Mountainside Community Church Podcast

Luke 15:11-32
Mark Naylor
God Wants to Party- the Parable of the Prodigal Son
God overwhelms us with the generosity of his embrace as he makes all things right - we are forgiven, we are loved, we are restored. God invites us to his party.

Romans 6:15-23
Pastoral Interin Jesse Larson
No matter who you are or what you believe, we as humans all serve someone or something.  In our desire to find freedom, we often think that we will find it when we live however we want.  This is not the case, as the book of Romans shows us what true freedom looks like, only given through Jesus Christ.
True freedom is found in the free gift of Jesus Christ that releases us from the bondage of sin, so that in turn we may live for righteousness.

Romans 6:1-14  
Pastor Andy deHoog
Alive and Free
The gospel reverses our fundamental reality –– identity and position –– so that we can live truly alive and free.

Exodus 40:1-38
Pastoral Interin Jesse Larsen
In the consumeristic culture that we live in today, we often look to the things God can give us instead of seeking His very presence.  As Moses completes the work of the tabernacle, we see how the presence of God as their guide was the reward for their obedience, which they viewed as the greatest gift of all.
The result of obedience to God's command is a life marked by God's glory and presence going with us.

Exodus 39:32-43
Pastor Andy deHoog
Rather than resting in Christ's finished work, we continually drift toward trusting our own unfinished work for acceptance, approval, and assurance.
Our salvation rests not on our finished work for God, but on Christ's finished work for us.
Moses saw and blessed –– something like getting a gold star on your chart. But because of sin, it’s impossible to earn a gold star every time nor could we ever earn enough gold stars to make us perfect as God in heaven is perfect.
But there is One who, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” –– 2 Corinthians 5:21. 
Turn to Jesus today!

Exodus 36:8-39:31
Pastor Andy deHoog
In a lengthy passage like this, it can be easy to get lost in the details and ask, what does this have to do with me?
The purpose of the tabernacle fulfilled in Christ, the beauty of the
tabernacle displayed in Christ, and the work of the tabernacle accomplished in Christ.

Exodus 35:1-36:7
Pastor Andy deHoog
Much like the people of Israel, we can be described as “stiff-necked” (Exodus 34:9); stubborn, rebellious, etc. It’s easy to criticize from afar and think, ‘Those people were the
worst!’ but the truth is that we are all ‘those people’.
Exodus 35 is a picture of a people transformed by God’s great mercy. Head, heart, and hands are all involved as all the people come together, united in purpose, to contribute to and construct the place of worship.
Because of God’s great mercy (not getting what I do deserve) and grace (getting what I do not deserve), I can be transformed by the power of the gospel, and that transformation must permeate every part of me, head, heart, and hands.
More than second chances, I need transformation!

Exodus 36
Interin Jesse Larson
In our walk with God, we often forget to reflect on who God has revealed Himself to be.  When we do this, we fail to see Him at work all around us. If we begin to pay attention, we will find far more rest in what God has done and continues to do.
In Exodus 34, the renewal of the covenant informs the believer of the character and glory of God at work in their life.

Acts 2
Pastor Andy deHoog
Pentecost is like the birthday of the church. Celebrated fifty days after Passover, it corresponded with the Feast of Harvest (Shavuot), associated with the giving of the law at Sinai. At Sinai, God formed Israel into a nation; at Pentecost, through the sending of the Holy Spirit, Christ formed and empowered his church for its mission in the world.

Exodus 33:1-23
Pastor Andy deHoog
Spiritual Growth
Exodus 33 reminds us that spiritual growth begins when sinners, humbled by grace, seek the presence of God, learn His ways, and behold His glory ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ.