The Gathering Podcast The Gathering

Imagine waking up to find your bank account has exploded from mere dollars to billions overnight, and then continuing to make financial decisions as if you still only had a few dollars. Who does that? People who are used to being poor, and in this "all too real" section of Romans 7, the apostle Paul lets us in on a secret: struggling with sin happens for all of us who have decided to follow Jesus. It doesn't mean we aren't alive, though. It only means that we're learning how to live with our new nature.

Join us as we dive into Romans Chapter 7, and uncover the intricate balance between law and grace in the Christian walk. While there are challenges in living a life of faith beyond the confines of legalism, when we explore the true meaning of Christian freedom we also discover that embracing grace can lead to spiritual peace and growth. The good news in Romans 7:1-6? God's grace has the power to transform our nature and empower us to bear fruit in the world.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus needed to be buried? Why didn't He simply die on the cross, pause for dramatic effect, and then step off the cross resurrected? In this Easter message, Paul suggests that God planted Jesus deep in the tomb and lit a 3-day fuse so that He could completely destroy the works of the devil, and compares that to Luke Skywalker making sure that his weapons got to the center of the Death Star. When we understand the principle that God uses pain to plant His power, we'll start carrying the resurrection power planted in us - weapons of mass restoration! - to the places and people that need it deeply.

Pastor Seth Austin walked us through key moments in the life of Peter that revealed the trauma in Peter's life, and also the way that Jesus addressed it and healed it. There is hope beyond the trauma in our lives when we bring that trauma to Jesus.

In this message, we explore the story of Ruth and her simple, yet life-altering decision to stay with Naomi. Her choice teaches us that greatness can be found in the smallest of gestures, often in the people and places we least expect.

The final message in our TOXINS series will challenge you to become an active participant in your faith journey. Forget about sitting on the sidelines; it's time to embrace servant leadership, find joy in spiritual vitality, and align your actions with your God-given purpose. Discover the balance of work, rest, and service, and how starting small can lead to impactful change. Ready to step out of spectator mode and into a life filled with meaningful action? This sermon is your starting block. Let's Go!!