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The carols say peace, but the calendar screams hurry. We take a clear-eyed look at why the holidays can feel so unpeaceful and why Jesus didn’t promise a quiet news cycle—he promised something far stronger. Drawing from Isaiah 9, Romans 5, John 14, and Luke 2, we explore biblical shalom as wholeness: peace with God, peace within, and peace with others. Instead of chasing a fragile calm that depends on circumstances, we point to the Prince of Peace who restores what broke in Eden and rebuilds our lives from the center out.

First, we unpack how reconciliation with God is the foundation of every other kind of peace. Justification by faith brings an objective, steady standing that no mood can undo. From there, we talk about inner peace that Jesus gives—not the world’s temporary quiet, but a durable calm anchored in his rule. Then we turn outward: what it looks like to embody peace with people, why love is the family trait of disciples, and how to practice restraint in a reactive culture. We get practical about living unoffended, resisting the urge to defend our image, and becoming agents of peace in our homes, workplaces, and online.

Finally, we show how order matters: glory to God, then peace follows. When we enthrone ourselves, anxiety spikes; when we enthrone Christ, rest grows. You’ll hear simple rhythms for a steadier heart—rehearsing promises, reading Scripture before the scroll, confessing quickly, and keeping your hope aimed at Christ’s return, when shalom will flood the earth. If you’re carrying a “security blanket” of control or worry, this conversation invites you to drop it and receive the better peace Jesus freely gives.

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs calm this week, and leave a review to help others find these stories of hope.

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Hope isn’t a mood you try to maintain. It’s a promise you learn to trust. We launch Advent by going straight to Romans 15:13 and asking three simple questions that change everything: What is hope? Where does it come from? And how do we abound in it?

Along the way, we contrast wishful optimism with the Bible’s confident expectation grounded in God’s character and his unbroken track record—from Abraham to Bethlehem to the empty tomb.

Romans 15:13 teaches that true hope flows from God, is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and is experienced as we walk with Him.

Advent starts with hope because every other Advent theme—peace, joy, and love—flows from it. Our call is not to cling to a thin thread of hope, but to overflow with it as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s return. 

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On the first day of the week, the believers in Troas gathered to break bread and hear Paul teach, showing their commitment to consistent corporate worship. Even though Paul was leaving the next day, the church made worship a priority—meeting late into the night to share the Lord’s Supper, listen to Scripture, and encourage one another.

During the meeting, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep, fell from a window, and died, but God restored him through Paul, bringing comfort and strengthening the faith of everyone present.

Afterward, Paul continued his journey toward Jerusalem, choosing travel plans that allowed him to be with the believers as much as possible.

This passage highlights how the early church valued gathering together, sharing the Lord’s Table, learning from God’s Word, and being strengthened through the presence and ministry of fellow believers.

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A city on edge, a riot in the theater, and a single disruptive claim: gods made with hands are not gods at all. We step into Ephesus to uncover why Paul’s words rattled the economy, shook traditions, and still expose the fault lines in our modern hearts.

In Acts 19, Paul’s ministry in Ephesus causes a massive disturbance because he exposes the idols people trust for meaning, security, and satisfaction—especially Artemis, the patron goddess of the city. Paul refuses to preach Jesus as “just another god”; Jesus demands full allegiance, and following Him necessarily involves turning from all other idols.

Idols—both ancient and modern—promise fulfillment but ultimately enslave and crush those who serve them. Whether it's money, beauty, politics, family, career, or sexuality, any good thing can become a “god thing” when we make it ultimate. Exposing idols will sometimes provoke hostility, as it did in Ephesus, threatening both people’s profits and long-held traditions. Yet the gospel also brings beauty: many people turn from empty idols and find true satisfaction in Christ, the One who became the sacrifice rather than demanding one. 

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We unpack why baptism is commended, what it signifies in Romans 6, and how the New Testament pattern calls for immediate, public obedience. We challenge baptized believers to live like the old self truly died and to resist the pull of “Egypt.”

• baptism commanded by Jesus and centered in making disciples
• symbolism of union with Christ in death and resurrection
• baptism as a new Exodus from slavery to sin
• New Testament pattern: belief then immediate baptism
• one baptism as a covenant sign with rare exceptions
• live as dead to sin and alive to God
• fight temptation by identity and Spirit-empowered obedience
• move from avoiding sin to offering yourself for righteousness
• leave Egypt behind and stop romanticising the past

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 In Acts 19:12–20, God’s power is displayed through Paul as people are healed and set free from evil spirits. Those who tried to imitate this power without truly knowing Jesus were exposed and defeated.

Many new believers responded by confessing sin and publicly turning from their old ways. This passage shows that the Holy Spirit delivers us from sickness, darkness, and sin—bringing freedom, transformation, and the exaltation of Jesus. 

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What if most of what we call church would keep running even if the Holy Spirit left the building? Acts 19 hits that nerve. We unpack Paul’s return to Ephesus, the twelve “disciples” shaped by John the Baptist, and the moment they step into the fullness of the gospel—baptized into Christ, born again by the Spirit, and empowered for mission.

In this message, we explore how the Holy Spirit is not the “forgotten member” of the Trinity but the living presence of God—our Comforter, Convicter, and Empowerer. Through Acts 19, we see how encountering the Spirit brings transformation, boldness, and renewal.

The call for us today is to move beyond polite belief into active pursuit—to welcome the Spirit’s presence, seek His gifts, and allow Him to build up the church for God’s glory. As Paul urged in 1 Corinthians 14:1, we are to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts,” walking in step with the Spirit rather than keeping Him at arm’s length.

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 God desires to use every believer to accomplish His work in the world. In Acts 18:18–28, we see that being used by Him isn’t about talent or position but about the posture of our hearts. God uses the heedful like Paul who follow His will, the humble like Apollos who receive correction, and the honest like Priscilla and Aquila who speak truth with courage. When every member of the church plays their part, the song of the Gospel becomes powerful and beautiful. 

In this sermon, we talk about heedfulness first: the courage to follow God’s call when it costs time, sleep, or applause. Paul’s weary yes challenges our preference for comfort and invites us to serve wherever needed, even in quiet roles that keep the body healthy.

Then we lean into humility—Apollos receiving correction from Priscilla and Aquila. It’s a vivid picture of teachability: intellect bowing to truth, platform yielding to Scripture. Communities thrive when feedback is welcome and growth outpaces ego.

Speaking truth and honesty is the last featured virtue. Speaking truth in love is never easy. Jonah shows the price of silence, while Paul shows the cost of clarity. But a church that refuses hard words soon loses its voice. We frame honesty as courageous compassion: naming sin to restore, preaching Jesus as the way with tenderness, and trusting God with the outcomes.

If this stirred something in you, take the next step: subscribe, share this with a friend who’s ready to serve, and leave a review telling us where you plan to jump in this week. Your story might be the spark another listener needs.

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Fear isn’t supposed to haunt a giant of the faith—and yet Paul trembles in Corinth until a midnight word steadies him: “Do not be afraid… for I am with you.” We open Acts 18 and watch a weary apostle discover that courage grows where grace meets personal limits.

When we feel like giving up, we can find courage in the same truth: God is still with us, He still provides, and He still has a purpose for our lives. 

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At Real Life Community Church, we believe the Church is God’s design to carry on the ministry of Jesus. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it.”

The Church is essential—it proclaims the Gospel, disciples believers, and ministers to the community. While all believers are part of the invisible, spiritual Church through salvation, God also calls us into covenant with a visible, local church family.

Membership matters because it reflects commitment, accountability, and shared mission. As followers of Christ, we are invited to not only believe, but also to belong. 

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