The Woman Jesus is in Love With

In this spiritually hungry age, interest in the person of Jesus is unmistakable and enduring; at the same time, the popular image of the church that bears his name is less than flattering. In Paul Young’s novel, The Shack, Jesus explains to Mack that the church is more than a cold institution…she is "the woman I'm in love with". Scripture speaks of at least three marks of the church that is Jesus' beloved bride: beauty, faithfulness, and love. Click the link below to download.

http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/the-woman-jesus-is-in-love-with.mp3

Here Come Da Judge (October 25, 2009)

There comes a time when each of us is absolutely certain that we could be better umpires than God; and that we could make better judgment calls if given the opportunity. In The Shack, Paul Young’s character, Mack, gets that very opportunity; but in the end he's certain about one thing: “I don’t want to be the judge!” Here are 4 biblical reasons why.... Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/here-come-da-judge.mp3

The Keeper of the Garden (October 18, 2009)

"As Mack rounded the trees, he saw for the first time a magnificent garden....it was chaos in color...It was confusing, stunning, and incredibly beautiful....'Looks like a mess,' muttered Mack under his breath." (The Shack, p. 131). Our lives often feel like an unkempt garden, a random, chaotic mess. Yet, what seems like chaos to you and me – is a living fractal to God (a beautiful pattern that emerges out of seemingly random and chaotic events). Surprise! The Holy Spirit loves to work out God’s good plan in and through our messy lives. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/the-keeper-of-the-garden.mp3

Jesus in Jeans (October 11, 2009)

In Wm. Paul Young's novel, The Shack, Mack first sees Jesus "wearing jeans covered in wood dust and a plaid shirt, sleeves rolled above the elbows, revealing well muscled forearms. His features were pleasant enough, but he was not particularly handsome....Mack knew instantly that he liked him." What is it about Jesus Christ that drew people to him then, and that draw people to him today? The gospels are profoundly disinterested in Jesus' appearance; but they do suggest that he was great company, that he made God real, and that his life was profoundly human. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/jesus-in-jeans.mp3

Papa & the Trinity (October 4, 2009)

Like Mack, in Wm. Paul Young's book, The Shack, many of us have distorted images of God; distortions that can only be changed by an encounter with the true God at the point of our deepest hurts and disappointments. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/papa--the-trinity.mp3

The Great Sadness (September 27, 2009)

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Have you ever considered that great sadness might be one of God's greatest gifts? In Wm. Paul Young's novel, The Shack, Mack experiences a gut-wrenching personal loss that threatens to steal his faith and his hope. Mack's story illustrates several spiritual truths from scripture about grief: that it has a place in every human life; that it has many faces and expressions; and that God gives special grace to us in our sadness. Indeed, God can do miracles through those who mourn their losses, their sins, and the wrongs of this world that He wants to make right. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/the-great-sadness.mp3

Missy's Questions...and Ours (September 13, 2009)

Like Missy in Wm. Paul Young's novel, The Shack, most of us have a few nagging questions that we'd like to ask God. These are questions that Scripture also deeply cares about: God, are you real? Are you good? And finally, do you really care about me and my deepest pain? Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/missys-questions.mp3

A Labor of Love (September 6, 2009)

We can be professionals who are Christians…but God save us from becoming professional Christians! The labor we do for God is always a labor of love or it is nothing at all. Unlike the labor of our hands, it is a work motivated not by profit, prestige, or personnel reviews, but by God's love for us; our love for God, and our love for people. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/a-labor-of-love.mp3

Overflowing Encouragment (August 30, 2009)

Paul writes, "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us" (2 Corinthians 1: 3ff. / The Message) God is there for us so that we might be there for others. Are you going through some hard times? Listen to three powerful testimonies from Joseph Banuelos, Christine King, and Mirja Bishop...and experience God's encouragement right now. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/overflowing-encouragement.mp3

Walking on Feet of Clay (August 23, 2009)

For centuries, people have used the phrase “feet of clay” from Daniel 2: 31-32 to describe an unexpected flaw or vulnerable point in the character of a hero or any admired person. In our culture of celebrity what do we do when the person we most admire fails or disappoints us? Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/walking-on-feet-of-clay.mp3

Beware the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (August 16, 2009)

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf...in sheep's clothing? For centuries, the phrase has referred to any hidden danger or those who portray goodness while intending evil. Jesus reminds us that the wolf is not just at the door, he's inside the church. He gives us 4 tests to see through his phony disguise... even if we are the one's wearing it. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/beware-the-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing.mp3

Are You Casting Your Pearls Before Swine? (August 9, 2009)

Jesus wants us to know that each of us has in our possession things that are far more costly, far more valuable than gold, silver, or pearls. Do you know what they are; and how you will keep them out of the pig pen? Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/are-you-casting-your-pearls-before-swine.mp3

Thorns in Paradise? (August 2, 2009)

As good as things may seem to be in this life (or as bad) this is not the end! The end is eternal life. Paradise, real paradise, is yet to come. Through his all-sufficient grace, Christ is empowering us to serve him here in this imperfect world…and in the world to come. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/thorns-in-paradise.mp3

God Bless Our 'Drop in the Bucket' (July 5, 2009)

Is America 'the greatest nation on God's green earth' or just 'a drop in the bucket'? As citizens of the kingdom of God, we're called to pray for and bless the country in which we live; while acknowledging that it is -- in the words of Isaiah - 'a drop in the bucket' when compared with the immensity and power of God. America's future depends on its willingness to be a humble servant of God among the nations. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/god-bless-our-drop-in-the-bucket.mp3

Can a Leopard Change Its Spots? (June 28, 2009)

Last Thursday, two entertainment icons died – Farrah Fawcett was an icon of female beauty, and Michael Jackson an icon of pop music: for both of them, personal change was one of their biggest challenges. For all of us, change can be scary; and may seem impossible given our stubborness and sinful nature. But there is hope of real change in a grace-filled community, with a new vision of who God says we are, in the practices of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/can-a-leopard-change-its-spots.mp3

Are You Ready to Get Some Rest? (June 21, 2009)

On this Father’s Day, a day supposedly of rest, it is our Heavenly Father who teaches us the true purpose of rest and how to experience its greatest blessings. In this message we explore the origin, necessity, and practice of sabbath rest. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/are-you-ready-to-get-some-rest.mp3

Time to Put Your House in Order (June 14, 2009)

If all we’ve done to put our house in order is to vacuum the carpet, or make sure that our property is properly disposed of when we die, we have some unfinished business (and praying) to do. Putting your house in order means trusting God to bring order, harmony, and healing, to your house….in whatever way he chooses…and then to bring you to his Father’s house to live with him forever. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/time-to-put-your-house-in-order.mp3

Pride Goes Before the Fall (June 7, 2009)

If Solomon is right and pride goes before the fall then let’s face it: we’ve all fallen flat on our faces. The good news is that by the grace of God we can recognize the signs of false humility and spiritual pride, and begin to grow in genuine humility by the example and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/pride-goes-before-the-fall.mp3

There's Nothing New Under the Sun (May 24, 2009)

The "Searcher" of Ecclesiastes explores four approaches to finding true satisfaction in life: the pursuit of knowledge, the devotion to work and career, the desire to be forever young, and the thrill of pleasure or anything new. His conclusion is that all is "emptiness" and that "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). It's a grim outlook, until we understand, as he did, that the ground of truth that gives meaning to our work, offers the hope of life beyond death, and is endlessly new and exciting cannot be found "under the sun" but beyond it (Ecclesiastes 2:26)! Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/theres-nothing-new-under-the-sun.mp3

It's More Blessed to Give Than Receive (May 17, 2009)

“It’s more blessed to give than receive.” This is a saying we might expect to see above a kitchen table, nicely cross stitched in a matted frame; but few of us would think of it with the seriousness that Paul used it on the day he bid a final farewell to his dear friends in Ephesus. For when Paul used it he wasn’t talking about a plate of cookies or a large and impressive sum of money, he was talking about his life. Jesus says that it is a blessing to receive; but that it’s an even greater blessing when we learn how to give. Paul explains why. Click the link below to download.
http://media.monkserve.com/EKK/2218/it-is-more-blessed-to-give-than-to-receive.mp3