Radiant Church - Audio Podcast

In this stand-alone sermon from Pastor Jon Zondervan, we learn about the parable of the prodigal son and what it takes to get the Father’s heart. Focus Scripture // Luke 15:11-32 (ESV) “11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise an

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In the final week of DISCIPLE, Pastor Lee Cummings speaks on how we, as followers of Jesus, are a representative of Jesus’ kingdom and are the hands and feet of Jesus. Focus Scripture // Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received th

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 8 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Lee Cummings delivers a timely sermon sharing the important things we must remember surrounding the election. We must never forget what our mission is here on earth. Focus Scripture // Isaiah 6:1-13 (ESV) “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
 the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who c

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 7 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Lee Cummings teaches from John and discusses the importance of following the Lord over the things of this earth. Focus Scripture // John 10:22-30 (ESV) "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they f

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 6 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Jon Zondervan speaks from Luke about the prayer life of Jesus and what stood out about Him to everyone he was around. Focus Scripture // Luke 11:1-13 (ESV) “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”  2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.” 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend,

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 5 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Lee speaks from John 3 and reveals to us transformation that will occur in our lives when we center our lives around God’s presence and word. Focus Scripture // John 3:3, 5-6 (ESV) “Jesus answered him, “truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “Jesus answered, “truly truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Sermon Highlights A disciple is someone who finds, follows, and is becoming fully formed to be like Jesus. We find Jesus in our salvation experience. We follow Jesus

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly "follow Jesus?" DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 4 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Lee Cummings speaks from John 14 and uncovers the ways God designed us to follow Him. Focus Scripture // John 14:1-6 (ESV) "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" Ser

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 3 of DISCIPLE, Pastor Tim Matthews delivers his first sermon at Radiant Church and speaks on the need to want to be more like Jesus. If Jesus came up to you and asked what you wanted, what would your answer be? Don't miss this electrifying word from our church-wide series! Focus Scriptures Psalm 73:25-26 (ESV) “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Matthew 5:6 (ESV) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” John 6:15 (ESV) “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall no

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 2’s sermon titled, The Cost of Not Following Jesus, Pastor Lee reads the story of the rich, young ruler from Luke. We learn about obstacles we run into when following Jesus, along with what we can do to stay the course. Focus Scripture // Luke 18:18-25 (ESV) “And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sel

Today as we look across the landscape of Western culture, is it possible that we have an incomplete view of what it means to truly “follow Jesus?” DISCIPLE will define and distinguish the difference what it means to be a disciple of Jesus vs. a casual Christian and help each of us find the road forward as a disciple. In Week 1’s sermon titled, Come and You Will See, Pastor Lee dives into John 1 and introduces the question, “what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?” Focus Scripture // John 1:35-51 (ESV) Sermon Highlights A disciple = one who finds, follows, and is becoming fully formed to be like Jesus. Who do you follow? Who have you become disciples of? Are you a fan or a follower of Jesus? “The church changes the world not by making converts, but by making disciples.” - John Wesley What does it mean to become a disciple of Jesus? It’s answering the question, “what are you seeking?” Difference between being a cultural Christian and a disciple: 1. A cultural Christian believes because its conv

In this stand-alone sermon from Pastor Jon Zondervan, we dive into what may be the biggest answer to so many problems in our world today: kindness. Focus Scripture // Ephesians 4:29-32 (NKJV) “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Sermon Highlights God is going to use radical kindness to bring people together. It’s going to take courage to be kind. Let kindness work from the inside out. Put everything through the “truth in love” filter. Show kindness to those who don’t deserve it. Kindness will change the world. See kindness the way that God sees it. The answer to many of the questions and problems in our worl

The things you get busy with will not last in eternity – your prayers will. In the final week of our Revolutionary Faith series, Pastor Lee Cummings speaks on prayer and the unlimited access that each of us have to it. Focus Scripture // James 5:13-18 (ESV) “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore i

What we do today determines our harvest tomorrow. As we approach the end of our Revolutionary Faith series, Pastor Lee Cummings delivers a timely word on our role here on earth while we anxiously await the return of Jesus. Focus Scripture // James 5:7-11 (ESV) “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” Sermon Highlights We don’t want the kingdom without th

The gift of today matters – it matters because eternity matters. In this sermon from Pastor Lee Cummings, we focus on the importance of today. Not yesterday or tomorrow, but the moment we’re in right now. What are you going to do with this moment? To learn more about Radiant Church and to watch more videos like this one, visit www.radiant.church. Focus Scripture // James 4:13-17 (ESV) “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” Sermon Highlights A proper perspective of time and eternity affects the way that we live today. James is challenging the “sel

The way we go higher in the Kingdom is by going lower in His presence. Pastor Lee Cummings returns from sabbatical to bring an important message on wisdom and humility. Focus Scripture // James 3:13-4:10 (ESV) “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot o

God's not looking for your effort – He's looking for your surrender. Don't miss this brand new sermon from Pastor Caleb Culver about the power of your words. Focus Scripture // James 3:1-12 (ESV) “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on

In the third part of our Revolutionary Faith series, Pastor Jon Zondervan leads us through a pivotal topic within James chapter 2: discrimination amongst early-church believers based on their outward appearance and perceived social status. This biblical and encouraging message is a must-hear! Focus Scripture // James 2:1-4 (ESV) “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” Sermon Highlights Don’t let your heart grow cold. The love of God is meant to flow out through us. God is in the business of using unqualified people to advance His plan and pu

To continue with where Pastor Lee left off, Portage Campus Pastor Stefan Davis provides thorough biblical teaching based on James 1:13 about desire, sin, and overcoming sin by the 'plumbline' or reference point of God's Word! Focus Scripture // James 1:13 (ESV) “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” Sermon Highlights The enemy sets his game-plan of temptation Jesus is the Vaccine to the Flesh Jesus Forms Our Identity and Desires You Are an Overcomer Our greatest enemy is within, not without. With God's help, and looking to the 'plumbline' of His Word, we can overcome temptation!

To kick off the month of July, Pastor Lee Cummings begins a series called Revolutionary Faith focused on the difference between testing and tempting. You don’t want to miss this powerful sermon called The Book of James! Focus Scripture // James 1:1-18 (ESV) “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother b

God is once again calling His Church to remember. Remember who we were created to worship. Remember where we were when He came for us. When we again find ourselves pinned down by impossible circumstances and hear the echoes of accusation pursuing us, we must remember that it is He who is fighting for us, leading us and bringing us into a land flowing with milk and honey. In this hour, it’s time for us to follow the fire by night and cloud of His presence by day. In the final sermon from this powerful and timely series, Pastor Lee speaks out of Joshua 1 and encourages us to be bold and step into everything that God has for us. Focus Scripture // Johsua 1:1-9 (ESV) “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, j