Gooch Lane Church of Christ Podcast

After Paul’s grand description of God’s plan of salvation as a mystery now revealed, he turns attention to how this should impact those who faithfully choose to follow God. While one might expect Paul to discuss several moral or doctrinal issues, he instead turns His attention to unity. Indeed, a God who has sought to draw the families of heaven and earth together and who has broken down the wa...

“Seeing the Big Picture” is a phrase that has been in our vocabulary for at least 75 years. It denotes understanding how all the perceived “smaller parts” work together as a whole. Ephesians 1-3 is a “big picture” view of God’s grand plan of salvation. In these chapters, Paul demonstrates how the mystery has been revealed in Jesus Christ and, as he brings these powerful thoughts to a climax, he...

A report by Larry Vinson on his work preaching the gospel in Malawi. A sermon given by Larry Vinson on December 15, 2024.

Mysteries have long been a staple of popular literature. Readers enjoy putting the pieces together, including that final piece that helps everything make sense. In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul employs the term mystery to the plan of God. He explains that it is through Jesus that the mystery is made known. This study will examine the implications of this revealed mystery, seeing what ...

Knowing your family history is not always a good thing. While those related to presidents, celebrities, and philanthropists will brag about their DNA connection, it is a different story when the genealogy is filled with criminals and reprobates; these details are often left unspoken. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he told the Gentiles about their family history, and it was nothing to bring pri...

This sermon will explore Paul’s powerful introduction to the book of Ephesians. In a sermon entitled, “Who is Chosen,” this rich text will be explored, along with a discussion of how it is often interpreted by those who hold to Calvinist doctrine. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on December 1, 2024.

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he shared a very comforting thought that he was praying for them. This prayer was not for physical needs; rather, it was for their growth in understanding what is possible when one has faith in Jesus. This sermon will explore the three requests he made for believers both then and to come. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on December 1, 2024.

Feeling powerless is a frightening experience, yet it is one that often confronts humanity. Both in ancient times as well as modern, men and women struggle when they feel there is no one to help. In defeating such feelings, the author of Psalm 124 robustly stated that the Lord was on His side; later, Israelites would take the psalm as a hymn of victory to remind them of who fought their battles...

Sometimes being close is good, but not good enough. Luke illustrates this with two accounts, one dealing with a foreigner and one with the Jews. As he recounts these events, he demonstrates that while the Jews in Jesus’ presence are close to understanding his greatness, it is the foreigner who really “gets it.” These ancient accounts provide very important lessons for a modern audience. This st...

Member speaker Brian Moore brings us a sermon about courage. A sermon given on November 10, 2024.

A brief report on Greg Chandler's recent trip to Malawi. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on November 3, 2024.

As God established His plans for churches, He knew that guidance and oversight would be essential. Rather than creating elaborate hierarchies, voting conventions, or impersonal boards of directors, He instead instructed churches to choose men from their number to serve as leaders. The type of leadership they are to give is demonstrated in God designating them shepherds. This sermon will focus o...

We have long tried to deemphasize the importance of possessions with phrases such as, “You can’t take it with you” or, “You’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” Still, Christians struggle with trust in “stuff” more than trust in God. This, however, is nothing new. As a man worried about receiving an inheritance interrupted Jesus’ teaching, the Lord schooled him in the danger of this proble...

Was Jesus unkind to a woman in need? When she approached Him to cast a demon from her daughter, did He not really want to help? Over the years, the account of Jesus’ interaction with the Syrophoenician woman has troubled many; they have struggled to understand why Jesus reacts the way He seems to react. This study will examine Jesus’ interaction with Pharisees, His disciples, and a woman in nee...

A verse from an old hymn goes as follows: “My heart has no desire to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay.” Doubt can be spiritually deadly; however, it is something that almost every Christian struggles with at some point in his or her life. When these times come, it is important to know how to deal with them so that faith is not destroyed, and the integrity of God is not brought into que...

A sermon by member speaker Noble Harber on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

A sermon by member speaker Kevin Henson on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, he gave them a challenging command: “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27). To fulfill this command, they were to live in a way that demonstrated love and appreciation for what had been done for them. While many things could have been discussed as examples of this, Paul chose brotherly relationships in Christ. This study will fo...

The temple of ancient Israel served a sacred purpose; it was a reminder that God was among His people. Everything about the building was to demonstrate regality and holiness, including the worship that was offered there. Levites were assigned to sing and play instruments in this worship. What, though, does this have to do with Christians? The Roman army razed the temple, leaving Mt. Zion withou...

Singing is an important part of life. For centuries, humans have recorded history, taught lessons, and entertained one another in song. Most importantly, singing is an integral part of worshiping God; thus, saints throughout history have lifted their voices to praise Him. Because of its importance, the people of God must understand how He desires this singing to be offered, both in the attitude...

An old statement goes, “Put your money where your mouth is.” The meaning is that words are fruitless if there is nothing to back them up.” The Apostle Paul would agree with this concept and perhaps repurpose the statement to say, “Put your walk where your mouth is.” As he wrote to the Ephesian Christians, Paul keenly focused on the importance of their walk in Christ; he used the word walk seven...

This study will primarily be drawn from Romans 5-6 to show how to overcome sin and death so that we can have eternal life through Jesus. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on September 1, 2024.

Sometimes the way to learn how to do something is by observing the mistakes of another. The Bible employs this kind of learning by recording the poor decisions made by those who turn down the way of righteousness. One such person is Esau. In fact, the Hebrew writer describes him as “unholy Esau.” This study will focus on the shortsightedness demonstrated by this man of old and how modern Christ...

God has placed great responsibility into the hands of His people and expects them to be worthy reflections of His goodness. This is true for God’s people in both the individual good each does in daily activities and the collective good done by churches belonging to Christ. This study will focus on the need to understand the awesome responsibility given to God’s people and the God-directed diffe...

A sermon given on August 18, 2024 by guest preacher Allen Malone.

Throughout human history, people have longed for joy and peace. This desire has led many on searches to find wealth, popularity, and a host of other futile quests that resulted in empty returns. Where can these elusive qualities be found? The ancient prophet Isaiah revealed this answer many years ago and his answer is as relevant now as it was for the people in his audience. This sermon will ex...

Joy is a gift given from God to those who choose to unite with Him. This great gift is what provides foundation and stability in good times as well as bad. How, though, does God fill us with this joy? While several answers could be given to this question, one important way is through our associations with fellow believers. Indeed, throughout the New Testament, there are several occasions where ...

Generosity is a quality lauded by the Lord when it is shown from a generous heart. How, though, does one develop the kind of heart that gives freely, with no resentment when called to part with something of value? This sermon deals with this question and examines how the joy of the Lord brings His people to be joyfully generous. As well, it will explore how one can overcome the god of Mammon to...

An already turbulent political season has sparked angst among many Americans. Amid such uncertainty, is it even possible to have joy? The answer to this is an overwhelming yes! This study will explore the promise that God has made to His people, assuring them that no matter what is happening in the world, their joy can be solidly anchored in both His past actions and His promise for the future;...

A recording of the Wednesday evening sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A recording of the Tuesday evening sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A recording of the Monday evening sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A recording of the Sunday evening sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A recording of the Sunday worship hour sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A recording of the Sunday class hour sermon from our gospel meeting with Jacob Hudgins on July 14 - 17, 2024.

A sermon given by Nick Smith on July 7, 2024.

A sermon given by Brandon Miller on July 7, 2024.

Around 10% of Americans will be victims of the crime of identity theft this year. While thieves use this crime for financial gain, the victim is left to convince mortgage companies, credit card corporations, and other institutions that they are really who they say they are. Identity theft is an ancient crime first employed against the occupants of Eden. In fact, the devil has been so successful...

Joining and working with a church is an important part of one’s relationship with God and fellow members of His family. This provides the opportunity to collectively offer worship and service to the Lord. In this community relationship, it is important to make sure that a church functions in a God-approved way. In this, a church demonstrates holiness. This sermon will explore what God expects a...

A report on Greg and Pam Chandler's recent trip to visit evangelist Larry Vinson in Malawi, Africa.

In 1988, singer Bobby McFerrin’s song, Don’t Worry, Be Happy, raced to the top of the charts. The song’s basic premise is to let nothing get you down; in other words, focus on the positive. While this idea might sound good, reality makes us realize that there are challenging times of life that bring unhappiness. In these times, how do we deal with the problem of worry? How do we determine the d...

Luke records many conversion accounts within the Book of Acts that have become well-known, including such individuals as the Ethiopian Eunuch, Saul, and Cornelius. However, there is another conversion account that rarely receives the same amount of attention yet shows a tremendous illustration of making the right choice when presented with truth and falsity. This study will not only focus on hi...

A sermon given by Eric Hamilton on June 2, 2024.

A sermon given by Lane Crawford on June 2, 2024.

A sermon given by Michael Molloy on May 26, 2024.

For the next two weeks, many American students will celebrate the completion of thirteen years of learning. Graduation is one of the first big milestones in life and is also a time that marks a significant transition from adolescence to adulthood. This important change is not without challenge and danger; thus, a young person should be prepared for the potential life-changing choices that will ...

Conducting oneself in a holy manner is not easy business! Because of this, it is easy to get discouraged and feel overwhelmed; however, that is not what God desires. Along with the commands for holy conduct, He has included a number of promises to help as well as explaining the good that these commands can accomplish. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on May 12, 2024

This study will present an overview of how diligently John seeks to stress the importance of eternal life in his writings. This emphasis is to help God’s people see the need to choose fellowship with God now so that this fellowship can continue in the coming age. A sermon given by Greg Chandler on May 5, 2024.

One of a teacher’s greatest accomplishments is teaching children how to get along. Within any classroom, there are a host of personalities, differences in likes, and strong opinions. A skilled teacher helps children to see the strengths in one another and the ability to listen to alternate ideas from one’s own. To that end, “works well with others” has been a standard conduct grade category for...

The fourth and final lesson in our 2024 Spring Series, presented by guest speaker Kevin Clark on April 28, 2024.