Christ 2r Culture Podcast

When we sin in a big way or fail Jesus again and again, how does he fail about us? While others condemn, berate and humiliate us, what does Jesus do? Join myself and Pastor Jordan Gowing at the 2016 CrossWinds family reunion in Arnold's Park as we look at the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8.

Sometimes we do things that are a waste of time. When all our hard work is finished, there is not much to say for all our effort. Discover what is one of the most worthwhile investments you can make with your life.

Some choices in life are critical. As we study the genealogy of Esau, we learn two critical choices in his life that set his descendants up for disaster. This chapter wants us to learn from Esau so we can avoid the same mistakes he made.

On the back side of great moments in our walk with God, we are susceptible to sluggishness and spiritual lows. It is easy to become complacent and drift into a life that doesn't worship God. This happened to Jacob and it can easily happen to us. In those times, God allows us to experience the fruits of our sin to snap us out of our spiritual stupor. Those hard times are the tools he uses to call us to renewal in him.

Isn't partial obedience better then no obedience when it comes to obeying God? Isn't close enough good enough? In this chapter we see the consequences of Jacob's partial obedience and how his family suffered when he didn't pay attention to obeying God's Word. In a similar way, giving casual attention to obeying God can lead to unintended disaster in our lives as well.

What do you do when a marriage breaks up? What can we do to try and put a broken relationship back together? In this message we look at the restoration of some of the most bitter enemies—Jacob and Esau, and see what we can learn from their restored relationship that we can apply to our broken relationships.

This past week Mohammed Ali died. He was known as the greatest fighters in history. His most famous fight was known as "The Fight Of The Century" against Joe Frazier in Madison Square Garden. Frazier won in 15 rounds via unanimous decision. In life we face some fights that change us. In this chapter, Jacob faced one of them as he wrestled with Jesus until morning. Amazingly, Jacob won by losing. Join us in discovering how losing some of the greatest fights in our life is the key to winning.

Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful men in business. Many people turn to him to learn business success. While Warren has helpful advice, what does the Bible say is behind a successful business. Join us as we learn the answer.

After the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize gay marriage, Nathan Collier of Montana applied for a marriage license for his second wife. He noted Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting vote on the legalization of gay marriage which pointed out polygamous relationships can make the same argument for their legalization as homosexual relationships. Are polygamous marriages a man's dream? Do they result in more happiness or greater frustration? In this study we follow the marriage of Jacob to four women and see God's grace to one of the Bible's most dysfunctional families.

General Hospital is the longest running American soap opera. It first aired in 1963. Its remained incredibly popular because it kept viewers on the edge of their seats with risqué dating relationships,marital infidelities and love triangles. Women looking for intrigue or relational mystery tuned in to follow the over-the-top relationships of the Quartermaines and the Spencers. This kind of salivating drama is not just found on daytime television. It happened in the Bible. As an amazing demonstration of God's sovereignty, Genesis shows us how God uses our relational messes as part of his master plan to shape us into the image of Christ.

In 1971 Led Zeppelin released the song Stairway to Heaven. It rocked to success and is still ranked as one of the 500 greatest songs of all-time. VH1 considers it the third greatest song of all-time. Stairway to Heaven is a song about a constant search for meaning in a world of ambiguity. It is a message of no universal truth. Ironically, the Bible tells us there is a real stairway to heaven. God revealed it to Jacob in Genesis 28. It is not a man-made path up where we climb to God. It is a God-made path where God he reaches down to us. As Jesus says in John 1:51, I am the stairway to heaven.

When a mom in Murray, Utah found her 4th-grade daughter bullying another girl about her clothes she came up with a particularly apt form of punishment. She decided to send her daughter to school in ugly outfits. After experiencing two days of her friends picking on her nerdy clothes, the mother knew she made her point. Sin has consequences. As we study Isaac's dysfunctional family, we learn the unexpected consequences of sin in his family's life. Sin never pays.

Hollywood is famous for their sequels. There are seven rocky movies. There will soon be ten Star Wars movies. Everyone loves a good sequel. In Genesis 26, we find Isaac's life is a sequel of his father Abraham. He faces many of the same tests, temptations and conflicts as well as enjoys the same blessings. Isaac is only the first of a long line of men and women that live by faith. We are part of that line today. Join us as we learn to walk by faith as we face the same challenges as those who came before us.

In 1771 the king of Sweden died of digestion problems after consuming a meal of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring, champagne and 14 servings of his favorite dessert. He is the king remembered for a bad ending as he literally ate himself to death. In Genesis 25, we look at the final days of Abraham and how the memory of his death reminds us we can trust in God’s promises.

In 1970, 36 percent of Americans were single. Today 50.2 percent are single. People aren't getting married. it is easier to live together, sleep together and break up when things get difficult. Sex used to be reserved for marriage. Soon it became for those who were dating. Eventually it was for friends—with benefits. Craigslist and Tinder made anonymous sex possible so people don't even need to know one another. Where did it lead? Today, 40 percent of children go to bed without a father. A third of all children are born to unwed mothers. Those are the results of dating and marriage American-style. Clearly, it is not working. In Genesis 24, as we study the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. We study what marriage looks like God-style. We learn the right choices we need to make and the guidance God promises to provide that will make dating and marriage a success.

It was a closed solid bronze casket plated with 14-karat gold that was lined with blue velvet. The memorial service was so large it was organized by a concert promoter who gave away 17,500 free ticket to 1.2 million applicants. There were 3,000 police officers on duty to keep order at a cost of $1.4 million dollars. It was the largest security effort in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympics. It was the funeral of Michael Jackson. Most of us will have a much smaller funeral. What do we need to know about funerals? What choices do we need to make today to have a good one? Join us as we learn about funerals as we study the death of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

NT Wright—a prominent Anglican theologian, talks about his friend, Marcus Borg. NT believes Marcus is a Christian even though he doesn't believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Is it possible to be a Christian without believing in the literal resurrection? In this study we learn how a Christ that didn't rise destroys our faith. A Jesus that did rise changes our lives.

Only hours after receiving the prestigious Crufts Rosette award for good behavior at a dog show, Eddie, an Akita, lunged at a nearby woman sinking his teeth into her knee cap and hand leaving her with serious injuries. His disobedience led to a costly lawsuit for his owners. While obedience can lead to honor, disobedience leads to disaster. As we continue our study of Genesis 22 we look at the blessing of obeying God’s word from the life of Abraham, especially when it is a hard to do.

One of the worst parts of school are the tests. The hardest test to pass is the final exam. In Genesis 22 Abraham faces his final exam in the school of faith. Just like Abraham, God is growing our faith and testing us to bring us to maturity. In this chapter we learn how to prepare for the tests and trials of faith we will have in our life and how to pass with flying colors.

The election season is in full swing. The candidates for president are making promises of what they will do for us if elected to office. Unfortunately, most of us don't believe them. Politicians have become synonymous with dishonesty. Bill Clinton promised to lower taxes for the middle class, he didn't. Franklin Roosevelt ran for president on the pledge he would balance the budget. While in office the national debt ballooned. Is there anybody we can trust to keep their word? In this message we learn God is always true. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how great the odds, we can rest assured that God will come through on every promise he made in his word.