The conversation turns to the importance of fathers and grandfathers investing in boys, Sean’s memories of his grandfathers, and the intentional “YaYa Pops Camp” week of activities, devotions, and scripture memorization for all six grandkids.

Sean cites Deuteronomy 4:9 on teaching future generations, emphasizing grandparents as storytellers and prayer warriors who respect parents’ authority while modeling a God-honoring family legacy.

00:00 Show Kickoff Banter

00:42 Mother's Day Reflections

01:27 Honoring Mom Stories

02:44 Golf Tourney Recap

03:32 Moses Steals The Show

05:32 Why Boys Need Men

07:19 Knowing The Grandparents

08:22 Lessons From Grandpa Pope

09:22 Generational Role Shifts

11:09 Great Grandparents Memories

11:46 Grandparent Joy

12:15 Yaya Pops Camp

13:26 Camp Traditions

15:51 Legacy and Stories

19:55 Grandparent Boundaries

22:53 Blessing with Resources

24:27 Better Grandparents

26:04 Church Invitation

26:33 Podcast Farewell

They explore what it means to “share your faith, use words if necessary,” emphasizing that lifestyle matters but the New Testament also calls believers to speak about Jesus. The conversation compares different approaches to evangelism—from street-corner preaching to relational, everyday conversations—and highlights witnessing as simply telling what you’ve seen God do. Sean shares examples of praying for others, his son Ryan leading someone to Christ through casual invitations, and the need for churches and believers to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power (Acts 1:8) and not fear or shame.

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:45 Star Wars and The Force

03:25 Harry Potter Discernment

06:54 Talk Faith Naturally

08:37 Street Preaching Debate

11:23 Everyday Evangelism Stories

13:19 Great Commission As You Go

19:27 Church Culture Shift

22:26 Spirit Empowered Witness

24:08 Mothers Day and Church Info

25:09 Closing Thanks

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:40 Mother's Day Plans

02:46 NFL Draft Talk

03:48 Assassination Plot and Rhetoric

06:48 Spiritual Hunger and Revival

08:08 Going All In as a Disciple

10:45 Following Jesus in Obedience

14:23 Lukewarm Faith Warning

16:44 Sean's Polo Testimony

20:17 Church Updates and Service Times

21:02 Say Yes and Closing Prayer

Sean and Baron discuss River City Community Church’s sermon series “Living the Dream” on Joseph, redefining it as being on God’s path toward His vision despite hardship.

The conversation shifts to a Supreme Court decision (8–1) sending a challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” back to lower courts, framing it as a First Amendment free-speech win for licensed talk therapy and biblical convictions.

Sean contrasts clinical counseling with the church’s “biblical guidance,” explains Christian identity as rooted in God’s creation, and offers advice for discussing sexuality with compassion, emphasizing sin’s destructiveness and the gospel of Jesus as hope.

00:00 Show Intro Banter

00:31 Living the Dream Series

01:31 Church Times and Events

01:57 Spurs Talk and Wemby

03:38 Trump at Press Dinner

04:59 SCOTUS Conversion Therapy Case

06:26 Free Speech vs Responsibility

10:53 Biblical Guidance vs Counseling

11:36 Discipleship Beats Addiction

12:32 Identity Rooted in Christ

12:57 Spiritual Battle Over Authority

15:13 Truth in Love Conversations

16:35 Supreme Court Therapy Ruling

18:10 Counseling College Culture

21:06 Sin, Freedom, and the Cross

22:24 Late Night Banter and Rest

24:07 Church Invite and Wrap Up

Recommended reading: J. Oswald Sanders’ “Spiritual Leadership”

00:00 Show Intro Banter

01:34 River City Updates

03:22 Music Gatekeepers Shift

04:08 Trump Messianic Image

06:09 Voting Tension

09:25 Leadership In Short Supply

10:50 Born And Made Leaders

12:06 Leaders Get Followers

12:34 David Goes First

13:56 Joseph Built in Secret

15:54 Moses Prepared in Midian

17:34 Start Leading Now

19:06 Servant Leadership Defined

20:43 Politics and Character Drift

23:16 Guardrails Against Compromise

24:26 Who You Follow Matters

25:48 Church Vision and Invitation

The conversation shifts to a desire for greater wisdom in public leadership amid war with Iran and troubling political rhetoric, with Sean emphasizing that Christians should be able to critique unwise speech even from leaders they support. They define wisdom as distinct from knowledge, rooted in “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 9:10), and discuss why wisdom is scarce when God is rejected despite abundant information.

Sean offers practical ways to grow in wisdom—humility, obedience, prayer (James 1:5), Scripture (especially Proverbs), and surrounding yourself with wise people.

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:45 Easter Sunday Highlights

01:35 Texas Open Parking Talk

02:07 New Joseph Series Preview

03:52 Best Burger Debate

05:39 War and Political Rhetoric

10:44 Why Wisdom Matters

11:33 Defining Biblical Wisdom

13:41 Why Wisdom Is Rare

14:02 Information Without Wisdom

15:16 Wisdom Crisis Today

16:15 Proverbs As A Guide

18:18 Christ The True Wisdom

21:08 Growing Wisdom Daily

24:20 Wise Community And Counsel

25:34 Leaders Words And Humility

28:22 Representing Christ Well

28:52 Closing And Joseph Series

00:00 Show Intro and Banter

00:44 Song Credits and Spotify Plug

01:20 Easter Message Preview

02:16 Why Resurrection Matters

03:04 Service Times and Invitation

04:04 Vacation and Pastor Life

05:23 Community Over Pedestals

07:13 Easter Crowds vs Disciples

07:59 What Discipleship Means

09:00 Growing Disciples Who Disciple

12:13 Great Commission and Real Goal

13:28 Classes Lead to Obedience

14:15 Accountability in Life Groups

15:48 Life on Life Discipleship

17:56 Intentional Community Beyond Meetings

20:03 Measuring Spiritual Growth

22:25 Women and Discipleship

23:46 Discipleship at Home

24:52 State of Church Discipleship

27:06 Get Involved at River City

28:13 Easter Invitation and Closing

Enjoy this rich conversation between two Seans that will encourage you with great hope for tomorrow...just get equipped.

The episode then features Kayla Toney of First Liberty Institute discussing President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission hearing on religious freedom in healthcare, highlighting testimony from her client Valerie Sterman and others, outlining legal protections like the First Amendment, Title VII accommodations, and the Church Amendments, and urging those facing discrimination to seek help at firstliberty.org.

00:00 Welcome and Banter

00:57 Saint Patrick Story

04:50 Easter Invite and Service Times

06:06 Introducing First Liberty Guest

06:27 Commission Hearing Overview

08:25 Valerie Case Testimony

12:12 Courage and Whistleblower Story

14:03 Social Service Ministries Panel

16:09 Legal Protections Explained

19:12 Enforcement Gaps and Next Steps

21:59 Churches Supporting Believers

24:26 Wrap Up and Easter Reminder

00:00 Show Intro and John Series

01:02 Holy Week and Easter Plan

01:32 Easter Service Times

01:52 Jesse Jackson and Politics

03:34 Iran War and Media Spin

05:26 Praying for Iran and Revival

07:35 Gen Z Converts to Catholicism

10:06 Authority Liturgy and Aesthetics

12:55 Catholic vs Protestant Roots

14:36 Faith Alone and Reformation

16:08 Key Doctrinal Differences

17:41 Pope Authority and Infallibility

19:08 Salvation and Eucharist Views

20:24 Confession and True Repentance

22:37 Saints Mary and Tradition

24:15 Unity Across Denominations

25:20 Prayer for the Church

After some quick State of the Union takes Sean interviews Nitin and Jit from India about their ministry in the context of India’s caste system, explaining the Hindu belief that people are created into fixed castes that cannot be changed and how this shapes ministry. Nitin describes beginning work among poor, oppressed groups and intentionally learning their belief systems, culture, leadership, oral traditions, and worship practices to bridge the gospel, leading to outreach among 43 people groups in 13 languages and transformed lives. They highlight foot washing as a core biblical strategy, helping people heal from caste-based shame and recover God-given identity as children of the Lord. The ministry also emphasizes honoring people through acts like foot washing, shawls, and garlands to communicate love and acceptance without discrimination, and it has begun bearing fruit among high-caste Brahman religious leaders.

00:00 Meet Nitin and Jit

16:50 Understanding the Caste System

17:47 Starting with the Poor

18:28 Bridging Gospel and Culture

19:07 Foot Washing as Strategy

19:42 Restoring Identity and Healing

20:36 Honor and Radical Welcome

21:29 Reaching Brahman Leaders

22:01 Gurus Respond to the Gospel

22:10 Closing Thoughts

Transcript of Interview:

I'm here with Nitin and Jit from India, our good friends who are such a blessing and have been with us. We're very grateful. Thanks for being with us. Thank you, Nitin. We'll start with you. You guys have a very unique ministry in India and it's a very different place to minister. Can you start by explaining a little bit of the cast system, because it really instructs a lot how you do ministry.

Tell us a little bit about the caste system and how it works. Thank you for asking that question. India, we have caste system. Most of the Hindus believe in the caste system. The creator God Brahma, created Braman pri from his head, from one shoulder came warriors and kings and another shoulder business people from his belly created commoner from one feet tribal and from another feed untouchable.

This is the caste system of India. The creator, God, sit at this cast in creation. So you cannot change your cast no matter how much education you may have, no matter how much wealth you have. You born and die in same cost and that shapes a whole lot of the limitations of ministry. You guys have done some really interesting things now, when you began, your ministry specifically began as a ministry to the poor.

To that, those untouchables, that lower caste how did you start ministry there? 'cause you now have a lot of places. You guys have really grown and ministering, planted churches. How? Did you start with the poor and why did you start there? Poor people in India, they are suppressed by the caste system.

They don't have a whole lot with them. And we want gospel to penetrate their heart, change their identity, their worldview, and they may see the creator God his plan for their life and purpose for their life. And so we began with the premature tribe and reached, started working with them. The way we minister to them, understand the belief system, their culture, leadership structure, their oral tradition, their musical instrument, the date is the worship, and then try to bridge gospel with them and God bless us to reach out 43 different people group and 13 different languages.

And they are responding to the gospel. Their life is transformed by the power of gospel and they see hope in their situation. Yeah. One of the things you guys do that is so compelling, and I think in your setting because of the caste system, it's really deeply significant. You've carried the biblical practice of foot washing.

And it's not just a thing you do as a ceremony. It's a major strategy. And when you stop and think about the caste system and the inherent humility and the foot washing it, it makes such sense. Tell a little bit about why you do that and how that has impacted your ministry. A two lead person know what is the worth of that person because.

System stolen, God-given identity, and they always looked down upon those people. And in biblical bill system, when Jesus washed in John 13 disciple feet and he commanded all of us to wash other people's feet. We felt that God is telling us to wash the people's feet so that he can take all the unshared pain they carry in their life because of the caste system, and they get a true identity in the Lord and they understand the way God view them and accept that standard, not the standard of which people look upon them.

And so God is. Shaping their life, transforming their heart, but giving them new identity. They are the children of the Lord who deeply care for them, and he has destiny for them in heaven With him, y you have a unique emphasis on honor. Your ministry, it's very humbling to go and minister with you guys.

It's wonderful. But you very much show honor to your guests and honor to the people there. What is happening there and why are you doing that so intentionally because we wanted to see that different kind of law, a uniqueness in the, when you are Christian and love by Christian, it is a deep need in the community to beside food and shelter.

The biggest need of any human being is loved and cared by. They are significant people in the community. And we want to wash their feet, give them shawl, give them garland so that they feel that they're precious in the sight of the Lord, and they're accepted without g creed, color, and any discrimination.

And you feel that, yes, you feel that there's such a neat spirit. One of the things that is interesting because of the caste system, many people, because there's such need among the poor, many people administered the poor. We all are familiar with the ministry of Mother Teresa and her ministry.

You've done something rather. Unique though, and my first exposure to it was when we were with you a couple years ago, it's your ministry to the religious leaders who are of the Brahman cast, that's the highest cast. And you're seeing some amazing fruit of the gospel and using the Lord's Prayer among that cast.

Tell us a little bit about that. God started working among these Brahman gurus. These Brahman gurus came from very rich background. Having knowledge. Their PhDs, they have so much wealth under them. Many run hospitals, schools, and thousands of people touching their feet every day to seek their blessing.

But God reveling to them in the dreams, one of the guru God dream, three days in the row that he is one step away from burning hell. That terrified him because of the dream, and he understood that wealth. The knowledge is not going to save his soul, right? So he left barefooted from his temple and we found him, and he's working with us right now.

Through him. We started with working with other Brahmans and we found many Brahman gurus coming to know the Lord and they understand the repercussion of the caste system on people's life, the way people were ated in the system, how they were suppressed down and stolen, the God-given identity. Now they are washing the feet of Dali.

Tribal and untouchable, and they are sharing gospel to their own community. The saving grace has a power. God Gospel has a power to transform different community, and we unite India together in the body of Christ. So we can see that India is separated by the language, by the caste system, but the gospel is uniting people together.

Yeah. And we will see India coming together in the body of Christ. That is so powerful. And for us here, it's hard for us to envision. The impact of a Brahman guru washing the feet of someone from the untouchable cast. And so it, it's just very impactful to see that. And you've seen numerous of these gurus for our audience tell, just gimme a minute or less on what a guru is so they understand.

It's mo we think of gurus. That's a kind of foreign topic the way we say it. This is Ajit. Ajit. Why don't you tell us that gurus in our context are the leaders. Teachers, so they are the one who gave spiritual teachings and insights for their followers. Okay. So in the Brahman cast, you said they believe in one overall creator.

Is that correct? One overall creator. So the Christian faith is a little easier for them to understand the one creator through Jesus Christ if we see and understand each person's soul. Needs a savior, right? Whether we go in any religion, the ultimate thing is like the soul needs a savior. And that's a spiritual hunger.

Yeah. That's a spiritual destiny. And when we look at that, there can be only one savior. Yeah. One destination. And that's where we come alongside and say that there is a savior. Will help you fulfill your destiny to reach your greater God. Right Now, some of the things you guys have done have made some of the church people a little uncomfortable 'cause it's outside the box.

This is definitely not normal missions work. Talk about that a little bit. We have seen, we sometime we have critical view. If somebody become a Christian, he should be clothing like us. He should talk like us. He should worship like us. It, of seeing that surface thing. So we allow people to wear their customs, their way of life in the sense of the way they cloth the way they do their hair.

And we don't come against that, but we want to see that their heart is transformed and we allow them to remain in their clothing and their color. Everything belongs to God. And God can use every person for his glory. We don't have to see the color of their cap, what kind of shirts they're wearing, how long their hair is, or what kind of dots on their forehead of that.

Seeing every person is created in God's image and loving them. And when he created, everything was beautiful. Yeah. And to see an individual, a leader, dressed in his robes as a guru. He's leading people in worship of Jesus is a powerful thing. You guys had a big community meeting some Muslims that was there at the time of prayer in one of your, one of your centers, and you let them have their Muslim prayers in your center.

That's right. And some people can't envision you loving that way. For the purpose of ultimately sharing the gospel and sharing the love of Jesus after letting them pray in our building, we wash their feet. We share gospel with them. And the god's love is so compelling at that. When you wash somebody's feet, it is a.

Compelling, but non-threatening way to witness Christ. Oh, yeah. Without a doubt. Being there is an incredible thing. In November, we have a group going to work with you guys and we don't put your names in the neighbor of your mid ministry over the broadcast, out over the air because persecution.

It's a real thing, but if they want people wanna find out more, you can contact us@reallife.org. You can shoot an email to us and we can let you know about, and you can come and find out, our trips fill up fast. So I don't know that there'll be space, but you can at least find out about this great ministry and more about our partnership with this wonderful group in India.

Thank you guys for being with us. Thank you.

After reminding you that Easter's coming, along with the RCBA Golf Tournament on March 20th, the conversation turns to the current conflict involving Israel and Iran, reactions in the U.S. and Iran, and concerns about violence at home, including a shooting on Austin’s 6th Street. Sean emphasizes that believers should reject fear, trust God’s protection, and pray with steadfast hearts, avoiding political bickering while staying ready for gospel opportunities.

00:00 The Jesus Story Invite

01:04 Podcast Goes Video

02:26 Easter Services And Egg Hunt

03:55 RCBA Golf Tournament

04:36 Israel Iran And War

13:47 Faith Over Fear Scriptures

17:42 How The Church Should Respond

20:16 Politics Israel And Staying Grounded

21:55 Join River City And Closing

23:02 Jesus Story Outro

Pastor Sean Azzaro sits down with Pastor Yoan Mora, a Cuban immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 2005. Yoan shares how persecution of Christians in Cuba—including his father-in-law’s imprisonment in the 1960s—led his family to seek refuge, and how he now serves at River City Community Church, leading River City en Español and vocational training through Real Life Community Outreach.

00:00 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life (Back in Boerne, TX)

00:30 Baron’s Downtown Studio Tour: Windows, Toys & Droid Collection

01:16 The Von Erichs Visit: A Surreal Wrestling Story in the Studio

02:32 Why Sean Stays Planted at River City: Community & Feeding Ministry

04:02 River City en Español Origins: Meeting Pastor Yoan Mora

06:13 Pastor Yoan’s Story: From Cuba to Refugee Status in the U.S.

08:30 Immigration Nuance: When “Refugee” Policies Create Real-Life Fallout

11:25 Families Caught in the Middle: Fear, Revoked Status & What Churches See

14:00 Law, Compassion, and the Church’s Response to Immigration

14:47 Walking With Families Through Detention & Deportation

15:48 The Power of Prayer: A Jailhouse Gospel Story

16:53 Beyond Politics: Choosing Love, Patience, and Community

18:08 Mission Trip to Cuba: Why This One Matters Right Now

19:07 Serving Cuba’s Elderly Churches: Food, Supplies, and Hope

20:10 What Americans Notice in Cuba + The Reality of Communism

21:54 Risk, Surveillance, and Why This May Be the Last Trip for a While

23:07 Prayer for Immigrants and Cuba + Final Reflections & How to Help

25:55 Wrap-Up: Great Commission, Supporting Missions, and Upcoming John 17 Message

00:00 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life (and the ‘inner sanctum’ setup)

00:18 Podcast goes video: plans for the new studio space

00:58 Sean’s weekend recap: time off, guest preachers, and John 16 ahead

01:38 The pastor’s ‘walkabout’: worship leading and checking in on kids ministry

02:31 Super Bowl night at home: food, no costumes, and game expectations

03:32 Was it a snoozefest? Defense, party dynamics, and prize memories

04:58 NFL season wrap + Bears optimism: coach, QB, and a new era

05:17 Halftime showdown: Turning Point vs. the Super Bowl show

07:08 Lyrics, family-friendliness, and why Turning Point exists

09:41 Politics on the big stage: immigration messaging and media reactions

11:30 Patriotism vs. Celebrity Critiques: Loving America While Holding Leaders Accountable

12:21 Immigration & ICE: Legal Process, Enforcement, and the Hard Realities

13:45 Back to the Super Bowl: Anthem, Reverence, and the Flyover

14:37 A Sudden Shift: Heading to a Viewing and Why Funerals Matter

16:05 Grief, Regret, and Making Time: What Death Forces Us to Face

16:57 Hope at a Christian Funeral: 1 Thessalonians 4 and the Promise of Resurrection

18:30 Hard vs. Hopeful Funerals: Eternity, the Gospel, and Living With Heaven in View

22:18 Fear of the Unknown & Judgment: Why Faith Must Be Rooted in Jesus

23:35 The Gospel Explained: Righteousness in Christ, Not Our Own

24:53 Final Prayer & Invitation: Don’t Lose the Bigger Picture

Sean welcomes Troy Miller, president of the National Religious Broadcasters after the recent disturbance at City Church in St. Paul and the challenges faced by churches today. They discuss the protestors' disruption, the importance of upholding laws, and the broader implications for religious communities. Learn about the balance between compassion, law enforcement, and the pursuit of truth in the public square.

Discover insights on how Christians can peacefully and legally defend their faith and contribute to national discourse.

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

01:21 Special Conversation with Troy Miller

02:37 Incident at St. Paul Church

05:36 Discussion on Religious Freedom and Media

18:29 Call to Action for Christians

25:20 Conclusion and Prayer

00:00 Introduction and Banter

00:51 Chicago Bears Talk

02:51 Sports and Faith

06:03 Gambling and Its Impact

10:34 Pastoral Reflections

12:51 Reflecting on Faith and Community

14:17 The Message for Non-Believers

16:37 Different Ways to Witness

20:25 The Importance of VBS and Parental Influence

23:49 Preparing Children for Faith Challenges

26:47 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Events

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:43 Prayer Retreat Insights

01:36 Deep Dive into Prayer Practices

03:13 Reflections on Church Direction

04:32 Sports Talk and Personal Anecdotes

06:20 Philip Yancy's Fall and Reflections

11:28 Maintaining Integrity in Ministry

13:07 Understanding Pastoral Challenges

14:19 Theological Compromises and Liberal Perspectives

16:07 Faith and Rationalization

Alongside co-host Baron Wiley, Pastor Sean also discusses practical advice for maintaining spiritual vitality throughout the year.

00:00 Introduction to the Greatest Story Ever Told

01:07 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life

01:24 New Year Reflections and Personal Updates

02:08 Chicago Bears and Playoff Excitement

04:06 Discussing Global Politics and Justice

06:25 Returning to Your First Love

07:47 Practical Tips for Bible Reading

14:06 The Importance of Quality Time with God

21:25 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Pastor Winsley is also the author of "A View from the End Zone - Four Tests You Must Pass To Win in Life"

Pastors Sean and Lauri Azzaro of River City Community Church share the importance of taking time off, avoiding burnout in ministry, and maintaining a healthy family and marriage. They share personal stories, insights on dealing with hurt and resentment, and advice for new pastoral couples. Discover more about their ministry, 'Real Life,' and how they navigate life's challenges together.

00:00 Introduction: The Power of a Good Story

00:14 Invitation to Experience 'The Jesus Story'

00:39 Service Information and Church Details

01:00 Announcement: Changes in Broadcasting

01:56 Special Guest: Lori Zaro

02:30 A Conversation with Lori Zaro

03:19 The Importance of Rest and Recharging

04:18 The Journey of Real Life Ministries

09:48 Balancing Ministry and Family Life

12:29 Dealing with Burnout and Hurt in Ministry

22:23 The Joy of Ministry and Marriage

24:07 Conclusion and Invitation to Church

Discover 'The Jesus Story' with Pastor Sean and Lori Zaro - A Journey of Faith and Transformation

Join Pastor Sean Zaro and his wife Lori of River City Community Church as they invite you to embark on 'The Jesus Story,' a transformative journey based on the Gospel of John. This special episode also features heartfelt conversations about the challenges and joys of ministry, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and the importance of taking time for rest and rejuvenation. Tune in to hear their personal stories, marriage insights, and wisdom for both seasoned and new ministry leaders. Don't miss the announcement about their new plans for delivering messages and the exciting future of Reaching for Real Life.

00:00 Introduction: The Power of a Good Story

00:14 Invitation to Experience 'The Jesus Story'

00:39 Service Information and Church Details

01:00 Announcement: Changes in Broadcasting

01:56 Special Guest: Lori Zaro

02:30 A Conversation with Lori Zaro

03:19 The Importance of Rest and Recharging

04:18 The Journey of Real Life Ministries

09:48 Balancing Ministry and Family Life

12:29 Dealing with Burnout and Hurt in Ministry

22:23 The Joy of Ministry and Marriage

24:07 Conclusion and Invitation to Church

00:00 Introduction and Christmas Greetings

00:35 Family and Holiday Plans

00:49 School Christmas Program Highlights

01:54 Sports Talk: Bears vs. Packers

03:20 Tragic News and Political Commentary

09:16 Acts of Heroism Amidst Tragedy

12:17 Being Peacemakers in Troubling Times

18:17 Christmas Message and Church Events

22:22 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts

00:00 Introduction and Christmas Greetings

00:17 Christmas Celebrations and Staff Party

02:35 Christmas Eve at River City

03:25 Reflecting on the Year and Favorite Podcasts

05:57 Controversy at Biola University

08:16 Challenges Facing Christian Universities

18:00 Parental Influence on College Choices

19:58 Holiday Family Dynamics

20:56 Conclusion and Year-End Reflections

25:02 Invitation to the Jesus Story

Sean Azzaro, Pastor of River City Community Church, speaks to the power of prayer, miracles, and personal stories of divine intervention, touching on the impact of strong leadership in various aspects of life - including Sean's Chicago Bears.

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Excitement

00:38 Christmas Traditions at River City Community Church

01:31 Fun Activities for Kids and Families

02:10 Service Times and Special Events

02:57 Sports Talk: Bears and Cowboys

05:52 The Power of Miracles

07:02 Defining Miracles in the Modern World

11:01 Personal Stories and Testimonies

13:03 The Power of Asking and God's Miraculous Interventions

14:56 Personal Testimonies of Miracles

15:57 A Brother's Miraculous Recovery

18:21 The Power of Prayer and Divine Provision

21:34 Skepticism and the Authenticity of Miracles

23:52 The Miracle of Christ's Birth and Christmas Reflections

25:11 Invitation to River City Services

Visit us at reallife.org.

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

00:40 Service Information and Invitation

01:18 Consistency and Health

03:03 Reflecting on Ministry and Career Choices

05:37 Advice to a Younger Self

08:58 Leadership and Growth

12:08 Worship and Music

13:26 Popular Songs at River City Community Church

14:05 Addressing Pastoral Burnout

15:42 Delegating Responsibilities in Ministry

18:52 The Joy of Baptism

20:26 Pastoral Perks and Appreciation

21:20 Experiencing Real Life in Ministry

22:45 Christmas Traditions and Family

24:09 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:33 Discussing the Popularity of Hymns

00:59 Thanksgiving Reflections and Traditions

03:40 Thanksgiving Football Lineup

06:14 Spotting False Doctrine Online

12:45 Understanding God's Love and Justice

13:38 The Role of AI in Sermon Preparation

15:43 Evaluating the Fruit of Biblical Teaching

18:40 Navigating Doctrinal Differences

20:25 Discerning Truth in Christian Community

23:28 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Today's conversation touches on the historical significance and modern relevance of Christian creeds, the church's outreach initiatives amid the impacts of government shutdowns, and the always insightful football smack. Discover more about discipleship, community, and sustaining faith in today’s world as Pastor Sean emphasizes the importance of scripture, community service, and understanding core Christian doctrines.

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

00:40 River City Community Church and Community Outreach

04:22 Football and Leadership Lessons

07:28 The Importance of Creeds in Christianity

12:13 Modern Christianity and Cultural Challenges

23:51 Invitation to River City Community Church

Follow Kelsey McGinnis on Instagram @kelseymmcginnis

Follow Sean Azzaro @sean_azzaro

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

01:06 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life

01:25 Chicago Bears: A Lesson in Leadership

05:29 Debating Music Ministry in Modern Churches

12:44 Classical vs Contemporary Vocal Training

13:14 Challenges of Transitioning to Contemporary Worship

14:41 The Purpose of Music in Church

15:54 The Role of the Church in Music Education

17:48 Adapting to Musical Changes in Church

20:26 Balancing Tradition and Contemporary Worship

25:03 Upcoming Church Events and Services

Pastor Sean Azzaro says slow down...just becuase you're a celebrity and you get saved only means you're a new believer. Encourage them in their journey, pray for them, let's not teach on Sunday just yet.

Discover insights on community, discipleship, and living a faith-filled life.

00:00 Introduction to the Greatest Story Ever

00:41 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:08 A Day in the Life of Pastor Sean

01:54 Teaching the Kids: Jesus Calms the Storm

03:57 The Importance of Biblical Teaching for Children

04:50 Joe Rogan's Spiritual Journey

08:00 The Cultural Caricature of Jesus

12:47 The Real Jesus: Death and Resurrection

16:06 Encouraging New Believers

18:23 The Role of Church Community

24:42 Halloween Outreach and Final Thoughts

Plus Sean shares insights into multi-generational ministry at River City Community Church and the importance of bold, authentic prayer.

To support Reuven Doron's ministry, the direct giving link is here: https://pushpay.com/g/reuven

00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap

00:48 Worship Team and Family Ministry

03:39 The Power of Bold Prayer

08:17 Upcoming Sermon and Service Times

08:39 Interview with Reuven Doron on Israel's Peace Deal

26:07 Supporting Reuven's Ministry

27:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Subscribe for more episodes and visit reallife.org to connect with our community!

#Israel #PeaceDeal #Faith #Prayer #Ministry #ReachingForRealLife #RiverCityCommunityChurch

00:00 Introduction: The Power of a Good Story

00:14 Invitation to the Jesus Story

00:40 Service Details and Community Engagement

01:08 Reaching for Real Life: A New Groove

01:39 Balancing Ministry and Personal Interests

03:21 The Importance of Leadership

04:35 Global Politics and Peace Deals

07:47 Spiritual Reflections on Peace and Leadership

16:41 The Gospel and Eternal Life

21:38 Conclusion and Invitation to Church Services

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

00:40 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:08 Reaching for Real Life Podcast Begins

01:43 Monday Night Service Recap

02:43 Deep Dive into the Gospel of John

04:43 Teaching the Word at River City

09:49 Discussion on Christian Nationalism

12:12 The Role of the 10 Commandments in Society

12:45 Christian Nationalism: A Dog Whistle?

13:59 The Importance of the First Amendment

15:03 Balancing Patriotism and Faith

17:46 Immigration and Lawfulness

20:16 The Sanctity of Human Life

21:47 Call to Action for Christians

25:01 The Jesus Story: An Invitation

00:00 Introduction and Upcoming Events

01:22 Tribute to Bodde Bachman

02:26 Interview with Bodde Bachman: Fault Lines

03:52 Critical Race Theory and Social Justice

14:51 Biblical Perspective on Race and Ethnicity

18:11 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Now you go and share the Good News.

Service times at River City Community Church are Sundays at 9 AM and 11 AM, with a new Monday night service starting at 6:30 PM on October 6th.

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

01:02 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life

01:35 Sunday Highlights and Football Talk

03:33 A Day of Worship and Baptism

07:12 The Gospel and Evangelism

08:05 Charlie Kirk Memorial and the Gospel

12:06 The Promise of a New Heaven and Earth

12:23 Reflections on Charlie Kirk's Legacy

12:55 The Role of Faith in Politics

13:27 The Impact of Media and Universities

21:14 The Jesus Movement and Modern Revival

23:06 Call to Action: Sharing the Gospel

24:15 Upcoming Church Events and Services

00:00 Introduction to the Jesus Story

00:36 Service Times and New Monday Night Service

01:44 The Jesus Story Series Overview

02:25 Companion Study and Small Groups

03:45 The Tragic News of Charlie Kirk

06:01 Charlie Kirk's Influence and Legacy

10:04 Public Reaction and Social Media Response

13:04 Employer Rights and Social Media Policies

13:56 Spiritual Warfare and Cultural Blindness

16:09 The Role of Christians in Society

17:12 Reflecting Jesus in a Divisive World

18:50 Charlie's Legacy and the Gospel's Influence

23:43 Final Thoughts and Prayer

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:44 Fall Season and NFL Excitement

01:23 Chicago Bears and NFL Updates

03:08 Tragic School Shooting Discussion

04:45 Mental Health and Community Support

08:51 Climate Change and Government Studies

12:33 The Nature of Scientific Inquiry

12:52 Climate Change Study Insights

13:43 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Their Effects

15:52 Challenging Climate Models

17:07 Extreme Weather Events Analysis

18:03 Human Activity and Climate Change

18:42 Economic Implications of Climate Policies

19:50 Faith and Science: A Balanced Perspective

21:01 Encouragement for Christians

22:14 Final Thoughts and Community Invitation

00:00 Introduction: Discovering Real Life

00:18 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:06 Reaching for Real Life: Air Guitar and Drums

01:36 Celebrating 38 Years of Marriage

02:34 Pastor's Masters Golf Tournament

03:46 Remembering John MacArthur and James Dobson

05:55 Family Matters: Honoring and Forgiving

13:26 Understanding Forgiveness and Releasing Debt

14:30 The Power of Redemption and Forgiveness

14:45 The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

15:23 Self-Righteousness and Unforgiveness

16:21 The Role of Social Media in Seeking Validation

17:34 Seeking Godly Counsel and Restoration

19:11 Family Dynamics and Christian Community

21:46 Praying for Reconciliation and Letting Go

23:41 River City Community Church Services and Invitation

And it's also the first utterance of #GoBears.

00:00 Introduction and NFL Season Excitement

01:01 Morning Routine and Spiritual Practices

02:14 The Importance of Daily Bible Reading

04:57 Discussing Church Governance

14:23 Qualifications and Selection of Elders

23:15 Upcoming Church Events and Services

25:02 Closing Prayer and Ref

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

00:33 Family and Community Life

01:26 School and Community Programs

03:11 Special Guest: Dr. Alex McFarland

03:40 Liberty, Law, and Society

07:30 Natural Law and American Exceptionalism

09:38 Current Cultural and Political Issues

18:10 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Events

www.rcbaonline.com

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More?

00:18 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:03 Reaching for Real Life: Back in the Pulpit

01:36 Landmark Church and San Marcos Visit

02:24 Revival and Greg Lori's Crusades

05:43 The Gospel's Fair Hearing in Modern Times

07:54 Preparing the Next Generation for College

09:28 River City Believers Academy: A Christian School's Journey

13:32 Introduction to River City Believers Academy

14:10 School Leadership and Faculty

15:09 Unique Christian Community

16:48 Student Involvement in Worship

17:57 Pastor Sean's Role and Influence

19:19 Sports and Life Lessons

22:24 Enrollment and Scholarships

24:06 Service Times and Final Thoughts

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:30 Shoutout to New Members

01:05 Radio Show and Podcast Stations

01:35 Pastor Sean's Ministry Journey

02:44 Reflections on Influential Leaders

03:46 Transition Plans and Future Vision

06:46 The Importance of Marriage Counseling

06:59 The Coldplay Concert Scandal

09:05 Christian Leaders and Moral Failures

12:47 Avoiding Compromising Situations

13:34 The Billy Graham Rule Explained

14:47 Controversy and Criticism of the Rule

15:48 Practical Applications and Personal Experiences

18:44 Protecting Your Marriage

19:04 Counseling and Community Support

21:17 Maintaining a Healthy Marriage

24:47 Final Thoughts and Prayer

25:31 Upcoming Church Events

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More

00:19 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:06 Reaching for Real Life: New Service Times

02:09 Interview with Pastor Jason Flentye

02:50 Jason's Journey to Ministry

04:05 Serving at Church on the Beach

11:40 Unique Opportunities and Challenges

14:30 Impactful Stories of Transformation

21:33 Challenges and Prayer Requests

23:12 Conclusion and Contact Information

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More

01:07 Casual Conversation: Catching Up

03:02 Reflecting on the Kerrville Flooding

06:18 Theological Reflections on Suffering

11:01 Stories of Hope and God's Grace

15:04 How to Help and Support

20:20 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More?

00:19 Welcome to River City Community Church

01:08 Reaching for Real Life: A Conversation

01:33 Experiencing Real Life in Southern California

02:17 Invitation to the Pastors Masters Golf Tournament

03:04 Meet Lauri Azzaro: Co-Founder and Ministry Partner

03:53 Journey Through 38 Years of Ministry

05:36 Starting Real Life Ministries

09:12 Balancing Ministry and Family Life

11:23 Avoiding Burnout and Maintaining Health

16:22 The Importance of Rest and Recharging

18:40 Advice for Young Pastoral Couples

21:22 Finding Joy in Ministry and Marriage

23:07 Conclusion and Invitation to River City Community Church

00:00 Introduction to Reaching for Real Life Podcast

00:29 River City Believers Academy Enrollment

01:09 Meet Pastor Jonathan Shepherd

01:54 The Journey of Shep's Studio

03:13 Artistic Achievements and Recognition

06:19 Art as Ministry

10:54 Unique Artistic Style and Techniques

13:24 Integrating Ministry and Art

13:52 Building Bridges Through Art

14:37 Transformative Relationships

16:15 Sharing Faith in Everyday Interactions

19:25 Encouragement to Step Out in Faith

20:00 Finding and Following Your Calling

21:50 Connecting Through Social Media

22:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

24:09 Outro and Contact Information

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:40 Boerne Radio Studio Tour

01:17 Vacation and Study Break

02:02 Father's Day Reflections

02:37 Summer in the Psalms

06:33 The Importance of Networking

08:20 Networking Tips and Personal Stories

11:05 Discussing the No Kings Rally

11:25 Debating Immigration Law Enforcement

12:06 The Role of Law in Society

12:12 Critique of Left-Wing Movements

16:08 Israel's Actions Against Iran

16:39 The Complexity of Middle Eastern Politics

20:24 The Significance of Israel

23:19 Prayers for Peace and Leadership

00:00  Invitation to River City Community Church

01:07 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life

01:34 Summer Sabbatical and Youth Camp

02:24 Purpose of Sabbatical

04:12 Summer in the Psalms Series

04:41 Leading Worship and Coaching

06:19 Importance of Church Attendance

08:25 Defining Church and Community

10:50 The Importance of Being Part of a Church Community

12:10 New Testament Teachings on Church Attendance

12:57 The Early Church: A Model of Commitment and Community

16:21 Modern Challenges: Online Church and Community

21:10 Encouragement to Engage in Church Life

22:58 Invitation to River City Community Church

24:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More?

00:19 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:08 Welcome to the Reaching for Real Life Podcast

01:28 Transition from Ministry to Business

02:19 Sports Talk and Friendship

04:38 Challenges and Lessons in Ministry

07:47 Life Beyond Pastoral Ministry

11:02 Faith in the Marketplace

16:15 Loving People in Business

21:21 Conclusion and Contact Information

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More

00:19 Welcome to River City Community Church

01:08 Yaya Pops Camp: A Family Tradition

08:18 The Great Ruth Series: A Journey Through Redemption

12:19 Upcoming Series: Summer in the Psalms

13:24 Christian Response to Cultural Events

24:41 Conclusion: Living Out Your Faith

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:26 Meet Winnie the Pooch

01:12 Golf Tournament Highlights

01:49 Real Life Community Outreach

05:20 Reaching for Real Life Explained

06:51 Responding to Current Events

12:42 Political Divides and Christian Perspectives

13:26 Middle East Conflicts and Christian Compassion

13:52 Balancing Political Views with Faith

16:33 Challenges of Pastoral Leadership

18:27 Finding Support and Maintaining Joy in Ministry

24:37 Encouragement and Prayer for Pastors

00:00 Introduction

02:19 Fun and Fellowship at River City

04:58 The Importance of Groups in Ministry

06:59 Evolution and Training of Group Leaders

10:47 Unified Direction: Francis Chan's Multiply

11:55 Introduction to River City's Group Structure

12:20 The Impact of Multiply Movement

12:37 Francis Chan's Influence and Resources

14:04 Personal Testimonies and Group Experiences

17:24 The Power of Community and Groups

18:20 Lessons Learned from Multiply Movement

22:31 Upcoming Events and Sermon Series

25:03 Conclusion and Invitation to River City

00:00 Introduction: Made for Something More

00:19 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:07 Reaching for Real Life Podcast Begins

01:33 Women's Retreat and Mission Trips

02:21 Graduation and School Events

03:14 Invocation and Secularism

08:05 Creativity in the Church

12:31 The Power of Music and Worship

14:19 Defending the Past vs. Envisioning the Future

16:12 Authenticity in Worship and Creativity

18:31 Community Engagement Through Creativity

20:29 Love as the Source of Great Art

24:27 Final Thoughts and Mother's Day

00:00 Introduction: River City Community Church - Made for Something More

00:19 Welcome to Reaching For Real Life Opening Smack

02:56 Easter Celebrations and Reflections

07:08 The Passing of Pope Francis

11:55 Introduction to Candace Owens and Evangelical Trends

12:11 John Piper's Insights on Evangelicals Turning Catholic

13:33 The Role of Creeds in Church History

15:04 Hunger for Roots and Apostolic Succession

16:59 Intellectual and Artistic Richness in Worship

18:06 Authority, Clarity, and Stability in the Catholic Church

19:45 Future of the Catholic Church and Evangelical Perspectives

24:04 Concluding Thoughts and Invitation to River City Community Church

00:00 Introduction to Easter Celebration

00:16 Invitation to Easter Services at River City

01:06 Reaching for Real Life Podcast Begins

02:27 Musical Inspirations and Easter Preparations

03:28 Holy Week and Its Significance

05:57 President Trump's Holy Week Message

10:52 Discussion on Religious Liberty and Christian Nationalism

12:18 Debunking the Separation of Church and State Myth

13:07 Atheist in Foxhole Award and Its Implications

13:35 Misinterpretations of the Constitution

14:34 Christian Nationalism: A Misunderstood Concept

16:35 The President's Faith and Its Public Perception

17:36 Freedom of Religion vs. Freedom from Religion

18:07 The Role of Faith in Presidential Leadership

23:19 The President's Easter Message

25:08 Invitation to Easter Services

Pastor Sean celebrates a partnership with Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University as he shares personal experiences with debt and financial recovery, emphasizing the spiritual and practical benefits of money management. Sign up for the next deeply discounted class at reallife.org.

00:00 Easter Celebration Invitation

00:16 Easter Weekend Events

01:06 Reaching for Real Life Introduction

01:33 Preparing for Easter Services

03:26 Financial Peace University

04:46 Personal Financial Journey

10:32 Budgeting and Financial Freedom

14:38 Building an Emergency Fund

15:17 Gazelle-Like Intensity

16:37 Cutting Up Credit Cards

16:42 The Spiritual Aspect of Debt

17:49 The Importance of Tithing

19:01 The Debt Snowball Method

20:19 Steps to Financial Freedom

21:27 Living Generously

24:08 Financial Peace University Details

26:19 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

00:00 Introduction and Texas Open Preparations

01:13 Reflecting on the Recent Sermon

02:16 Discussing Biblical Dramatizations

05:11 The Importance of Biblical Literacy

08:24 Practical Tips for Engaging with Scripture

11:51 The Importance of Scripture Memorization

12:47 Music as a Tool for Memorization

13:50 The Power of God's Word in Difficult Times

15:37 Daily Habits and Spiritual Nourishment

16:54 Practical Tips for Memorizing Scripture

21:20 Encouragement for Consistent Bible Reading

24:04 Closing Prayer and Easter Invitation

00:00 Introduction:

03:30 Upcoming Easter Events

04:28 Special Guest: Willie Mayfield

04:54 Community Outreach Overview

05:00 Food Ministry and Its Impact

07:47 Vocational Training Programs

09:49 Building a Food Warehouse

12:00 Collaborations and Community Support

13:53 Discussing the Fundraiser Event

14:10 Details of the Sporting Clays Event

14:53 Community and Corporate Involvement

16:12 Faith and Vocational Training

19:10 Volunteer Opportunities and Event Goals

22:23 Concluding Remarks and Future Plans

23:32 Easter Celebration Announcement

Erin Smith serves as Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute.

00:00 Invitation to River City Community Church

01:06 Welcome to Reaching for Real Life

01:16 Cold Front Smack

02:01 Easter Service Plans

02:41 Current Series: The Disciple

03:38 Special Guest: Dr. Joe Rangel

03:45 Dr. Joe Rangel's Journey and Role

04:49 Truett Theological Seminary in San Antonio

05:25 Mission and Student Demographics

07:37 Importance of Seminary Education

09:37 Ideal Student for Truett San Antonio

11:31 Theological Traditions and Teaching Approach

13:45 Student Life and Class Schedules

15:56 Scholarship Opportunities

18:22 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

00:00 - Opening Smack

00:39 - Health and Flu Season

02:11  - Discipleship Launch and New Groups

03:46 - Political Commentary and Executive Orders

05:13 - Inauguration Day and Bishop's Sermon

08:00 - Immigration and Mercy Debate

12:40 - Biblical Perspective on Foreigners

21:49 - Practical Love and Law

23:30 - Prayer Requests

Pastor Winsley is also the author of "A View from the End Zone - Four Tests You Must Pass To Win in Life"

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:25 Vision for the New Year and Support for the Ministry

01:33 Inauguration Day and Political Commentary

03:06 Reflections on Jimmy Carter

04:58 Wildfires in California

08:21 Faith and Human Nature in Times of Crisis

13:27 Political Finger Pointing and DEI Discussion

20:16 Christian Response and Call to Action

22:24 Closing Prayer

Transcript:

We'll do the whole section again Yeah, but what do you want me to say? Maybe I shouldn't ask you a question. I'm not the guy Mr. Mark No, but what do you think of what do you think of when I say spiritual disciplines you can say you could say Okay maybe something like, faithfulness and You Yeah, whatever.

That's great. What do you think of when I when I mentioned spiritual disciplines? Oh the first thing I think of is faithfulness. Yeah. Being faithful. That's what we're called to do. When we talk about spiritual disciplines, we think of things very, let me get much more basic. Okay.

Daily time in the word. Okay. Daily time in the scripture. That is a spiritual discipline. I am in the word every day. And I'm not by nature necessarily the most disciplined person. I have to work at it. But through the help of some great tools, the you version Bible app, I've always been committed to the word of God, you miss days or, with the help of the U version Bible app.

Even if for some reason, something comes up and I got to leave early and I haven't yet had my quiet time. I'm going to listen to the word on the way in, I'm going to pray on the way. And so it's what has allowed me to do is be a person who doesn't miss those days. And the word and prayer is a spiritual discipline that I'm going to each day, I'm going to sit with the Lord and I'm going to listen and I'm going to hear his voice.

And I'm going to talk to him about the things that are going on in my life and my day. And I'm going to, in the word and prayer together, I'm going to commune with him. How about fellowship? Being a part of a church, being a committed part of a church and gathering, the scripture tells us, don't forsake the assembling of yourselves.

And we know that the model of the early church was on the first day of the week, they gathered together, they shared the Lord's supper. So fellowship's a discipline. Sabbath, the Sabbath is a spiritual discipline. The idea, I'm going to take a day each week and I am not going to work. I'm not going to move the ball down field, whether it be financially, whether it be even, I'm not going to sit and do be working at the house all day.

This is a day to recognize and the such a beautiful principle of Sabbath. It's disciplining my ambition. Yeah. Because what it says is I'm not the one who makes the world go around. God does. Yeah. God rested on the seventh day. I can do it too. And you know what? The world will be fine. One day I'm actually going to be gone and this world is going to go on without me.

I might as well take it for a spin now while I'm here, right? And some people think they're indispensable and I, Oh no, I can't take a day off. No, that's not true. Yeah, exactly. But Sabbath is a reminder of who's God, who makes it all work and who doesn't. Yeah, life's a vapor. I loved how you talk about how people own the land before you on the way you're at.

And guess what? Yeah, someone else is going to have it after the fact. Yes, it's true. Yeah, it's empirically true. See what I try to do. I want to talk. Let's talk about stewardship. I try to empirically show people, you know what Job said. I came in with nothing, I'm leaving with nothing. So that's true. So Sabbath is just a regular discipline in my week.

It's like a rhythm that reminds me, Oh, okay. And I worship, I spend time with my family. And it's this is I'm not the one who makes it all happen. God does. Yeah. Fasting, I hate fasting. But it's a good discipline. It quiets the flesh. All these spiritual disciplines are designed to silence the flesh tithing is a major discipline in the scripture a financial discipline to teach me to trust God and to Teach me that it's not all about me and watch God provide more and do better with 90 percent than I could have done with 100 And boy, talk about a discipline that builds your faith.

Tithing is an amazing discipline. And if you're not tithing, you are missing out on it. I just encourage you to look at that spiritual discipline. Yeah. Pastor Sean, this is again, a topic that always comes up January 1st, but the way you're talking, why isn't February 1st, March 1st, April 1st, every day that we're thinking, why do we wait till the end of the year to start getting serious?

I don't know that we. It's what I like about the first of the years is built into the rhythm. We stop and evaluate, we stop and look and go, okay, wait a minute. How'd I do last year? And what do I want to see different this year? And I think that's a good rhythm. I encourage you to do that.

Just a point of, it's a natural fulcrum of, for reflection. And so I feel like that happens and it's a good thing. And you need to understand something when we talk about disciplines, because a lot of people might be going well, but my disciplines were in the area of diet and exercise. Okay. Diet and exercise.

And I, is that not important? Cause it's good for health. It's a temple. Yeah. It's exactly right. If I'm a steward, If I'm a steward, my body's the temple of the Holy Spirit, then taking care of it with health, diet, and exercise is a good thing. Let me tell you something additional, though.

I believe discipline, like exercise, is a great way to just tell your flesh no. It's the same muscle of the will, That, that you're exercising that helps you with your spiritual disciplines. So I believe there's something very spiritual about something as simple as healthy diet and regular exercise because it's, my flesh says, Oh, my flesh wants to just melt.

But it's like telling your flesh no. Telling your flesh shut up and be quiet is such a powerful principle, because what that translates into is spiritual disciplines, which translates into obedience. Yes. You begin to learn to tell the spirit or to listen to the spirit and obey the spirits and say yes to the spirit and say no to the flesh that's.

That's life changing, that's crucifying the flesh. And so that's a very powerful part of this. The most exercise people do nowadays. So Pastor Sean is there with their index finger doing this thing called scrolling nowadays. You don't want to get a cramp. Exactly. Got to keep it in shape.

Yes. But fasting, the social media was a popular one. I heard this past season. And I'll tell you what when you do that. Especially you will find out very quickly if you're addicted, because if you find yourself quickly being drawn back and getting a little shaky when you don't have the phone in your hand, okay, you got a problem.

So I will say the same thing. The discipline of telling your flesh your impulse no is powerful. It's the same muscle that you're going to use to tell your flesh no, when it wants to keep you from being in the word or being in prayer. When you're fasting and you're like, Oh my gosh, I'm dying.

And you're like, wait, you just skipped lunch, right?

Another popular discipline that people look at. And I think it's an important one is financial disciplines, right? There's sometimes they'll recognize, okay, I want to do some things differently. Okay. And I want to, have my, get my finances in shape boy. Talk about one that is a exercise in the will and discipline financial disciplines, think about things like eliminating debt, right?

I don't think God wants us to be living in debt. Scripture tells us to, Oh no, man, anything but the debt of love the borrower's servant to the lender. I just think so many people can't do what they believe God's called them to do just because they're in debt. And so the discipline of saying, yep, I'm going to do something different.

Now I want to talk about a great bit of accountability. Dave Ramsey's financial piece. Great resource. I came across another financial resource that I'm really interested in. I showed it to my wife, Laura, and we're just checking it out. It's called Simple Money, Rich Life. It's a book by Bob Lodich and they have a whole ministry.

You can check them out, but, and similar principles, but they come at a little different angle, a little different approach. It might appeal to a different kind of person. Okay. Great resource. He'd be a great guy to give him a podcast by the way. Sometime. Sure. But Dave would be too, but I just think we have a harder time, the Dave Ramsey stuff of, Dave does a beautiful use a beautiful illustration and total money makeover talks about gazelle like intensity, and if you've gone through his material, you know what I mean by that?

It's like when a gazelle is being chased by a a leopard or by a cheetah, it's like that thing is running in his focus. If you understand the danger of debt and you understand all that it's keeping you from, he says, you will attack it and you will flee with gazelle like intensity. And one of the things I love about Dave Ramsey and Bob Lodich in his book as well is the practical tools that speak to regular people.

Yeah. Okay. There's the people who are just great money people and super disciplined and just, that's great. But most of us aren't like that. Dave Ramsey and Bob Lotus know how to speak to regular people and say, here's how you do that. And eliminating debt is a huge piece of that, but then living within a budget, just saying, I'm not going to spend all my money.

I'm going to save. I'm going to be generous. I'm going to give I'm going to be a tither. That is an important principle. And I'm just going to have, I'm not going to consume everything that I make. That's huge. Living on a budget is a big part of that. It's a discipline that you can, Pick up an embrace and that's something that Ramsey does with his book, but that puts it down on paper You can track it and you can measure your growth and this gets fun when you start seeing the difference Oh, it's unbelievable when you use his debt snowball.

Yeah, the debt snowball and again loaded chooses a debt snowball, too I don't know that it's unique. I don't know that it's original the Ramsey Again, Dave Ramsey doesn't isn't teaching things that nobody's ever heard of or thought He just does it in a way that regular people can understand and he really is helpful By just bringing it and making it accessible to so many people, right?

It really is the discipline of the financial discipline of generosity. Just saying I'm, I believe God's blessed me and I want to be a generous person. So learning how to have an open hand financially and with the rest of your life, just being generous. So these are the kind of disciplines that we hit at this time of year.

And what I want to say is I think I think that's a really good thing. I think picking up and saying, okay, I want to grow in some disciplines. I just encourage you. Look at some areas and say, yeah, this is an area I would like to see growth in this year and go get some resources. If it's finances, get a resource like the two I've just mentioned get an accountability, financial piece is great because you do it in a group.

But if you even, if you just want to go through his book, Total Money Makeover, or one of his seminars, then get someone, get an accountability partner, another couple, another individual, and just do this and let this be a year where things change. If it's spiritual disciplines, maybe you're a Christian, you're listening to this and you go, I'm not consistent in the word of God.

I'm just here to tell you, then you're not living a healthy Christian life. It's like a person that says, I don't eat well. I don't eat consistently. You're malnourished. And so I'm just saying, man, just get into a daily habit of reading the word. We have a Bible reading plan at reallife. org. You can check out the, I love the YouVersion Bible app.

It's such a great resource. There are multiple Bible reading plans and you can go through those. There's ones that are accompanied by someone giving you some devotional thoughts and there's just Bible reading. And they all have Bible on, audible that you can just listen to, as well as read while you're driving or whatever.

Yeah. And so there's no reason not to be a person of the word, not to be biblically strong and biblically centered. And so I just encourage you take that this year and say, I'm going to pick up that habit. Very good habit, Pastor Sean. As we were talking previously about, social media and maybe doing less, I would encourage you ladies and gentlemen, one, follow this podcast and two, follow Sean Nazaro on the X, on the Twitter there.

You got some funny stuff on there, Pastor Sean, I will say. I challenge you to do more posting. I do. I, that is a discipline. See, thank you. Will you be my accountability partner? Exactly. Now, get off of social media, but I'm going to be, I'm going to be there and the series continues next week. Pastor Sean.

Yeah. Yeah. We're, the series is called more than money, a study of stewardship. And yeah, we're going to continue talking about it and I'm in each time we're going to get to talking about money, obviously, because the Bible does so much, but even then the issue of stewardship is the.

Your position of worship and your position of being a servant of God and recognizing that you are a steward of everything that he's given you. And so it really does involve some big heart issues. Last week we talked about the idea of who, who owns it. My life is not my own. And that's the big issue of faithfulness.

The call of a steward is to be faithful. It's what, first, first Corinthians four, it's required of a steward that they'd be found faithful. We're going to talk about the whole trust issue. What, why is stewardship hard? Why is it a tough issue? Why is it uncomfortable? Because I don't trust God, right?

Probably if we say, honestly, and boy I have grown in trust in the Lord, but none of us trust the Lord fully, even the most mature among us, there's areas where we struggle with that and that's why stewardship is hard, we're going to look at Discipline and not just financial disciplines but this topic that we've talked about today, if you listen to this podcast, you'll have a little headstart.

And then we're of course going to talk about how do I make the most of what God's given me as far as for generosity and mission. So it's a great topic and it's one that I feel is immensely important and clarifying for people. It's this Sunday at river city community church, starting at 9 30 and then 11 o'clock right here on lookout road, right behind Retama park in San Antonio, Selma shirts, if you will.

And we'll see you next Sunday. Yeah. We'd love to have you. Thanks for listening to this podcast. Let me pray for you, Lord. Thank you so much for this listener and these listeners and just the, this opportunity for us to just connect. I just pray that you would help us to grow in this area of discipline.

And help us Lord to be willing to get an accountability partner or become accountable in some capacity to just growing. And so we thank you for that. I pray that 2025 would be an amazing year of growth and a vision and of life in you. We thank you and honor you in Jesus name. Amen. 

If you don't feel connected in your group (if you have a group), are you using your gifts?

You're missing out on REAL LIFE!

Pastor Sean describes what real Community looks like.

See you on the other side of this podcast in a group!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sean heard a podcast featuring Dr. J.D. Greear on The Stetzer Church Leaders Podcast and the topic was Character Matters as it pertained to the Presidential candidate who wears a red tie...and Sean said "hold on..."

Do you ever bless your church with YOUR SERVICE?

Me, serve? "I get grace...i don't have to serve at the church." Really?

Sean says..."Sorry, we're the body...we're the church...we're family...despite what you think of your brother/sister."

If you want to run this race...if you want to win this match...you need to work on your "serve".

Pastor Marcus is Bi-Vocational because he is also the Director of Ministry Development with Salem San Antonio and AM630 The Word (AKA KSLR). Marcus also Shepherds a Bi-Lingual church where he preaches in English and Spanish at the same time. Plus a Husband, and Father... Wow!

(Fun Fact: This is RFRL Episode #630 and Marcus is from AM630 The Word).

You can also hear Pastor Sean on AM630 The Word at 2pm Monday-Friday.

Is it "I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand..."?

Is it "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you..."

All great ones, but understand the context in which they were said.

Pastor Sean focuses on that last one and spells out the bottom line...

Dig in...

Conservative Catholic Kansas City Super Bowl Champ Harrison Butker delivers the commencement speech at The Benedictine College where his words earned him a standing ovation, and another part where his comments were followed by 18 seconds of applause. It was that comment that Media jumped on (and others that were pro-family/pro-life), and forced the NFL to release a statement distancing them from the content of the speech.

Pastor Sean Azzaro gets in the game himself with a message to be bold...and you can do it too.

Wait...

Lets see what the Word says about the matter...starting with the Lord's Prayer, and what Jesus said from the Cross.

If forgiveness or unforgiveness is something you're dealing with, Pastor Sean puts on the counselling hat with the "Reaching For Real Life Co-host".

In fact the media says it's dangerous.

What does it mean?

Pastor Sean found four definitions according to a New York Times opinion piece and breaks it down.

Sean also gives his quick take on the drama last week with Mark Driscoll who charged a men's conference of being idolatrous...and then he was called out for being "out of line".

Hit Play - Listen - Share - Repeat.

Hear todays headlines from the Israeli perspective, and understand the huge opportunity this is for his country to find the Messiah. It's also comforting to hear that Israel is praying for this country too.

What does the Word say about the coming of Christ? And the heavens declaring the glory of God?

Pastor Sean will bring it back down to Earth and have some fun with it too.

It's a little bigger deal than football.

Okay...so how do I do that? Sean takes a page out his stewardship campaign and focuses on not just giving to give because it's good for your taxes...but being generous, just like our Father is generous to us. Sean says "God can do more with your 90% than you can do with your 100%." Try Him.

This show is strong...strong like bull...but the bottom line is that real men reflect Christ. Step up...and listen up.

Hear how God rescued him from alcoholism with a revelation from the Old Testament. Get the book on Amazon or if you get inspired, go local. But Jeff's wife will tell you, get it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684514827/?tag=regnerywebsite-20

bans the medical transitioning of minors & banning adult cabaret (drag) performances in front of children. Righteous anger with a message to stand up and say "no" to the craziness is appropriate. Also how then should we pray.

Pastor Sean talks about the whys, the hope, and speaks the truth in love when it comes to treatment. Open your Bible to Philippians Chapter 4 and follow along.

1) Where to Start: Use A Bible Reading Plan - https://reallife.org/get-involved/bible-reading/

2) How To Study God's Word via REAP: Read, Examine, Apply, Pray

Read

-         Prayerfully read through your daily reading. Ask God to speak through His word!

-         Make note of any sections or scriptures that particularly stand out to you, which may be the prompting of the Spirit – make note of these verses in your journal. (Keep a journal)

Examine

Look more deeply at the passages. Ask and answer some key questions:

1.   Who was this passage written to? Who is being addressed?

2.   What would they have understood this passage to mean? (Get a Study Bible)

3.   What am I to understand this passage to mean? (What does God want me to know?)

4.   What does God want me to do (How am I supposed to obey God’s voice in this passage?

5.   What does this passage teach me about God and His nature, Jesus and my salvation? (Give Him thanks for who He is and what He’s done!)

Apply

-         Make note of what God would like you to do in response to what you’ve read.

-         Make a plan to obey!

Pray

-         You may write out parts of your prayer in your journal.

-         Take some time talking to God about the things He has spoken to you… listen for His voice.

-         Pray the key elements of the Lord’s prayer – Worship, Spiritual Surrender, Petition, Confession, repentance, forgiveness, intercession, guidance, protection, etc.

-         Pray through your day, inviting God to lead and speak.

-         Ask God to bring His word to your mind all throughout the day. Meditate on His word!

Spend Christmas Eve in community at River City Community Church - Friday at 7pm / Saturday at 4:30pm and 6pm.