Northeast Christian Podcast

Love the 'Ville: Outreach Panel

Everybody likes talking about love, tweeting about compassion, and virtue-signaling about justice. Not everyone likes the inconvenience, time, and consistency it takes to do it.

It’s socially advantageous and laudable in our culture to seem humanitarian, to have a cause.

But we must ask: Do we like the idea of love more than the act?

We’ve seen that a compassionate church is made through sweaty brows, dirty hands, achy backs, weekly commitments, and inconvenienced schedules. We have to put our money and muscle where our mouth is.

Are we up for the challenge to truly BE the Love the ‘Ville church, and not just applaud the idea of it? In this service, we hear from a panel of our community partners who are committed to loving their city one small act of great love at a time. As you listen, consider how you might follow in their steps to commit to being a doer.

Acts Verse by Verse | How Should a Wealthy Church Deal With its Money?

“Don’t talk about money, politics, or religion.” We’ve probably all been on the receiving end of this recommendation before a family gathering or social event.

You may bring this cultural imperative to the table when you read the Bible, but it won’t take long to discover that the Bible has a lot to say about money.

The book of Acts is no exception. This week, we’re asking the question, “How should a wealthy church deal with its money?”, and looking for answers in the book of Acts.

Acts Verse by Verse | Is Christian Unity Possible in our Divided Country?

At the height of Adolf Hitler’s reign, German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, created an underground seminary for Jesus followers who opposed the church’s complicity with Nazi control. It was within this distressing context that Bonhoeffer penned these words in his book, Life Together: “The greatest threat to Christian community is our expectation of some wishful idealized version of it… Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community.”

In the United States today, we do not live under fascist control or in the thick of genocide, but our country appears to be more polarized and divided than ever.

Do the words of Bonhoeffer deliver any hope for the American church today? And what does the book of Acts have to say about unity among believers? Is Christian unity even possible in our divided country? (Spoiler: we believe it absolutely is. Listen to this week of Acts Verse by Verse to discover how.)

Hows Your Love Life?

Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders, delivers a powerful encouragement spurring us on towards unity in the body of Christ.

If we are to have significance in this world (instead of just settling for "success"), we must learn to embrace the whole of the Christian love ethic which shows concern and care for every part of the body of Christ.

"But God" - Guest Speaker Founding Pastor Bob Cherry

Founding Pastor Bob Cherry returns as a guest preacher to deliver a powerful encouragement. He reminded us of our need to replace "but I" excuses with "but God" declarations. Bob uses Paul's letters to the Corinthians to display that God did not dispute anyone's inadequacies, and is capable of bringing beauty through brokenness.

Acts Verse by Verse | I'm Still Standing

I’m Still Standing- Damian Thompson

Guest Speaker, Damian Thompson, continues our series in Acts Verse by Verse with a powerful encouragement to remember that You’re Still Standing.

In Acts 28, Paul the apostle faces personal disappointment and public danger after unexpectedly shipwrecking on the island of Malta. He was bombarded with trial after trial, but remained standing strong in the knowledge that God had a purpose for him.

We’ve all faced trials of different kinds, but if you’re reading this, you are still standing. If your plans have been wrecked, God can still use them to bring forth his purpose.

Acts Verse by Verse | How Do We Fight The Culture Wars?

If you've spent any amount of time as a consumer of Christian media, you'll likely be familiar with the great "culture war". Christian media and political pundits would love for you to believe we're engaged in a war for the soul of Christianity, the future of the US, and the fate of the next generation.

"Culture War Christianity" is a corruption of our faith because it prioritizes winning over witness, power over piety, protecting the 99 over reaching the 1, and self-preservation over selfless love.

How do we fight these "Culture wars" we hear so much about? If we look at the conversion of Saul found in the book of Acts, we see a cross-shaped alternative to the "culture war" mindset that isn't very war-like at all.

Acts Verse by Verse | Does Christianity Have Power?

Christians on the political left and right have convinced themselves that gaining political power is the key to bringing the kingdom of God to earth.

Recent data has shown that political privilege is harmful for Christianity in society. The presence of pluralism and the absence of privilege are actually beneficial for Christianity because it must be chosen for its actual merits and spiritual power, rather than its social merits and political power.

Anytime we look elsewhere for power, it robs the Spirit. You can have the power of politics, or the power of the Spirit, but not both. It's not a matter of whether Christianity has power- it's whether WE will have it.

Acts Verse by Verse | Why is the Church Facing a Credibility Crisis?

According to a recent Gallup Study, in 2020, 47% of U.S. adults belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque. That’s down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999. This is the first time in eight-decades it's dropped below 50%. Younger people are far more likely to claim no religious preference.

Why is this the case? Why is the church facing a credibility crisis? How can we overcome the cultural pressure we're facing and model the early church as we see in Acts?

Tyler walks through seven marks of the early church, and how those characteristics allowed them to remain a faithful witness to Jesus amidst persecution.

Acts Verse by Verse | Is Diversity Christian?

Have you ever wondered how to respond to demands like, "Stop talking about race and ethnicity and just preach the gospel!"?

In this sermon, Tyler walks through the book of Acts to deliver a beautiful, biblical vision for gospel-centered racial and ethnic diversity. Christians have been given the doctrine, power, and commission to build a multi-ethnic family that heals racial and ethnic divides.

It's time to make this vision a reality through the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit at work within his church.