BRAVE Church
Pastor Jeff SchwarzentraubDig deep into the Bible. Explore the truths of God's word. Apply those concepts to your life and grow deeper in who God made you. Listen to the podcasts from BRAVE.
Podcasts
Older episodes
- 433Guest Speakers: Overcoming A Grasshopper MentalitySpeaker: Cal Rychener
- 434Guest Speakers: Against the WorldSpeaker: Justin Hart
- 435Guest Speakers: 5 Handles on PrayerSpeaker: Jon Gaus
- 436Waging War: Engage in the FightThis week we began a new series called Waging War Against Our Enemy. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he placed all of his present and future disciples on mission so that we would be actively advancing Christ's kingdom until he returns. That means that we are not called to be spectators and consumers but courageous warriors who actively engaged in the battle of sharing and living the Gospel in a hostile world. Many are not engaged in the fight because they know that criticism will come if they engage. This week we learned how to stay engaged in the battle without remaining passive. Knowing how to fight is very important so that we can experience the power of God. Our prayer is that this week's message lays the foundation for how to engage in the battle of Christian warfare. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 437Waging War: Stay in the FightPastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of recognizing the reality of spiritual warfare and the necessity of evangelism in the fight against sin and darkness. He highlights that the gospel is not neutral, and every individual is either moving towards salvation or destruction, making it crucial for Christians to actively oppose sin. Throughout the sermon, he urges believers to embrace their new identity in Christ, to stand firm against spiritual opposition, and to target the true enemy that seeks to divide and distract. Ultimately, Pastor Jeff calls each person to live boldly for Christ, encouraging them not to back down and to pursue a mission of sharing the gospel with the world. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 438Waging War: Dress for the FightPastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of being spiritually dressed with the armor of God as outlined in Ephesians 6, which includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. He addresses different groups within the congregation: those who do not know Christ, those who are stagnant in their faith, and those who are strong in their faith, encouraging each to take action according to their needs. He highlights that Christ not only saves but also empowers believers to live out their faith actively and share the gospel. This concludes with an invitation for personal commitment and growth, urging everyone to put on Christ's attire for their spiritual journey. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 439Waging War: Pray in the FightPastor emphasizes the essential role of prayer in the life of a believer and the church, asserting that without it, we are powerless. He encourages the congregation to deepen their prayer life, reminding them that prayer is crucial for spiritual warfare and alignment with God's will. Using examples from Scripture and personal stories, Pastor highlights how prayer was integral to Jesus' ministry, the apostles' work, and the early church's growth. As they embark on 21 days of prayer, Pastor urges everyone to pray comprehensively, specifically for the mission, and personally for their responsibilities, affirming that prayer is vital for experiencing God's power and presence. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 440Waging War: Fight for the ChurchPastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of fighting for the church, calling it the primary battle for believers. He explains that the church displays Christ's creation and passion and serves as a vital space for worship, ministry, and community. Through scripture, Pastor Jeff illustrates that Jesus established the church to be a transformative force against worldly influences. He urges congregants to recognize their role in the church, emphasizing that it is the vehicle through which Christ's authority and mission are executed, ultimately encouraging a unified and active engagement in their faith. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 441Waging War: Fight for the KingdomThis week we continued our series entitled Waging War Against Our Enemy by addressing how to Fight for the Kingdom. Understanding how to live as a visible demonstration of God's comprehensive rule of every area of life makes a difference in our witness as we advance Christ's kingdom. We learned that there is a clash of the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of darkness, and winning that battle is imperative to Christ's desires for this world that He created. This week we highlighted five areas that matter and clarified how we are going to experience God's greatest blessing on this side of heaven by following these directives. Understanding how to fight for the kingdom will drive back the darkness and allow the light of Christ to shine brightly. May this week's message help us with our marching orders for making disciples in a world that is hostile to Christ. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 442Waging War: Fight for the Next GenerationPastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of passing the spiritual baton to the next generation to ensure the future of the church and the kingdom of God. He draws parallels to Olympic relay races, highlighting that even the most talented teams can fail if they don't successfully pass the baton, symbolizing the necessity of intentional mentorship. Using biblical references, Pastor Jeff underscores that it is everyone's responsibility to invest in younger generations, teaching them about faith and service while setting clear expectations for what it means to follow Christ. Ultimately, he calls on the congregation to take proactive steps towards mentoring and leading young people, ensuring they are equipped to continue the work of the church. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 443Guest Speakers: The Miraculous GiftsSpeaker: Jon Gaus
- 444Walk Your Talk: The Blessings of TrialsThis week we began a new series in the book of James entitled, Walk Your Talk. The emphasis of the series is how a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can live the life that God requires of His servants. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wastes no time as He makes the point that trials are good. No matter where a believer lives or what a believer does, they can be certain that trials will be a part of their life. However, when trials arrive the believer is to respond with gratitude because of all the great benefits and blessings that will occur if the trial is handled properly. These short twelve verses have great impact for every Christian in every generation. Our prayer is that this week's message will be helpful to believers in their continued pursuit of the Lord. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 445Walk Your Talk: How to Defeat TemptationThis week we continued our series in the book of James and learned How to Defeat Temptation. While God is the One who authors and allows trials in our life for spiritual maturity, the enemy attempts to get us to veer off course by using temptation. This temptation is nothing more than trying to get us to fulfill a good desire in an ungodly way. Temptation is always a short cut that may seem okay at the time but leads to sin and ultimately death. When we give into temptation, we can never be living the fullness of what God requires of us and desires for us. The reality is that God is good, abundant, and lavish and will not withhold His best from us. The enemy, on the other hand, lies to us about God's character and attempts to have people believe that lie. When we ruminate on the lie then we get discouraged and frustrated, which often leads to taking the bait of temptation. Since temptation is pervasive, we must be aware of where it originates, its deadly effects, and how we can live victoriously. May this week's message be an encouragement to you. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 446Walk Your Talk: Growing in the WordThis week we continued our series in the book of James and learned about four distinct requirements in order to be growing in the Word. God wants you to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ and to respond in the proper way. The trials and temptations we go through in life are opportunities for us to be conformed to the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we ask what God desires us to do and how to respond through those trials and temptation, the answer is that He desires for you to grow in Christ by growing in His word. May this week's message be an encouragement to you to build your spiritual muscles and grow in the midst of trials and temptations. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 447Walk Your Talk: God-Honoring FaithPastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of spiritual checkups, comparing them to inspections in construction and routine medical checkups, to ensure we are on the right path of faith. He outlines three key markers of God-honoring faith: taming the tongue, helping the helpless, and withdrawing from worldliness. Pastor Jeff encourages self-examination, highlighting that true faith is evidenced by increased control over our speech, compassion towards those in need, and a shift away from worldly influences. The message underscores the significance of being conscious of our spiritual state, as we prepare for our ultimate accountability before God. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 448Walk Your Talk: The Problems of PrejudicePastor Jeff emphasized the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ, highlighting that true believers experience radical life changes, including the shedding of prejudices and biases. He challenged the congregation to recognize that personal favoritism is a sin that disrupts the unity God desires among His people, urging them to treat everyone equally as creations made in God's image. Through the teachings in the Book of James, Pastor affirmed that love—modeled by Jesus—is essential in overcoming prejudice and demonstrating genuine faith. The call to action is to show mercy and love to all, reflecting Christ's compassion, while also remaining steadfast in truth and convictions. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 449Walk Your Talk: Vital SignsPastor Jeff discusses the concept of spiritual vitality using the analogy of vital signs assessed by a doctor, emphasizing the importance of evaluating one's faith through evidence of good works. He highlights key biblical passages, particularly from James, to argue that faith without works is dead, stressing that genuine saving faith is always accompanied by a transformative work in a person's life. Citing examples from the lives of Abraham and Rahab, Pastor Jeff illustrates how both faith and actions are integral to true belief. He urges listeners to examine their spiritual vitality, cautioning against empty professions of faith, careless compassion, and the necessity of a heartfelt relationship with Christ to ensure eternal salvation. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 450Stand Alone Messages: What in the World is Going On?Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 451Walk Your Talk: Talk Your WalkIn this sermon, Pastor Jeff emphasizes the importance of the tongue and how our words can significantly impact our spiritual walk as Christians. Drawing from James chapter three, he discusses the responsibility associated with speech and explains that taming the tongue is crucial for growth in one's faith. Pastor Jeff highlights that our words can lead to blessings or curses, and we must be mindful of their consequences. He encourages congregants to speak with responsibility, intentionality, humility, and dependency on God, as only through Christ can we truly transform our speech and align our actions with our words.This sermon provides practical handles for effectively "talking our walk," stressing that our language should reflect our commitments to God and to others. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 452Stand Alone Messages: Don't Fear the FireSpeaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 453Walk Your Talk: Wisdom WorksPastor Jeff emphasized that even as Christians, individuals are often still searching for answers in life. He pointed out that Jesus embodies wisdom and emphasizes the importance of seeking His guidance for all aspects of life, rather than relying on worldly solutions or 'gurus.' The message from James chapter three highlighted that true wisdom is demonstrated through our behaviors and attitudes and that it comes from focusing on God's word rather than worldly practices. Ultimately, living in alignment with God's wisdom leads to peace, righteousness, and a fulfilling life that honors Him. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 454Walk Your Talk: Course CorrectionPastor Jeff emphasizes the need for spiritual course correction, likening it to real-life situations where we rely on GPS for guidance. He explains that our internal struggles, driven by pleasure and pride, lead to conflict both within ourselves and with others, and reminds us that we need to submit to God and resist worldly temptations. By drawing near to God and sincerely repenting, we open ourselves to His grace, which allows for true transformation and fulfillment in our lives. Ultimately, true greatness in the eyes of God comes from humility, service, and seeking His honor rather than our own. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 455Walk Your Talk: The Problem with Self-CenterednessIn this sermon, Pastor Jeff emphasizes the transformative power of coming to Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit, which moves believers from darkness to light. He highlights the ongoing process of discipleship, underscoring the challenges of self-centeredness that can manifest in criticism of others and the tendency to control one's own future rather than trusting God. Pastor Jeff discusses the significance of selflessness and authentic obedience, warning against complacency in our walk with Christ. Ultimately, he encourages the congregation to fully commit to God, trusting in His plans and experiencing the profound fulfillment that comes from a life devoted to serving others and following Christ. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
- 456Walk Your Talk: Material BlindnessSpeaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub
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