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Every Empty Seat Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Acts 2:42-47 Bigger Than The Room Series, Part 4 Episode Summary On ReCreate Church's first Sunday at Carroll County Middle School, Pastor Michael opens with an empty chair and a question: who could be sitting in it? Through Acts 2:42-47, we discover that the first believers didn't just celebrate a big day - they devoted themselves to doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Every empty seat in a bigger room is an opportunity, but only if we make room for people in our hearts first. Key Points - The early Church continued steadfastly in four things: teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer - and God wants the same for us in our new season - As the believers shared life together, the community took notice and the Lord added to their number daily - A bigger room must never create a smaller sense of belonging - God gave us the space, we bring the welcome - Every empty seat is also a question to ask yourself: where in your own life could you make room for Jesus? - The people we most need to love and make room for are sometimes already under our own roof Main Takeaway Every empty seat is an opportunity. Not just to fill a chair, but to give someone a seat around God's table. Jesus made room for us by giving His life - how can we not pull out a chair for someone else? Think of the person whose face comes to mind, pray for them, love them, and invite them. Memorable Quotes - "Every empty seat is an opportunity from God." - "Chairs don't matter. People matter. The goal isn't a full room. The goal is that people meet Jesus." - "We don't just want a bigger Church. We want a DEEPER Church." - "God gave us the space; we bring the welcome." - "We have empty seats. God has made room for people in the space. We must make room for people in our hearts." - "Jesus made room for all of us by giving His life. How can we not pull out a chair for someone else?" Reflection Question If you could put anyone in the empty seat nearest you, who would it be? That chair has their name on it. Pray for them, love them, serve them - and when the time is right, invite them. Tune in to hear the very first message from ReCreate Church's new home at Carroll County Middle School, why an unsupervised three-year-old with a Pop-Tart turns any chair into a crime scene, and what to do with the empty seat that might be inside your own heart. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Memorial Stones Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Joshua 4:1-9 Bigger Than The Room Series, Part 3 Episode Summary In the final message from The Lord's Corner, Pastor Michael leads ReCreate Church through its last Sunday in the building it has called home for seven years. Through the story of Israel's crossing of the Jordan River and the memorial stones they carried to the other side, we discover that remembering God's faithfulness behind us is the key to trusting His faithfulness ahead of us. Key Points - Just as Israel stood at the Jordan River between wilderness and promise, ReCreate stands at its own Jordan moment - God told His people to stop and build a memorial before moving forward, so future generations would ask "what are these stones about?" - The memorial stones pointed to the story of everything God had done - they were not magical, but meaningful - ReCreate's seven years at The Lord's Corner are filled with memorial stones: souls saved, kids discipled, lives healed, a congregation becoming a family - This room didn't make ReCreate a Church. ReCreate made this room feel like a holy place. Main Takeaway Remembering God's faithfulness behind us helps us trust His faithfulness ahead of us. The same God who carried us through this season is going forward with us into the next. Wherever we go, we must ask: "Lord, what are You going to do here?" Memorable Quotes - "Remembering God's faithfulness behind us helps us trust His faithfulness ahead of us." - "Crossing the Jordan doesn't mean transitioning to an easy life. It means a new season and a new reason to trust." - "This room didn't make ReCreate a Church. ReCreate made this room feel like a holy place." - "Everywhere we go, we must ask, 'Lord, what are You going to do here?'" - "If You have been so good to us here, give us faith that Your Grace will be with us as we go forward." - "We can't lose that feeling of home and family." Reflection Question What memorial stones are you carrying from this season of your life? And what do those stones tell you about how much God can be trusted with what comes next? Tune in to hear the final service at The Lord's Corner - including Pastor Michael's reflections on seven years of sacred moments in a building that started as a restaurant, became a rental shop, and ended as a holy place. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Make Room Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Acts 2:14-41 Bigger Than The Room Series, Part 2 Episode Summary In part 2 of the "Bigger Than The Room" series, Pastor Michael picks up where Peter stood up in front of thousands in Jerusalem and explained what the miracle of Pentecost was really about. The answer wasn't wind, fire, or supernatural languages - it was Jesus. As ReCreate Church steps into a new season with more space, the message is clear: we make room so more people can meet Jesus. Key Points - Peter's sermon at Pentecost pointed directly to Jesus - His life, death, resurrection, and reign - as the fulfillment of centuries of prophecy - The Holy Spirit's empowerment at Pentecost wasn't for a special few - it was for sons and daughters, young and old, servants and free - ReCreate Church refuses to be a "Country Club Church" focused on insider comfort - the mission is to make room for people who haven't met Jesus yet - Biblical repentance means a changed mind and a changed direction, turning away from self and toward Jesus - The movement grew from 120 to 3000 in one day - not a statistic, but 3000 people with families, wounds, and needs who now have Christ Main Takeaway We make room so more people can meet Jesus. God is giving us a bigger space, but the real work is making room in our hearts. Somebody has to show up early, set up chairs, and greet nervous first-timers. Souls are worth it. Memorable Quotes - "We make room so more people can meet Jesus." - "Jesus Lived. Jesus Died. Jesus Rose. Jesus Reigns. And greatest of all - Jesus Saves!" - "God is making room for people in our meeting space; we must make room for people in our hearts." - "Our purpose is never to fill seats. It's to help people connect with Jesus." - "No matter your story, you are WELCOME, you are WANTED, and you are LOVED." - "Souls are worth it." Reflection Question Is there someone in your life who is far from Jesus - someone with a messy story or a broken past - that you could make room for in your heart this week? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael make a case that the best preparation for the end of the world is calling on Jesus, why country club membership has nothing to do with Church, and how 120 people changed history because they refused to stay in the room. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Made Better By The Bible Speaker: Duncan Crook, Elder at ReCreate Church Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:11-12; Psalm 1:2 Episode Summary Filling in for Pastor Shockley on he and Katie's 25th anniversary trip, Elder Duncan Crook delivers a practical and convicting message about the discipline of reading God's Word. Using the analogy of airplane mode, multivitamins, and a well-steeped cup of tea, Duncan answers two essential questions: Why should I intake God's Word on a regular basis? And how do I actually do it? Key Points - Scripture is God's personal, profitable, and perfecting instruction - it's how God reveals Himself to us - Reading the Bible regularly is less like a cortisone shot and more like a multivitamin - the benefits build slowly and invisibly until a crisis reveals how strong you've become - Intaking Scripture should be done patiently, substantively, thoughtfully, and in community - Biblical meditation means letting truth steep in your mind like tea - not emptying your mind, but filling it with God - You cannot grow in Jesus effectively alone - the New Testament was written to communities, not just individuals Main Takeaway Discipline builds habits, habits create lifestyles, and lifestyles change your life. The Bible is not God's personal love letter to you - it is God's full revelation of Himself to His people. The sooner we stop making it about us and start encountering who He is, the deeper our relationship with Jesus becomes. Memorable Quotes - "Either sin will keep you from the Bible, or the Bible will keep you from sin." (D.L. Moody) - "Discipline is kind of like the friend you always hate to see coming, but after they leave, you're glad they came." - "The status of God's word is not dependent on how you feel. Its power is the same no matter how you feel." - "Scripture's not about the destination. It's about the journey. It's about walking with God." - "Scripture before screens. Don't go to Facebook before you go to God's Word in the morning and then wonder why you're tied up in knots." - "You will encounter the living God through its pages." Reflection Question What would it look like to build a daily habit of Scripture intake - even imperfectly - starting this week? What is getting in the way, and is that thing worth more to you than knowing God better? Tune in to hear Duncan's honest confession about being a Type A control enthusiast, why airplane mode is a spiritual metaphor, and the difference between dipping a tea bag for two seconds versus letting it steep. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Bigger than the Room Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Acts 1:12-15; 2:1-13 Bigger Than The Room Series, Part 1 Episode Summary In part 1 of the new "Bigger Than The Room" series, Pastor Michael shares the story of ReCreate Church stepping into a new season - moving to a larger meeting space at the local middle school. Through the opening chapters of Acts, we discover that 120 people in a room in Jerusalem changed the world. Not because of the room, but because they refused to stay in it. God is doing something bigger than this room - and always has been. Key Points - The 120 disciples gathered in one room with one accord - united in purpose, prayer, and passion for Jesus - The Holy Spirit came to empower them for witness, not just for a personal experience in the room - When the Spirit moved, the room couldn't hold them - the message spilled out into the streets - God was doing something bigger than their expectations - not restoring an earthly kingdom, but building an eternal one - The size of the room matters less than the faith of the people in it Main Takeaway God is doing something bigger than this room. The Church was never meant to be a building - it is a community of life and love that cannot truly be contained. There are thousands of people in our community who need to hear that Jesus loves them and laid down His life for them. God is giving us a bigger room. Let's go reach the people who aren't in it yet. Memorable Quotes - "God is doing something bigger than this room." - "The gathering in the room was important - it's where they prayed, connected, and prepared for the mission. But the message inside the room didn't stay inside the room." - "I was trying to use my experience to understand the truth, when what I needed was to use the truth to understand my experience." - "Sometimes God can be doing something extraordinary right in front of us, and because it doesn't look like what we expect, we might not recognize it for what it is." - "Their expectations had boundaries; God's did not." - "The faith of the people in the room matters far more than the size of the room." Reflection Question Is there a "room" in your life - a painful season, a failed plan, or an unanswered prayer - where God might be doing something bigger than what you can currently see? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's vulnerable story of being let go from a job he prayed for, what a prayer journal revealed about the year that followed, and how an email in December changed everything. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Never Alone Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9 Episode Summary On this Family 5th Sunday, the Kidz Club opens with a Back to School skit following Mia and Sam through the ups and downs of their first day - and what happens when they remember Jesus in the middle of it. Through Joshua 1:9, Pastor Michael reminds us that what's true for a child facing a new school year is just as true for adults facing hospital rooms, broken marriages, and bills that outrun the budget. With Jesus, you never have to face it alone. Key Points - Remembering Jesus doesn't always change the situation, but it changes how we face it - God didn't tell Joshua not to be afraid because there was nothing to fear - He told him because there was plenty to fear and God was with him anyway - Jesus is Emmanuel - God With Us - He stepped into our suffering, not just watched from a distance - Faith doesn't mean you're never afraid; it means fear doesn't get the final word - The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer - God is with us in the classroom, the clinic, the courtroom, and the 2AM sleepless night Main Takeaway With Jesus, you never have to face it alone. The promise isn't no bad days. The promise is you never have to face a bad day alone. Fear says look at the giant; faith says look at God. Fear says look at the storm; faith says look at the Savior. Memorable Quotes - "With Jesus, you never have to face it alone." - "Faith doesn't mean you're never afraid. Faith means fear doesn't get the final word." - "Fear makes us stare at what is in front of us. Faith remembers Who Is Beside us." - "Jesus didn't just watch from a distance as humans experienced suffering. He stepped in and experienced it with us." - "The promise isn't no bad days. The promise is you never have to face a bad day alone." - "Fear says, 'Look at the giant.' Faith says, 'Look at God.'" Reflection Question What situation are you staring at right now that feels too big to face? What would it mean to shift your eyes from the problem to the One walking beside you? Tune in to hear the Kidz Club Back to School skit featuring Mia, Sam, a missing jacket, and three strikeouts in gym class - and a special moment celebrating two young ladies graduating from Kidz Club into the main service. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly SPECIAL NOTE Mark Troy has been the driving force behind our podcast for the last few years. This week, he went to be with The Lord after a hard battle with ALS. We are forever grateful for his dedication and example of Christian service.

Don't Give Away God's Chair Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Proverbs 29:25 Episode Summary Pastor Michael opens with a skit featuring the voice inside his head - that nagging inner critic that tells him he's too preachy, too boring, not enough. Through Proverbs 29:25, we discover that the fear of man is a trap we set for ourselves when we give human opinion an authority it was never meant to have. The answer isn't self-confidence or not caring about others - it's God-confidence rooted in trust. Key Points - The fear of man happens when another person's response becomes too important to us - their approval, rejection, anger, or praise carries too much weight - Fear of man turns us into performers, constantly adjusting to what people think or might think - The opposite of the fear of man is not self-confidence or not needing anybody - it's trusting God - The fear of God - recognizing He is Holy, Sovereign, and worthy of obedience - sets us free from the fear of man - In Christ we are already loved and secure, so we can love people without being ruled by them Main Takeaway Don't put Man in God's Chair. People matter, their opinions have weight, and we should love and honor them. But they don't get the seat that belongs to God alone. The fear of man brings a snare; whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Memorable Quotes - "Don't put Man in God's Chair." - "The fear of man is what happens when another person's response becomes too important to us." - "Nobody wakes up and says, 'Today I think I'll let everybody else control my life.'" - "If no human being is ever disappointed in you, there's a good chance somebody besides God is running your life." - "The fear of man makes us use people for security. The fear of God sets us free to love them." - "When that voice starts dragging the chair back, remind them that the seat is already taken." Reflection Question Whose opinion carries too much influence in your life right now - whose disappointment controls you, or whose approval are you constantly chasing? What would it look like to love them without giving them God's chair? Tune in to hear the hilarious "Man in the Chair" skit, find out what a free air fryer with every baptism has to do with the fear of man, and discover why even a Pastor needs to hear this message. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Connected Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Genesis 2:18; James 5:13-16; Acts 2:41-46 Episode Summary Pastor Michael opens with "An Angel Learns to Trust" - the story of a traumatized shelter dog who wouldn't face the world until another dog came alongside her. Through three passages of Scripture, we discover that isolation is pain's most powerful lie. God created us for connection - with Him and with each other - and healing begins the moment we stop facing the wall and let someone in. Key Points - From the very beginning, God declared that being alone is "not good" - humans are wired for connection - Sin damaged both our connection with God and with each other; Jesus came to restore both - James 5 describes a community where suffering people pray, sick people are surrounded, and struggling people are restored - not shamed - Sometimes you're Angel - the one who needs healing. Sometimes you're Buster - the one God uses to reach someone else - The early Church in Acts 2 shared their faith, their lives, and their burdens so deeply that when somebody hurt, somebody knew Main Takeaway Pain teaches us to isolate; healing begins when we connect. The walls we build to keep people from hurting us also keep people from helping us. You were made to know God, to love and be loved, and to belong to a community. You were never meant to carry all of this alone. Memorable Quotes - "Pain teaches us to isolate; healing begins when we connect." - "Funny thing about getting stabbed in the back - it can only be done by somebody you thought had your back." - "Funny thing about armor. Only room for one person in there. Keeps you safe, sort of. And alone." - "We build our walls to keep people from hurting us, not realizing they also keep people from helping us." - "You have permission to struggle, but not to struggle alone." - "The worst scars aren't the ones you can see." Reflection Question Is there an area of pain where you've been facing the wall - keeping people at a distance? What would it look like to let someone in this week? Tune in to hear the full story of Angel, Buster, Mara, and a peppermint mocha that changed everything - and discover why God declared loneliness "not good" before sin even entered the world. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

The Idols We Can't See Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:21 1 John Series, Part 26 Episode Summary In the final installment of the 1 John series, Pastor Michael opens with a skit about two people who can see each other's ridiculous hats but can't see their own - because idolatry always feels like somebody else's problem. Through the very last verse of 1 John, we discover that modern idols don't come in wood or stone. They come in the form of money, success, control, affirmation, distraction, and politics - all promising to give what only Jesus can. Key Points - An idol is a good thing treated like a God thing - anything we depend on to give us what only Jesus can provide - We rarely reject God openly; we reshape Him into something we can manage - just like Israel with the golden calf - Every idol targets a real need: security, worth, belonging, confidence, peace, hope, or rest - The question isn't how much time we spend on something, but what we're expecting it to give us - Idols creep in slowly - like a friend who needed a place to crash and changed the locks Main Takeaway Idols promise to give what only Jesus can. Your phone, your money, your plans, and even your family can be good things - but they are terrible gods. John spent five chapters showing us what is real, and closes with one last warning: don't fall for anything fake. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Memorable Quotes - "Idols promise to give what only Jesus can." - "An idol is a good thing that gets treated like a God thing." - "The human heart is an idol factory." (John Calvin) - "We are wired for worship. If we refuse to worship God, we will replace Him with something else." - "Idols don't kick the door down like a burglar. They creep in under the door like a stink bug." - "You can't satisfy your thirst with salt water, and you can't satisfy your soul with anything but Jesus." Reflection Question What do you instinctively run to when life feels out of control, or when you're bored, scared, lonely, or exhausted? What are you expecting that thing to give you that only Jesus can? Tune in to hear the hilarious "Bro, What's With the Hat?" skit, the mystery of who ate the last Dino Nuggie, and why the golden calf disaster was not as different from our lives as we'd like to think. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Certainty for an Uncertain World Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:20 1 John Series, Part 25 Episode Summary In part 25 of the 1 John series, Pastor Michael gets personal about his struggle with uncertainty - the weather app, the "we need to talk" texts, the waiting room that has become a permanent residence. Through the final verses of 1 John, we discover that the answer to uncertainty isn't more information. It's knowing Who has the wheel. We can't be sure about tomorrow, but we can be sure about Jesus. Key Points - The Son of God has come - our faith is not in humanity reaching up to God, but in God stepping down to us - Jesus gives us understanding to recognize what is from God, even when we don't know the full road ahead - We are not just supposed to know about God - we are in Christ, joined to Him in relationship and identity - Eternal life isn't just the prize at the end - it begins the moment you believe and is wrapped up in Jesus Himself - No amount of struggle, anxiety, or uncertainty can cancel the truth that we belong to Jesus Main Takeaway We can't be sure about tomorrow, but we can be sure about Jesus. God doesn't answer our uncertainty by telling us everything that's coming - He tells us Who Has Come. Faith isn't knowing every turn ahead; it's knowing Who has the wheel. Memorable Quotes - "We can't be sure about tomorrow, but we can be sure about Jesus." - "The answer to uncertainty is not information; it's in Who you know." - "God doesn't answer our uncertainty by telling us everything that's coming. He tells us Who Has Come." - "Faith isn't knowing every turn ahead; Faith is knowing Who has the wheel." - "When you take The Hand of Jesus, He won't let go." - "Jesus didn't just show up to help us manage our spiritual battery. He Is The Source of Life." - "We will never walk any step of this journey alone." Reflection Question What area of uncertainty are you trying to control right now - and what would it look like to release that demand to know everything before you move? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's hilarious confessions about weather apps, GPS exits he has definitely not missed, and why a possum with reflective fur is actually deeply theological. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Living in a World of Lies Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:18-19 1 John Series, Part 24 Episode Summary In part 24 of the 1 John series, Pastor Michael opens with a chicken coop fable about three baby chicks frightened by lies - and an old hen named Hazel who reminds them who they really belong to. Through 1 John's final verses, we discover three things we can know with certainty in a world flooded with deception: we are born to a new life, we belong to God, and the wicked one cannot own us. Key Points - Being born of God doesn't mean sinless perfection, but it means sin no longer owns us - we struggle with it rather than settle into it - "He who is born of God keeps himself" - we guard our lives and choices, not because we save ourselves, but because we are no longer casual about sin - Satan may attack our circumstances, but he cannot reverse the Cross, undo the Resurrection, or cancel our adoption - The "world" in this passage means human society organized against God - running the same lie as Eden: decide good and evil yourself - The devil's lies sound believable in the moment; the damage only becomes obvious later Main Takeaway No lie can change the truth that we belong to God. The devil knows which lies work on us - you're too broken, too guilty, too far gone, or you don't need God at all. But Jesus knew the full truth about us when He went to the Cross. You don't have to believe every voice when you know who you belong to. Memorable Quotes - "No lie can change the truth that we belong to God." - "You don't have to believe every voice when you know who you belong to." - "Struggle is a sign of life. A dead fish doesn't fight against the hook." - "The devil may touch the circumstances of your life, but he cannot touch the deepest truth about your life: you belong to God." - "You will not be untouched, but you will be unconquered." - "The forbidden fruit changes, but the lie remains the same." - "Changing the label on a jar doesn't change what's inside." Reflection Question What lie has the devil been whispering to you about your identity, your worth, or your standing before God - and what does it mean to replace that lie with the truth that you belong to Him? Tune in to hear the full fable of Buttons, Olive, Pickle, Big Red, and the wise old hen Hazel - and discover why the Colonel's bucket has nothing on the Farmer who cares for His own. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Seizing the Moment Speaker: Duncan Crook, Elder at ReCreate Church Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9 Episode Summary Elder Duncan Crook explores one of life's most challenging realities: transitions we didn't choose. Through Joshua's sudden call to lead Israel into the Promised Land after Moses' death, we discover three essential dispositions for navigating change - whether it's a major life shift, a career change, an empty nest, or a church stepping into an uncertain future. God's purpose in transition is clear: you cannot seize tomorrow while still clinging to yesterday. Key Points - Versatility means facing reality honestly and letting go of what God is not calling us into the next season - Trust is anchored in the unchanging faithfulness of God, not in leaders, traditions, or structures that may change - Courage is not the absence of fear - it means going forward even when you're afraid, because God says "I will never leave you" - The Word of God is the only eternal stabilizer when everything else shifts around us - Every transition, even good ones, begins with loss - but God never ends a season without opening something new and glorious Main Takeaway You cannot seize tomorrow while you're still clinging to yesterday. Whatever your "Moses" or your "manna" - the thing you fear losing - God's Word and His presence are the only constants that never change. Identify the season that has ended, remember it with gratitude, anchor yourself in His Word, and arise and go forward. Memorable Quotes - "You cannot seize tomorrow while you're still clinging to yesterday." - "He never ends a season for His people that doesn't continue with something brand new and something glorious." - "Courage is the men who are scared to death, but they go anyway." - "His word is the eternal stabilizer when we're going through uncertainty." - "The grass withers, the flower fades - the word of our God stands forever." - "What are you chasing that God doesn't have for you?" Reflection Question Who or what is your "Moses" - the person, tradition, or structure you fear losing? And what is your "manna" - the provision you're afraid won't be there tomorrow? Are you trusting those things more than you're trusting God? Tune in to hear Duncan's honest challenge to ReCreate Church about embracing change, the story of manna stopping the moment Israel entered the Promised Land, and why chasing the season that's behind you never ends well. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

When You Fall in The Gully Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:16-17 1 John Series, Part 23 Episode Summary In part 23 of the 1 John series, Pastor Michael tells the story of two brothers who fall into a deep gully - one who keeps struggling to get out, and one who decorates it and settles in. Through 1 John's teaching on praying for believers caught in sin, we discover that everyone falls sometimes, but what you do next makes all the difference. It's better to struggle with sin than to settle in sin. Key Points - John calls believers to pray for fellow believers who are caught in sin - the first response should be intercession, not indignation - Sin not leading to death is sin that is met with repentance and a return to God - Sin leading to death is unrepentant sin that a person settles into and refuses to leave - Struggle is a sign of life - a dead mouse doesn't try to get out of the trap - Don't stop throwing the rope, even if the person won't take it Main Takeaway The question isn't whether you've sinned - we all have. The question is what you're doing with your sin. Are you hiding it or confessing it? Feeding it or fighting it? Settling in or struggling to get back to Jesus? Don't decorate the gully. Take the rope, climb out, and then throw it back in for someone else. Memorable Quotes - "It's better to struggle with sin than to settle in sin." - "Everyone sins sometimes. It's what you do next that matters." - "When a brother is tripped up, the first action should be intercession, not indignation." - "If your plan includes scheduling the apology before committing the sin, you're not repenting, you're forging a permission slip." - "Repentance is the difference between death and life." - "Don't stop throwing the rope, even if the person won't take it." Reflection Question Are you struggling to get out of the gully, or have you started decorating it? And is there someone in your life who needs you to throw them a rope right now? Tune in to hear the full story of Eddie, Ray, Cecil, and the legendary "Bless This Mess" license plate sign - and why struggle is actually a sign of spiritual life. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

The Beggar, The Boss, and The Bold Speaker: Pastor Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15 1 John Series, Part 22 Episode Summary Returning to the 1 John series, Pastor Michael uses an original skit about three siblings trying to ask their Dad for a puppy to illustrate three very different approaches to prayer. Are you a Beggar - too timid to bother God? A Boss - trying to manipulate or demand your way? Or Bold - a child who trusts a loving Father to hear and answer wisely? John gives us a better way to pray. Key Points - Our confidence in prayer is not based on who we are, but on Who God Is - Believers are not beggars at the door - we are children of the household, with a claim rooted in The Blood of Christ - Praying "according to His will" means trusting God more than we trust ourselves - The problem is wanting the promises of prayer without the surrender of prayer - God hears, God cares, and God will act - we can pray with boldness AND trust Main Takeaway Pray like a bold child asking a loving Father. Not with the timidity of a beggar who fears being turned away, and not with the arrogance of a boss who demands his own way. Come honestly, come confidently, and trust that a Father Who loves you will do what is best - even when the answer is not what you expected. Memorable Quotes - "Your confidence for prayer is not based on who you are. It is based on Who God Is." - "A kid doesn't have to make an appointment to ask Dad a question." - "Prayer is not me taking the throne; it's me coming boldly to the throne." - "It's a problem when we want the promises of prayer without the surrender of prayer." - "The beggar is afraid God will not listen. The boss is angry if God does not obey. But the bold child has learned something better." - "If my Father hears me, I am not forgotten. If my Father loves me, I am not unsafe. If my Father is wise, His Answer is better than anything I can ask for." Reflection Question When you pray, which are you most like - Bex the Beggar, Boz the Boss, or Bo the Bold? What would it look like to bring your requests to God with confidence and trust this week? Tune in to hear the hilarious skit featuring three siblings hoping for a dog, and the legendary fate of Mister Nibbles the hamster - and discover what it really means to pray like a bold child asking a loving Father. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Unsinkable Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33 Episode Summary Fresh off Vacation Bible School week, Pastor Michael uses the scientific principle of buoyancy to explore what happens when life pulls us under. Through the story of Peter walking on water - and beginning to sink - we discover that Jesus doesn't wait for us to have it together before reaching out His hand. When we're sinking, all we need are three words: "Lord, save me!" Key Points - The Disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Jesus - the presence of a storm doesn't mean the absence of God - Peter is the only person besides Jesus to ever walk on water, but fear shifted his focus from Christ to chaos - Fear doesn't drown us all at once - it steals our focus one wave and one "what if" at a time - Jesus reached out immediately when Peter cried out - not after Peter proved himself worthy - Jesus never asked us to save ourselves. He asked us to trust Him. Main Takeaway Jesus saves sinking people. Not the ones who have it all figured out. Not the ones whose faith never wavers. People whose faith is struggling, who are exhausted, who don't know what to do next. When you're sinking, don't wait for the right words or the right moment - cry out: "Lord, save me!" Memorable Quotes - "Jesus saves sinking people." - "The presence of a storm doesn't mean the absence of God. Just because the wind is against you doesn't mean God Is against you." - "If Jesus calls you, He'll carry you. If He commands you, He'll keep you." - "Fear doesn't have to drown you all at once. It just has to steal your focus. One wave at a time. One 'what if' at a time." - "We spend so much of our lives trying harder, working harder, holding on tighter. But eventually it all runs out. And we learn the truth - Jesus never asked us to save ourselves." - "When my heart changed, my situation changed." Reflection Question Are you trying to save yourself before crying out to Jesus? What would it look like to stop waiting and simply say, "Lord, save me"? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's vulnerable account of a year of chest pains, muscle spasms, and a left eyelid impersonating a grasshopper - and how crying out to Jesus changed everything. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly