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Based in Hillsville, Virginia, this is the podcast of ReCreate Church. We are a community of Life and Love.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
The Anchor
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Hebrews 6:17-19a
Episode Summary
During another snow-filled Sunday, Pastor Michael reflects on feeling unsteady - whether from ice-covered walkways or the storms of life. Using the powerful imagery of an anchor and a fascinating rat experiment about hope, he shows us that biblical hope isn't optimism or smooth sailing, but something solid to hold onto when the waves crash and the wind blows.
Key Points
– God's promises are immutable (unchanging) - He doesn't flip-flop, doesn't wake up moody, and never flakes on His commitments
– God gives us double assurance: His Written Word (promises) and His Sworn Oath, confirmed by the Holy Spirit's seal
– Biblical hope isn't the absence of trouble or positive thinking - it's being tied to something unchangeable when storms hit
– Ships don't need anchors in calm water; anchors are for storms, which is why hope is called an anchor, not a sail
– Our souls drift when prolonged trials make us lose sight of God's promises, leading to mechanical obedience without joy
– Jesus is our City of Refuge - better than the Old Testament version because He offers inclusion, not exile, and forgiveness, not just protection
Main Takeaway
Hope in Jesus is our Anchor in the Storm. Most anchors go down, but ours goes up - into the Presence behind the veil, into Heaven itself. An anchor doesn't remove the storm; it keeps us steady through it. When waves crash, resources run out, and life breaks down, we need an anchor that holds. Jesus is that Anchor - unchanging, reliable, sealed by the Spirit. Hope isn't the storm ending; it's knowing Who sustains us through it.
Memorable Quotes
– "Hope in Jesus is our Anchor in the Storm."
– "Once you are in God's Family, it's FOREVER!"
– "He ain't the loving and leaving type! He doesn't do bait and switch."
– "Your grip on Him might grow weak, but His Grip on you never will."
– "An anchor doesn't change the weather. An anchor keeps the ship from being carried away by the storm."
– "Hope isn't the storm ending. Hope is knowing Who can sustain us through the storm."
– "Most anchors go downward. Our anchor goes up."
Reflection Question
When life feels stormy and your soul starts to drift, are you tied to the right anchor, or are you running to credit cards, social media, and opinions of people just as lost as you are?
Tune in to hear about Pastor Michael's epic double wipeout on ice caught on doorbell camera, why the second rat swam for 24 hours while the first gave up after one, and the powerful story of a frozen church community that found hope again before the weather even changed.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
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Sunday Jan 25, 2026
Sunday Jan 25, 2026
The Underground
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Luke 12:35-46
Episode Summary
Recorded on a Saturday night before a predicted winter storm, Pastor Michael addresses a week in which church protestors made headlines. Using a creative allegory read by his 15-year-old son Elijah, he reminds us that the Jesus Movement has always been underground - not about hiding, but about unshakeable loyalty to a different Kingdom while living as infiltrators on a rescue mission in enemy territory.
Key Points
– The Church isn't the establishment - we're the resistance on a rescue mission, not another cog in a political machine
– Jesus left behind faithful followers to spread His teachings until His return, knowing they'd face opposition from the world's power structures
– The danger isn't persecution - it's forgetting our purpose and getting distracted by culture wars, preferences, and complacency
– When churches stop being a movement and become a club for member comfort, they drift from their mission
– Our weapons aren't political or violent but spiritual - we win people to Jesus, not just culture wars
– Jesus will return unannounced, and we must be found faithful, watching, and actively sharing the Good News
Main Takeaway
We aren't the establishment - we are the resistance on a rescue mission. The Jesus Movement has always been underground, made up of people with courage to live by different values and refuse to be reshaped by the dominant culture. Our calling isn't to make unbelievers act like believers through politics, but to show them the transforming love of Jesus. We're not-so-secret agents planted by the True King, and we must stay faithful to that mission.
Memorable Quotes
– "We aren't the establishment - we are the resistance, and we're on a rescue mission."
– "An underground movement isn't about hiding - it's about unshakeable loyalty."
– "They were obsessed with how dark the world was, instead of sharing the light. They were so caught up in guarding doors, they forgot they were supposed to open them."
– "Our ultimate purpose isn't to win culture wars - it's to win people to Jesus."
– "We are not the ruling power - we never have been. We are The Underground."
– "We need to do more than trying to get unbelievers to act like believers. We need to show them the love and peace and transformation of Jesus."
Reflection Question
Have you forgotten that you're part of an underground movement on a rescue mission, getting distracted instead by culture wars, preferences, or the comfort of Christian community rather than actively sharing Jesus with people who need Him?
Tune in to hear the powerful allegory of The Great and Powerful King read by Pastor Michael's son Elijah, why his dog is wreaking havoc on his allergies, and what Jesus' shocking language about servants being cut in pieces really means for us today.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
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Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Sunday Jan 18, 2026
Family Resemblance
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 3:8-9
Episode Summary
In Part 9 of the 1 John series, Pastor Michael returns from the holiday break to talk about family resemblance - not just physical traits, but spiritual patterns. Using hilarious stories about his wife's seven sisters and a bee-in-the-jorts incident, he tackles a challenging passage about whether our life patterns show we belong to God's family or the devil's family. This isn't about perfection - it's about patterns.
Key Points
– John isn't asking "Have you ever sinned?" but "What does the pattern of your life say about what spiritual family you belong to?"
– Jesus came not only to save us from sin's penalty but also from sin's power - He's the Chainbreaker who disrupts destructive patterns
– A saved person can fall into sin, but they can't remain comfortable there - being in sin will make a child of God deeply unhappy
– The difference between the two families is stumbling into sin versus settling into sin
– Some family patterns are destructive and need to be broken: "It may run in the family, but it runs out with me!"
– Anyone can claim to be a Christian, but true believers show a family resemblance to Jesus in their life patterns
Main Takeaway
If God is your Papa, it changes your pattern. This passage isn't about perfection - it's about patterns. A fish can jump out of water, but it can't be happy on land for long. Similarly, a true follower of Jesus can fall into sin, but they can't remain there comfortably. When we mess up, we don't run away from God - we run TO Him. Spiritual family resemblance matters far more than whose nose you got, because eternity is at stake.
Memorable Quotes
– "If God is your Papa, it changes your pattern."
– "It may run in the family, but it runs out with me!"
– "God is not looking to bust you as soon as you mess up. It's the opposite - He wants to rescue you, so messing up doesn't become your pattern."
– "Jesus doesn't just forgive your past; He disrupts your patterns."
– "If you are one of God's kids, being in sin will make you VERY unhappy."
– "It's the difference between stumbling into sin and settling into sin."
– "Don't let fake Jesus people stop you from connecting with the real Jesus."
Reflection Question
What patterns in your life reveal your spiritual family resemblance? Are there destructive family patterns you need Jesus to help you break so they run out with you?
Tune in to hear the unforgettable story of a bee flying up Michael's jorts during a phone call, why his wife's seven sisters were impossible to tell apart on a landline, and the powerful truth that struggle against sin is actually a sign of spiritual life.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
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Sunday Jan 11, 2026
Sunday Jan 11, 2026
Test Me
Speaker: David Boudreaux, Elder at ReCreate Church
Scripture: Malachi 3:7-10
Episode Summary
Elder David Boudreaux shares a message about the one time God actually invites us to test Him - in the area of tithing. Using the Emergency Broadcast System as an illustration, he walks through Malachi's final Old Testament message where God challenges His people who have robbed Him through withheld tithes and offerings. This isn't about legalism or a prosperity gospel, but about trusting God as a good steward of all He's given us.
Key Points
– The concept of tithing began before the Mosaic Law with Cain, Abel, Abraham, and Jacob giving free-will offerings
– God told Israel they were robbing Him by withholding tithes and offerings, resulting in a curse on the nation
– In Malachi 3:10, God uniquely invites us to "test Me in this" - to see if He won't open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings
– Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial Law, but tithing preceded and remains after the Law as a principle for God's people
– God owns everything (100%), but allows us to manage 90% as stewards while the tithe belongs to His house
– Giving should be done cheerfully as decided in our hearts, not reluctantly or under compulsion
– The poor widow who gave her last two mites understood putting God's kingdom first, trusting Him to provide
Main Takeaway
God says "you can't afford not to" tithe. This isn't about legalism or a slot-machine prosperity gospel - it's about being good stewards of what God has already given us. When we give back even a portion of what He's blessed us with, we're testing God's faithfulness and participating in His kingdom work. It's not giving away our stuff; it's giving back from His provision.
Memorable Quotes
– "God is saying to them and us… You can't afford not to [tithe]."
– "I'm not giving away any portion of my stuff - But I'm giving back a portion of what God has blessed me with."
– "God does not normally command us to give everything that belongs to Him. He allows us to keep some 90% as managers or stewards, on his behalf."
– "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
– "God called it robbery because they had unlawful possession of what belonged to God."
– "If we can't give freely, but only reluctantly, perhaps the Lord would rather not have it."
– "The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for the Lord and a desire to see His kingdom advanced."
Reflection Question
If you're not currently tithing, will you turn to God and talk to Him about starting somewhere - even if 10% doesn't feel possible right now - trusting that He will provide your basic needs while you support His church and kingdom work?
Tune in to hear about the old Emergency Broadcast System that interrupted all three TV channels, why the poor widow's two mites were worth more than the rich people's gifts, and the one time in Scripture where God actually invites us to put Him to the test.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Sunday Jan 04, 2026
Numb is Not Normal
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Ephesians 4:19
Episode Summary
In this New Year's 2026 message, Pastor Michael shares the story of Ashlyn Blocker, a girl who can't feel pain due to a rare condition, to illustrate spiritual numbness. Through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we discover how constant exposure to sin desensitizes our conscience until we stop feeling conviction - and that's when we're in the most danger. The good news: God doesn't shame numb hearts, He heals them.
Key Points
- Like physical pain warns us of danger, spiritual discomfort alerts us when something is wrong
- Ephesian culture normalized immorality through idol worship and occult practices until people were "past feeling"
- Modern culture dulls our conscience through constant media exposure, distraction, and redefining moral boundaries
- Being "given over to lewdness" means losing the ability to say no to ourselves, not freedom but brake lines cut
- Spiritual numbness produces insatiable craving, not contentment
Main Takeaway
When you stop feeling, you start losing yourself. Spiritual numbness isn't a sign we're okay - it means our warning system has stopped working. When guilt disappears and conviction fades, that's when we're in the most danger. But God doesn't shame callused hearts; He softens them and gives us new, living hearts.
Memorable Quotes
- "When you stop feeling, you start losing yourself."
- "The worst stage of sin isn't when it hurts - it's when it stops hurting."
- "When God molds our hearts, it's like His Fingerprints are on us. But when our hearts resist God, those fingerprints wear off."
- "What Paul called being given over to sensuality, our culture calls 'being true to yourself.'"
- "Once you normalize one messed-up behavior, it becomes easier and faster to normalize the next thing."
- "That pain is not the enemy. It's the message that you need to pay attention."
- "When you stop feeling, you start losing yourself. When Jesus renews your heart, you start finding yourself."
Reflection Question
Has your conscience been trying to get your attention about something, and instead of listening, have you been trying to numb it through scrolling, consuming, or distraction?
Tune in to hear the powerful story of Ashlyn Blocker, who can't feel pain, why everything has been weird since Harambe, and how ancient Ephesus eerily mirrors modern American culture.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
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Sunday Dec 28, 2025
Sunday Dec 28, 2025
Who Can You Trust?
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14
Episode Summary
In part 4 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael presents a hilarious father-daughter skit about a rigged board game to illustrate how humans abuse power. Through Daniel's prophetic vision, we see that earthly empires are like beasts, but Jesus is different - He's the King who earned our trust by arriving in a stable and going to the Cross. The baby in the manger is the cosmic King whose empire will never end.
Key Points
- Daniel's vision shows four great empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) as beasts representing human power
- "Son of Man" is Jesus' most used title for Himself - it shows His humanity, humility, and deity
- Jesus didn't seize power like earthly rulers - He gave it up, proving He can be trusted with authority
- The Ancient of Days (God the Father) presents the entire universe as a kingdom to Jesus
- Every earthly empire eventually fails, but Jesus' kingdom is everlasting and will never be destroyed
Main Takeaway
Jesus is The King We Can Trust. In a world where authority figures abuse power and let us down, Jesus came in weakness to show He could be trusted with power. He didn't demand trust - He earned it by laying down His life while we were still a mess.
Memorable Quotes
- "Jesus is The King We Can Trust."
- "Rome ruled by force; Jesus rules by faith. Rome demanded loyalty; Jesus proved Himself worthy of trust."
- "The only Person Who can be trusted with ultimate authority is The One Who Is Willing to Sacrifice Himself for others."
- "People always think the answer to our problems is a bigger, better beast. In truth, there is only One King we can fully trust. And His Name Is Jesus."
- "Jesus did not come armed for battle. He came as a baby. He came in weakness to show He could be trusted with power."
- "Jesus doesn't demand your trust. He earns it. He arrived in a stable, and went to the Cross. That's a King you can trust."
Reflection Question
If you've been burned by authority figures who let you down, are you ready to trust the One King who came in weakness to prove He could be trusted with power?
Tune in to hear the entertaining "Reindeer Games" skit about a daughter who keeps changing the rules, and discover why comparing Jesus to becoming a mosquito helps us understand the Incarnation.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
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Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Sunday Dec 21, 2025
Jesus Redeems Pain
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-5
Episode Summary
In part 3 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael shares the story of young Matthias witnessing a birth in a stable and discovering how pain can bring life. Through Isaiah 53's prophecy about the suffering Messiah, we see that Jesus came not just to be born, but to endure three kinds of pain on our behalf: rejection, responsibility, and redemption. Christmas celebrates that God stepped into our suffering to transform it.
Key Points
- Jesus endured the pain of rejection - despised and actively unwanted by those He came to save
- Jesus bore the pain of responsibility - carrying our grief, sorrow, and burdens that weren't His own
- Jesus suffered the pain of redemption - wounded for our sins as our Substitute on the Cross
- The Shockley family places a long iron spike on their tree first to remember why Jesus came
Main Takeaway
Jesus redeems pain. He doesn't minimize it or shame us for it. He steps into our suffering, takes what was meant for us, and transforms it into forgiveness, freedom, hope, and new life. Our pain is not the end and doesn't have to define us - it can lead us to Jesus.
Memorable Quotes
- "Jesus redeems pain."
- "Isaiah 53 is no Hallmark card. It's a promise written in blood."
- "People are willing to tolerate the 'nice teacher' version of Jesus, but they reject King Jesus."
- "Jesus didn't suffer for His own sins - He didn't have any. He suffered for the very people who rejected Him, and for all of us."
- "The deepest wounds don't need stitches - they need grace. The worst pain doesn't need more explanation - it needs redemption."
- "Jesus Is God Who Became Man. He took on our wounds, our grief, and our guilt. And He didn't flinch."
- "God refuses to waste suffering. The same God Who brought Resurrection out of the pain of The Cross can bring life out of what you're going through."
Reflection Question
What pain are you carrying that you need to give to Jesus, trusting Him to redeem it rather than trying to carry it alone?
Tune in to hear the moving story of Matthias witnessing Jesus' birth from outside the stable, and discover the powerful Shockley family tradition of placing a nail on their Christmas tree first.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
The Son Who Climbed The Mountain
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Genesis 22
Episode Summary
In part 2 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael tells the story of Isaac - the original "Son Who Climbed The Mountain" - and reveals how it points directly to Jesus. Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his promised son on Mount Moriah foreshadows God's sacrifice of His own Son on the same mountain centuries later. This isn't just an Old Testament story - it's a Christmas story about faith, provision, and the ultimate Substitute.
Key Points
- Abraham waited 25 years for the promised son Isaac, learning to trust God's timing
- God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, but was teaching that He provides the sacrifice
- Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead to keep both the command and the promise
- Mount Moriah, where Isaac was spared, is the same location where Jesus died centuries later
- Isaac lived because a ram died in his place; we live forever because Jesus died in our place
Main Takeaway
Faith climbs the mountain before it sees the miracle. Abraham trusted God enough to take the first step up Mount Moriah, and God provided a substitute sacrifice. We trust Jesus before we understand every detail, and then we receive the miracle of forgiveness, freedom, and new life.
Memorable Quotes
- "Faith climbs the mountain before it sees the miracle."
- "God will show up in your life. Often when you aren't looking for Him, and rarely when it's convenient."
- "God doesn't want to take Abraham's son; He wants to give His Own Son."
- "Abraham answered with a line that echoes through the centuries: 'My son, God Himself will provide the lamb.'"
- "Before the Manger, there was the Mountain. Before the swaddling clothes, there was sacrificial wood on a son's back."
- "God wasn't teaching Abraham to sacrifice his son; He was teaching that HE Provides The Sacrifice."
- "Isaac lived because a ram died in his place. We can live forever because Jesus died in our place."
Reflection Question
What mountain is God asking you to climb in faith before you see the miracle?
Tune in to hear the powerful parallel between Isaac and Jesus, why Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie, and how a 99-year-old man's laughter became the name of the promised son.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
The First Christmas Tree
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Genesis 3:1-15
In part 1 of our Christmas 2025 series, Pastor Michael explores the surprising connection between Christmas trees and the Garden of Eden. Through historical research, he reveals that Christmas trees aren't pagan but originated from medieval "Paradise Trees" used in Adam and Eve plays. The real first Christmas tree was in Eden, where God made the first promise of a Savior who would crush the serpent's head.
Key Points
- Christmas trees originated from medieval Paradise Trees used in biblical plays, not pagan traditions
- The serpent in Eden was Satan himself, whispering the same lies he still whispers today
- Genesis 3:15 contains the first promise of Jesus - the "Protoevangelium" or "First Gospel"
- Jesus would be wounded (crucified) but would crush Satan's head in permanent defeat
- The deadly power of sin began with a tree in Eden and ended with the tree of the Cross
Main Takeaway
From the first sin, God promised a Savior. The Christmas story doesn't start in Bethlehem - it starts in Eden with God's original commitment to crush evil and redeem humanity. There is no John 3:16 without Genesis 3:15.
Memorable Quotes
- "From the first sin, God promised a Savior."
- "The first Christmas Tree goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. And it wasn't decorated with a star. It was decorated with a snake."
- "God's not interested in holding us back from good things; only from things that will ultimately be destructive."
- "What Jesus offers is not a better kind of religion. Jesus does the work, because we can't save ourselves."
- "Christmas isn't just a Baby in a manger. It's God declaring war on every lie that has ever strangled your heart."
- "The deadly power of sin began with a tree and ended with a tree. It began with the Tree in the Garden, and ended with The Cross of Christ."
Reflection Question
What lies is the serpent still whispering to you, and will you choose to believe God's promise of a Savior instead?
Tune in to hear the fascinating historical origins of Christmas trees, why aluminum foil stars and Bigfoot ornaments belong on trees, and how Genesis 3:15 is the first promise of Christmas ever given.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
The Habit of Happy People
Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Episode Summary
In this second Thanksgiving week message, Pastor Michael vulnerably shares his recent struggle with ingratitude and stress that led to chest pain and an ER visit. Through 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he discovers that the command to "give thanks in everything" isn't about pretending life is okay - it's about trusting God no matter what happens. Gratitude isn't just better than ingratitude; it's what transforms our hearts and lives.
Key Points
- "Give thanks IN everything" means being thankful no matter what happens, not FOR everything that happens
- God doesn't cause painful things, but He can bring good out of anything that happens
- Thankfulness is God's will for us because it's genuinely good for our physical, emotional, and spiritual health
- The real question: Do we worship God, or do we worship the idea that God owes us an easy life?
Main Takeaway
It's not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy. Gratitude changes our perspective, strengthens our faith, improves our health, and transforms our lives. When we choose thankfulness even in difficulty, we tap into a greater truth than our circumstances.
Memorable Quotes
- "It's not happy people who are thankful, but thankful people who are happy."
- "Blessings whisper and problems shout."
- "With God, the bad stuff is more than just bad; it gets turned into a plot twist that ultimately works out to a greater ending."
- "Thankfulness helps us frame everything we experience as being in The Hands of a God Who Loves Us."
- "If you think God owes you an easy life, then you're always one traffic jam away from a ruined day."
- "Do we really worship God, or do we worship the idea that God owes us an easy life?"
- "Happiness is having Jesus and being thankful."
Reflection Question
Are you living like God owes you an easy life, or are you choosing gratitude even when circumstances are difficult?
Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's honest confession about his ER visit, why pumpkin pie counts as breakfast, and how the elders' prayer transformed his perspective on stress and gratitude.
Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly