ReCreate Church’s Podcast

The Beggar, The Boss, and The Bold - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - July 5, 2026

The Beggar, The Boss, and The Bold

Speaker: Pastor Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 5:14-15
1 John Series, Part 22

Episode Summary
Returning to the 1 John series, Pastor Michael uses an original skit about three siblings trying to ask their Dad for a puppy to illustrate three very different approaches to prayer. Are you a Beggar - too timid to bother God? A Boss - trying to manipulate or demand your way? Or Bold - a child who trusts a loving Father to hear and answer wisely? John gives us a better way to pray.

Key Points
- Our confidence in prayer is not based on who we are, but on Who God Is
- Believers are not beggars at the door - we are children of the household, with a claim rooted in The Blood of Christ
- Praying "according to His will" means trusting God more than we trust ourselves
- The problem is wanting the promises of prayer without the surrender of prayer
- God hears, God cares, and God will act - we can pray with boldness AND trust

Main Takeaway
Pray like a bold child asking a loving Father. Not with the timidity of a beggar who fears being turned away, and not with the arrogance of a boss who demands his own way. Come honestly, come confidently, and trust that a Father Who loves you will do what is best - even when the answer is not what you expected.

Memorable Quotes
- "Your confidence for prayer is not based on who you are. It is based on Who God Is."
- "A kid doesn't have to make an appointment to ask Dad a question."
- "Prayer is not me taking the throne; it's me coming boldly to the throne."
- "It's a problem when we want the promises of prayer without the surrender of prayer."
- "The beggar is afraid God will not listen. The boss is angry if God does not obey. But the bold child has learned something better."
- "If my Father hears me, I am not forgotten. If my Father loves me, I am not unsafe. If my Father is wise, His Answer is better than anything I can ask for."

Reflection Question
When you pray, which are you most like - Bex the Beggar, Boz the Boss, or Bo the Bold? What would it look like to bring your requests to God with confidence and trust this week?

Tune in to hear the hilarious skit featuring three siblings hoping for a dog, and the legendary fate of Mister Nibbles the hamster - and discover what it really means to pray like a bold child asking a loving Father.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Unsinkable - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - June 28, 2026

Unsinkable

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33

Episode Summary
Fresh off Vacation Bible School week, Pastor Michael uses the scientific principle of buoyancy to explore what happens when life pulls us under. Through the story of Peter walking on water - and beginning to sink - we discover that Jesus doesn't wait for us to have it together before reaching out His hand. When we're sinking, all we need are three words: "Lord, save me!"

Key Points
- The Disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Jesus - the presence of a storm doesn't mean the absence of God
- Peter is the only person besides Jesus to ever walk on water, but fear shifted his focus from Christ to chaos
- Fear doesn't drown us all at once - it steals our focus one wave and one "what if" at a time
- Jesus reached out immediately when Peter cried out - not after Peter proved himself worthy
- Jesus never asked us to save ourselves. He asked us to trust Him.

Main Takeaway
Jesus saves sinking people. Not the ones who have it all figured out. Not the ones whose faith never wavers. People whose faith is struggling, who are exhausted, who don't know what to do next. When you're sinking, don't wait for the right words or the right moment - cry out: "Lord, save me!"

Memorable Quotes
- "Jesus saves sinking people."
- "The presence of a storm doesn't mean the absence of God. Just because the wind is against you doesn't mean God Is against you."
- "If Jesus calls you, He'll carry you. If He commands you, He'll keep you."
- "Fear doesn't have to drown you all at once. It just has to steal your focus. One wave at a time. One 'what if' at a time."
- "We spend so much of our lives trying harder, working harder, holding on tighter. But eventually it all runs out. And we learn the truth - Jesus never asked us to save ourselves."
- "When my heart changed, my situation changed."

Reflection Question
Are you trying to save yourself before crying out to Jesus? What would it look like to stop waiting and simply say, "Lord, save me"?

Tune in to hear Pastor Michael's vulnerable account of a year of chest pains, muscle spasms, and a left eyelid impersonating a grasshopper - and how crying out to Jesus changed everything.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Seek God, Stay Close, Tear Down the Idols - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - June 21, 2026

Seek God, Stay Close, Tear Down the Idols

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:1-8

Episode Summary
In this Father's Day 2026 message, Pastor Michael uses an original skit about King Asa, the Prophet Azariah, and the legendary Shelemiah the Shawarma Guy to bring a timeless message from 2 Chronicles to life. God didn't send a prophet to Asa when things were falling apart - He sent one right after a great victory. Because staying close to God when things are going well may be the hardest thing we're called to do.

Key Points
- God seeks us out not just when we're in trouble, but after victory - when we're most likely to drift
- Seeking God means coming to Him as we are, without straightening up first - He helps us work through the mess
- Staying close means not waiting for trouble to remind us we need God
- Idols are anything we can't be okay without - the things we run to for identity, comfort, or worth instead of God

Main Takeaway
Seek God, Stay Close, Tear Down the Idols. God promises He can be found by those who seek Him. But victory, comfort, and success can quietly pull us back into old patterns and habits. It takes courage to recognize what has too much of our heart - and the guts to tear it down.

Memorable Quotes
- "The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you."
- "He made Himself findable."
- "Nobody drifts away all at once."
- "An idol is the thing we can't be okay without."
- "When your soul feels like a shaken-up soda bottle - what do you reach for? If it's not your God, it might be your idol."
- "Nothing that pulls you away from The Heavenly Father is making you a promise you can trust."

Reflection Question
Are there idols - money, success, control, comfort, approval - that have quietly taken too much of your heart? What would it look like to have the courage to tear them down?

Tune in to hear the hilarious skit featuring King Asa, Azariah the Prophet, and Shelemiah's Shawarma Shack, and discover why God sends His message right after our victories, not just our failures.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

The Woman at the Well - Parts I & II - ReCreate Church, David Boudreaux, Elder of ReCreate Church - June 14, 2026

The Woman at the Well - Parts I & II

Speaker: David Boudreaux, Elder of ReCreate Church
Scripture: John 4:3-42

Episode Summary
Filling in for Pastor Shockley, Elder David Boudreaux explores the familiar story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well - but with a twist. While "Part I" covers Jesus' surprising conversation with an outcast woman, "Part II" reveals an often-overlooked transformation: how this woman with a troubled past and reputation became one of the first evangelists, leading an entire town to meet Jesus.

Key Points
- Jesus crossed deep ethnic and social barriers by speaking with a Samaritan woman at midday
- Jesus offered her "living water" that would become a fountain springing up into everlasting life
- Despite knowing her troubled past, Jesus revealed Himself to her as the Messiah
- The woman immediately ran to tell her town, leaving her water pot behind in her excitement
- Many Samaritans believed first because of her testimony, then because they encountered Jesus themselves

Main Takeaway
God can use anybody who is submitted to Him - even someone with a reputation, a painful past, and few friends. If you've experienced Jesus in a way that moved you, the question isn't whether you're qualified to share it, but whether you're willing to be His minister to a fallen world.

Memorable Quotes
- "Could this be the Christ?"
- "He told me all that I ever did."
- "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"
- "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."
- "If you are a Christian, you are a minister... All believers need to be trained in the Word of God so they can do the work of the ministry."

Reflection Question
Are you storing up the Good News in your heart, or are you being faithful to share what Jesus has done for you - even with people who might not expect to hear it from you?

Tune in to hear the full historical background on Jewish-Samaritan tensions, the woman's surprising transformation from social outcast to evangelist, and what it means for all of us to be "ministers" of the Gospel.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Get Off The Fence - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - June 7, 2026

Get Off The Fence

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 5:9-13

Episode Summary
Opening with a hilarious skit about Earl literally sitting on a fence while trying to decide which side to be on (with the threat of Granny Browder looming), Pastor Michael addresses the spiritual fence-sitting that keeps people from committing to Jesus. Through 1 John, he challenges why anyone would hesitate when God has clearly spoken about His Son.

Key Points
– We trust human witnesses all the time (doctors, weather reports, history books), so God's witness is surely greater and more trustworthy
– Claiming to keep an open mind while refusing to believe what's right in front of you isn't careful consideration - it's willful rejection
– Believing in Jesus means the testimony moves inside you and changes you - you can't truly know Jesus without being transformed
– Refusing to believe what God plainly tells us about Jesus is the same as calling God a liar
– Eternal life isn't earned through effort or religious performance but given to those who have the Son - it's relational, not transactional
– Assurance of salvation isn't based on feeling confident or victorious but on believing you belong to Jesus through the witness of God
– Challenging times don't create faith weakness - they reveal it and strengthen it, like climbing stairs reveals cardiovascular weakness and builds strength

Main Takeaway
Why sit on the fence when God has spoken? Once you know the truth, you have to get down and make a choice. Continuing to sit on the fence becomes dishonest unbelief, not neutrality. God has testified that "he who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life." Eternal life begins now and reaches fullness in Heaven - it's purpose, peace, strength, renewal, and hope that even death can't take away. At some point, when God has spoken and your next breath isn't promised, you can't keep sitting on the fence.

Memorable Quotes
– "Why sit on the fence when God Has Spoken?"
– "When God has spoken, and we have heard, how can we keep sitting on the fence?"
– "Calling God a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given."
– "Eternal life is given to those who have The Son."
– "Everyone exists, but not everyone has life."
– "Sitting on the fence doesn't keep the peace, it just gives both sides something to complain about."
– "Sometimes not deciding is a decision. Life will decide for you."

Reflection Question
Are you sitting on the fence about Jesus, thinking you have plenty of time to decide? What's really keeping you from getting down and committing - fear, pride, unwillingness to change, or something else?

Tune in to hear the delightful skit about Earl sitting on a fence with his "hindquarters sawed in half," Jed's warnings about Granny Browder, and Earl's concern about being judged by cows, plus the powerful truth that assurance of salvation isn't about never struggling but about knowing you belong.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

The One Who Holds it All Together - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 31, 2026

The One Who Holds it All Together

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)

Episode Summary
On a 5th Sunday family service, Pastor Michael invites kids up to conduct magnetic experiments while challenging the false idea that you can't love science AND love Jesus. Through Colossians 1:15-17, he reveals that Jesus is the Cosmic Painter and Eternal Engineer behind everything science studies, and that the same Jesus who holds atoms together can hold our lives together.

Key Points
– Invisible doesn't mean imaginary - just like we can't see magnetic force but can see what it does, we can't see God but can see what He does
– Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God - He shows us what God is like in His heart and character by showing love to the forgotten, outcasts, and broken
– Jesus created everything visible and invisible - all stars, atoms, molecules, light, matter, energy, space, time, and spiritual powers in the heavenly realms
– "Firstborn" doesn't mean born first but first in rank, honor, authority, and supremacy - Jesus has real authority over galaxies and gravity, atoms and angels
– Jesus holds all creation together - protons in atoms should repel each other and collapse, but they don't because Jesus sustains the laws that hold creation stable
– The Same Jesus who holds the universe together can hold families together, hold our hearts together, and hold us when we're scared, grieving, or falling apart

Main Takeaway
Jesus made it all, Jesus owns it all, Jesus holds it all together. Science and faith aren't enemies - explaining how something works proves the brilliance of the designer, not that the designer doesn't exist. The more we learn about how the world works, the more we should praise God for making such an amazing world. When life feels like it's falling apart, remember that the Creator of Life is strong enough to hold you together.

Memorable Quotes
– "Jesus made it all, Jesus owns it all, Jesus holds it all together."
– "Invisible doesn't mean imaginary."
– "Science shows us how. Faith shows us Who."
– "Science doesn't make God smaller. It shows us more and more how BIG He Is!"
– "Jesus loves us and laid down His Life for us. And then He Rose Again, because The Creator of Life can't be conquered by death."
– "The Same Jesus Who Holds the universe together can help us hold it together."
– "If you're turning your heart toward Jesus, He attracts you. If you're turning away, you resist His Love."

Reflection Question
What parts of your life feel like they're falling apart? Are you willing to trust the One who holds atoms together with holding your heart, your family, and your future together?

Tune in to hear the interactive magnetic experiments with kids, why spilled milk never spells out the meaning of life (proving accidents make messes, not masterpieces), the explanation of why atoms don't blow apart, and why Pastor Michael is excited about Vacation Bible School's "Glad Scientist" theme.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

When Life Leaves You Guessing - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 24, 2026

When Life Leaves You Guessing

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 5:6-8

Episode Summary
Pastor Michael opens with relatable grocery store struggles - from bringing a TI-80 graphing calculator to calculate the cost per cracker, to Robot Karen declaring "unexpected item in the bagging area." Through 1 John's teaching about three witnesses (Water, Blood, Spirit), he reveals that while life constantly leaves us guessing about so many things, we never have to guess about Jesus.

Key Points
– The Water (Jesus's baptism) reveals Jesus as the Beloved Son of God who came to save us - He stood where sinners stand, not because He needed repentance but because He stands with sinners
– The Blood (Jesus's death) wasn't just an example or symbol but atonement and redemption - the Cross is salvational, not just inspirational
– The Holy Spirit is the living witness who continues to bear witness now through transformed lives - doctrine can be argued, but changed lives are harder to dispute
– Some ancient manuscripts include verse 7 and some don't, but this shouldn't weaken faith - it shows how meticulously Scripture has been preserved and scrutinized
– The human problem isn't lack of information but resistance to God - the Spirit opens eyes and always points us to Jesus, not ourselves
– Three witnesses agree: The Water says "Look at Jesus," The Blood says "Look at Jesus," The Spirit says "Look at Jesus"

Main Takeaway
Life leaves us guessing, but we never have to guess about Jesus. We guess about groceries, which checkout line is fastest, and whether that pulled pork is still good - but some things are too important to guess about. Deep spiritual questions about identity, purpose, suffering, and eternity ache within us. The world offers guesses, but God gives witnesses. Your safety doesn't depend on understanding the bridge but on the bridge's strength to hold you. Feelings change, circumstances change, but you never have to guess about Jesus.

Memorable Quotes
– "Life leaves us guessing, but we never have to guess about Jesus."
– "At His Baptism, Jesus stood where sinners stand. At His Crucifixion, Jesus stood where sinners deserve to stand."
– "One of the most powerful witnesses to the reality of Jesus is that your life used to be one way, and now it is another way."
– "The Water says 'Look at Jesus.' The Blood says 'Look at Jesus.' The Spirit says 'Look at Jesus.'"

Reflection Question
What are you guessing about in life right now - relationships, work, parenting, your future? Are you willing to stop trusting guesses and start trusting the witnesses that all point to Jesus?

Tune in to hear hilarious grocery store stories including Robot Karen judging your honey buns, the Rain Man of ramen noodles with his TI-80 calculator, the terrifying moment your debit card gets declined, and why Pastor Michael is an impatient introvert who crossed the Mile High Bridge as a four-year-old.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

When You Don't Feel Victorious - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 17, 2026

When You Don't Feel Victorious

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 5:1-5

Episode Summary
Pastor Michael opens with a hilarious "Victorious Living Hotline" skit where "Destiny" tells him he should stop struggling and just "speak in faith" instead of being honest. Through 1 John's teaching about overcomers, he dismantles toxic positivity Christianity that says real believers never feel overwhelmed, revealing that being an overcomer isn't about never feeling overcome but about the world never finally taking you from Jesus.

Key Points
– Overcomers aren't self-made, they're born - the starting point of victory is faith in Jesus, not willpower, mental toughness, or can-do attitude
– Church culture says "if you struggle, something's wrong with your faith," but Biblical victory says "because you belong to Jesus, struggle doesn't get the final word"
– Loving God, loving people, and obeying God's commands can't be separated - you don't get to pick which parts of discipleship you want
– God's commandments aren't chains from a tyrant but guardrails from a Father keeping you from wrecking your life
– "The world" means the fallen system opposed to God that tries to sell the lie that God is holding out on you and sin will satisfy
– Faith isn't believing harder or digging deeper - it's a trembling child gripping a parent's hand, a weary traveler welcomed home, a drowning man clinging to a life preserver

Main Takeaway
An overcomer is not someone who never feels overcome by the world; an overcomer is someone the world cannot finally take from Jesus. You won't always feel victorious - some days you'll be one spilled coffee away from losing your marbles. Weariness doesn't mean the world has won, and struggle doesn't mean your faith is fake. The question isn't "Do I feel like a champ?" but "Do I believe in Christ?" Jesus already overcame sin, Satan, and death on your behalf.

Memorable Quotes
– "An overcomer is not someone who never feels overcome by the world; an overcomer is someone the world cannot finally take from Jesus."
– "Church culture says 'if you struggle, something must be wrong with your faith.' Biblical victory says 'because you belong to Jesus, struggle doesn't get the final word.'"
– "The world says freedom is doing whatever you want. Jesus says freedom is being rescued from the wants that were controlling you and destroying you."
– "Being an overcomer isn't a feeling. It's resting in the victory that Jesus already won."
– "If you struggle, my faith must not be real? No. The problem is your definition of overcoming."
– "Weariness doesn't mean the world has won."

Reflection Question
Have you been believing the lie that if you were a "real overcomer" you'd never feel overwhelmed? Are you willing to bring your weariness, anxiety, and discouragement back to Jesus instead of pretending everything is fine?

Tune in to hear the delightful Victorious Living Hotline skit where Destiny says "We don't say anxious, we say 'between praise reports,'" why bringing a store-bought pie to the church potluck and claiming it's yours is like "speaking in faith," and Pastor Michael's vulnerability about feeling like an impostor who doesn't have what it takes.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Mama's Boys and the Meaning of Greatness - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 10, 2026

Mama's Boys and the Meaning of Greatness

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: Matthew 20:20-23

Episode Summary
Happy Mother's Day! Pastor Michael opens Mother's Day with a hilarious story about three brothers competing with gifts for Mama - a mansion, a luxury SUV with driver, and a Bible-quoting parrot (which she ate). Through Salome's request for her sons James and John to sit at Jesus's right and left, he reveals how we misunderstand success, wanting seats at the table when Jesus calls us to surrender our lives.

Key Points
– Salome wasn't shallow or overbearing but a devoted disciple who misunderstood Kingdom success, wanting her boys close to power and glory
– The "cup" Jesus spoke of wasn't sweet tea but destiny - suffering, sacrifice, and total surrender to God's will, even through pain
– When Jesus asked if they could drink His cup, He was asking if they'd share the cost, not just the honor
– James and John said "We are able" with no hesitation and no clue, like a deer thinking it can cross the road at the last second
– We do the same - saying "Lord, I trust You" until the layoff, diagnosis, or betrayal comes, claiming we'll follow anywhere until it's uncomfortable
– The most successful people in God's Kingdom may never be famous but love well, serve quietly, stay faithful, and don't bail when obedience costs

Main Takeaway
The world says success is a seat at the table; Jesus shows success is a surrendered life. If God handles the seating chart, we don't have to worry about where we sit - our responsibility is faithfulness, not status. The world asks "How high did you climb?" Jesus asks "Did you follow Me?" Success in God's Kingdom isn't about thrones but about the cup - submission to God's will even when it costs everything.

Memorable Quotes
– "The world says success is a seat at the table; Jesus shows success is a surrendered life."
– "If God handles the seating chart, I don't have to worry about where I sit."
– "The world asks, 'How high did you climb?' Jesus asks, 'Did you follow Me?'"
– "They wanted to be close to Jesus when it meant honor. But would they still want it when it meant sacrifice?"

Reflection Question
Are you trusting God even when He gives you a cup instead of a seat? When life doesn't line up with your expectations, do you whine or surrender, saying "Lord, Your Will Be Done"?

Tune in to hear the delightful story about the Bible-quoting parrot that became Sunday dinner, Pastor Michael's vulnerability about spending years trying to prove he was good enough, and why faithful motherhood's greatest moments happen far from the spotlight in prayers nobody hears and tears nobody sees.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly

Love Leaves a Mark - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 3, 2026

Love Leaves a Mark

Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church
Scripture: 1 John 4:18-21

Episode Summary
Pastor Michael shares a moving story about scratching his dad's new red Chevy at age fourteen and discovering grace instead of punishment - a mark that stayed on both the truck and his heart. Through 1 John's teaching on love, he reveals three marks that God's love leaves: on your fear (casting it out), on your heart (because He loved first), and on your relationships (showing you can't love God without loving people).

Key Points
– Perfect love casts out fear of judgment - when God's love gets hold of your heart, you stop living like a defendant in trial and start living like a secure son or daughter
– If your position before God is based on your performance, you're in deep trouble because you can't keep it up indefinitely
– Fear for a Christian isn't a sign God doesn't love you, but that your understanding of love needs to mature and grow up
– We love because God loved first while we were still sinners - our love isn't the match that lights God's candle, God's love is the blazing sun
– Your love for God isn't performance to be accepted but response to love poured out - you can't pour from an empty pot
– If you say you love God but don't love people, you're a liar - show me by how you relate to people, don't just tell me

Main Takeaway
Love leaves a mark. You can't be touched by God's Love without having God's fingerprints on your life. When your life is marked by God's Love, you'll leave a mark on others. God's love marks your fear (transforming it from "God's gonna get me" to "God's got me"), marks your heart (because He loved first, not waiting for you to be lovable), and marks your relationships (showing the world you truly know God). The deepest marks in life come from people who said they loved you - make sure yours reflect God's love.

Memorable Quotes
– "Love leaves a mark."
– "You can't be touched by the Love of God without having God's fingerprints on your life."
– "Your perspective goes from 'God's gonna get me' to 'God's got me.'"
– "God's love for you isn't based on what you can do; it's rooted in what Jesus has already done."
– "Don't tell me you love God. Show me by the way you relate to people."
– "You don't have to earn what Jesus has already paid for."

Reflection Question
What marks has God's love left on you - has it transformed your fear, filled your heart, and changed your relationships? Are you leaving marks of God's love on others, or are people experiencing marks of hurt and hypocrisy?

Tune in to hear the touching story about scratching Dad's new red Chevy and discovering grace, why unsweetened tea at a cookout is social judgment, the rescue dog analogy about learning to trust real love, and Pastor Michael's challenge that you can't claim to love God while refusing to love people you can see.

Connect & Give
Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org
Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly