Activate with Pastor Christian Newsome

Jesus used a short story about a father and his two sons to teach a deep spiritual truth. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian further explains the meaning behind this parable found in Matthew 21. We will discover that our actions will always speak louder than our words.

Healthy trees that produce delicious fruit have a healthy root system. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian unpacks the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree found in Luke 13. In this parable, Jesus used a tree that wasn't producing fruit to teach a deeply spiritual truth. Christians who desire to produce fruit in their life must have a strong root system grounded in a close relationship with Jesus.

Arguably one of the most well known stories that Jesus taught was the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus taught that being a "good neighbor" requires mercy and compassion. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Ryan shows us that the greatest demonstration of our love for God is how we demonstrate love for others.

Forgiving others can be one of the most difficult things. When Jesus was asked how many times we should forgive someone who has wronged us, his answer was shocking. "70 time 7." 490 times we should be willing to forgive? In this episode of Activate, we will discuss why forgiveness is so important and how we can effectively prepare our hearts to forgive.

God has naturally given everyone natural talents and abilities. Furthermore, if you are a Christian, God has also given you supernatural gifts. In light of the "Parable of the Talents" found in Matthew 25, Pastor Christian and Pastor Brandon discuss the responsibility we all have as Christians to invest those talents and gifts into the lives of others.

"Teach us to pray." This is what the disciples asked of Jesus because they wanted to know how to pray like he did. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian discusses a parable shared in Luke 11 where Jesus himself emphasized the importance or prayer. Pastor Christian talks about why you should pray and shares practical tools that will help develop the habits and discipline of prayer in your life.

Sixteen of the 38 parables that Jesus taught referenced how to properly handle money or possessions. This is the case in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12). In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian unpacks this parable and helps us understand the importance of generosity.

Let's be honest, some of the parables that Jesus taught are difficult to understand, unless you understand the context in which they were originally shared. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian unpacks the parable of the "10 Virgins" found in Matthew 25:1-13. You will learn the importance of being ready for the return of Jesus and "keeping the fire burning" in the lives of others. Pastor Christian also references great Study Bibles: - The NIV Study Bible - The ESV Study Bible - The MacArthur Study Bible - The Life Application Study Bible

In the parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13, Jesus talks about four types of soil. The soil represents four conditions of the heart. In this episode, Pastor Christian discusses important lessons we can learn from the parable and how the condition of our heart will determine the impact we have on the lives of others.

Pastor Christian discusses the powerful parable taught by Jesus entitled "The Wheat and the Weeds" (Matthew 13:24-30). From this parable we learn that both God and satan are sowing seeds in our lives. We need to learn to water the "wheat" and to protect the promise from the enemy.

Jesus often taught in parable that were earthly stories that revealed to have a spiritual meaning for those who will seek out the deeper meanings of it. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Christian discusses the significance of the Parable of the mustard seed found in Matthew 13:10-17. He will challenge us to protect the seed of faith that has been placed in our hearts so that our lives can have deep impact in the faith of others.

Mental illness affects nearly half of adults in the United States and one out of every five young people. The church must talk about mental health. As individuals we must be prepared to address mental health if we are going to step fully into God's purpose for our life. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Mike shares practical tools we can use to recognize mental health concerns and how we can begin to address this mess. If you or someone you know has concerns with mental health, text "Journey Mentalhealth" to 474747. We will provide resources that will help get you on track for healing.

Mental illness affects nearly half of adults in the United States and one out of every five young people. The church must talk about mental health. As individuals we must be prepared to address mental health if we are going to step fully into God's purpose for our life. In this episode of Activate, Pastor Mike shares practical tools we can use to recognize mental health concerns and how we can begin to address this mess. If you or someone you know has concerns with mental health, text "Journey Mentalhealth" to 474747. We will provide resources that will help get you on track for healing.

The presence of stress in our lives can cause an incredible mess. The effects of stress can be physical, emotional, mental and relational. As Pastor Christian addresses the mess of stress, we will learn that stress ultimately is a spiritual problem. We can experience relief with proper rest.

Unless you address the mess of bitterness in your life, you will struggle stepping in to God's purpose for you. In this special Mother's Day episode, Danielle Newsome and Stephanie Ward share practical ways they have battled bitterness in their life as moms and ministry leaders.