The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "The Need For Community in Adversity"

Because evil exists, we will inevitably face adversity in striving for our goals and in our fight for God's values. The story of the apostles in Acts 5 teaches us that though they faced imprisonment and persecution, their community was the bedrock from which they drew the strength to persevere against adversity. Precisely because the apostles were able to bounce back from hardship to fight for God's mission, we learn that the community of believers exists to encourage us when we feel too weak to continue towards our goals. That is why we need to cling to community not only in the face of adversity, but also in moments of joy so that we remember to celebrate overcoming our struggles.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Why the Fellowship of Believers Exists"

Today’s episode features a conversation between Pastor Lydia and Joe focused on the purpose of the fellowship of believers. The reason why the fellowship exists is because evil exists, but in contrast to the early church in the Book of Acts, the urgency regarding the conflict of good and evil is not reflected as strongly in this day and age, though it is the universal reality. Oftentimes, pettiness and quibbles amongst the fellowship can blind us from the importance of the true calling of the church, and we seldom live our lives in awareness of the spiritual warfare that we are subject to. This message serves as a reminder to not lose sight of the mission at hand, to unite in one mind and heart as brothers and sisters, and to seek first the kingdom of God above all other things together.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Flirting With Sin"

In today’s podcast, Pastor Lydia and Joe discuss the grave reality and implications of flirting with sin. The temptations we encounter through our lives are tantalizing and often appear innocuous and harmless in the moment, but in downplaying the severity of sin, we risk the danger of eroding our souls and a life of purpose and flourishing with Christ. It is a dangerous game we play, and often our duplicity, pride and stupidity can get in the way of overcoming sin. However, with a confessed life, shared between a fellowship of believers and God who knows the sins we wrestle within our hearts, we are equipped with the courage to combat a path of despair and pursue a flourishing one.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Allegiance and Opposition"

In the juxtaposition of a weekend that marks our country’s independence and a charged socio-political climate we currently reside in, we are reminded of the higher credence of intrinsic value amongst all people. In representing the gospel and upholding the truths we find as self-evident, it is relatively easy to say what we believe and value, but it is another matter to stand for these truths in the face of tension and opposition. For us as believers to stand for the imago dei of all individuals, it is in the opposition that the Spirit of God is at work, where faith is forged, and our allegiance to the kingdom is made known and made first.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "The Corrosive Nature of Power

In today’s episode, Pastor Lydia and Joe discuss the prophetic calling God has set in motion for each and every one of us. It seems obvious that the systems of power set in our societies have ultimately fallen short, and for many of us, it can appear daunting to rise to the call to affect any kind of change, hope, or healing in the name of Jesus.  However, the truth is that God uses the weak to shame the strong, uses seemingly ordinary people to change the world, and this is the narrative we become a part of as followers of Christ in obedience to the call of the Father. Tune in and join us on how God offers poetic justice through you and I.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Finding Healing in His Wings

Today’s podcast features a conversation with Pastor Lydia and Joe Lyu about why from 2 millennia ago to today, Jesus is the hope and the answer for this world. In a trying time of racial strife and injustice amid an unprecedented pandemic, how can we address a means for true change and healing in our upturned societies and broken systems? It is in the name of Christ, the one who came to make all things new, that we are raised with the courage to take risks and bring healing with our own hands - starting with small changes and shifts we are invited to make today that will have a ripple effect eternally.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Moving From Complicity to Courage"

With light being shed on the state of systemic racism in our society, how can we as believers wrestle with our role and responsibility to be a community that makes a difference? In moving from complicity in silence to courage in the face of injustice, we all are capable of doing something — no matter how small — by attending and attuning ourselves to our spheres of influence in the name of Christ. For it is in the name of Jesus that our cowardice can be redeemed into courage, that weakness can be transformed into strength, and that the fight against the face of evil can be waged by followers who represent the gospel well and make the difference that counts.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Becoming a Community of Healing

As we are witnessing the ripples of social and racial unrest, how is the community of God called to bring healing and the ministry of reconciliation in such a fractured and divisive state? In today’s podcast, Joe and Pastor Lydia talk about how this hope is rooted in Jesus. By modeling Christ-like humility, and thoroughly examining our sins and self-interest, each of us are positioned to heed the call to make our world better.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Discerning the Work of the Holy Spirit

In today’s Podcast, Joe and Pastor a Lydia discuss the ways in which we can observe and experience the fruits of the spirit by examining the changes that take place within us and around us. Many times we may witness spiritual work around us but how can we distinguish and discern whether it’s of a contrarian spirit or the Holy Spirit? What we do know, is that if we trace the branches to the vine, Christ who leads our authentic communities and brings us to them, we will find that the work of the Spirit has taken root.

Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "Gospel Conversations"

For followers of Christ, what differentiates the filling of the Holy Spirit from other experiences is not the good feeling we get, but rather the result of God affecting life change through our actions and conversations with others. Though we may resist the Spirit during the process, it convicts us of our need for God and His grace. Thus, when the spiritual exercise of our filling, our repentance, and then the outpouring of God from us to others takes place, it's not just for our empowerment, but also for the movement of the Spirit to remind us who Jesus is and to draw those outside the church towards God.