La Porte Church of Christ Podcast

Following the resurrection, Jesus did more than comfort His disciples—He commissioned them. In Luke 24, the risen Lord grounded their faith in the reality of His resurrection, opened their understanding of the Scriptures, and sent them to proclaim repentance and remission of sins in His name. Connecting this mission with Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5, this lesson reminds us that restored people become sent people. We are called to live as witnesses of the risen Christ and ambassadors carrying the message of reconciliation to the world.

"Is It Right for You to Be Angry?" (Jonah 4:4)

Preacher: Joseph Vondenstein

When is anger justified—and when does it lead us into sin? In this lesson, we explore God’s question to Jonah in Book of Jonah 4:4: “Is it right for you to be angry?”

By examining examples of both God’s anger and man’s anger throughout Scripture, we learn that anger itself is not the problem—it’s how and why we use it. From righteous anger in response to injustice to destructive anger rooted in pride, fear, or jealousy, the Bible helps us discern the difference.

This lesson challenges us to slow down, examine our hearts, and use anger in a way that honors God—bringing about change rather than sin.

📖 Key passages: Jonah 4, Ecclesiastes 3, Exodus 32, John 2, Romans 12, Ephesians 4

In this lesson, we explore Ecclesiastes 1, where Solomon examines life lived only from an earthly perspective and reveals the emptiness of chasing success, pleasure, possessions, and wisdom apart from God. If everything beneath the sun is temporary, where can true meaning be found? We discover that while life under the sun leaves the heart empty, life centered on God gives purpose, peace, and eternal hope.

After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter by the sea—not to condemn him for his failure, but to restore him through love. Around a familiar fire, Jesus asks the question that reaches beyond Peter to every heart: “Do you love Me?” In this lesson, we explore how Christ meets us in our failures, restores us without shame, and calls us forward into faithful service. When love for Christ is real, it leads to obedience, transformation, and a renewed purpose as we follow Him.

Rehoboam started strong, chose pride over wisdom, and watched a kingdom divide. This sermon highlights the danger of arrogance, the value of godly counsel, and how God humbles hearts to bring us back to Him.

On the road to Emmaus, two discouraged disciples walked away from Jerusalem with heavy hearts and shattered expectations. Yet the risen Jesus came near, walked with them, opened the Scriptures, and transformed their sorrow into conviction. In this lesson, we explore how Christ still meets confused hearts, corrects us through His Word, and sets our hearts on fire again. When Jesus is recognized, everything changes — direction is restored, hope is renewed, and lives are turned around.

Solomon had wisdom, wealth, and unmatched opportunity—yet he fell. In this sobering lesson from the life of Solomon, we explore how wisdom, blessings, and knowledge are not enough without continued faithfulness. This sermon challenges us to guard our hearts, avoid spiritual drift, and remain faithful to the end.

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a mere event to remember — it is a reality that changes everything. In this lesson, we walk through 1 Corinthians 15 and explore how the empty tomb transforms the message we preach, the meaning of our faith, the way we face death, the way we live right now, and the way we see Jesus. Because He lives, our hope is alive, our faith is meaningful, and our future is secure. The resurrection truly changes everything.

In Psalm 9, we are reminded that praise is not based on circumstances, but on who God is. This lesson explores wholehearted praise, trusting God’s throne, finding refuge in Him, and remembering that while man is frail, God is final.

What does it really mean to be part of the family of God? In this lesson, we explore the difference between simply attending and truly belonging. Looking at the words of Jesus and the example of the early church, we are challenged to move beyond convenience and into commitment. From Luke 9:57–62, we learn that discipleship requires being all in — not divided, not delayed, and not half-hearted. When we understand that the church is not just a place we go, but a family we belong to, it changes our priorities, our presence, and our purpose.