This episode focuses on the events of Good Friday. Steve walks us through a timeline of that day, starting very early in the morning on Friday. The episode ends with a reading of John 20:30-31. John recorded the events in this book to persuade us to believe that Jesus truly is the Messiah. We hope this helps you to reflect on your belief in Jesus and the magnitude of the cross. 

If you are local to Goodyear, we would like to invite you to attend our March 29th Good Friday services, this evening from 5:00pm-8:00pm. This is an open-house style service where you can come to take communion, reflect and pray. We encourage you to take space to be quiet with the Lord today.

Today's episode focuses on John 13:1-14 (NIV). Rich gives us some background on what some know as Maundy Thursday. This is a remembrance of the night that Jesus spent with His disciples. An amazing thing to draw out from this passage is that Jesus washed His disciples' feet. His care for His disciples was so evident, He loved them until the very end. He even washed Judas' feet knowing that he would betray Him. This is Jesus' last time with HIs disciples until after the resurrection. As followers of Christ, we can learn so much from how Jesus handled this night. That picture of humility and serving is unmatched.

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us tomorrow for Devotional 7.

Today's episode focuses on Luke 21:1-13 (NIV). It is Wednesday of Passion Week and in a little over 24 hours Jesus will be betrayed. In a little over 48 hours, He will be on the cross. We see Jesus' care and compassion for others as He tells this story of the widow. There is nothing small in the eyes of God when it is done in a heart of faith. As Jesus talks of His second coming, He is reminding those then and us now that there is a greater plan. We are called to bear the testimony of Jesus and that calling is very important to Him.

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us tomorrow for Devotional 6.

Today's episode focuses on Matthew 22:15-40 (NIV). The people bringing the questions in this passage were trying to trick Jesus and yet He handles this masterfully. He answers the questions in a way that conveys the truth to not only His audience then but to us living now. This is a passage that has been referenced in many episodes of Resident Strangers. In these answers we see that Jesus is most concerned about our hearts. We can learn a lot from Jesus in how he handled these people and their questions.

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Today's episode focuses on Mark 11:11-17 (NIV). There should have been fruits of repentance; the fruit of embracing Jesus as Messiah but there wasn't. Jesus knew where this was going as He saw the lack of fruit. In a lot of ways Jesus was giving last warnings to Israel to repent in the days leading up to the cross. We cannot allow things in our lives to become more important than the worship and devotion of Jesus. Engaging with God comes first.

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us tomorrow for Devotional 4.

Happy Palm Sunday! Today's episode focuses on Matthew 21:1-9 (NIV). Jesus came on a lowly donkey knowing that what was ahead of Him was a very humiliating death. It's also interesting to stop and consider that those who praised Him so greatly on this day were the same ones who would shout "crucify Him" just five days later. 

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us tomorrow for Devotional 3.

With Passion Week approaching Steve and Rich wanted to share some special devotionals on the Resident Strangers podcast as we prepare our hearts for Easter weekend. Starting today short 5-10 minute episodes will be released every day until Sunday, March 31st to help center your heart on scripture and gratitude for Jesus and His sacrifice. Today's episode focuses on John 12:1-3 (NASB).

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us tomorrow for Devotional 2.

Baptism is the topic of discussion on Resident Strangers today! Sarah, Steve and Rich all share about their baptisms and particularly focus on Rich's story as he was baptized twice, once as an infant and then later in his teen years after receiving salvation. What does infant baptism mean? Can it be considered believer's baptism? Steve brings up how infant baptism can often bring a lot of confusion, sometimes even about salvation. With this conversation in mind, what does the Bible say about baptism? Something that is seen in scripture right away is that baptism is seen as something for those who are already walking with Christ. Simply put, the process is believe and then be baptized. How can an infant believe in Jesus in their own free will? Rich brings up a lot of scripture to support this topic. Baptism is a symbol that does not make sense without an understanding and receiving of salvation. Something that is also drawn out in this episode is the idea of baptism cleansing sin. Is that what it does? This all circles back to the idea of original sin and what needs to happen for sin to be forgiven. Steve and Rich would say that comes through salvation and dispel the argument that baptism is necessary to cleanse or forgive sin. Listen in as Steve and Rich clarify the act of baptism in someone's faith journey. Salvation is not Jesus plus baptism; it is in Jesus alone. If you're reading this and have been following Jesus but have not followed Him in obedience through baptism - it's time to heavily consider doing that. What is it that is holding you back? Also, don't miss a special announcement about Passion Week and Easter at the end of this episode! 

May 2024 (Mother's Day Weekend) Baptisms at DSCC - https://dscchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2190355

Randy Donithan's Stories Collective episode - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Abj4By5Sapk4lKLxwfthT?si=48db39d06c374cb9

*Episode 104, available wherever you listen to podcasts

Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefs

Questions or comments?
Email [email protected] 

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Rich and Steve jump right back into the conversation of eternal security. If you did not listen to last week's episode you should catch up before joining in on this one. Rich brings some clarity to some passages that some might use to argue the idea of losing salvation. Steve brings clarity as well getting into some specific contexts certain passages were written in (you may want to take notes on the specific passages mentioned). A part of this conversation includes how God might bring someone to rock bottom in the moments when they've strayed and need to come back. It is also important to recognize that no one is immune to sin. Sarah hosts another podcast at Desert Springs called The Stories Collective and she points out that many of the testimonies shared do involve a period of walking away from the Lord or being caught up in sin. But it is amazing to hear how the Lord has worked in these people's lives and how they are able to articulate the grace they have received. Sarah also shares a personal story about a close friend who was killed and unfortunately had unresolved sin. What does that mean as far as maintaining salvation? Steve drives home what it means to know the Lord. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. If someone comes to the point of trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, then that means eternal life was given. Furthermore, Steve talks about what it looks like when a Christian walks in sin and how the Lord handles that. Salvation is not based or rooted in the things we do or don't do; it is rooted in the grace of Christ that is experienced by faith. The episode ends with Steve, Rich and Sarah encouraging all to guard their hearts and lean into community. This is an episode we would encourage you to share!

The Stories Collective podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/1yqQ7YDxumDwtSbq4ZtOtN?si=3e6ff65f9be74d0e

*available wherever you listen to podcasts

Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefs

Questions or comments?
Email [email protected] 

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

In this week's episode Steve and Rich cover something that is crucial for believers to understand. It has a lot to do with our identity and our security in Christ. It is also something that is heavily debated amongst Christians even to this day. Eternal security is what is being discussed and if you haven't listened to the last two episodes on salvation, we would highly encourage you to do that. Rich asks the question, if God is the one who saves what is it that could possibly be done to become unsaved? Steve cautions that the enemy can really use mind games when a believer does not take the time to understand that their salvation is secure. If eternal life can be lost, is it actually eternal? Lots of scripture is referenced to support these questions and answers. Rich points out that Romans 8 states that once someone is in God's love through faith in Jesus they are there. No exceptions. Steve brings up the idea that if salvation can be lost then the question becomes what sin is the final straw? What exactly is the sin that would cause the salvation to be lost? The discussion then turns to what happens when someone "walks away" from the faith? There is a lot packed into these 23 minutes and will definitely continue in next week's episode. Make sure you come back next week!

Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefs

Questions or comments?
Email [email protected] 

Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.