Episodios

  • I'm Glad You Asked - This We Believe
    Apr 2 2023

    Today is the final message in our series “I’m Glad You Asked.” As Pastor Alex reminded us, our prayer is that today will serve more as a runway, a launch point, rather than merely the end of a series. Over the past few weeks we have looked closely at the biblical worldview and the Bible’s response to four of life’s fundamental questions: How did we get here? (Creation) What went wrong? (Fall) How do we fix this? (Redemption) How do we live now? (Restoration) As we launch today, we were reminded of what we believe:

    • We believe, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1).
    • We believe that God created man in His own image; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:26-27).
    • We believe in the doctrine of original sin.
    • We believe that God promised to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12).
    • We believe that God prophetically spoke to our forefathers to remind them He would send a Savior. Isaiah 1:18 reminds us, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
    • We believe that the prophetic voice went silent for 400 years, until…
    • We believe in the incarnation: that Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22).
    • We believe John the Baptist rightly proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
    • We believe in the crucifixion: that Jesus was crucified and died between two criminals.
    • We believe that Jesus, in that moment, uttered three words that changed everything: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
    • We believe that the body of Jesus was laid in a tomb (Matthew 27:57-61).
    • We believe that Jesus rose again from the grave! (Matthew 28:5-6)
    • We believe that we were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot! (1 Peter 1:18-19)
    • We believe He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins! (Colossians 1:13-14)
    • We believe there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all! (1 Timothy 2:5)
    • We believe that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
    • We believe that in Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us! (Ephesians 1:7)
    • We believe that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Christ Jesus is Lord of all! (Philippians 2:5-11)
    • We believe that Jesus gave His followers a mission and we are to follow in His footsteps (All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore make disciples of all nations Matt. 28:18-20).
    • We believe there will be a great multitude, from every nation, gathered around the throne! (Revelation 7:9)
    • We believe we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27).
    • We believe there is a time when Jesus will come again and take us to be with Him! (“Surely I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20)

    We all believe in something and that belief matters deeply because it sets the direction of our lives both now and eternally. Consider the the trajectory of your life:

    • What do your patterns and rhythms reveal about what you believe?
    • How are you investing your time, energy and resources?

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    35 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - Theology of Suffering
    Mar 26 2023

    2 Timothy 3:10-12 says, “…all who deserve to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” This isn’t talking about someone saying something ugly to you because you are a Christian. This is speaking about life and death for the sake of the gospel. Every month, 322 Christians are killed, 214 church properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed. What is persecution comes to the United States? How do we respond?

    Leonard Ravenhill observed, “The early Church was married to poverty, prisons, and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity.”

    Here are 5 actions Jesus challenges us to take when we are persecuted:

    1. Rejoice and be glad (Matthew 5:10-12)
    2. Love your enemies (Matthew 5:44)
    3. Pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44)
    4. Deny yourself – say no to self centerdness (Mark 8:34-38)
    5. Take up your cross – be willing to physically die (Mark 8:34-38

    Jesus’ last words on suffering came from His charge from the Upper Room. He said in John 15:20, “If they persecute me, they will also persecute you.”

    The apostle Paul shares his experience of persecution and pain in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. Paul stayed committed to Jesus because he never forgot how much he had been forgiven and loved.

    Remember, we were build for more than just this world. Suffering for the gospel is extremely hard, and many lose their life for the sake of Jesus. BUT…this life is a temporary home for a little while. We must keep perspective. The church grows during times of great persecution. Will we be ready if and when it comes?

    Pray for persecuted Christians around the world. A great resource is The Voice of the Martyrs.


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    34 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - Anxiety+Depression in Our Culture
    Mar 19 2023

    1 Kings 17-19 recounts the remarkable story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah prophesied that there would be a 3-year drought. Ahab blames Elijah for the drought, so Elijah asks Ahab to gather the 850 prophets of Baal and Ashera to prove which is real, the gods of Baal or the God of Israel. The prophets try and try to get Baal to send fire down from heaven to consume a bull sacrifice, but nothing happens. Elijah then places a bull on the alter, digs a trench around it, places 12 stones, and douses it with a lot of water (remember, there is a drought). Elijah calls to God and He sends fire down to consume it ALL. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was angry with Elijah because he had slaughtered all of the prophets of Baal. She told him that she would kill him by the next day. 1 Kings 19:3 says, “Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life…” All in all, he traveled 160 miles and was physically exhausted. He was afraid, and he asked God if he could just die. Elijah had forgotten the lesson God had been teaching him at Kerith, Zarephath, and Carmel. His eyes were on his circumstances rather than on the Lord. God sent an angel to provide cake and water to Elijah. Elijah “went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights” as he traveled to Horeb. There, God reminded Elijah what was most important and helped Elijah finish the task that he was called to do. Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness. You have no energy and you lost interest in activities you once loved. Anxiety involves fear or worry that you can’t control. Sources of Anxiety and Depression:

    1. Physical exhaustion – sleep reminds us that we are not God.
    2. Spiritual attack – demonic oppression is real.
    3. Brain Chemistry – sometimes we need medication, but don’t start here. Pray for answers.
    4. Circumstances/Situations – Be careful where you look. What are you beholding?
    5. Loneliness – we were built for community. Isolation is very dangerous.
    6. Social Media – comparison robs joy. Evaluate whether you need this in your life.
    7. Loss – of a loved one, job, community, financial security.

    Remember, Satan lies and he isolates. John 8:44, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Steps that will help you overcome Anxiety and Depression:

    1. Listen to the Truth – the Word is life
    2. Live in community – where is your biblical community?
    3. Talk to the Father – Spend time in daily prayer
    4. Talk to someone – counseling can be of great benefit!

    Phil 4:6-7 says, “Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


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    47 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - Restoration: Part 1
    Mar 12 2023

    In our culture today, civil conversations are the exception, not the norm. Unfortunately, people tend to gravitate towards yelling or avoiding the conversation all together. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

    1. Make sure your heart is right
    2. Make a defense (not defensive); give a reason
    3. Do it with gentleness and respect

    Gentleness- A sense of humility. Titus 3:2 says, ” to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Respect – Remember that the other person is an Imago Dei, they are human, and the deserve respect. Pastor Alex interviewed Jason Jiminez: What are the big 3 excuses for not having conversations in the first place? Excuse #1 – I’m just not that smart! (The enemy uses that lie to make us silent.) Excuse #2 – I get too defensive. (We either rage outwardly or inwardly.) Excuse #3 – I get uncomfortable. (We avoid the conversation and things get worse.) What are the different types of conversationalists? Avoider – This person enables the issue. They are reluctant to engage. “I don’t want to talk about this.” Aggressor – This person is a controller who dominates the discussion. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Advocator – This person engages the person and models Colossians 4:6 and Ephesians 4:15. “Can you help me better understand your position?” How to be an Advocator: To begin, keep these two Scriptures in mind: Romans 12:10 and 1 Peter 2:17

    1. Relate – envision yourself as a friend. Build rapport and be mindful of body language and tone. Be present in the conversation. Be vulnerable.
    2. Investigate – Be a journalist and ask inquire about what you really have questions about . Try to understand why the other person believes the way they do. Remember, people like talking about themselves. You will find the conversation my go much further than you thought it would.
    3. Translate – Ask these 3 questions:
    • What did I learn about them and their journey. Repeat it back to them.
    • Where do we disagree?
    • Where do we go from here? I want to be your friend, and I want to know more. (Avoiders and Aggressors never get here…)

    Remember, 1 Peter 3:15 speaks to the reason that drives us. We have the hope of Christ, and that is what drives us. Share your hope. Believe it with all of your heart and love others with it.


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    45 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - Redemption
    Mar 5 2023

    A redeemer is defined as someone who intervenes and pays a necessary price tor win the release of another from bondage or slavery. Romans 3:23-24 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” In His humanity, Jesus qualified and established His right to redeem us. He paid the price to free us from the bondage of sin. This is a miraculous Truth, but one we must believe with all our heart and live by this fact.


    Trevin Wax said, “The church faces her biggest challenge not when new errors start to win but when old truths no longer wow. Familiarity is the enemy of wonder.”


    A brief history referenced by Chuck Colson:


    Mary Midgley developed “the Escalator Myth”. Christianity teaches that history is moving toward the kingdom of God, while the Escalator Myth reassures us that we are evolving toward an earthly utopia that is the product of human effort.


    This thought originally came from George Friedrich Hegel. Hegel tilted the ladder of life on its side, so that instead of being a list of all the things that exist in the world at any one time, it became a series of stages through which the world passes during the course of history. As a result of Hegel’s influence, everything was seen as subject to evolution- not just living things but also customs, cultures, and concepts. Philosophers and thinkers began vying with one another to be the one to unveil the path to the earthly heaven, the means of redemption.


    Karl Marx was Hegel’s best known disciple. In classic Marxism, the proletariat (the common man, the working class) will rise up against their oppressors (the capitalists). Marxism may be discredited as a political theory in most parts of the world today, but it lives on in updated form in various liberation movements.


    Marx eventually came up with a full-blown alternative religion. Matter was in itself the creator. In Marxism, the universe is a self-originating, self-operating machine, generating its own power and running by its own internal force toward a final goal- the classless, communistic society.


    In the updated form of Marxism, people of various colors and genders are called to harness their rage and do battle against their oppressors. Students are being taught to apply Marxist categories to law, politics, education, family studies, and other fields. So, although the economic view of Marxism has been discredited, it is still alive and well.


    Lenin was a disciple of Marx, and he put the philosophy in a religious context when he said, “We may regard the material and cosmic world as the supreme being, as the cause of all causes, as the creator of heaven and earth. For Lenin, the Garden of Eden was primitive communism and the original sin was the creation of private property and the division of labor, which caused humanity to move from innocence into slavery and oppression. His redeemer is the lower class, who will rise up against the capitalist oppressors and destroy the private ownership of the means of production. The Day of Judgment, in Marxist theology, is the day of revolution.


    You see, Marx regarded man as inherently good, which is why mankind didn’t need a redeemer in his eyes. The world needed revolution, not repentance.


    Marxist philosophy is still around not because it works, but because it aims at an essentially religious need, tapping into humanity’s hunger for redemption.


    This is the origin of CRT. It is a flawed worldview that creates division between people based on race, gender, class, etc. It divides society into oppressors and oppressed, and the oppressed are challenged to rise up and overthrow the oppressors, in essence becoming the oppressors themselves. It doesn’t make sense.


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    36 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - The Fall: Genesis 3
    Feb 26 2023

    God created man and woman as said it was “very good”. Genesis 3:1 reads, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” The serpent was Satan and he put doubt in Eve’s mind. She responded with twisting the truth of what God actually said, and eventually, Adam and Eve ate the fruit, and shalom was broken on the earth. We are not as we were intended to be; we are fallen. Romans 5:12 shows us the Doctrine of Original Sin – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” In other words, we are not sinners because we sin; rather, we sin because we are sinners. The doctrine of the Fall seems really negative, but understanding original sin makes it possible for humanity to thrive: It sets all of us on level ground: No one is saved by their virtue or goodness. No one is saved due to a prestigious position of power. By insisting on human sinfulness, Christianity puts us on the same playing field: the rich and poor, the educated and the illiterate; all of humanity has the same fate at birth. Unfortunately, the pride of man does not want to accept this. This is the other side of the Imago Dei because we are broken. We all have the same disease and need the same salvation regardless of what the sin is. We must be made into the Imago Christi – image bearers of Jesus Christ. Understanding original sin protects us from Utopian fantasies: All of the increased funding of education and justice will fall short without a transformation of a man’s heart through Jesus because every gain, however real and important, will likely be tainted at some point by sin and selfishness until Jesus comes back to restore the world. Edward Oakes said, “we are born into a world where rebellion against God has already taken place and the drift of it sweeps us along.” In the Age of Enlightenment, Western intellectuals rejected the biblical teaching of creation and replaced it with the theory that nature is our creator. The biblical doctrine of sin was thrown out (a belief holdover from the Dark Ages). No longer would people live under the shadow of guilt and moral judgement, and no longer would they be oppressed by moral rules imposed by an arbitrary and tyrannical deity. This makes us ask, “if the source of disorder and suffering is not sin, then where do these problems come from?” Ultimately, Enlightenment thinkers would reduce sin to social constructs and self-help becomes the means of salvation. This way of thinking has proven to be irrational and unlivable. Consequences of not having a healthy understanding of the Fall are:

    1. We lose sight of our desperate need of a Savior.
    2. We promote solutions that are incapable of success.

    Change in our culture starts with each of our hearts. Pray that your heart will be soft and that you will be strong like a lion and gentle like a lamb. Be humble. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. A movement of God’s Spirit starts with confession of sin. Jesus said of His heart in Matthew 11:29 , “I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Let’s remember that we are sinners in need of Jesus every single day.


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    33 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked: Creation (Pt. 2)
    Feb 19 2023

    Revelation 7:9 says, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hand.” This is what it will look like in God’s eternal kingdom, and this is what glorifies God. Unfortunately, our world does not look like this.

    We have made strides towards more unity, but we come from a hurtful past. The Southern Baptist Convention was birthed out of a commitment to preserve and defend slavery. The South drifted at the end of the time of slavery through Jim Crow laws to segregation, and finally forced integration. If we are honest, it is difficult for a black Christian to lli deeply into the history of Christianity in America and not be profoundly disturbed. As a result of our past, and our naivety that things have changed for the better, the church was not prepared for this most recent explosion of the “race issue”. As the church, we must offer a compelling solution.

    God has given us from the beginning a way to look at this issue. Genesis 1:26-27,31 speaks to the creation of man who is made in the image of God. This leads to two implications:

    1. Every human is a valuable image bearer of God – every human deserves dignity and respect.
    2. Every human being is a descendant of Adam and Eve

    a. all of us are 99.9% genetically the exact same, which means we are of the same race

    b. Acts 17:24-26 says, “And he made from one man every nation (ethnos) of mankind”

    c. If we believe the creation story, racism makes no sense

    Claims of racial superiority are an assault on God’s glory in creation. The separation of human beings into ranks of superiority and inferiority differentiated by skin color is a direct assault upon the doctrine of creation and an insult to the Imago Dei.

    A Christian worldview believes that God created everything, and humans are valuable because they are made in God’s image. A secular atheistic worldview (naturalist or critical theory) would say that humans only have dignity and worth if someone chooses to assign them dignity and worth.

    Race is not a biblical word. We are one human race with multiple ethnicities (ethnos). Ethnos is defined as “Nation, People, Ethnic Groups”. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands believers to go and make disciples of all ETHNOS.

    When the church demonstrates true neighborly love and fellowship across lines of race class, and ethnicity, it undermines unbiblical worldview models, like critical theory. We must build trust as the church over time with the repitition of loving, selfless action on the world’s behalf.

    Many of us have grown up around racism and an “us vs them” culture. Overcoming sin always starts with repentance. We need to be open to change, correction, or rebuke.

    What will you do?

    1. Will you stand up for those who are being mistreated because of their ethnicity?
    2. Will you refuse to tell or to laugh at a racist joke?
    3. Will you strive not to prejudge someone based on the color of their skin?
    4. Will you love your literal neighbor?
    5. Will you apologize, even if it is something you did years ago?
    6. Will you be gracious to those who hold a secular worldview?

    The road to unity in diversity starts with small acts!

    Patrick McCrory

    Generations Pastor


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    43 m
  • I'm Glad You Asked - Creation
    Feb 11 2023

    At some point in humanity’s story, sex stopped being something you do and it became WHO YOU ARE. The world has taken away the dignity and value of male and female. As Jesus followers, we should believe with deep convictions and love with strong affection. Outside of that, we either drive people away or we conform to the prevailing cultural norms. Sex and gender used to mean the same thing, but they don’t anymore. Words may change, but theological Truth does not. Genesis 1:26-27 ends with, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.” We reflect the Father (Imago Dei). Definitions: Sex – Male or female with reference to reproductive functions. Gender – A person’s self-perception of whether they are male or female, masculine or feminine. Cis-gender – People who do not question their assigned gender Gender Dysphoria – Sense of mismatch between physical sex (body) and psychological gender identity (mind) Transgender – Umbrella term for many experiences of gender identity that do not align normatively with a person’s biological sex In other words, sex is assigned and gender is chosen and fluid. Cultural lies (from John Stonestreet):

    1. Gender is merely a social construction – social construction is free to go anywhere our minds want. It cannot maintain logical consistency; therefore, the idea should be rejected.
    2. We should validate people’s thoughts and desires so they’ll flourish- Tolerance is no longer enough, but now you must affirm or face the wrath of being cancelled or worse. Why?

    1. Social Media – especially TikTok
    2. The lonely watching the celebration of others

    Satan has a brilliant strategy – When we look back at the original design and purpose of life, male and female are created as the Imago Dei. Marriage is between one man and one woman and is not the ultimate goal, but it is a signpost of the gospel. So when the image of male and female is blurred, that signpost of marriage becomes blurred as well. This leads to the very thing it is intended to point to (the gospel) becomes blurry. Satan can’t create, but he is brilliant at distorting. Romans 12:1-2 tells us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,” and “be transformed by the renewal of your mind,”. Action Steps:

    1. Look honestly in the mirror. There is sexual brokenness all around, and our homes are filled with sexual sin. Do not worship sex.
    2. Ask God to fill you with compassion for those who struggle with gender-identity issues (Phil 1:9-11
    3. Talk to your kids about gender
    4. Fathers and mothers should cultivate loving relationships with your sons and daughters
    5. Cultivate a strong, healthy marriage – Marriage is a covenant relationship between one man and one woman who are pursuing Christ together so that the Gospel is proclaimed.
    6. Speak the Truth with a big dose of compassion – love ALL people well, and be willing to befriend anyone, regardless of their lifestyle.
    7. Play the long game – this is our culture now, and it is here to stay.

    Remember, Jesus changes people. He changed you and me. He is our hope!


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    42 m