The Blessed Life

ANNOUCEMENT: We Are Planting a Church!

In this episode James and I share the exciting announcement that we are going to be involved in planting a new church in Grand Forks, ND, that is expecting to launch before the end of 2026! By God's grace River City Church in Fargo, ND, has recently sent out a number of families (including the Kaczor and Hankey families) and singles to plant Christ Redeemer Church in Grand Forks, ND! Both James and I, along with others, have the privilege of giving leadership to this work. Tune into this episode to hear some basic info about the church plant and also to hear us answer these 4 questions: #1 - Why Should We Plant New Churches? #2 - Why Should We Plant a New Church in Grand Forks? #3 - What Kind of Church Are We Hoping to Plant? #4 - What is the Process/Timeline for Planting This Church? If you are interested in learning more about Christ Redeemer, including our mission, values, and beliefs, or if you'd like to inquire about joining the church, or giving to the church, you can visit our website by clicking this link: Christ Redeemer Website [https://www.christredeemergf.org/] If you'd like to read more about why we should plant new churches, read this article by Tim Keller: Why Plant Churches? [https://redeemercitytocity.com/articles-stories/why-plant-churches]

The Cost of Not Following Jesus | Mark 8:34-38

In Mark 8:34 Jesus says that "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Jesus is stressing the cost of discipleship and it is a high cost. Jesus calls us to come to him and die. For many people this cost seems too high. However, this passage is not only about the cost of following Jesus. In the next 4 verses, Jesus gives us 4 reasons why we should follow him, and they all highlight the cost of not following him. Jesus is concerned not only that we understood how costly it is to follow him, but even more so he wants us to know how costly it is to not follow him.

3 Marks of Being Filled with the Spirit | Ephesians 5:19-21

In Ephesians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul gives us 3 things that characterize the lives of people who are filled with the Holy Spirit. Such a person will live a life of (1) Singing (2) Thanksgiving and (3) Humbly submitting themselves to others. Tune into this episode to hear more about the role that these 3 things play in the lives of God's people.

Do Not Get Drunk but Be Filled with the Spirit | Ephesians 5:18

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul says, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit..." In this episode, Jackson Hankey preaches about the sin of drunkenness and the need for Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Charles Spurgeon once said that,“without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. Like an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted.”

Enter by the Narrow Gate | Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." - Matthew 7:13-14 In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus boils all the world down into two types of people. All people have entered through one of two gates (the wide or the narrow) and are walking on one of two ways (the easy or the hard) where they are joined by one of two crowds (the many or the few) leading to one of two destinies (destruction or life). These short verses contain powerful and weighty truths about what it means to be a genuine Christian. Tune into this episode to hear more.