All Saints Church Podcast

Jesus wants one thing, and it's everything. He is passionate about helping our hearts become wholly devoted to him, and he will even allow us to feel the heat from time to time to expose our deepest beliefs and desires. Thankfully, we are not called to face the fire alone. Do you have friends for the fire?

We all desire a truly fulfilling life, but how do we get one? Is it by managing our relationships in an effort to control outcomes? Earning enough money to ensure comfort and security? Seeking approval from others and basing our value on their opinions of us?
Psalm 16 teaches us that wherever we turn to for fulfillment outside of a relationship with the Living God becomes an idol that will ultimately leave us empty and end in sorrow. But when we turn to him as our source, trusting ultimately in the person and work of Jesus, we find that God satisfies us the way idols never can and gives us joy that never ends.
Note: This audio is a re-recording from our Worship in the Park event, due to technical difficulties.

Psalm 121 is a psalm of ascents, sung by the ancient Israelites as they made the long, often arduous pilgrimage to Jerusalem and up the Temple Mount, where God's presence dwelled. Whatever suffering or circumstances they endured, whatever doubts or uncertainty they faced, they knew God alone was their help and would keep them to the end.
As followers of Jesus, we too are on a pilgrimage as we entrust ourselves more fully to God's will and lay down our ambitions to follow him. Moranda Anderson, director of our children's ministry at All Saints Church, shares some of her own story and reminds us to lift our eyes, remember God's ways, and journey with confidence as we ascend his holy mountain together.

Scripture calls us to choose the righteous path, which leads to the blessed life, but how will we know the way? Tam Tran, one of our Discipleship Community leaders at All Saints Church, encourages us from Psalm 1 to "chew the word" continuously, the way a cow or sheep chews cud. As we do, The Holy Spirit will help our hearts delight in the Lord and produce His righteous fruit in our lives. One could even say, "Blessed are those who chew (God's word)."

Jesus requires a lot from his disciples as we follow him out into the world to complete his mission. Yet God promises to go with us and "give us rest" along the way, so that we may flourish as we find our life in Him. But what is God's rest? And how do we enter it? Join us as we finish our Sent Ones series by exploring the deep peace that comes from an awareness of God's presence and pleasure over His children, and discover practical ways to connect our souls to His rest.

Sent Ones must be open-hearted to how Jesus wants to use our money and open-handed to distribute it however the Spirit leads, trusting God’s provision in the process. But how do we do that in an era when so much financial scandal and prosperity preaching plagues the American church? And what does the Bible actually teach us about money? Listen now to hear a foundational message for the life of our community, along with our most recent financial update.

Jesus calls us to spiritual devotion and social justice. But how do we answer him in a way that is faithful to Scripture? Listen now for a biblically thick, theologically rich, and surprisingly practical message on how to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God."

Jesus couldn't wait for his friends to meet The Holy Spirit. Scripture encourages us to friends with, be filled with, and fully surrender to Him. The outpouring on Pentecost highlights the original "marking moment" where the Spirit filled the Church, yet we are also called to ongoing "daily encounters" with this third person of the Trinity. Listen now to learn how we can welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives and more fully surrender to the will of God. Our prayer simple: "Come, Holy Spirit!"

As sent ones, Jesus transforms us into "oaks of righteousness" who reflect God's beauty and glory amidst a world of brokenness and despair. Yet there is no renewal without righteousness and no righteousness without repentance. Wherever we are on our spiritual journey, each of us must heed the call to turn towards Jesus and away from the "old oaks" that offer false comfort and lead us astray.

Jesus promised to give us beauty for ashes and bring new life to that which is broken and destroyed in our world. As sent ones, each of us are called to do the same. Whether we create art that evokes wonder and inspires hope, build kingdom businesses that put human dignity and ethics first, love our children and spouses in ways that transform traumatic family narratives, or whatever else our hand finds to do, God invites us to make beautiful things as we join him in making all things beautiful.