Living Word Family Church Sermon Podcast

Prayer may be the most talked-about and least-practiced thing in the church. In this Wednesday night message, Pastor Mike Mack walks straight through Scripture to make one case: God's people are meant to pray. He starts where Jesus starts — "always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1) — and shows that the unjust judge of that parable isn't a picture of God but the opposite of Him. Where a worn-down judge finally gives in, our Father hears gladly and answers speedily. From there he opens John 17, Jesus praying for Himself, for His disciples, and — 2,000 years ahead of time — for us, then follows the early church through Acts, where every advance is preceded by prayer and the room itself shakes when believers pray together. Warm, plainspoken, and full of Scripture, it ends where it should: not with more talk about prayer, but with prayer.

The church at Colossae had started reaching for something more — a hidden knowledge, a deeper secret, one more step past Jesus toward God. Paul answers them with a Person. In Colossians 1:24–2:15, Pastor Scott walks us through the mystery that was hidden for ages and has now been revealed: not a formula, not a secret, but Christ in you, the hope of glory. We look back at Israel, who mixed the worship of the true God with the idols of the nations and lost the very thing that made them distinct. We stand with Moses at the mountain, refusing to go one step farther without the presence of God. And we land at the cross, where the record of debt that stood against us was canceled — set aside, nailed to the cross, paid in full. If you have been striving to add something to Jesus, this message is rest for you. Everything you have been reaching for has already been accomplished, and it was accomplished for you.

As we continue our study of Paul's letter to the Colossian church, one of the first things we encounter is a clear and bold declaration of the deity and supremacy of Jesus Christ. So what is Paul talking about when he says he's filling up what was lacking in Christ's sufferings? 

Pastor Mike brought a strong, practical teaching on spiritual warfare, reminding us that while we live in a fallen world, God has equipped every believer with everything needed to stand firm. Drawing from Ephesians 6, he emphasized the importance of recognizing the enemy’s strategies, refusing deception, and putting on the full armor of God. This message encourages believers to stay alert, walk wisely, resist the devil, and live in the victory Jesus already secured.

This week, Pastor Scott continued our Colossians series by addressing the danger of pursuing the *wrong kind* of knowledge. The Colossian church was being pulled toward Gnosticism — a philosophy promising secret, higher truths — and away from the simple, powerful gospel they first received. Pastor showed how Paul redirects them to the **knowledge of God’s will**, the **centrality of Christ**, and the **completed work of redemption**. This message calls us to reject self‑focused spiritual “levels” and embrace the kind of knowledge that leads to obedience, transformation, and a life that pleases the Lord.

Pastor Scott opened a brand‑new series in the book of **Colossians**, laying the foundation for why this letter matters today. He walked us through Paul’s background, his imprisonment, the challenges facing the early church, and why Colossians stands as one of the clearest declarations of Christ’s supremacy in all Scripture. This first message sets the stage for understanding how believers can stay grounded in truth, resist false teaching, and walk in the power of the gospel they first received.

As we wrap up our series on Holiness, it's worth looking at what the Bible says about how God rewards us in eternity. Is it like a payday? Do some receive greater rewards? Are we actually rewarded for our degree of holiness? The Word of God will challenge us and comfort us if we look into it carefully for the answers.

In talking about holiness, we have heard more than once that we need to see the world through the eyes of Christ, and think the way Jesus thinks, or words to that effect. The Bible talks about us having the mind of Christ, which seems astonishing. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?