Passion City Church DC Podcast

This Changes Everything

September 10, 2019 15:54 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MB

Kicking off a new series in the book of James, Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with the truth that our identity determines our activity. It’s important to consider both the reality of Jesus rising from the dead and the reason for his resurrection. The reality confronts our minds, but the reason changes our hearts!

Sabbath: A Rhythm of Rest

August 20, 2019 17:00 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MB

There is something about the speed of modern life that is not conducive to human flourishing. Pastor Ben Stuart challenges us with the truth that rest is an act of faith — and that God has woven it into the rhythm of creation. How are you and I supposed to work? God shows us through the rhythms He set for the world and in Sabbath!

Why God Complicates Your Life

August 06, 2019 17:49 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MB

Have you ever wondered why your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would? Have you ever felt like you’re like the Israelites, wandering around in the desert with no apparent path to a destination? This week, Pastor Ben Stuart gives us three reasons why God doesn’t always give us what we want as we look in Exodus at the journey of the Israelites through the desert.

Extravagant Grace

July 30, 2019 22:08 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MB

This week’s message comes from Pastor Ben Stuart, as he reminds us of the beauty of grace. We are all a mess, but we are made beautiful in the image of God. When you understand what He’s done, that will change you!

Marriage on Mission

July 16, 2019 19:42 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB

Closing out the Single, Dating, Engaged, Married series, Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us to look at the lives of Priscilla and Aquila as we evaluate what it means to have a marriage that is on mission. The strongest unity is formed by a mutual commitment to a common cause, and there are three specific things we see in Priscilla and Aquila’s life that demonstrate a marriage that is on mission together. How does a marriage stay strong? By living for a story that is still being written!

The Best Marriage

July 09, 2019 19:33 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MB

Continuing our Single, Dating, Engaged, Married series, Pastor Ben Stuart teaches on marriage, and reminds us that marriage was designed by God to display something about God!

Engaged: How To Know That You Know

July 02, 2019 21:36 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MB

How do you know that you’ve met the person you’re supposed to spend your life with? What are things we should see in a relationship that give us this confidence? This week, continuing our Single, Dating, Engaged, Married series, Pastor Ben Stuart gives us specific things to look for as you evaluate whether or not a relationship should continue on to engagement

How to Date

June 25, 2019 19:11 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MB

“Dating is a process you go through, not a status you sit in.” Continuing our series Single, Dating, Engaged, Married, Pastor Ben Stuart challenges the way dating is viewed in our culture today and gives us 7 things to consider in the dating process.

Who to Date

June 18, 2019 17:29 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MB

“Singleness is for devotion; dating is for evaluation.” Pastor Ben Stuart continues our series on relationships this week with a message about dating. It is not a status we sit in — it is a process we walk through! Dating exists for the purpose of evaluating whether or not you are supposed to run alongside a person for the rest of your life. In the process of evaluation, Pastor Ben challenges us to consider how we view dating: do we look at it with a consumer mentality or a companion mental...

Single

June 11, 2019 18:14 - 43 minutes - 39.4 MB

Kicking off our new series, Single, Dating, Engaged, Married, Pastor Ben Stuart dives into what the Scriptures have to say about singleness. We see that there is a purpose in the season of singleness, and we have to get a relationship with God right before we can get a relationship with a guy or girl right. Pastor Ben reminds us not to miss the benefits of the season we are in because we are pining away for the benefits of another season. “God has ordained a season of singleness not for us ...

Forgive Us As We Forgive

June 04, 2019 15:09 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

“You can’t hold anger and love in your heart at the same time” We live in a culture where un-forgiveness is common. This week, Pastor Ben Stuart closes out the Lord’s Prayer series by challenging us with the truth that we can’t grip the gospel of grace but hold on to resentment at the same time. When we understand Christ’s forgiveness of us, that allows us to forgive others. The cross comforts us in the justice of God, and compels us in His love!

Not Forsaken — The Blessing

May 28, 2019 17:54 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MB

In Not Forsaken, Pastor Louie Giglio invites us to understand the character of God in a life-changing way: as a perfect Father who wants you to live under the waterfall of His blessing. You see, God is not the bigger version of your earthly dad, He’s the perfect version of your earthly dad. And He’s inviting you to walk in freedom as His loved son or daughter. Order Pastor Louie’s book, Not Forsaken: https://notforsakenbook.com Follow @louiegiglio: https://www.instagram.com/louiegiglio/ P...

Lead Us

May 21, 2019 17:48 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MB

"We are in a fight, but we have a Father." This week we continue the Lord’s Prayer series with a powerful word from Pastor Brad Jones about temptation. When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we are declaring, “I can’t, but I know that You can. I am unable, but You are able.” In the struggles and challenges of life, you have a Heavenly Father who wants to help you!

Your Kingdom Come

May 07, 2019 17:41 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MB

Jesus said the reason he came was to announce that the Kingdom is here, and he called us to pray “Your kingdom come.” Why was this so important to him? What does it mean for how we deal with our hopes and disappointments? Continuing the Lord’s Prayer series, Mike Distefano teaches us about the Kingdom of God, and what it means to pray “Your kingdom come.”

Our Father

April 30, 2019 18:00 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MB

Kicking off a new series called The Lord’s Prayer, Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us what it means to have God as our Father. We were built for proximity to God, and God wants us to be around Him! God, as our Father, shows us that He is strong, loving, and wise towards His children.

Here Is Love

April 23, 2019 18:46 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB

This week, Pastor Ben Stuart shares a powerful message on the love God has for us as explained in 1 John 4. Those who know and believe they are loved by God live a life that is fearless and free. Pastor Ben dives into four traits that characterize love and how we see those traits demonstrated through the life of Jesus. On Easter Sunday, we remember that Jesus exited heaven and went through hell to get us back. This is love!

The Philippian Method of Changing the World

April 16, 2019 17:49 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MB

“Generous people are joy creators.” — This week, Pastor Ben Stuart closes out the Home Team series bringing a strong word about generosity. Looking at the way Paul writes to the Philippians we see 7 powerful reasons to be a generous person, and the enormous impact that generosity has. We are all given the opportunity to be a part of God’s story through the way we are generous, and in the way we steward our resources. The question is will it be by fear or by faith?

Releasing Anxiety

April 09, 2019 18:18 - 46 minutes - 43.1 MB

“For many of you, your biggest problem is not your problems, it’s your anxiety about your problems.” Jesus presents anxiety as one of the biggest impediments to seeking the Kingdom of God. For many of us, worries and anxiety in life keep us from all we are meant to be under God. This week, Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us that there is an invitation to cast our cares on Him. Our anxieties are not too heavy for God — He is there waiting for us to release them.

Being Good vs. Being God’s

April 02, 2019 17:00 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MB

This week, Pastor Ben Stuart continues the Home Team series in Philippians. We see that Paul is concerned about the people who reduce spirituality to a list of rituals instead of a pursuit of intimacy. This is the type of spirituality that looks like the real thing but isn’t. If you buy into it, it will not only fail you but it will destroy your life. True spirituality is a powerful intimacy — it is not about a list. It’s not about being good, it’s about being God’s!

Don’t Be A Cry-Cry

March 26, 2019 19:00 - 52 minutes - 47.6 MB

“The people of Jesus are not just a light that stands out from other people, but a light that stands out for people.” This week, Pastor Ben Stuart continues the Home Series with the reminder that we are meant to be luminaries in the world - people who shine light into the darkness. The way we live sends a powerful message, and as followers of Jesus, we want our activity to promote the message of Jesus. Everything we do should be a response to the work that God has done in us, and this chan...

The Power of Humility

March 19, 2019 15:59 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MB

Continuing the Home Team series, Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us that humility is the path to unity. The way we treat each other is always a response to how we have been treated by God — our activity is a response to God’s activity. What then is the natural response to all that God has done? It is to care about us! True spirituality always expresses itself in unity, and the key to unity is humility!

Whatever

March 12, 2019 17:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MB

"Why am I here? What is my purpose? This week, Pastor Louie Giglio helps us reframe the way we think about our purpose in life. God’s will isn’t necessarily about figuring out the right job to pursue, the right place to move, or even the right thing to do. Instead, it is to make Him known as you pursue whatever passion He has put in your life and to do that to the best of your ability. This is our true purpose for being alive!"

Stand Together, Strive Together

March 05, 2019 19:27 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MB

"Spiritually is always worked out in the context of community. You will never be you without us.” Pastor Ben Stuart continues the Home Team series with the encouragement that we need an us. We can’t be who we were made to be without each other. Your human potential cannot be reached as an individual. Victory is not found alone; you need unity so you can stand. We’re not made to run alone, and we don’t have to!

The World in Checkmate

February 27, 2019 20:13 - 49 minutes - 45 MB

“A whole universe of meaning and joy opens when we live according to our Creator’s intent.” Meaning and joy aren’t things to be aimed at; they are byproducts of a life surrendered to the purposes of God. If you have created your own meaning, then unfortunate events can derail you — but when you have a God-given purpose, circumstances can’t shake you. Pastor Ben Stuart continues our Home Team series helping us to understand how meaning and joy come from living lives linked with the Creator.

Let Love Abound

February 19, 2019 19:12 - 50 minutes - 46 MB

In this week’s message, Jason Thomas continues the Home Team series, reminding us that to have the greatest impact, we need to have the deepest intimacy with the One who called us. “If you’re going to grow in abounding love, you’re going to have to minimize your distractions and maximize your devotion.”

We Need Us

February 12, 2019 15:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MB

“You will never be fully you without us and we will never be fully us without you.” Pastor Ben Stuart kicks off a new series, Home Team, by diving into the book of Philippians. He reminds us that no one unifies just for the sake of unity - we unite around a common purpose. We need community, and we are in a community, that has linked with the best of all causes; running with the best of all Kings!

The Tactics of Transformation

February 06, 2019 20:14 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MB

Pastor Ben Stuart closes out The Fight series by giving us five practical ways to pursue transformation in our lives. God built a structure that promotes the pursuit of intimacy with Him — a structure in which we flourish!

Never Fight Alone

January 29, 2019 15:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MB

Continuing The Fight series, Director of Community and Formation, Mike Distefano, comes around the importance of community. — Looking in Matthew 6, we see that Jesus commands us to seek first the Kingdom of God for it is the only thing in life that satisfies, and the only thing in our world that is truly permanent. The thing is, we are meant to be in the pursuit with other people. We are a people made for community; hardwired to stand with others as we run after the Kingdom of God together...

The Fight

January 22, 2019 21:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MB

The pursuit of spirituality happens in the context of adversity. We are in a fight to cultivate intimacy with our Creator, and in this fight, there are things we flee from and there are things we pursue. In fact, there are things we need to say no to, in order to say yes to something better! This week Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with the truth that though we struggle, we have the ability to struggle well, and overcome in Jesus’ name. What do you need to say no to, in order to give some...

The Stronger One is Here

January 09, 2019 17:00 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MB

“The greatest fighters are the ones who know that they’ve been fought for.” Kicking off the New Year with a new series, “The Fight,” Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with the truth that we need a new identity before a new activity. The answer we are looking for is not a list of rules; it is a liberator. We have Someone who has set us free and ushers us into life with the conquering King—the Stronger One is here!

Seeking + Celebrating

December 26, 2018 19:00 - 21 minutes - 20 MB

Christmas Eve // Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us that God is a searching God who sent His Son to save us while we were still sinners. Why did Jesus show up in a manger? Because Jesus wants you! This holiday season, we’re remembering that compassion is the WHY behind the WHAT of Christmas.

Out of Egypt

December 24, 2018 15:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MB

As we approach Christmas, Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with the truth that Jesus was born into real life - he was born into a world mixed with joy and pain. Jesus lived the human story on earth, not just the good parts but the hard ones as well. We can have confidence that Jesus understands us because he lived in the struggle. But that’s not the end of the story - we can have hope too! He joins us in the struggle so that we might join him in the victory. His liberation is for our hope!

Making Peace

December 18, 2018 15:57 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MB

"Jesus intends not just to bring peace to you, but through you.” — Closing out The Missing Peace series, Pastor Ben Stuart guides us through what it looks like to be peacemakers in a broken world. We are meant to leverage the freedom we have in Jesus to bring peace to others. — How do you be a peacemaker? By praying and by greeting. Love looks like prayer. Greeting someone initiates kindness, and communicates respect. Peacemakers extend love beyond expected boundaries.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

December 11, 2018 15:35 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

If many of us know about Jesus and the peace He brings, why is it that we walk around with such a lack of it? This week, Global Pastor Louie Giglio reminds us that connecting with the peace of Jesus will require a recalibration of how we think about Him, and who He really is.

All As It Should Be

December 04, 2018 22:39 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MB

“The peace of God is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of flourishing.” — Kicking off The Missing Peace series, Pastor Ben Stuart encourages us with God’s solution to the lack of peace we often feel in our lives. We see that the solution is not a list of principles; it’s a person: the Prince of Peace. The hope we can have today is knowing that even when everything is falling apart, we have the Prince of Peace, and we can trust Him.

Has the Bible Been Corrupted?

November 27, 2018 18:26 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MB

Closing out the Trust Issues series, Pastor Ben Stuart answers this question: How can we know that the Scriptures we hold today are what was written down originally? In this message, we take a look at the history of the preservation of the Scriptures concluding that we can have confidence that they hold true and we see God’s true heart for His people. — God preserved His Word so you would know that He came for you.

Minding the Gap

November 21, 2018 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MB

Continuing our Trust Issues series, Dr. Darrell Bock from Dallas Seminary walked us through an exploration of one of the big questions that many of us struggle to reconcile: what about the gap between when events occurred and when they were written down? Can we have confidence that the Scriptures we hold today faithfully recount the life and work of Jesus? Dr. Bock explains three things that help us understand the gap: orality, memory, and eye-witnesses.

Dealing with our Hypocrisy

November 13, 2018 21:32 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MB

“Christian hypocrisy is maximized when the resurrection of Jesus is minimized.” — What if the greatest barrier to Christianity is Christians? Kicking off our new series, “Trust Issues,” our friend Timothy Ateek from Breakaway Ministries joins us this week to talk about what happens when Christians become calloused to the beautiful reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Timothy Ateek reminds us that the resurrection gives us freedom from the past, power in the present, and hope for the futur...

The Warrior Wife

November 07, 2018 16:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MB

You want to marry someone you trust. This week Pastor Ben Stuart closes out the Survival Skills series by taking a look at Proverbs 31 and what to look for in a spouse. Proverbs 31 describes a trustworthy woman: one who is prudent and shrewd, has grit and perseverance, is industrious and generous, and is sacrificial and thoughtful. — “As you enter into the difficulties of life, you want someone who has your back, isn’t going to stab you in the back.”

Wise Communication

October 28, 2018 18:00 - 48 minutes - 43.9 MB

Words are powerful. For many of us, some of our deepest pains are because of what someone said or didn’t say to us. A simple arrangement of words has the power to drastically change a situation and perspective. — The book of Proverbs encourages us to apply wisdom to the way we use our words. Will we build others up with the way we communicate, or will we use are words to tear others down? This week Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through how honest truth, spoken at the right time with the right...

Mind on my Money

October 27, 2018 14:00 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MB

“Money can build a house, but it can’t build a home. Money can give you food on a table but it can’t give you fellowship.” In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart takes a look at what the book of Proverbs has to say about money. It has power, and can be used to build up or tear down. Proverbs helps us to see money as a gift from God and gives us wisdom about how to handle it well.

How to be a Boss

October 09, 2018 15:00 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MB

When we look at the grand scope of our lives, we see that most of us spend the majority of our time at work. As believers, how do we navigate the work world in a way that’s glorifying to God and life-giving to others? — In this powerful message, Mike Distefano challenges us to use the power we’ve been given in the workplace for the good of those around us. In a society that often seeks self-promotion and personal success, we have the opportunity to choose a different path. By understanding...

Proverbial Sex

October 03, 2018 19:31 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MB

In an overly sexualized world, we often find ourselves feeling lonely, as emotional intimacy has been separated from sexuality. In this week’s message Pastor Ben Stuart reminds us that we are not made to give our bodies without our hearts. Each of us have the opportunity to have relationships that are healthy, life-giving, and glorifying to God. In this powerful message we learn how to build relationships that flourish, trading in a consumer mentality for a covenant mentality. What kind of m...

True Friendship

September 25, 2018 17:45 - 45 minutes - 42 MB

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 — As humans, we’re all hardwired for community. Isolation as a whole is not good for the human machine. That’s why a form of torture is solitary confinement - being completely separated from human interaction. The question, however, is what kind of community are we surrounding ourselves with? — In this week’s message, Pastor Ben Stuart guides us through what the book of Proverbs has to say about fri...

I Pity the Fool

September 18, 2018 16:00 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MB

“Love is disadvantaging yourself for others. Foolishness is disadvantaging others for yourself.” — The book of Proverbs describes two paths in life: the way of the fool and the way of the wise. In this part of our Survival Skills series, Pastor Ben Stuarts teaches us through both paths, challenging us to seek humility as our first step toward a life that flourishes. With humble hearts and desire for wise council, each of us can set our feet on the path of the wise.

Wise Moves in a Wild World

September 11, 2018 15:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MB

Pastor Ben Stuart // “What you need most in life is not a change of circumstances. We as humans are capable of messing up even the most ideal of circumstances. What we truly need most in life is the ability to flourish regardless of our circumstances.” — This week Pastor Ben Stuart kicked off our new series, Survival Skills: Wise Moves in a Wild World. The truth is, the world we live in is messy and unpredictable. But the good news is that Scripture gives us a guide to flourish regardless ...

Millennial Narcissism?

August 23, 2018 15:32 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MB

Pastor Ben Stuart // There is a deep desire in the hearts of humanity to be known, valued, and recognized. In today’s culture, we are encouraged in this idea that it’s all about us, our fame, and making our name known. But what happens when the follower count isn’t enough? What do we do when we seek fame and are left feeling empty? The truth is, we will never find satisfaction in self-absorption, but we will find it in radical self donation. In this game-changing message, Pastor Ben Stuart ...

ABOVE + BEYOND

August 14, 2018 13:15 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MB

“We have the power of life + death in our mouths today.” — On ABOVE + BEYOND Sunday, Pastor Louie cast vision for the future of our House and took us through the idea that our future is ultimately shaped by what we believe + humbly speak for our lives. This is a look at the BEYOND we believe God is calling our House towards.

True Spirituality

August 01, 2018 19:03 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MB

Pastor Ben Stuart // What does it look like to connect with the Spirit of God? We all have a desire for a spiritual walk, but how do we know that our lives are truly being guided by the Spirit? True spirituality is not a life free from struggle, rather, it’s constant dependence on God in the midst of pain. With the Word of God educating us, the Spirit of God empowering us, and the community of God carrying us, we have the tools we need to live lives that glorify Jesus!

The Wind Returns

July 26, 2018 14:05 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MB

Pastor Ben Stuart // We all want to be connected to something that takes us further than we’d go on our own. We all want to be a part of something greater, something spiritual. But what is true spirituality? — This week Pastor Ben Stuart walks us through the meaning of spirituality. To truly be spiritual is to be rightly related to the Spirit of God, and the beautiful thing is that God wants that for us. That’s why He sent His son to die on the cross. Not just so that we’d be forgiven, but...

Passion City Church DC Podcast

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