The Damascus Road Podcast

What's a Christian Anyway? | Week 1 of Three in One

"We believe ..." Teacher: Ryan Miller Week 1 of Three in One There’s a lot of confusion about what a Christian really is. It seems like simply following Jesus has been obscured by politics and ideology, hypocrisy and moral failure, and it’s hard to know who to trust. The Nicene Creed is the only confession that is affirmed by every stream of Christianity and describes the united center of the faith. While we may have distinctions as we move out from the center, it offers unity and clarity around Jesus.

Staying in Orbit | Week 3 of Gravity

Gravity is a complicated force. It is actually one of the weaker forces acting on us in the universe, yet it also holds us firmly to the ground. We experience it every moment of our lives, but scientists still cannot really explain it. And there is not just the physical gravity that affects us but a sort of spiritual gravity as well that holds us back. The Bible tells us we are all “fallen” beings. We have sinned, and our sin keeps us from the life we were made for - a life with God. Join Damascus Road for Gravity, as we explore what it takes to break free from the forces that hold us back.Week 3 of Gravity Teacher: Megan StibrichA space station orbiting earth is less exciting than a rocket launch, but orbit is a delicate balance. You are constantly falling down to earth, but you are also moving parallel to earth so fast that you keep missing it. An object in orbit cannot stay still. It is not enough just to break free of gravity, but it takes energy to stay there. Faith also requires constant momentum. We weren’t meant to be idle. Sin is constantly trying to pull us back down to earth. What does it mean to stay active in our faith? What are the dangers of idleness? How do we stay in orbit with God?

Mission Control | Week 2 of Gravity

Gravity is a complicated force. It is actually one of the weaker forces acting on us in the universe, yet it also holds us firmly to the ground. We experience it every moment of our lives, but scientists still cannot really explain it. And there is not just the physical gravity that affects us but a sort of spiritual gravity as well that holds us back. The Bible tells us we are all “fallen” beings. We have sinned, and our sin keeps us from the life we were made for - a life with God. Join Damascus Road for Gravity, as we explore what it takes to break free from the forces that hold us back.Week 2 of Gravity Teacher: Brad MillerIt takes more than a few pilots and astronauts to get off the ground. It takes a whole team. Mission Control offers the support and guidance necessary for getting into space. Faith is also not a solo journey, but one that requires community. In community we can find support when gravity is weighing us down, encouragement when our struggles are pulling us back, and love when we fall back down to earth. How can we support and celebrate one another as a community of faith? Who can we turn to when we have a problem? Who is our mission control?

Escape Velocity | Week 1 of Gravity

Gravity is a complicated force. It is actually one of the weaker forces acting on us in the universe, yet it also holds us firmly to the ground. We experience it every moment of our lives, but scientists still cannot really explain it. And there is not just the physical gravity that affects us but a sort of spiritual gravity as well that holds us back. The Bible tells us we are all “fallen” beings. We have sinned, and our sin keeps us from the life we were made for - a life with God. Join Damascus Road for Gravity, as we explore what it takes to break free from the forces that hold us back.Week 1 of Gravity Teacher: Tyler StibrichIt takes a tremendous amount of force to break free of gravity. Escape velocity describes the speed we need to go to escape from a planet’s gravity and make it into space. On earth, the escape velocity is over 25,000 mph. It can also be incredibly difficult to break free from the gravity of sin – our patterns of selfishness, fear, addiction and all that separates us from God and others – even as we respond to Jesus with faith. Newton’s laws tell us that if we want to go forward, we have to leave something behind. How do we leave behind these old lives for a new life with Christ? How do we hit escape velocity?

Self-Control | Week 5 of Fresh Fruit

The new year is the start of a fresh page, a chance to be made new. Normally we take this chance to make resolutions about our waistlines, budgets, and habits, but what if we let this new year be about a fresh change on the inside instead? The Holy Spirit is the great transformer, and he wants to enable and empower us to not just look different on the outside but actually be different on the inside. How can we be made fresh by the Holy Spirit this new year?Week 5 of Fresh Fruit Teacher: Derrick LyonsWe live in a world that says, "Do what feels right," “The heart wants what the heart wants” and "Put yourself first." From spending to scrolling, reacting to indulging, everything around us pushes us to satisfy our desires. But the fruit of the Spirit calls us to a different kind of freedom; not the freedom to do whatever we want, but the strength to master our desires rather than be mastered by them. This week, we’ll explore how true self-control isn’t about willpower alone but surrender. It’s about living under the Spirit’s guidance instead of our impulses. In a world ruled by instant gratification, self-control is a radical act of counter-culture. It allows us to say no to what’s easy in order to say yes to what’s lasting. Discover how the Spirit leads us into freedom, not from limits, but through them.