Islands Christian Church Podcast

Islands Christian Church
  • 4.8 (6)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Weekly Bible teaching and encouragement from Pastor Stephen Saxton at Islands Christian Church in Savannah, GA, helping people follow Jesus and find real hope. Each episode shares the truth of God’s Word in a way that’s clear, hopeful, and rooted in Scripture, inviting listeners to grow in faith, experience God’s peace, and connect more deeply with Him and others.

  1. 5d ago

    Why Can't We Control Our Words?

    Words may seem small, but James teaches that they carry incredible power. In this message from James 3:1–12, Pastor Stephen explores how our words influence relationships, shape the lives of others, and even affect the direction of our own lives. While many of us try to control our speech through willpower, James points us to something deeper: healing. Discover why our words matter so much, how they reveal what is happening in our hearts, and how a life of praising God can transform the way we speak to and about others. This practical message offers both challenge and hope for anyone who has ever wished they could take their words back. 📖 Scripture: James 3:1–12🎯 Series: Faith That Works🎙️ Speaker: Stephen Saxton🏠 Church: Islands Christian Church | Savannah, GA ❤️ Key Theme: Our words have the power to direct lives, but true change comes not from controlling our tongues, but from hearts transformed by the gospel.

    33 min

  2. May 27

    Can Your Faith Walk the Walk?

    What does real faith actually look like? In this message from James 2:14–26, Pastor Stephen explores one of the most challenging passages in the book of James and confronts the tension between claiming faith and living faith. James reminds us that faith is more than words, emotions, or right beliefs alone. Living faith eventually becomes visible. This sermon unpacks the difference between simply agreeing with truth and actually trusting Jesus enough to follow Him in everyday life. Through the examples of Abraham and Rahab, we see that obedience is not what earns salvation, but the natural fruit of a faith that is alive and growing. Works are not the root of your salvation. They are the fruit of your faith. 📖 Scripture: James 2:14–26🎯 Series: James — A Faith That Works🎙️ Speaker: Stephen Saxton🏠 Church: Islands Christian Church — Savannah, GA ❤️ Key Theme: Saving faith is not invisible. Real faith trusts Jesus deeply enough to move.

    33 min

  3. May 21

    Faith Doesn’t Grow on Autopilot

    In James 1:19–27, we’re reminded that faith is more than something we talk about. Real faith shapes the way we listen, speak, love, and live. James challenges us not to confuse hearing truth with being transformed by it, but instead to tend to the faith God has planted within us. This message explores what it means to stay teachable, honest before God, and guarded against the things that quietly shape our hearts away from Jesus. As we look intently into the gospel, we discover that true freedom is found not in ignoring God, but in aligning our lives with Him. 📖 Scripture: James 1:19–27🎯 Series: James: A Faith That Works🎙️ Speaker: Stephen Saxton🏠 Church: Islands Christian Church ❤️ Key Theme: Faith does not grow accidentally. We must intentionally tend to the gospel God has planted in us.

    33 min

  4. May 11

    Why Can't I Just Stop?

    In this message from James 1:12–18, Pastor Stephen explores what temptation really is and why it is ultimately a battle over trust. Temptation is not just about doing bad things. It is the pull to trust something other than God to satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts. James reminds us that temptation often begins with small compromises and subtle lies about who God is. We start believing things like “God is not coming through for me,” or “I have to take matters into my own hands.” Over time, those lies pull us away from the life God wants for us. This message points us back to the truth that God is good, trustworthy, and generous. Through Jesus, God offers the life, peace, and fulfillment our hearts are truly searching for. Scripture: James 1:12–18Series: James: Faith That WorksSpeaker: Stephen SaxtonChurch: Islands Christian Church — Savannah, GA Key Theme: Temptation is the battle over what you trust to satisfy your heart.

    32 min

  5. May 5

    The Way God Sees It

    Life is not free from difficulty. Trials, confusion, and hard seasons are part of the human experience. The question is not whether we will face them, but how we will walk through them. In this message from James 1:2–8, we begin the series James: A Faith That Works, exploring a faith that actually shows up in everyday life. James challenges us to see trials differently. Instead of viewing them as setbacks, he shows how God uses them to grow perseverance, maturity, and a deeper trust in Him. When life feels uncertain, God does not leave us without direction. He offers wisdom generously to anyone who asks. His perspective brings clarity in confusion and stability in seasons that feel overwhelming. The real challenge is not receiving God’s wisdom, but choosing to trust it and live it out. This message is an invitation to begin a simple but powerful practice. Ask God for His perspective, not just in the big moments, but in the everyday situations you face. Over time, that habit can shape your faith, your decisions, and the way you experience even the hardest seasons. Scripture: James 1:2–8Series: James: A Faith That WorksSpeaker: Stephen SaxtonChurch: Islands Christian Church, Savannah, GA Key Theme: God uses trials to grow you, and His wisdom is available to guide you through them.

    39 min

  6. Apr 28

    Who's Telling Your Story?

    Who’s telling your story? In this message from Daniel 1, Ernie Banks explores what it looks like to trust God when life feels confusing, painful, or unresolved. Daniel’s story reminds us that even when we can’t see what God is doing, He is still at work—faithfully writing a story bigger than the moment we’re in. If you’ve ever wrestled with doubt, struggled to understand your circumstances, or wondered where God is in the middle of it all, this message offers a hopeful perspective: the same God who was faithful in Daniel’s story is still present in yours. Scripture: Daniel 1, Romans 15:4Speaker: Ernie BanksChurch: Islands Christian Church — Savannah, GA

    44 min

  7. Apr 20

    What Does Trust in God Actually Look Like?

    What does it really look like to trust God in everyday life? In this message from 1 Peter 1:13–16, we explore how a future hope in God’s grace transforms the way we live right now. Trust is not just something we say. It shows up in our thoughts, our desires, and the way we surrender our lives to God. This message walks through three key ideas: setting your hope on what is to come, living as a child of God instead of striving for approval, and becoming whole by giving every part of your life to Him. As Peter reminds believers facing pressure and uncertainty, real change does not start with behavior. It starts with hope. If you have ever wondered how faith connects to real life, this message offers a clear and honest look at what it means to follow Jesus with your whole life. Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13–16Series: A Long Obedience in the Same DirectionSpeaker: Stephen SaxtonChurch: Islands Christian Church (Savannah, GA) Key Theme: Hope in God’s future changes how you live in the present.

    44 min

  8. Apr 13

    When Trust Feels Fragile

    When life gets difficult, what happens to your trust in God? In this message from Exodus 16, we see how quickly the Israelites forgot God’s faithfulness when their circumstances became hard. Their story reflects something in all of us. When life feels uncertain, trust can feel fragile. Yet even in their doubt, God continued to provide, to teach, and to draw them closer. This message reminds us that God is not just meeting our needs. He is forming our hearts. He is teaching us to trust Him one day at a time. Even when our trust is weak, His faithfulness never is. Scripture: Exodus 16:1–15, John 16:33Series: A Long ObedienceSpeaker: Stephen SaxtonChurch: Islands Christian Church, Savannah, GA Key Theme: God is faithfully forming our trust in Him, even in the middle of difficult circumstances.

    34 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Weekly Bible teaching and encouragement from Pastor Stephen Saxton at Islands Christian Church in Savannah, GA, helping people follow Jesus and find real hope. Each episode shares the truth of God’s Word in a way that’s clear, hopeful, and rooted in Scripture, inviting listeners to grow in faith, experience God’s peace, and connect more deeply with Him and others.

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