Parker Ford Church's Podcast

Bryan Hoke, Brethren in Christ

The kindness and gentleness of Jesus leads us to repentance. Repentance is the first step of faith. The gentleness of Jesus ushers us into this life of faith. Unfortunately, time and again, we fail and misrepresent the faith in a way that is neither honoring nor reflective of who Jesus is. In his gentleness, Jesus invites us back into a reinvigorated faith, with Christ who is our standard of faith, enthroned in the center. As we abide in Jesus, he continues in every season to produce his fruit in us.

This week we are going to look at Bearing His Name with Kindness and Goodness. What are these fruits of the Spirit and how should I think about them, as well as live them out? Jesus gives us some great examples of what this looks like. 

Peace and Patience are two fruits of the Spirit that Christians are expected to bear out in their lives. We are to show a patient love toward others while the peace of Christ rules in our hearts.  We have the perfect example of both fruits in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, as He demonstrates patience toward mankind “that all might come to repentance.”

We begin our Advent series by looking at first two fruits of the Spirit – love and joy! We’ll see how Jesus’ incarnate life, including the Christmas story, embodies these fruits. He is love. He is joy. We, as Jesus’ followers, claim His name so let’s bear His fruit! 

We, the redeemed of God, are referenced as a holy nation. Using this lens, we’ll look back at the tribes of Israel that were one people, whether they wanted to be or not. The vastness of God’s Kingdom guides us into worship and humility that comes from being part of something bigger than ourselves. But there is work to be done. 

Our Vision at PFC is pretty simple, but it's not always easy to live out. Our vision as a church is to develop as followers of Jesus, equipped to live out the way of Jesus within our cultural context. Our vision could be summed up like this: "We do life with Jesus, so that we can live life like Jesus." We bear the name of Jesus. We are followers of Christ. We are Christian. Our call is to live as apprentices of Jesus and bear His name in the world. 

We are looking at UP this week from our mission statement...  A People Following Christ: UP, IN, & OUT.  What does it mean to be A People Following Christ UP? Is this something that I can do on a regular basis? Also, we will look at what Scripture says about what it means to  “tend” to His presence, and how we go about doing that.

God has designed the local church to be a community of families and individuals who pursue the Lord's presence together. This means that we are called to love and care for one another, share one another's burdens, and pursue one another relationally. This is possible because God has first pursued and loved us. In response to God's love, we love one another.

We are a people following Christ UP, IN, and OUT.  Today we’ll focus on the OUT component of this mission and unpack the assignment that Jesus has given to all His followers. Matthew 28:16-20 makes it clear, following Christ means making disciples. We’ll talk about what that means, clear up a couple of misconceptions, and then learn a couple of simple ways to make disciples as we go about our everyday lives. WE ARE disciple-makers!  

Everyone must at some point wrestle with the foundational question: Does life have purpose, or is it all just a meaningless experience? In Christ, we believe that we have been created for a beautiful purpose. This purpose gives our lives meaning. Jesus has created us to know God intimately, walk with Him closely, and reveal Him to the world. - Pastor DJay 

This is a wrap-up of our brief study of this amazing ancient church in Antioch. We’ll be challenged by the outpouring of their generosity in response to a local need. These were people who had an abundance mindset and believed to their core that it is truly more blessed to give than receive. How may God be wanting us to grow in this area of generosity as well?    

This week we are going to be looking again at the church of Antioch. Antioch was a church with open hands: a church that received, appointed, and sent. What does this  look like practically for our faith family at PFC? - Pastor Brandon

This week we look at the church of Antioch, focusing on how they dealt with conflict and tension within their body. We will take note of the implications this has for our church as well as discuss tangible ways we can embrace tension in our relationships and lives. - Pastor Brandon

Today we’re all first-time guests at Antioch Community Church. Welcome! :) You’re all invited as we gather with these folks over the next few weeks from the book of Acts and discover how this ancient church had such a huge impact. This church was key in helping spread the message of Jesus all throughout the Roman region and in many parts of the world. What was their secret sauce? What can PFC learn from this church in Antioch? Let’s learn together!  - Pastor Dave Hakes

As we engage the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead in Luke 24, allow yourself to be drawn deeper into the story using your imagination. You probably know the story well. You can probably recall many of the recorded details and events of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. But this isn't just a story to recall, it's a story meant to be embodied and lived. Let the wonder and majesty of these events come alive in a new way today as you step into the story and put yourself in the shoes of Mary, or of Peter, or of Cleopas. Taste and see that the Lord is good. 

As we wrap up our midweek teaching series on the Bible, we're ending with a simple thought: the Bible is most faithfully read when it is read within the context of community. The Bible was composed and written by many different authors who were in conversation with one another. The Bible has always been interpreted and read by Christians throughout Church History in the context of community. In our individualized culture, it's good to remember that this is a book meant to be read together. 

We have the Bible available to us - literally at our fingertips! Whether it’s with your phone, your iPad, your smart home speaker, or your computer, reading and studying Scripture has never been more accessible and convenient. Learn about some online Bible study tools that you can use anywhere and anytime! No more excuses! 

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures reveal a unified story. Not only does the Bible, with all of its complexities, tell one overarching and beautiful story; the interpretive key to that story is the life, teachings, example, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Scriptures exist to lead us deeper into knowledge and intimacy with Jesus. In this week's midweek teaching we explore this vital truth. Regarding Scripture: The Whole Thing is About JesusFrom Genesis to Revelation the Scriptures reveal a unified story. Not only does the Bible, with all of its complexities, tell one overarching and beautiful story; the interpretive key to that story is the life, teachings, example, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Scriptures exist to lead us deeper into knowledge and intimacy with Jesus. In this week's midweek teaching we explore this vital truth. 

Listen in as Dave Hakes helps us discover some approaches to interpreting Scripture that help us arrive at God’s intended meaning for our lives today.