Venture Podcasts Dan Wills
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- Religion & Spirituality
Weekly messages on the topics and events that we encounter in our lives, brought to you by Dan Wills, Lead Pastor at Venture Church in Bellevue, NE.
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You Are God' Ambassador
The chameleon is the master of disguise. No matter what environment it is placed in, it will change its color to fit in. One of the fundamental aspects of being a Christian, however, is that we should be easily identifiable. But for many, rather than stand out, we would prefer to just blend in with our surroundings. The problem is that we end up looking, sounding and acting just like the world around us. In doing so, we lose all the marks of being a follower of Jesus. We have to fight the urge to fit in and embrace our new life in Christ.
In this episode Pastor Dan teaches us that God, because He decided to use us to accomplish His mission in this world, calls us His “ambassadors.” We are called to be God’s voice to reconcile people to Himself. This includes the willingness to speak up and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Will you join in?
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You Are Chosen
The chameleon is the master of disguise. No matter what environment it is placed in, it will change its color to fit in. One of the fundamental aspects of being a Christian, however, is that we should be easily identifiable. But for many, rather than stand out, we would prefer to just blend in with our surroundings. The problem is that we end up looking, sounding and acting just like the world around us. In doing so, we lose all the marks of being a follower of Jesus. We have to fight the urge to fit in and embrace our new life in Christ.
In this episode Pastor Dan teaches us that as followers of Christ, we have been chosen by the God of the universe as His prized possession. We are chosen and set apart through Christ our Savior. This has all happened for a specific purpose which is to allow us to proclaim the goodness of God to those who still find themselves in the darkness.
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Do Not Conform
The chameleon is the master of disguise. No matter what environment it is placed in, it will change its color to fit in. One of the fundamental aspects of being a Christian, however, is that we should be easily identifiable. But for many, rather than stand out, we would prefer to just blend in with our surroundings. The problem is that we end up looking, sounding and acting just like the world around us. In doing so, we lose all the marks of being a follower of Jesus. We have to fight the urge to fit in and embrace our new life in Christ.
In this episode Pastor Dan teaches us that the world has certain patterns to it that do not lead to a full life. Greed, anger, jealousy, materialism, and dishonesty are just a few of them. Paul instructs us in the book of Romans to no longer conform or blend in with the ways of the world, but instead we are to live as transformed people. Transformation doesn’t happen by accident; it is an intentional way of daily living.
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Pain in the Wilderness
Our growth as Christians does not primarily take place in comfortable situations. Many characters in the Bible find themselves in the wilderness right before God uses them to make a huge impact. God wants to do a mighty work in us because he wants to do a mighty work through us. God knows that we grow most through tough trials, serious testing and difficult circumstances. It’s in these places we find out God is always with us and he is working in us.
In this episode, Pastor Dan talks about how Joseph is treated harshly by his brothers and thrown into a cistern in the desert. He is eventually sold into slavery in Egypt. His life takes many twists and turns until he finally is elevated to power in Egypt. After his family has to come to Egypt to be saved, Joseph faces how to respond to the pain they caused him. Rather than seek revenge, Joseph sees God’s work in what was supposed to be the end of his life. God won’t waste your pain in the wilderness, he will use it to bring him glory and to bless others.
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Listen in the Wilderness
Our growth as Christians does not primarily take place in comfortable situations. Many characters in the Bible find themselves in the wilderness right before God uses them to make a huge impact. God wants to do a mighty work in us because he wants to do a mighty work through us. God knows that we grow most through tough trials, serious testing and difficult circumstances. It’s in these places we find out God is always with us and he is working in us.
In this episode, Pastor Dan talks about how after Elijah’s greatest moment as a prophet of God, he flees in terror from the evil Queen Jezebel. He finds himself in a cave at Mt. Horeb. God asks him a very important question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Elijah is there because he is vulnerable and afraid. God promises to speak to him, but He did not speak in the wind, He did not speak in the earthquake, and He did not speak in the fire. It was in the still small voice that Elijah heard from God. Sometimes, in our most vulnerable times of our lives, we must get very quiet to hear God speak to us.
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Patient in the Wilderness
Our growth as Christians does not primarily take place in comfortable situations. Many characters in the Bible find themselves in the wilderness right before God uses them to make a huge impact. God wants to do a mighty work in us because he wants to do a mighty work through us. God knows that we grow most through tough trials, serious testing and difficult circumstances. It’s in these places we find out God is always with us and he is working in us.
In this episode, Pastor Dan talks about how David had already been anointed the new King of Israel, Saul was still on the throne. David hides for his life in a cave deep in the Desert of En Gedi as Saul hunts him down. Even though David had a chance to kill Saul, he is patient and recognizes that God would be the one to bring him the throne in due time. Sometimes in the wilderness it is hard to wait, but never forget God’s timing is always better than ours.
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