GSLCVA Podcast

Crowds are fickle. One minute the leader is the hero and everyone is waving palm branches, singing praises, and hitting "like" on their posts. The next minute the waving palms and joy-filled cheering begin to dim as the tide begins to turn against Jesus leading to the cross on Friday. Join Pastor James as he examines the why and the how of the shouts of Hosanna on Sunday transforming into the shouts of crucify him on Friday.

In today's Gospel text we see Jesus upfront and personal. He weeps, He raises people up. He includes others in the healing process. Join Pastor James today as he shares the personal Jesus delivering the Good News of Easter.

At one time or another in life, we have encountered a dramatic and personal eye-opening experience, resulting in a newfound insight, perception, and vision. In today's Gospel text, we learn about a man blind from birth, who has a dramatic eye-opening experience with Jesus, who gains a new insight and is completely healed of his blindness. Journey with Pastor James as we see how the closer the blind healed man gets to Jesus the clearer he sees God, just as it can work for us.

Across centuries, people have gathered where food and beverages were available to tell tales, catch up on news, and stay current on the latest gossip. In today's Gospel, Jesus breaks with convention to engage in conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus used the occasion to introduce the eternal image of living water. Join us today as Pastor Johann discusses how finding Jesus is to find life, a stream of living water that cleanses the world, making all things and us new.

In today's Gospel Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dead of night seemingly having missed the central point about life in the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus has faith in God, but he does not understand how faith actually works, or where it comes from. Listen today as Pastor James explores how Nicodemus came to understand the answer to those questions and how the Holy Spirit works within us building up our faith.

Jesus was led to the wilderness to be isolated, weakened, and tempted. The wilderness experience Jesus underwent translates to us today as it serves as an example of stripping away all that we depend upon. Join us as Pastor Johann discusses the three temptations in today's Gospel of relevance, being amazing, and having it all as these temptations do not truly define us. We belong to God, have been redeemed by Him, and his truth serves to satisfy our deep and true hunger.

Lent strips us naked and lays us bare before God, revealing that we are beggars before God and deserve nothing. When ashes touch your skin, you are reminded that your life is short and that you, too, will die. However, Jesus promises to bless you, raise you from the ashes of your own death and grave, and give you eternal life. Easter promises that God always raises and blesses, filling us with hope because He raised His own Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead.

Simple words, "Listen to Him" spoken on a mountaintop. God told Peter, James and John to listen to Jesus and what He has to say. Is God just talking to the three of them? What about us living today? Join Pastor James as he answers the question, What's the real point - just who really needs to listen?

Violence, lust, infidelity, and inauthenticity are parts of our lives and communities. They seek to take hold of us and are intertwined in our choices and habits, causing deep damage to the trust we have in each other. Join us today as Pastor Johann discusses how we must go past these acts themselves, consider the heart level motivations, and make reconciliation a priority in our lives as we focus on God's love and true fulfillment.

There are times in our lives when we may think that we are insignificant. However, nothing can be further from the truth, because despite what we may think as Christians we can make an incredible difference in the world. Join Pastor James today as he discusses how when we begin to live our lives in such a way that people are attracted to Jesus Christ, and want to glorify our Father in heaven, we will know that our salt is tasty and we are lit – our light is bright.