The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

From the Little Things that Drive Us Crazy to the Little Things That Make All the Difference.

Sometimes it's the smallest inconveniences that reveal how easily we spiral into embarrassment, self-pity, and the belief that everything revolves around us. In Matthew 6:24–35, Jesus reminds us that worrying or personalizing every setback doesn’t change anything; it only shrinks us—emotionally, spiritually, even physically. While the world chases comfort and control, He calls us to redirect our energy toward seeking His kingdom first. When we prioritize God’s purposes over our own egos, we begin to step out of our heads—and into true freedom.

 

Matt 6: 25-34 

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

You Cannot Serve God and [fill in the blank].

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches that we cannot serve both God and "mammon." While "mammon" is often translated as "money," it more broadly refers to anything we rely on in place of God; we cannot serve both God and anything else at the same time. Importantly, this is not a call to live an austere life devoid of possessions, but rather a call to prioritize God and steward our possessions wisely. Each of us must identify what our personal "mammon" might be—whether it's money, power, comfort, or something else—and ensure we are using it to serve God, not the other way around. By doing so, we may give up some measure of worldly wealth, but we gain something far greater: spiritual wealth that surpass anything the world can offer.

 

Scripture:

Luke 16:10-13 NIV

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

¹³ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

 

Luke 16:10-13 AMP

¹⁰ “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of earthly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? ¹² And if you have not been faithful in the use of that [earthly wealth] which belongs to another [whether God or man, and of which you are a trustee], who will give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand devotedly by the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon [that is, your earthly possessions or anything else you trust in and rely on instead of God].”

What Echo Chambers Steal From Us and The World.

Many of us experience moments when our efforts feel futile—when, despite our best intentions, we seem to get nowhere. It’s no wonder we sometimes throw up our hands, questioning the point of it all and wondering why we’re here in the first place. We may even find ourselves asking why the Creator of the universe would go to such great lengths for our existence and salvation.

But believe it or not, each of us is made for a good work. The good news of the gospel is this: every one of us is called by the Father to a purpose—crafted intentionally, designed uniquely—so that others might see the beauty of His handiwork in you.

Slaying the Inner Doomsayer Once And For All!

When life feels stagnant or we’re not seeing the progress we hope for, it’s often a sign that we’re caught in a closed loop of cynicism and self-fulfilling prophecies. The same can be true of our spiritual lives—we hold back or isolate, assuming we already know how the future will turn out. Over time, we stop having expectations and begin to lose hope.In Luke 11, Jesus teaches His disciples that a life of faith requires shameless audacity. Asking boldly and expecting boldly are fundamental to a life in Christ, and Jesus invites us to practice such audacity because we have a heavenly Father whose promises and love for us are beyond all measure.

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Luke 11:5-13

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[a] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Labor Day Retreat Service

Many of us want to follow Jesus—but selectively, and at a discount. In this week’s message, guest speaker and international missionary leader Andrew Feng challenges us to embrace all of Jesus’s teachings, including the Great Commission, which many Christians tend to neglect. Following this call may not be easy and often requires personal sacrifice. Yet, as Jesus reminds us in the Sermon on the Mount, God equips us with everything we need. Furthermore, there are over 3 billion people with little to no access to the Gospel. We are the light of the world, and we are called to let that light shine before others. By answering this call, we not only serve others but also deepen our own spiritual journey as we grow closer to Jesus.

 

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Brand Ambassador

We live in a culture that urges us to build our own brand—to perform and project an image that wins recognition. Yet this constant performance leaves us exhausted and empty. Modern branding taps into our longing for connection and meaning, but what it offers is shallow compared to the grace of God, who knew and loved us before we ever achieved anything. In Jeremiah, we see that God calls and equips imperfect people—not because of merit, but because His purposes are already accomplished through Jesus. As Christ's ambassadors, we are invited to lay down the pursuit of being "enough" and instead embody His love, resting in the truth that through Him, we already are.

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Scripture:

Jeremiah 1:4-10 NRSVUE

Jeremiah’s Call and Commission

4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7 But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
            says the Lord.”

9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”

Enduring The Race That Is Our Walk Of Faith

In Scripture, our faith journeys are often likened to a race—a test of endurance and resilience in our pursuit of Christlikeness, the ultimate prize. But in moments when we fall short and feel tempted to give in to discouragement, how can we continue to persevere in faith? It's easy to be overwhelmed by our shortcomings and challenges, especially when the goal feels distant. Yet, if we draw strength from the example of those who have gone before us and keep our eyes fixed on Christ—turning to Him in our trials—we can learn to endure alongside the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. God Disciplines His Children 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

The Gospel’s Challenge To A Generation of Egocentrism

2025-08-10 Sermon

Although fear, trauma, and egocentrism cultivate in us a tendency to serve ourselves and build walls, the gospel calls us to be blessed in order to bless others—to exhibit generosity of spirit, build bridges, and embrace interdependence rather than independence. In John 4, Jesus demonstrates the Father's calling by breaking through the cultural and religious norms of His time to meet with the Samaritan woman at the well. It's difficult to envision Jesus' radical behavior in today's world, where self-preservation and self-fulfillment are often prioritized. However, as humans created in the image of Christ—and as His disciples—we are called to a higher purpose and greater service: to bear Jesus' image and exhibit His radical love to the world.

Scripture:

John 4: 4-12, 27-35 

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

 

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

How to Break Out of the Echo Chamber

It’s easy to trap ourselves in an echo chamber. After all, it feels good to surround ourselves only with voices that affirm what we already believe—regardless of whether those beliefs are true. But we must ask ourselves: do we truly love the truth, or only when it’s convenient? When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, He calls her to confront the truth of her situation. In the same way, He calls us to face the truth—no matter how difficult it may be—because only then will our hearts and minds be ready for Him to truly transform our lives.

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Scripture: John 4: 1-32

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

4 Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. 3 So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee.

4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a])

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

17 “I have no husband,” she replied.

Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

 

The Prayer Audit

Prayer is more than a ritual or a measure of spiritual performance—it is a daily audit of our hearts in light of God's living Word. As Jesus taught in the Lord's Prayer, we are called to reorient our desires, surrender our will, and depend on God for grace, provision, and deliverance. True prayer awakens us—not a reluctant God—to His presence at our door, reshaping our priorities and transforming us into people who seek His kingdom above our own. In this way, prayer becomes less about tracking spiritual “progress” and more about being formed into the likeness of Christ through His presence.

Scripture:

Luke 11:1-13 NIV

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer
11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c]
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”