The World vs the Word

·1 hr 17 min·5 clips

A Father's Day tribute honors dads while acknowledging the complex emotions the day can bring for some.

The episode begins with a Father's Day tribute honoring fathers while acknowledging the day can be difficult for some. Host Shannon Chapman welcomes attendees, shares announcements about Kids Camp, a ladies' picnic, Dr. Effler's class, a young adults rodeo, and men's ministry items. She discusses Mission Highlight Sunday, highlighting global partners John and Susie Pickens and local partner Nehemiah Project's backpack drive. Shannon addresses church giving challenges, encouraging faithful stewardship. She introduces Pastor Graham, who is preaching his first sermon as part of a summer series on James. Graham opens with a Father's Day greeting and recaps last week's message on temptation. He reads James 1:19-27 and prays. Graham shares a personal story about feeling inadequate as a freshman soccer player, linking it to focusing on what not to do rather than God's calling. He outlines three main points: plant the word, grow the word, and spread the word. For planting, he emphasizes being quick to listen, slow to speak and anger, using an Indiana Jones analogy for swapping worldly filth with God's word. Graham discusses the need for humility and references Colossians 3:12. For growing, he explains that merely listening to the word without action is like forgetting one's reflection, advocating for letting Scripture marinate. He describes the 'perfect law that gives freedom' as enabling believers to do things beyond their own abilities. Graham uses a stationary bike metaphor to illustrate living according to design. He introduces metamorphosis as transformation, change in function, and a developmental process. For spreading, he critiques Christians who focus on what they hate rather than love, citing 1 Corinthians 13:1. Graham shares an anecdote about his brother leading sixth graders to emphasize that love matters more than relevancy. He concludes that planting, growing, and spreading are continual daily processes, starting in everyday relationships. The episode ends with worship, Shannon's affirmation of Graham, and a benediction.

As heard by us

A soccer mistake anchors a clear sermon about seeing God's calling rather than focusing only on failure.

City Church's Father's Day service frames a sermon about attention: not only guarding against failure, but noticing the opportunity already in front of you.

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Why you'd press play

You get a soccer mishap and a useful nudge to see calling where fear sees only failure.

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