Wawasee Bible Podcast
750 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsWawasee Bible is a growing church located in north-central Indiana between the communities of Milford and Syracuse. We are sent to love people and invite them to follow Jesus with us! Learn more and connect with us at https://youareloved.church.
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Episodes
The Beginning, The Mess, and The Plan
September 03, 2017 16:00 - 46 minutes - 21.1 MBPart 1 – SERIES: Old School We're going to Old Testament School and learning the primary story line of the Old Testament. It begins with God and him creating everything good. But in Genesis 3 Adam and Eve sin and create an enduring mess. Thankfully, before he even addresses their sin, God promises a fix (a Savior) in Genesis 3:15. The rest of the Old Testament is all about tracing God's Plan to fix Adam and Eve's (and our) sin.
Go!
August 28, 2017 17:19 - 29 minutes - 13.7 MBPart 3 – SERIES: Gather, Grow, Go! At Wawasee Bible we ask 3 things of each person who calls Wawasee their church home. 1) GATHER with us regularly on Sunday mornings and in a 1:10 Group. 2) Don't just show up, grow up. Get connected in a supplemental ministry to help you GROW. 3) GO! Serve somewhere in the church and in the community. — We look at Paul's instruction to serve within the church in Ephesians 4 and Jesus' instruction to his followers to be his witnesses locally (THEN globally) i...
Gather
August 20, 2017 16:00Part 2 – SERIES: Gather, Grow, Go! At Wawasee Bible we ask 3 things of each person who calls Wawasee their church home. 1) GATHER with us regularly on Sunday mornings and in a 1:10 Group. 2) Don't just show up, grow up. Get connected in a supplemental ministry to help you GROW. 3) GO! Serve somewhere in the church and in the community. — There are two times that we grow spiritual: When we "need-to-know" and when we "need-to-grow". There are also two key ingredients for spiritual growth in tho...
Gather
August 20, 2017 16:00 - 48 minutes - 22.2 MBPart 2 – SERIES: Gather, Grow, Go! At Wawasee Bible we ask 3 things of each person who calls Wawasee their church home. 1) GATHER with us regularly on Sunday mornings and in a 1:10 Group. 2) Don't just show up, grow up. Get connected in a supplemental ministry to help you GROW. 3) GO! Serve somewhere in the church and in the community. — There are two times that we grow spiritual: When we "need-to-know" and when we "need-to-grow". There are also two key ingredients for spiritual growth in tho...
Called to Contend
August 06, 2017 16:00 - 50 minutes - 23.2 MBPart 3 – SERIES: Jude - Contend Jude continues his letter to the believers by completing the profile of an Apostate. He even draws in specific traits from the Apostles’ experience. Jude then challenges the believers to walk worthy of their calling by employing 4 commands to encourage them. He concludes his letter with the hope of salvation through one of the most beautiful benedictions in Scripture.
True Colors Revealed
July 30, 2017 16:00 - 1 hour - 31.2 MBPart 2 – SERIES: Jude - Contend Not everyone is always as they seem. However, to recognize a counterfeit, one must know the original well. Jude continues his exhortation to “contend for the faith” by addressing the true colors of apostates. He makes a note to himself about past and present apostasy, as well as the coming judgment of these apostates.
Focusing Our Fight
July 23, 2017 16:00 - 1 hour - 29.5 MBPart 1 – SERIES: Jude - Contend Pastor Dan and Pastor Kirk begin a short series through the book of Jude this week and contending for our faith. Faithfully contending for the faith demands a godly perspective. This requires us to focus on our true position. We are called, loved, and kept by God. We must also focus on true faith. We contend for the doctrine of God, the authority of Scripture, and the truth of the Gospel. Finally we must focus on our true enemy. Our true enemy is not the world ...
You Need Community
July 16, 2017 16:00 - 47 minutes - 21.8 MBPart 13 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion We wrap up the book of James this week. Pastor Josh gives a review of the entire letter, then unpacks the closing two verses. James is very concerned that we live out our faith, that we put it in motion. In the closing verses he turns our attention toward helping each other in the church live out their faith and be faithful to Jesus. When someone in the church wanders from the truth, others must go after them to bring them back and save them from death.
When You're Suffering...
July 09, 2017 16:00 - 49 minutes - 22.5 MBPart 12 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion In chapter 5 verse 7, James shifts gears into a more pastoral tone and gives some instruction on how to handle suffering. Christians are not immune from suffering, rather we can expect it due to our faith. But no suffering is without a purpose as God can sovereignly use all of it to make us more like Jesus Christ. So when you are suffering be patient, remain steadfast, trust the Lord, and pray!
Your Wealth & Your Heart
July 02, 2017 16:00 - 53 minutes - 24.7 MBPart 11 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion While we tend to only think of two categories of people was it relates to wealth (rich and poor), the Bible actually speaks of four: 1) Godly Poor, 2) Godly Rich, 3) Ungodly Poor, 4) Ungodly Rich. God doesn’t care about your net worth, but he does care about how you get it and what you do with it. As Randy Alcorn says, “You can’t take your wealth with you when you die, but you can send it on ahead.” God isn’t against you having riches, he’s against yo...
Christian Atheists
June 25, 2017 16:00 - 57 minutes - 26.1 MBPart 10 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion In James 4:13-17, James is confronting our natural tendency to handle life as if God really doesn't even exists. In these four verses James emphasizes what we should not say and do as well as what we should say and do in light of our future. He challenges us to not live like christian atheists.
The Judging Christian (?)
June 18, 2017 16:00 - 41 minutes - 19.1 MBPart 9 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion In James 4:11-12 James addresses the issue of speaking evil against other believers. When I speak against others, I speak against God's Word... And when I speak against God's Word, I speak against God... and I put myself in the place of God. Instead I must be humble and know my place. We ended the message by looking at six keys to discerning and judging appropriately and not be judgmental.
Quit Cheating on God!
June 11, 2017 16:00 - 50 minutes - 23 MBPart 8 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion In 4:1-10 James challenges us to quit "cheating on God". He makes it very clear that the problem isn't from without, or with other people, the problem is us. It's the sin and pride within us. Using some strong language, James tells us we must quit "cheating on God" and committing spiritual adultery. Ezekiel 16 and all of Hosea teach the same thing vividly in the Old Testament, and it's likely that James had Scriptures like these in mind as he was writi...
Get God's Wisdom
June 04, 2017 16:00 - 51 minutes - 23.8 MBPart 7 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion James 3:13-18 marks the hinge point of the entire book of James. It's here that we find James' main argument. There are two types of wisdom. Wisdom #1 is from below and is earthly, unspiritual, demonic, jealous, selfish, and vile. Wisdom #2 is from above and is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy, full of good fruits, impartial, sincere, righteous. Godly wisdom is characterized by meekness (strength under control) and is sourced in ...
Small And Powerful
May 28, 2017 16:00 - 52 minutes - 24 MBPart 6 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion The tongue may be small, but it wields incredible power — both for life and death. James makes clear that the tongue isn't the problem, it's the heart of the person the tongue belongs to. All the tongue does is reveal the heart. Because of this it is small but power, a savage monster, and an impossible mixture of good and evil. The big question to consider is what does your tongue reveal about your heart?
Is Your Faith True or Dead?
May 21, 2017 16:00 - 42 minutes - 19.7 MBPart 5 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion James 2:14-26 can be one of the most misunderstood and troubling passages in the New Testament. Some see a contradiction with Paul's writings, but nothing is further from the truth. James's main point in 2:14-26 is that faith that isn't shown isn't really known. In other words, true biblical faith results in good works. Faith without works is dead. True faith can and must be shown. These good works do not save you, rather they prove you. The first deed...
Show No Favoritism
May 14, 2017 16:00 - 37 minutes - 17.1 MBPart 4 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion James is very straightforward in his commands to the Church. In 2:1-13 he makes it clear that Christians shouldn't play favorites, as it's not consistent with who they are in Christ. He gives 3 reasons by way of illustration: 1) Playing favorites and showing favoritism is wickedness. 2) God doesn't play favorites or show partiality. Everyone is on equal footing before God. 3) God's Law doesn't play favorites, if you break any of it you're accountable f...
One Part Quick, Two Parts Slow
May 07, 2017 16:00 - 43 minutes - 19.7 MBPart 3 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion In 1:19-27 James gives some very practical wisdom in how to live out our faith in Christ. In a nutshell, we should be quick and doubly slow. Using many practical and vivid illustrations, James instructs us to be slow to anger, putting away all moral filth. Instead we must receive and respond to God's Word. We should be quick to hear it, and then quick to put it into action in our lives, doing what it says. Finally, James encourages us to be slow to spe...
How to Face Trials
April 30, 2017 16:00 - 40 minutes - 18.6 MBPart 2 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion It's said that wisdom is "knowledge rightly applied". For James, wisdom is "faith rightly put in motion". His letter is a continual comparison of wisdom from above v. wisdom from below, encouraging us to choose God's wisdom and rightly put our faith in motion. This week he addresses trials—painful circumstances that God allows to shape our conduct and character. Will you embrace your trial and let God use it as a test to shape you? If you will it leads...
An Introduction to James
April 23, 2017 16:00 - 46 minutes - 21.2 MBPart 1 – SERIES: James - Faith In Motion We start a new series through the book of James. While the book of James is beloved by many Christians, very few seem to know much about the man who wrote it. The writer of the book of James was Jesus' little brother (Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:19), yet James remains humble and never mentions that fact. James was an incredible man of faith, and one of three men (along with Peter and John) to whom Paul defers and declares to be a "pillar of the church" (Gala...
Jesus: The Resurrection & The Life
April 16, 2017 16:00 - 35 minutes - 16.1 MBEaster Sunday 2017 – John 11:1-57 Jesus declares himself to be the Resurrection and the Life. Only days or weeks before his own death and resurrection, Jesus gets word that his friend Lazarus has died. Curiously, Jesus answers a plea for help from Lazarus's sisters (Martha and Mary) with love—by DELAYING. Lazarus was sick, on the edge of death, and Jesus purposefully delays coming to help. In times of great devastation Jesus points us to himself. He responds to death with tears and outrage. I...
Why Did Jesus Come?
April 09, 2017 16:00 - 47 minutes - 21.7 MBPalm Sunday – Matthew 21:1-11 Pastor Kirk (our Equipping Pastor) taught from Matthew 21:1-11 on Palm Sunday. When Jesus came to Jerusalem the people had a correct response (joy, shouting, excitement!) but it was for the wrong reason. They wanted him to save them from Rome, not from their sin. Jesus comes to you today, do you receive and follow him for the right reason or the wrong reason? Jesus didn't come to make you happy, but to make you holy.
Stirring the Pot
March 26, 2017 16:00 - 44 minutes - 20.2 MBPart 5 – SERIES: Heroic This week we move into the book of Haggai. Haggai is likely an old man when he prophesies to the people who have returned from exile. God uses him to stir his people out of complacency and back to action. Haggai challenges them to consider their ways and choose to obey. God does the same with us through Haggai today.
Receiving God's Grace & Mercy
March 19, 2017 16:00 - 49 minutes - 22.9 MBPart 4 – SERIES: Heroic Heroic faith is a repentant faith—continually turning back to Jesus. As the book of Ezra ends, it's a low point for God's people. They have seen him to incredible and gracious things for them, yet they have quickly forgotten him and turned away in sin. The people become faithless, but God remains faithful. He shows them incredible grace and mercy (just as he does to us), and it leads them to true repentance.
The Good Hand of the Lord
March 12, 2017 16:00 - 46 minutes - 21.4 MBPart 3 – SERIES: Heroic Ezra was a brilliant scholar of God's Word and a gifted leader. He was also humble. In every instance of favor, rather than take credit due to his strong leadership (which he could have), he declared that it was because "the good hand of the Lord was upon me." He uses this phrase 6 times in Ezra 7-8. The good hand of the Lord is for all who would seek him. We see the evidence of the good hand of God in his provision, his sustaining power, him giving us courage, wisdom,...
Trusting God's Faithfulness
March 05, 2017 17:00 - 52 minutes - 23.8 MBPart 2 – SERIES: Heroic Heroic faith is faith that honors the Lord and seeks Jesus’ Kingdom first, even in the face of adversity. Heroic includes trusting God’s Faithfulness, especially in the midst of life’s struggles and opposition to God’s work. When God is working in your life, expect opposition. But when God is working, he overcomes all opposition—so persevere! When you do persevere, Jesus gets great glory and you get great joy!
Seeing God's Providence
February 26, 2017 17:00 - 46 minutes - 21.1 MBPart 1 – SERIES: Heroic We start a new series called "Heroic", working through the Old Testament books of Ezra and Haggai. Heroic faith is faith that honors the Lord and seeks Jesus' Kingdom first, even in the face of adversity. Heroic faith begins with seeing God's Providence—in the ways that he keeps his promises, provides for his work, and rewards heroic faith with joy.
Better Than I Deserve
February 19, 2017 17:00 - 39 minutes - 18.2 MBPart 5 – SERIES: A Generous Life We close our series by looking at Psalm 65. Psalm 65 was written by David to be sung at one of the harvest festivals. It celebrates God's generosity made manifest in the harvest and trusts him for more provision in the future. In Psalm 65 we see that God is WAY better to us than we deserve. He forgives my sin, answers my prayers, provides for me, and prepares my future—all in ways that are better than I deserve!
Toward Extravagant Giving
February 12, 2017 17:00 - 53 minutes - 24.7 MBPart 4 – SERIES: A Generous Life This week we look at examples of an Expanding Giver and an Extravagant Giver in God's Word. To become an Expanding Giver requires me to slow down, open my eyes, soften my heart, bend my back, and extend my wallet. We see a good example of this in the Good Samaritan. An Extravagant Giver is looking to invest in Jesus' Kingdom—long term, outliving themselves. Barnabas does this, as does the woman who breaks the jar of expensive perfume to pour it on Jesus. Our g...
First Place Giving
February 05, 2017 17:00 - 50 minutes - 23.1 MBPart 3 – SERIES: A Generous Life We continue on the journey to live a Generous Life by looking at Abraham. Abraham demonstrates the 3rd type/level of giver on our journey: The Tithing Giver. The tithing giver is giving their first fruits (10% of their income) to the Lord. They count their blessings and cultivate a thankful heart. They practice the biblical principle of tithing, remembering that God's principles always work. They live for eternity while enjoying today.
The Start of Generosity
January 29, 2017 17:00 - 52 minutes - 24 MBPart 2 – SERIES: A Generous Life This week we look at the first two types of givers: the Beginning Giver and the Consistent Giver. A Generous Life begins with childlike faith. Zacchaeus is a great example of a Beginning Giver with childlike faith. A helpful tip to begin giving? Start giving! For an example of a Consistent Giver we look at Cornelius and also at a group of women following and supporting Jesus. The Consistent Giver is growing to give regularly at least once a month. Where are yo...
Generously Blessed
January 22, 2017 17:00 - 51 minutes - 23.7 MB"You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) — Because Jesus is generous, we should be generous with our time, talent, and treasure. Jesus isn't after our money, he is after our heart (our money and possessions just happen to reveal where our heart is!). All that I have to give is first a gift I receive from Jesus. All giving (good and bad) is heart-motivated, a...
Preparing for the 30/30 Journey
January 15, 2017 17:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBToday we officially launch the 30/30 Journey. During the message Pastor Josh lays out some of the vision for the coming facility renovation and expansion, as well as some of the spiritual aspects of the 30/30 Journey. We look at John 6:1-14 and invite everyone to join us on the journey of prayer and considering how the Lord might have you participate.
Sufficiency for the Year Ahead
January 08, 2017 17:00 - 50 minutes - 23.1 MBDr. Rock LaGioia preaches from 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. God's grace is sufficient for our every need, at every time, in every place, under every circumstance. God's grace provides us with Christlike humility and provides spiritual strength in any and every situation. Have you trusted Jesus and taken claim of his grace toward you?
A Vertical View for the New Year
January 01, 2017 17:00 - 48 minutes - 22 MBDr. Rock LaGioia preaches from Philippians 3:1-11 challenging us to have a VERTICAL view for the new year. True believers view their lives from a heavenly perspective. They place their confidence in Christ and not their achievements. They place their confidence in Christ's sanctifying power and in their future glorification thanks to Jesus' grace.
God's Gifts to Mary, Joseph, & the Shepherds
December 18, 2016 17:00 - 42 minutes - 19.4 MBPart 3 – SERIES: The God Who Gives For God so loved the world that he GAVE... Our God is a generous God who freely gives abundant grace and mercy. In his grace we get what we don't deserve, and in his mercy we don't get what we do deserve. This week we see God give gifts to Mary, Joseph, & the Shepherd Boys. God gave Mary & Joseph just what they needed just when they needed it. He gave the shepherds a glimpse of his glory. And to everyone, all of us included, he gives great joy!
God's Gifts to Mary
December 11, 2016 17:00 - 50 minutes - 23 MBPart 2 – SERIES: The God Who Gives For God so loved the world that he GAVE... Our God is a generous God who freely gives abundant grace and mercy. In his grace we get what we don't deserve, and in his mercy we don't get what we do deserve. This week we see God give gifts to Mary in Luke 1:26-56. God gave her faith to believe and take a risk, encouragement to keep trusting, and a part in his story. He offers all of the same gifts to us.
God's Gifts to Zechariah & Elizabeth
December 04, 2016 17:00 - 46 minutes - 21.5 MBPart 1 – SERIES: The God Who Gives For God so loved the world that he GAVE... Our God is a generous God who freely gives abundant grace and mercy. In his grace we get what we don't deserve, and in his mercy we don't get what we do deserve. This week we see God give gifts to Zechariah & Elizabeth: opportunity (after obscurity), joy (after sorrow), and honor (after dishonor).
Practical Helps for Praying
November 20, 2016 17:00 - 46 minutes - 21.2 MBPart 5 – SERIES: Learning to Pray Pastor Josh shares a couple practical helps for praying consistently that he's learned from others. Pray by letting God start the conversation, realizing that reading God's Word and prayer are two sides of the same conversation. Josh shares a method for this borrowed from Buddy Owens' "The Way of a Worshiper". Another idea is to use prayer cards to track prayer and answers to prayer, borrowed from Paul Miller's "A Praying Life". Finally, all of prayer should ...
Praying In The Story
November 13, 2016 17:00 - 45 minutes - 20.9 MBPart 4 – SERIES: Learning to Pray A key to learning to pray continually is to remember whose story you're living in. God is continually weaving his story of redemption, and we get to be part of it. This helps us learn to pray for the right things and wait in the right way. To pray "in the story": 1) Don't demand that the story go your way. 2) Look for the Storyteller, then pray in light of what he's doing. 3) Stay in the story. Don't shut down when it goes a different way.
Ask Your Father
November 06, 2016 17:00 - 48 minutes - 22.3 MBPart 3 – SERIES: Learning to Pray We're learning to pray, and in learning to pray we're relearning to be like a child. This week we look at why we don't always ask our Father for things in prayer. Often, it is because at a root level we don't believe God is all powerful and we don't believe he is truly personal. Because we doubt his power, we don't ask for big things only Jesus can do. Because we doubt he is personal, we fail to ask for small things assuming God doesn't care. The antidote for...
Learn to Ask Like a Child
October 30, 2016 16:00 - 38 minutes - 17.5 MBPart 2 – SERIES: Learning to Pray One of the great enemies of childlike prayer is cynicism. The opposite of a childlike spirit is a cynical spirit. We become cynical when skepticism becomes the attitude of our hearts. It affects not only my relationships with others but my relationship with the Lord and my ability to pray. This week look at 6 cures for cynicism and returning to a childlike trust in the Lord.
Learn to Pray Like a Child
October 23, 2016 16:00 - 44 minutes - 20.3 MBPart 1 – SERIES: Learning to Pray Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life. Yet it can also be incredibly hard for many of us. As we learn to pray, the first key is learning to pray like a child. Asking like a child. Believing like a child. Helpless like a child. Prayer is not about approaching God in the right way with the right words according to the right method—it's about knowing and loving and talking to your good Dad who designed you for relationship with him.
5. No Sacred Cows
October 16, 2016 16:00 - 46 minutes - 21.3 MBPart 6 – SERIES: Wawasee Core Our final Core Value is No Sacred Cows. Jesus is sacred. God's word is sacred. But our opinions and traditions and preferences are not. We look at Scripture this week and identify 3 types of "sacred cows" we must guard against: 1. Loving tradition more than we love Jesus; 2. Following people before Jesus; 3. Choosing my preference over Jesus' mission.
4. We All Need Friends
October 09, 2016 16:00 - 44 minutes - 20.3 MBPart 5 – SERIES: Wawasee Core Our fourth core value is We All Need Friends. We're not designed to go through life alone. In fact, God created us lacking and needing relationship, even before the Fall. There's one aspect of bearing God's image that is impossible for you to do by yourself: You cannot image his relational nature without being involved in community. Our need for friendship is rooted in the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Spirit have existed and continue to exist in an eternal...
3. All People Matter
October 02, 2016 16:00 - 44 minutes - 20.5 MBPart 4 – SERIES: Wawasee Core Our third core value is that All People Matter. To borrow a statement from another church, "All people matter to God; therefore, all people must matter to us." The bible is clear that all people matter to God. No matter their age, skin color, status, intellect—all people matter to God. This is because all people bear God's image, making humanity the crown jewel of God's creation. Because all people matter to God, they must matter to us. No matter who they are, wh...
2. God Wrote It All Down
September 25, 2016 16:00 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBPart 3 – SERIES: Wawasee Core Our second core value is that God Wrote It All Down. God wrote a book. Everything we need to successfully live the Christian life and have joy is written down for us in the Bible. God has revealed everything we need to know about him and salvation in the Bible. Our Bible is reliable, authoritative, and sufficient. We are to believe it in all that it teaches, obey it in all it requires, and trust it in all that it promises.
1. It's All About Jesus!
September 18, 2016 16:00 - 49 minutes - 22.9 MBPart 2 – SERIES: Wawasee Core Our first core value is this: "It's All About Jesus!" Why? – Because IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS! Paul makes it very clear in Colossians 1:15-23 that it's all about Jesus and that he must be first in everything. Our lives are to be all about Jesus. Creation is all about Jesus. The Church is all about Jesus. Salvation is all about Jesus. It is ALL about Jesus! Until Jesus is first in every area of my life, I will never experience the joy I was created to know.
We Are Sent
September 11, 2016 16:00 - 47 minutes - 21.5 MBPart 1 – SERIES: Wawasee Core We start a new series this week, "Wawasee Core", exploring the core of who we uniquely are as a church family. This week we begin by celebrating 30 years of God's faithfulness to our church and looking forward to the next 30. Pastor Josh introduces and unpacks our new mission statement: "We are sent to love people and invite them to follow Jesus with us." He also gives a brief overview of our new core values: 1) It's All About Jesus! 2) God Wrote It All Down. 3...
Let Everything Praise the Lord! – Psalms 148, 149, 150
September 04, 2016 16:00 - 50 minutes - 23 MBPart 14 – SERIES: Summer Psalms 2016 We wrap up our Summer Psalms series this week by looking at the last three Psalms: 148, 149, and 150. Each has as its focus the praise of Jesus Christ. Everyone and everything worships. The question is what/who do you worship FIRST? You were designed (and are commanded) to worship JESUS first. When you do, it yields great joy!