Does the Church need a little “Come to Jesus” chat right about now?
If you’re someone who goes to Church meetings on the regular, let me ask you something . . .
Are you following a *life philosophy* or the real and living Jesus Christ? Did I offend? I certainly hope not, but I also know that this question tends to be a “button” these days for those who “identify as Christian,” but are more into “buffet-style Christianity,” taking the tenets of the Bible to be more of a target to be aimed at, instead of submitting to the Lordship of Jesus and His commands, and walking fully in the love He exampled for us to follow in.
It’s sad, but it’s true. The Church that Jesus is building has become “watered down” at the hands of some who feel safer keeping God in a box and making it all about a personal and manageable perspective of God and His Kingdom, while throwing in a whole host of pragmatic programs that prioritize meeting practical needs, sometimes over our spiritual ones.
It’s time to let Jesus out of the box!
Jesus is ALIVE. And the Church He is building is meant to be alive, as well. Are we being encouraged, empowered and equipped in our Church communities to get out there and preach the Gospel and make disciples who follow the real Jesus? And are we engaging our own faith in the process? This is what we’re getting into on this week’s episode of the Positioned to Prosper podcast. So, if you’re ready to get into it, grab your Bible, your journal and a pen, and . . . Let’s Go!
Join the Bible Study I Mentioned On This Episode: Jesus is perfect theology and we’re on a journey to zero in on what it really means to follow after and live like Him. Would you like to join us for a Bible study where we’re digging deeper and focusing in on the life of Jesus? Join us in The ROCC on Tuesday nights at 7:30pm ET where we’re digging into the book of John in this season. Pastors Doug & Erica will be leading throughout the study.
Join Erica inside The Jesus Girl Gang, the Online Discipleship and Mentoring Community: Are you ready to get intentional about going deeper with Jesus as you learn to follow Him from a place of rest? Want to practice your boldness and build confidence around making your God-given sound in the earth for Jesus and His Kingdom? Then it’s your time to join us inside The Jesus Girl Gang!
Come be a part of a like-minded, like-spirited collective of women who are ready to run alongside you as you are encouraged, equipped and empowered through monthly masterclasses and activation sessions let by Erica, small group discussions and a workbook that ties it all together. For more information about The Jesus Girl Gang and to join us, go to jesusgirlgang.com/membership.
Scripture References Mentioned in This Episode:
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mark 6:38-42
And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied.
Ephesians 4:4-16
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Matthew 5:1-2
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them…
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Erica co-leads a local church alongside her husband, Doug, in Tampa, Florida called REVIVE Church of Tampa. You can visit the church’s website for more information about who we are, what we believe and how we show up as the Church in the heart of West Tampa and beyond.
REVIVE Church of Tampa streams services live on Friday nights at 7pm ET and Sunday mornings at 11am ET. You can find those livestreams on our church Facebook page:
Live Services – Fridays at 7pm ET and Sundays at 11am ET
If you’re interested in joining the online campus of REVIVE Church of Tampa, you are welcome to join our community group on Facebook where we offer weekly discussion around the Friday and Sunday messages as well as discipleship Zoom groups and the opportunity to host others in your home as you stream services. You can find us here:
The ROCC: REVIVE Online Campus Community
About this podcast:
Positioned to Prosper is a weekly podcast that covers the ins and outs of what it means to live a lifestyle of breakthrough and victory in your relationships, health, finances and beyond. Your host, Erica Pyle, is no stranger to jumping without the proverbial parachute while maintaining a firm grip on godly wisdom. A self-described slayer of pragmatism and a “walk by faith” kind of girl, Erica is an unabashed believer in the power of God to radically transform lives. Front-footed in faith as she offers straight-up truth, strategies, and wisdom for living victoriously, and equipped with her love for the word of God, her certification as a holistic health coach, and years of experience in personal finance and taxation, Erica is ready to help you get positioned to prosper.
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