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Pastor Phil Kooistra Podcasts

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In this sermon from Luke 16:19-31, Pastor Neal looks at Jesus’ parable of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus, a story that reveals the eternal consequences of ignoring God. This parable isn’t about wealth or poverty but about the heart, and how our response to God and his Word matters forever. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Ben…
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In this final sermon from the book of Philippians, Pastor Phil reflects on Paul’s closing encouragements: cherish the fellowship of believers, remember the unstoppable power of the gospel, and rely on the Lord’s grace. These final words remind us to walk in humility, love, and service, standing firm together through the power of Christ. From our Su…
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Earthly investments can grow, but only Kingdom investments last forever. In this message from Philippians 4, Pastor Phil explores how giving is partnership, blessing, worship, and honored by God. Our generosity impacts eternity and reflects our hearts, and like the Philippians, we’re called to invest in what matters most, God’s Kingdom work. From o…
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In this sermon from Philippians 4, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s secret to joy and contentment, which is found not in wealth, but Christ. From a Roman prison, Paul taught that true happiness isn’t found in circumstances or money, but in trusting Jesus, and that generosity, spiritual maturity, and abiding in Christ lead to lasting joy and strength, no…
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True peace can be found through full surrender to God. In this sermon from Philippians 4, we see that peace is found in godly thinking—dwelling on what is true, honorable, and pure—and in godly living through obedience and discipleship. As we align our thoughts and actions with Christ, we experience the lasting peace only God can give. From our Sun…
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In life’s most difficult moments, Jesus offers unshakable hope. Whether grieving, suffering, or searching for peace, John 14 reminds us that Christ has made a way to the Father and promises to bring us home. On Resurrection Sunday and always, be encouraged—death is defeated, and eternal life is available to all who trust in Him. From our Sunday ser…
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When believers clash, it threatens more than relationships—it weakens our witness. In Philippians 4, Paul pleads for unity in the church through Christ-like humility and love. Conflict is inevitable, but division is not. We’re called to forgive, help one another, and stand firm on mission together. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of B…
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What is the antidote for a busy heart? How do we quiet ourselves? In this sermon from Psalm 131, Dr. Greg Gifford helps us see where we may have too high a view of ourselves, thinking only we can accomplish a particular task, and taking on things that are not meant for us to do. Like the psalmist, may we quiet and calm our souls, look to the Lord, …
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In this sermon from the books of Luke and Matthew, we see the different responses of Mary and Joseph to the incredible news that a Savior would come through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. They both demonstrate amazing faith and obedience that are examples for us today. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend. Visit our website …
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In this passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul makes an appeal for gospel unity in the church. He urges the believers in Corinth to agree, to have no divisions among them, and to be united in mind and judgment. His desire is that they would be unified in every way. Ultimately, the source of unity in the church is Christ, and the purpose is the proclamati…
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No matter what we face, our hope is secure in Christ! In this passage from the book of Philippians, Paul reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven. As disciples, we live with the end in mind, eagerly awaiting our Savior’s return and the transformation he promises. May we stand firm in faith, press on, and reflect the kingdom we belong to! F…
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In this sermon from Philippians 3:16-19, Pastor Phil looks at the power of peer pressure and Paul’s warning that the people we surround ourselves with help shape who we become. Paul urges us to follow godly examples, avoid worldly influences, and surround ourselves with those who pursue Christ, because who we imitate matters. From our Sunday servic…
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In his letter to the Philippians, Paul urges believers to press on toward the ultimate prize: fully knowing Jesus Christ. Paul models a focused, passionate pursuit rooted in humility and faith, leaving past achievements and failures behind. Encouraged by God’s promises, we too are called to pursue Christ relentlessly, with passion in our hearts to …
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True gain is found as we are united with Christ. In Philippians 3:9-11, Paul teaches that the greatest treasure is knowing Jesus…being justified by faith, growing in sanctification, and ultimately being glorified in him. No earthly achievement compares to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and living lives transformed by his grace. From our Sun…
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In Philippians 3:8, Paul reminds us that nothing compares to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. He once prized his status and achievements, but now counts them as loss—even rubbish—compared to gaining Christ. True faith means treasuring Jesus above all else, even at great cost. Is Christ truly our greatest treasure? From our Sunday service at …
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In Philippians 3:4-7, Paul emphasizes that human efforts are never enough for salvation. He warns against putting confidence in works, heritage, or religious status, highlighting that true righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ. As believers, may we find identity and confidence in Christ alone! From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Chur…
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In Philippians 3:1-3, Paul warns of a doctrinal danger—adding anything to the work of Christ. He urges them to avoid this false gospel by rejoicing in the Lord, watching for counterfeits, and remembering their identity in Christ. True salvation is by grace through faith, not human effort, and our only confidence should be in the finished work of Ch…
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Epaphroditus was an ordinary Christian who demonstrated extraordinary faithfulness and service. In Philippians 2:25-30, Paul describes him as a brother, fellow worker, and soldier who risked his life to serve Paul and care for the church, reminding us that God uses ordinary people for great purposes. Paul urges the church to honor such servants, an…
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In Philippians 2:19-24, Paul expresses his desire to send Timothy, a faithful servant, to serve as a living example to the church in Philippi. Timothy, who has proven his worth through his deep concern for others and dedication to Christ, is an example of faithfulness, selfless love, service, and humility. Paul encourages believers to follow Timoth…
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Paul's letter to the Philippians radiates joy, even in the face of his imprisonment, and exemplifies a life fully dedicated to God. In this sermon, Pastor Neal emphasizes Paul’s exhortation for all believers to live as “living sacrifices,” offering every aspect of their lives to God and humbly serving one another. He explains that true joy is found…
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In this sermon, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s command to the Philippians to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing." Complaining and divisive speech reflect discontent and a lack of trust in God's sovereignty. Paul calls believers to live as children of God, shining as lights in a dark world and holding fast to the gospel. Guarding our hearts …
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In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul calls the church to embrace Christ’s humble heart and attitude, demonstrated through his obedience to the point of death on the cross. This radical obedience to God’s will glorifies the Father and serves as a model for all believers. By living with Christlike humility and Spirit-empowered obedience, the church fosters u…
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Unity in the church is both a calling and a reflection of God's nature. In Ephesians 4:1-6, Paul urges believers to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, guarding the unity created by the Spirit. This unity requires intentional effort, selflessness, and a commitment to forgiveness and peace, serving as a powerful witness to a watching w…
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In this sermon from Colossians 3:12-14, Austin Farley reflects on the call to “live as God’s chosen.” As God’s beloved people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, binding everything together in love. This transformative way of living reflects Christ’s character and brings unity to his body, the …
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Songs can express truths more powerfully than words alone. This sermon reflects on the songs of the Christmas story, concluding with Simeon's song in Luke 2:21–35. Simeon's encounter with Jesus fulfills God's promise to him and celebrates Christ as the Savior for all people, bringing peace and salvation. His words also warn that Jesus will be a sou…
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In this Advent sermon from the second chapter of Luke, Austin Farley reflects on the “good news of great joy” proclaimed by the angels at Jesus' birth. This life-changing message was first delivered to humble shepherds, announcing the arrival of the Messiah who would take away the sins of the world. It was, and remains, the greatest news humanity c…
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In this Advent sermon from the book of Luke, Pastor Phil explores Zechariah’s song of praise, a profound declaration of God’s faithfulness and mercy. This powerful song reminds us that our God, in His covenantal love, always keeps His promises. This Christmas season and always, let us rejoice and place our trust in our ever-faithful, promise-keepin…
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In this first sermon from our Advent series, Pastor Phil looks at Mary’s song of praise and exaltation found in the first chapter of Luke. In this song, we see a beautiful expression of faith and worship as Mary shows us how and why we are to worship the Lord. Like Mary, we have every reason to worship because of who God is, what he has done, and w…
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In this sermon from Philippians 2, Pastor Phil looks at how Christ’s humility ultimately resulted in his exaltation. Our Savior humbled himself in many ways and lived for the glory of God. That is the way of Christ, the way of the cross, and the path we can emulate to live a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” From our Sunday service at Grace Bi…
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As Christians, we are called to follow the example of our Savior in living lives of humility. In this sermon from Philippians 2, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s encouragement to follow the humble attitude and actions of Christ, where we no longer live only for ourselves but truly live for the good and blessing of one another, no matter the personal cos…
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As Christians, we are called to strive for unity in the church, which often requires great humility and self-sacrifice. In this sermon from Philippians 2, Austin Farley looks at the motivation, mindset, and heart of unity, challenging us to examine our lives to see where we may need to deny ourselves that we might better serve the Lord and his chur…
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How can we live a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? In this sermon from Philippians 1, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s desire to prepare the church for suffering and to heal the division that has begun among them. He calls them and all believers to lead a worthy life by standing firm, striving together, and remaining steadfast. If God has grac…
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What is the meaning or purpose of life? In this passage from Philippians 1, Paul declares that “to live is Christ and to die is gain,” in response to a real situation where he could lose his life for being a follower of Jesus. The Philippian church needed to hear this truth as they were facing persecution, and we need this reminder as we battle the…
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How can we have hope in what feels like hopeless circumstances? In this sermon from Philippians 1, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s example in a time of great difficulty, where he demonstrated joyful hope in the plans and power of God. His eyes were fixed on Christ alone, allowing him to rejoice no matter what circumstances he faced. From our Sunday ser…
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In this passage from Philippians 1, Paul models the right perspective amid difficulty and challenges. He first shows us the proper perspective for difficult circumstances, focusing not on his difficulty but on what God is doing. He then helps us to have the right perspective on difficult people, modeling not a desire to fight back or justify himsel…
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In this sermon from Philippians 1, Pastor Phil takes us through a lesson in prayer, looking at the motivation and the model for Paul’s prayer for the church. Paul prays for them because of his deep and abiding love, and he prays for the things that ultimately matter the most: that they would grow in Christ’s love, wisdom, and righteousness, and tha…
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Joy is not an emotion but an attitude and a fruit of the Spirit granted by God when we submit all things to him. In this sermon from Philippians 1, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s encouragement to find joy in every circumstance through prayer, partnership in the gospel, and perseverance in Christ. We can have great joy and peace knowing that God will h…
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In this first sermon from our Philippians series, Pastor Phil looks at Paul’s humble greeting to the church. We see humility in the descriptions of the author and the readers, and the greeting that hopes for grace and peace for the church he loves. Like the church in Philippi, may we experience more grace, peace, and humility through the Lord Jesus…
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In this sermon from Proverbs 11, Austin Farley points us to the dangers of greed and the wisdom of a generous heart. We see that love for the world and its wealth and comforts is a temptation for all of us, and we are reminded that greed is deceptive and destructive. Praise God that the antidote to our greed is Spirit-enabled generosity, from a hea…
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As believers, do we more often live out of faith or find ourselves living out of fear? In this sermon from Psalm 34, guest pastor Noah Winningham looks at David’s example of moving from fear to faith, as he began to regularly praise the Lord, boast about what God had done, and invite others to magnify the Lord with him. As we move into faith, we ca…
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Even long-time believers struggle with sin and can be tempted to hide or deny it. In this sermon from Psalm 32, guest pastor T.J. Smith looks at the blessing of forgiveness, the danger of concealing sin, and the definition of Christian confession. When we confess our sins to our loving Creator, we can experience the joy and peace that comes from kn…
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Most of us are looking for happiness, purpose, and to experience true freedom, but how do we find these things? In this sermon from Ecclesiastes 11 & 12, Pastor Neal looks at Solomon’s advice to enjoy life, remember our Creator, and fear and obey God. As we bow the knee and live according to His design, we can truly enjoy life and love God. From ou…
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In this sermon from Psalm 67, guest pastor Josh Pasma encourages us to make the Lord known by praising, enjoying, and fearing him. We are reminded that the fear of man often keeps us from sharing the gospel, and we are admonished to overcome this fear as we live our lives in service of the Lord Jesus Christ. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible C…
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In Ecclesiastes 1 & 2, Solomon shows us what we should, and should not, expect out of life. He helps us to see that so much of what we long for and seek after is not worth the chase in the first place. In this sermon, Pastor Neal looks at these truths and reminds us that life is not meant to be gain, but a gift of joy, and that joy begins by trusti…
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