MCC Podcast

By Miamisburg Christian ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

MCC Podcast episodes

November 06, 2023 Love Should Shape Our Speech
Have you ever noticed that there are just some people who give you their opinion and have no concern about how others feel about it? Or maybe you know someone who is spot on with their beliefs, but how they communicate it isn’t the most kind? Perhaps you know someone who is faithful in volunteering, but they are doing so for the wrong reasons.
This week Eric will remind us that our primary motivator as disciples of Jesus should be love that comes from the outpouring of us receiving the generous love of God. And as love motivates us we become reflections of Jesus to a world in desperate need of him.
24 min
October 30, 2023 What Role do Men and Women Play in the Church?
The roles of men and women are possibly as misunderstood today then any point in history. Instead of searching for what is socially acceptable or agreed upon by the majority, let’s take a look at what God was doing by design. Genesis 1:27 says, “In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”
This week Rich will remind us that as Image Bearers, it’s clear that we are to reflect something, or better said, Someone. God knows us too well to leave our roles undefined. He is clear in scripture. The problem is our execution. We will take a look at the ways God calls us to live this out in our divinely unique roles.
42 min
October 23, 2023 Fighting the Battle Against Temptation
I’ve made a big deal out of the fact that Corinth was the home of the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. And that had a HUGE influence on the morals of the city.

But I’ve also mentioned that it was a port city, so they had access to trade and tourism and became a place where different lines of thought and philosophy flowed through; all kinds of ideas from around the world about different gods to worship and how to live your life. As you can imagine their culture was filled with temptation. Just like ours.

This week we will be reminded of some “hard to hear” truths about temptation and some promises that God makes to His children about when temptation comes your way.
31 min
October 16, 2023 What Maturity Looks Like
If someone is looking for a church, what should they be looking for?
If you have ever moved into a new city and you’re looking for a church, maybe you’ve asked that question. What is that set of criteria?
I’m wondering how many of us have even pulled out a piece of paper and written down a set of criteria that you’re looking for. That allows you to not be driven by feelings, but by a well thought out answer.
For others, perhaps you’ve gone with how you’ve felt. Maybe you were encouraged, challenged, or were yelled at.
Some of us have never asked this question.
We’re going to have Paul help us answer that question this weekend.
And in all fairness to the text, it’s not the question he’s answering, but it’s in his answer to the Corinthians question that we’ll find the answer to ours.
29 min
October 09, 2023 Wisdom in Freedom
When you hear the word freedom what do you think about?
Soldiers?
America?
The right to do whatever you please?

Freedom is one of those words we love because it largely benefits us. But what happens when our freedom becomes a stumbling block for others? How can we set aside our freedom so that others might grow?

This week Eric will help us uncover what it means to set aside our freedom so we can experience what true freedom in Christ brings.
28 min
October 02, 2023 God's Design for Intimacy in Marriage
Last week Paul addressed how sex in the Corinthian culture was influencing the church (rather than the church influencing the culture). This week Paul addresses sex inside marriage. What he is talking about in chapter 7 answers one of the questions they have written to him.
And it may surprise you, but God actually has a lot to say about the subject of sex. Now it shouldn’t surprise us because God thought it up, and He thought it was a good idea. This is an area where most of us agree with God.
The problem is, God’s voice on this subject is often distorted if it’s listened to at all.
We are inundated with images and messages about sex all the time in our culture.
And we’re not sure we want to hear about it at church, but again, God has a great deal of wisdom to give us. We’ll see that this weekend.
29 min
September 26, 2023 Does Porn Really Hurt Anyone?
I hope you have been enjoying our walk through the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. One of the advantages of sitting in a book like 1 Corinthians is that you get more of a feel for the background of the people and why they are doing what they are doing. We also get to be reminded that what was true for/about them is true for/about us.
I had a guy come up to me in Kroger one time and say - “Hey, you’re that preacher at the church aren’t you? You are darn funny!”
Except he didn’t say darn.
I didn’t quite know what to do.
So I said, “Thanks.”
Is it ok for me to admit that I love that? I don’t want to be a part of a church that is full of sanitized, mature believers; nor the opposite, a lot of immaturity. There needs to be some growth and maturity going on, and Paul recognized this. I think at times you and I need to be reminded of it as well, that growth is a process.
Sometimes we need to grow up.
And sometimes we need to grow young.
We’re all in process, regardless of where we are with Jesus, but at the same time we shouldn’t excuse away prolonged immaturity.
They were relatively new Christians trying to figure out not only how to follow Christ, but also how to be a church. That’s a very difficult thing and so they were struggling. They were wrestling with some of their former ways of thinking. Paul is trying to correct that.
One of the areas they were confused about was sex. So we’re going to talk about that this week and next week. I’ve made a big deal out of the Temple to Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love, being in Corinth. In chapters 5 through 7 Paul talks to us, through what he writes to them (and again, keep in mind they are new to church) and in these chapters his primary focus is sexual immorality.
This past Sunday, in chapter 5, we saw one of the issues that was tied to it.
The next 2 weeks we will see that sin connected to sex was not just one person’s problem.
And I will remind you that what was true of their culture is true of ours.
This week I’m looking forward to walking through what Paul said about what is happening in our culture. I’ve asked Mark Graham to join me as we look at the impact porn has in our homes and what it has to do with sex trafficking.
45 min
September 18, 2023 Navigating Judgement in the Church
This week Paul will talk about judging others. So let me ask 3 questions:
Do you like to be judged?
Have you ever judged someone?
Is it ever appropriate to judge another person?

Jesus says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” That’s from Matthew 7 in case you want to look that up because there is more to that teaching.
Our culture is constantly saying we shouldn’t judge.

But did you know that Jesus also said - “Be sure to do what the Pharisees teach, but don’t follow their example because they don’t do what they teach.”

That sounds kind of judgmental.

If you are wondering about this, this weekend I get to share what Paul writes as he lays out for us the principle in chapter 5 that Jesus demonstrated for us in His life for us about judging others.
30 min
September 11, 2023 Who do we follow: 1 Corinthians 3
This Sunday Eric will continue our conversation around unity as we dive into 1st Corinthians chapter 3.
As Paul addresses the “who do you follow argument?” happening in Corinth, he reminds the church that he, Apollos, and Cephas all belong to the church.
And that the church belongs to Jesus,
and Jesus belongs to God.
So exo facto all things are God’s.
The leaders of the church, the ministry volunteers, the church goer who sits in the back and leaves first thing, all belong to God.
I hope you’ll join us this week as we learn what it means to have a right view of others, ourselves, and everyone in the Church belonging to God.

27 min
September 11, 2023 3 Characteristics of a Christian Leader
We have seen in the last 2 weeks that this very young church is in an urban setting and there are a bunch of new disciples of Jesus.
The whole Christianity thing had just been invented.
With a bunch of new people come a bunch of new opinions and new ideas and perhaps some soapboxes. People could show up and they had their ideas and their opinions and there is some division in the church. What the church needs now is some mature leaders to hear both sides of the stories, make a decision, and keep going.
Stay on mission.
Stay focused.
Instead they are arguing about their leaders.
And because division can destroy a church, Paul addresses unity for 1/4 of this letter.
This week I get to help us see how Paul shows them, and us, what leaders should look like, how we should view ourselves, and how the church should see leadership.
29 min