Village Heights Podcast

Life gets busy and lonely at times making us feel like we are on an island. Truth is we are never really alone. Especially if you are a Christ-Follower. Whether you know it or not you are a part of the Body of Christ. It exists even if you don't acknowledge it. If all believers are a part of this entity then we are responsible to it. The first thing to taking care of something is, What do we feed it?

The Apostle Thomas was one of us because like all of us, he had doubts. This week we talk about how to face our doubts and how the love of God expels our doubts.

Often we look at the heroes of the Bible as being these amazing people we could never be like instead of seeing them regular people just like us. The story of Noah shows us how difficult events occur with everyone, and how our reaction is not always to understand but to trust.

If you are like me, you have had the feelings of wanting to give up after failure. When it comes to following Christ we will always fall short. Thankfully Jesus doesn't expect us to be perfect. However, Jesus does have a requirement to prove our love to Him. We learn this expectation through Peters story. Can you live up to what Jesus asks?

We all like to claim to have integrity. It's something we can pride ourselves in. However, integrity is only revealed when it is tested. Has your integrity to God ever been exposed? This is a hard and tricky opportunity to navigate. There is one who set the example of true human integrity. How do you measure up to Job?

Over the past several weeks we have been looking at various ways in which we find ourselves to be big fat hypocrites. This past Sunday Tanner walked us through several steps that we as Christ followers can begin to separate ourselves from the realm of hypocrisy and into Christ likeness. In order for us to remove the stain of hypocrisy from ourselves we must become imitators, and demonstrators of Christ, working in our faith, laboring in our love, and remaining steadfast in hope. It is not enough that we consciously make the decision to do less bad, and to do more good, but it is about making the conscious decision to be more like Christ.

The fight against hypocrisy is about what you say AND what you do. If you are on a faith journey, your actions and reactions should be shaped by your beliefs and what Christ is doing in your life. Take a look, with us, at what James had to say in his letter to his Jewish brothers.

When we hear the Truth from Jesus we find out where we belonged in this universe the whole time. This truth illuminates that we were created by a Master Builder. Would a creator create something just to serve the creation? If we were created to serve the creator we are truly servants. Christ-Followers, do you live up to the title of servant or are you a Big, Fat Hypocrite?!

Doesn't it always seem like in our most uncomfortable situations, life likes to throw another curve ball our way? It would be awesome if becoming a Christian resulted in the removal of all discomfort from our lives. More often than not, we are the disciples, huddled in the corner of a boat in the middle of a stormy sea, when all of the sudden Jesus calls us to leave our boat and face the storms of life head on.

Why is it the plans we have to be a better person always gets derailed? We've all found ourselves in the moment of making the decision of comfort over the plan. Comfort is okay in moderation, but it can become an enabler if we let it. This flaw of human nature even existed in Jesus' disciples.

Have you ever wondered if the words you use have a big effect? That's a simple one to answer with another question. How have other peoples words effected you?... We usually learn that our words hold power as we grow older. With this power comes great responsibility, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.

"Church" can be so many things to so many people. How can we be a team if we cannot agree on what church should be? Jesus encountered this same issue in His ministry over 2,000 years ago. His answer solved this problem, but the question is "Are you willing to try it?". Find out how Jesus told us to Frame His Church.

There are some great influential leaders in our culture. It's good to look up to them, but have we made being a leader unattainable for ourselves because the standard is so high. What does it really mean to be a leader? What fuels these influential people to do what they do? More importantly, what does this matter to you?

If there was a movie that defined the 90's I would have to say it was "Sandlot". I learned how to be cool and courageous from that team of misfits! What if I told you the Apostles we see as hero's of the faith resembled the kids from the Sandlot? The similarity is huge for us...

Do you feel the pressure to frame your life as perfect? We have all been there. However, there is One who doesn't want the perfect you. He wants all of you. No matter how messy it might be.

Worship is less about our actions and more about the condition of our heart. When we embrace the creativity in worship, we find one of the greatest catalysts in our lives.

Do you ever feel like you're alone? When you are a Christ follower you are never alone. We bring Jesus with us everywhere we go. How does having Him always with us change our day to day lives?

Often we feel like the underdogs in life. Just like Rocky and the Karate Kid, we have a quirky coach ready to teach us His life changing ways. To this day that coach is in your corner cheering for you. Since God is for us, who can be against us?

Though suffering comes, Jesus enters our pain with his presence. This empathy can become a catalyst in our own life for how we treat others who are hurting.