that you really only hear this time of year, which one is your favorite?  Is it from a song?  Is it a greeting that you hear?  Maybe it is a word that is found within the text of Jesus’ birth.   This week some from within the church sent in their favorite words of Christmas.  We will be sharing how these words tie directly into the birth of Jesus as well as how we can use these words of Christmas to share the true meaning of the holiday with all of those that are celebrating around us.

Maybe you have questions about Christmas.  Maybe this season has been a difficult one for you and your family.  Please consider joining us this week and see why you actually might be the reason for this season.

Thank you for listening!  We look forward to great things again in the New Year!