Transformed Podcast #274: Jesus Came to Present Us With Hope! [Repost]

hope_full

It’s Christmas – a time of hope!

In today’s episode from Christmas 2007, Pastor Matt draws our attention to the “coming” or “arrival” of Jesus. The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Coming, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Coming.

Thus, Christmas is a time for celebrating our hope in Christ, the revelation that through Christ all of creation might be reconciled to God. Christmas reflects this emphasis on the Second Coming, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.

Since hope comes from looking for Jesus’ soon return, Christmas is a great time to focus on His second coming.

Let me encourage you to open your Bible to James 5 and allow Pastor Matt to encourage your heart as he teaches the congregation in Palos Verdes, California to look forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ.

Music for this episode courtesy of the Saddleback Church: http://saddlebackfamily.com – “He Is Emmanuel” from “The Journey” Performed by Emily Gomez

 

WOULD YOU HELP US SPREAD THE WORD?

Could you take just a moment and contact a friend and share the link to this message and encourage them to listen as well? Thank you!

CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! 

With Christmas only a couple of months away we know you would like to get your shopping done early AND give a meaningful gift this year to the ones you love.

Dr. Smith has written two daily devotionals that cover every day of the coming year … allowing you to give the gift that keeps on giving God’s Word and His encouragement in the lives of your family and friends.

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

In His Image explores God’s great love for humanity from every book of the Bible. From the creation of Genesis to the culmination in Revelation, God’s love shines through every page. Never is this ever clearer than in the times of Israel’s great betrayal of their God. His passionate pursuit of His children can be heard dripping from his voice as He calls them (and us by proxy) back to His shelter and protection.

You can order your copy In His Image or In His Presence from Amazon at the Eagles In Leadership website by clicking the appropriate link on the right hand side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

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Studying James 5:7!

James web slider

 

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy-Thanksgiving-Art-6

 

From all of us at Eagles In Leadership to all of you at your home,

May the love of Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit surround you as you celebrate the goodness of the Almighty and Amazing God we serve!

It is our joy to serve you for His sake.

Matthew, Melodee, Tabitha Smith and Mike Powers

The Eagles In Leadership team

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Not Feeling Spiritually Full?

gas-gauge full

Recently one of my friends mentioned that he was not feeling spiritually full. As I thought about that, and my own journey of faith, I began to ask him some questions. Perhaps they will help you as well …

* What is your habit of Bible reading – apart from study for messages?

Without a daily time alone to listen to God for myself, I would drift too often and feel empty. Recently I was driving across the United States some three days. Because of the distance, I was unable to get alone for my normal time alone in the Word. By the time the fourth day came, I was STARVING for His Word! He sustains me through His Word as He speaks to me and guides me through those words!

* Do you choose to listen to His voice for personal guidance and conversation?

Before I read each day, I ask Him to speak with me and to guide, reveal and show His heart to me. Then, as I read, I listen. When He wants me to hear something, He often “highlights” it as I read. I think of something in my life that it relates to. Those are the words I pay close attention to.

* Do you keep a record of what He shares / highlights with you from His Word each day?

I love to make a notation and record those thoughts in my Bible. Since I think topically, I choose to make notations in topics. These daily observations – driven by the Spirit of God – reflect the things I am hearing God say to me as I read the Bible as a conversation.

* Do you review that record often, say at the end of the week to look for patterns in what He is saying?

At the end of the week, I like to see what God has said. So, I look back across the observations from the week and look for patterns, again, listening for His voice as I do. Often I find that God is seeking to tell me something, which, through a series of days, He fleshes out. Often these comments from the Lord pertain to current situations I am praying and walking through.

Apart from such incredible presence on a daily basis, I would often be spiritually empty, disconnected from hope and concerned about the future.

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below!

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Listen online this morning to our radio program: Hope For Today!

hope changes everything 2

You can listen to our radio program, “Hope for Today!” on the radio show, PRAISE IN THE PRAIRIE, hosted by Michael Powers,​ our own executive vice president of media here at Eagles In Leadership, each and every Sunday!

Praise in the Prairie

Listen online though Sun Prairie Media around 9:30 and 11:30 am (Central) each and every Sunday!

SUN Radio - 103.5 logo

Or click this link: http://www.sunprairiemediacenter.com/thesuncommunityradio

 

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Transformed Podcast #273: Jesus Is Enough!

jesus-is-enough-event-banner

 

Is Jesus enough for you? With all that is happening around us and the increasing hostility of the world against the followers of Jesus, I would ask you again, Is Jesus enough for you?

We are here to introduce you to a new message on the Transformed Podcast. It continues our recent theme of informing the disciples of Jesus on what to do now as our society turns colder concerning Christ!

In today’s message, Dr. Smith opens Colossians 2 and shows us three reasons why Jesus should be enough for any Christ follower. And for those of us struggling with a weakening faith, Pastor Matt shows us three ways to strengthen it!

Now, let’s join him as he speaks to the congregation of TouchPoint Church in Bell Gardens, CA on the subject of spiritual warfare and victory in Jesus!

 

And with that Dr. Smith wraps up this timely and challenging message from the Word of God. It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will choose to flesh out the words of the Bible in your daily life as a result of listening today.

Would you help us spread the word?

Could you take just a moment and contact a friend and share the link to this message and encourage them to listen as well? Thank you!

Christmas is right around the corner!

With Christmas only a couple of months away we know you would like to get your shopping done early AND give a meaningful gift this year to the ones you love.

Dr. Smith has written two daily devotionals that cover every day of the coming year … allowing you to give the gift that keeps on giving God’s Word and His encouragement in the lives of your family and friends.

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

In His Image explores God’s great love for humanity from every book of the Bible. From the creation of Genesis to the culmination in Revelation, God’s love shines through every page. Never is this ever clearer than in the times of Israel’s great betrayal of their God. His passionate pursuit of His children can be heard dripping from his voice as He calls them (and us by proxy) back to His shelter and protection.

You can order your copy In His Image or In His Presence from Amazon at the Eagles In Leadership website by clicking the appropriate link on the right hand side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

 

Today’s episode was recorded live in Culver City, California at the TouchPoint Church in Bell Gardens, CA and edited by Melodee Smith in La Puente, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying you would be filled with the hope of God so that you stand firm in the midst of our crumbling culture

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Studying James 5:6!

James web slider

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

 

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2015 Starbucks Cup Controversy

Screen Shot 2015-11-06 at 9.44.41 AM

A pastor friend of mine asked what the ‪#‎Starbucks‬ cup controversy is all about. Here’s my response:

Some judgmental church people forgot to check to see if #Starbucks cups had “Merry Christmas” on them in the recent past – Starbucks hasn’t done that in the recent past.

Then they chose to judge a non-christian corporation for not putting the words “Merry Christmas” on their cups, revealing the true attitude of these church people – a very NON-JESUS attitude, who said,

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17, NKJV)

Spreading their vicious bile and carnal hatred, they chose to rebel against Jesus’ direct command and criticize, harass and judge the very people Jesus loves and died to bring to Himself.

That’s about the size of it Pastor.

BTW – Starbucks is selling Christmas … lots and lots of Christmas.

BTW 2 – They also sell ADVENT calendars! (Advent of the birth of Jesus!) 

Advent Calendar 2015 Starbucks

BTW 3 – Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks) was born to a JEWISH family on July 19, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York.

Dr. Smith’s note: For those who know me, you will know I love coffee, have a Gold Card at Starbucks and love Jesus Christ a whole lot more than coffee or Starbucks. 

 

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Transformed Podcast #272: Mighty Men and Women!

Mighty-Quiet-but

For the Church to survive and thrive, it will need a healthy and godly team of men and women leading it!

We want to welcome you to the fifth and final installment in the “Being An Excellent Team Player” Series here on the Transformed Podcast.

Every pastor knows the need to dependable, loyal, skilled, trained men and women. Without these often unsung heroes, most local churches would close their doors tomorrow!

In our final message today, Dr. Smith turns our attention to the great Old Testament leader and King and speaks about 37 men David depended upon for the strength and vitality of his kingdom! Remember, everything rises and falls on the character of God’s people!

As he calls the congregation of Congregational Christian Church in Los Angeles, CA to become the missional team of Jesus, Dr. Smith explores the three components necessary for a successful, healthy and growing ministry!

Now, let’s listen in as he opens 1 Samuel 23 …

 

 

And with that Dr. Smith wraps up this timely and challenging message from the Word of God. It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will choose to flesh out the words of the Bible in your daily life as a result of listening today.

Would you help us spread the word?

Could you take just a moment and contact a friend and share the link to this message and encourage them to listen as well? Thank you!

Christmas is right around the corner!

With Christmas only a couple of months away we know you would like to get your shopping done early AND give a meaningful gift this year to the ones you love.

Dr. Smith has written two daily devotionals that cover every day of the coming year … allowing you to give the gift that keeps on giving God’s Word and His encouragement in the lives of your family and friends.

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

In His Image explores God’s great love for humanity from every book of the Bible. From the creation of Genesis to the culmination in Revelation, God’s love shines through every page. Never is this ever clearer than in the times of Israel’s great betrayal of their God. His passionate pursuit of His children can be heard dripping from his voice as He calls them (and us by proxy) back to His shelter and protection.

You can order your copy In His Image or In His Presence from Amazon at the Eagles In Leadership website by clicking the appropriate link on the right hand side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

 

Today’s episode was recorded live in Culver City, California at the First Southern Baptist Church and edited by Melodee Smith in La Puente, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying you would be filled with the hope of God so that you stand firm in the midst of our crumbling culture!

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Studying James 5:5!

James web slider

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

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