The church is one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated communities in the world. The church is not a man-made system or structure but a family of believers, ordained by Jesus Himself for eternal purposes. This family expresses itself in smaller, local congregations around the world. In this episode, Nathan and Mike begin a conversation about the existence of the church and why it is crucial for everyone follower of Jesus to be connected to the local expression of his body.

References:

The Loveliest Place (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Loveliest-Place-Beauty-Glory-Church/dp/1433574942

What is the Church? (article) - https://www.9marks.org/article/what-is-a-church/

The book of Job features the tension between the #sovereigntyofgod and the #suffering of man, yet the conclusion is not #God giving answers for all the reasons he has allowed such #tragedy but rather a revealing of his #power and #authority. In this episode Pastors Nathan and Mike discuss God's response to Job and why the power and authority matter for us personally and for the church as a whole.

Beginning next week, Pastors Nathan Smith and Mike Crump will begin their second season of Focused on Christ with a deep dive into all things church-related. They will be asking questions like “What is the church?”, “How should a church operate?”, “is church for believers or unbelievers?”, “Can women be pastors?”, “What is the role of spiritual gifts in the local church?” and MUCH more. They will also be looking at current events and articles to discuss real issues facing the church today.

The book of Revelation is an important book for the followers of Jesus, but it is often misunderstood or hijacked for unhelpful or unbiblical purposes. The purpose of the book is to "reveal" but what is it that is being revealed and why? In this episode, Nathan and Mike look at the introduction of the book of Revelation, including the message to the churches in order to better understand what God desires for us to know.

It's no surprise that the world is growing increasingly hostile towards Jesus and his people. How then are we to live in a world that hates everything we believe and stand for in life? In this episode, Pastors Nathan and Mike look at the book of 1 Peter in order to understand our posture as sojourners in this fallen world.

Ephesians 1 provides an amazing list of the blessings of Christ. Within a handful of verses are profound statements about our identity and God's sovereignty. How should we understand these verses and what implications do they have over my life?

There is a lot of disagreement about certain gifts of the Spirit inside the church. What are these gifts for and are they all legitimate for today? Pastors Nathan and Mike discuss the importance of spiritual gifts as well as the clear scriptural boundaries placed on them.

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul gives helpful instructions for a church desiring to live a life pleasing to God. What does it look like to pursue holiness? What does this pursuit look like in a world that seems focused on sex and anger?

The book of James has led many Christians to be anxious over their salvation. What does it mean that "faith without works is dead?" How many works? What does a living faith look like? What does a dead faith look like? Is there any way to be sure of my salvation? Pastor Nathan and Mike dive into this important book and help provide clarity about the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Nathan also taught a mini-series on how to know you ae truly saved. Watch it here - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5v3wwpWU9Ef0JPpDiRy5LH2kttyhzpPv

#gospel #hope #fear #salvation #carnalchristian #deconstruction #christianity #Jesus #Bible

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the greatest act of love and power ever displayed. Inside the conspiracy and gruesomeness of Christ's trial and crucifixion, we find a Holy God working. In this conversation, Pastors Nathan and Mike walk through aspects of the crucifixion in order that our love and affection for Christ would be affected.

#jesus #bible #hope #cross #crucifixión #conspiracy #israel #power #mercy