Christ 2r Culture Podcast

History repeats itself. In Stephen's speech before the Sanhedrin, he shows how easy it is to repeat the sins of our forefathers instead of avoiding them. Just as the Israelites rejected Joseph and Moses as their God-given leader and savior, the Sanhedrin rejected Jesus as God's leader and savior in their day. It is easy for our hearts to do the same thing.

When was the last time God seemed slow in answering our prayers? In Acts 7, Stephen shows us how God's plans for his people are often fulfilled over generations, not minutes. He also shows us how to see Jesus in Old Testament history and how easily we can repeat the sins of those who lived before us.

Everyone one of us has heroes we follow. It could be an influencer on social media or an elder who lived their life well. The question is, are we following the right kind of person? In Acts 6, we are introduced to Stephen, a man whose life is worth following. Join us as we learn what gave him, and can give us, a life worth imitating.

What does a biblical church look like? How do you know if you are part of one? As we look at what the EFCA believes about the church, we learn a little about the history of the church and what the Bible says is essential for being part of a healthy one.

While we are a society that is more connected than ever, loneliness is out of control. It devastates people emotionally and psychologically, and everyone wants a friend. We will do almost anything for companionship. The good news is Jesus has not left us alone! In this message, we look at how the Holy Spirit is with us and what he comforts us, so no matter what we face, we are never alone.

The Bible talks about sin. What does sin look like? What are the different ways we commit it? Join us as we get a glimpse of the Bible's panoramic view of sin and see how it leaves us desperate for Jesus.

Jesus is universally recognized as a great moral example, an insightful teacher, and a defender of the poor. The question of Jesus being fully God divides the world. The Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Buddhism teaches that Jesus was not God but an enlightened man like Buddha. Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet of God, but not the Son of God. Which is true? Join us as we put our finger in the biblical text to find the true identity of Jesus.

Is the Bible worthy of our trust? Many consider it an old fantasy book akin to Harry Potter. It is historical fiction, not grounded in reality. College professors also sow doubt in tender minds, claiming the Bible is riddled with errors. Is this the truth? Join us as we examine logical and historical reasons we can trust the Bible.

Anthony David, who plays for the Mavericks, went through growing pains. In 18 months, he grew 8 inches, making him the most sought-after high school athlete in his senior year. His growth spurt had rewards, but it brought the challenge of forcing him to relearn his game. Similarly, church growth has challenges and rewards. In this study, we learn how to face growth successfully.

As a church, we are reaching our community with Jesus. What kind of reactions should we expect? How can we be more effective when we speak about Jesus? What do we need to remember when in an awkward situation under pressure? These are some of the important questions we will answer in this study.

A recent trend in college is students using AI to write their papers. The problem is that the work isn't their work. They are portraying themselves to be better writers than they are. This is called posing. In Acts 5, we see how God feels about posing and why it is corrosive to our lives.

This week, President Trump met with the leader of South Africa. He showed him a video of black South Africans calling for the death of white farmers. It was racial conflict at its worst. Conflict fills the news and our homes. The last place we want conflict is the church. Join us as we learn how God creates unity but we are to maintain it.

When trials come, we long to escape them. We see them as holding us back. The Bible has a different picture. God's word tells us how God uses trials to build us up, not tear us down. In this study, we also look at how to be persecuted for Jesus and handle it well.

Have we developed a myopic vision of the gospel that can't see Jesus beyond our community? For Mission Sunday, we explore God's vision for reaching the nations with the good news of Jesus. We also examine the book of Philippians to move beyond traditional mission support into gospel partnerships.

The first 300 years of church history saw ten major persecutions against Christians. In many parts of the world, physical suffering still comes with following Jesus. Today, Satan prefers to attack the ego instead of the body. Join us as we learn why we should expect suffering and how to handle it well.

At Easter, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. What is the big deal? How does Jesus' resurrection from the dead change everyday life? Join us to find out the answer.

Christians gather to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. Why is Jesus' death good news for us? What did it accomplish that we could not have done? Join us as we examine Jesus' death and what in love He accomplished for us.

How does God treat us when we have failed miserably? In Acts 3, Peter tells us how Jesus came not to cross out our sins but to wipe them away. Join us as we learn how to have a fresh start in life.

Today, there is a longing to get back to the basics. People are cooking with cast iron instead of Tephlon. They are looking for organically grown produce. While progress is good, there is a place for getting back to the basics, the way God created things to be. The same is true in the church. In the busyness of the modern church, it is good for us to make sure we haven’t forgotten the basics of the church, the way God created it to be. Join us as we look at the basics of the early church.

How do we tell people about Jesus? What are the most important things for us to say and for others to know? In this passage, Peter preached the first sermon about Jesus. He gives us a template to follow when telling others about Jesus.