Parker Ford Church's Podcast

In this week's teaching we continue the discussion on the "peace of Christ", specifically looking at a few ways that the Apostle Paul invites us to pursue the peace of Jesus dwelling in our midst. We hope you'll join us for this week's midweek teaching. 

In this week's edition of our ongoing midweek teaching series on spiritual formation we continue the conversation about pursuing the peace of Christ. We'd love to have you join us today!  

Most of us want clarity. Where should I go to school? Should I quit my job? Where should I move? Should I marry this person? We all want clarity. Alas, clarity is so very rare. This doesn't seem to necessarily be a problem with our ability to discern the specifics of the will of God (though we could all grow in this area!). Maybe it's more indicative of what the Lord actually desires to give us - peace instead of (or at least before) clarity. In today's teaching we explore the compelling role of the "peace of Christ" in our hearts, minds, and lives. Join us for this important conversation today. 

In the 1997 Stephen Speilberg film "Amistad" John Quincy Adams says, "In a courtroom, whoever has the best story wins." It's a great line (whether or not John Quincy Adams actually said it in real life). And, there is deep, resonating truth found in it. In our lives, the best story will win. The story that most captures our imaginations, and stirs our souls, will give direction to our lives. If the "American Dream" is our favorite story, then we'll likely direct our efforts towards bigger and better possessions, etc. In today's midweek teaching we explore the importance of understanding that the gospel, at its core, is a story - the best possible story. 

What do we do with tough questions, emotions, or doubts? Should we stuff them down and ignore them? Should we "jump ship" and run from our previous faith? Or, should we listen to them, and process them with nuance and care? In this week's version of our "Reflections on Spiritual Formation" series we take a look at this tricky subject and try to address it in a thoughtful, Jesus-honoring manner. 

It's easy to fall into ruts. We get comfortable. It's so easy to slip into patterns of life where we unintentionally stop stretching, exercising, reading, and learning. In today's midweek teaching we talk about the importance of being a life-long learner who reads broadly. What we read (and the media we consume in general) will shape and form us. So, receive this invitation to read adventurously and broadly as you seek to learn and love God with all your mind.

Have you ever experienced someone lashing out at you in a hurtful way? Chances are that person had some unresolved pain or anger going on within their own heart that unfortunately was misdirected at you. We've all been on the receiving end of irrational anger, and, we've also all been on the giving end too. In today's teaching we explore the symbiotic relationship between love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. These three loves are meant to work together, and, when they do, there's usually a lot less internal pain that spills out on those around us. 

In today's teaching we discuss the importance of learning how to do two things at a time. We need to be where we are, present to the people and the tasks in front of us. And, as followers of Christ, we also need to commune with Him throughout our day. Each day is an invitation to simultaneously live our lives while living life with Jesus .

Last week we talked about the inevitable reality of personal failure in our spiritual formation journeys. In this week's teaching we're talking about the reality of our leaders failing us. What happens to our faith when a trusted authority is found to be abusive or dishonest? Join us as we look at Ezekiel 34 and John 10 in today's midweek teaching. 

In this week's midweek teaching we talk about the reality of failure in our spiritual journeys. What do we do when we fall flat on our faces? Join us as we look at the betrayals and failings of Peter and Judas and examine Jesus' restoration of Peter.

Do you sometimes struggle with saying "no"? Maybe you have a hard time saying no to that extra helping of ice cream? Or, maybe you have a hard time saying no to requests from people in your life and find yourself persistently overcommitted. In today's teaching we look at Jesus' example of saying "no" so that He could say "yes" to the right things.

So often we "go to God" to get our needs met. We're hurting, or tired, or angry, or sad, and so we come before God needing a spiritual fill-up. While it's absolutely imperative to learn to receive good things from the Lord, if that is the motivation for our relationship with Him, the Lord essentially becomes a divine vending machine. If, however, we can learn the joy of not only receiving from Him, but ministering to Him...we can receive the treasure of living and walking through life with God. In today's midweek teaching we explore this topic through a beautiful story found in Matthew 26. 

“In a world filled with anxious people and anxiety inducing situations, Jesus calls us to be a "non-anxious presence". Join us for today's midweek teaching as we look at this principle in the life and ministry of Jesus.”

In so many ways our culture teaches us that life is ultimately about "me". In a hyper-consumeristic, individualistic society we can't get away from this message. But is that actually true? Is life really about me? Or, is there a better, grander, and greater story that we are each invited to be a part of? Today's midweek teaching invites us to move ourselves out of the center of the story and to put the spotlight back where it belongs...on Jesus .

It's being estimated that the average American in 2021 sees somewhere between 6,000 to 10,000 ads per day. Each of us are being told, thousands of times each day, that we need something "more" in order to be happy or satisfied. What are the implications of this in our spiritual formation? In today's midweek teaching we discuss how contentment in Christ can push back against this lie and lead us to a posture of peace in Jesus. 

Join Pastor DJay Martin in this midweek teaching titled “(Get Off) The Drug of Control by Embracing Your Limits” as he continues the series on Reflections on Spiritual Formation.

Join us today as we continue walking through Frost's contrasting list of attitudes exhibited by an orphan spirit versus a spirit of sonship. Our identity as children of God is rooted in God's work in us through His Son Jesus. Thanks be to God that He has welcomed us as children into His family through Christ. 

Join us today as we continue walking through Frost's contrasting list of attitudes exhibited by an orphan spirit versus a spirit of sonship. Our identity as children of God is rooted in God's work in us through His Son Jesus. Thanks be to God that He has welcomed us as children into His family through Christ. 

Join us today as we continue walking through Frost's contrasting list of attitudes exhibited by an orphan spirit versus a spirit of sonship. Our identity as children of God is rooted in God's work in us through His Son Jesus. Thanks be to God that He has welcomed us as children into His family through Christ. 

Our identity as children of God is foundational to who we are in Christ. Today, as we continue our ongoing midweek series on Spiritual Formation we begin a four part teaching on our spiritual adoption through Christ. We'd love to have you join us today as we jump into this pivotal topic.