Leesburg Grace Teachings

Sermons only touch the surface of what we know, believe, and practice at Leesburg Grace Church. This podcast comprises additional content for our people, including Engaging Hour lessons, sermon sidebars, and discipleship insights from Pastor Tim Sprankle.

Contending Prayer 04/14/2025

Contending Prayer "The Bible knows no such thing as casual prayer." This remarkable insight from about prayer and revival frames my reflections on contending prayer. To contend in prayer is to imitate Jesus, ancient Israel, and the Holy Spirit who groans to bring new life to creation. Is your prayer to casual? Will you contend? (NOTE: The reference to Isaiah 62:7 was correct; however, it should also include the preceding verse, which talks about watchmen who strenously intercede for God's people. Contemporary author referenced include Tyler Staton's , Timothy Keller's , and Richard Lovelace's .) /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/36135785

Spiritual Companionship 03/03/2025

Spiritual Companionship Loneliness is dangerous and deadly. It hurts our bodies and distorts our souls. In this issue, I talk about the need for spiritual friends, four kinds of relationships in the New Testament, the role of spiritual companionship in our discipleship to Jesus. I draw upon insights from the Surgeon General's report on the , Michael Wilkins's biblical theology of discipleship, and Jesus's discipleship model in the gospels. (My apologies for the popping sound; I'm toying with a new microphone.) /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/35511440

The Practice of Solitude 02/19/2025

The Practice of Solitude In this dialogue, Tim and Liz talk about the practice of solitude. Liz shares about her introduction to solitude, its development in recent years, and its positive impact on her spiritual life. Then she provides encouragement to those looking to begin the practice of solitude, including finding a quiet place, having realisitic expectations, and dealing with noise. Liz references . Likewise, the dialogue references Psalm 27, 84, and closes with a reading of Psalm 46. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/35349835

Mapping Your Customs (Discipleship Dialogues) 01/20/2025

Mapping Your Customs (Discipleship Dialogues) Jesus had a set of customs in his life (e.g., Luke 2:42; 4:16, 42; 9:18, 28; 22:39). We should, too. In this discipleship dialogue, Pastor Tim explains what it looks like to map your customs and why it matters. The more popular phrase for this idea is a Rule of Life. Mapping our Customs helps us pause, take our spiritual pulse, realign our passions toward God, and keep practicing on a daily, weekly, or occasional basis those habits that form us into Christlikeness. Here's a , adapted from . This session also includes ideas from (Earley), Courage & Calling (Smith), The Emotionally Healthy Leader (Scazzero), The Life You've Always Wanted (Ortberg), (Bobo, ed.) and Philippians 2:12-13. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/34924165

Simply Jesus Moments (Discipleship Dialogues) 01/13/2025

Simply Jesus Moments (Discipleship Dialogues) To kick off the 2025 season of Discipleship Dialogues, Pastor Tim Sprankle talks about Simply Jesus Moments. The idea stems from the work of John Dickson, whose book The Best Kept Secret of Christian Mission features talking points called "Jesus Bites." These are quick, culturally relevant stories about Jesus that can be helpful in everyday conversations. In his version, Sprankle provides four parts of a Simply Jesus Moment and a few examples. For more from John Dickson, check out the . /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/34837595

Worshipping the Triune God (Trinity Series) 12/09/2024

Worshipping the Triune God (Trinity Series) In this final installment, we discuss our highest purpose: to glorify the Triune God. We also make a defense of praying to each member of the Trinity, as well as how our ordinances (Baptism and Communion) and spiritual formation are Trinitarian practices. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/34346015

Collaboration in Mission (Trinity Series) 12/04/2024

Collaboration in Mission (Trinity Series) Our God is a missional God. Father, Son, and Spirit work together in reaching the world. They invite us to partipate in their mission. The storyline of God's mission runs through the Scriptures, unfolding in various stages. A critical part of our spiritual formation is to join God on his mission. This episode talks about it. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/34221195

Collaboration in Salvation (Trinity Series) 12/01/2024

Collaboration in Salvation (Trinity Series) Father, Son, and Spirit work together in our salvation. This episode describes the roles each person plays, as well as defines terms like "order of salvation" and "atonement." Ephesians 1:3-14 is a key text. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/34220980

Collaboration in Creation (Trinity Series) 11/19/2024

Collaboration in Creation (Trinity Series) The Father, Son, and Spirit collaborated in creation. This is the first of three episodes describing the economic Trinity. From the beginning of creation to its daily preservation, each member of the Trinity plays a part. This episode considers key Scriptures and theological insights about collaboration in creation. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33987987

Jesus and the Spirit (Trinity Series) 11/11/2024

Jesus and the Spirit (Trinity Series) During his earthly ministry, Jesus had a special relationship with the Holy Spirit. Indeed, the Spirit guided him in his ministry. Then the Spirit became Jesus's personal gift to the church, empowering believers to bear witness to him and give glory to the Father. A fundamental way we give glory to the Father is by becoming like the Son with the Spirit's aid. This episode engendered great dialogue afterwards. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33879557

Jesus and the Father (Trinity Series) 11/05/2024

Jesus and the Father (Trinity Series) Jesus and the Father have a special relationship. We see the dynamic play out during Jesus's earthly ministry. He is beloved of the Father. He obeys the Father. This blessed relationships opens the door for Jesus's followers to experience the Father's abiding love (John 17:24). /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33792852

Profile of the Spirit (Trinity Series) 10/28/2024

Profile of the Spirit (Trinity Series) This episode surveys Old and New Testament teaching on the Holy Spirit. Sadly, pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit) often gets caught up in debates about how spiritual gifts play out today (continuation vs. cessation). While that is mentioned in this lesson, more focus is given to the Holy Spirit's nature, intimacy, and role in our growth. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33639072

Profile of the Son (Trinity Series) 10/14/2024

Profile of the Son (Trinity Series) Jesus, Son of God, is the second person of the Trinity. His Sonship speaks to his eternal, affectionate relationship to the Father. Jesus was the perfect image and human embodiment of the Father. His life modeled full submission to the Father and reliance on the Spirit. Not only did he atone for our sins but he currently intercedes and advocates for his people. We can be with him and become like him. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33446272

Profile of the Father (Trinity Series) 09/30/2024

Profile of the Father (Trinity Series) This talk explores several characteristics and actions of the Heavenly Father. The Father is eternal and immaterial; creative, loving, and generous; the source of all life. The Father is always the sender, never the one sent: he sent the Son and Spirit. The Father adopts us into his family. This episode cites many biblical texts, mostly from the New Testament. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33263177

History, Heresy, and Analogy (Trinity Series) 09/23/2024

History, Heresy, and Analogy (Trinity Series) In this episode, Pastor Tim explores the development of the doctrine of the Trinity by the early church. He considers five early controversies, two early creeds, and three heresies that continue today when our favorite analogies for describing the Trinity break down. For a humourous version of this, see . Other resources for this session, include and T. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/33167997

Perichoresis (Trinity Series) 09/09/2024

Perichoresis (Trinity Series) The Father, Son, and Spirit have enjoyed an eternal conversation. The Trinity experiences perfect communion. Those in the early centuries of the church put language to this, calling it the perichoresis. In this session, we describe this divine dance and dialogue between Father, Son, and Spirit using Scripture and insights from theologians. Pastor Tim also talks about the ramifications of this doctrine on our relationship with God and others. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/32971537

From Prooftext to Paradox (Trinity Series) 09/02/2024

From Prooftext to Paradox (Trinity Series) In our opening session, we discuss how the Trinity is a pardoxical and unique doctrine in the Christian faith. God is three-in-one: Father, Spirit, and Son. Although the term Trinity does not show up in Scripture, it is implicitly described and progressively revealed. This session explains tendencies in Trinity studies to focus on the economic Trinity and essential Trinity. Moreover, it stresses how Trinity is a safeguard against warring gods or a divine despot. God is love. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/32868052

Performing Scripture: Reading God's Word Aloud 08/26/2024

Performing Scripture: Reading God's Word Aloud Author and professor Dr. Brent Sandy features key insights from his book before leading the class in an exercise on performing Scripture. This was a stand alone class for the Leesburg Grace Church Engaging Hour. You will hear people from class interacting with questions. Key insights: Engagment with Bible reading has decreased by 21% in the USA in recent years. God spoke his word before it was written. He never commands us to read Scripture. But we are to hear, meditate on, and apply it. (Literacy was low in the ancient world.) Dynamic reading of Scripture, using pauses and body language, may impact people more than silently reading it. Scripture reading teams may complement the preaching and worship singing. More thought should be given to their development and performance. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/32741407

The Science of Emotions 05/13/2024

The Science of Emotions This material did not make it into the Healthy Emotions sermon, but provides interesting insights about emotions from science. From Darwin's study of faces to affective neurology, we have an increased understanding of how the body, brain, emotions, and relationships tie together. Emotions protect and connect us. They process and predict. You can find a video of this on YouTube. For the full sermon of , click the link. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/31268262

The Practice of Sabbath 04/03/2024

The Practice of Sabbath Sabbath finds its origin in the creation account (Gen. 2:1-3). God rested and made the seventh day part of a good rhythm of rest. This teaching, originally shared at Leesburg Grace's 2024 Deeper with God weekend, provides a biblical survey of sabbath, five purposes of sabbath, and instruction on making sabbath a regular practice. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/30660113

Practice of Fasting 03/11/2024

Practice of Fasting Fasting is an ancient practice taught by Jesus and observed throughout church history. This workshop focuses on the rationale behind fasting as a spiritual discipline and ways to integrate into your Christian life. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/30320113

Improvising Jesus in Everyday Life 03/04/2024

Improvising Jesus in Everyday Life This is the second meditation at Leesburg Grace's 2024 Deeper with God weekend. The audio quality is a bit buzzy. The content is solid. Tim Sprankle describes what it takes to imitate Jesus in everyday life. He draws on his experience in theater, where he iterated lines, stepped into character, and learned to improvise. that go along with the talk. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/30218253

Jesus's Invitation To Be Loved 02/27/2024

Jesus's Invitation To Be Loved This is the first reflection in the Deeper with God weekend at Leesburg Grace. Dr. Christy Hill speaks about Jesus's gracious invitation to be with him from Revelation 3:21. She helps us identify where we are located and what at blocks us from receiving God's love. In the end, she references several Bible passages about God's love, encouraging us to personalize them. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/30126018

Our Beliefs 01/29/2024

Our Beliefs Theology matters. Good theology guards us from deviation, speculation, ignorance, and ambition. Moreover, good theology connects us to God and other likeminded believers. In this bonus episode, Pastor Tim summarizes the Evangelical Core shared by Leesburg Grace Church and other Charis Fellowship churches. It includes 10 beliefs and relevant biblical references. . /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/29693248

Victory in Jesus 12/18/2023

Victory in Jesus Securing and strengthening our freedom in Christ requires that we win the battle of the mind. Each of us can take our thoughts captive or walk through Anderson’s Steps to Freedom on our own. However, victory in Jesus is also part of our life together. We stand firm together. Thus, we will consider another model of deliverance ministry that involves spiritual community using diverse spiritual gifts to set captives free. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/29127488

Victory in Jesus 12/11/2023

Victory in Jesus Jesus’s victory frees us. He has overcome. We will overcome. He has defeated Satan. We can stand firm against Satan’s lies, schemes, and accusations. To experience freedom in Christ, we must win the battle of the mind. We’ll overview Neil Anderson’s approach to freedom in Christ. It is our first deliverance model. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/29020168

Eternal Bound 12/04/2023

Eternal Bound Satan is doomed. He knows it and will not go down without a fight. He will leverage his hoard of demons, political leaders, ideology, technology, and two mysterious beasts. Fortunately, Jesus will finish the job, sending him into the Lake of Fire. John writes about the final chapter of this raging spiritual battle in the book of Revelation. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/28919368

Father of Lies 11/20/2023

Father of Lies Despite no recorded exorcisms, John’s gospel reverberates with spiritual warfare imagery. Tensions fill the book: light and darkness, life and death, community and isolation, truth and lies. Ruling over the realm of darkness and deceiving the world is the devil—the Father of lies. Not only does Jesus expose the devil in John’s gospel but also overthrows him through his life, death, and resurrection. Similar themes resurface in John’s letters. The devil rules the world, captivates sinners, and deceives believers. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/28719703

Roaring Lion 11/06/2023

Roaring Lion The authors of the General Letters were alert to spiritual warfare. They warned against the destructive power of false teaching, threat of persecution, and demonic ploy of sowing fear. In these letters, the devil is depicted as a roaring lion, aggressive enemy, and death-dealer whom God’s people can resist. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/28528436

Standing Firm 10/30/2023

Standing Firm Paul recognizes the devil’s tactics and deceptions, but he is undaunted. He knows the devil and his powers are defeated foes. They cannot overturn Jesus’s work on the Cross. They cannot overcome Jesus’s people. Indeed, the church stands firm together in this battle, strengthened by God and empowered by his Spirit. /episode/index/show/f2adce1c-c0bd-4a23-bf09-878fbf5283f6/id/28460900

Leesburg Grace Teachings

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