GSLCVA Podcast

Join us today as Pastor Johann discusses how we are missing the point of Jesus feeding the 5,000 if we focus on the how and the why of what He did. Instead, we should focus on Jesus' response: "YOU give them something to eat." We are often unsure and unwilling to do God's bidding. However, Jesus reminds us what a high opinion God has of believers. Through Him, we have all we need to do the Christ's work. When we do there is plenty of love, grace, and hope to go around – with leftovers to share.

As Paul finishes Romans 8, he summarizes the Gospel message in just four small, simple words. He chose "God…is…for…us!" But maybe instead of asking, "Is God for us?" we should be asking ourselves, as Abraham Lincoln urged folks to do, "Are we on God's side?" Join us today as Pastor James discusses the question: what are the ways God is for us? So that we can answer with unwavering confidence "Yes we are on God's side! We know He is for us."

We think that if we are good and work hard, everything will work out. If things do not work out, we look to explain and lay blame. Join us as Pastor Johann discusses how our lives, and our world, are a field in which what we want (good) and don't want (evil) grow side by side like wheat and weeds. We look to explain our evil and uproot it like weeds in the wheat. Instead, we should let the weeds be as our job is to love, forgive, and encourage in this mixed field of God's kingdom.

Today we talk about dirt, not a dirty story, but a parable that reflects Jesus' observations of the world in which He traveled. In the Parable of the Sower, the farmer was so slip-shod in his work that we can only conclude that it is not about farming at all. Instead, it's about God, and the seed that was sown is His grace. Join Pastor James as he examines the dirt upon which the seeds fell and the hearts and souls of the world today, as our condition as sinners is pictured in the farmer's dirt.

Life has many dualities and dichotomies; sometimes they are within us as individuals. We are pulled in two directions where our beliefs and our actions do not synchronize, often choosing the wrong path. We try to do right, but find ourselves face to face with sin. Join us as Pastor Johann discusses how we should bring our inner turmoil to the cross of Calvary, confess our sins, and renew our lives with God through His love and forgiveness.

The word "just" is an adverb that is used to make a point about something being the only, exact, or precise thing. In today's Gospel, Matthew uses the word "just" to make a surprising point. Join Pastor James as he discusses how it is "just" the smallest pause, phrase, or conversation that proves all that someone needs is a cup of cold water, Christ's love, and we are the one's blessed to give it to them.

We often think of Jesus as the "Prince of Peace." Yet peace is not easy as seen by all of the conflict and war in the world. Often conflict is caused by our personalities, which goes against the content of the Gospel message. The ultimate goal of the Gospel was, and is, not harmony on earth, but peace with God. Join us today as Pastor Johann discusses how the Gospel calls us to love God more than we love ourselves, and to be loyal and committed by prioritizing Him first.

In today's gospel text, Jesus lays before us a stirring picture as He looks out at the whole world and sees humankind as a great field to be harvested. As the Lord of the harvest, He is calling for laborers to join Him in sowing and harvesting the gospel seed. Join Pastor James as he takes a look at the ministry shared, misery seen, and ministers sought in Jesus' call for laborers to gather the harvest.

Ministry is about people, it requires courage and patience, and nobody modeled this better than Jesus did. He is the only one worth following and faith in Him means trusting in Him, even when things look hopeless. Join us today as Pastor Johann discusses how Jesus mixes things up, is attentive to our deepest needs, how He is at work in ways that will surprise us and provides affectionate attention. Through a life of faith, we have one surprising adventure after another, one without boundaries.

Did you know that "the Great Commission" ends with a promise? Often overlooked this "great Promise" is not an accident and tells us that God is with us now and forever. Join us as Pastor James discusses fulfilling the great commission, sharing the good news of God's grace in Christ through word and deed, and welcoming all into fellowship through Baptism. Christ is always with us, through good and bad, and His presence comforts, guides, and grants us the grace to be the people of God.