Page de couverture de CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

Auteur(s): CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS
Écouter gratuitement

À propos de cet audio

At Christ Community Church (C3 Memphis) we are seeking to form followers in the way of Jesus so the fame and deeds of God are repeated in our time. We meet on Sunday mornings at 10:15AM. For more information you can go to c3memphis.orgCopyright 2017 . All rights reserved. Spiritualité
Épisodes
  • Adoption | Romans 8:1-17 | Andrew Banker
    Jul 6 2025

    Pastor Andrew Banker delivered a deeply personal and theologically rich message rooted in Romans 8:1–17, emphasizing our identity in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of God. Sharing from his family’s journey through foster care and adoption, Andrew illustrated the transforming power of God's love and how it redefines us.

    He began by recounting how his family, including five biological and foster children, embraced the call to foster care. Their decision to adopt a Guatemalan baby boy, Elias, was framed not just as an act of love, but as a spiritual metaphor for how God adopts us. Andrew described the day in court when Elias’s legal documents were changed—his name, identity, and parental records now fully under Andrew and his wife, Savannah. This experience mirrored what happens spiritually when we accept Christ: we receive a new name, a new identity, and full inheritance as God's children.

    Andrew taught that this adoption means we are no longer slaves to sin or fear, but children and heirs of God. He noted that in Roman culture, adoption was a powerful legal act—more binding and honorable than even biological inheritance. Paul’s use of adoption language in Romans would have had immense significance to his audience.

    The second point focused on transformation. Once adopted, our desires begin to shift. Citing Romans 8:5, Andrew explained that those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. This change is not manufactured by effort but occurs naturally as we spend time with our heavenly Father. He used the analogy of coffee—how deeper understanding leads to new appreciation—to show how knowledge and relationship with God lead to changed desires.

    Andrew then illustrated how trauma and brokenness are not disqualifiers from God's love. Quoting testimonies and referencing stories of abuse and sin, he stressed that God says “I’ll take that one”—the wounded, the addicted, the insecure. No past sin or present struggle can separate us from God’s love. In Christ, our old record is erased, and a new life begins.

    Finally, Andrew emphasized that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. This power equips us for a new life filled with hope, identity, and joy. He likened this to giving a child a bicycle—while there may be falls and pain, the ride is worth it, and the Father is always there to guide, protect, and lift us.

    Discussion Questions
    1. Adoption Identity

      • What does it mean to be spiritually adopted by God?

      • How might your life look different if you truly lived out of that identity?

    2. Changed Desires

      • What old desires do you struggle with that reflect the “flesh” instead of the Spirit?

      • How can time with God reshape those desires?

    3. New Life in Christ

      • Where in your life have you experienced the “new life” Jesus offers?

      • What are some areas where you still need to trust in that transformation?

    4. Living Like Sons and Daughters

      • Do you relate to God more like a child or like a worker trying to earn approval?

      • What can you do this week to rest more fully in being God’s beloved child?

    5. Engagement with Others

      • How might understanding your spiritual adoption empower you to engage with others who feel unworthy or unloved?

    Voir plus Voir moins
    32 min
  • He is Good | Become Like a Child | Mark 10:13-16 | Coleton Segars
    Jun 30 2025
    In this message, Coleton explores what it means to receive the kingdom of God like a child. Using the moment when Jesus welcomes little children while His disciples try to turn them away, Coleton highlights Jesus’ radical teaching: only childlike people can experience the life of the kingdom. Coleton frames the teaching around three key qualities children naturally possess, which Jesus wants His followers to imitate—not childish immaturity, but childlike virtues: ⸻ 1. Be Dependent Like a Child Children depend on their parents for everything—food, comfort, direction, and provision. Coleton humorously illustrates this with a barrage of questions his son Teddy asks in just a few minutes, revealing how constant and uninhibited children are in their need. In contrast to earthly parents who eventually encourage independence, God never asks us to grow out of needing Him. Jesus invites us to stay needy, to come to Him when weary, and to cast all our cares on Him (Matt 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7). The quality of life we experience is directly connected to who or what we depend on—Jesus or ourselves. “Whoever or whatever we depend on determines the kingdom or kind of life we experience.” ⸻ 2. Trust Like a Child Children are quick to believe. Coleton recalls how children after seeing Peter Pan jumped off beds thinking they could fly. While not endorsing naivety, he urges us to trust Jesus like that—not because the logic always checks out, but because He is trustworthy. The Bible is full of people who experienced the kingdom of God because they took God at His word: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Mary, and more. They didn’t understand everything, but they obeyed—and saw God move. Many of Jesus’ commands—love your enemies, forgive freely, give sacrificially—don’t make sense to the adult mind. But childlike trust leads to experiencing divine results. The more we rely on our understanding, the less we see of God’s kingdom. ⸻ 3. Submit to His Authority Like a Child Children live under authority. Their lives are shaped by rules and boundaries from parents. Coleton points out that while kids grow up and grow out of their parents’ authority, we are never meant to grow out of God’s authority. In Scripture, the people who experience miracles are those who do what Jesus says. Submission isn’t loss—it’s gain. Life under Jesus’ authority leads to peace, joy, and blessing. “If you will let me lead you, submit to my authority—you will experience my rule and reign over your life. My rule and reign is peace and joy and love and hope.” ⸻ Final Contrast: The Childlike vs. The Adultlike Mark’s story ends with a rich young man who walks away from Jesus sad because he can’t be childlike. He can’t depend, trust, or submit. He clings to his wealth and control. In contrast, the children in the story are scooped up into Jesus’ arms. They receive more than they came for—His love, His blessing, and His presence. The message is clear: you can walk away sad or walk away scooped into the arms of Jesus. It depends on whether you’re willing to be childlike. ⸻ Discussion Questions 1. Dependence: • What’s one area of your life where you’re trying to be independent when Jesus is asking you to depend on Him? • What would it look like to cast your cares on Him this week? 2. Trust: • Is there a command from Jesus that doesn’t make sense to you right now—but you feel called to obey it anyway? • What keeps you from trusting Jesus fully? 3. Authority: • Where in your life are you resisting Jesus’ authority? • How might your life be different if you submitted that area to Him? 4. Childlikeness vs. Adultlikeness: • In what ways have you grown out of childlike faith? • What would it look like to return to a posture of humility, dependence, and obedience? 5. Jesus on the Cross: • How does seeing Jesus on the cross give you confidence to depend on, trust in, and submit to Him? ⸻ Author Quotes Used in the Sermon “After the first production of the play, Peter Pan, The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (1904), I had to add something to the play at the request of parents. It was that no one would be able to fly until they received fairy dust. This was because many children had gone home and tried flying from their beds and needed surgical attention.” – J. M. Barrie ⸻ Scriptures Referenced • Mark 10:13–16 – Let the children come; receive the kingdom like a child. • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me… I will give you rest.” • 1 Peter 5:7 – “Cast your cares on Him…” • Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry, pray about everything.” • Luke 18:1 – “Pray and never give up.”...
    Voir plus Voir moins
    44 min
  • Choose The Fruit Of The Spirit | Galatians 5:22-23 | Shari Ray
    Jun 23 2025

    In her sermon, Shari uses the metaphor of the Camino de Santiago—a long spiritual pilgrimage—to illustrate the Christian journey of moving continually toward peace and away from chaos. She reflects on her own experience walking the Camino, emphasizing that the daily, intentional choices made on the trail mirror the spiritual decisions we make in life. Life, like the Camino, is not static. Everything is always in motion—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

    Shari ties this constant movement to the second law of thermodynamics, highlighting humanity’s natural tendency toward disorder unless we intentionally choose otherwise. Spiritually, we’re always moving toward either peace (shalom: wholeness, well-being, safety) or chaos (slavery, disorder, retaliation). Shari contrasts biblical peace with today’s culture of “my truth” and ethical relativism, which echo the times of the Judges when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes."

    She argues that freedom in Christ means intentionally choosing the path that leads to peace, even when it is counterintuitive or difficult. The lie from the Garden of Eden—that we are the exception to the rule—still misleads us today. We often believe we can harbor resentment, avoid forgiveness, or justify sin without consequences. Shari emphasizes that choosing chaos—like revenge, bitterness, and pride—leads us back into spiritual slavery.

    Through examples from both Scripture (Gideon, the Exodus, Judges) and literature (Nietzsche’s philosophy, Crime and Punishment, Macbeth, Hamlet, East of Eden), she shows how refusing to forgive, holding onto bitterness, or believing ourselves exempt from consequences always results in suffering. Forgiveness, though often seen as illogical or undeserved, is the path to freedom.

    She tells real-life stories—like her friend Bob who justifies meanness because “they started it”—to show how childish and harmful these justifications are. True peace begins with us, not with others. We often claim we want peace but refuse to let go of pride, pain, or perceived justice to get it.

    Shari closes by urging the congregation to choose the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as the “good fruit” in contrast to Adam and Eve’s wrong choice. Like the biblical figures and literary characters she referenced, we too stand at a crossroads daily: toward peace and freedom in Christ, or chaos and slavery in sin. The Gospel gives us the power through the Holy Spirit to undo our wrong choices and walk “The Way” that leads to true peace.

    Discussion Questions

    1. Shari says we often believe “we are the exception to the rule.” How have you seen that idea play out in your own life or culture?

    2. What does the word “shalom” (biblical peace) mean to you? How is it different from simply not fighting or being calm?

    3. Are there any areas in your life where you are choosing chaos (bitterness, revenge, pride) instead of peace? What would it look like to choose differently?

    4. Who is someone in your life that you feel “started it”? What would it take for you to forgive them anyway?

    5. Which of the fruits of the Spirit do you most need to grow in right now to walk in peace? What’s one practical way you could pursue it this week?

    Voir plus Voir moins
    49 min

Ce que les auditeurs disent de CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH MEMPHIS

Moyenne des évaluations de clients

Évaluations – Cliquez sur les onglets pour changer la source des évaluations.