For more than 200 years after the resurrection of Jesus, the Church grew exponentially. This was before the Bible, as we know it today, was canonized. The explanation many have given for this growth was the empty tomb. We’re not Christian because we have a Bible any more that we are alive because we have a birth certificate.

We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us a podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

In This Episode: In his book “Free to Live,” John Eldredge wrote, “We cannot begin to truly face our lives in the light of God’s goodness until we know we are under His grace … that all is forgiven.” The implications of this are overwhelming. We are not born with a limited amount of God’s grace. Just when we think we’ve exhausted it, we’re amazed that God has more to give!

Click on the following link to listen to Emily’s sermon, “All about that Grace.” https://spumccolumbus.com/podcast/october-10-2021-all-about-that-grace-emily-trotter/

We would love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

How people see God now is usually with an introspective look into the ways God has moved in their lives in the past. Hearing and recognizing God is paying attention. God wants to be next to us and to be involved in our lives. What difference does this make in your life today?

We would love to hear from you. Feel free to email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

We’d love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

The more that you open yourself up to the Spirit of God, the more you look for it … and … the more you want it. Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and your minds firmly planted in God’s Word.

We love hearing from you. Feel free to reach out to us by emailing us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

Have a great summer! We’ll be back in September.

We welcome Jake Hess, III to our podcast today. Jake is our new worship leader at St Paul.

We are all called to live a present tense relationship with Jesus. Listen to Jake share his faith story and how at the intersections of life, God continues to work a beautiful tapestry for His Kingdom. Follow Jake on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jake_hess_the_third/)

Feel free to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

Joshua tells the people of Israel that they must choose this day whom they will serve (Joshua 24:14-15). As for Joshua and his house, they would choose to serve the Lord. What if this is the challenge that we give ourselves each day? What if each morning we deliberately and intentionally chose to serve the Lord? If we don’t choose, then something else will inevitably choose us.

God continues to pursue us because we are created in His image. This is an example of His grace. Unfortunately, our understanding of grace is a mile wide and an inch deep.

We would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

When Jesus is not on the stage and isn’t in front of a crowd, He is still ministering behind closed doors. What a model of how we are to live! Before Jesus speaks one word in the Upper Room, Jesus has to get His disciples’ attention.

Scripture: John 13:1-15

We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us and let us know you are listening through email at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

One of the characteristics of God that is absolutely mind-boggling is that He deliberately chooses to use His broken creation to be instruments of His grace and love where His Kingdom is declared and revealed. In this episode we take a look into the life of David when he wanted to build the Lord a Temple.

Feel free to reach out to us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

We’ve all had something we’ve asked God to take away from us. A difficult circumstance … a regret from the past … an unknown about tomorrow. Paul writes that it’s in these moments we are invited to embrace the sufficient grace of God and rely on the power of God. The message of the Gospel is that we are accepted and loved.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

In This Episode: We are taught as Easter people that our faith was never meant to be a game of solitaire. It was meant to change the way we live. Initiated by God’s love, our faith is built upon the foundation of the empty tomb. This is the Good News, and it was never meant to be private.

Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:3-12: 1 John 5:13; Hebrews 4:12; Matthew 7:24-27; John 13:35; Titus 3; James 1:27; James 2:14-17; Matthew 7:15-23; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Resources: The Great Divorce (C. S. Lewis); Trotter on Titus;

Feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you. You can email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

Guest: Laura Marvets

In This Episode: Something is emptying you … something is draining your tank. And whatever that may be, we try to redeem it on our own only to find ourselves grabbing at straws trying to fill ourselves back up. Christian maturation involves the purposeful and deliberate emptying of ourselves while giving God permission to fill us with His Holy Spirit.

Peter invites us to cast our cares onto God because He cares for us. But, when we cast our cares upon Him, do we leave them there? Can you believe that through all the trauma and struggle that God is still for you? Can you believe with confidence that He wants to create something new and fresh in you?

Scriptures: 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 2:7

In This Episode: When we have these amazing moments of faith like Elijah calling down fire from heaven or out running a chariot, it is almost always followed up by a crisis where you end up deflated, depleted, or defeated. Revisit the refreshing presence of God that’s new each morning.

G. K. Chesterton wrote, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found lacking. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

Scriptures: 1Kings 18-19; Revelation 3:15; Matthew 6:24; Joshua 24:15; Judges 2:10; Joshua 4:6; Luke 2:10; Psalm 91; Lamentations 3:22-23; Hebrews 13:8

In This Episode: As you consider the Kingdom of God from another vantage point, what do you see as God’s motivation for intentionally inviting us to be a part of His family? The Westminster Catechism says that we are created to bring glory to God … and … to enjoy Him forever.

In his benediction to the Corinthian church, Paul writes, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). When we talk about enjoying God forever, there is a connection to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Join us as we explore this creative work of the Holy Spirit to form and fill the emptiness of our lives. Our hope that comes from this is unfathomable. But that internal hope is directly connected to the level of our confidence that we believe God loves us. When God see us through the lens of His love, He sees past the chaos and sees potential.

We would love to hear from you. You can reach out to us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:1-2; Psalm 139:14

In This Episode: Mary presented herself to God as an empty vessel. Into this vessel, God poured into her His grace — a grace that we are still experiencing today. God’s grace is not passive. It’s so very active. He’s not a God of just good intentions; rather, He is a God who actively and intentionally pours His grace into us. Almost certainly, Mary had so many questions that were left unanswered about how this message would effect the rest of her life. But, she willingly responds with praise and adoration.

Scriptures: Luke 1:26-36, 46-56; Ephesians 1:6; Galatians 4:4-7

We would love to hear from you. You can reach us by emailing podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

What would it be like for you to re-evaluate your Christmas perspective? Herod was intimidated by the birth of the Messiah while the religious leaders were indifferent. But the Magi — a group of foreigners — embraced the birth of Jesus. They uprooted their lives, traveled a great distance, and worshiped the new born King of the Jews even though they didn’t fully understand the significance of His birth. Listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, they simply took the next step that they knew was right.

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Carrie Strickland is listed on the Truth Spring, Inc website as board chair. That just doesn’t seem to truly describe her or her roll at Truth Spring, Truth Spring Academy, or Highland Community Church. Carrie is a pillar of the North Highland community. She serves and loves her neighbors well. When you hear Carrie speak you will be amazed by her obedience to her calling and the authority and boldness she brings to God’s Word. An uplifting listen no doubt. 

For more information about this ministry, visit http://hopeforhighland.org or http://truthspring.org.

Feel free to reach out to us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

Judy Martin Hess is one-third of the Southern Gospel trio The Martins. The sibling group has been singing together their whole lives, literally. They have won numerous Dove awards and have been nominated for three Grammys. Judy lives in Columbus, GA and is Emily Trotter’s Aunt. One of the kindest, most down to earth humans on the planet, Judy truly has a servant’s heart. You can’t help but feel like you are her best friend after spending five minutes with her. 

For more information about The Martins, visit their website or stream their music on Apple, Spotify, and other stream services.

http://martinsonline.com

In The Episode: God brings us to places of impossibility to show us that it is possible through Him. The Holy Spirit leads us to places where we believe that dry bones are still resurrected today. We believe that the most significant thing that can happen is that we are no longer dismember but remembered. “I don’t want to be where God was, I want to be where God is.” Martin Luther regarding John 3:16: The Gospel in Miniature.

Scripture: Ezekiel 37, Lamentations 5:20

We would love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

In The Episode: What if for the next 10 minutes you allowed yourself to acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit?

We would love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com.

We’re so honored you’re with us. We would love to hear from you. Feel free to email us at podcast@spumccolumbus.com your questions and comments.

Scripture: Acts 3, Matthew 5:6, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Referenced In This Episode:

A. W. Tozer’s sermon to students at Wheaton College on October 2, 1952 (“Tozer Speaks to Students”)
Settle in your mind before embracing the filling of the Holy Spirit: (1) Know you can be filled, (2) Know God wants you to be filled, and (3) Desire it. When you settle these things, then present yourself to God as an empty vessel ready to be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

Carlos is a refreshing human being.  He not only allows you into his family and life through social media (@loswhit @whittfarm), but he brings you along his very personal journey of faith.  The way he writes is like he is sitting across from you and you are hanging on to every word.  The vulnerability he speaks with allows you to feel his story.  Carlos is unapologetic about his walk with the Lord.  The way he describes talking with God, being “conversationally intimate” with the Holy Spirit, makes you think of course I can do that.  The accessibility he tells us we have…it is such an important encouragement.  Carlos says that there isn’t a formula to a wild faith in God, but he sure makes it seem easy to Enter Wild!

READ HIS BOOKS:  Moment Maker, Kill the Spider, and Enter Wild.  Give a listen to Episode 10 of SPUMCCOLUMBUS podcast on the Holy Spirit and hear the man for yourself.

Text: Acts 2

Text: Acts 2:1-4

Guest: Laura Marvets.

Text: Acts 2:1-4

In this episode, Emily and John talk about what to do while we wait on God.

In This Episode

Scripture References: Philippians 2:5-11 | Psalm 27:13 | 2 Corinthians 1:20 | Genesis 12:1-3 | Psalm 46:10 | 1 John 3:1 | Acts 1:6-8 | Isaiah 40:28-31 | Psalm 143:10 | Ephesians 3:20-21

Truth Spring Academy (https://www.truthspring.org)

Waiting for the Lord is not just killing time.

Doubt has a negative effect on our confidence.

When God asks us to wait, we take it as an invitation that wants us to do something on our own. While we’re waiting and idle, it doesn’t mean that God is idle.

If you are waiting on God, you are watching for God.

In the midst of waiting, God becomes our sustenance.

Waiting makes us so vulnerable. It requires us to be dependent upon someone else.

Our faith and confidence in God is dependent upon our willingness to trust and wait on God.

Waiting reminds us that we are not the center, and there’s not a thing we can do about it.

Waiting reveals to others something about us. Waiting reveals to us something about God.

Unfortunately, we are convinced that our identity directly comes from what we do. In our relationship with God, there’s something about embracing and remembering who we are as children of God.

Rest assured in the time of waiting that the Lord your God is the everlasting God.

Waiting is not killing time. Waiting is looking around and looking for the God who spoke and creation leapt into existence.

Waiting is not sitting around and not doing anything. Waiting is the active anticipation of what’s next.

Carlos Whitaker: “The way to catch up to the voice of God is not speeding up but slowing down.”

God graciously makes His vitality available to our fallen world with only one condition: Wait on God.

To wait on God is to admit that we have no other help in ourselves or any other person or thing. Waiting on the Lord is a constant declaration of our confidence in Him.

Waiting on God is our confidence expectation in God.

In This Episode:

Scriptures References: Ephesians 3:14-21 | Matthew 28:18-20 | John 20:21 | Acts 1:8 | Isaiah 6:8 | Acts 4:13 | 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 | Colossians 1:17 | Mark 10:21-22 | Acts 1:3 | Acts 1:6 | Acts 1:7-8 | Matthew 5:13-14 | Ephesians 4:1 | John 21:15-19 | Romans 5:1

The proclamation of forgiveness that has already been declared in heaven.

They were not special or dynamic men and women of faith. They were just people who were willing to listen to God.

We claim that what we want is to know what will happen exactly. When we do know, we then try to figure out what to do based upon our own strength. The tension is that when this happens, we tend to have more confidence in ourselves than in God.

The Holy Spirit knows what the future holds. He knows what we get today will be needed for then.

The Holy Spirit is at work within us to empower us to be people who will listen.

The Holy Spirit is all around us and encompassing us.

“Not everything in the Bible is about me. But everything in the Bible is for me.”

First and foremost, the Holy Spirit empowers you to be a witness for Christ — to speak boldly about Him.

Watch This Episode Below

(https://youtu.be/zIAPGw_FCRQ)

In This Episode:

Scriptures References: Ephesians 1:3 | 2 Corinthians 1:20 | John 14:26 | Mark 1:15 | Psalm 139:13 | Matthew 9:21 | Psalm 51:10-11 | Acts 13:22 | 2 Samuel 12:7 | Hebrews 4:12-13 | Ephesians 6:17 | Luke 11:4 | John 16:8 | Luke 9:23 | Lamentations 3:22-23 | Romans 12:1 | Acts 21:13

Recent Sermon, “Devoted Things” on August 23, 2020 (http://youtube.spumccolumbus.com)

“Man who moved out of the heart of God by sin now moves back into the heart of God through redemption. God, who moved out of the heart of man because of sin, now enters again His ancient dwelling to drive out His enemies and once more make the place of His feet glorious.” (A. W. Tozer, “God’s Pursuit of Man”)

We have the amazing love of God the Father. We have the amazing reception of Jesus. We have the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit.

We should involve God in every part of our life because God wants to be involved in every part of our life.

How do I use and become comfortable with the Holy Spirit and make Him a more intimate part of my life? Spend the time to get to know God and His love for you.

Life gives us opportunities to rely more on God and less on ourselves.

In that split second moment, we must decide where we will place our trust.

“The basis of Christian growth is to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed over and over and over again.”

Everything that we live in should come back to that Image of Christ.

Embrace the Monday through Saturday mentality of giving each day to God.

What if you embraced the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life each and every moment?

Watch This Episode Below

In This Episode:

Scriptures References: Hebrews 1:1-2 | Hebrews 4:8-9 | John 14:26 | Ephesians 3:14-19 | Ephesians 1:3 | Proverbs 3:5-6 | Romans 8:16 | Matthew 12:34 | John 14:17 | Ephesians 3:20-21 | Acts 3:6 | Acts 4:8-13 | Romans 8:11 | John 17:20-21 | Acts 1:8

RightNow Media and Louie Giglio’s Study on the Book of Colossians (video.spumccolumbus.com)

Andrew Murray’s “Experiencing the Holy Spirit”

Watch This Episode Below