Wellspring

CONTRARY | Unfair (Ep 5)

Today there are questions unanswered. There is so much in this world that seems impossible to understand or reconcile in light of who we know God to be, and yet, He is Sovereign. We as humans are highly concerned with what is “right” and “fair” and “just”, and we tend to question God on these things, which is highly ironic, as He is the only right, fair, and just Being that exists. Our perspective is skewed by our humanity, and the more we fix our eyes on Jesus, the less we care about what is fair in our own context, but rather what He had to give up so that we could receive the unfair: eternal life with Him. 

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Scriptures Referenced:

“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (Job 38:4)

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began…” (Job 38:12)

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” (James 2:10)

“‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good.’” (Matthew 19:17)

 “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

CONTRARY | Church (Ep 4)

Today we tackle the challenging topic of church, something that is most likely a pain point for many, and yet something that we must seek to embrace, love, serve, and participate in if we call ourselves followers of Christ, for He calls the church His Bride! Local churches mess up, because they’re filled with people that mess up, but keeping our eyes on Jesus, and reminding ourselves that He has given us a specific role to fulfill in His body, we must press on and continue encouraging one another in the faith, meeting together, worshiping together, serving together, learning together, and fulfilling the Great Commission together. 

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Scriptures Referenced:

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

“...from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...” Ephesians 5:25

“He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:24)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

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Quotes Referenced:

“The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe.” -R.C. Sproul 

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Article Referenced:

If You Were the Only Person Alive, Would Jesus Have Died For Only You? (//reasonsforhopejesus.com/only-person-alive-jesus-died-for-you/)

CONTRARY | All I Need (Ep 3)

Today is a response to the self-love movement, and the damage it can cause to the human heart. We were not made to be sustained by our own love, we were made for the love of God, to receive it, extend it to others, and be fulfilled by the grace it brings forth. It is designed to create in us a gratitude and perspective that ushers us into a place where our mantra becomes: Jesus is all I need. Our love is not enough, for ourselves or anyone else, but we can rejoice in the fact that His love is.

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Scriptures Referenced:

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20)

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8)

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Quotes Referenced:

“The Gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” -Tim Keller

CONTRARY | Words (Ep 2)

Today is about the weightiness of words, and how our culture would like us to believe that what you do is more important than what you say, but God commands us to speak on multiple occasions. While our actions are of course incredibly important, we must use our words to evangelize, to confess, to pray, to encourage, to sing praises, and to fill the earth with His glory...for if we are silent, “even the rocks will cry out!” (Luke 19:40). So may we use our words for our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is called The Word, and not let culture strip them of their power.    

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Scriptures Referenced:

“And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[a] And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

“...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)

CONTRARY | Not My Story (Ep 1)

Today we are diving into what our “testimony” is really about. Our life story, if we call ourselves Christians, is not about what we’ve done, or not done, it’s about what Jesus has done, and that we now belong to Him. So there is no such thing as a testimony being too boring, or on the other end of the spectrum too sordid, because Jesus made us a new creation. Being a part of His story is the most exciting news ever, news that is not only worth sharing, but news that we are commanded to share. 

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Scriptures Referenced:

“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)

CONTRARY | Season Intro

Today we’re getting to know a little bit about Allison, her background, what spoken word is, and why she created Wellspring as a platform to share these spoken words. We also kick off season one, “Contrary.”

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Scriptures Referenced:

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.” (Proverbs 18:4, KJV)