Pathway Podcast

In this powerful message, we explore the concept of 'acceptable boasting' through the lens of Romans 5. The key spiritual lesson is that our boasting should be centered on God and His work in our lives, not on ourselves. We're challenged to shift our focus from self-promotion to God-promotion, even in the midst of suffering. The passage reminds us that suffering isn't pointless, but part of a divine process that leads to endurance, character, and ultimately, hope. This journey parallels Christ's own suffering, emphasizing that our difficulties can draw us closer to God and shape us to be more like Jesus. As we navigate life's challenges, we're encouraged to find opportunities to boast about God's goodness and faithfulness, reinforcing the amazing love that led Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. This message invites us to reflect on how we can honor God in all circumstances, transforming our perspective on suffering and deepening our faith.

In this powerful exploration of Romans 8:18-24, we're challenged to reconsider our perspective on life's struggles. The central message reminds us that our present sufferings pale in comparison to the glory that awaits us in Christ. We're encouraged to view waiting, pain, and hope not as burdens, but as spiritual weapons in our faith journey. The story of Joseph serves as a poignant reminder that God's timing, while often mysterious, is always perfect. His years of waiting in prison ultimately led to a position where he could save nations. This teaches us that our periods of waiting and suffering are not in vain, but are preparing us for God's greater purpose. As we grapple with the battle of comparison in our lives, we're called to shift our focus from earthly circumstances to eternal promises. This perspective can transform how we approach challenges, helping us to live with eyes fixed on eternity and hearts full of hope.

In this powerful message, we're reminded of the miraculous nature of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us as believers. Romans 8 reveals that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, empowering us to live extraordinary lives. We're challenged to not lose sight of this incredible truth amidst our daily routines. The story of Dave and Lynn Phillips beautifully illustrates how following the Spirit's leading can result in miraculous provision, even in seemingly impossible situations. As adopted children of God, we're encouraged to approach Him with the intimacy of 'Abba, Father,' while maintaining reverence. This message invites us to live with a renewed awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence, listening for His guidance and trusting in His power to work wonders in and through our lives.

In our exploration of the theme 'Shadow of Jesus', we delve into the profound spiritual insight that the stories in the Bible, from Adam to Christ, are interconnected and collectively narrate the complete story of salvation. The pivotal scripture from Romans 5:14 serves as our guiding light, where the Apostle Paul describes Adam as a 'type' of Christ—an echo or shadow of the one who was to come, Jesus. Adam's shortcomings and sin introduced mortality and spiritual separation from God, yet this very act illuminates the redemptive triumph brought forth by Jesus, whose life and sacrifice reversed the curse. We learn that Adam, in his imperfection, prefigures the perfection of Jesus, encouraging us to accept our human frailty while embracing the redemption and completeness offered through Christ. In understanding the 'shadow', we find a greater appreciation for the light. This message is not just theological; it challenges us to recognize the shadows in our lives that point to Jesus, urging us to reflect His grace and truth in our daily faith journey.

In this exploration of God's glory, we're invited to delve deep into the heart of Exodus, where Moses encounters the divine in a profound way. The central story revolves around the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom, culminating in Moses' request to see God's glory. This narrative challenges us to consider: what truly distinguishes us as God's people? It's not our abilities, our experiences, or even our obedience to laws. Rather, it's God's presence with us that sets us apart. The message reminds us that no rules, miracles, or human leadership can substitute for a genuine relationship with God. As we reflect on our own lives, we're encouraged to ask: Are we desperately seeking God's presence, recognizing that without Him, we're lost? This teaching beautifully illustrates God's character of steadfast love and faithfulness, revealed to Moses and echoed throughout Scripture. It's a timeless reminder that even in our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful, always devising ways to bring us back to Himself.

In this powerful exploration of faith and hope, we delve into the story of Abraham from Romans 4. We're reminded that true faith isn't about our works or actions, but about trusting in God's promises. Abraham's unwavering belief, even when circumstances seemed impossible, challenges us to examine our own faith. Are we fully convinced that God can do what He has promised? This message encourages us to place our hope not in physical circumstances, but in the unchanging promises of God. We're called to have 'hope against hope' - believing even when everything seems to say otherwise. As we face our own challenges, let's remember that our God can create something out of nothing, just as He did for Abraham.

In this exploration of Romans 3:23, we're reminded of a fundamental truth: we all fall short of God's glory. But far from leaving us in despair, this message reveals the beautiful solution God provides. The 'Romans Road' guides us through the journey from acknowledging our sin to embracing Christ's redemption. We're challenged to confront the reality of our sinfulness, not as a source of shame, but as the starting point of our salvation story. The Old Testament's prophecies, the concept of propitiation, and the universality of God's grace all converge to paint a picture of a loving God who had our rescue planned from the beginning. As we grapple with the weight of our shortcomings, we're invited to find freedom in the realization that our salvation is entirely God's work, not our own. This humbling yet liberating truth calls us to live by faith, trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross. How might our daily struggles with temptation and failure change if we truly embraced the reality that in Christ, our problem is already solved?

In this powerful exploration of God's unwavering character, we're reminded that our actions cannot change who God is. Drawing from Romans 3, we delve into the profound truth that God's faithfulness persists even in the face of our faithlessness. This message challenges us to find comfort in God's constant love, regardless of our shortcomings. The story of King David's repentance in Psalm 51 serves as a poignant example of God's enduring faithfulness despite human failure. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to embrace the transformative power of God's grace, understanding that it's not a 'get out of jail free' card, but an invitation to live changed lives. This message urges us to consider: How might our view of God shift if we truly believed in His unchanging nature? How can we live out our faith knowing that God's love for us never wavers?

Good morning everyone, a little bit of a different message this week. At Pathway we had a combined service with our Brazilian brothers and sisters from Lagoinha Church. So there was two shorter sermons from the pastors at each church. We also had live translation from English to Portuguese and vice versa. I know it may be a little more difficult to follow this week, but my prayer is that you are blessed by both messages. Both pastors spoke to what it means to have God with us.

In our journey of faith, we often struggle with the question of identity. This message challenges us to examine where we truly find our worth. Are we defined by our moral achievements, cultural background, or religious practices? The apostle Paul's letter to the Romans reminds us that our true identity lies not in outward appearances or actions, but in our relationship with God through Christ. Just as the early Jewish Christians had to learn that circumcision and law-keeping weren't the essence of their faith, we too must recognize that our spiritual identity trumps any physical or cultural identifiers. This profound truth invites us to look beyond surface-level religiosity and dive into the transformative power of the Gospel. As we reflect on this, let's ask ourselves: Are we allowing God's view of us to shape our self-perception, or are we clinging to worldly standards of worth?

In our exploration of Romans 2:11, we uncover a profound truth: 'God shows no partiality.' This powerful statement challenges us to examine our hearts and actions. Are we, like the Jewish Christians Paul addressed, guilty of improper judgment? Do we look down on others while secretly harboring the same sins? This message reminds us that true judgment comes from a place of love and self-examination, not superiority. We're called to judge correctly, as Jesus taught, always mindful of the log in our own eye. Moreover, we're warned against taking God's kindness for granted. His patience and forbearance should lead us to repentance, not complacency. As we reflect on this, let's ask ourselves: Are we using God's grace as a license to sin, or as motivation to live righteously? Our faith should transform us, producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Today, let's commit to cultivating a heart that breaks for others, speaking truth from a place of love, and living in a way that honors the impartial judgment and boundless grace of our God.

This is the second week of our study in the book of Romans. We serve an amazing God, who can be "clearly perceived" through creation. If He can be clearly perceived then why is He so often missed in our world today? This is the question we seek to answer in our message today. It is my prayer that you are blessed and encouraged by this message today.

Today we are going to begin studying a book that many theologians consider to be the greatest letter ever written. We are going to be doing a series on the book of Romans. As we seek to be a church that makes disciples, Romans reminds us to be "unashamed" of the Gospel and to have its message spur us into lives of faith.

On Easter Sunday the only thing worth teaching about is The Resurrection. Jesus' resurrection is essential to our Christian Faith and on Easter Sunday we celebrate the trustworthy miracle of the resurrection. We will see all the people, Jesus included, who gave testimony and declared the resurrection of Jesus and how it changed their lives from that point forward.

Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week, the week in which our Savior will be crucified for our sin. This week our passage is from John 1:29 where John the Baptist declares that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Our call for Palm Sunday is that we would Behold Jesus, and then direct others to do the same.

Our message this week was delivered by Tim Wiggins. Tim has been a pastor in the western suburbs of Chicago for the last decade and his sermon was Philippians 2:1-11. Tim challenged us to consider the true purpose of the church and who God wants us to be. The passage paints a vivid picture of Christ's humility and selflessness, urging us to imitate His example.

In this powerful exploration of Acts 9, we witness the transformative encounter between Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus. This pivotal moment teaches us that true spiritual change comes not from religious zeal or self-righteousness, but from a personal encounter with Christ. We see how God can radically alter our perspective, humbling even the most fervent opponents of the faith. The story reminds us that no one is beyond God's reach or redemption.

This week in the life of Elisha we see that he encounters 3 separate people who exercise poor judgment in their choice, even someone who is closer to Elisha than anyone else. What we are going to see from these people is that lack of trust in God leads to bad judgment. As we look at choices these people make, it is important to ask ourselves how we can learn from them so that we don't end up exercising the same bad judgment.

We have made the transition from the life and ministry of Elijah to the life and ministry of Elisha. We are in 2 Kings chapter 4 where we are introduced to the Shunammite woman. Elijah and his servant shared a special friendship with this woman and her family and through her story, we will see her incredible faith. Which in turn will encourage us as we seek to grow our own faith.

This is officially the halfway point of our Chariots of Fire series, and this is the time where we switch from the ministry of Elijah to the ministry of Elisha. This account comes from 1 Kings 2 and we officially see that God takes Elijah up into heaven and then empowers Elisha to continue his ministry. No matter what stage of life you are at, you can learn principles from this account that will help you as you follow Jesus.