Welcome to the weekly podcast of The Gathering with Paul Jenkins. To learn more visit our website at http://www.thegatheringnow.com or download The Gathering's app.
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This message walks through the final words of James and asks a simple but serious question: Does our life show what we say we believe? James calls believers to live with real faith, honest repentance, patient hope, powerful prayer, and love that goes after those who have wandered. This is not about being perfect. It’s about being changed by Jesus and letting our actions, words, and choices reflect Him every day.
What if your plans aren’t the whole story? This message talks about letting go of control, using what you’ve been given well, and living with open hands instead of only chasing your own way. You’ll be challenged to think about your time, talents, money, and opportunities—and ask: am I building something that really matters?
How we treat people often shows what’s really happening inside us. This message looks at the kind of posture we need in life: choosing humility, drawing close to God, and letting that change how we speak and act. Instead of tearing others down or judging them, we’re invited to become better neighbors, friends, and family members. Real faith doesn’t stay hidden—it shows up in how we love people.
In this message, Cecil Talbot walks through James 4:1–6 and asks three honest questions: Who controls my heart? Where is my heart? What is my “it”? With stories, Scripture, and real-life examples, he shows how our desires, words, choices, and conflicts reveal what is really happening inside us. This message is a clear call to let God search our hearts, remove the noise, and lead us into faithfulness, humility, and the bigger purpose He has for us together.
In this message from James 3:13–18, we learn the difference between worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is driven by jealousy, selfish ambition, and chaos. Godly wisdom shows up through humility, peace, mercy, and good fruit. Real wisdom is not just knowing the right things—it is living them out. This message invites us to ask God for wisdom, choose wise influences, and become people who bring peace wherever we go.
Your words are way more powerful than you think. This message dives into how one sentence can shape someone’s identity, wreck a relationship, or literally change the direction of a life—for good or bad. We talk about reckless “jokes,” gossip, online comments, and the self-talk running in your head 24/7. You’ll see how your mouth exposes what’s really in your heart, why hurt people hurt people with their words, and how to flip the script—using your voice to speak life, call out potential, and bring healing instead of damage. If you’ve ever said, “I didn’t mean it,” this is for you.
James says your tongue is tiny but terrifyingly powerful. In this message, we unpack how one comment, one DM, one “joke” can actually steer someone’s future—or your own. It’s not just “watch your mouth”; it’s “watch your heart,” because your words expose what’s really inside. From AI clapbacks to a martyr who sang at his execution, you’ll see how speech can carry shame, healing, death, or life. If you’ve ever said, “I didn’t mean it,” this is for you. Learn how to use your voice with weight, integrity, and real influence.
What do you do when life doesn’t look like you thought it would—and your faith starts to feel more like work than love? In this message, we look at what the Bible says about faith and works, and why what you do can’t be the core of who you are. Using the story of Mary and Martha, we talk about burnout, cynicism, disappointment, and how to return to your “first love” by sitting at Jesus’ feet again. This is for anyone who’s tired, confused, or quietly wondering who they are now.
What’s the point of saying you care if you never actually help anyone? This message looks at the difference between just talking about love and actually living it out in real life. Through simple stories and examples, it challenges you to ask if your actions really match what you say you believe—and shows practical ways you can start showing real love to people around you this week.
We all play favorites, even when we don’t mean to. In this message from James 2, we look at how judging people by looks, money, or status pulls us away from God’s heart. God doesn’t have “favorite kids” — His love and mercy are for everyone. You’ll hear real stories, simple examples, and a clear call to stop ranking people and start showing mercy. Discover what it means to live like the ground is level at the cross, and how mercy can change the way you see and treat others this week.
This message is a straight-up call to action. It’s all about not just listening to God’s words, but actually living them out. Using James 1, we look at what it means to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. We talk about how easy it is to collect sermons, podcasts, and verses—but never change. Real faith shows up in how we talk, how we treat people who can’t give us anything back, and how we resist the pull of the world. Don’t just hear it. Go do it.
Life can feel unfair—stress, loss, temptations, and situations you never asked for. This message shows how what you believe about God’s love changes the way you face all of it. You’ll learn why some people grow bitter while others grow stronger, how our own desires can quietly pull us off course, and how to tell if something is truly good or just looks good for a moment. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is this happening?” or “Does God really care about me?” this message will help you see your trials in a new way.
Life feels long… until it doesn’t. One random moment, one weird accident, and everything can change. This message talks honestly about how short and fragile life really is, why money and stuff never feel like “enough,” and what we’re actually building our lives on. If you’ve ever wondered, “What am I even doing with my life?” this will help you zoom out, see the bigger picture, and start making choices that matter beyond just right now.
Everyone wants joy, but life is full of pain, stress, and hard seasons. So how are we supposed to have joy when everything feels like it’s falling apart? This message digs into James 1 and shows that real joy isn’t fake smiles or “I’m fine.” Joy is knowing you’re not alone—God is with you, and His people are with you. You’ll learn how trials can actually strengthen your faith, reveal what you really trust, and why staying connected (instead of isolating) can help you walk through suffering without being crushed by it.
Life doesn’t always go as planned. In this message, we look at James, the brother of Jesus, and how God used scattered, stressed-out people to spread hope. We learn that being moved, shaken, or uncomfortable doesn’t mean God has left us—it might mean He’s sending us. James goes from doubter to strong leader after meeting the risen Jesus. His story calls us to real, everyday faith, not a double life. You’ll be challenged to see yourself as a servant of Jesus right where you are—at work, at school, and at home.
Ever feel like your life is about to fall apart, but somehow it doesn’t? This message explores what might really be holding things together behind the scenes. Through a powerful story about a boy, his piano, and a messy home, we talk about family, choices, and the quiet love that doesn’t give up—even when you walk away. It’s for anyone who feels stuck between two worlds, or who wonders if their prayers or tears even matter. If you’ve ever asked, “Does anyone really care what happens to me?” this is a message you’ll want to watch.
We all know how to clean things up on the surface—crop the pic, fix the vibe, hide the mess. But what about the stuff underneath? This message uses real-life yard work, stubborn roots, and annoying weeds to talk about anxiety, money, success, and the hidden patterns that keep growing back no matter how often we “trim” them. You’ll see why some things in your life are so hard to change, why burnout keeps returning, and why your inner world matters more than you think. It’s not about trying harder; it’s about letting the right Gardener work at the roots.
You’ve heard of the Prodigal Son, but what if the real main character is the Father? This message dives into God’s love as unfathomable—not just for the wild child who runs away, but for the “good kid” who stays home, keeps the rules, and still feels empty. Whether you relate more to the partier or the perfectionist, this talk exposes the lie that you have to earn God’s love. It is finished. Come hear how a Father sprints toward both sons, tears up the scorecard, and invites you into a grace‑filled party you didn’t pay for.
What if you did everything “right” and still felt empty? This message dives into the older brother side of the Prodigal story—the loyal one, the responsible one, the one who never left…but low-key resents everybody else’s party. We talk burnout, overachieving, feeling invisible, and the lie that you have to earn love from God or anyone else. If you’re exhausted from striving, comparing, or constantly proving you’re “enough,” this is for you. Discover a God who isn’t a slave driver, and a love you don’t have to perform for—you just receive.
Ever feel like you’re running on empty, trying to escape your life instead of actually living it? This message dives into why we run — not just out of rebellion, but out of longing, exhaustion, and disappointment. Through the story of a runaway, we unpack regret, shame, and that moment you suddenly think, “How did I get here?” and “Can I even go back?” It’s about remembering who you really are, not who your mistakes say you are, and discovering that you don’t have to earn your way back to love, purpose, or home.
We all love comfort—comfort food, comfort zones, and familiar routines. But what happens when comfort starts holding us back from what God has next? In this message, Paul talks about why we keep wanting to “go back to Egypt,” even when we know it isn’t good for us. Using the story of Israel, seasons in the wilderness, and his own funny “pump room” memories, he shows how God grows us through uncomfortable places. You’ll be challenged to stop reaching back, embrace small beginnings, and step into the new thing God is doing right now.
We all crave connection, but many of us learned to do so in unhealthy ways. In the last message of our Attached series, we look at “clingers,” “stingers,” and people who’ve “been through the wringer,” and why relationships can feel like a war zone. Using simple pictures—a circle, a garden, boats in a storm—we see how attaching to Jesus brings real security and steady, healthy love. You’ll learn how God lifts, heals, and grows you, turning fear and drama into peace and fruit that lasts.
What happens when the people who are supposed to protect you also wound you? In this message, we look at the “been through the wringer” attachment style—what happens to your heart and brain when you grow up in a war zone of mixed signals, changing rules, and emotional chaos. Using stories, humor, and John 20, we see how Jesus steps into that confusion, doesn’t shame us for our struggle, and offers real peace, not cliches. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t tell who’s safe, this message is for you.
We all long to feel close, but many of us are scared of being left or being hurt again. In this message from our “Attached” series, we look at two insecure attachment styles: the “clingers” who hold on too tight, and the “stingers” who push people away. Using real-life stories, songs, and Scripture, we see how our brains learn these patterns and how God meets both types with faithful, gentle love. You’ll discover that you’re not stuck with your attachment style—and that with Jesus, you can grow toward a secure, healthy way of loving and being loved.
We all crave connection—because God wired us that way. In this message, we look at how our attachments shape where our lives go. Using stories, Scripture, and even a few surprising science experiments, we explore why we need a secure base and a safe place to come home to. You’ll see how God designed you for a relationship with Him and with others, why some connections help, and others hurt, and how to start letting go of the “wrong boat” so you can attach to what leads you to real healing and peace.
