Teaching & News From Eastgate PCB

Rob Woodrum & Others
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Teachings from Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach Florida

  1. 6D AGO

    Matthew #44: A Fruitless Religion

    Many years ago I was with my dad at the home of family friends. At one point, he reached out for an apple that was in a fruit bowl as the centerpiece for the table where we were sitting. Our friends gasped in horror as he quickly put it to his mouth and bit down hard…only to find it was plastic. I have to give it to the old man, his teeth were in great shape because he bit right through the plastic shell. We all had a good laugh (at least I did), but my dad didn’t seem to find it as humorous as the rest of us. I suppose it’s pretty disappointing to find an imitation meant only for display when you have your heart set on a tasty apple. This Sunday we’ll be returning to our study in the book of Matthew, reading chapter 21:18-32, and we’ll be considering that theme of religion for display purposes only. In v18-22, we see Jesus do the only destructive miracle in the entirety of the gospels. Do you think this fruitless tree was just something that irritated Jesus and he lashed out…or do you think there was something else being communicated in this? If this were a living parable being acted out for his disciples – what do you think the message is, given Jesus’ actions in the last section, where he condemned the temple? The following account actually gives examples of what the message of the fig tree was. Jesus has yet another conflict with religious leaders – albeit, the chief priest is now involved. This is a first in an escalating opposition to Jesus. The question of authority is posed – “who do you think you are Jesus, emptying out the temple like that?”. There is no answer Jesus can give that won’t put him in immediate danger.  Jesus pulls a Bugs Bunny (“Duck season, Wabbit season…”) by posing a question that is impossible for them to answer. Who were the religious leaders afraid of when it came to answering the question? What does that tell us about the motive for their spirituality? The parable of the two sons spells it out in a pretty straightforward way. If you were to sum up the lesson of the parable, how would you word it? Looking forward to examining this passage together! Hope to see you Sunday! Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    45 min

  2. MAR 22

    Matthew #43: The Triumph of Peace

    This Sunday we’ll be reading the account of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, something we’ve called the “Triumphal Entry”. It’s a very familiar event from the Gospels, and one that we might miss the significance of because of that familiarity. We’ll be reading Matthew 21:1-17 as we continue our study of that Gospel. This event is pointing back to ancient prophecies about the Messiah, as well as prior historical events in Israel, and all of it is meant to create a contrast between the kingdoms of this world and how God rules His kingdom. That’s something we’ll be digging into in our examination of the text. We’ll also be reading about Jesus’ actions in the temple. Normally when we hear about Jesus driving out those who were selling sacrificial animals and exchanging money in the temple, we assume his motive is to rebuke commercialism/consumerism within the house of worship. I would say the majority of people read it that way…I know I always did. This Sunday we’re going to challenge that idea. Jesus was certainly staging a prophetic rebuke…but of what? There is an alternative proposition about what Jesus was doing that I find quite persuasive, and the message if far deeper and heavier than mere consumerism. (Not to excuse a consumer mindset within the sphere of worship – there are other places in Scripture that address that as improper, I’m just not convinced that’s what Jesus was doing in this particular text). I think this will be an enlightening, albeit challenging, study. I hope you can join us this Sunday! Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    47 min

  3. MAR 15

    Matthew #42: The Power of Mercy

    This Sunday, in our study of the Gospel of Matthew, we’ll be reading Matthew 20:29-34. Like all the gospel writers, Matthew loves a good contrast. In this text, we find two blind and desperate men who are presented right on the heels of James and John seeking greatness in the last section. Instead of two self-assured followers of Jesus looking for advancement, we have these two beggars bereft of any self-confidence. It’s another reminder of what sort of attitudes rightly represent God’s kingdom activity. When the blind men call out to Jesus for mercy, the crowd tries to silence them. What are some of the ways in which societal pressures or assessments try to silence our cries for God’s mercy? This passage is inviting us to consider the nature of God’s mercy and its powerful effect on our lives. When these men experienced the mercy of Jesus by receiving their sight, what did they do? When we’ve encountered God’s mercy in our lives, how can that draw us closer to him? This story is a great reminder of the depths of God’s love for us, and his desire to meet our true needs, not just our immediate wants. I think it will be really encouraging! Hope you can join us this Sunday as we dig into scripture together! Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    36 min

  4. MAR 8

    Matthew #41: The Power of Mercy

    This Sunday, we will continue our study in the Gospel of Matthew as we read Matthew 20:17–28. In this passage, Jesus predicts His death for the third and final time (see also Matthew 16:21 and Matthew 17:22). Yet instead of seeing the disciples wrestle with or process what Jesus has just revealed, we immediately encounter an unexpected request. The mother of James and John approaches Jesus asking that her sons be given seats of honor in His kingdom. Their reaction reminds me of this humorous scene from The Simpsons, when Marge gives Homer instructions for when she’s away: Like Homer in the clip, the request from the disciples’ mother—and likely James and John themselves—shows little indication that they truly heard what Jesus was saying. Jesus is speaking about suffering, betrayal, and death in Jerusalem, yet their focus is on status and position. The passage invites us to pause and reflect:Are we really listening to what Jesus is saying?Do we understand the road He is describing for His followers? As the section unfolds, it becomes clear that the disciples are looking ahead to the throne awaiting Jesus, but they are not recognizing the cross that lies on the road to get there. Jesus responds by teaching them that leadership in His kingdom must look radically different from the power structures of the world. Instead of authority being used to dominate others, greatness in God’s kingdom is defined by humility, service, and sacrifice. We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we dive into God’s Word together. Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    36 min

  5. MAR 1

    Matthew #40: The Radical Exchange

    This Sunday we’ll be reading Matthew 19:27-20:16 – which includes a parable that is unique to Matthew’s gospel. It is the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. In chapter 19, after witnessing what happened with the rich young ruler, Pete asks the question that is basically “after sacrificing all we had to follow you, what’s in it for us?”. Jesus does promise a reward to him, but where is it centered, according to the first part of v28? Given that context, what do you think the first/last dynamic is intended to teach us? In chapter 20 Jesus tells a story about a rich landowner who hires day laborers to pick grapes during the vineyard’s harvest. The story is unsettling in it’s economic implications – but what about it’s spiritual ones? What reason does the landowner give for paying everyone the same amount? What do you believe that is teaching us about our pursuit of spiritual and eternal rewards and the actual source of it? In v12, what is the chief complaint about the identical pay-stubs everyone had? What does this tell us about the self-perception of the complainers? In v 15 when it says “Or do you begrudge my generosity?”, it literally is asking “why do you give my generosity the evil eye?” Many, if not most, translations read a variation on “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others”. What are the complainers be envious of? They received what they agreed on as a wage. Justice was done…but something else was added – what? It’s interesting that they aren’t jealous of the money the short-timers received, they’re jealous of the landowners right to judge by his own standards. This really makes me think of something we’ll expound on in the teaching. I find this whole story to be fascinating…hope you can join us on Sunday! Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    38 min

  6. FEB 23

    Matthew #39: Treasures The World Misses

    Last week my son carried his piggy bank to the store and exchanged months of saved change for a pair of upside down goggles. After carefully looking at each item in the toy aisle, he chose to spend his own money on something that would flip his view of the world. The goggles use small mirrors to turn everything upside down, and they honestly made me dizzy when I tried to use them. Simple challenge cards like high five the person next to you or drawing a tree suddenly become surprisingly difficult. What feels easy becomes confusing and what seems obvious takes patience and practice. This Sunday we will look at a passage that reveals the upside down nature of God’s Kingdom. It can feel as though Jesus is turning everything over, but in truth he is restoring the world to what it was always meant to be.  In Matthew 19:13-26 Jesus welcomes children, who were overlooked in that culture, and he challenges a wealthy young man to surrender his possessions. The least are treasured in God’s Kingdom, and earthly treasures are exposed as worthless. What does that say about the things we value most? Where might our perspective need to be flipped? We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we read and study this passage of scripture together. Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    44 min

  7. FEB 15

    Matthew #38: A Controversial Trap

    I will warn you, the topic of our passage this week is going to be uncomfortable. One may be tempted to skip this teaching, but I can assure you we’ll be treading very carefully here, and you may even be relieved as we get into the cultural and historical elements that surround this text – those elements make this section far more nuanced that a cursory reading seems. We’ll be reading Matthew 19:1-12 in our study of this Gospel. One thing I intend to do this Sunday is zero in on the set up for this discourse by Jesus. It’s so very important to remember how Jesus got onto this topic…it was a trap. I want to consider that this Sunday. We’ll look at what Jesus says and see how it instructs his people in marriage relationships, but we’ll also note that Jesus doesn’t allow himself to get cornered by the trick question the religious leaders posed to him. His focus, as it is consistently, is on the heart. What can we learn from the way Jesus deals with this culturally and politically sensitive topic? There is a difference between the way Jesus speaks in public and the things he says in private to his disciples. How can we apply this to the way we hold our convictions before a watching (and listening) world? I encourage you, if you’re concerned about this text, we will be remain centered on God’s grace. Hope to see you this Sunday! Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    38 min

  8. FEB 9

    Matthew #37: The Call To Community

    Did you know that April 15 marks Eastgate’s 31st birthday? Last year at a staff meeting, we talked about how amazed we were that our little church community had reached 30 years. Now here we are, a year later, celebrating 31. Instead of throwing a big party, we realized we would rather invest our energy into the people and ministries that make this community what it is. Over the past year, we launched a podcast to share more about who we are and to talk about things we do not always have time for on a Sunday morning. We created our first ever VBS program from scratch and served over 30 children. We began weekly financial support for Pastor Christian and the Spanish speaking ministry he leads. We also opened a new Eastgate location in the Fountain and Marianna area called Eastgate North, led by Julie Gjendem and her husband Trond.  We also continued many of the quiet, faithful practices that shape who we are. Our weekly donations to the Panama City Rescue Mission continued. Our meal train ministry kept bringing meals to families welcoming babies or walking through illness. Men’s gatherings, women’s gatherings, young adult meetings, and small groups all carried on. We trained and hired our teens to help care for children during special events, inviting them into responsibility and service.  I have been part of this community for all 31 years, and I am continually in awe of what God has done through this imperfect, generous group of people. That brings us to this Sunday’s scripture. Jesus will be teaching about what to do when people in a community face internal struggles.  The truth is that a healthy community is made up of people, and wherever there are people, there will be conflict. This Sunday we will read Matthew 18:15 to 35. The first part of the teaching helps us see that conflict is not only normal, but that there are wise and loving ways to address it. How might learning to handle conflict well actually strengthen a community rather than weaken it? We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:00 AM as we study this scripture together and reflect on what it means to cultivate community. Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

    40 min
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Teachings from Eastgate Christian Fellowship in Panama City Beach Florida

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