Liquid Church

Good heavens... Poor, poor Drew! What in the world could Liquid's naughty intern have done to deserve getting his butt kicked? (promo for video iPod only) Don't forget: Liquid Small Group Connection This Sunday 2/26 6:30-7:30 PM (between services) Only at www.liquidchurch.com

You and I are natural-born clutchers. From the moment we come grasping our momma's finger out of the womb, we grab what we can, declare it "Mine!" and hang on tight for dear life. Clutching and grasping is our reflexive response as fallen humans. To freely "let go" of our money and stuff just ain't natural. In fact, to enjoy the freedom of opening our hands to God and others requires a supernatural impulse. Yet, this is exactly what happened according to Paul in 2 Corinthians 8-- God's Spirit stimulated a heartfelt joy in the Macedonian believers causing them to become extravagant givers! Indeed, if we're to truly experience the full joy of God and participate in His mission of extending generosity to others in need, we must learn to loosen our grip on what we have... following the example of Christ as the Macedonians did. Take a look at your hands... and listen in as Pastor Tim discusses the secret of open-handed giving. Part 4 of the message series "Why the Devil Takes MasterCard: Jesus on Money and

Check-out the video teaser for Pastor Tim's message series "Why the Devil Takes MasterCard: Jesus on Money and Your Stuff." A special treat for our listeners with a Video iPod!

Have you ever seen a hearse with a luggage rack? We all know you can't take it with you. But in Matthew 6, Jesus shares an incredible corollary to that truth about our treasure. You can't take it with you... but you can send it on ahead. Listen in as Pastor Tim discusses the ultimate "Insider Trading" tip that should revolutionize our earthly investment strategy. Part 3 of "Why the Devil Takes MasterCard: Jesus on Money and Your Stuff"

Let's face it: Money is an touchy topic. We're uncomfortable talking about it, and most folks are content to keep it a private, personal matter. Yet, for some reason, the Bible's Author makes a big deal about it-- addressing the issue of money and possessions more than faith and prayer combined! Indeed, Jesus "turned up the heat" when it came to money-- even drawing a direct link to the sincerity of one's salvation. Listen in as Pastor Tim highlights 4 "Fever Breaks"... or ways that Jesus teaches a person is finally freed from the grip of Affluenza. Part 2 of the message series "Why the Devil Takes MasterCard: Jesus on Money and Your Stuff"

Af-flu-en-za n. 1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by dogged pursuit of the American Dream. 3. A spiritual illness that Jesus counsels his followers to avoid at all costs As Westerners, we live in a society of unprecedented affluence, a culture of luxury that teaches us to buy, spend, and consume from early on. Yet Jesus warns his followers "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12.15). How do we live in a world that says luxury, leisure and consumption are the means to lasting happiness? Listen in as Pastor Tim discusses the Affluenza bug in the message series "Why the Devil Takes MasterCard: Jesus on Money and Your Stuff."

When family or close friends visit, why is the kitchen always the most popular room in the house? A: Because it's where REAL conversations happen-- the nitty gritty stuff of life. Over the kitchen table is where initimate friends huddle to share their deepest hopes, dreams, and fears. In short: the kitchen is about intimate community. In 2006, we are "renovating" the kitchen at Liquid-- listen in as we discuss the blueprints for expanding our small group community for folks from all seasons of life. From guests... to friends... to family: step inside the Liquid kitchen and belong.

We're all familiar with the the old, old story-- the shepherds, the magi, the babe in the manger... but do we know the real story that took place behind the stars on that first Christmas? What was Christmas like from God's perspective? It may have been a hushed "Silent Night" on earth, but in the heavens... well, there was another drama unfolding. A war to end all wars. This is the story of the OTHER Christmas-- the one we glimpse from a heavenly point-of-view in Revelation, chapter 12. Listen in as Pastor Tim pulls back the curtain on "A Cosmic Christmas" that restores the wonder of God's courageous gift to us.

Not safe... but good. This is how Mr. Beaver describes Aslan... and the way the God of the Bible reveals Himself to His creatures. What do we make of a God who brims with an infinite love... yet is said to burn with a furious wrath? Can a mighty God of righteous rage still be trustworthy? Indeed, the anger of God is a widely misunderstood aspect of His character-- too often exploited by desperate preachers and callous believers to manipulate and threaten folks. Could it be that Divine Anger is noble & restorational (rather than petty and destructive)? Listen in as Pastor Tim discusses how the Lion of Judah's coming return will finally bring justice and healing to a wounded world.

The winter is finally over... and Aslan is on the move! When the cinematic adaptation of C.S. Lewis' classic allegory "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" hit theaters, thousands were introduced to the enchanting tale of 4 children who discover a parallel world where Good and Evil clash in epic kingdom conflict. At the center of the tale is a Lion King of Kings... the hero our adult hearts secretly long for. But this is more than a children's fable or a blockbuster movie. Tune in as Pastor Tim Lucas of LiquidChurch.com discusses the "story behind the story" and the deeper magic into which God invites His children. www.liquidchurch.com tim@liquidchurch.com

Three years after early Christians were persecuted under Nero for the burning of Rome in A.D. 64, the apostle Peter wrote his fellow believers: "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us" (1 Peter 2.11-12). And that is exactly what the young Christ followers did-- forming a vibrant community of faith that was radically committed to holy living , generosity and compassion. From a marginalized and misunderstood minority, the Early Christians became a culture-changing community of such irresistable influence that the watching world of non-believers couldn't help but confess that the presence of Jesus was among them. And so they became: the kind of church only God could get credit for. At Liquid, we're far from being a perfect church-- but we are striving to build a community th

Is there a way out of the darkness of porn? You know it! ...But God's path to freedom often involves hitting rock-bottom as King David did. Authentic confession and repentance reflect an inner state of brokenness-- an admission to God that one's life is out-of-control and you're powerless to change it on your own. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51.17). Though suffering tragic consequences for his lust-driven choices here on earth, David shows us the pathway home to the kind of authentic restoration and renewal only God can generate. Take heart-- you're not alone... and all is not lost!

What do you want to be when you grow up? We all ask that question at a pivotal point in our young lives... and our church community is no different. Liquid celebrated its 4th birthday earlier this Fall, and we sense the time is ripe to begin asking the question, "What do we want to be-- as a ministry, as a congregation, as a community of Christ followers--as we mature and grow?" Interestingly enough, we're beginning to think the pathway to the future runs through the ancient past. Instead of consulting futuristic models, cutting-edge books, or 21st century gurus.... we're going back to our roots. To the Early Church in the book of Acts. Our suspicion is that our spiritual forefathers knew something-- had Something-- that infused their community of early Christians with unusual love... for God, for one another, for the watching world around them. How can we become the kind of church only God can credit for? Listen in as we journey to the ancient past to lead us into the future.

It's one thing to believe that God listens to our prayers-- it's a whole other thing to believe that they actually move Him to act & intervene in the natural events of our daily lives. How do we reconcile the two views of God presented by Scripture? On the one hand, we rely on the trustworthy, immutable Sovereign of the universe ("I the LORD do not change" Malachi 3.6). On the other hand, we long for a responsive God who allows himself to be impacted by human petitions ("My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused" Hosea 11.8). Do our prayers really make a difference to God? Listen in as Pastor Tim shares a sermonic adaptation of an original article by Philip Yancey entitled "Does Prayer Change God?"

True story: Construction worker Patrick Lawler came home one day complaining of a toothache. Six days later-- when ice cream failed to relieve the throbbing pain-- an X-ray revealed the true source of his discomfort: a 4-inch nail had embedded in the roof of his mouth when a nailgun misfired at work earlier that week. Doctors were astonished Patrick had been functioning for almost a week with the wound-- for the nail was lodged only inches from his eye and brain. Unfortunately, many people treat the presence of porn or sexual sin in their lives in much the same way-- giving casual treatment to what is actually a mortal wound. The story of David and Bathsheba offers a sobering lesson about tolerating private lust...leading to a probing question: What areas of sensual indulgence in your life are you tempted to minimize?

Everyone knows sex IS easier than love... and with the mainstreaming of porn & private fantasy to sell everything from jeans to beer, killing the Lizard of Lust is tricky business. Yet, Paul tells followers of Christ "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity..." (Ephesians 5.3) Not even a hint? C'mon, you've gotta be kidding! Is it even possible? Listen in as we discuss the road less taken to true sexual freedom as God intended His creatures to enjoy.

They’re making billions of dollars manipulating our weakness, drawing in those as young as 11 through more than 280 million websites. Pornography is America’s biggest addiction— it’s an issue that impacts virtually every home. This week at Liquid Church, we’re talking about porn. Not to judge anyone or moralize, but to help families and friends address this huge problem. It’s been a dirty little secret too long. Now, it’s time to expose it. Listen in for Part 1 of Pastor Tim’s eye-opening message series “Porn Again: Exposing Our Dirty Little Secret.”