Summit Podcasts: BACK40, Sermon Audio, and Leadership Night

In the third message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel focuses on the petition: your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. This part of the prayer is made up of two requests, the first being that God's kingdom should advance on earth. Mel explains what it means for Jesus to be King of Kings and why this indicates God's sovereignty over Satan, despite Satan being called the ruler ...

Mel and Michael discuss the possibility of dishonest actors parasitizing the conservative movement in pursuit of power. Mel gives advice for how pastors and Christians should react to sociopolitical perturbations. Next they talk about the steps for changing the culture of a church. If you're unhappy with your church, should you leave or should you stay and try to change things? What is it like for Pastor Mel to have conversatio...

In this episode Pastor Mel examines the case of the Wrexham Football Club. This is a soccer team who were perennial losers until Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the organization. The transformation of the Wrexham Football Club presents a case study in good leadership — specifically how to change the culture of an organization. Expect to learn about the power of believing in the vision as well as the need to communicate it. ...

Pastor Collin preaches through The Lord's Prayer and focuses on the first part of the opening line: Our Father in Heaven. Collin poses the question, "Who can claim that God is their Father?" Those who do not receive Christ are not sons of God. Sons and daughters of God have access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. Collin reminds us that while God is our Father, He is also our Heavenly Father and should be revered...

Pastor Collin preaches about idolatry. Idolatry is making anything but God the ultimate thing. Collin explains how addressing sin is less about treating symptoms and more about determining the root cause, and this cause is often idolatry. One pernicious form of idolatry is the seduction of success. Collin tells the story of Naaman being healed in the Jordan River, and explains how this story illustrates the simplicity of following ...

In the second week of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel focuses one the second part of the opening line which reads: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. A hallowed name means a holy name - a name which is set apart from profanity. Mel explains the importance of names and reminds us that honoring God as holy doesn't change God - but it changes us. We make God's name "hallowed" in our live...

Mel and Michael discuss the pros and cons of using uncommon words in preaching. Is what you gain in precision of speech worth the tradeoff of some people not understanding? What are the wrong motivations for using Hebrew or Greek words when preaching? Next they talk about the value of seeing God move in mundane ways. Can we miss God altogether if we only expect Him to show up in the miraculous? The conversation explores some other ...

In the first message of our series called The Lord's Prayer, Pastor Mel breaks down the opening line of this most famous of prayers: Our Father in Heaven. Preaching through Matthew 6, Mel makes the case that Christ gave us the Lord's Prayer not for mindless recital, but as a template for how we should pray. Understanding God as our Father brings the temptation to filter how we see God through the image of our earthly fathers. Mel p...

Pastor Kim preaches about our longing to take up residence with God. God desires intimacy with us, which is why we see Him dwelling in the midst of His people throughout scripture. God's desire to dwell among us is most prominently displayed through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Despite our need to be with God, it's possible to live our entire lives missing this connection - continually chasing things which never satisfy...

In the fifth week of our series called Counterfeit Gods, Pastor Mel recounts the most famous story of idolatry in scripture: Israel and the golden calf. Preaching through Exodus 32, Mel explains the revelry among the people as Aaron fashioned the golden calf. When Moses saw the people given over to idolatry he shattered the tablets inscribed with God's law on the ground. Moses made the people of Israel burn the statue, grind it...

In the fifth week of our series called Counterfeit Gods, Pastor Mel conducts an interview with our special guests Aaron and Jaimie Smith. Aaron Smith is a former professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Smiths talk about what life was like leading up to the NFL, how they met, and a little about Aaron's upbringing. They discuss the temptation of creating false gods out of success and control. Aaron and Jaimi...

Mel and Michael discuss the passing of Pope Francis and what this means for the broader church. What is Mel's perspective on the Catholic Church? Is it a valid expression of faith? Next they talk about the different kinds of interactions which come with Easter services here at Summit Church. As a Christian how should you engage with an eccentric person? How should pastors minister to church-goers who only attend on Easter and C...

In the fourth message of our series called Counterfeit Gods, Pastor Mel explains the dangers associated with idolizing dreams. This is in reference to ambitions, not dreams you have when you sleep. Preaching through Genesis 22, Mel highlights how the story of Abraham taking Isaac to be sacrificed foreshadows the gospel of Jesus sacrificing Himself on the cross. Abraham had always hoped and dreamed for a son and so Isaac represented...

Mel and Michael discuss the life-lessons and theological implications of the story of Jesus healing Jairus’s daughter. Jairus was a powerful synagogue official and yet he displayed biblical humility in his interactions with Christ. How should you manage power so that it doesn’t inappropriately alter your perspective of who you are in relation to Jesus? Is Christ’s ability to perform miracles dependent on the faith of His observers?...

Pastor Mel gives a teaching on the leadership qualities of Ulysses S. Grant. If you’re a fan of history, you’ll enjoy his survey of key moments in Grant’s life and if you’re trying to improve your leadership this is a great episode for you. After the teaching Mel and Michael have a conversation answering questions like: How do you know when to change yourself in order to better fit an organization? What steps does Mel take to reach...

In the third message of our series called Counterfeit Gods, Pastor Mel details the dangers of idolizing success itself. Part of the key to this message is understanding you don't need to actually be a successful person to be guilty of idolizing success. Anyone who views success or achievement as the ultimate thing holds success as a counterfeit god. Mel preaches through the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 to explain how the comman...

Mel and Michael begin by discussing whether or not preachers should repeat their sermon illustrations if the illustrations are effective at delivering a point. This part of the conversation gives some insight into Mel's sermon writing process. Does he preach off-the-cuff while depending on a lifetime of study or does he spend more time on weekly preparation? Next they talk about the differences between continuationism and cessa...

In the second message of our series called Counterfeit Gods, Pastor Mel preaches about the dangers of idolizing love. Idolatry is making anything other than God the "ultimate" thing. If we look to love or romantic relationships as the thing that will make us feel whole, then we know we have idolized love. No person or relationship was designed to bear the weight of standing in for God. We're comfortable with being lov...