Purposely Equipped

Who are the Magi? Why are they important to the Christmas story? Gordon Kenada from Japanese Family Church joins Mark Holland today to look at the story of the Magi from the Bible. He highlights that the Magi were Gentiles who sought out Jesus, despite not fully understanding who he was. As we contrast the reaction of the Magi with King Herod, we are all reminded to consider whether we are willing to give up our own 'thrones' for God.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3uNMh7G

Jen Ervig from The Grove Church joins Mark today to discuss Herod the Great. Herod, a non-Jewish king appointed by the Romans, was known for his paranoia and fear of losing his throne. When he heard about the birth of Jesus, he saw it as a threat to his power and ordered the killing of all male infants in Bethlehem. Despite his negative reputation, Herod was also known for his architectural achievements and attempts to win the love of his subjects. His role helps to emphasize the importance of placing one's identity in Christ and not clinging to earthly power or status.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3GtY0uI

If an Angel appeared to you would you freak out a little bit? Let's look at where the Angel of the Lord appeared and how people reacted? Why did God use the Angel in this way? Kim Martinez from Shoreline Community Church joins Mark Holland as we kick off The Cast of the Christmas Story to deepen our faith and understanding of the Christmas story.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3RaROga

How often do we read the words in Luke or Matthew without really thinking about them? Sure, we know the basic story, but have we ever really looked at how God constructed it. So, this year, we read through the Christmas story as told by both Luke and Matthew and wrote down all the ‘characters’ we encountered in our reading. Over the next 13 episodes we will be talking about these characters and their importance in the Christmas story. We hope it will help you shine fresh eyes on Christmas and the beauty of how God wove it together. Stop for a moment and listen to the scriptures in Luke and Matthew while we get ready for Cast of the Christmas Story to start on 12/4!

Pastor Riley Taylor of Calvary Fellowship joins us in our final episode of Why Church where we tackle how to get started if you currently don't attend church. This is where the rubber meets the road. Let's dig in!

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3r6iTYz

Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church in Auburn discusses with Mark the importance of attending church for a Christian's spiritual journey. Church is not just a place for worship, but also a community for learning, healing, and serving. Find out what else fosters deeper relationships and spiritual growth, and what can connect, serve, and grow you in your walk with God.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3sunDaW

It's a question no one wants to tackle, but we're going there today as we discuss how to handle being hurt by the Church. Herb Hartso of Antioch Bible Church joins Mark Holland today as we dig into this challenging topic.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3OLSGXl

Part 2 of our Why Church series as we are looking at church expectations. Can we and should we expect churches to be perfect? Pradeepan Jeeva of Kalos Church sits down with Mark Holland to discuss. Don’t miss the incredible story of how the church saved Pradeepan’s family.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3s9KqZv

We are starting a new series today on the Purposely Equipped podcast digging into church. Mark Holland welcomes Tyler Clark from Table of Hope church to discuss the topic: What is church? Let's jump in while we unpack what the original definition of church was, what Jesus says about the church in the book of Matthew and what church is today!

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/47r8cjJ

Pastor Alec Rowlands discusses the history of revival, focusing on the Second Great Awakening and its impact on society, in Part 2 of A History of Revival.

Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3YfLabq