Word of Hope Christian Church Podcast

Today we begin a 13-week study in the New Testament book of 1 Corinthians titled Taking on Tough Issues. In this first session we’re going to be talking about Divisions in the Church and we’ll study 1 Cor 1:1-17. In this passage we’ll look at the thankful heart that the Apostle Paul has for his fellow believers, but also his concern for the divisions that are disrupting the fellowship. It’s time to get those Bibles or Bible apps out and let’s to studying. Thanks for listening, God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Being a counter-cultural Christian is a strong Biblical theme. Jesus told His followers in John 15:19, “...you are no longer part of the world” (NLT). Paul told the Romans, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,” (Rom 12:2, NLT). But it is quite another thing to figure out just what that means. There are multiple cultures and sub-cultures in the world which proclaim and embody different values, ideas and intuitions. How do we decide what we are to be counter too? Over the next few weeks we’re going to answer that question (and more) so buckle up and get ready because we fixin’ to get to it. Thanks for listening! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Unity, joy and contentment! These are blessings that only God can provide and Paul has emphasized them throughout this letter to the Philippians. And he continues by concluding with truly uplifting words. After urging some people in the church to make up with each other, he goes on to call them all to rejoice in the Lord always. While part of his own reason for rejoicing is a gift of support they had sent for him, he divulges the true and deeper reason behind his joy. Are you ready to find out what that reason  is? Then come on...let’s do this. Thanks for listening, God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Today, in this last sermon in our series, we’re going to hear from James about waiting and praying. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to face persecution and be told you should wait on God or pray God would provide a miracle? Whether or not you’ve ever faced life or death persecution you can be sure that the longer you follow Jesus the more opportunities you’ll have to learn the value of waiting and praying—two of the most powerful forces on earth. Stay tuned and let’s find out more. God bless you and thanks for listening! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Having written about his past and present, as well as his relationship to the Philippians, Paul now looks at where he is going. He was not one to “stand pat” or rest on what he had already accomplished. He was always looking to do more. For him that meant setting everything else aside, so that he might reach his goal of being like Christ. That is the spirit Paul had and the spirit he sought to engender in others. Let’s talk about it. Thanks for listening, God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Words are powerful! Words have meaning. An ill-timed or perfectly timed word spoken to another can impact a person for their entire lives. Think about that for a moment—you can change the trajectory of another person’s life simply by the way you speak to them. This might have been some of the impetus behind why James devoted so much time to this subject in his letter. So let our journey begin and let’s discover together what James has to teach us about both speaking and boasting. God bless you and thanks for listening! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

There are many things every day that can cause us to be fearful or grumpy and argumentative. For instance how about the last time someone cut you off in traffic? In today’s study, Paul first admonishes the Philippians toward “stellar” behavior and then goes on to share his plans concerning how he was going to keep in touch with them and their needs. Let’s get to studying. Thanks for listening, God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

To be living God’s best we must learn to be people of action who not only hear the Word, but respond in righteousness to the Word. James elaborates on this idea more in chapter 2 by comparing the relationship between Faith and Works. But before we go on, here’s a question for all of you today: What good is all the faith in the world if it doesn’t move you to action? And can a person with an inactive faith truly be saved? Those are just a few of the questions we’ll be discussing so stay with us—you’ll be glad you did! God bless you and thanks for listening! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

There’s an old country song that says, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way!” Jesus was perfect as He lived on this earth, but He would never have sung that song. He is certainly the best role model we could ever look to for the virtue of humility. Jesus especially showed this humility by being willing to give up His status of unity with God the Father in heaven to take on human form and experience human suffering here on earth. If Christ were willing to do that, shouldn’t we be willing to do humble acts to serve Him as well? Let’s talk about it. Thanks for listening, God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Welcome back to our 5-week sermon series called James: Faith & Works. This week we’re finishing up chapter 1 as James encourages his readers to be both hearers and doers of the word. And those are the two main ideas that we’re going to unpack today—listening and doing. James’ main point here is that it’s one thing to listen and receive the Word but it’s another thing to act upon it. Stay tuned and let’s find out more. God bless you and thanks for listening! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.