Podcasts created from River City Church in Smyrna, GA, a Transformation Network community.
Josh shared from Romans 8 where we see three groanings: creation, humanity and the Spirit. Paul talks about the firstfruits of the Spirit. That deposit from the Spirit reminds us of what is to come. Hope fits where we are in the present -- it encourages and sustains while we wait. Where are you groaning? That may be where God is trying to build you up. Romans 8:1-28.
Mariah shared a timely message as we start a new year with our personal plans and goals for the weeks and months ahead. We often make plans and ask God to bless them. What if we invited God into those plans and goals? What if we acknowledged that His ways are greater than our ways? Do we trust God with our plans? We want to, but will we? We can trust God. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:23; John 1:1-14; Isaiah 55:8-9.
Josh shares from Psalm 84 this morning -- a psalm Charles Spurgeon referred to as "The Pearl of Psalms ... one of the most sweet of the Psalms of peace." As much as the psalm centers around the Temple, it can also center each of us in the presence of God as we walk our spiritual journeys. Psalm 84.
Josh shares the story of Mary visiting Elizabeth when the two women are pregnant. We hear Mary's Song of praise. We read about the first Christian worship service and the first Christian mentoring between these two women. They encourage each other. They recognize the significance of what is happening to them and yet do not give in to the temptation to complain about the challenges they may be having as a result and do not rush what the Lord is doing through them. Luke 1:39-56.
Josh shares about the heart of John the Baptist's ministry and his unique call that was not the same call as the one for Jesus. John came to prepare the way for Jesus. We are reminded of his call to repentance -- to make us holy as Jesus is holy. As we are formed, we see the fruit of that call to humility: to share with those in need; to be truthful and practice justice; to be content with what we have; and to point others to Jesus. Luke 3:1-18.
Josh shares about John the Baptist preparing the way and what he gained going to the wilderness that he was able to bring back to the city so impacted by Rome. He did not take the city to the wilderness; he went to the wilderness to hear from God to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. What would your Rome be that you need to leave behind to hear from God in your wilderness? Luke 3:1-6.
We also heard testimonies from people about their experiences in their ETS groups and how they've valued finding their time away from the hurry of life.
Tina helps us usher in the Advent season this year reminding us that we are anchored in the hope of Christ. Jesus is hope. Waiting is hard. Hope anchors us while we wait. So many things and people disappoint us. Our own expectations disappoint us. But hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:5; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 139:12; Psalm 130:5-8.
As we wrap up our discussion of the current prayers of the season, we hear from a number of staff members about each of this season's prayers. We also hear from the RCC family about how they've been pressing into these prayers, how they've seen God moving, and what they are grateful for. Isaiah 56:7; Matthew 21:12-13; Revelation 5; Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Revelation 7:9.
The sixth prayer of the season focuses on racial reconciliation. Looking at Acts 2, the story of Pentecost reveals God's heart for people who are broken and in need. The upper room was full of over one hundred people praying in humility. God comes in power, but God comes to each person in their respective tongue. He meets them where they are with the Holy Spirit and the power of the gospel in the language they understand. And the people are reconciled to God and each other. God is the ultimate reconciler. As we step into the kingdom work of justice and mercy, may we first be listeners to understand the stories of our neighbors. May be build relationships to break down barriers. May we see them as image-bearers of Christ.
Josh continued our discussion of our prayers of the season, further developing the conversation about "looking outward." In Psalm 146, we read the psalmist's pep talk he's giving himself as he chooses to praise God despite his circumstances. The psalmist prays about how God steps into situations faithfully and continually because of who God is. We see the reminder that what we worship forms us.
Josh shared a couple of quotes from Debie Thomas this morning:
1) "We are confident that God will heal us in body, mind, and spirit. We are assured that God will be there to lift us up when we fall, steady us when we stumble, and care for those among us who cannot care for themselves (the stranger, the orphan, and the lonely). We are not told specifically how God will meet these needs for us, and there is no guarantee that the answers to our prayers will be what we expect -- another of the 'surprises' of divine providence. God does not hesitate to use us ourselves to answer our own prayers, for not all the wonders of God will 'break in blessing on [our] head' (from the hymn by William Cowper, 'God Moves in a Mysterious Way'), God does not promise in every instance to change things for us; sometimes, we are changed for things. And a large part of our faithfulness is the wisdom to perceive the difference!"
2) "The righteous one works tirelessly for justice, giving food to those who are hungry, setting free those who are bound, healing the blind, watching over strangers, and upholding those who are most vulnerable in the world -- the orphan and the widow! The wicked are those who do not cooperate in 'mending the world.' They always prioritize their own self-interest. The psalmist asserts that God brings ruin to these. The reader of the Old Testament often turns to the books of the prophets to find compelling words calling communities to justice and righteousness. An unrecognized but consistent strain in the Psalms, however, is the same insistence and call to be a justice-seeking people."
