So does Jesus' call to deny ourselves mean we lose all sense of uniqueness/identity of who we are? What are signs of spiritual attack in our lives? And what does it really mean for Jesus to be Lord over your whole life?

This week on the podcast, guest host Ridge Marketing and Communications Manager Dayne Logan poses these questions and more to Will as they look to explore Jesus' call into discipleship in Mark 8.

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What does it really look like to be a follower of Jesus in daily life? As we look to become disciples of Christ, it’s easy to get caught up in the theory. It all sounds good—submit to the Lord, love others, honor Him in our work and in all we do. But how do we get beyond these principles to practically living them out?

Message by Will Herron

Scripture referenced: Mark 8:34–38

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When we encounter pain or difficult circumstances in our lives, it's hard not to become insular and even bitter with God or others. Yet Joseph shows us that the opposite is possible with God's help.

Join Pastor Mike and Will as they discuss practically how this works as well as give some tips to keeping God's character and love fresh in our memory.

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The cultural view of a successful career is to climb the ladder—to move on up the org chart. The Bible, though, offers a revolutionary understanding of the purpose of work: It isn’t a way to prosper and promote ourselves. Work is a way for us to serve, bless, help, and advance others—to go beyond our own self-interests to add value to the lives of others. When the purpose of our work connects with God’s work, His meaning and purpose, it gets good.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Genesis 40

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Though only 23 verses, Genesis chapter 39 proves to be a source of wisdom on resisting temptation, God's presence and providence, and the hope of change in difficult seasons.

Join Pastor Mike and Will as they discuss these areas and more on this week's BTS Podcast.

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The Bible isn’t about what a lot of people think it’s about. It’s not about a problem-free life where there are no issues and everybody lives happily ever after. It’s a whole lot more relevant than that. In Genesis chapter 39, God is speaking. What He is telling us: He is with us just as much when life is hard as He is when life is good.

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As we continue looking at the life of Joseph, we are taking some time to hone in on the family line that preceded him. As with many parts of the Old Testament, it is filled with stories of relational dysfunction and people following their own way apart from God.

So what can we learn from these stories about how God has called us to live? And how does this all relate to challenges we have in our own family history/present relationships?

Join Doug and Will as they discuss these questions and more on our weekly Beyond the Sermon podcast.

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Earlier in Genesis we see the family line that preceded Joseph. Starting with Abram and Sarai, Joseph’s family history is filled with dysfunction and with people choosing to follow their own way apart from God. Despite, what we ultimately see is that God knows. He cares. And He uses it all — even the most broken people and situations and circumstances — for good.

Message by Doug Applegate

Scripture referenced: Genesis 15:1–6, 16:1–6, 20:1–7

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One of the most wonderful aspects of the gospel is the news that we can experience change in our lives. We can know freedom from internal struggles, and transformation into the likeness of Jesus. But how does this actually happen? And what's so wrong with just pursuing your desires anyway?

Join Pastor Mike and Will as they discuss the path to personal change and the life God created us to live.

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Facing any temptation today? Here is what you need to know: Seemingly small decisions impact our lives significantly. Often, it’s not just one failed dramatic moment that causes our world to fall apart. It doesn’t happen at all once. Rather, it happens one decision at a time. And this: God knows. He cares. And He has a way out. Take Joseph’s lead. Resist, turn, flee and run away.

Message by Mike Van Rees

Scripture referenced: Genesis 39:1–18

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