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

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Without Fear 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Without Fear Focus: Loving beyond boundaries requires trust—trust in God’s love, trust in His provision, and trust that He is working through us to bless others. Too often, fear holds us back from fully committing—fear of scarcity, fear of the unknown, fear of not having enough. But Scripture reminds us: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). Today, as we make our financial commitments for the year, we do so without fear, knowing that our generosity is an expression of love beyond boundaries. Our giving is not just about sustaining a church; it is about participating in God’s mission, ensuring that His love flows freely into our neighborhoods and beyond. Because He first loved us, we can give boldly, trusting that His grace is always more than enough. 1 John 4:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358380

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Upside Down 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Upside Down Focus: The resurrection turns the world upside down—the grave is empty, death is defeated, and love reigns victorious. What seemed like the end was only the beginning. The first witnesses were the least expected, the risen Jesus appeared to the broken and afraid, and His command was not to retreat but to go beyond boundaries and proclaim life to all nations. In the upside-down Kingdom of God, hope is born from despair, power is revealed in humility, and victory comes through surrender. Because He lives, we are sent to love beyond all limits, carrying the message of resurrection to a world desperate for new life. Galatians 3:26-28; Matthew 28:1-10, 18-20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358355

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Through the Cross 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Through the Cross Focus: From the upper room to Golgotha, Jesus’ love remains steadfast. Betrayed, denied, and abandoned, He carries His cross through the suffering of rejection and pain. Yet, even in agony, He extends love beyond boundaries—praying for His enemies, welcoming a criminal into paradise, and surrendering His life for the world. In the upside-down Kingdom of God, power is revealed in sacrifice, and victory comes through the cross. Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 53 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358320

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Under the Towel 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Under the Towel Focus: In the upper room, Jesus redefines leadership and love—not by taking a throne, but by kneeling under the towel to wash His disciples’ feet. As He breaks bread and shares the cup, He invites them into a new covenant of self-giving love. The way of Jesus is not about status but sacrifice, not about being served but serving. To love beyond boundaries means humbling ourselves, washing the feet of friends and betrayers alike, and embracing the way of the cross. John 13:1-17; Luke 22:14-20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358300

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Across the Road 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Loving Beyond Boundaries: Across the Road Focus: As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the crowd celebrates Him as King, yet within days, many will turn away. The way of the Kingdom is not about power and dominance but about crossing the road to show mercy, just as the Good Samaritan did. Jesus challenges us to love beyond comfort, moving across the road to serve, even when it leads to suffering. His path to the cross was an act of boundary-breaking love—one that invites us to walk in His footsteps. Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 21:1-11 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358265

Engages With Neighbors - Introduction: At the Well 04/29/2025

Engages With Neighbors - Introduction: At the Well Focus: Love begins at the well, where Jesus invites us to draw from His limitless grace and pour it into the lives of others. Matthew 22:37-40 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36358250

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Gathered in Devotion 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Gathered in Devotion Focus: The early Christians’ in Acts gathered daily for worship and made a habit of breaking bread and praying together in their homes. The work of the Spirit through these actions fostered a joyful, generous community and a lifestyle of devotion. Acts 2:46-47 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009860

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Shaped 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Shaped Focus: God’s Word shapes our lives. Repetition, teaching, talking about His Word before, after and during, and making visible reminders are all ways of learning, remembering, and forming patterns and habits. This is what wholehearted commitment looks like. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009830

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Space For Him 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Space For Him Focus: How do we respond to God’s presence in our homes? Do we create space for Him and treat Him as an honored part of our household? 2 Kings 4:8-10 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009760

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: At His Feet 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: At His Feet Focus: As Jesus lives in our homes it’s most common that we are used to it, that we take it for granted, and that when we are intentional, it’s about doing things for Jesus instead of with Him. Instead, Jesus reminds us to choose the “better part”, and to prioritize spending time at His feet. Luke 10:38-42 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009705

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Open the Door 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Open the Door Focus: Wealth, comfort, self-sufficiency, and complacency are all characteristics of the church and community Jesus describes. Jesus tries to help all who are in those situations clearly see what is important and valuable. Jesus is knocking, and he wants to come in to share a meal together as friends. Will you open the door? Revelation 3:20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009675

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Invitation to the Well 04/04/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Room: Invitation to the Well Focus: Jesus is the life-giving water. He still offers everyone water that truly satisfies and even becomes a spring giving eternal life. His is the fountain of life. This is the water that gives life and makes our homes into household WELLS where all can gather to experience Jesus’ offer. John 4:13-14 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/36009605

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Led 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Daily: Led Focus: God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. The question is, do we use His Word to guide our daily life at home? Do we pick up His Word and use it in our Homes as often as we use lightswitches, maps, or instructional videos? God is always leading us, and our households have the opportunity to daily follow and learn from the giver of life. Psalm 119:97-112 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35843145

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Set Apart 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Set Apart Focus: Blood on their doorposts set the Israelites apart so the destroyer would pass over their homes. Jesus’ blood covers his disciples today and sets us apart as His people whose sins have been paid for. Household WELLs are sanctified for God’s protection and presence. Exodus 12:21-23 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35843075

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Ash Wednesday 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Ash Wednesday Focus: God calls all sinners to repent, and give our hearts to Him. Like the Prodigal’s father eagerly looking and waiting for his son’s return, He invites, calls, and gathers us back. He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love, eager to relent and not punish. We begin Lent with this call to repentance, being set apart as His special possession, looking forward to His deliverance. Joel 2:12-19 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35840870

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Dedication 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Dedication Focus: Without integrity, declarations become empty talk. Disciples of Jesus intentionally “walk the walk” in their homes (and outside), and dedicate their Household WELLs to the LORD. Knowing they fail, disciples are ready to ask for forgiveness and quick to forgive. They rely on Jesus for forgiveness and restoration, and upon His Spirit for the strength to persevere. Psalm 101:2 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35840825

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Declaration 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Sanctifying: Declaration Focus: You’ve heard that actions speak louder than words. But, actions flow from faith. Declaring your allegiance to God is an act of faith that stands firm in God’s Word and seeks to live from God’s truth from this day forward. Joshua 24:15 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35840785

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Align 03/24/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Align Focus: When our hearts align with God’s will, and life flows from His righteousness, everything else falls into its rightful place Matthew 6:33 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35840640

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Dwell 03/21/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Dwell Focus: Jesus doesn’t visit. He desires to dwell within us, shaping our hearts and homes. Then, and only then, do our homes become a life-giving dwelling. Ephesians 3:16-17 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35814715

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Supreme 03/21/2025

Welcomes in Jesus - Center: Supreme Focus: Christ reigns supreme over all creation. Our homes thrive when He holds the highest place. Colossians 1:15-20 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/35814695

Visible - Love 2: Law's Fulfillment 11/11/2024

Visible - Love 2: Law's Fulfillment Focus: Jesus said that the entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on two commandments. Love God with every fiber of your being, and love your neighbor as yourself. So, love fulfills the law. Christ accomplished the fulfilling of the law for us, and we reflect His love as we love. Main Text: Romans 13:8-10 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/33888512

Missional - Friend 1: Friends Build Up 11/11/2024

Missional - Friend 1: Friends Build Up Focus: Active faith reflects the goodness of God by building others up. True friendship is rooted in helping others grow spiritually and emotionally, treating them as valued companions who reflect Christ. Every brick in the building matters. Built on the Cornerstone (Jesus) we are called to be living stones, building each other up in love and grace, building something that magnifies our Savior, Jesus! Main Text: 1 Peter 2:1-12 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/33886172

Missional - Friend 2: Friends Honor All 11/11/2024

Missional - Friend 2: Friends Honor All Focus: Active faith honors everyone equally, rejecting favoritism and judgment. As friends in mission, we are called to see the inherent worth in all people, treating them with respect and dignity. True friendship reflects God’s heart by embracing and honoring others regardless of their status or outward appearance. Main Text: James 2:1-12 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/33885557

Dependent - Prayer 2: Together 11/11/2024

Dependent - Prayer 2: Together Focus: “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” It's such an ordinary thing to write. What followed was extraordinary! What might we learn from this rhythm of life as we face our challenges today? Main Text: Acts 12:1-19 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/33883882

Dependent - Focus 1: The Focus & The Relentless Enemy 05/30/2024

Dependent - Focus 1: The Focus & The Relentless Enemy Focus: Losing our focus poses grave risks. It can lead to squandered time and energy, overlooked opportunities, and ill-advised decisions. It can strain relationships, heighten the likelihood of injury, and even imperil life itself. As followers of Jesus, dispersing our focus from Him and His Kingdom invites perilous consequences that jeopardize our very existence. However, there is hope in the Good News! Let those with ears heed its call. Main Text: Matthew 13:1-9; 18-24 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540632

Dependent - Surrender 3: My Mind 05/30/2024

Dependent - Surrender 3: My Mind Focus: Our thoughts can drive the narrative of our lives. Often, subjective observation and opinion, or experience, are called truth. How much weight do you give your own understanding when it comes to challenging topics or difficult discussions where people believe different things? Where is your source of Truth? Does God’s Word shape how you understand your experience, primarily, or does your experience shape how you understand God’s Word? Main Text: Romans 1:21-23 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540612

Dependent - Surrender 2: My Heart 05/30/2024

Dependent - Surrender 2: My Heart Focus: There are many things that can take God’s place on the throne of our hearts. Whether it’s ourselves, money or possessions, accomplishments, or anything else, the end is always idol worship. Today we are reminded to “keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.” Main Text: 1 John 5:20-21 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540602

Dependent - Surrender 1: My Will 05/30/2024

Dependent - Surrender 1: My Will Focus: Where does our allegiance lie? Are we allied to God? Always? Or only when it doesn’t get in the way of what we want? Main Text: James 4:1-7 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540587

Dependent - Grace 4: Freedom 05/30/2024

Dependent - Grace 4: Freedom Focus: Guilt and shame are so burdensome. And, the more you try to shake them off, the stickier they seem to be. Shackled, weighed down, dark, overwhelming, guilt crushes the human spirit. God never intended for you to live with it. Yet, sin is real. The result is so thick. You’ve felt this, right? Well, GRACE is also real. And it sets us free. Main Text: John 8:1-11 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540572

Dependent - Grace 3: Transformation (Empathy) 05/30/2024

Dependent - Grace 3: Transformation (Empathy) Focus: Imagine being so caught up in the unconditional love of the perfect Savior of the world that you handle everything in your life to share that love. Everything changes. Every old way is made new. You treat people differently. Your thinking changes. The GRACE that Jesus shared with you cleanses and removes the guilt and the shame. The GRACE flows out of you freely. His grace has the power to transform your life, inspiring you to live with compassion, humility, and love, and to become more like Jesus in your thoughts, words, and actions. Transformed, you go on your way! Main Text: Luke 19:1-10 /episode/index/show/livelifetogether/id/31540537

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