The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

The Gift of Tears

When we cry, especially unexpectedly, it's a signal to pay close attention. While we may see it as a moment of weakness that requires a tangible solution, God sees it as something more precious - an expression of our heart that reveals more about ourselves and calls not for a solution, but for a safe and loving space to be in. If we want to cultivate a community that encourages such safe and loving spaces, it's crucial to let go of our tendency towards efficiency and problem-solving and learn to be present in the moment, and to love others simply by listening and wasting time together.

Labor Day Retreat Sunday Service

As we gather together for Retreat Sunday Service, we visit the theme of rest. In this day and age, especially in a competitive city like New York, it is easy to become anxious and stressed out.

However, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul invites us to rest, to let go of the things we can't control and give them up to God. In turn, this frees up our minds to be present with what God has put in front us. Today, then, let's allow God to free us from being mired in our failures, our regrets, and our mistakes, and instead focus on what we can influence, what we can do now, for the people we love, and for God's glory here and forever.

The Trouble with Overworrying

At today's “Desserts in the Sun”, Dr. Sammy speaks about Jesus' wisdom for anyone who worries too much. Worrying, especially about things we can't control, often dominates our minds with negative thoughts. Jesus teaches that worrying adds no value to our lives and instead contributes to our problems. Rather than trying to think more positively, Jesus advises us to stop negative thoughts in their tracks and, instead, focus on today's concerns. By letting go of worry, we can create space for God's purpose and dreams for our lives.

Benediction

The benediction, traditionally, is a word of blessing bestowed to a congregation at the end of a worship service. Although the benediction is a regular practice, its significance goes beyond serving as just a good word, but as a means to also cultivate moral discernment. Insofar as we attempt to navigate our weeks, relationships, and resources, the benedictions we receive on a weekly occurrence can help to develop our reliance on the Father to guide our decisions, differentiate between what’s a blessing or a curse, and respond rightly to how we can best add value in the eyes of the Father. 

Baptism Sunday

This past Sunday, three members of our community gave their testimonies and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible, many have turned to baptism as not only a public announcement of faith and a declaration of intent, but also as a symbol of a new beginning of life lived in Christ. As our members share their experiences, we are reminded that while everyone has a unique experience with God, Christ reaches out to each and every one of us to wash away our sins and give us a new chance at life. This is why we celebrate — because all of heaven rejoices when just one more person finds faith.

 

Why in the absence of a great dream, pettiness prevails.

Pettiness, in addition to dealing damage in our relationships, is a symptom of our humanity. We have a propensity towards pettiness because of our self-interest, and we must recognize that we cannot completely eliminate the temptation to strike back when we feel wronged. However, in Ephesians 4, Paul reminds us that there is something greater to desire than what pettiness can give us, and that is new life through Christ. If our aim is no higher than to put on the appearance of spirituality, then we can sit still and give in to our defaults. But if our aim is to live fully for Christ and experience the love, trust, and joy of relationship with Him, then we must surrender the old ways of pettiness and allow the work of God to transform us.

Long Nose

God is slow to anger, but what does that mean? God’s anger, unlike our anger, is motivated by righteousness. Human anger often results in abuse, violence, and hurt, but God’s anger is not irrational or spontaneous. His anger is righteous indignation and the end of indifference, in contrast to our own reckless spite. For instance, in the Old Testament, God expressed his anger against a sinful Israel and gave Israel over to its enemies only after having given grace repeatedly. God’s anger is consistently depicted as giving the wayward their due consequences, but His slowness in anger graciously gives time to repent.

Why The One Who Rules His Spirit is Greater Than He Who Takes A City. 🌃

Over the past few weeks, we have discussed the negative impacts of anger and the importance of self-control. When anger takes hold of a community, as it did in Ephesus, it leads to gossip, sin, and ultimately division. Self-control, as a fruit of the Spirit, counteracts this by enabling us to step back and exercise patience instead of reacting in anger, fostering love and humility. Additionally, it encourages us to step into conflict when necessary to maintain unity and peace, ultimately benefiting relationships and communities by demonstrating God’s love in action.

How Unresolved Anger Can Invite Unwanted Guests for Generations To Come.

As we continue our series on eliminating anger, we peer into an often overlooked but paramount imperative from Paul in his letter to the church of Ephesus: to not allow the devil a foothold in your anger. When we harbor anger in our hearts and minds, it is akin to inviting spiritual and emotional garbage in our lives - and where garbage lies, pests reside. It’s when our lifestyles exhibit unresolved sins such as bitterness, anger, and rage, the consequences not only wreak havoc on our own lives but onto generations beyond ours. The challenge is to be wary of the unresolved sins in our lives, to repent and confess swiftly so that anger takes no hold in our hearts, and to fill our lives with kindness and compassion to curb the spiritual and emotional baggage that could thwart the work of God in us and through us.

How Ugly We Get With a Thorn In Our Side

In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul warns the church against letting the thorns in our side go unchecked. These "thorns," such as insecurities or things that trigger our anger, can lead to pride, a superiority complex, and ultimately the destruction of our relationships. Instead of giving in to our thorns, Paul shows us that admitting our insufficiency allows us to truly accept God's grace and strength. Even though it may feel offensive to acknowledge our own weakness, it is in doing so that we become testaments to God's character and the power of community.