Illuminate Community Church Podcast

Thank you for tuning in!  Continuing in our Heroes series, this week we look at Jacob's story and how his circumstances and interactions with God shows that the promises given to us are based on God's goodness, and not of our own doing.  God is with us, He will protect us, He is working everywhere, and He reveals Himself in our weakness and loneliness.  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz explains.  

Thank you for tuning in!  There is a quote from the wise King Solomon, who says of anger, "Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools."  In this lesson, Pastor Jason Fritz discusses the cause of destructive anger, and how to cure it.  

Thank you for tuning in!  There's a quote from one of the most influential Christian women of the 20th century, Elisabeth Elliot.  She said of the story of Abraham and Isaac, "If this story of Abraham tells us anything it tells you that sometimes your shepherd, who is trying to save you, will feel to you like he is trying to kill you."  With that said, Pastor Jason Fritz looks to drive some points through this text: God will call you to something outside of what you want.  Where God guides, He provides.  And Isaac points the way to the Gospel of Jesus.    

Thank you for tuning in!  G.K. Chesterton said, "It may be that God has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."  As Pastor Jason Fritz shows from the story of Sarah, the wonder of God is present in so many more ways than we tend to recognize.  Open up your heart as some of these ways are shown.  

Thank you for tuning in!  El Roi - translated the God who sees.  Theologians refer to this as omniscience.  The state of knowing everything.  Perhaps this is, above all others, God's attribute that brings calm to our lives.   God doesn't need human efforts to fulfill his divine promises.   Identity influences security. God is attentive to the broken and hurting. Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz explains these truths which the scripture points to.  

Thank you for tuning in!  Continuing with our study from last week, we find Abraham having questions about the nature of God, and His promises given to him.  As Pastor Jason Fritz explains, doubt is a normal part of faith, and that God knows and enters our doubts in the most remarkable way.  In Abraham's case, God went so far so as to make a covenant with him - one that would go beyond all measure of his imagination.  Allow this study to do the same for you!  

Thank you for tuning in!  This week, we study one of the forefathers of our faith.  Abraham, an obedient servant, who - through faith - trusted God, His provisions, and His guidance, has established a blueprint for how to live a life pleasing to Him.  As Abraham was called, so too are we all called.  Trust that this call is personal, missional, and will take us out of our comfort zone.  It is an invitation for us to live for something bigger than ourselves.  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz delves deeper into this story.  

Thank you for tuning in!  This man Noah should not be underestimated.  From his example we learn what it means to stand tall in the midst of extreme societal pressure.  Three things to take into consideration:  1. Obey God when things are beyond anything you can experience or conceive or comprehend.  2. Preach with your life.  3.  Faith is a blessing to your entire household.  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz breaks down the wonderful message that Noah delivered with his life.  

Thank you for tuning in!  First, the bad news - sin is real, but wait, it gets worse - sin is far more devastating than you think because it wants to control you.  Now, for the good news - the thing that wants to master you can itself be mastered.  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz explains.

Thank you for tuning in!  This week, we wrap up the book of 1 John.  In these verses, we find the writer John encouraging us to have confidence in the eternal life that is in Him.  We see that there is a certain type of prayer that He will always answer.  Also, we see how we know that we are in God who is true.  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz unwraps this rich text.

Thank you for tuning in!  Defining who God is also defines the faith by which we live by - the essentials.  But whose testimony and whose voice stands above others?  How do we know the difference between the voice of God in the midst of all other voices?  John points out that this testimony of God comes by the "spirit, the water, and the blood."  Listen in as Pastor Jason Fritz elaborates this text.  

Thank you for tuning in!  This week, a very special guest speaker - President of Phoenix Seminary, author... and Pastor Darryl DelHousaye delivers the finishing verses of 1 John 4.  As Christians, we know that God is love, and that God loves us, and that we love God.  But the question to address is, "How does anybody ELSE know?"  How is anybody else going to know that there is a thing called love, and that God is the author of love, and that God loves THEM?  

In our study, we find the specific type of love that God exemplifies through Jesus - the basis of our faith.  Pastor Jason Fritz breaks down the kind of love that is "the act in the best interest of another person, often given to those who are unlovable."  In the letter that has only 5 chapters, John writes the word "love" 44 times.  The truth is we can't give what we don't have, and so in order to love those around us, we first need to know who is the creator of it.  Then, we need an example of how that looks, so that we can then apply it.  

Thank you for tuning in!  Coming off of our Advent Series and continuing into our study of 1 John, Pastor Jason Fritz takes us into the pastoral urging and guidance of the Apostle John to his followers on how to differentiate between false teachers and the true Gospel of God.  With huge applications to today's environment, the patterns of Satan's attacks are still relevant: many of Christ's followers can be led astray with good intentions and errant teachings.  

The first installment of our "Advent" Series, Pastor Jason Fritz will take us into the character of Jesus Christ - the Word manifest - who was in the beginning and dwelled with God and is God.  The story of Christmas is one of redemption, written for the world to hear!  Here's one incredible facet of God: His love for us knows no bounds.  

Our identities in this world can have a profound affect on how we experience life and how we experience others.  Here, Pastor Jason Fritz covers 1 John 3, as the Apostle John talks about what it means to live under God's family.  Everyone on the planet is in one of two spiritual families.  Your family identity makes you, you.  Love is the birthmark of God's family members. 

This week, guest speaker Pastor Steve Johnson brings us back in after the "Saturday Night Life" mini-series into our study of 1 John.  Written by the Apostle John at an estimated age of 80 to 100 years old at the time, this week covers foundational principles we - as Christians - should use to gauge whether or not we're doing what we're supposed to be doing as believers.  

Sometimes a preacher or teacher in the church will assume the identity of a Christian but in fact they are not. The result is that people are led astray. So how do we avoid being deceived? John gives us help.

The pursuit of happiness is a God given right according to the founders of the United States. Still Americans still strive to find happiness and fail to do so. Circumstances should not be the determiner of what causes us to be happy. Jason Fritz Matthew 22:37-39 Ecclesiastes. 2:26 Philippians 1:21-23 Hebrews 12:2 Feel free to subscribe to our channel for future sermons and videos of our church! Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/illuminatecommunity Visit our home page: http://illuminatecommunity.com Find us at iTunes for audio sermons updated weekly "Illuminate Community" Services are held at 5:00pm on Saturdays at: 17800 N Perimeter Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Go in God's peace and grace, and shine your light!