Advertise on podcast: ReCreate Church’s Podcast

Ichabod's Story: God Will Not Be Used Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 Samuel 4:1-22 King and Deliverer Series, Part 4 Episode Summary In part 4 of the "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael opens with a haunting retelling of the birth of Ichabod, a baby whose name means "The Glory has departed." Israel marched into battle with the Ark of the Covenant, convinced it was a lucky charm that would force God to give them victory. The result was disaster. This strange and sobering story reminds us that God will not be used. Key Points - After a first defeat, Israel asked the right question ("Why did the Lord let this happen?") but never stopped to listen for the answer - Instead of seeking God, they tried to use Him, treating the Ark like a superweapon - The Ark never had power. The God of the Ark had power, and He refuses to be manipulated into serving our agenda - We can make the same mistake today by deciding what we want and then asking God to attach Himself to it - Superstition asks how to make God give us what we want. Faith asks what God wants. Main Takeaway God will not be used. We don't add Jesus to our agenda; we surrender our agenda to Jesus. If our relationship with God is built around "I did this, so God owes me that," it isn't worship, it's bargaining. Ask honestly whether you want God's will, or just God's help with your will. Memorable Quotes - "God will not be used." - "The Ark itself never had power. The God of the Ark had power." - "They didn't really want the Lord. They wanted the power." - "Superstition says, 'How can I make God give me what I want?' Faith says, 'God, what do you want?'" - "God had not departed from the people. They departed from Him." - "We don't add Jesus to our agenda. We surrender our agenda to Jesus." - "Lord, if what I want isn't what You want, then change what I want." Reflection Question Is there a plan, a decision, or a relationship you've already settled on and then asked God to bless? What would it look like to ask Him what He wants instead? Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's spooky-season retelling of the night Ichabod was born, plus a very questionable Indiana Jones reference, and what a John Deere mower with a flamethrower has to do with ancient Israelite warfare. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Young Samuel's Story: Know God for Yourself Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21 King and Deliverer Series, Part 3 Episode Summary In part 3 of the "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael tells the story of young Samuel, a boy who grew up at the Tabernacle, was trained in all the right religious routines, and still had never personally met God. Families can pass down traditions, recipes, and eye color, but a relationship with God can't be inherited. Through Samuel's midnight encounter, we discover what it means to stop, listen, and say, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening." Key Points - Samuel knew the house of God, but he didn't yet know the voice of God - religious activity is not the same as a relationship - Eli couldn't hear God for Samuel, but he could teach Samuel how to listen - mature believers can guide, but they can't believe for someone else - Knowing God begins with actively listening, which is hard in a world designed to prevent silence - The number one way God speaks is through His written Word, and He will never contradict it - Look to God's Word not just for confirmation, but for transformation Main Takeaway You need to know God for yourself. Parents, grandparents, and Church family can put a Bible in your hands, but they can't put faith in your heart. Some of us need to say, "Jesus, save me!" Others need to say, "Speak, Lord, I'm listening." Either way, it's time to say yes. Memorable Quotes - "God doesn't have grandchildren. Only children." - "Samuel knew the house of God, but he didn't yet know the voice of God." - "Knowledge about God is not the same as knowing God. And familiarity is not the same as faith." - "There is no such thing as secondhand faith." - "Don't just look to The Word of God for confirmation; look for TRANSFORMATION!" - "If the only way God can get your attention is to knock you flat on your back, then don't be too surprised when it happens." Reflection Question When is the last time you turned off every distraction and honestly said, "Speak, Lord, I'm listening"? And if you've never personally asked Jesus to be your Savior, what is stopping you today? Tune in to hear why Aunt Greta's dolls are definitely not haunted, the family game of shouting from the closet that never ends well, and Pastor Michael's honest story of what it took to get him to sit still and listen to God. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Eli's Story: Radical Accountability Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:11-36 King and Deliverer Series, Part 2 Episode Summary In part 2 of the "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael opens with a hilarious package delivery skit to illustrate humanity's oldest problem: accountability is always more important when it's somebody else on the hook. Through the story of Eli the High Priest and his corrupt sons, we discover that owning it isn't just taking the blame - it's taking responsibility and doing what it takes to make it right. We honor God by owning it. Key Points - Hophni and Phinehas were Israel's spiritual leaders, but they exploited people financially and sexually - and used their position to cover it up - Spiritual authority increases accountability, it doesn't decrease it - leaders are held to a stricter standard - Eli confronted his sons, but confronting is not the same as faithfully dealing with it - he kept benefitting from the corruption - Radical ownership means not just saying "I did it" but asking "what am I doing to make it right?" - Sinners saved by grace should be the first people in the world to own it - we don't have to protect the fiction of our perfection Main Takeaway Honor God by owning it. When we embrace the grace of God through Jesus, we no longer have to protect the fiction of our own perfection. We can be honest about what we need to own and make right - and we can gently hold the right people accountable in the right way, always with the goal of restoration rather than compliance. Memorable Quotes - "Honor God by owning it." - "Accountability becomes much more important when it's somebody else on the hook." - "Spiritual authority increases accountability. It doesn't decrease it." - "Eli chose relational comfort over obedience to God." - "When you are trusting Jesus to keep you from sinking, you are free to be honest about what you need to own." - "Whatever God shows you is yours - honor Him by owning it." Reflection Question What is yours to own right now? Where have you been taking the blame without taking ownership - and what would it look like to actually make it right? Tune in to hear the hilarious "Package Delivery" skit featuring one very creative delivery driver, alpaca snacks, and one damaged box - and discover what Eli's failure to act teaches us about the cost of choosing relational comfort over obedience to God. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Hannah's Story: When You Can't See God Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:6-28; 2:18-21 King and Deliverer Series, Part 1 Episode Summary In part 1 of the new "King and Deliverer" series, Pastor Michael introduces one of the greatest women of the Bible - Hannah. Through her years of heartache, mockery, and unanswered prayer, we discover a truth that changes everything: feeling forgotten by God and being forgotten by God are not the same thing. When you can't see God, you can trust that God sees you. Key Points - Hannah endured years of pain, jealousy, and unanswered prayer - yet God never rebuked her tears or her grief - Faith isn't smiling through pain; faith means taking your pain to God - Hannah's peace came not from receiving her answer, but from making a decision to trust - before the answer came - "The LORD remembered Hannah" means His constant care became visible at the right time - not that He had forgotten - Samuel became one of the most pivotal figures in Israel's history, ushering in the age of the Kings Main Takeaway When you can't see God, trust that God sees you. He is never absent, never forgetful, and never far. Just because you can't see what He's doing doesn't mean He has stopped. Faith isn't knowing how your story ends. Faith is knowing Who you can trust with your story. Memorable Quotes - "When you can't see God, trust that God sees you." - "Grief and faith aren't opposites. You don't have to walk in here and say, 'I'm fine.'" - "People can be a gift from God, but they can't be God for us." - "Feeling forgotten by God and being forgotten by God are not the same thing." - "God always remembers you because you are always on His Mind." - "Faith isn't knowing how your story ends. Faith is knowing Who you can trust with your story." Reflection Question Is there something you've been praying about so long that it feels like God has forgotten you? What would it look like to trust that He sees you - even before you can see the outcome? Tune in to hear the story of little Cora Beth waking up alone in a hospital room, why husbands have been putting their foot in their mouth since 1100 BC, and how Hannah's long-awaited son changed the entire history of Israel. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

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