Live It Out Podcast

The Rhythm of Abiding: Moving from Exhausting Busyness to Spiritual Wholeness"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)We are continuing our sermon series, "The Greenhouse Effect," examining how God places us in intentional environments so we can grow. In this message, "Human Flourishing," Pastor Tom Ragsdell unpack John 15 to show what true, biblical success looks like.Our culture often measures success by high performance, constant production, and how much we can pack into our schedules. But Jesus challenges this exhausting pace by reminding us that spiritual growth and real flourishing do not come from working harder—they come from simply learning to abide in Him.

Full Transcript: https://columbiafirstassembly.com/2026/06/22/human-flourishing-stop-striving-to-please-god-start-abiding-in-him/Key insights from this message include:🔹 THE GARDENER'S PRUNING: Understanding that when God cuts back certain areas or habits in our lives, it isn’t a punishment; it’s an intentional pruning process designed to make us even more fruitful.🔹 THE SECRET TO ABIDING: Discovering that "remaining" in Jesus means keeping our hearts tender, resting in His presence, and allowing His Word to shape our thoughts and desires daily.🔹 CHOSEN AT THE FEET: A powerful look at the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10, highlighting why sitting at the feet of Jesus must always take priority over the anxiety of serving out of our own strength.🔹 APART FROM ME: A sobering reminder that any effort we make independent of the Holy Spirit ultimately withers, while a yoked life connected to the True Vine naturally produces lasting joy and peace.If you are feeling weary from the constant demands of life, struggling to maintain your spiritual passion, or ready to shift your focus from endless activity to genuine spiritual depth, this message provides a roadmap to real restoration.If you need prayer, please comment below or send us a direct message. We would love to pray with you and for you.Columbia First Assembly1100 North 7th StreetColumbia, Missouri 65201We are a multi-generational, pentecostal church on mission with Jesus. Our vision is simple. We want to make Jesus famous in your heart and in our community. We are a church of the Word and a church of the Spirit. We believe Jesus can transform your life. We want to help you know God, grow in God, and share hope in our community.If you are in Central Missouri and looking for a home church, we would love to meet you in person. If you are joining us online, connect with us in the comments and let us know how we can serve you.

Discover why true spiritual growth requires us to move past religious tradition and embrace a childlike surrender as Pastor Tom Ragsdell kicks off a new series on the Greenhouse Effect."Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised by my saying, 'You must be born again.'" (John 3:6-7)We are launching a brand new sermon series called "The Greenhouse Effect." In this inaugural message, "Inconvenient Truths Regarding Spiritual Growth," Pastor Tom Ragsdell and Ellis Benus dive into John 3 to look at the famous late-night conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus.While our culture pushes a self-help mindset that tells us we can fix our own lives, Jesus presents a truth that can feel incredibly uncomfortable: if we want to experience the Kingdom of God, we cannot rely on our credentials or halfway commitments—we have to be completely undone and born again.Key insights from this message include:🔹 THE INTENTIONAL ENVIRONMENT: Understanding how God acts as a gardener, using greenhouses like the Christian family and the local church to protect us, cultivate our character, and accelerate our growth.🔹 CHILDLIKE FAITH: Learning from Nicodemus' raw humility that stepping into true spiritual maturity requires us to become teachable, trusting, and fully surrendered to Jesus' care.🔹 CRIPPLED BY EXCUSES: A look at Jesus' parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14, warning us against letting the busy demands of careers, money, or relationships keep us from responding to God's invitation.🔹 THE YOKE OF TRANSFORMATION: Recognizing that when we pray, God often chooses to change us and renew our minds rather than simply fixing our external circumstances.If you are tired of trying to manage your own spiritual journey, feeling empty despite your religious routines, or needing the courage to let the Holy Spirit reshape your habits, this message offers a powerful path toward real, lasting regeneration.Full Transcript: https://columbiafirstassembly.com/2026/06/15/inconvenient-truths-regarding-spiritual-growth-the-greenhouse-effect/If you need prayer, please comment below or send us a direct message. We would love to pray with you and for you.Columbia First Assembly1100 North 7th StreetColumbia, Missouri 65201We are a multi-generational church on mission with Jesus. Our vision is simple. We want to make Jesus famous in your heart and in our community. We are a church of the Word and a church of the Spirit. We believe Jesus can transform your life. We want to help you know God, grow in God, and share hope in our community.If you are in central Missouri and looking for a home church, we would love to meet you in person. If you are joining us online, connect with us in the comments and let us know how we can serve you.#ColumbiaFirstAssembly #TheGreenhouseEffect #SpiritualGrowth #TomRagsdell #EllisBenus #John3 #BornAgain #ChildlikeFaith #Transformation #ColumbiaMO

"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies." (Romans 8:11)

It is exciting to be in church for Easter, but every day of your life can carry the power of the resurrection. In this message, Pastor Tom Ragsdell explores the historical evidence for the resurrection and the practical ways we can walk in that same power today.

Jesus didn't just rise to prove a point; He rose to recreate your life. Pastor Tom Ragsdell shares how we can move from "living beneath our privilege" to walking in victory by focusing on:

📖 THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION: Examining the historical proofs that change everything about our future and our hope of heaven.

💡 THE MINDSET SHIFT: Understanding that the battleground is in your mind. We choose whether to focus on the flesh (which leads to death) or the Spirit (which leads to life and peace).

🌱 SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS: Moving toward "Shalom"—the peace of God that puts the broken puzzle pieces of your life back together.

🙌 OUR NEW OBLIGATION: Living as children of God who are no longer slaves to our old nature, but free to follow the Holy Spirit.

If you are struggling with addiction, anxiety, or a loss of faith, let the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead transform your heart and mind today.

Full Transcript: https://columbiafirstassembly.com/2026/04/09/walking-in-the-power-of-the-resurrection-living-a-transformed-life-easter-sunday/

If you need prayer, please comment below or send us a direct message. We would love to pray with you and for you.

Columbia First Assembly

1100 North 7th Street

Columbia, Missouri 65201

We are a multi-generational church on mission with Jesus. Our vision is simple. We want to make Jesus famous in your heart and in our community. We are a church of the Word and a church of the Spirit. We believe Jesus can transform your life. We want to help you know God, grow in God, and share hope in our community.

If you are in central Missouri and looking for a home church, we would love to meet you in person. If you are joining us online, connect with us in the comments and let us know how we can serve you.

#ColumbiaFirstAssembly #EasterSunday #ResurrectionPower #Romans8 #LeeStrobel #Faith #Transformation #TomRagsdell #EllisBenus #ColumbiaMO