First-Plymouth Church's Podcast PodPoint

Moderate and open-minded religion seems to have lost its sense of urgency and muddled the core message of the Gospel - JESUS SAVES. It is time for inclusive Christians to find some intensity in spreading the Gospel. Dr Jim Keck will try to thread the needle and show that our Christian faith can honor other religions and celebrate diversity in sexual orientation, while at the same time knowing that people must be brought to Jesus.

In the origin myth that we call the book of Genesis, the ancient Israelites were trying to explain who they were and how the world worked. One of the things to explain was why there were multiple languages. This week, Pastor Juan Carlos, takes this ancient story of “the Tower of Babel” to begin a conversation about language, culture, difference and the complexities, opportunities, and good news that are found there.

Each of our lives is filled with biographical details made up of many events, accomplishments, times of joy, sorrow, and the company of loved ones. During a funeral there is often a eulogy when someone speaks about the person and their life. This week, Dr. Jim Keck will reflect upon what the content of typical eulogies might teach us in the living of our own days.

In Matthew’s story of Jesus walking on the water, we find a brazen Peter challenging Jesus’ ability. Then Peter lets the wind erupt and impede on his ability to keep focus. We have so many distractions which can take us off center as we go through life. What’s your wind? This week, Pastor KJ Langlais will share some tunes to etch in your mind to remember how to stay focused.

Some religions seem to have very strange beliefs and yet they create very loving communities. Dr Jim Keck will lead us in an encounter with a very different form of Christianity that is both oddball and endearing. And along the way he will raise questions about how we judge one another and sadly continue to create enmity within our own heart.

Churches often brag about being friendly and nice, but how about hospitable? This week Pastor Juan Carlos Huertas invites us to consider what it looks like to welcome the stranger as we welcome Jesus - its risks, difficulties, and rewards - it is in this encounter that transformation might be found!