Antioch Waco

A study of Galatians by College Pastor Carl Gulley

Donny Martin has spent years in youth ministry, but one thing he never quite understood is the tendency to ask, “How many students were called to full-time ministry?” That’s because everyone is called to full-time ministry. Youth can change the world right now, and parents are ordained as pastors over their families. In Donny Martin’s message about being part of a family, he celebrates the younger generation’s strengths, while preaching God’s heart over their weaknesses. Many children today seem over-protected, over-connected and over-served, but the rubber meets the road when parents understand what worship looks like in between Sundays and they teach it to their kids.

How does God move out of the weakness in our lives? This week's message is from Don Steadman, the new Director of International Church Planting for Antioch Ministries International. Don has been there, done that. He’s been a businessman, a pastor, a father of six and a leader of a church planting movement in India. But it’s all happened out of weakness. He faced challenges when he was called out of ministry into business. He was diagnosed with cancer. He had to leave his home of 29 years to follow the calling of God on his life. But by simply saying yes and taking each baby step to which God called him, he learned about God’s heart for the poor and His mission in the nations. That same invitation is open to all of us today.

Did you have a woobie when you were little? Woobies, of course, are those things we held onto for security as children; blankets, teddy bears, a favorite toy… But what happens when we have woobies as adults? Jimmy Seibert continues his Ephesians series this week with a sermon on what to do when your desire for woobies crowds out your hunger for God. Ephesians 5:18-20 says that it’s better to be filled with the Spirit of God than with wine. We all seek worldly pleasure sometimes. It might be wine, T.V., food or any number of other comforts. But it’s far too easy to assume we need these things more than God, and it might be necessary to empty ourselves of the pleasures of the world to make room for the pleasures of God. Fasting is one great tool to do just that. Through fasting, we can access greater intimacy with God and spiritual breakthrough.

Ever been trying to hold a conversation with someone who has really rotten breath? This week, Jimmy continues his series, A Focus on Ephesians, with a teaching on something very similar. It’s called spiritual halitosis and it stinks! Ephesians 4:29-30 says to let no unwholesome talk come from our mouths. But what does the word “unwholesome” mean? In the biblical context, it has to do with any talk that is fowl and rotten, like a piece of bad fruit. It’s not just about cussing and lying. It also has to do with the critical speech we are so prone to spew. But where is the balance between “venting” and just “throwing up” all your junk? Jimmy explores this and many other topics in this sermon. This message is from Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas by Senior Pastor Jimmy Seibert

Do you believe in miracles? In the 1980 Winter Olympics, the United States hockey team famously made at least one commentator believe. They did so by pulling together against all odds and showing the world that God designed us all to be a part of a team. In this week’s installment of A Focus on Ephesians, Jimmy Seibert talks about what God’s team—the Church—is called to be. Ephesians 3:10-11 says the Church is the representation of God to a lost world. It is called to be an agent of transformation in society. We see it all throughout history in the stories of St. Patrick and the transformation of Ireland, or John Calvin and the restoration of Geneva. We believe God wants to do it again, right here in Waco, Texas! But to do so, we will have to pull together as a church. We must be the building of God, each one of us an individual brick, working together. We must be a family looking out for and serving one another. Most of all, we want to make a place for you to join in the journey with us! This message is from Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas by Senior Pastor Jimmy Seibert Follow Jimmy Seibert on Twitter: twitter.com/Jimmy_Seibert

Imagine being alive during King Herod’s time, when all were welcome to worship God at the temple as long as they stayed in their respective courts. There were courts for men, for women, for Jews and for Gentiles. Here at Antioch, we want to be a people who all worship not just in the same building, but in the same court. Teaching and Administrative Pastor Vince Carpenter shares a powerful message from Ephesians 2:11-22 that unity is diversity. It is the initiative of Jesus, a fruit of the Spirit and the heart of the Gospel. In Paul’s day, different races and ethnic groups were experiencing radical unity and it wasn’t because of a social action or the pride of man. It was because Jesus spilt His blood for all. But how do we as a church achieve that unity? Ephesians teaches us that it will take sacrifice, words of peace and a willingness to see God do something new.

Senior Pastor Jimmy Seibert once got to go to a basketball game with a congressman. He got floor seats, free refreshments and a slew of important people stopping by to say hello. But he didn’t get all this because he’s famous or important. He was simply enjoying the benefits of knowing somebody. In this week’s sermon in our series, “A Focus on Ephesians,” Jimmy preaches on the benefits we receive simply by knowing the greatest Somebody in the universe. Ephesians 1:20-23 says we are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. That means a lot. It means He has made a marriage covenant never to leave us or forsake us. It means He has become our vine, that we may be grafted into Him. It means we have constant access to Him throughout the day, every day. We can speak to Him at any time, and He will answer. This sermon digs deep into who we become simply by knowing Jesus.

Antioch Community Church is a church of people with a passion for Jesus and His purposes in the earth. This podcast features sunday sermons from the preaching pastors of Antioch Community Church.

It’s a new year and a fresh start at Antioch! Having wrapped up the Christmas sermon series, Jimmy Seibert kicks off the year sharing a message on what the Lord is speaking to us as a church in 2014. Jimmy’s favorite toy as a kid was his tricycle. He never went anywhere without it because it provided him a way to move forward with stability. Similarly, God is calling us to move forward this year in stability and growth. So what are those three wheels on Antioch's tricycle in 2014? The lead wheel is encountering God and being changed by His presence as it pulls us forward in power. But behind us are our two stabilizing wheels: discipleship and mission(s). And the frame that holds it all together is the church.

2014 is finally here, but do you feel like you’re just thankful to have made it through 2013? Are you even sure what you’re shooting for this year? Adult Pastor Van Vandegriff joins us this week with a teaching about our navigation system. What should it be, and how do we decide where we’re going? Most people feel like following God is a bit like following a GPS. You have some idea about where you’re headed, but you might have make a few wrong turns along the way. The Bible tells us a story about some wise men who traveled a long distance without GPS. You may have heard the story of the three magi growing up, but did you realize it’s a story rooted in thousands of years of prophecy and history? Van shares the full story of the magi and what it has to say about our modern-day life-navigation systems. This message is from Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas by Adult Pastor Van Vandegriff

Antioch Community Church is a church of people with a passion for Jesus and His purposes in the earth. This podcast features sunday sermons from the preaching pastors of Antioch Community Church.

The cookies have been eaten, the presents have been opened, Christmas has come and gone and you’re left with… A mess! Family Pastor Donny Martin joins us in figuring out how to clean up the relational mess of Christmas and make room for Jesus as you look forward to the new year. Whether time spent with family was merry or messy, there's still an awkward season in between Christmas and New Year’s. It leaves us wondering what to do with the previous year and what we should do this coming year. But maybe we’re not asking the right questions. Maybe we should be asking questions like, “How can I make next year’s Christmas more merry?” Instead of asking what our resolution for 2014 should be, maybe we should ask, “How can I make a bigger impact for the glory of God and the sake of others this year?”

Senior Pastor Jimmy Seibert concludes his Messy Christmas Series with the gift of hope.

“Let it go, Jimmy!” That’s the mantra Pastor Jimmy Seibert used to repeat to himself when the stress and anxiety of the holidays got to him. Thankfully, the Bible says Jesus gives peace in all circumstances. In this week’s edition of Messy Christmas, Jimmy Seibert explores the gift of peace. Psychologists have said the major issues that cause anxiety during the holidays are financial and family issues. It seems no matter how much you plan out your gift list or try to love those difficult family members, the stress still comes. But according to John 14:27, peace is a person and a promise. It is Shalom, the rule and reign of Jesus. In this sermon, Jimmy explains how we can overcome Christmas anxiety by having a “peace summit” with Jesus, so we can be peace-makers this year.