Dogwood Church Podcast

Longing to Belong Part 2 April 26 2026

This message takes us deep into Jesus's prayer in John 17, where He asks the Father that all believers would be one—just as He and the Father are one. But what does this unity actually look like? We discover that Christian unity isn't about creating one massive organizational structure or demanding that everyone look, worship, or think exactly alike. Instead, it's something far more profound: a spiritual and relational oneness rooted in our shared life in Christ. The sermon clears away common misconceptions, showing us that unity doesn't mean uniformity (looking the same), unanimity (agreeing on every detail), or organizational merger. Rather, it means sharing the same essence as believers—we're all saved by grace through faith in Jesus. We have complementary roles in the body of Christ, just like the Trinity operates with distinct persons serving different functions while remaining perfectly one. This teaching challenges us to examine where we stand: Are we majoring in the essentials of faith while giving grace in the non-essentials? Are we using our unique gifts to serve the body, or are we sitting on the sidelines? The beauty of belonging to Christ means we belong to each other, and that belonging is meant to be lived out in practical, everyday ways that glorify God and draw others to Him.

Longing to Belong Part 1 April 20 2026

Where You’re Known...and Loved Anyway This message centers on one of humanity's deepest longings: the desire to belong. Drawing from Jesus's prayer in John 17:20-23, we explore how Christ prayed for a supernatural unity among all believers—a oneness that mirrors the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The challenge we face is profound: something within our human hearts compels us to constantly compare, categorize, and separate ourselves from others. Whether along lines of politics, race, socioeconomic status, or education, we naturally sort people into groups, often looking down on those we perceive as different. The sermon reveals a startling truth: every accusation we make about others is actually a confession about ourselves. When we say 'they think they're better than us,' we're actually revealing our own pride. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers the only real solution to this fragmentation. It humbles us by showing we're more sinful than we dare admit, yet simultaneously affirms us by revealing we're more loved than we ever hoped. Through Christ, our primary identity shifts from our achievements, background, or affiliations to our status as beloved children of God. This transformation enables genuine community where people who would never naturally come together can deeply know and love one another—not despite their differences, but while maintaining them within the unity of Christ.

Easter at Dogwood Church 2026 April 5 2026

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the cornerstone of our faith, transforming everything we know about God, ourselves, and the world around us. This message walks us through the dramatic events of that first Easter weekend, from the crucifixion on Friday afternoon to the empty tomb discovered on Sunday morning. We witness the courage of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both secret followers who went public with their faith at great personal risk. We experience the earthquake, the terrified Roman guards, and the angels whose appearance was as sudden as lightning. Most powerfully, we encounter Mary Magdalene in the garden, weeping over her lost Lord, until Jesus calls her by name. That personal encounter reminds us that the resurrection isn't just a historical event—it's an invitation into relationship. The risen Christ proves three essential truths: He is who He claimed to be, He has the power He claimed to have, and He keeps His promises. This reality offers us three life-changing gifts: forgiveness for our past, help for our present struggles, and life—both abundant and eternal—for our future. The resurrection declares that death doesn't have to win, that our guilt and shame can be canceled, and that we have access to supernatural power for the challenges we face. This isn't just good news; it's the best news humanity has ever received.

The Prayer That Sends You Out March 29 2026

This Palm Sunday message reminds us that our salvation comes with a divine assignment. Drawing from Jesus's prayer in John 17, we discover that we aren't simply rescued from sin and left to wait for heaven—we're sent on mission. Just as the Father sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus sends us with the same authority and purpose. The challenge isn't whether we'll volunteer for this mission, but whether we'll obey the orders we've already been given. What makes this particularly convicting is recognizing that every one of us came to faith because someone told us. Someone loved us enough to share the gospel repeatedly until we finally understood our need for a Savior. Now we're called to be that person for others. The message confronts our fears head-on: we worry about being too flawed, too ordinary, or too unqualified. Yet our weaknesses become our greatest testimony—if Jesus can forgive and transform someone like us, He can do it for anyone. As we approach Easter, we're challenged to stop waiting for the 'professional Christians' and realize that the people in our lives need to hear the gospel from us, spoken with love and humility, shared through our own story of redemption.

Prayer That Protects Your Faith March 22 2026

In this powerful exploration of John 17:9-17, we discover a truth that can transform how we view our salvation: our faith doesn't depend on our ability to hold on to God, but on God's ability to hold on to us. Jesus prays what might be called the prayer that protects our faith, asking the Father to preserve and maintain our relationship with Him against three formidable opponents. First, there's the world around us—not the physical creation, but the cultural value system that opposes God and His ways. It's the air we breathe, constantly pressuring us to doubt and abandon our faith. Second, there's the devil against us, working through deception rather than dramatic confrontation, whispering questions like 'Did God really say that?' Finally, and perhaps most challenging, there's the sin within us—that leftover tendency to wander even after we've been saved. The flesh, as Scripture calls it, is that part of our old self that still wants to go our own way instead of God's. Yet here's the breathtaking reality: Jesus intercedes for us by name, praying specifically that our faith would not fail. God the Father always answers the prayers of God the Son, which means we are held secure not by our strength, but by His. Like a lighthouse anchored in rock that withstands every crashing wave, we stand firm because we're anchored in the unchangeable character of God. This isn't a license for carelessness—it's an invitation to confident, joyful obedience, knowing that the One who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it.