Episodes
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“Stand Firm” (Matthew 10:16-23)
Jesus told his followers, “You will be hated by everyone because of me” (Matthew 10:22). So, the time between Christ’s first and second coming is going to be perilous for believers. A good example: Martin Luther. All that priest wanted was to share the pure gospel with the world. For trying to do...
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“Who Are We?” (Colossians 3:12-17)
Where do you look for the answer to the question, “Who am I?” Will a mirror show you? Your most recent performance review? The possessions in your house or belongings stashed away in a storage unit? Those might provide answers, but none of them will leave you satisfied. For the right answer to…
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“What Do We Value?” (Matthew 6:25-34)
Values. We’ll hear a lot of talk about values from political candidates seeking election. But it’s hard to vote for someone who talks about the importance of values… only to see those same elected politicians later make headlines for ignoring those very values during their term in office. We have...
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“Why are we here?” (Mark 10:45)
Identity. Meaning. Purpose. These are the things that keep man searching until he finds answers. As believers, we know the search ends in God’s Word, where we find the answers. But, do we have the same clarity when it comes to knowing why we belong to our church? Perhaps, not surprisingly, we’ll...
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Apologizing Isn’t Repentance (Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32)
It might be expected for someone to look sorry when they are caught doing something wrong. You might even see tears and hear words of apology. But you might not be surprised if the shock of being caught wears off and so does the intensity of the repentance. Real repentance looks different. God...
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“Grace Is for… Them, Too” (Jonah 3:10-4:11)
It has been said that we tend to judge ourselves by our intentions, while judging others by their actions. So in my mind, while that driver deserved to get pulled over, my ticket was unwarranted because I was actually doing the right thing by not putting other drivers at risk and keeping up with...
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Forgiveness Is for Me (Matthew 18:21-35)
Forgiveness does not come naturally to human beings. It is expected that humans will defend themselves, lash out when attacked, hold grudges, and bite back. So, when human beings hear that they are forgiven, they may even be suspicious or skeptical. Jesus tells a parable that contrasts the...
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I Am My Brother’s Keeper (Ezekiel 33:7-11)
When danger strikes, most people instinctively move away from it. Fire, violence, accidents, and disasters trigger a natural desire to find protection and safety. Yet first responders do the opposite. Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics run toward the very scenes others are fleeing.…
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We Bear the Cross before We Wear the Crown (Romans 8:18-25)
Some teach that if a person follows God, God responds by granting worldly prosperity and peace. However, the Bible explains that if we are part of the Church of God, we will have to bear crosses. Believers suffer in this world, sometimes just because they are believers. Why bother? We carry our...
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Christ Commits the Keys to Christians (Matthew 16:13-20)
Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” It’s the most important question in the world, and it is a question every human being must answer. Today, as in Jesus’ day, there is no shortage of answers offered to the question. The expected answer may be dead wrong. But the real answer - the truth - is...
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A Church for Everyone (Ephesians 2:13-22)
“All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Or is church meant only for people of the right heritage who behave the right way - “good church folk”? Is it conceivable that a stranger could walk into church unexpectedly and for some reason, you would ask yourself, “What is someone like that…
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Trust God to Protect (Really!) (Matthew 14:22-33)
The psalmists pray for God’s protection. God promises his people his protection. So… why do we still experience hurt and harm? Does God ignore our prayers? Is he being dishonest when promising his protection? No, in fact, his protection is far more extensive than we could ever ask for or imagine....
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Trust God to Provide (Really!) (Matthew 14:13-21)
I trust the plants will get watered… when I see it raining outside. I trust that I’ll have plenty to pay the bills… when the checking account balance is hefty. I trust that I won’t go hungry… when the fridge and pantry are stocked. But when there are no gray clouds? When the account balance is...
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Crave the Riches of God’s Goods (1 Kings 3:5-12)
What do you consider your life’s top priorities? Many people start with family and friends. Financial security and health follow closely. Reputation and recreation make the cut. How about faith? Is it the top priority? What if other priorities must be sacrificed to keep faith the top priority?…
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Christians Have One Love (Isaiah 44:6-11)
Believer or not, it’s pretty well understood that idolatry isn’t a good thing. And, believer or not, it’s pretty natural to assume that idolatry is something that applies to others, not me. But when God defines idolatry, his definition refuses to allow the cushion of wiggle room we’d like to…
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Planted By the Word to Plant the Word (1 Corinthians 3:5-11)
Planting seed by hand can be extraordinary. In your hand, the seed looks lifeless and insignificant. You put the seed into the soil, and suddenly, all by itself, the seed germinates and sprouts and reaches to the sun. Except when it doesn’t! Plant multiple seeds, and often only some will grow.…
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Christians Pursue God’s Presence (Exodus 33:12-23)
We need rest. Without rest, we suffer. Studies show that with too little rest, people experience fatigue and physical imbalances that result in decreased attention, poor decisions, and even speech impairment. People who take no breaks during the workday have lower productivity than those who take...
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Disciples Fight for the Faith (2 Timothy 4:1-8)
Believers in God and their ministers have always been persecuted. Religious leaders in Jerusalem tried to muzzle the truth, but they only succeeded in sending people to preach the Word throughout the land. The Roman Empire persecuted Christians with stakes and lions, but God’s Church exploded…
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Disciples Remember Their Roots (1 Timothy 1:12-17)
They never forgot their past. Moses never forgot how he killed a man in a fit of anger. Paul never forgot how he had savaged the Church of God. Matthew never forgot how, as a tax collector for the Roman Empire, he was considered a traitor to his people. But God forgot their past. He forgave all...
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The Triune God Makes Tried & True Disciples (Matthew 28:16-20)
God has revealed himself as triune - one God in three persons. While we should not be surprised that God would reveal himself to us in a way that leaves us in awe of his mystery, neither has he revealed himself to us in this way to leave us confused. No, God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is...
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Whoever’s Thirsty Clenches What Quenches (John 7:37-39)
Thirsty? No one has to tell you what to do when you’re thirsty - you go get a drink to quench your thirst. It’s so automatic that you hardly have to think about it. If only the same were true with our spiritual thirst! But we forget where to turn when we need to satisfy our thirsty spirit, and we...
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The Lord Provides the Manpower for the Mission (Acts 1:12-26)
The Church doesn’t exist merely as a social club. She has been redeemed and set aside for a purpose. She has a mission to carry out: to draw every soul closer to Jesus in faith. How important is that mission? Important enough that God promises to provide the necessary workers to equip his Church…
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Be Bold - You’re Baptized! (1 Peter 3:13-22)
What makes a superhero brave and bold? While some are naturally born that way, for most, it’s their discovery and use of some type of superpower. Of course I’d be bold enough to jump off a tall building - if I could fly. And I wouldn’t be afraid of sneaking up on a bad guy - if I could be...
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What’s In A Name? Salvation (Acts 4:8-12)
The right title or name matters. You don’t call pest control when you’ve got a plumbing problem. You don’t google the nearest bakery when the garage door falters. You look to the right title or name to get the job done right. So, when it comes to the matter of salvation, we don’t just look to any...
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Separating Strangers from the Shepherd (John 10:1-10)
There is so much noise in the world today. So many people have something to say. Most of it is worthless. Some is not. And still some is absolutely essential. How do we tell the difference? We seek out the voice of the Good Shepherd. When we hear it, we listen, for he alone has the words of life.
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At Home as Foreigners (1 Peter 1:3-9)
A host encourages her guest to make herself at home. The deployed service member longs for a piece of something that feels like home. Home is where we belong. But as believers, we aren’t home yet. We are foreigners. We won’t be home until we are finally with Jesus. Until then, rather than living…
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Faith-Backed Hope (1 Peter 1:3-9)
Hope without something on which to anchor it is little more than wishful thinking. But hope that is founded on something real and reliable is powerful and promising. That is exactly the hope believers have through faith in the risen Savior.
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Of First Importance (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)
What is really important? Sometimes what we consider important is really just urgent. It’s something that needs to get done, yes, but it isn’t really all that important. Other times, what we consider important is really just personal preference for the way something is done. It matters to us…
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Your King Comes to You (Zechariah 9:9-10)
You are going about your daily business. There is a crowd. You are easily distracted by all the activity. It’s a holiday, and there are extra things to prepare. It is easy to focus on your personal task at hand and lose sight of the bigger picture. Focus! Look up! There is a King who presents...
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Life (John 11:17-27, 38-45)
I recognize the danger of death. I am tempted to wonder whether my life was worth it if I do not leave a legacy or live on in the memories of my loved ones after I die. When my soul separates from my body, will I also be eternally separated from God in hell? Jesus promises much better. He…
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Water (John 4:5-26)
I recognize my deep spiritual thirst. I long for a good relationship with God and for everlasting life. I am tempted to satisfy that deep thirst with worldly things, a strategy doomed to failure. I realize that my thirst is satisfied only by the one who said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them...
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Faith (Genesis 12:1-8)
Jesus said, “No one can enter the kingdom of God.” Since that includes me, I recognize my need to be saved. Long ago, God declared that we would be blessed by a descendant of Abraham, who turned out to be Jesus. The blessing through him is salvation, which we receive only by faith in Jesus as our...
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A Gift (Romans 5:12-19)
I think I know what I need. But when I get it, I see more clearly that it was often merely what I wanted. When I call my wants “needs,” my ability to discern what I actually need becomes clouded. When death strikes - whether in my own life or in the news - it reminds me that I really do have an...
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God’s Glory Is Still Glorious! (Exodus 24:9-19)
Can you imagine witnessing the full glory of God? No one could stand to - and live. But history does reveal several occasions on which people got to view a muted version of God’s glory. Even that would be spectacular! Good news! We’re still able to take in God’s glory today, provided we’re…
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Picked for a Purpose (1 Peter 2:9-12)
“Why me?” We may ask that question when we’re on the receiving end of significant news - whether it’s positive or negative. Sometimes we’ll get an answer; other times we won’t. Sometimes the answer is satisfactory; other times it isn’t. If we’ve asked the same question - “Why me?” - regarding our...
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You’re Nothing, Special (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
Many of us wrestle with insecurities of one sort or another. But, since we don’t want those insecurities to become public knowledge, we posture or pretend in order to keep them hidden from others. How draining it is for us to try to deceive others 24/7! God’s Word to us today both stings and...
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Light More Candles (Matthew 4:12-23)
The prophet Isaiah vividly described humanity as “people walking in darkness.” Then he foretold that a light would shine on them. Enveloped by sin, suffering, and death, we find our minds and hearts clouded. But Jesus is revealed as the promised light. He shines his light by preaching repentance...
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“Enough” (Colossians 2:6-15)
If you continued pouring water into your full water glass at your restaurant table, you’d get more than just odd looks; you’d get a soaking wet table! When something is full, there isn’t room for any more. So where and why are we looking for more when we already have fullness in Christ? Give up...
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“Anointed to Be Our Righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17)
“Christ” is not the family name of Jesus. It is a title. The Greek word “Christ” and the Hebrew word “Messiah” both mean the same thing: “The Anointed One.” Anointing was the practice of pouring liquid over the head of someone to signify selection for some special task. When the Lord had someone...
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“Seeking, Sharing, and Serving the Savior” (Matthew 2:1-12)
The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days between Christmas Day and January 6. What is special about January 6? It is the day when the Christian Church celebrates the Festival of the Epiphany. Epiphany comes from a Greek word meaning “reveal.” When the Savior was born, he was first revealed as...
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Spared from Death to Die (Matthew 2:13-23)
Christmas holidays mean family time, often with extended family travel and visits. Meals are prepared, gifts are given, memories are made. But the memories might not all be good. Sometimes there are Christmas hurts or even tragedies. We live in a world still affected by sin. That sin showed…
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The One-of-a-Kind Sign (Isaiah 7:10-14)
Even in this digital age, we would be lost without signs. Signs warn us of danger. They communicate information to us. Signs help us navigate and let us know when we’ve reached our destination. The most important signs, however, are the ones that point us to our Savior, so that we can be 100%...
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The Imminent Arrival of the Messiah (Matthew 11:2-11)
The Messiah is an important person. “Messiah” is the same word as “Christ,” which means, “Anointed One.” He is someone who has been anticipated for a long time. Now we look at a time when his arrival is imminent! The historic Christian Church gave Latin titles to each Sunday. They titled the…
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The Imminent Arrival of the Judge (Matthew 3:1-12)
“Imminent Arrival” series The judge is an important person. You stand when he enters the courtroom. What he says must be obeyed. If you are the one on trial, his determinations make a big difference in how your life will continue. For these reasons, you might be quite nervous if the judge is…
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The Imminent Arrival of Joy (Philippians 4:4-7)
“Imminent Arrival” series Advent marks the start of a new Church Year. We begin at the end, watching King Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey colt, knowing full well that he will be killed before the end of the week. The events of Palm Sunday serve as a microcosm for all Jesus’ work, proving…
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What Do We Do with “Trustworthy and True?” (Rev. 22:6-13)
The Church has marked the passing of yet another Church Year, waiting for its Lord to return. How long will we have to wait and watch for Jesus to return? We do not know. Jesus said he would return soon. However, the definition of “soon” for the One who has no beginning or end will naturally…
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Faith Fuels Faithfulness (Hebrews 11:32-40)
God grants the status of “saint” (which means “holy one”) to every believer. It might appear that status is of little practical value. If you achieve the status “billionaire” or “celebrity” or “senator” your life is going to be vastly different than most other people, most likely better. But if…
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Undeserved Generosity Generates Unparalleled Gratitude (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)
Gratitude is the appreciation we feel when someone does something kind to us or for us. There are two factors that effect the intensity of gratitude. First, there is the deservedness factor. Say you do a favor for your neighbor. A month later, your neighbor does a favor for you. You are grateful,...
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What We’re Given Guides Our Giving (1 Chronicles 29:1-2, 10-18)
SERIES: Cause and Effect Before we buy something, we assess whether or not we are willing to pay the asking price. If it seems reasonable to us, we may decide to make the purchase. If it seems overpriced, we likely won’t buy it. When we give gifts back to God through our offerings, it doesn’t…
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Warning From the Other Side (Luke 16:19-31)
What do John D Rockefeller, King Solomon, Henry Ford, and Joseph Stalin all have in common? Two things. First, they are all on the list of the twenty wealthiest individuals who ever lived. Second, they are all rotting in the ground. While the blessing of money can do a lot of things, it cannot...
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There's a lot in life that gets our attention, but ultimately, only one thing matters. Don't get distracted by what doesn't. 1 Thing Matters will help you focus on what matters most for this life, and the better life to come.
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