AMEN PODCAST

Being Calm in Christ

Today we’re discussing what living an appropriate Christian life looks like and how we can be calmly happy in Christ without worry. There is an appropriate way to live as God's children. When we are not calm in our hearts, we are tempted to live according to what we think is right or what feels right. This leads to stress because inappropriate living brings consequences. Follow Alex on IG: Follow Alex on IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexanderdionwilson/ Follow us on IG: Follow Alex on IG: https://www.instagram.com/amenpodcast/ amenpodcast.com/donate

Stand

A hurricane is heading toward Kauai, the wind is literally blowing through our garage as we record, and Paul's words have never felt more real: stand firm in the Lord. In this episode of Amen Podcast, we walk through Philippians 4:1-3 and talk about what it actually looks like to stand on business when the world is shaking beneath your feet. Paul writes to a church where two women are at odds, and he reminds them (and us) that people are never the real problem. It's spiritual. And the answer isn't trying harder. It's remembering that your name is written in the Book of Life, permanently. We also talk about a wild Matt Damon story, why you never have to say "do you know who I am?", what Revelation 3:5 really means about your name being blotted out, and how eternal security frees you from people pleasing. In After the Amen, Lokelani opens up about standing firm in prioritizing family, and we ask you: where do you need to persist? Keep Kauai in your prayers as Hurricane Nola approaches. We love you guys. Scriptures: Philippians 4:1-3, Philippians 3:14-15, Luke 10:20, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 10:32-33, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8, 1 John 2:19, John 10:28-29, John 8:12, 1 Timothy 4:8 Chapters00:00 Hurricane Nola is coming02:13 The Matt Damon story04:28 Philippians 4:1-306:12 What it means to stand firm09:10 It's not personal, it's spiritual10:40 Your name is written in the Book of Life13:17 Can your name be blotted out?16:30 Prayer17:03 After the Amen: where do you need to persist?22:27 Eternal security frees you from people pleasing26:31 You are the light of life29:30 Support Amen Podcast Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate

walk

Walking with God when you feel nothing. There's a German word, Fernweh, that means far-sickness. Homesickness is longing for a place you came from. Fernweh is aching for a place you have never been. Every person alive has it. The question is what you do with it.In Philippians 3:15-21, Paul writes in tears about people who felt that longing and settled for earth instead of heaven. He also tells us how to keep walking: look up toward Christ, not down at your sin, and find real people who walk the pattern. Alex and Lokelani walk through what walking with God actually is, why so many people quit, and how to keep going. Then in After the Amen, they answer the question: who are you imitating? study guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V3GVs8LULkDZXOi9BXlZIzrXlBEl4-fD/view?usp=share_linkDonate: https://amenpodcast.com/donateFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amenpodcast/Subscribe to Email List: https://amenpodcast.com/subscribeAmen Podcast: https://youtube.com/amenpodcastAmen Podcast (spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/55g6BqsNLWNPWz7TuQ1QBKAmen Podcast (apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast/id1437840199

determined

In this episode we look at one verse, Philippians 3:14, and ask what Paul was actually hunting down from a prison cell while still full of joy. The Greek word for "press on" means to hunt. Saul hunted Christians. Then Christ hunted him. Everything changed. Paul spent the rest of his life chasing the one thing that had already chased him down. You don't press on so God will accept you. You press on because He already has. Like a bride preparing for a wedding day to a groom she already belongs to. Like Mary at His feet. Like John leaning on His chest. The goal isn't heaven. The goal isn't the crown. The goal is Christ. Hunt down heaven with a full heart. After the Amen: How does Christ's pursuit of you make you stress less? Drop your answer in the comments. amenpodcast.com/donate

forget it

What do you need to forget? In Philippians 3:13, Paul writes from house arrest and says he is “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.” But no healthy human can actually erase their past. So what does the Bible mean by forget? In this episode of the Stress Less series, Alex and Lokelani walk through Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers in Genesis 45, the cost of discipleship in Luke 9:62, Paul’s testimony in 1 Timothy 1:12-17, and God’s promise in Hebrews 10:17 to remember our sins no more. Biblical forgetting doesn’t mean amnesia. It means your past no longer rules you, and your sin no longer determines your standing with God. Plus 8 applications for walking free of what’s behind you, and an honest After the Amen conversation about shame, fear in relationships, and what four years of pastoring a house church has actually cost. Amen Podcast is a listener supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every episode is made possible by donors like you. DONATE: https://amenpodcast.com/donate LISTEN TO AMEN PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/amenpodcast WATCH ON YOUTUBE Amen Podcast: https://youtube.com/@amenpodcast House Church: https://youtube.com/@housechurch808 HOUSE CHURCH PODCAST Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/house-church Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/housechurch https://housechurchkauai.com

One Thing

What is your one thing? In this episode of the Stress Less series, Alex preaches Philippians 3:13 and Lokelani joins for the Q&A after the amen. Paul wasn’t scattered. He was a runner with his eyes on one finish line. Most of our stress doesn’t come from having too little. It comes from carrying things God never asked us to carry. We look at where “one thing” shows up in Scripture (Luke 10:42, Mark 10:21, John 9:25, Psalm 27:4), what Jesus’ one thing was, and how to find yours. FREE STUDY GUIDE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jpDsiLG0XZi9jchdd1RoIt_FEtYM-lB6/view?usp=sharing Support the ministry: https://amenpodcast.com/donate Amen Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast/id1437840199 Amen Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/55g6BqsNLWNPWz7TuQ1QBK?si=uj86K1L8TiOJjmmFiZ7Mdw Amen YouTube: https://youtube.com/@amenpodcast?si=uVsPlTyabiGI6TG4 House Church 808 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@housechurch808?si=54HXOpoLpDQHZW5m House Church Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/house-church-with-alex-wilson/id1871396334 House Church Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0RejGA2t3jPTJyUabUBnH8?si=BHTBhCDLQeWI2tTtFi2OTw housechurchkauai.com Go out and be the church.

Holy Dissatisfaction

Paul had something better than Mamba mentality. In Philippians 3:12 he says he has not obtained it and he is not already perfect, but he presses on to make it his own, because Christ Jesus made him His own. Warren Wiersbe called this holy dissatisfaction. We are content in Christ, but never content with where we are in our walk with Him. Alex breaks down why we need it, why comparison quietly kills it, and how remembering where you were when Christ found you keeps you in the race. After the Amen question: Are you dependent on Christ, or have you grown complacent? Study guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I-2afmFofQc4JK2fyDxRw7H5vVND1At9vPwUYFK-X3Y/edit?tab=t.0 Donate: https://amenpodcast.com/donate Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amenpodcast/ Subscribe to Email List: https://amenpodcast.com/subscribe Amen Podcast: https://youtube.com/amenpodcast Amen Podcast (spotify): https://open.spotify.com/show/55g6BqsNLWNPWz7TuQ1QBK Amen Podcast (apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast/id1437840199

Rubbish

counting all as loss, that we may gain Christ! Philippians 3:8-11. amenpodcast.com/donate

Comparing

SPOTIFY DESCRIPTION Comparison is not just a bad habit. It is a confidence problem. In Philippians 3:4-7, Paul lists seven things that made him look impressive and then moves every one of them into the loss column. We talk about why we compare, what it costs us, and the only comparison that gives you real confidence. Free study guide for this episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ItSPfIlbyjDn8zYFAwAmnGoeeTUBXMyZ/view?usp=drivesdk This podcast is listener supported. If it has helped you, consider giving at amenpodcast.com/donate, Venmo @amenpodcast, or Cash App $amenalex. Go out and be the church.

GODFIDENCE

Alex separated his AC joint racing the guys after church, and suddenly everything he took for granted with two working arms was gone. That’s the whole point of Philippians 3:1-3. Paul is writing to a church being pressured by Judaizers, people telling Gentile believers they had to become Jewish before they could become Christian. Paul calls it what it is: dogs, evildoers, mutilators of the flesh. In this episode we walk through why confidence in the flesh grieves God and isn’t safe for you, five problems with trusting what you can do, and three ways to actually rely on God instead. Plus the line that ties it all together: joy comes from reliance, not restraint. Alex and Lokelani also talk about how false teachers keep people locked in, why the “better version of yourself” message is not the gospel, and the very easy test for whether a Christian influencer is putting their confidence in the flesh or in Christ. Part of the Stress Less series through Philippians. CHAPTERS0:00 I broke my shoulder racing after church2:20 Who the Judaizers were (Acts 10, 11, 15)5:30 Reading Philippians 3:1-36:15 It grieves God13:00 It isn’t safe for you13:35 Dogs, evildoers, and those who mutilate the flesh17:00 Five problems with confidence in the flesh25:40 How to actually rely on God27:50 Joy comes from reliance, not restraint31:00 The physical can never reach the spiritual35:15 So what gives you confidence?37:40 After the Amen44:45 How false teachers keep people hooked48:50 The iPad I destroyed for no reason53:45 How to spot confidence in the flesh online amenpodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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De-influenced

Most of our stress comes from people online telling us what to be, what to wear, what to buy, and where to go. Jesus frees us from all of that. In this episode of the Stress Less series through Philippians, Alex and Lokelani look at Epaphroditus, a man named after a pagan god who became one of Paul’s most trusted brothers in the ministry. Paul gives him five titles: brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister. If the people influencing you don’t fit that list, they shouldn’t be influencing you. In this episode: * The 5 titles every godly influence in your life should have * Why you should look for influences in places of suffering, not prosperity * Why a screen pastor can never replace a physical one * No, there is no “spirit of tardiness” * How to be de-influenced: honor godly people, look at their life, think for yourself, and watch out for the vain After the Amen question: How do you need Christ to influence you? Answer in the comments. Support the podcast: amenpodcast.com/donate Listen to the Amen Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify YouTube House Church podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify housechurchkauai.com #Philippians #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #StressLess #AmenPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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Timothy

In Philippians 2:19-24, Paul couldn’t find anyone like Timothy to send to the Philippians. Why? Because Timothy stopped seeking his own interests and started seeking Christ’s kingdom instead. In this message, we break down what made Timothy different and how you can become the kind of person God can use in your relationships, church, and calling. We also unpack: - Why you don’t jump into leadership too soon - The cost of following Christ (and losing friends because of it) - How to trust God when you don’t have the full picture - Why who you marry can disqualify you from ministry Sermon from Amen Podcast’s “Stress Less” Philippians series. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Opening story 2:10 Why Paul needed Timothy 5:20 The problem: seeking your own interests 7:10 The solution: be trained, be like a son 10:35 Trust God without the full picture 14:50 After the Amen discussion 20:20 Why people leave when you follow Christ 25:00 Who you marry matters SUPPORT AMEN PODCAST: Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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Unmaxxing

Being a child of God is a privilege — and a responsibility. In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul says we're called to live without complaining, without arguing, without that dark inner dialogue — so we shine like stars in a crooked generation. In this episode, we talk about what it means to hold out the gospel unashamed, give everything like Jesus did, and stop holding back. Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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Unearned

You can't earn your salvation. So why does so much of Christian culture make you feel like you have to?In this episode of the Stress Less series, we look at Philippians 2:12-13, one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" has been used to load young Christians with anxiety and the constant question, "Is God disappointed in me today?" But Paul isn't telling you to earn anything. He's telling you to live out what God has already done.We talk about why a small view of Jesus produces a small reverence for Him, how the enemy's plan isn't to make you doubt Jesus exists but to make you think He's small, and how a big view of God leads to the freedom of a stress less life. Plus, why "it is God who works in you" is the cure for comparison, grind culture, and chasing social currency.After the Amen question: Where do you see God at work within you? Watch the full Philippians "Stress Less" series here on our channel Support: amenpodcast.com/donateStudy Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nF99NLglCf7vD2Em9WadvCLmWOzDzfV-/view?usp=sharing This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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unseen

We are stressed because we are stuck thinking about ourselves. In Philippians 2:5-11, Jesus did not grasp His glory. He emptied Himself, served, and humbled Himself to the cross. Because we were never forgotten by God, we are free to forget ourselves. This is the freedom of self-forgetfulness, not something we achieve, but something we already have in Christ. study guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aG3jG9SaUF1T7n2h8SK4Q2TcadGRdm02mGNgY9q-C1k/edit?usp=sharingDonate: https://amenpodcast.com/donateSubscribe to Email List: https://amenpodcast.com/subscribeAmen Podcast: https://youtube.com/amenpodcastAmen Podcast (spotify): This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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Unity

You Were Made for Deeper Community (Philippians 2:1-4), Stress-Less Series. amenpodcast.com/donate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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Striving Together

Faith was never meant to be a solo sport. In this week's Stress Less episode, Pastor Alex unpacks Philippians 1:27-30 and the call to strive together. Paul tells the Philippians to push the gospel down the field as a team—standing firm, unafraid of opponents, and leaning on each other in seasons of hardship. Free Study Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-fxcrpldwv7P0bBJoQkZBKUx4y9HNdWW/view?usp=share_linkAlex and Lokelani talk through why we tend to pull away from community when life gets heavy, how to tell the difference between persecution and correction, and why your church family is worth prioritizing. Plus real stories from House Church Kauai and the milk and honey coffee shop on what it looks like to stay bold when the arrows come.You're in good company. Lock in, find your people, and don't go through this life alone.amenpodcast.com/donate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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To Live is Christ

Paul wrote “to live is Christ, to die is gain” from a prison cell, not knowing if he’d live or die. And he was still steady, joyful, and free. In this episode we walk through Philippians 1:19-26 and unpack what it actually looks like to live that way, where Jesus is so much of your life that nothing, not even death, can shake you. We get into the fill-in-the-blank that exposes what you’re really living for, what it means to magnify Christ as a telescope to the church and a microscope to the world, and the grace that does the work in you so you stop white-knuckling your way into loving God. After the Amen question: In what area of your life does Christ need to be magnified? Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate study guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1panX8cYLFuG4EuSkZmmYjngx8wLUuJN8/view?usp=sharing e This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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How to Handle Frustrations

Paul was in prison. People were preaching against him just to make his life harder. And he was still full of joy. How? In this episode of the Amen Podcast, Alex and Lokelani jump back into our Philippians “Stress Less” series with chapter 1:12-18, an episode we’re calling FRUSTRATIONS. Because let’s be real, you’re frustrated with someone or something right now. A difficult season. A difficult person. Plans that got shut down. A baby that won’t sleep. A coworker climbing the ladder at your expense. STUDY GUIDE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-dMfFmISf30NKg3sJ0ChlT76X0Z3wIt/view?usp=sharing Paul knew that feeling. And he shows us that the very thing frustrating you is the thing God is using to advance His kingdom. In this episode we talk about: • Why we actually NEED frustrations (and what they’re doing in us) • Why difficult PEOPLE last longer than difficult TIMES • The Matthew 7 plank-in-your-eye principle and how it kills frustration at the root • Why people use God to climb the ladder of fame (Mike Tyson, Theo Von, Steven Furtick conversation included) • A powerful picture from Pilgrim’s Progress (Feeble Mind & Ready-to-Halt) • Why our culture says “ghost them, quit, move, medicate” and why the gospel says something better • Lokelani on why she welcomes the suffering of having a big family in a culture that treats kids like a burden If Christ is being proclaimed, even through your hardest season, nothing can ultimately frustrate you. 📖 Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18 🎙️ Series: Stress Less (Philippians) After the Amen Question: What are the frustrations in your life that God is using to advance His kingdom? Drop your answer in the comments. We read them. SUPPORT THE MINISTRY 💛 Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate 💸 Venmo: @amenpodcast 💸 Cash App: $amenalex HOUSE CHURCH KAUAI 🌐 housechurchkauai.com #AmenPodcast #Philippians #StressLess #ReformedTheology #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #Frustration #Joy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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holy aesthetic

Everyone talks about aesthetic. Your feed, your room, your coffee shop, your fit. But there’s a Greek word in the Bible that only shows up one time in the entire New Testament, and it might change the way you see your whole life. In this episode of Amen Podcast, Pastor Alex and Lokelani Wilson walk through Philippians 1 verses 9 through 11 and unpack what Paul actually prayed for the church. Spoiler: it’s not about how your life looks. It’s about what you can see. We talk about the difference between feeling something is off and knowing something is off, why love without knowledge falls apart, why knowledge without love falls apart, and the two questions that will help you discern almost any decision you face. Plus, Lokelani shares what she’s discerning two days from her due date with baby number seven. STUDY GUIDE:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aj-3GgGybbxqnMuhH9M-69V54QAn1yqt/view?usp=share_link Support the ministry: Donate: amenpodcast.com/donate Venmo: @amenpodcast Cash App: $amenalex Listen to Amen Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amen-podcast Spotify: Subscribe on YouTube: Amen Podcast: https://youtube.com/@amenpodcast House Church 808: https://youtube.com/@housechurch808 Listen to House Church with Alex Wilson: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/house-church Spotify: House Church Kauai: housechurchkauai.com Follow us: Instagram: @amenpodcast Want to know more about Jesus or have questions about this episode? Send us a DM. We read every one. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

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