

Word of Life Church Podcast
Pastor Brian Zahnd
Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri is a thriving non-denominational church led by Pastor Brian & Peri Zahnd. We are followers of Jesus seeking to be an authentic expression of the kingdom of Jesus in the twenty-first century. Additional sermon audio and other resources are available on our church website at wolc.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 9, 2024 • 33min
The Gospel as Overcoming the Monster
Exploring the concept of storytelling in relation to human desires, this podcast delves into the seven basic plots found in literature and movies. It discusses the symbolism of the sea monster in biblical prophecy, the triumph of Jesus over death and evil, and modern iconography portraying Jesus as a hero defeating evil.

Jun 2, 2024 • 39min
Lord of the Story
Explore the power of prayer and the transformative nature of gospel storytelling in this podcast. Discover the grand narrative of stories and how stories like Lord of the Rings align with the Christian gospel. Hear about personal testimonies that intertwine with the story of Jesus and how inviting Jesus into personal narratives can lead to a deeper understanding of the gospel.

May 26, 2024 • 35min
The Circle of Divine Love
The unique way Christians talk about God is found in ancient language. We say God is a Holy Trinity. We believe the one true living God, the creator God, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob has been revealed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in one God, one divine essence and substance in three persons. The doctrine of the Trinity is important and essential because it tells us who God is and subsequently who we are.

May 19, 2024 • 37min
The Very First Church
Exploring the birth and growth of the very first church, emphasizing unity and dedication to the teachings of the apostles. Emphasizing the value of incorporating historical prayers into spiritual practice and the significance of prayer in community. Join a guided prayer and confession session led by hosts, focusing on themes of forgiveness and grace.

May 12, 2024 • 29min
Christ of the Tanakh
Tanakh is a Hebrew acronym for the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings/Psalms. After his resurrection Jesus told his disciples, "Everything written about me in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. If we want our minds to be opened to understand the Scriptures, there’s one essential key: The aim and end, the Alpha and Omega, the promise and fulfillment of all Scripture is…Jesus Christ!

May 5, 2024 • 29min
The Uncontrollable Mystery
Exploring the profound mysteries of Christ, universe, and encountering God as an uncontrollable mystery. Revival of faith in secular societies and communion, confession, and invitation to the table

Apr 28, 2024 • 36min
Pastures of Peace
The landscape of our current culture seems to be filled with fury and it has left the condition of our souls vexed with anxiety. If we trust and follow Jesus, the one who cares for our soul, he will lead us, as the Good Shepherd, out of the landscape of fury and into pastures of peace.

Apr 21, 2024 • 34min
Freed from the Chains of the Fear of Death
Exploring engaging prayerful practices with the Psalms, embracing God's comfort in death, seeking forgiveness through confession, and reflecting on life after death from a Christian perspective.

Apr 14, 2024 • 36min
Why Are You Frightened?
Do you believe in ghosts? The disciples may have. Upon seeing the resurrected Jesus, they wrongly assumed he was a ghost. This opens the door for Jesus to assure them(and us) that he has risen indeed. If Jesus has been raised, then death has been defeated, and we need not fear. Therefore, Jesus continues to ask "Why are you frightened?".

Apr 7, 2024 • 34min
A Doorway into a New Life
One way to think about the resurrection is to see it as Jesus’ first step towards ascension. Another way is to think of the resurrection of Jesus like a wormhole, a tunnel through time and space. From this perspective, Jesus went into death creating a passageway from this broken down world into God’s new world where all things are new again. In stepping through that doorway into the place where God the Holy Spirit is making all things, we have the opportunity to participate with the Spirit. We participate by stripping off everything associated with our old sinful nature and putting on our new nature created to be like God. We strip off everything that doesn't look like Jesus so we can be like the God revealed in Jesus. A new life is waiting for you. Are you ready for it?