ReCreate Church’s Podcast

In part 3 of the "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael tells the story of young Samuel, a boy who grew up at the Tabernacle, was trained in all the right religious routines, and still had never personally met God. Families can pass down traditions, recipes, and eye color, but a relationship with God can't be inherited. Through Samuel's midnight encounter, we discover what it means to stop, listen, and say, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening."

- Samuel knew the house of God, but he didn't yet know the voice of God - religious activity is not the same as a relationship

You need to know God for yourself. Parents, grandparents, and Church family can put a Bible in your hands, but they can't put faith in your heart. Some of us need to say, "Jesus, save me!" Others need to say, "Speak, Lord, I'm listening." Either way, it's time to say yes.

- "God doesn't have grandchildren. Only children."

When is the last time you turned off every distraction and honestly said, "Speak, Lord, I'm listening"? And if you've never personally asked Jesus to be your Savior, what is stopping you today?

Tune in to hear why Aunt Greta's dolls are definitely not haunted, the family game of shouting from the closet that never ends well, and Pastor Michael's honest story of what it took to get him to sit still and listen to God.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

In part 2 of the "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael opens with a hilarious package delivery skit to illustrate humanity's oldest problem: accountability is always more important when it's somebody else on the hook. Through the story of Eli the High Priest and his corrupt sons, we discover that owning it isn't just taking the blame - it's taking responsibility and doing what it takes to make it right. We honor God by owning it.

- Hophni and Phinehas were Israel's spiritual leaders, but they exploited people financially and sexually - and used their position to cover it up

Honor God by owning it. When we embrace the grace of God through Jesus, we no longer have to protect the fiction of our own perfection. We can be honest about what we need to own and make right - and we can gently hold the right people accountable in the right way, always with the goal of restoration rather than compliance.

- "Honor God by owning it."

What is yours to own right now? Where have you been taking the blame without taking ownership - and what would it look like to actually make it right?

Tune in to hear the hilarious "Package Delivery" skit featuring one very creative delivery driver, alpaca snacks, and one damaged box - and discover what Eli's failure to act teaches us about the cost of choosing relational comfort over obedience to God.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

In part 1 of the new "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael introduces one of the greatest women of the Bible - Hannah. Through her years of heartache, mockery, and unanswered prayer, we discover a truth that changes everything: feeling forgotten by God and being forgotten by God are not the same thing. When you can't see God, you can trust that God sees you.

- Hannah endured years of pain, jealousy, and unanswered prayer - yet God never rebuked her tears or her grief

When you can't see God, trust that God sees you. He is never absent, never forgetful, and never far. Just because you can't see what He's doing doesn't mean He has stopped. Faith isn't knowing how your story ends. Faith is knowing Who you can trust with your story.

- "When you can't see God, trust that God sees you."

Is there something you've been praying about so long that it feels like God has forgotten you? What would it look like to trust that He sees you - even before you can see the outcome?

Tune in to hear the story of little Cora Beth waking up alone in a hospital room, why husbands have been putting their foot in their mouth since 1100 BC, and how Hannah's long-awaited son changed the entire history of Israel.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

On ReCreate Church's first Sunday at Carroll County Middle School, Pastor Michael opens with an empty chair and a question: who could be sitting in it? Through Acts 2:42-47, we discover that the first believers didn't just celebrate a big day - they devoted themselves to doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Every empty seat in a bigger room is an opportunity, but only if we make room for people in our hearts first.

- The early Church continued steadfastly in four things: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer - and God wants the same for us in our new season

Every empty seat is an opportunity. Not just to fill a chair, but to give someone a seat around God's table. Jesus made room for us by giving His life - how can we not pull out a chair for someone else? Think of the person whose face comes to mind, pray for them, love them, and invite them.

- "Every empty seat is an opportunity from God."

If you could put anyone in the empty seat nearest you, who would it be? That chair has their name on it. Pray for them, love them, serve them - and when the time is right, invite them.

Tune in to hear the very first message from ReCreate Church's new home at Carroll County Middle School, why an unsupervised three-year-old with a Pop-Tart turns any chair into a crime scene, and what to do with the empty seat that might be inside your own heart.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church

In the final message from The Lord's Corner, Pastor Michael leads ReCreate Church through its last Sunday in the building it has called home for seven years. Through the story of Israel's crossing of the Jordan River and the memorial stones they carried to the other side, we discover that remembering God's faithfulness behind us is the key to trusting His faithfulness ahead of us.

- Just as Israel stood at the Jordan River between wilderness and promise, ReCreate stands at its own Jordan moment

Remembering God's faithfulness behind us helps us trust His faithfulness ahead of us. The same God who carried us through this season is going forward with us into the next. Wherever we go, we must ask: "Lord, what are You going to do here?"

- "Remembering God's faithfulness behind us helps us trust His faithfulness ahead of us."

What memorial stones are you carrying from this season of your life? And what do those stones tell you about how much God can be trusted with what comes next?

Tune in to hear the final service at The Lord's Corner - including Pastor Michael's reflections on seven years of sacred moments in a building that started as a restaurant, became a rental shop, and ended as a holy place.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church

In part 2 of the "Bigger Than The Room" series, Pastor Michael picks up where Peter stood up in front of thousands in Jerusalem and explained what the miracle of Pentecost was really about. The answer wasn't wind, fire, or supernatural languages - it was Jesus. As ReCreate Church steps into a new season with more space, the message is clear: we make room so more people can meet Jesus.

- Peter's sermon at Pentecost pointed directly to Jesus - His life, death, resurrection, and reign - as the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy

We make room so more people can meet Jesus. God is giving us a bigger space, but the real work is making room in our hearts. Somebody has to show up early, set up chairs, and greet nervous first-timers. Souls are worth it.

- "We make room so more people can meet Jesus."

Is there someone in your life who is far from Jesus - someone with a messy story or a broken past - that you could make room for in your heart this week?

Tune in to hear Pastor Michael make a case that the best preparation for the end of the world is calling on Jesus, why country club membership has nothing to do with Church, and how 120 people changed history because they refused to stay in the room.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

Filling in for Pastor Shockley on he and Katie's 25th anniversary trip, Elder Duncan Crook delivers a practical and convicting message about the discipline of reading God's Word. Using the analogy of airplane mode, multivitamins, and a well-steeped cup of tea, Duncan answers two essential questions: Why should I intake God's Word on a regular basis? And how do I actually do it?

- Scripture is God's personal, profitable, and perfecting instruction - it's how God reveals Himself to us

Discipline builds habits, habits create lifestyles, and lifestyles change your life. The Bible is not God's personal love letter to you - it is God's full revelation of Himself to His people. The sooner we stop making it about us and start encountering who He is, the deeper our relationship with Jesus becomes.

- "Either sin will keep you from the Bible, or the Bible will keep you from sin." (D.L. Moody)

What would it look like to build a daily habit of Scripture intake - even imperfectly - starting this week? What is getting in the way, and is that thing worth more to you than knowing God better?

Tune in to hear Duncan's honest confession about being a Type A control enthusiast, why airplane mode is a spiritual metaphor, and the difference between dipping a tea bag for two seconds versus letting it steep.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church

In part 1 of the new "Bigger Than The Room" series, Pastor Michael shares the story of ReCreate Church stepping into a new season - moving to a larger meeting space at the local middle school. Through the opening chapters of Acts, we discover that 120 people in a room in Jerusalem changed the world. Not because of the room, but because they refused to stay in it. God is doing something bigger than this room - and always has been.

- The 120 disciples gathered in one room with one accord - united in purpose, prayer, and passion for Jesus

God is doing something bigger than this room. The Church was never meant to be a building - it is a community of life and love that cannot truly be contained. There are thousands of people in our community who need to hear that Jesus loves them and laid down His life for them. God is giving us a bigger room. Let's go reach the people who aren't in it yet.

- "God is doing something bigger than this room."

Is there a "room" in your life - a painful season, a failed plan, or an unanswered prayer - where God might be doing something bigger than what you can currently see?

Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's vulnerable story of being let go from a job he prayed for, what a prayer journal revealed about the year that followed, and how an email in December changed everything.

Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org

Pastor Michael opens with a skit featuring the voice inside his head - that nagging inner critic that tells him he's too preachy, too boring, not enough. Through Proverbs 29:25, we discover that the fear of man is a trap we set for ourselves when we give human opinion an authority it was never meant to have. The answer isn't self-confidence or not caring about others - it's God-confidence rooted in trust.

Key Points

Main Takeaway

Memorable Quotes

Reflection Question

Tune in to hear the hilarious "Man in the Chair" skit, find out what a free air fryer with every baptism has to do with the fear of man, and discover why even a Pastor needs to hear this message.

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