Madison Church

Each of us has been equipped by God with certain gifts. Our gift is to be leveraged for the sake of the good; our gift is not a stand-alone gift, but is to be joined with the gifts of others to form something beautiful.Support the show

Dallas Willard wrote, “Grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning." And Paul tells us in Philippians to “work out our salvation,” but neither are telling us to achieve salvation. Rather, both are imploring us to “live it out.” This week is about being a work in progress (and giving yourself grace on the journey).Support the show

The cross encourages us to find our identity in and through Jesus. It also empowers us to leverage the person he created us to be for the good of this world.Support the show

It's God who gives us our identity. We do not earn it. It's a gift of God that no one can take away from us.Support the show

Imagine a world where men and women work together as equal partners, reflecting the beautiful image of God, and restoring creation to its intended glory. What if gender inequality could become a thing of the past? Join us on this empowering journey as we explore God's dream for humanity, highlighting the accomplishments of five incredible women who have made a significant impact on society.Our conversation delves into the creation of men and women, both made in God's image, and how their partnership is essential for fulfilling God's purpose on Earth. We also discuss the importance of valuing every individual, regardless of their marital status, and how single people can serve with even greater dedication. As we tackle the issue of gender inequality in today's world, we uncover the consequences of the fall and the powerful healing stories of Jesus, who treated women with dignity and love amidst societal restrictions.Through the lens of Christianity, we examine the significance of equal lead

Imagine being entrusted with the responsibility of caring for someone else's home or beloved pet - what level of trust does that require? Join us as we share our personal experiences as parents, discussing how our trust has evolved with our children and how we can work towards God's dream of a world filled with beauty, community, and oneness.We also dive into the crucial role we, as Christians and caretakers of God's creation, have in preserving and protecting our environment. With staggering statistics on the impact of human activity on both our planet and fellow human beings, we explore how God might view the world today and ways we can take control of our decisions and actions to better care for his creation. Tune in for an insightful, thought-provoking discussion on our unique Christian responsibility to our world.Support the show

Have you ever woken up from a dream that left you emotionally and physically reeling, questioning the boundaries between reality and fantasy? I know I have, and in this episode, we explore the power of dreams and their significance in our lives. We'll even consider the concept that God had a dream that evolved into a nightmare - not implying that our existence is awful, but rather that there's so much more intended for us.Diving into the unique concept of the Trinity, we'll discuss how it reveals that our God is a relational God who loves us. Using the creation story of Adam and Eve as a guide, we'll examine God's dream for us and how sin distorted that original vision. But fear not, there's still hope to restore God's dream through the power of the Holy Spirit and living selflessly and generously.Finally, we challenge you to live relationally open lives, reflecting the open relationships that Jesus had with others. By doing so, we can help restore God's world through s

God has a purpose for you right here, right now. Courageously step into it!Support the show

Let your commitment to follow Jesus give you courage to stand up for what is right knowing God will be with you in the challenge.Support the show

God sees the potential in you! If you courageously let him work through you, you’ll see God’s power do amazing things.Support the show

When we focus on what God has promised to us throughout the Bible, we find the courage to move forward.Support the show

All of us have heard (or said) familiar Christian axioms that try to communicate wisdom in a few memorable phrases. But are these statements really true? In this series, we’ll examine each of these sayings and ask, “Is it biblically-sound or just sound biblical?”Support the show

All of us have heard (or said) familiar Christian axioms that try to communicate wisdom in a few memorable phrases. But are these statements really true? In this series, we’ll examine each of these sayings and ask, “Is it biblically-sound or just sound biblical?”Support the show

All of us have heard (or said) familiar Christian axioms that try to communicate wisdom in a few memorable phrases. But are these statements really true? In this series, we’ll examine each of these sayings and ask, “Is it biblically-sound or just sound biblical?”Support the show

All of us have heard (or said) familiar Christian axioms that try to communicate wisdom in a few memorable phrases. But are these statements really true? In this series, we’ll examine each of these sayings and ask, “Is it biblically-sound or just sound biblical?”Support the show

Have you ever heard someone say "God told me..." and wondered if it was truly divine guidance? In this episode, we explore how to discern between what is genuinely God's voice and what is not. We share the importance of being open to the Holy Spirit, and how it can guide us in our lives - just as Jesus showed us. We'll also provide some humorous and serious examples of how people have misused the phrase "God told me," and discuss the steps we can take to ensure we're living open to the spirit.We dig into the power of the Holy Spirit, which is not just reserved for Jesus, but available to all of us. Through the incredible story of Alyssa and Jud, who have invited numerous people to their faith community, we demonstrate the power of the Spirit working through them. We also share our own experiences of being led by the Spirit to start a church in a spiritually dark place and how this journey has transformed lives.Finally, we offer practical advice on how to be open to the spiri

Ready for a life-changing transformation? Picture your favorite HGTV makeover shows, like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers, but applied to your own life through the power of the Holy Spirit. We'll explore how opening ourselves up to the Holy Spirit can help us grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We'll discuss the importance of being open to the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit and share practical tips for living a life of openness and surrender. As we walk through this journey together, we'll learn how to intentionally invite the Holy Spirit into our daily lives and begin to see the incredible change and growth that can come from surrendering to God's will. So grab your headphones and let's dive into this powerful conversation on transformation through the Holy Spirit!Support the show

Have you ever received a gift and left it unopened for years? Imagine doing so with a gift from God - the Holy Spirit. Join us as we unearth the story of a man who left a present from an ex-girlfriend untouched for 50 years and how it can help us understand our often complicated relationship with the Holy Spirit. This divine gift, which Jesus himself claimed to be greater than himself, is frequently left unopened out of fear, misunderstanding, or resistance to change.Designed by God to be spirit-receptive, we sometimes become spirit-resistant due to fear of being perceived as 'weird,' lack of knowledge about the Spirit, or reluctance to change. Through examining the Holy Spirit's role in creation, its presence in Jesus' life, and its ability to help us overcome shame, guilt, addiction, fear, and anger, we learn the importance of being open and intentional in receiving this incredible gift from our Heavenly Father. With references from the Bible, we take a closer look at the history of the

Are we lying to ourselves more often than we'd like to admit? In the final segment of our conversation on "Who Needs God," we confront the harsh reality of self-deception and its impact on our personal relationships and beliefs. We urge you to be brutally honest with yourself as we reflect on our tendencies to reach conclusions first and then search for supporting arguments and facts to validate them, rather than seeking the truth.As we unravel the layers of guilt often buried in our minds, we explore society's aversion to acknowledging guilt and its replacement with phrases like "I've made mistakes" or "I'm just human." Are these objections to faith simply more convenient than facing our guilt? Join us as we delve into the complex interplay between accountability, humility, and our relationship with God.In conclusion, we ponder the story of James, the brother of Jesus, and his profound message that if we come close to God, he will come close to us. Despite ou

Why do bad things happen to good people, and what does this mean for our understanding of God? We tackle this eternal question in a thought-provoking discussion, centered around powerful examples such as Francis Collins and his family's experience with injustice. Don't miss this exploration of pain, suffering, and how they can actually lead many to a stronger faith and a deeper understanding of their need for God.Together, we examine the concept of justice and its relationship to the idea of God, discussing how natural selection – a neutral process – cannot lead to justice and how this plays into our comprehension of God as love. Join us as we contemplate the role of injustice in our world, the necessity for judgment to achieve true justice, and the ultimate hope found in the good news of God's mercy. Gain a fresh perspective on the age-old question of why bad things happen to good people and fortify your faith in the process.Support the show