In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young emphasizes the importance of saying "no" aligned with God's will, illustrating that mastering the art of refusal—grounded in spiritual priorities and obedience—leads to a life empowered by God's yes and His promises.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the concept of "simplexity"—the ability to make complex life decisions simple by aligning our "yes" with God's "yes," emphasizing the importance of prioritizing a committed relationship with Jesus, living with clear yes-or-no convictions based on scripture, and actively serving within the church community.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explains the bad news of humanity's sin and its consequences, contrasted with the good news of Jesus Christ's birth as the Savior who provides redemption and righteousness, calling listeners to acknowledge their need and accept God's free gift of salvation.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explains that Christmas centers on God’s ultimate gift of Jesus, who meets humanity’s deepest need for forgiveness, urging listeners to stop "shopping" for fulfillment in position, possessions, pleasure, or people, and instead receive this gift by surrendering their lives to Christ.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young illustrates how sin separates us from God, but God's love initiates forgiveness and liberation through Jesus Christ, urging listeners to confess, repent, and embrace the transformative power of grace this Christmas season.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explains the significance of Christmas through the symbolism of three trees: the Tree of Life representing God’s original plan for humanity, the cross as the Tree of Pardon where Jesus bore our sins, and the Tree of Paradise in Revelation symbolizing eternal life with God. He calls listeners to understand the gospel by understanding these trees and to respond by inviting Jesus into their lives, transforming Christmas from a mere holiday into a holy day.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the theme of distance during Christmas, emphasizing how God’s incarnation through Jesus closed the ultimate separation between humanity and God, inviting listeners to move from spiritual distance into a personal relationship with Christ.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young emphasizes the importance of spiritual preparation during Advent, focusing on being responsible stewards of God’s gifts, staying ready for Christ’s return, and wisely investing the talents entrusted to believers, encouraging a life lived in anticipation of both the first and second comings of Jesus Christ.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the dual focus of Advent as both the preparation for celebrating Jesus' incarnation and the anticipation of His second coming, emphasizing the believer's responsibility to remain spiritually prepared, vigilant, and active in faith as they await the wedding feast of the Bridegroom and His bride, the church.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young uses the symbolism of the candy cane to illustrate key aspects of the Christian faith, emphasizing Jesus as the Good Shepherd who provides direction, protection, discipline, and salvation through His sacrifice, and exhorts listeners to personally receive and share this gift.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young provides a comprehensive overview of the Bible, emphasizing its unified story centered on Jesus Christ as the sovereign Savior whose life, death, and resurrection fulfill God's redemptive plan throughout both the Old and New Testaments.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young provides an overview of the Old Testament as a foundational and unified story that reveals God's redemptive plan centered on Jesus Christ, tracing key events, figures, and themes that lead to the fulfillment of God's promises.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the theme of submission to authority through the biblical story of Saul and Samuel, emphasizing the dangers of rebellion and the importance of obedience to God's ordained leadership for spiritual growth and fulfillment of purpose.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the biblical account of Saul to illustrate how insecurity and the fear of rejection manifest in negative self-talk, listening to harmful voices, and excessive self-promotion, urging believers to find their security in God, listen to the right people, and encourage one another as modeled ultimately through Jesus’ rejection and perfection.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the biblical narrative surrounding the Ark of the Covenant and the prophet Samuel to illustrate the danger of trying to "use" God for personal gain and the futility of attempting to confine God to a "box." He exhorts believers to surrender themselves to be used by God rather than trying to manipulate God, emphasizing that true blessings come through obedience and that God desires to actively use and capture His people with His grace and mercy.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores how God calls and communicates with individuals, using the biblical story of Samuel as a central example to emphasize the importance of spiritual attentiveness, obedience, and responding to God's voice amid a chaotic world. He encourages listeners to recognize God's call in Scripture, the Holy Spirit, sermons, life circumstances, and ultimately through Jesus, urging a personal and faithful response to God's invitation.
In this message, Ed Young explores the theme of submission to authority through the biblical story of Saul and Samuel, emphasizing the dangers of rebellion and the importance of obedience to God's ordained leadership for spiritual growth and fulfillment of purpose.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the biblical story of Joseph to reveal the transformative power of forgiveness, emphasizing its challenges, misconceptions, and the freedom it brings as central to Christian faith and life.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the life of Joseph to teach how believers can endure betrayal, unexpected hardships, and waiting periods by trusting God, avoiding bitterness, actively ministering to others, and holding onto the dreams God gives, illustrating that God’s timing will ultimately bring restoration and promotion.
In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young explores the destructive nature of betrayal and revenge, illustrating through personal and biblical stories—especially Joseph’s journey—that while betrayal can cause deep pain, trusting God’s justice and grace leads to restoration and purpose beyond the hurt.