Resident Strangers

Welcome to part 2 of the discussion surrounding marriage! Last week the conversation centered around what God wants in and through marriage. This week Steve and Rich are discussing the difficult topic of divorce. The reality is that divorce trends are similar between the world and the Church. Steve states that divorce is not this "scarlet D" people have to wear as an unforgivable sin, but we do know that it is not God's ideal. God's ideal is one man and one woman together for one lifetime and Rich reiterates that it is God's desire that it would be permanent. Are there permissible grounds for divorced? Can a divorced person get remarried? What happens if someone in a Christian marriage walks away from the Lord? Steve and Rich discuss these things but start with encouraging people to not ever have divorce as an option on the table when things get difficult in marriage (this of course does not include instances of abuse). It is vital to recognize and understand the commitment that was made. Unfortunately, the Church has been heavily influenced by culture in this area. In Matthew 19 the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce. Steve and Rich have slightly different interpretations of this passage though they agree on the fundamentals. What about adultery? How long should a couple try to make it work? Rich, Steve and Sarah stress that this conversation is not necessarily including situations of abuse. God is a God of redemption, and His grace can cover even the most difficult of circumstances. He can redeem the most broken situations in the world. We hope this discussion was helpful and insightful. We'll be back next week with part 3!Josh + Rachel Fricovsky's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 117 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PmYYm5IsZj00RVWgk9cHK?si=b00265aefc1d4d26*available wherever you listen to podcastsDivorce Care - https://dscchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2060995Marriage Mentoring - https://dscchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/900260AZ Covenant Marriage License - https://azcourthelp.org/topics/marriage/covenant-marriageDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsSign up for the Resident Strangers email list - http://eepurl.com/iwv3UgQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Believe it or not Steve and Rich have reached the end of the doctrinal statement they've been working through. Time flies when you're having fun, right? This point will be split into three parts over the next three weeks. No need to worry about being at the end of the doctrinal statement as Steve and Rich have plenty more to talk about when it comes to thinking like a Christian in this foreign world. Today on the podcast Steve and Rich are tackling an issue that has become extremely divisive in our culture over the last few decades and that is the topic of marriage. It can clearly be seen in culture how the misunderstanding of marriage has caused so much damage. This conversation focuses on all the positive elements of the design that God has for marriage. Genesis is the first place marriage is seen in scripture and chapter 2 is where God's design is laid out. Marriage between a man and a woman is the most important relationship that humans will ever know or experience on earth. To be fully known, fully loved and fully trusted can be truly experienced in the commitment and covenant of marriage. Steve speaks to the idea that a spouse does not offer completion as that is found in a relationship with Jesus alone. Identity in Christ is what brings value and worth. If someone is single it does not mean they're "missing something." The episode ends with Sarah asking Steve and Rich how they feel their wives (Tami + Larissa 😊) best compliment them. Make sure you plan to join us next week for Part 2 of this conversation!Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsSign up for the Resident Strangers email list - http://eepurl.com/iwv3UgQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Welcome back to Resident Strangers! Steve and Rich are picking right back up with the importance of the Church. When someone comes to faith in Christ their priorities should certainly include the body of Christ. We are not only saved from sin but saved into the Church. Have you ever thought about what it would like if everyone was living fully invested in the body of Christ? God designed each person to be a part of this community. Steve uses the analogy of a cheetah stalking its' prey to talk through the protection that comes with being in the community of God. The evil one will always go for the one who is not living in that protection. Rich points out that being in the Church not only brings protection but also growth towards maturity. A key aspect of this involves humility and that is hard to deal with in the culture we live in. Sarah speaks to the importance of the Church when it comes to dating and marriage relationships. It's vital! Sometimes as Christians there has to be a willingness to call out and question behaviors and decisions. Steve brings up the unfortunate reality that church hurt does exist. There can be pain in the church, but Jesus gave us a way to deal with this in the community of faith. Steve shares that so many of the situations he is brought into as a pastor are because people don't deal with interpersonal relationships the way Jesus said to. Matthew 18:15-20 is a crucial passage to understand. This episode covers truths that are so important for believers to understand. We hope it encourages you and causes you to reflect on the importance of the Church. Nate Fish's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 47 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W8TIZTri2BtdeACRwOSDw?si=a9b0edb9ce474e06*available wherever you listen to podcastsDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list - http://eepurl.com/iwv3UgWould you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Steve and Rich are continuing in the Desert Springs doctrinal statement today talking about something very near and dear to their hearts; that is the church. What exactly is the church? Is it a specific building or place? How much do the people in the church matter? Does the church exist to merely provide "religious services"? What does it mean to be a member of a church? Rich encourages us to start with Jesus when thinking about these things. In the later part of Mark 3 Jesus states that the church really functions as a family. Jesus was essentially calling His followers to realign their thoughts on who they belong to. Is it fair for someone to say, "I love Jesus, but I don't love His church"? A lot of this comes down to the idea that our identity in Christ includes our identity in Christ's family - the Church! Steve speaks to the fact that many American Christians unfortunately have a complete misunderstanding of what the Church should be. It is not a building, a time of the week, a service provider; it is a community. We don't just go to church; we ARE the Church. The Church should not be a place that someone just comes and goes. Ephesians 2 speaks to temple language that was seen in the Old Testament and Rich helps to bring clarity on where God's presence now dwells. 1 Corinthians 12 also speaks to how God has gifted each person to serve and minster within the Church, a truly beautiful picture. The concept of a "solo Christian" is totally absent from the Bible. Have you ever thought about the fact that you don't just need the Church body but that the Church body needs you? Come back next week for part 2 of this conversation! When the Church Was a Family by Joseph H. Hellerman: https://www.amazon.com/When-Church-Was-Family-Recapturing/dp/0805447792/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZX6L7S4EWZ3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iNgW2eszfEH3pr7bRIAzl-V-apejhdZSCczY_nzKXDih3rRxFIQpyhGhgfdbTFeZ1tbv-Z-jeNu6z2KAVI4qO6IQ4T9b04j7h5R1CvDbxzs05j42ue7GvUykDgexzctknM8hNXuaOVwXeXsSjfs1JTvwMdpMwNURNbF-8VMjSx0S2XvOs1N-7C8dtQofUCdswQAmdmcxLPBNuriDg9llQL3KeH7Cq4gWgvx6xl4g6qg.qHKEdiKHWUQuN1o0maE67H7z8LVfZnPLmLMX5qxSEZ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=when+the+church+was+a+family&qid=1714593835&sprefix=when+the+church+%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-1Rich Holland's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 45: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4O9jSmbkZgC9taWVeRiqxS?si=24519f1c8d494e2d *available wherever you listen to podcastsSteve Engram's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 100: https://open.spotify.com/episode/446WRLtZyjtY7hKf2IfR2N?si=ecace4448919474b*available wherever you listen to podcastsDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsSign up for the Resident Strangers email list - http://eepurl.com/iwv3UgEmail residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

This week on Resident Strangers Steve and Rich are continuing their discussion on the future bodily resurrection. Everything about the future bodily resurrection has to do with the resurrection of Jesus. Rich points out that Paul really frames this as something to bring believers hope. What exactly does it mean that bodies will be raised and restored? Paul again focuses on it being a spiritual body and not necessarily a physical body. Steve and Rich talk about how it appears in scripture that the bodies will be different from what we know now. Sarah asks about cremation and if that affects anything about this future resurrection. Rich and Steve quickly share their thoughts though they have slightly differing opinions on this. There may need to be a separate episode on that topic alone! All in all, a believer should look forward to the redemption of the body. There will be no sin and no temptation as all will be made new. The conversation turns to the idea of rewards that will be received in heaven. All who believe in Christ will appear at the Bema Seat of Christ. This is where rewards will be given based on what was done to build the Kingdom. This is another reason why living for Jesus today matters so greatly. 2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13-14 and Romans 14:10,12 all point to this judgement seat of Christ. How does justification received from faith fit into this? To clarify this does not have to do with salvation but rather it is an opportunity to live for Christ and serve Him well. This is an episode you'll want to take notes on!Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsSign up for the Resident Strangers email list - http://eepurl.com/iwv3UgQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

The whole gang is back together on Resident Strangers! Rich is back from his break and is once again joining Steve and Sarah in the studio. They're jumping right back into the doctrinal statement held at Desert Springs, talking about the future bodily resurrection. This is a concept that brought hope to people who heard it then and continues to bring hope to believers now. Eternal life is truly brought through Jesus. The physical body is not what makes someone who they are, it is the spirit within. 2 Corinthians 5 says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Those who believe in Jesus will live forever but the question is where? What exactly is included in the new earth? It is important to remember that this eternal life in the new earth is only for those who have believed and trusted in Jesus as their Savior. The reality is that hell is also a place that people will go after death. Jesus is very clear that hell is a real place, He talks about it quite a lot in the new testament. This is something that should seriously motivate believers to be sharing with those around them. When someone dies is there a place before the Great White Throne judgement? Is being in the presence of God immediate from the moment of death? Steve and Rich break those questions down. Near the end of the conversation Steve quotes C.T. Studd who said, "only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." Make sure you come back next Tuesday as this topic will be delved into further!Steve Engram's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 100 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/446WRLtZyjtY7hKf2IfR2N?si=51e6ccc7ed964e49*available wherever you listen to podcastsDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Our beloved co-host Rich will be joining back in again next week so this episode will just be a conversation with Steve and Sarah. If you've been a regular listener, you know that Steve and Rich have been working through the doctrinal statement that our church (Desert Springs Community Church) holds. Since August of last year, they have been breaking down each element of the doctrinal statement week to week with a few one-off episodes here and there. Believe it or not they are nearing the end of the doctrinal statement! But don't worry, Steve and Rich have plenty more to discuss and will be continuing episodes even after the doctrinal statement has been worked through. This week Steve and Sarah take the opportunity to give you an inside look into the heart and mind of a church staff member. Since they are both church staff members, they felt qualified to speak on this 😉 What is the best way to support the leadership of a church? What are the stressors a church staff member is faced with? How does a Senior Pastor balance the opinions of others with the way God is leading? Steve and Sarah both get personal in answering these questions and ultimately communicate their allegiance to Christ first, then to His people. As a church staff member, it is incredibly important to have community and people to lean on. What are ways that those who are not in vocational ministry can encourage those that are in church leadership around them? Having grace and not immediately ascribing motive is something that church staff highly value, especially when the inevitable mistakes are made. Prayer for leaders and staff members is even more important! We hope this conversation was enlightening to you and pray it is a positive reminder to provide support, love, grace and prayer for your church leadership. Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Shawn Jones once again joins Steve and Sarah in the studio to continue the discussion on witnessing, specifically diving into the concept of oikos. Many might be familiar with Oikos the yogurt brand, but did you know that oikos is an important word to know for a Christian wanting to make a difference in Jesus' name? If you attend Desert Springs, you're hopefully already familiar with this word but if you're not it is a Greek word which means "household" or essentially "your people." When looking at how the Gospel first spread the concept of oikos is so apparent; John 1 shows how this idea plays out with John the Baptist. This concept is still seen today as 78% of people who come to know Christ come through a relationship within their direct community. Shawn shares his personal story of how his brother-in-law at the time influenced him greatly to come to know Jesus. But it took time; it was not an overnight process. Steve shares that pastors do have great impact for the Gospel but that the greater influence often lies in the community who are sharing in day-to-day life. With this in mind, will revival come from a pulpit or from a community? Time and time again Jesus is telling those who knew Him or were healed by Him to go and share. Shawn encourages that anyone who has come to know Jesus has the truth to share. Shawn and Steve also give very practical advice and wisdom on how to start going about these things in daily life. All believers are called to live on mission. This is a very valuable conversation that we hope causes you to think and grow in this area!8 to 10, The World Is Smaller Than You Think by Tom Mercer - https://www.amazon.com/World-Smaller-Than-You-Think/dp/0984036407/ref=sr_1_1?crid=KV0WPK0O894K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.C5ZUjDTgzMvbNKRt9ZM-eKx0PtpDycDHmAeOunuKAIWX1NWMeNe5IjVbSSt7D1UFYZ8B_mEZctHl_nqD-D4DoQlOuJ9r2Gij-8L9pnj5tYNSB3Zt0QgXcFO4B2F0SDfCcbNgvRxcdGWNuzLHOM6x0WnZ7PlvAp1IP-a7-2d0PdO0KrQsVzWYs24jOW4tShQUFZzwS1XMpR4XYTx6JPJL0sHjaG9B0jFVzFx9ZbkjlYo.MHrlQsnOJ2Ca1_uh8Tt-5CSwcRwTBtskcWVH6slkWBo&dib_tag=se&keywords=8+to+15+the+world+is+smaller+than+you+think&qid=1712449902&sprefix=8+to+15+the+worl%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1The Now Life podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/2DLpahhlEwZvhqAs0GgKWt?si=681f8617dec64d57*available wherever you listen to podcastsShawn Jones' Stories Collective Episode 19 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OuNAKEDp73agvxkFVXevV?si=b12b43afbd6d4f7e*available wherever you listen to podcastsConnect with Shawn - shawn@dscchurch.comDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

We hope you enjoyed the Passion Week devotionals and had a wonderful Easter weekend! It's back to business as usual this week; well, kind of. Rich is taking a little break for the next few weeks and with that Steve and Sarah decided to invite a special guest host to join in for this discussion on witnessing and evangelism. There was not a better person to join in than Shawn Jones! Shawn works at Desert Springs as the Evangelism, Discipleship and Outreach pastor and also hosts a podcast called The Now Life which is linked below. Steve and Shawn quickly jump into the idea of witnessing, starting with Jesus' resurrection. We see in scripture that Jesus calls His people witnesses, emphasizing the importance of the death, burial and resurrection. The way that event spread was by His disciples sharing across nations. Shawn points out how clear this command is, not just to witness but to also make disciples. Jesus wanted believers living today to learn and know this! Steve talks about the purpose of believers throughout history and leading up to today. This all leads into living in the world but not of the world. With that in mind, it is important to be known for more than what Christians "don't do." Sharing Jesus with our lives and our lips is crucial. Shawn really drives home the importance of verbally sharing who Jesus is with those around us. A question arises; is there a difference between witnessing and evangelizing? What if someone isn't "gifted" in evangelism? Listen in to find out! Plan to come back next week as this conversation with Shawn is continued. The Now Life podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/2DLpahhlEwZvhqAs0GgKWt?si=681f8617dec64d57*available wherever you listen to podcastsShawn Jones' Stories Collective Episode 19 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OuNAKEDp73agvxkFVXevV?si=b12b43afbd6d4f7e*available wherever you listen to podcastsConnect with Shawn - shawn@dscchurch.comDesert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefsQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Happy Easter! Or should we say, Resurrection Day! Today we are sharing with you a conversation we had back in November on the incredible value of the resurrection. You've heard this conversation before, but it is a great listen for this resurrection Sunday!Steve and Rich specifically highlight the incredible value the resurrection has in this episode. The latter part of 1 Corinthians 15 is referenced throughout this episode so we would encourage you to familiarize yourself with it. How does the resurrection affect your life today? Can you answer that? The resurrection affects everything about our lives. It is crucial that we understand this because there is an enemy who wants us to continue to live in the guilt and shame of our sin that has been paid for. Steve tells us that the resurrection reminds us that we stand today in the sight of our God in Jesus completely righteous. We are His beloved children. Rich reminds us that the resurrection brings so much hope and comfort in times of suffering and trial. Knowing that Jesus rose from the dead just like He said He would is certainly a comfort and truth to hold onto. Steve goes through a list of reasons that the resurrection brings value today and we've listed those below. Our understanding of the resurrection should give us an urgency to preach and share the Gospel. We are His ambassadors, preaching the reconciliation brought by the resurrection. This is an episode you'll want to share, and we would love it if you would do that!Five Reasons Why The Resurrection Has Value Today:The resurrection assures us of our standing in forgiveness We are assured that this world is not our home, of a better day and of life everlasting - all by the resurrection The power we have in Christ through the Holy Spirit who lives within us to live in victoryJesus is Lord over all and we know that without a shadow of a doubt because He conquered death The resurrection gives us hopeChrist is Risen by Mack BrockQuestions or comments?Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.