Listen to the weekly sermons from Gulf Coast Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida
…
continue reading
Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, Florida
…
continue reading
This is a podcast all about making a difference - starting right where you are. You'll hear stories of people who are changing the world in their "six mile radius' - in their community, their neighborhood, or in their sphere of influence. Their stories will inspire you to move beyond hashtags to make a tangible difference in your world. Callie is a non-profit leader who works with the foster care community. She has served on the teaching team at her church and is also a licensed attorney. Sh ...
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar All I wanna do is go the distance … so I’ll know I’m not just another bum from the neighborhood. Rocky Is the church of the Lord Jesus “just another bum from the neighborhood”? If we listen to the world we might think so. If we listen to believers at times we might think so. But it’s a lie; a lie which can only be overcome by …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming a Merciful Church: Understanding What God Requires
46:40
46:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:40
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Have you ever heard (or even said, like me) “Justice is the act of giving people what they deserve, while mercy is the act of not giving people what they deserve.” There is some truth in those words, but it is not a full, Biblically informed definition of either justice or mercy. Since justice and mercy are at the heart of wha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming a Merciful Church: Radical Generosity (2)
47:09
47:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:09
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Nearly anyone who has been the recipient of an inheritance (or should have been) can relate to the man who approached Jesus with the request, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Most people feel either slighted or justified in one way or another in such circumstances. That there are disputes over inhe…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming a Merciful Church: Radical Generosity
52:43
52:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:43
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The book of Acts begins with Luke telling us that his first book (Luke) was about all that Jesus began to do and teach. The implication is clear: Acts is about what Jesus continued to do and teach through His Spirit empowered church. But what is it, exactly, that they did? What did Jesus do? What did the early church do? We of…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Ryan Carver Text: Matthew 7:13-29 Themes: Spiritual formation, Holy Spirit, Community, Abiding with Jesus. Transformation. Following Jesus. Summary: We learn from Jesus in the sermon on the mount how we are to live and we see this played out through the rest of Matthew’s gospel. Jesus reveals and leads us in the way of life, forming a new…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Doug Hon Text: Acts 2:42-47; Exo. 20:3-6; 1 Pet. 2:8-10By Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission: Finding Our Common Ground
47:22
47:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:22
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Have you ever been in one of those moments when you wanted to have a spiritual conversation but the only way to bring it up was to awkwardly insert it in an abrupt fashion? Did you want to cringe and hide after that? What if there were a way to have those conversations without all that cringe? What if it left people feeling mo…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Samuel McNair Themes: Evangelism Handout: https://gccc-recordings.s3.amazonaws.com/handouts/20240707.pdfBy Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission – In Whom Do You Trust?
54:40
54:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:40
Preacher: Jerry Cisar We live in a fractured world. What can we offer them? Does the church offer a compelling alternative to what the world offers? If so, how so? If not, what needs to change? As Christians in America in 2024, how we live during this election year might say more about our faith than anything else. That might sound too strong (and …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission – Becoming a Prophetic People
1:01:19
1:01:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:19
Preacher: Jerry Cisar To become a people of God’s mission, we must be a prophetic people. To be clear, I do not mean by that a people who prophesy (though that might be a legitimate use of the phrase). I mean a church that first sees clearly (the prophets were known as seers—see-ers) the idols of our age and rid our own lives of those idols. The ha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission – Redemption to Redemptive Living
52:44
52:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:44
Preacher: Jerry Cisar There is often a grave inconsistency in the lives of those who profess faith in the Lord Jesus. This is not unique to the Christian faith. It was certainly a significant factor in Israel’s community in the Old Testament. People today might call it hypocrisy, which indeed it is. Not hypocrisy in the traditional sense of the wor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming a People of God’s Mission: Mission in the Minutiae
41:11
41:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:11
Preacher: Zach McNabb Text: 1 Cor 10:23-33; Col 3:12-17 Headings: 1. Context Matters 2. Relationships Matter 3. Everything MattersBy Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
Preacher: Aron Osborne Text: James 1:27 Themes: Gospel Mercy as an essential of Being a People of God’s MissionBy Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission: A Royal Priesthood
49:34
49:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:34
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The Bible tells us we are a kingdom of priests and a holy people. What does that mean? Since the Reformation conversation about that has largely focused on the priesthood of all believers, but while that is a thing, it isn’t really what that phrase in Scripture (Exodus 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:9) is about. That phrase envisions a whole …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission: The Spirit’s Necessity
45:27
45:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:27
Preacher: Jerry Cisar This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday which is sadly one of the more neglected days on the church calendar. For some “Pentecost” is merely a reference to one particular strain of Christians that emphasize emotionalism (as described pejoratively by their detractors). It can bring to mind debates about supernatural gifts of the Spirit…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
God’s Original and Restorative Mission of Life
43:46
43:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:46
Preacher: Pete Mishler Themes: Life and abortion Handout: https://gccc-recordings.s3.amazonaws.com/handouts/20240512.pdfBy Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Do you know that Abraham had a great commission? He succeeded in accomplishing his part in it too. Abraham’s great commission has everything to do with why Jesus died on the cross. If our God is the one true God of all the world, then why did God single out Abraham and his descendants for a covenant? How would that lead to wor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming People of God’s Mission – What is God’s Mission?
48:34
48:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:34
Preacher: Jerry Cisar As a pastor, it’s not uncommon to be asked the question, “What is the church’s mission?” It’s a fair question but I am not sure if it is the right question. At least, I don’t think it is the right question for the church to be asking itself. The right question for the church to ask itself is, “What is God’s mission?” Once we f…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar What does it mean to be a praying church? How do we become one? What would a praying church pray for? We’ve spent 4 weeks focused on Becoming a Praying Church as an essential part of what it means to fulfill our calling as a royal priesthood and holy people. This Sunday we will explore what has been given to us as an essential…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Ryan Carver Themes: God’s people are blessed. What does this mean and look like? We are to bless others. What does this mean and look like? The blessing of God as He involves us in His mission as we bless others we too are blessed. What does this look like over history and for us now? Texts: Gal 3:8-9. Gen 1:22, Gen 12:1-3, Ex 19:5-6, Act…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Becoming a Praying Church: Becoming an Interceding Church
50:04
50:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:04
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The church is called to be a royal priesthood and holy people. Core to that calling is our calling to pray for one another, for the world, and for our enemies. In a word, intercession. This week, in our series Becoming a Praying Church, we are exploring intercession. We will look at what it is and why it is needed, we will see…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Easter 2024: The Day the New Creation Began
45:49
45:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:49
Preacher: Jerry Cisar What is the meaning of the Resurrection? Each of the Gospel writers shares details that make us curious. It is not uncommon for people to talk about how the Resurrection means we will not die but go to heaven. However, it is interesting that none of the Gospel writers, seem to draw that meaning when the events happened. What w…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Insurrectionists Lair or the House of Prayer
51:02
51:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:02
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Palm Sunday opens what is traditionally called Holy Week. It shouldn’t be missed that there was not much “holy” going on that first “Holy Week.” The events we remember on Palm Sunday start that week, and the trial and crucifixion of Jesus complete it. These accounts challenge us to examine the idols in our own hearts and rid o…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Zach McNabb Text: Hebrews 11 & 12 Themes: The endurance of faith comes from having the proper vision of glory. Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. The people of Heb. 11 had the vision of the new Kingdom which was their hope, which empowered their faithful endurance. Selling all to buy the field joyfully because of t…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar In his book, Reversed Thunder, Eugene Peterson wrote: “While conflicts raged between good and evil, prayers went up from devout bands of first century Christians all over the Roman empire. Massive engines of persecution and scorn were ranged against them. They had neither weapons nor votes. They had little money and no prestig…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar If what we have considered in our series Gospel Clarity is true (and, of course, I think it is), then it affects everything. Since everything the church does should grow out of the Gospel, then even slight adjustments to our understanding of the Gospel will affect everything from our mission to how we achieve it. How much more…
…
continue reading
Speaker: Ryan Carver Text: CSB Version. Hebrews 11:1-12:3 (also 10:35-39 as an intro)By Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar It’s not hard to find Christians today who might bemoan the fact that the church has lost a significant amount of its influence in culture today. We no longer have prayer in schools, people have to work on Sundays, and we no longer get to define marriage by Biblical standards. I cannot deny that there were benefits to such cul…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Most sharks have to move to breath and therefore cannot stop moving forward. This is how they force water through their gills so they can get the oxygen they need. Humans are much the same way when it comes to glory. We were created to bear glory, God’s glory. In our rebellion against God, we’ve substituted our own glory, a we…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Gospel Clarity: What is the Gospel? Why Do We Need It? (2)
47:20
47:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:20
Preacher: Jerry Cisar “Our passion is to know that we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are here on earth.” — Os Guinness Deep down, I believe Guinness is right and the Gospel calls us to that very purpose and equips us so we are able to fulfill it. (All good Evangelicals will say, “Amen!” here. But if pressed to explain how, we may well be s…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Gospel Clarity: What is the Gospel? Why Do We Need It?
53:30
53:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:30
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The message of the Gospel is the most important message in all the world. Yet for most of us, if someone asks us, “What is the Gospel?” we have to pause, minimally, and often struggle to articulate it. When we finally do articulate it, we wonder if we got it right. Or worse, we think we have it right but wonder what relevance …
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The book of Revelation describes beasts, dragons, plagues, wrath, persecutions, and rewards. It is filled with visual stimuli such as blood, fire and even meteors as well as threats and promises. It finally comes to a glorious, surprising, and transforming end. Revelation 21-22 is not only about the future, it has a lot to do …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Why, Where, and What of the Millennium
43:37
43:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:37
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Are you premillennial, postmillennial, or amillennial? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but we’ve gotten into chapter 19 of the book of Revelation and haven’t answered that question. Why? Because it is largely irrelevant in determining how we read the rest of the book. A whole lot of ink has been spilled on something that doesn…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Steven Brunson For quite some time, we have been hit with a barrage of unsettling news reports of the uncertainties with Israel, Gaza, Hamas and various warring factions. The interpretation of these events seem to abound including numerous conversations surrounding Jesus’ second coming. In looking for more complete understanding of these …
…
continue reading
Preacher: Ryan Carver Transitions and trials are some of the hardest times of life. How do we, as followers of Jesus, have hopeful endurance through such seemingly relentless difficulties and unknowns? By pursuing patience. Patience, which is a fruit of the Spirit, is something that is formed in us by God as He molds and shapes us to become more li…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Imagine you were in Bethlehem at the time of Christ’s birth. Maybe you were one of Joseph’s relatives that had also traveled to Bethlehem, or maybe one of the small number of residents. What did Christ’s coming impact you? In an immediate sense, it disturbed you. Whether you were ignorant of the events, a relative of Joseph an…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar The book of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a noble woman and folly as a seductive woman (Prov. 9, 31). The book of Revelation is also about two women: a harlot and a bride. One represents the human city in all it’s luxurious grandeur (despite most its residents living in a box the size of a closet). The other, a bride who repr…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Seven Bowls, Armageddon, and the Euphrates
50:43
50:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:43
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Psychologist Barry Schwartz concludes his TED talk on the paradox of choice with the image of a fish in a fishbowl, and he asks: How free is that fish? Yes, of course the fish is confined, but shattering the fishbowl, removing all constraints, would not improve the fish’s situation. In fact, it would destroy him. The world and…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Samuel McNair Text: Acts 26:16-23By Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Revelation is a bloody book, to be sure. In fact, we are told in 14:19-20 that in the process of harvesting the earth, the blood flow will rise so high that it will spread the distance of 1,600 stadia (it doesn’t really matter what a stadia is… primarily that it is 1,600 of them), and up to the level of a horse’s bridle! That’…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar In 1937, referring to the increasing tensions in Europe with Germany, Winston Churchill used near biblical language when he said, “Dictators ride to and fro upon tigers which they dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry.” In our study of Revelation, this Sunday we arrive at the account of the Beasts out of the Sea…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Heavenly Throne and God’s Kingdom Come
57:05
57:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:05
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Lampstands, fire-breathing witnesses, a pregnant cosmic woman, and a water-spewing dragon. It’s no wonder Revelation isn’t the easiest book to understand. Yet, since it is God’s Word, we have to persist in it because it reveals something about how God is at work in the world that, though consistent with what is revealed elsewh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Silence, Sound, and Sweet-n-sour Scroll
52:47
52:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:47
Preacher: Jerry Cisar “Are you pre-trib(ulation), mid-trib, or post-trib?” or, more generously, “Are you premillennial, amillenial, or postmillennial?” The 1st question more or less assumes an answer to the 2nd. The latter question focuses on only one chapter in Revelation (20) and doesn’t say much of anything about how one reads the rest. They are…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar Our text begins with the Lamb, looking as if he had been slain, opening the seals which will allow the scroll to be opened. It ends with the sealed people of God who suffered through the events of the seals standing on the side of the sea, before God’s throne, giving praise for their victory. What are these “seals” and how are…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar What is the purpose of the book of Revelation? If, as we discussed last week, it is not to provide a timeline for when Jesus is coming back, then what is it? To understand this, we need to think about what a suffering church needs. What would a church tempted into the idolatry of the empire need? What would a church following …
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar A couple of weeks ago I was wrestling with what our next sermon series should be at Gulf Coast Community Church. A thematic study of patience and the need for it as God’s strategy for mission and witness, or to finish our series in Revelation (recall that we left off last year after the 7 messages to the churches). Of course, …
…
continue reading
Preacher: Ryan Carver Text: 1 Corinthians 1:1-21 Handout: https://gccc-recordings.s3.amazonaws.com/handouts/20231008.pdfBy Gulf Coast Community Church of St. Petersburg, FL
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar I thought we finished the series, Imagining the Kingdom, last week. However, I was encouraged by one of our members last week to consider covering these final verses on prayer (I won’t mention any names, Reggie). I immediately knew I would. In fact, prayer is essential for a genuine kingdom imagination, and it is essential to …
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar One of the most well-known passages in the New Testament letters is that which calls us to “put on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-18). One can even obtain plastic armor like that of a Roman soldier for their children to put on, though I’m pretty sure this does more to mask the text than help them understand it. Paul has bee…
…
continue reading
Preacher: Jerry Cisar During and following the 2016 presidential election, both sides claimed Russian interference in favor of their opponent’s campaign. It turns out, they were both right. In 2017 it was shown that both were correct (I dare not say “right”). In fact, it appears that the only goal the Russians have is to get our society to fight in…
…
continue reading