Episode Summary

Key Points

Main Takeaway

Memorable Quotes

Reflection Question

Tune in to hear the powerful story of Ashlyn Blocker, who can't feel pain, why everything has been weird since Harambe, and how ancient Ephesus eerily mirrors modern American culture.

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Episode Summary

Key Points

Main Takeaway

Memorable Quotes

Reflection Question

Tune in to hear the entertaining "Reindeer Games" skit about a daughter who keeps changing the rules, and discover why comparing Jesus to becoming a mosquito helps us understand the Incarnation.

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Tune in to hear the moving story of Matthias witnessing Jesus' birth from outside the stable, and discover the powerful Shockley family tradition of placing a nail on their Christmas tree first.

In part 2 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael tells the story of Isaac - the original "Son Who Climbed The Mountain" - and reveals how it points directly to Jesus. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his promised son on Mount Moriah foreshadows God's sacrifice of His own Son on the same mountain centuries later. This isn't just an Old Testament story - it's a Christmas story about faith, provision, and the ultimate Substitute.

- Abraham waited 25 years for the promised son Isaac, learning to trust God's timing

- God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, but was teaching that He provides the sacrifice

- Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead to keep both the command and the promise

- Mount Moriah, where Isaac was spared, is the same location where Jesus died centuries later

- Isaac lived because a ram died in his place; we live forever because Jesus died in our place

Faith climbs the mountain before it sees the miracle. Abraham trusted God enough to take the first step up Mount Moriah, and God provided a substitute sacrifice. We trust Jesus before we understand every detail, and then we receive the miracle of forgiveness, freedom, and new life.

- "Faith climbs the mountain before it sees the miracle."

- "God will show up in your life. Often when you aren't looking for Him, and rarely when it's convenient."

- "God doesn't want to take Abraham's son; He wants to give His Own Son."

- "Abraham answered with a line that echoes through the centuries: 'My son, God Himself will provide the lamb.'"

- "Before the Manger, there was the Mountain. Before the swaddling clothes, there was sacrificial wood on a son's back."

- "God wasn't teaching Abraham to sacrifice his son; He was teaching that HE Provides The Sacrifice."

- "Isaac lived because a ram died in his place. We can live forever because Jesus died in our place."

What mountain is God asking you to climb in faith before you see the miracle?

Tune in to hear the powerful parallel between Isaac and Jesus, why Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie, and how a 99-year-old man's laughter became the name of the promised son.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In part 1 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael explores the surprising connection between Christmas trees and the Garden of Eden. Through historical research, he reveals that Christmas trees aren't pagan but originated from medieval "Paradise Trees" used in Adam and Eve plays. The real first Christmas tree was in Eden, where God made the first promise of a Savior who would crush the serpent's head.

- Christmas trees originated from medieval Paradise Trees used in biblical plays, not pagan traditions

- The serpent in Eden was Satan himself, whispering the same lies he still whispers today

- Genesis 3:15 contains the first promise of Jesus - the "Protoevangelium" or "First Gospel"

- Jesus would be wounded (crucified) but would crush Satan's head in permanent defeat

- The deadly power of sin began with a tree in Eden and ended with the tree of the Cross

From the first sin, God promised a Savior. The Christmas story doesn't start in Bethlehem - it starts in Eden with God's original commitment to crush evil and redeem humanity. There is no John 3:16 without Genesis 3:15.

- "From the first sin, God promised a Savior."

- "The first Christmas Tree goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. And it wasn't decorated with a star. It was decorated with a snake."

- "God's not interested in holding us back from good things; only from things that will ultimately be destructive."

- "What Jesus offers is not a better kind of religion. Jesus does the work, because we can't save ourselves."

- "Christmas isn't just a Baby in a manger. It's God declaring war on every lie that has ever strangled your heart."

- "The deadly power of sin began with a tree and ended with a tree. It began with the Tree in the Garden, and ended with The Cross of Christ."

What lies is the serpent still whispering to you, and will you choose to believe God's promise of a Savior instead?

Tune in to hear the fascinating historical origins of Christmas trees, why aluminum foil stars and Bigfoot ornaments belong on trees, and how Genesis 3:15 is the first promise of Christmas ever given.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In this second Thanksgiving week message, Pastor Michael vulnerably shares his recent struggle with ingratitude and stress that led to chest pain and an ER visit. Through 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he discovers that the command to "give thanks in everything" isn't about pretending life is okay - it's about trusting God no matter what happens. Gratitude isn't just better than ingratitude; it's what transforms our hearts and lives.

- "Give thanks IN everything" means being thankful no matter what happens, not FOR everything that happens

- God doesn't cause painful things, but He can bring good out of anything that happens

- Thankfulness is God's will for us because it's genuinely good for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health

- The real question: Do we worship God, or do we worship the idea that God owes us an easy life?

It's not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy. Gratitude changes our perspective, strengthens our faith, improves our health, and transforms our lives. When we choose thankfulness even in difficulty, we tap into a greater truth than our circumstances.

- "It's not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy."

- "Blessings whisper and problems shout."

- "With God, the bad stuff is more than just bad; it gets turned into a plot twist that ultimately works out to a greater ending."

- "Thankfulness helps us frame everything we experience as being in The Hands of a God Who Loves Us."

- "If you think God owes you an easy life, then you're always one traffic jam away from a ruined day."

- "Do we really worship God, or do we worship the idea that God owes us an easy life?"

- "Happiness is having Jesus and being thankful."

Are you living like God owes you an easy life, or are you choosing gratitude even when circumstances are difficult?

Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's honest confession about his ER visit, why pumpkin pie counts as breakfast, and how the elders' prayer transformed his perspective on stress and gratitude.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In this Thanksgiving 2025 message, Pastor Michael takes us through the chaotic "Grocery Store Gauntlet" to illustrate how we scramble for resources while forgetting the Source behind them all. Through Jesus' healing of ten lepers, we discover that only one returned to thank Him - and he received not just physical healing but spiritual wholeness. This Thanksgiving, don't just enjoy the resources; return to the Source.

- We get caught up in resources (things we use) and forget the Source (where they come from)

- Jesus healed ten lepers as they walked in faith, showing that healing often comes as we move forward with God

- Ten men received physical healing, but only one - a Samaritan outsider - returned to thank Jesus

- The one who returned got healed on the inside, not just the outside

USE the Resource, TRUST the Source. Every good thing in our lives - money, jobs, health, family, material possessions - are resources to use wisely and be thankful for. But our true security doesn't come from resources that can run out; it comes from Jesus, the Source who will never run out on us.

- "USE the RESOURCE, TRUST the SOURCE."

- "Thankfulness doesn't start in your cart — it starts in your heart."

- "If your gratitude depends on your resources, it's always at risk; but if your gratitude is based in THE Source, it doesn't matter how much or how little you have."

- "So much of the time, healing comes AS WE GO. The Lord brings change to our lives AS WE WALK WITH HIM."

- "They all recognized the RESOURCE, but only one recognized THE SOURCE. Ten men used the resource, but only one returned to The Source. They got healed on the outside. He got healed on the inside."

- "Resources can run out. Jesus Is THE SOURCE of everything good, and He will never run out on you."

Are you living like the nine who used the blessing and moved on, or like the one who returned to thank the Source of all blessings?

Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's hilarious "Grocery Store Gauntlet" story featuring grandmothers battling over cranberry sauce, a dad lost in the chaos, and the world's greatest uncle fighting for dinner rolls.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In part 8 of our 1 John series, Pastor Michael tells the story of Timmy the Tiny, Terrible T-Rex to illustrate our resistance to authority - especially God's. We think refusing to listen to God proves our independence, but it actually proves we're enslaved to our own desires. Through 1 John's teaching, we discover that real freedom isn't doing whatever we want, but wanting what is right because Jesus has set our hearts free.

- Sin isn't just breaking rules - it's living like God's authority doesn't apply to us

- Jesus came to remove both the guilt of sin (through forgiveness) and the power of sin (through freedom)

- Abiding in Christ means staying connected like a branch to a vine, dependent on Him for everything

- Practicing righteousness means your overall life pattern shows you're being shaped by Jesus

- Jesus is the standard of righteousness, not comparison with other people

Living like you don't have to listen to God doesn't prove you are independent - it proves you are enslaved to your drives and desires. Real freedom isn't doing whatever you want; it's wanting what is right because your heart has been set free.

- "Living like you don't have to listen to God doesn't prove you are independent — it proves you are enslaved."

- "Sin isn't just messing up. It's saying, 'God is not the boss of me.'"

- "Jesus didn't show up just to teach about sin, or even just to expose sin. He came to REMOVE sin."

- "Abiding in Jesus isn't really about trying harder. It's about being dependent on Him for everything."

- "Real freedom isn't doing whatever you want — real freedom is wanting what is RIGHT because your heart has been set free."

- "People reject God's standards of right and wrong because they think it puts them in chains. In truth, it enslaves you to something else."

Instead of saying "You can't tell me what to do," do you have the guts and humility to say "God, change me" - and then receive what comes?

Tune in to hear about Timmy the Terrible T-Rex, Pastor Michael's legendary childhood mud puddle adventure, and why practicing righteousness is like practicing a musical instrument.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In part 7 of our 1 John series, Pastor Michael shares the moving story of Roxie's adult adoption to illustrate what God does for us through Jesus. We're not just forgiven criminals - we're adopted heirs with a new identity, a new family, and a secure place in God's household forever. Through Roman adoption practices, we discover the full meaning of becoming children of God.

- Roman adoption was permanent and gave full rights as heirs - adopted children could never be disinherited

- When we trust in Jesus, God rewrites our birth certificate and makes us permanent family members

- Joining God's family means leaving the world's toxic family system that rejects Him

- If we trust Jesus, we are children of God NOW, though what we will become hasn't yet been fully revealed

- Sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more like Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit

You're not just rescued from sin - you're adopted as a son. God doesn't merely forgive; He creates family. We don't seek purity to get into the family, but because we ARE in the family.

- "You're not just rescued from sin — you're adopted as a son."

- "When Jesus saved you, He didn't just spring you out of slavery or bail you out of death row; He rewrote your birth certificate."

- "Better to be black sheep in The Family of God than the golden calf in a family that rejects God."

- "A Gospel that does not require surrender of self is not The Gospel."

- "God's Love does not merely forgive; it creates family."

- "You're not just pardoned — you're adopted. You're not just forgiven — you're family."

Do you see yourself as merely a forgiven sinner, or as a fully adopted child of God with permanent status in His family?

Tune in to hear the touching story of Roxie's adult adoption and discover how Roman adoption practices reveal the permanent, transformative nature of becoming God's child.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

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In part 6 of our 1 John series, Pastor Michael presents an entertaining courtroom skit to ask a crucial question: If your claim to follow Jesus were put on trial, would the evidence of your life and love be convincing? True faith in Jesus isn't about cultural Christianity or religious activities - it's about a transformational relationship that changes how we live and love.

- Knowing Jesus means more than knowing information - it means being changed by Him

Your life and your love are the evidence of faith - evidence that your faith is real and that Jesus truly transforms lives. We can't earn salvation through good works, but our obedience and love demonstrate the reality of our relationship with Jesus.

If your claim to be a follower of Jesus were put on trial, and the only evidence was the way you live and the way you love, would it convince a judge?

Tune in to hear the hilarious courtroom skit between a lawyer and a client who thinks honking at Jesus bumper stickers and eating at Chick-fil-A makes him a Christian.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org