Origin

Today, we are going to talk about our last essential for the season. This one is a non-negotiable—the essential of Hope. We must have hope, especially in this season. We based our title “No Empty Hope” on the Scripture, Second Corinthians 5:5 in The Passion Translation:

And this is no empty hope, for God himself is the one who has prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee.

 
Welcome guest, Amanda Parker as we discuss how to fill ourselves with hope.

We’re all back at the Origin table for Episode 11 of The Essentials: Living with the End in Mind. Today our topic is One For All and All For One. We’re talking about unity, specifically unity in the Body of Christ, in the realm of believers, Christians. I have my friends at the table—Kyli Rose and Jina McAfee. I’m ReGina Johnston. We invite you to pull up a chair and join us in this conversation as we share. 

We’re going to start with a Scripture in Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT:

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

The Bible teaches us that our life is "but a vapor. "  Here Today, Gone Tomorrow is The Essential to live a holy life, to be a witness in what we say and how we live. The tension is that often we are living our lives according to predictable patterns and turning our luxuries into necessities.

11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day— 13 but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. 14 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.     2 Peter 3:11-14 MSG

What do you do when the "lights go out?"  When life as usual is no longer the usual.  Join us at the table of Origin.  Hear our personal stories.  Living a life that is a witness is a choice we make before the lights go out.  Before the unexpected happens.  Our choices, our moments are important, since "everything here today might well be gone tomorrow.  

A conviction is a firmly held belief .  Biblical conviction carries the idea of a faith awakening. 

 It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put His hand on you for something special. 5 When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions. 5-6 You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit! – taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.                                                                                                  1 Thess.1:4-6 MSG

In a world gone "helter skelter" we need to know what we believe and why.  We need to develop those convictions in such a way that they demonstrate the love of Christ AND hold firmly to the Word of God.  How do we do that?  Listen in and find out.

As we near the Lord's return, what is essential?  Focus!  It is essential that we don't get distracted.  There is so much noise.  So many things vying for our attention.  The apostle Paul talks about it in the book of Philippians 3:13 & 14, ". . . forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the ark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ."  In Proverbs 4:25 - 27 we are told, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.  Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.  Do not turn to the right or the left. . . " How do we stay focused with so many distractions?  Join the table of Origin to find out.  

It is essential to know that the life we live as a believer is targeted by a very real enemy.  The enemy of Jesus is our enemy too and his name is Satan.  Because we are made in the image of Christ,  the devil hates us - so friends . . . This is war!  In battle it is important to know Whose we are.  It is important to know who we are.  It is important to know who our enemy is.  What are the enemy's strategies and how to we fight an already defeated foe.  It is essential to know that we fight from a place of victory.  

What if you could team up with someone who knows everything?  What if you could meet regularly with the greatest leader that ever lived?  What if you could have a best friend that you could totally depend upon, that you knew would never leave, that would always have your best at heart?  YOU DO!  And you have an always opened door to this most intimate relationship.  Prayer is an essential as we keep the end in mind.  Around the table of Origin we answer the question, "Why is Prayer Essential?"  Join us for a challenge to prioritize your time in prayer.

The two minute warning has sounded in this life as we know it.  We are nearing the time when we believe Jesus will return.  Given the urgency, what's essential?  We believe "worship" is essential.  Join us to hear what worship really is and why it is essential especially as we navigate these "last days."  

Join the Origin table, ReGina Johnston, Jina McAfee and Kyli Rose with guest, Danielle Raesz, personal trainer and aspiring American Ninja Warrior.  Danielle knows something about the cost of building muscle.  What's essential as we hear the two minute warning  nearing the end of the game?  Discipline!  What does discipline have to do with finishing well and how do we develop it?  Why is it essential as we near Christ's return?  

Imagine you are in a football game and have heard the two-minute warning.  You have the ball.  What is absolutely essential to finishing well?  In this life, what is absolutely essential to finishing well.  We believe The Word of God is essential.  In this podcast we discuss the essential of The Word - - What He Says ^^^.  We want to move the Word of God to a place of priority above all the noise we are hearing today.   We are on Zoom with guest, Joan Butler and sometimes the technology is interfering with the best sound and interaction, but stay with us to hear just how essential we believe The Word is.