Destination Church Spokane Podcast

To a people who have questions about their relationship with God, He has much to say! When we live in a world full of difficulty it can also be difficult to recognize God's love for us, and so He begins His message through Malachi to His people with these four words: "I have loved you." How, exactly? This is what He wants to talk to us about, and His answer reveals much about His covenant promise, His ongoing choice ...

The surpassing grace of God in us enables us to be an 'above and beyond' people, generously ministering to others in such a way that they overflow with thanksgiving, glorifying God. This kind of generosity, itself inspired by God's 'indescribable' gift of grace extended to us in Christ, also inspires deep affection, building bridges of community even in previously 'unbridgeable,' 'other-side-...

God has designed our world with multiplication in mind, and farmers sow seed expecting a multiplied harvest. We're wise to believe Jesus when he says, "Give and it will be given to you... pressed down, shaken together, and running over..." (Luke 6:37). When we learn the kingdom principles of sowing and reaping, that God is more than able to resource a generous people to continue being generous, and that God Himself i...

The frame through which we view the Scriptures will effect how we read them. As Paul encourages the Corinthian church toward faithful generosity in 2 Corinthians 9:1-7, there are three helpful frames that help us see generosity the way God does. As we begin to see that grace-giving is ministry, is meant to be intentional, and is part of our personal worship, our hearts are also adventuring along with the generous heart of God Himse...

Paul doesn't just send a letter; he sends a friend. What a wonderful expression of the relational heart of God, who has done the same thing for us through Christ. As we are learning to be open and transparent in the way we handle resources, we do so best in the context of relationship. When it's healthy, this kind of voluntary accountability truly does grow into a powerful proof of love, the gospel on display in a way we ...

Gospel equality is win-win! When Paul speaks of building a culture of equality between churches, he points us back to the Exodus story and God's miraculous provision of manna, the "what-is-it?" provision He gave them daily for 40 years. No one was meant to have either too much or too little manna, learning through this to trust God day after day. God's heart is still to resource His people in such a way that we ...

Love is not just some theoretical concept, but, says Paul, it can actually be tested and measured according to its generosity. Genuine love is generous, and as it grows in us, we'll find a growing desire to be diligent in that generosity. Paul's challenge to the Corinthian church is, "Excel in this act of grace," and we are right to hear this as a challenge to us as well. With Jesus' own gracious gift as ou...

First things first: God is for us before He ever asks anything from us. Generosity begins, not with how generous we are, but how graciously generous God is toward us in Christ. When we receive His grace, and we see ourselves and others through the vision He gives, we are well-equipped to overflow with daring generosity. As we learn from the example of the Macedonian church, we, like the Corinthians to whom Paul is writing, are chal...

It is doubtless that Mary and Joseph's 'Christmas' was a hectic one, and often, the Christmas season can be chaotic for many families today. In answer to the many prayers that have been offered up in all kinds of surprising situations in many generations, God has given His Son. Jesus can bring us rest, rescue, and reconciliation, and He can bring us reason for great joy. Jesus is the answer, this Christmas, and alway...

After 9 months (or more) of long silence, when Zechariah's voice was finally restored, the overflow of his heart was to glorify the Lord. The gospel can overflow our own hearts, not only in a specific season or a special day, but all year long, and every day of our lives. What is overflowing from our hearts this Christmas? It's a good question, a question that the good news of Jesus, our Messiah, can help us answer withou...

Friendships centered in God's promise and in an atmosphere of faith are so vital to helping us keep saying yes to God's plan for our lives. Especially when God's word seems challenging or even confusing, who can be an 'Elizabeth' for us, someone who is committed to honoring God and His word, and has seen Him move in their lives? We could almost always settle for someone who will be merely an "echo cham...

When Mary is approached by Gabriel, she is filled with concern, and one big question: "How?" But she was being pursued by grace and God had a plan for her personally - by name - that would shape the course of all of history. Despite her initial bewilderment, she offers herself freely as the Lord's servant; and we, too, have the opportunity to say yes to God's grace. One of the wisest prayers we can pray is to ag...

Faithfulness in prayer and service is no small thing, especially when fruitfulness has been long delayed. In seasons of delay or little fruit, we could even begin to question if we're really qualified to approach God on behalf of ourselves or others. Our identity in Christ, however, is not dependent on our feelings; it's dependent on God's word of grace and truth. In God's own gracious power, He knows just how t...

Jesus went through temptations, none greater than when he went to the cross in perfect submission to the Father. And from this place of praying, Jesus encouraged and challenged his disciples to watch and pray so that they do not fall into temptation. Because Jesus suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those whose are being tempted. If hard times have not come to you yet, they will someday. Build on the foundation of Chri...

If God is sovereign and what He has spoken is going to come to pass, then how should we pray? While it would be futile to pray that we would never experience suffering or difficulty as God's purpose unfolds, Jesus does give clear instruction: pray for mercy as well as for limits on the wickedness in our time. When our prayers are also coupled with clear biblical vision aligned with the word of Christ, we can pray confidently f...

Everywhere Jesus was going, miraculous things were happening. But He was planning something more when He taught His first disciples to, "Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field." What followed that instruction to pray? Preparation to go into those fields. Jesus sends the same ones who are praying, and Jesus doesn't send them ill-equipped for the mission. Today, when we pray to our Fathe...

Is it right for us to come with an expectant attitude when we're praying, especially when we're asking God for things? Is it rude for us to keep asking him for the same things? The answers to these questions have a lot to do with motive, of course, but Jesus' words are very clear: "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened," We are intended and instructed to...