In this final episode of Necessary Church we get to see inside the church. What meets our eyes when we do so is a captivating vision of the church. The church is nothing less than God’s people speaking the truth of Christ to one another in love in order to combat the lies of the Evil One. Satan is waging a propaganda war in each of our hearts. But there’s a place where we can win the war—it’s inside the church.

Scriptures Referenced: Eph 4:11-16, 5:18-20, 6:10-20

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Everyone wants their life to be meaningful and impactful. What can I join to be part of something big? How can I really make my life count for God? Scripture teaches us that being a full participant in the life of the local church is key. Consecration to God looks like commitment to one another in the church. Local churches are how God intends to accomplish his mission in the world. And being part of the Church means you ARE part of God’s big plan in this age.

Scriptures Referenced:
Rom 12; Rom 15:5-6

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Bread and a cup – it sounds like very simple fare. But the depth and richness of the supper the Lord provides for us has no comparison. Unlike life under the Old Covenant, our New Covenant faith is not full of visible, tangible symbols, but the symbols we do have are precious. We see the gospel visibly portrayed in the Lord’s Supper. We get to taste forgiveness. It is a gift from the Lord, full of profound meaning, and a special opportunity to enjoy the Lord’s grace to us with the church.

Scriptures Referenced: Mat 26:26-28; 1Cor 11:23-26

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Looking for community? Trying to find your people? We long for community because God made us that way. Unfortunately, sin and our culture’s devotion to personal autonomy keep us from enjoying the life-in-community God intended. But there’s a solution. Through the gospel, God has created a new community, the church. And, through the gospel, we can break free from our addiction to personal autonomy and start enjoying the greater freedom of living life together. In this episode we dive into the beauty, birth, necessity, cost, and power, of God’s new community, the church.

Scriptures Referenced:
Acts 2:41-47

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A cup of tea, a warm fire, a comfy chair, a quiet time, and my Bible. Beautiful. We treasure those times. But let’s also be mindful of treasuring the times the church gathers to hear the Word preached. It is also a precious privilege and another vital reason that God’s path for the Christian includes the fellowship of the local church.

Scriptures Referenced:
1Tim 4:13-16; 2Tim 4:1-2; Revelation 1-2

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What if the biggest obstacle keeping you from church is actually the biggest opportunity? We shy away from the local church because we love our freedom. But if freedom is what you’re after, then the church is the place to be. To see why people’s number one strike against the church is one of the greatest things going for it, you need to (1) hear a story, (2) run a science experiment, and (3) see a picture. This is the first of a six-episode series on the local church.

Scriptures Referenced: Exodus; Matt 16, 18; John 8:31-34; Gal 5:13-14

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Our sixth edition of Cloak, Books, and Parchments gives you ample time to purchase wisely this Christmas. In this episode we discuss the following books. Please update your wish list accordingly.
– The February 2025 reading challenge book: Screwtape Letters. C. S. Lewis
– Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout. Cal Newport (Portfolio)
– Finding My Vocation: A Guide for Young People Seeking a Calling. William Boekestein (Reformed Free Publishing)
– Strangely Bright: Can You Love God and Enjoy This World? Joe Rigney (Crossway)
– Keeping Holiday. Starr Meade (Crossway)
– Little Christmas Carol. Charles Dickens and Joe Sutphin (Moody)
– How to Read Proverbs. Tremper Longman III (IVP Academic)
– What It Means to be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church. Gavin Ortlund (Zondervan)
– When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend: Reflections On Life And Ministry With Depression. Mark Meynell (IVP)
– The William Monk Mysteries: The First Three Novels. Anne Perry (Ballantine)
– Up From Slavery. Booker T. Washington (Dover)
– Repeat the Sounding Joy: A Daily Advent Devotional on Luke 1-2. Christopher Ash (The Good Book Company)

Scriptures Referenced: 2Tim 4:13

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It’s easy for us to pick up the wrong messaging about sex. That’s why we need Scripture to fix our mistaken thinking about sex and wash our defiled views. Building on episode 177, Helen and Mike bring our sexual detox series to a close, tackling commonplace distortions in the culture (“It doesn’t matter who I sleep with”) and in the church (“Sexual sin is the worst; there’s no hope for you if you’ve fallen”). Is sex just a base animal instinct, or is it a sacred mystery about the meaning of the universe? Tune in to find out!

A downloadable summary sheet is available here.

Scriptures Referenced:
Mat 19:1-12; 1Cor 6:9-11; 6:12-20; 7:1-5; Eph 5:22-33; 1Tim 1:15; Psalm 51

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The LGBT2Q+ movement has been successful in convincing a lot of people that God may bless same-sex unions, and that Scripture doesn’t really speak to modern gay and lesbian relationships. Mike and Matthew address this from a Biblical perspective and also provide some helpful guidance on the issue of Christians who experience same-sex attraction.

Scriptures Referenced:
Lev 20:13; Mat 19:12; Rom 1:24-27; 1Cor 6:9-11

CORRECTION: Mike mentioned the name of Richard Bauckham on this episode, when he meant to say Richard Hays.

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In this episode, Mike is joined by his wife, Helen, for a conversation on the topic of “sexual detox.” They explore the concept of purging wrong ideas about sex that society, culture, and even the church can instill. The couple emphasizes how distorted views on sex—gathered from media, jokes, music, and even certain religious teachings—need to be realigned with biblical truth. This detox involves a renewed understanding of sex according to Scripture, which is good and pure.

Scriptures Referenced: 1 Thess 4:1-8; Gen 1-2; Prov 5:15-19; Song of Songs 1:2; Mal 2:14-16; Prov 2:16-17

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