Mission Church: Teaching Podcast

Show of hands: Have you read the book of Hosea recently? Yeah, our hand is down too. But that's ok because in this message, guest teacher Kelly Byrd takes us on a journey through the first few chapters of this Old Testament gem! There's a critical and central theme buried in the text and it's one word: redemption. Lean in and get ready for a deep-dive into God's love for each one of us.

"God is not just concerned with our happiness but our wholeness, and we will never be fully whole until we see Him face to face." This is what Pastor of New Creation Church in Chicago, Ricky Brown has to say about a string of scripture in the book of Psalms. This is good news people. Very good news indeed.

So... Philemon, (Pronounced: Fi-Lee-Mon.) you've read it; right? Yeah, we haven't either until now! We're not gonna ruin it for you, but it's pretty much about three dudes that have some issues to work out. Here's the plot-twist; this tiny letter so clearly demonstrates the transforming power of the grace of God in the lives of these three men that it's almost like God actually didn't need more than one chapter to display His perfect love for us.

Let's get the obligatory "Hey, Jude..." Beatles reference out of the way. Ok, cool. Now, what is this one chapter book in the Bible called "Jude" all about? Counterfeit Christians. As it turns out, hypocrisy isn't just a present-day problem. It's an issue that culture has always needed to be aware of; while at the same time, contending for the faith that truly gives freedom through Jesus.

Obadiah may have been a Minor Prophet, but God delivered a major message through this 'One-Hit Wonder' that brings into focus a simple, yet profound truth: God is sovereign over all things.

3rd John is the shortest book in the Bible. (Just 219 words in all.) However, it has so much to say about how our inner "Dio" can direct our focus off-course and away from the race God has clearly directed us to. Just don't be a Dio; ok?

"I'm Samurai Mike I stop 'em cold. Part of the defense, big and bold. I've been jammin' for quite a while. Doin' what's right and settin' the style. Give me a chance, I'll rock you good. Nobody messin' in my neighborhood. I didn't come here lookin' for trouble. I just came to do the Super Bowl Shuffle." That's right, Mike Singletary, Hall Of Fame linebacker of the '85 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears dropped by Mission Church! We're talking faith, football, and fatherhood with one of the greatest of all-time!

Of all the things the author of 2nd John (His name is, John by-the-way.) could have recounted from his time with Jesus; the storms calmed, the demons cast out, or even the crucifixion... this disciple simply and yet profoundly says; summarized his experience of Christ in 4 words: Walk. In. The. Truth John doesn't say study the truth, although we must. He doesn't say argue the truth, although we need to. He doesn’t even say speak the truth, although we’ve got to. Not around it, not just near it, no, we have to walk in the Truth. To which we ask, "How?"

In 1 Peter 1:13, ones of the founders of the early church, Peter (Yeah, the guy who wrote 1 Peter... ) has something crucial to say about where we're placing our full hope. Which brings up two interesting questions, 'Can our hope be misplaced?' and if so, 'Is full hope more than partial hope?' Let's get some answers.

The faith Jesus lived and modeled was not an inward focused, inward-facing kind of faith. On the contrary, it’s outward facing, outward-moving. But why? Because that’s how love works. Now, don't get all salty on us, internal isn’t bad. In fact, it’s necessary. We need to choose growth and pursue the most healthy versions of ourselves. It’s just not the end. My and me is not the end of Christianity. What is? Well, now it IS time to get a little salty...

What do you think of when you think of fight songs? Maybe it’s the fight song associated with your favorite Chicago baseball team? (Clearly, that would be “Go Cubs Go!) Or maybe even after a bad breakup which is naturally, “Fight Song;” correct? Fight songs are powerful melodies because they give us a voice to express who we are: our identity. Here’s the question we’re asking through this example: When it comes to our true identity found in Jesus, what song do you hear in your head?

Marriage can get a lot of bad press. Divorce rates are sky-rocketing, mutual happiness is at an all-time low, and walls between relationships seem to be getting thicker. How has it come to this? Maybe it's because we haven't been taught how to fight, or even what we're fighting? Well, it's time to turn the tide and discover 3 new tactics we can bring into the battle for our marriages.

Everyone says parenting is easy until they become a parent. Can we get an amen? That's why we've all about partnering with parents! Raising kids is difficult and, in our series Fight, we are encouraging you to start thinking like a prizefighter who steps into the "ring" of parenting with a plan rooted in biblical truth.

When it comes to the fight for personal peace, the question we're asking this Easter is: What would happen if we lived our lives knowing that peace had already been won on our behalf? Well, we've got good news for you, and it's one word,,, Easter!

Guest teacher Jeanne Stevens brings us some unique perspective on Palm Sunday in the form of... wait for it... a donkey. What can we learn about blessings and burdens from a burro? Well, though this beast-of-burden may not have the most Facebook friends, it does transport pretty important "blessing" to Jeruselum as our eternal salvation hung in the balance. No big deal; right?

When it comes to transformation of any kind, you are most at risk not at the beginning and or at the end: You are most at risk in the middle. Why? Because it's when opposition is loudest and fatigue can overwhelm even the most prepared among us. However, on Commitment Sunday, we're going to look to our left and to our right, because we are not alone. We have each other, and God has the victory.

In this teaching, we have one simple question for you: When it comes to your life becoming Never the Same; What’s your plan? When we lean into the Old Testament story of Nehemiah we see he was more than a wishful thinker, he was a strategic planner. Nehemiah possessed more than a hope, Nehemiah had a plan!

We can drift into a lot of things, but transformation is not one of them. How do we avoid this dangerous drift? We start talking. We see in Nehemiah's story two crucial moments in which he says, "Goodbye." and, "Hello." to some very familiar feelings.

What is our collective fascination with stories? We binge on Netflix, pay way too much at the local AMC, and then fill our houses with little plastic cases with blue discs inside. (Unless you've run out of space and went digital.) All to experience life-change in someone else's fictional journey. We are drawn to the story arch of transformation, but why do we so often stop there; content to be bystanders? We think much of the answer is found in a story (Shocker...) from the Old Testament; Nehemiah. So, buckle-up, our drifting days are over. It's time to transform!

There is a conflict brewing in all of our lives. It's when our timing is our timing, and God's timing is... well, God's. In a season of trial, hurt, illness, loss, or lost-ness this is absolutely the last thing we want to hear; isn't it? Guest teacher and author, Aubrey Sampson takes the stage to share her thoughts on this difficult subject with profound depth and care.