The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

Calling Unpacked: Sacred Mission

Continuing the message of the retreat, many of us are conditioned to live a life of hurry, so we become impatient and dismissive of other people. Missing out on important moments and being unable to slow down harm our ability to give and receive love, because we dismiss other people’s stories when we’re rushing to the next goal or station in life. It is imperative for us to learn to cherish people and their stories, because at the heart of the Christian faith is a God who sees each person as sacred and who wants to work through us as participants of His grace.

Calling Unpacked: Session 1

Calling Unpacked: Sacred People

Our lives are often compared to a rat race, one full of the anxiety and angst caused by hurry, day in and day out. Those of us who are gunning for that prize, promotion, or success often don't think to slow down. But on this fast track, we invariably miss out on some of the greatest moments and people that our days have to offer and face loneliness. In order for us to slow down and learn to listen to what God is doing in us, our 2019 retreat, “Calling Unpacked”, zeroes in on ruthlessly eliminating hurry in our lives, nourishing the sacred in our time and places, and cultivating sacred friends whom we can truly depend on in our suffering. In the end, the redemption of how God turns our suffering into his trophies of grace is better done in the company of trusted friends, in the sacred moments, and for the sake of our fellow brothers and sisters in their own pain.

Day in the Sun: Failure (The "F" Word)

For many of us, the feeling of failure can be crippling. In whichever form we experience it, we tend to define ourselves by our failures when ultimately, failure boils down to a matter of perspective. Perspective can be the critical difference between fatalism and confidence in our narratives. This can encourage believers and seekers alike that the Lord's grace through Christ is the commitment that God made to see our flourishing through to the end.

Holy Ghost: Overcoming Setbacks

What can we do when we feel like simply giving up when we experience adversity and setbacks for our goals and purpose? In today's podcast, Pastor Lydia and Joe talk through what it's like to develop intensity and curate it to overcome the anxiety and chronic resignation we may undergo when we experience resistance, the importance of HIP (High Intensity Prayer) in our faith, and the responsibility we have in protecting destiny, so that others may live theirs in Christ.

Holy Ghost: Opposition

Whenever we encounter times of difficulty, it is not uncommon for many of us to feel a strong desire to quit, especially with worthy endeavors. There may be criticism and forces against us that prevent us from ultimately realizing God’s promises in our lives, and so we tend to lose perspective on why we can place our faith in the gospel. The good news of the gospel lies in the faithfulness of the Father, a confidence we can place in God, because he will finish the work he has started in us.

Holy Ghost: Heart of Worship

In today's episode, Joe and Pastor Lydia have a conversation about the tension surrounding our competing interests among sincere hearts for God. It's not uncommon that many of us might feel the pull to attend to the nice things we acquire in life, but how can we continue to live for the mission? Though our dealings may be shady, our character not fully there as emphasized by Abrams story, God cherishes our direction and sincerity of heart that seeks to honor God with no other intentions than to honor him.

Holy Ghost: Altars

In today's episode, the team introduces the next installation of this podcast series called: The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends". The focus will be on spiritual conversations that integrate faith and life in every plane of our lives and relationships and how we as followers and seekers can grow closer with the Father. To kick us off, Joe and Pastor Lydia, Pastor of Transformation and Worship Leader At 180, talk about altars: what they mean in the 21st century, and why we should create them.

Day in the Sun: Safe vs. Sorry

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” is a common catechism we may hear when we evaluate the risks involved with making a decision. Though we may consider playing it safe, how often do we consider the alternative that sometimes, we may also be sorry that we played it too safe? That is why, despite the adversity and challenges we may come across, mission persists, because it is a worthy cause. We believe that Day in the Sun provides a space for us believers and seekers alike to persevere and worship the savior together, Jesus.

Holy Ghost: Spheres Of Influence

As we've been talking about calling and purpose in our lives, we shift gears to define what following Jesus actually looks like in the everyday. Generally, we struggle to understand the potential that God has for our lives because we underestimate how we can be used to fulfill the ultimate calling of living for Jesus. We often discount our own influence, gifts, and growth to a point where we forget to pay attention to the people around us in whom we can make a difference. But the truth is that no matter how ordinary we feel and how small our lives may seem, we are meant to walk confidently to effect change in our spheres of influence. This is not because of our own individual strengths, but because we are given authority by our relationship with God to be the light to those who need God.