the Church Podcast

Welcome to the Church, we are a community of Christ followers in the Madison, WI area. In this weekly podcast you will hear the Pastor's message as given at the Church on Sunday mornings. Join us live on Sunday mornings in Fitchburg, or check us out online at www.livelifetogether.com

Dependent - Focus 2: Distraction of Wealth & Possessions 05/29/2025

Dependent - Focus 2: Distraction of Wealth & Possessions Focus: What treasures did the wealthy man forfeit when he turned away from Jesus with a heavy heart? What blessings do we forfeit when we prioritize our possessions over our relationship with Him? What burdens do we bear when we exalt the fleeting pleasures of this world above the eternal riches of Jesus' Kingdom? Matthew 19:16-26 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36776975

Dependent - Focus 3: Distraction of Fear 05/29/2025

Dependent - Focus 3: Distraction of Fear Focus: Mob mentality is strong. God’s promise is stronger. The pull to come up short in the face of the enemy is relentless. God’s will is stronger still. And, He is with us! Numbers 13:17-14:9 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36776055

Dependent - Prayer 1: Holistic 05/29/2025

Dependent - Prayer 1: Holistic Focus: When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray, Jesus gave us perhaps the most familiar prayer of all time. In Christian worship services every week, spanning the denominations; in funeral homes, bedsides, and family gatherings you will hear, “Our Father who art in heaven…” And yet, there is much more going on here with Jesus’ teaching about prayer than meets the eye! Matthew 6:5-15 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775600

Dependent - Prayer 3: Confidence 05/29/2025

Dependent - Prayer 3: Confidence Focus: Steadfast love and righteousness are the hallmarks of our God! We can pray believing. We can pray with confidence. He listens. He delivers. Psalm 5 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775545

Visible - Love 1: Visible Reflection of Jesus 05/29/2025

Visible - Love 1: Visible Reflection of Jesus Focus: As disciples follow Jesus we learn to Love from Love incarnate. As we Obey Christ, we learn how to obey God. We learn our Purpose as we follow Christ’s mission and He sends us out. And as Christ gathers us together and sends us out together with that common purpose we experience being part of Christ’s Team. The result is that disciples are Visible Reflections of Jesus. Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” John 13:12-17 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775500

Visible - Love 3: Source 05/29/2025

Visible - Love 3: Source Focus: When we love only those who are easy to love, what are we reflecting? God is love, and He loved us even when we were enemies. Love comes from Him, and He is the reason we love others, whether they are easy to love or not. Everyone is important to God, and so, everyone is important to those who love God. 1 John 4:7-21 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775470

Visible - Love 4: Model 05/29/2025

Visible - Love 4: Model Focus: We see Jesus’ love in big and small ways as He lives with and teaches the disciples. Jesus loves His disciples as the Father has loved Him. And He is explicit in this, disciples are to love as Jesus has loved them. I am to love others as Jesus loves me. John 15:9-17 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775410

Visible - Obey 1: Joyful 05/29/2025

Visible - Obey 1: Joyful Focus: Obedience to God's commands leads to a deeper relationship with Him, filling us with His love and complete joy. This passage encourages believers to see obedience not as a burden but as a pathway to experiencing the fullness of joy in Christ. Loving God and others is intrinsically linked to obeying His commands, which are not burdensome but are given out of love. This perspective helps believers shift from seeing obedience as a duty to embracing it as an expression of love. joyful obedience comes from a deep love for God, a desire to be in His presence, and an understanding that His commands are life-giving and not burdensome. By focusing on the joy, love, and transformation that come from obeying God, believers can move from a sense of obligation to a sense of wonder and joy in representing Him in the world. Psalm 19:7-11 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775360

Visible - Obey 2: Rhythmic 05/29/2025

Visible - Obey 2: Rhythmic Focus: Representing Jesus in the world begins with God’s gracious intervention. God speaks. He invites. We respond. This is the way to a become a visible reflection of Jesus. Think of it as “prompt-response.” Acts 8:26-40 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775300

Visible - Obey 3: Experiment 05/29/2025

Visible - Obey 3: Experiment Focus: When we receive a command from God to go and represent, how do we move from weight and obligation to wonder and anticipation? The answer is more simple than we think. And, it is way more fun, too. Luke 10:1-24 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775245

Engages With Neighbors - Faith in Action: Speaking Without Words 05/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Faith in Action: Speaking Without Words Focus: Good works, like giving the food and clothing that someone needs, speak louder than words. We confess our faith together with words, but evidence of our faith is seen in our actions. James 2:14-17 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36775200

Visible - Purpose 1: For Him 05/19/2025

Visible - Purpose 1: For Him Focus: Joshua was given a purpose and the encouragement to see it through. Our God-given purpose is to glorify God and make disciples. Since we have this God-given purpose, what can stand in the way? Joshua 1:1-9 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628820

Visible - Purpose 2: On Purpose 05/19/2025

Visible - Purpose 2: On Purpose Focus: Having a purpose without intentionally living toward it is like having a bow and arrow, and a target, but not ever firing toward it. So, how are we doing what we are made, blessed, and sent to do? 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628770

Visible - Purpose 3: For Now 05/19/2025

Visible - Purpose 3: For Now Focus: Mordecai is blunt with Esther. Not doing anything will also almost certainly result in her death. But what he knew is that God would save his people. And knowing that, maybe by leaning into what she knew of God Esther would find herself in God’s purpose. For such a time as this… Esther 4:7-14 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628740

Visible - Team 1: Vision 05/19/2025

Visible - Team 1: Vision Focus: Shalom. Wholeness. God’s intention. Yet what we see all around us is brokenness. What if WE were placed right here to work together to build up what is broken? “Let’s start rebuilding!” Nehemiah 2:11-20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628695

Visible - Team 2: Unity 05/19/2025

Visible - Team 2: Unity Focus: Wherever many are involved, the distraction of division rears its destructive head. God Himself blesses His work with unity. God Himself blesses His workers with unity. We visibly reflect ONE God, ONE body, ONE job. Many hands, many different tasks, ONE result! Ephesians 4:1-16 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628595

Visible - Team 3: Action 05/19/2025

Visible - Team 3: Action Focus: The team acts, serves, loves, goes, and responds. This team does not just say nice things or think about acting. Why? Because our God is a God who acts! And we visibly reflect HIM! 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628545

Engages With Neighbors - Sharing Life: Being Together 05/19/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Sharing Life: Being Together Focus: Community thrives as we build each other up, encourage each other, and meet together regularly. The good feelings that follow acts of love and kindness reinforce the value and importance we ascribe to the community and draw others to engage in the kind of community we all desire to be part of. Hebrews 10:24-25 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628445

Engages With Neighbors - Sharing Life: Belonging 05/19/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Sharing Life: Belonging Focus: Belonging is a gift we experience as we share life together in a Christ-centered community. Belonging in a community is a two way street of felt needs, fulfilled as we are a blessing to others, and as they are a blessing to us. As in a body, the parts of a Christ-centered community, though different, belong to each other and function together to bless each other and the whole. Romans 12:4-5 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628375

Missional - Discern: Missional Heartbeat of God 05/19/2025

Missional - Discern: Missional Heartbeat of God Focus: Faith in Jesus is activated as the Spirit guides us intentionally and passionately into the lives of our friends and neighbors. As we listen and follow the Spirit’s guidance, we discern which friend the Lord is leading us to reach by proclaiming the Good news about Jesus. We rely on the Spirit to guide us to know who and how we can support and teach as we grow together in following Jesus. Luke 10:1-7 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628285

Missional - Discern: Intimidating 05/19/2025

Missional - Discern: Intimidating Focus: Active faith that is discerning the Holy Spirit’s leading requires courage. Letting go of the easy choice for an alternative can often be unsettling, and sometimes even terrifying. Of all people God could send you to, imagine it’s the one person christians are actively running from. But where there is no risk, there is also little room to be surprised by God. Acts 9:10-18 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628210

Missional - Discern: Inconceivable 05/19/2025

Missional - Discern: Inconceivable Focus: Active faith that is following the Holy Spirit requires humility. We must be willing to challenge our own understanding in the face of God’s word. While our understanding is used in discerning, assuming it’s always right puts us at risk of missing where He leads. Are we following and learning from God, or are we limited by our own understanding and unwillingness to learn? Acts 10:9-33 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628135

Missional - Discern: Inconvenient 05/19/2025

Missional - Discern: Inconvenient Focus: Christians often suffer from indecisiveness or wishing they knew what God’s will was for them in a decision. Once decided, we often suffer from tunnel vision. Sometimes God wants to change our direction even mid journey. Listening and discerning isn’t limited to convenience, and it doesn’t end once we start executing a plan. Acts 16:6-10 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36628090

Missional - Discern: Inconvenient 05/19/2025

Missional - Friend 3: Friends for Life 05/19/2025

Missional - Friend 3: Friends for Life Focus: Active faith means sharing life deeply with others in genuine friendship. We journey together, with mutual care and connection. Paul's example of authentic love shows that true friends don’t just share the gospel—they share their lives. Our lives intertwine, allowing the life of Jesus to flow freely and uninterrupted. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36627955

Missional - Proclaim: Be Prepared 05/15/2025

Missional - Proclaim: Be Prepared Focus: People are constantly placing hope in all sorts of places for their current and their future. God’s Missional Heart is for all people to place their hope in Jesus, the only one who delivers. As followers of Jesus, we’re sent to proclaim Him. Active faith prepares to explain our hope as believers, in order to be ready when someone asks. 1 Peter 3:8-18 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36585485

Missional - Proclaim: Be Willing 05/15/2025

Missional - Proclaim: Be Willing Focus: Sharing our faith can be daunting, from fear of harm and danger, to concerns about how it will be received and what others may think of us. God doesn’t call us to have it all figured out and to be able to argue others into submission. Active faith believes Him and willingly tells others what He has done. The once blind man responded to a claim that Jesus was a sinner saying, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,”… “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:8-17, 24-25 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36585450

Missional - Proclaim: Opportunities 05/15/2025

Missional - Proclaim: Opportunities Focus: Our lives are full of opportunities to glorify God, and to proclaim salvation in Jesus. Just living as followers of Jesus and loving as He has loved us is a great proclamation and draws people close to us to ask. Active faith prays for and seeks out every opportunity to share Jesus. Colossians 4:2-6 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36585435

Missional - Teach: As You Go 05/15/2025

Missional - Teach: As You Go Focus: We teach a way of life, not just doctrinal beliefs—the relational, dynamic nature of living the Jesus Way over static intellectualism. Teaching the Jesus Way happens best as we live our lives. Discipleship is life-on-life, walking with others in the everyday moments where faith is grown and shared. Matthew 28:18-20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36585355

Missional - Teach: Passing The Torch 05/15/2025

Missional - Teach: Passing The Torch Focus: Teaching the Jesus Way means simplifying the message so it can be passed on with ease and confidence. Simplicity leads to multiplication, ensuring the Gospel endures through faithful, passionate, and prepared followers of Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1-15 (esp. 2) /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36585305

the Church Podcast

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