LF podcast

This week, Pastor Nate continued in Romans 12.

Romans 12:1–3 reminds us that following Jesus changes not only what we do, but also how we think. We must first recognize the pressure of the world around us. Every day, the world seeks to shape our thinking, priorities, and perspective, but God calls us to something different: the renewing of our minds.

A renewed mind isn’t simply the result of reading our Bibles. Renewal happens when what we read in God’s Word begins to change how we see and interpret everyday life. It’s when biblical truth shapes the way we respond to our circumstances, relationships, decisions, struggles, and even an ordinary Tuesday afternoon.

As Romans 12:2 teaches, rather than allowing the world to conform our thinking, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. God’s Word should become the lens through which we understand and live every part of our lives.

Pastor Nate will continue “A Renewed Mind” in two weeks as we continue our journey through Romans 12.

After years of returning to Ecuador, Anthony Parker has seen firsthand how simple obedience can bear incredible fruit. He joins Shane to share what God has done through long-term relationships, why you don’t need special skills to serve, and how living on mission starts right where you are.

A Church I Want to Belong To | Acts 2:42–47

During Family Worship today, we looked at the early church in Acts 2 and saw a beautiful picture of what the church is called to be.

The early believers were devoted. They committed themselves to the teaching of God’s Word, to genuine fellowship with one another, and to prayer. These weren’t simply activities they attended; they were priorities that shaped their lives together.

As they lived with this kind of devotion, they experienced the presence of God among them. Their belief in Jesus changed the way they viewed the here and now. The Gospel transformed their priorities, their relationships, and the way they cared for one another, bringing them into a deep unity as the body of Christ.

And that kind of church was attractive to the world around them. People could see that something was different. Their love for Jesus was evident in their love for one another, and God used their faithfulness to draw others to Himself.

May we be a church devoted to God’s Word, committed to one another, faithful in prayer, and living in such a way that those around us see Jesus through us.

Today, Pastor Nate continued in Romans with a message from Romans 12:1–2 about what it means to live a life fully surrendered to Jesus.

We behave in accordance with what we believe. When we truly understand the mercy of God and what Jesus has done for us, it changes the way we live. Because Jesus gave Himself completely for us, our response should be to give ourselves completely to Him. Surrender is our response to God’s mercy. We don’t have to earn or chase after His mercy. Mercy is running to us. It has already been given!

What does a surrendered life look like?

Surrender starts with submitting to God. James 4:7

Surrender looks like humility. 1 Peter 5:6

Surrender requires discipline.

Surrender means knowing what is helpful and what is hurtful in our walk with Christ.

Surrender is continual. It isn’t a one time decision, but a daily choice to give ourselves to Him.

Surrender is worship. Offering our lives to God is an act of worship in response to His mercy.

Romans 12 reminds us that God isn’t asking for just a portion of our lives. He desires all of us, including our plans, priorities, desires, habits, and decisions, surrendered to Him.

As we reflect on today’s message, Pastor Nate left us with an important question:

What do you need to put on the altar and surrender to Jesus so He can use you for His glory?

Because Jesus gave Himself completely for me, I’ll give myself completely to Him.

We were grateful to have Pastor Nate back with us today as he walked us through a recap of Romans 9–11 and reminded us of the faithfulness of God and the power of the Gospel.

One truth stood at the center of the message: Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus. Salvation is not about what we do or don’t do—it is found in believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.

As Paul addressed the growing church in Rome, he called Jews and Gentiles toward unity, reminding them that God had not rejected His people. Even in Israel’s rejection of the Gospel, God was still at work carrying out His purposes.

Pastor Nate reminded us:

1. God’s hardening of Israel does not mean He has abandoned His people.

God was faithful then, and He is faithful now.

2. God’s hardening of Israel will not last forever.

God is still working, even when we cannot see the full picture.

As the Church, we must also be mindful of the enemy’s desire to divide what God is bringing together. Instead of arrogance or division, we are called to humility, unity, and faithfulness to the Gospel.

And our responsibility is clear:

Be faithful in sharing with people how they can be saved, not calculating how many will be saved.

The results belong to God. Our calling is to faithfully share the good news of Jesus!

From Pride to Peace | Luke 7:36–50

This morning, Pastor Brennan reminded us that when we truly understand the depth of our sin and the greatness of God’s forgiveness, it changes the way we respond to Jesus.

In Luke 7, we see two very different hearts—one marked by pride and another overwhelmed by gratitude. The woman who came to Jesus understood how much she had been forgiven, and her response was wholehearted love and worship.

Pride reveals our greatest need. We must first recognize our need for a Savior.

Pardon cancels our greatest debt. Jesus offers the forgiveness we could never earn or accomplish on our own.

Passion flows from true forgiveness. When we understand how much we have been forgiven, gratitude and devotion naturally follow.

Peace comes through faith. Our peace isn’t found in our performance, but in trusting Jesus and the forgiveness He provides.

The gospel moves us from pride to pardon, from pardon to passion, and ultimately to peace. May we never lose sight of how much we have been forgiven—and may our lives reflect a deep love for the One who forgave us.

In this week's message, Dr. Stan reminded us of a powerful truth that should shape every part of our walk with Christ: God is for you.

Using the life of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 16, we were challenged to examine where our trust truly lies. God promises to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. For those who walk in faith and obedience, He gives victory—not because of who we are, but because He sought us, saved us, and is for us.

If God is for us, we have nothing to fear. Instead of relying on the world's solutions, we are called to depend fully on Him. As we fill our hearts and minds with God's truth rather than the "garbage" of the world, His wisdom begins to shape our thoughts, decisions, and actions.

Dr. Stan also challenged us to consider what spiritual maturity really looks like. A disciple isn't someone who remains dependent on "spiritual baby food," but someone who has grown enough to help others learn to "cut their own steak." True disciples make disciples.

The message closed with several questions for personal reflection:

Are we relying fully on God or looking to the world to solve our problems?

Are we using our God-given talents for His glory or for worldly pursuits?

Are our relationships drawing us closer to Christ and honoring Him?

The Christian life is not about reaching a destination of perfection—it is about continually growing to become more like Jesus. Growing in Christlikeness is a lifelong journey, and we can walk that journey with confidence because God is for us.

Romans 11:13–24

This Sunday, Pastor Nate continued through Romans 11 with a reminder that God’s grace should produce humility, not arrogance.

Pastor Nate reminded us that we were rescued, not rewarded. Everything we have in Christ is because of His grace. That truth should keep us from looking down on those who are far from God and instead move us to pray for them, love them, and desire for them to experience the same grace that saved us. As we grow in Christ, we should become more humble and gentle—not arrogant and harsh.

Finally, God’s kindness should encourage us to end well—continuing in faith and trusting in Christ. May we never lose sight of the grace that rescued us, and may that grace shape how we live, serve, and point others to Jesus.

God's Grace Is Greater Than Our Failure

Romans 11:11–12

Failure is never the end of the story with God. In Romans 11:11–12, we were reminded that God never wastes a failure. Israel's unbelief opened the door for the Gentiles to hear the gospel, demonstrating that God can accomplish His purposes even through human disobedience—without ever approving of it. God keeps His promises, and He is never finished with those who have rejected Him.

As followers of Christ, our lives should reflect the joy, hope, and blessing of knowing Jesus, drawing others to desire Him. Through faith in Christ, we become part of God's covenant family, and we look forward to the day when God's promises are fully fulfilled.

The greatest example of God bringing victory from what looked like defeat is the cross. What appeared to be the darkest moment in history became the means of salvation for the world. God's grace truly is greater than our failure.

Key Takeaways:

God never wastes a failure.

God keeps His promises even when people fail.

Our lives should point others to Jesus.

God's greatest blessings often come through what appears to be defeat.