Destination Church Spokane Podcast

Who were we before Christ, and who are we in Christ? Jesus brings us from being 'foreigners' regarding the promises of God into a place of full inclusion, reconciled to God and reconciling to one another. The Good News is even better than being included into the activities of someone else's family; everyone who is in Christ is a part of God's new humanity, a new creation that had never existed before: Jew and Gentile, 'near' and 'f...

From spiritually dead to being made wonderfully, spiritually alive - this is what God does for us in Christ. Before Christ, every one of us was, as Paul puts it, a 'child of wrath' while also... greatly loved. The gracious plan of God brings us from spiritual death to spiritual life, transforming 'dead' people who could never respond to the gospel into favored sons and daughters who are seated with Christ Himself. God's grace that ...

Christ-centered living is not just a religious 'catch phrase.' Paul encourages the Ephesian church even while he himself is in prison, writing to them that he's been hearing about their faith and loving action. As he encourages them, he does so with Christ at the center. As he prays for them, Christ is central here too. And finally, he reminds them that their own identity as the body of Christ stems from Christ himself, the Risen O...

Can we really find hope in God's sovereignty? What about in seasons of extreme difficulty? Furthermore, is it right for us to think of ourselves as having a significant role in God's sovereign plan and purpose? When we understand sovereignty in a biblical way, we can live, not as passive pawns in a cosmic chess match, but as key partners in God's great purpose in the earth, sealed with the Spirit of God, reflecting our Savior-King,...

Imagine... What would it look like to be a part of a church family that's not only stable, but also prepared to multiply and to spread across the nations? What would this church family prioritize? How would they treat one another? How would they participate in the community around them? When we look at the priorities of the church in Acts 2 we are looking at a beautiful pattern, and even a mirror of what a healthy church can be sti...

Which is more holy: to quietly trust God's sovereignty, or to trust God and plan intentionally for the future? It's possible to err in the extremes of either direction, so let's learn from Jesus as He tells a story about about a man who entrusts ten of his servants with his own resources, instructing them, "Engage in business until I come back." Being wise with finances, and putting to work whatever resources God has entrusted to u...

How did Peter the fisherman become Peter the faithful friend and church father? The answer is found in the faithfulness of Jesus. If ever there was a friend who sticks closer than a brother, Jesus is that friend. Peter, who had denied Jesus in His most vulnerable moment, is pursued and encouraged, transformed by the grace of God extended to him, and recommissioned by Jesus on a memorable day on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Thi...

Does God want us to be afraid or to be full of faith? The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), but far from life-long anxiety, this God kind of fear also brings a strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26). The day Peter met Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he went through the full spectrum of emotions. The fear he felt at first made him want to get away from Jesus, but that quickly turned into an awe that l...

If you were God, how would you choose to conclude the Old Testament Scriptures? The last few sentences of Malachi in our Bibles reveal the relational heart of God for families. They also point to the significant influence the family of God can have as we build the culture of His kingdom one family at a time, one conversation at a time, and one God-honoring conversation at a time. This final part of our Big Question series was spoke...

From movies to media preachers, "The end is near!" is a common theme. But what does God have to say about 'The End?' Malachi describes a coming day of radical contrasts: consuming fire, yet for the righteous, a day of joy and freedom. This day brings destruction for the wicked, but it brings dancing for those who fear the Lord. The really important question each of us must answer is this: which group are we in? In Christ, we can kn...

Our words are powerful tools, and God takes note of how we use them. Words reveal hearts, and God loves to transform us from fault-finders into faith-finders. One of the most significant ways He transforms both our hearts (the fountain-source of our words) is by revealing Himself to us as our Faithful Father, who loves to act on our behalf, and who speaks of us as His own treasured possession. The more we understand the beautiful f...

When God answers the question, "How can we return to You?" we might be surprised when he starts talking about money and giving. When we learn to bring freely what rightfully belongs to Him, we are also learning to lead our hearts into healthy relationship with Him. The 'Tenth Test' is a good way to evaluate where our hearts really are, and to whom (or to what) they really belong. As we learn to trust God in the way we give of our t...

God is committed to transforming us as His holy people. When we encounter His presence, we shouldn't be surprised when we find ourselves feeling undone, powerless in comparison to Him. Like a refining fire, God melts our hearts, purifying us as he reveals sin we didn't even realize we were carrying. He makes us pleasing to Himself, even as the gospel also pierces our hearts, testifying to the sinfulness of sin and setting us free t...

Jesus' body was lying dead in a stone tomb. What had become of all His confident words? What had become of all the hopes and dreams of the women who watched the stone roll into place? But Jesus had also said His death was necessary, and promised He would be raised up on the third day. As we celebrate Easter Sunday, we remember that, "What the law could not do... God did" (Romans 8:3). The same Jesus who declared, "Your sins are for...

"Where is the God of justice?" The question is asked in culture after culture as people face the realities of evil in the world. Sometimes the question can be thrown back at God when we feel challenged by His word regarding our own sin. "Why would God care so much about my sin if He doesn't seem to care about the sin all around me?" God's answer to 'the justice question' may surprise us: "The Lord you seek will suddenly come to His...