Unforgiveness is a prison in which we are our own jailer! If I want out of my prison of pain all I need to do is release the offender. Let go!

Welcome to the Transformed podcast!

Forgiveness involves a choice and a process. Many people struggle with forgiving because they don’t understand what happens after they forgive.

As we open our Bibles, we discover that one of the major problems we all have is that we are insensitive to how we treat others and we are over-sensitive to how we are treated! In fact, Jesus tells us that if we would pay more attention to how we treat others we wouldn’t have to endure fixing so many broken relationships!

Let’s join Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, as he offers us the keys to forgiveness from the lips of Jesus in Luke 17.

And with that prayer, men and women came forward to release the offenders in their lives and find the freedom Christ gives once that happens. It is our sincere hope and prayer that you, too, have prayed that prayer as well.

If you have, will you take the next steps in the faith by getting into a small group of believers and digging into the Bible through group study?

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

An unforgiving spirit poisons the community in which it lives, and an unforgiving, forgiven person becomes an open scandal. Such people destroy the churches, the marriages, the families, and the friendships in which they live.

Jesus obviously believed that forgiveness, both from God and from other people, is one of them most significant issues in human life. He talked about it directly and often; gave His life to make it possible, and taught His people that they were not only forgiven, they were also to be forgiving.

Let’s join Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, as he takes us through another one of those life-stretching conversations about forgiveness with Peter and discover three challenges along the road to becoming a forgiving person.

As men and women filled the altar in response to Pastor Matt’s challenge at Pacific Baptist Church, we hope you, too, prayed that prayer to …

(1)  Confess your past reluctance / unwillingness to forgive specific people.

(2)  Confess the names of the people you have yet to forgive.

(3)  Confess the pain and the hurt they have put you through.

(4)  Forgive those people anyway, in obedience to the command of Jesus, trusting him that he is wiser and wants the best for your life.

It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will take the next steps in the faith by getting into a small group of believers and digging into the Bible through group study.

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

We cannot accomplish God’s dream for our church until we learn to forgive and forget the offenses of others.

One of the closest men to Jesus tells us today there are 7 key understandings about forgiveness and it’s linkage to fellowship. Once we apply these understandings our fellowship circle will grow and we will enjoy a depth of friendship unheard of among our neighbors.

Let’s listen in as Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, teaches us about forgiveness and fellowship from 1 John 1.

We hope you prayed that prayer to receive the forgiveness of God. If you did, congratulations! It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will take the next steps in the faith by getting into a small group of believers and digging into the Bible through group study.

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

We are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

Gary Inrig has said, “Our response to Jesus is the infallible evidence of whether or not we have understood and received forgiveness.”

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, explores forgiveness when it becomes the theme of a dinner that Jesus is invited to by a local Pharisee.

As we open our Bibles to Luke 7, we discover that attitudes are the fragrance of life and the difference between the religiously superior person and the forgiven spirit are the attitudes you can smell … as we see at the dinner situation Jesus was in. Let’s listen is now as Jesus tells us that how we respond to the forgiveness of Jesus reflects what’s really happened inside of us.

We hope you prayed that prayer to receive the forgiveness of God. If you did, congratulations! It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will take the next steps in the faith by getting into a small group of believers and digging into the Bible through group study.

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

As hard as it is to imagine at times, God wants to forgive you!

• I know, there are things you can’t imagine God forgiving in your life.
• I know, some of the things you have done are just too embarrassing to even consider asking for forgiveness about!
• I know, after reading what you have read in the Bible or hearing what you have heard from “Christians” you know God’s opinion of what you’ve done.

And, as a result, you know God wouldn’t want to forgive you.

I would agree with you – if I didn’t understand the road to forgiveness!

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, explains the three phases on the road to forgiveness with God.

Let’s open our Bible now to Romans 3 and listen in as he teaches God’s Word …

At the end of the podcast Pastor Matt led you in a prayer to receive God’s forgiveness. We hope you prayed that prayer to receive His forgiveness. If you did, congratulations! It is our sincere hope and prayer that you will take the next steps in the faith by getting into a small group of believers and digging into the Bible through group study.

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Easter is all about forgiveness!

It’s about the proof that God forgives us …

• Despite what we have done
• Despite whom we’ve hurt
• Despite how we’ve treated others
• Despite … ourselves!

Our episode today is from the transcript of God’s own conversation about his “forgiveness plan,” Pastor Matt shares 5 facts about God’s forgiveness as seen from the eternal plan of God.

We hope you enjoy today’s episode as you listen as Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of the Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, lifts our hearts and spirits concerning the intentionality and compassion of God’s love for us.

As the episode concludes we hope you pray the prayer to receive the forgiveness of God and develop a deep and abiding relationship with God.

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional which targets the purpose of Magnification or Worship.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

The devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Welcome to a very special edition of the Transformed podcast.

Solomon tells us that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish!”

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor in El Segundo, California, shares from his heart the vision he believes God is calling the people of Pacific Baptist Church to embrace.

In this emotional and powerful message, Pastor Matt shares how through months of prayer and fasting, God has been and continues to reveal his heart and soul for God’s people there in Pacific.

As we listen in to today’s message, we know you will find the Spirit of God tugging on these same three themes in your life, for they are birthed from the Word of God and the commands of Jesus. So, without further delay, let’s listen as Pastor Matt shares The Decade of Destiny vision with his flock …

Today’s question is, will you accept God’s challenge for your future as well? We hope so!

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, Growing Missional Leaders.

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Growing Missional Leaders …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement for personal and corporate outreach …

* It opens Bible passages – again and again – showing that God’s heart is to bring his lost children home …

* And it provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping-stones to launching fresh ministry into your community …

Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order a copy of Growing Missional Leaders from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

“Nothing is impossible when we put our trust in God.”

Why? Because Jesus Christ leads us into victory every day – through His Word.

In today’s episode, we look at Jesus’ words to find out what makes a great church!

Every church is made up of individual followers of Jesus.

No church is ever greater than the sum of its parts.

A local body of believers is directly responsible for its own quality before God and the world.

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of the Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, talks to us about our servant hood – service marked the early church as a compassionate and caring people who were different from the world.

In this practical message, Pastor Matt shows us 7 life-changing attitudes to live out the life of Jesus among the people in our world, everyday.

So let’s open our Bible to Luke 17 and listen in as Pastor Matt begins today’s lesson …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional that focuses on the truth:

You cannot worship God greatly until He has rescued you mightily.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

This devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the calendar year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Pride is resistance to the will of God.

This is the cause of dissension and schism, and it is the reason for “a lack of unity and understanding.”

But in humility, Christ redeemed us and made us one in himself.

If we were made one by his humility, then it will take humility for Christians to develop that unity within the body.

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of the Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, focuses our attention of the 1^st coming of Jesus.

In this powerful message, Pastor Matt shows us how and why we should imitate his attitudes – thus having the mind of Christ.

So let’s open our Bible to Philippians 2 and listen in as Pastor Matt begins today’s lesson …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional that focuses on the truth:

You cannot worship God greatly until He has rescued you mightily.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

This devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the calendar year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Graceless moments.

They have a way of sucking the life right out of us.

They put the clamps on our spirits and keep us from breathing.

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

In our episode today, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor of the Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California, reminds us that Christ wants to use my life and yours to bring some of Heaven to earth, into the lives of the people on this planet, in the real realms of our relationships, and in the form of a gift called grace.

So let’s open our Bible to 1 Peter 4 and listen in as Pastor Matt begins today’s lesson …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional that focuses on the truth:

You cannot worship God greatly until He has rescued you mightily.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

This devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the calendar year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

We pray when we are in trouble, when we are in need.

Like the disciples in the storm, we pray fervently when the storms of life happen in our lives.

Over the course of the past three months, men and women at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, California have found that God does the impossible in response to His people’s passionate prayers!

Lead pastor, Dr. Matthew Smith, reminds us in today’s episode,

“What we have learned is that when we work, we work, but when we pray, God works.”

So why not get your Bible out as we examine five themes from Scripture that confirm the key place of prayer in the body of Christ …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, In His Presence.

In His Presence is a daily devotional that revolves around the reality:

You cannot worship God greatly until He has rescued you mightily.

It revolves around the Biblical truth, “God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure.”

This devotional follows a reading schedule through the entire book of Psalms over the course of the calendar year.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the book cover on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Each of us longs to know what we can do to help those we love restore their relationships with God. Nehemiah – the Old Testament hero – offers us help and hope.

Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, California looks at the 5 actions we can do every day to help those who are giving up God find Him afresh again!

Let’s open our Bibles to Nehemiah 1 and seek to refresh our friend’s faith …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, Growing Missional Leaders.

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Growing Missional Leaders …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement for personal and corporate outreach …

* It opens Bible passages – again and again – showing that God’s heart is to bring his lost children home …

* And it provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping-stones to launching fresh ministry into your community …

Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order a copy of Growing Missional Leaders from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

There are no hopeless causes! While some people’s problems seem so overwhelming and persistent, we learn in today’s episode that God’s redemptive power can transform them into “strong and graceful oaks for His own glory.”

In our series, “Walking with the Wounded,” we continue to focus our attention on the theme, “Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves.” As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, California unpacks Jesus’ mission, we find our own mission in His words.

So let’s open our Bibles to Luke 4 and discover our mission in life …

You can take the thought of this message one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, Growing Missional Leaders.

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Growing Missional Leaders …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement for personal and corporate outreach …

* It opens Bible passages – again and again – showing that God’s heart is to bring his lost children home …

* And it provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping-stones to launching fresh ministry into your community …

Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order a copy of Growing Missional Leaders from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

And now, until next time, this is Mike Powers praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Thank you for joining us today and welcome back to the Transformed podcast.

People are watching you every day – they are watching to see how you treat the wounded all around you.

In our series, “Walking with the Wounded,” we are focusing our attention on the theme, “Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves.” This installment, entitled, “We Are On a Journey to Compassion!” reminds us that there are two kinds of religious people.

Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, California will walk us through a morning interruption in the teaching life of Jesus and show us the difference between the two.

As Pastor Matt begins today in John 8, let’s open our Bibles and discover how we should “love one another!”

You can take this thought one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, Growing Missional Leaders.

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Growing Missional Leaders …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement for personal and corporate outreach …

* It opens Bible passages – again and again – showing that God’s heart is to bring his lost children home …

* And it provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping-stones to launching fresh ministry into your community …

Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order a copy of Growing Missional Leaders from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

And now, until next time, this is Mike Powers praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Welcome back to the Transformed podcast. Thank you for joining us!

Have you ever wondered what God thinks of your next-door neighbors? In our new series, “Walking with the Wounded,” Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, will explore that very thought.

In this series we will focus our attention on the theme, “Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves.” Our first installment, entitled, “We Are Called to Care!” will answer the question, “How will I respond to the wounded people I encounter?”

As Pastor Matt begins today in Luke 10, let’s open our Bibles and discover how God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” through us!

You can take this thought one step further by ordering a copy of Pastor Matt’s book, Growing Missional Leaders.

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical, passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Growing Missional Leaders …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement for personal and corporate outreach …

* It opens Bible passages – again and again – showing that God’s heart is to bring his lost children home …

* And it provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping-stones to launching fresh ministry into your community …

Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order a copy of Growing Missional Leaders from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

We are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Today we wrap up a 4 message series on the ABCs of Loving God with the study, My Donations: What will I do to make a difference?

As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, opens the Bible to Luke 6, he focuses our attention on an issue that is dear to many of us: How can I make a difference in this life?

As he wraps us this series, let’s open our Bibles and discover that it’s not the duration of your life but your donation in life that really matters.

As we enter into February, we will turn our attention to the Biblical focus of “loving our neighbor as our self.” Dr. Smith will begin a new series next time entitled “Walking with the Wounded: Having God’s heart for our next-door neighbors!” We know you will want to invite a friend to sign up for the podcast notices at our website, EaglesInLeadership.org, so they can enjoy these Biblical messages of inspiration and growth!

It’s our 101^st episode of the Transformed podcast today. We are so glad you have joined us we seek to Encourage Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood.”

Today we examine a powerful encounter between a rich young ruler and Jesus. As the conversation progresses, we discover that possessing eternal life – from Jesus’ point of view – means something far different than is often understood.

Indeed, this young, powerful and deeply religious man walks away from Jesus refusing eternal life as a result of his encounter.

As Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God, let’s open our Bibles to Mark 10 and listen in as Pastor Matt walks us through Jesus’ answer to the question: How Can I Be Spiritually Fulfilled?

We would also ask you to check out the resources on our website and consider one of the year-long devotionals for 2012: either, In His Image, which focuses on the theme, “God Created YOU to Love You!” or, In His Presence, which centers on the truth, “God Welcomes YOU into His Presence with Joy and Pleasure!”

Artwork Credit: michaelhoffman.info

It’s our 100^th podcast today and we are so glad you have chosen to join us!

Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, continues a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

Today we are looking into the Old Testament to discover how we will utilize all of the blessings God has given us as we seek to love Him, love our neighbors and love one another!

So let’s open our Bibles to 1 Chronicles 29 and listen in as Pastor Matt provides great help in unlocking the door to the closed hearts of those in your sphere of life …

As 2012 runs ahead full speed, Dr. Matthew Smith, lead pastor at Pacific Baptist Church of El Segundo, begins a 4-message series on the ABCs of Loving God.

As we open Luke 10, we will look at our attitude and ask, “How do I respond to God?”

Let’s listen now as Pastor Matt prepares the congregation in El Segundo for whatever 2012 will bring …

We are thrilled you have rejoined us for another year of Encouraging Achievement in Godly Leaders by Emphasizing Servanthood!

In today’s episode, Dr. Smith starts us on a journey through the most important subject in life: How do I please God?

As we open our Bibles to 2 Chronicles 7, let’s listen in as Pastor Matt explains to the people of Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, CA how we please God by knowing him personally!