Grace United Little Rock
by Grace United Little Rock
Welcome to the Grace United Podcast from Little Rock, Arkansas — a vibrant, multiracial church led by Bishop Steven Arnold and Pastor Joshua Hurlburt. Each week, dive into powerful, practical messages that will build your faith. We are a church of love and grace!
Episodes
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Moving From Greed to Generosity | Bishop Steven Arnold
How we handle money reveals what we truly value. Greed is an unquenchable desire to gain more without considering God or others, and it distorts our view of money as a resource. The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 shows what happens when an encounter with Jesus completely reverses a person's...
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Change Your Mind About Money | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Money is one of the most personal topics we encounter, yet Jesus addressed it more than almost any other subject because it reveals what we truly trust and worship. Everything we have belongs to God, and we are simply stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Real generosity is not produced by…
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You Reap What You Sow | Bishop Steven Arnold
Every day, whether we realize it or not, we are planting seeds that will shape our future. Galatians 6:7-10 reminds us that what we sow, we will eventually reap, and this principle applies to far more than finances. Our words, attitudes, habits, decisions, and generosity are all seeds with real...
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How to Walk by the Spirit | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Most of us know the frustration of wanting to change but feeling stuck. The answer, rooted in Galatians 5, is not trying harder but walking by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, and self-control, cannot be manufactured through willpower. It is the natural result of...
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Building a Legacy That Will Last | Pastor Ahmad Muqtasid
First Corinthians 3:10-15 presents a powerful challenge about what we are building and whether it will last. Jesus Christ is the only foundation that can hold the weight of a life, a family, or a church. Once that foundation is in place, the materials we build with matter deeply. Gold, silver…
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What God Desires for His Children | Bishop Steven Arnold
God reaches people exactly where they are, not after they have cleaned themselves up or figured everything out. Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. That single word, while, reveals the heart of God. He does not wait for us to be ready. He steps into our mess...
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God Has Never Had a "Plan B" | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
God has never had a Plan B. Before time began, before Adam was created, and before Abraham received his promise, the plan was already in place. Jesus was not a backup solution to humanity's failures. He was always the answer. In Galatians 3, Paul addresses two questions that still challenge...
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How to Not Be a Hypocrite | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
One of the most common criticisms of Christians is that they are hypocrites, and it is worth asking honestly whether that charge is true. Hypocrisy, as Paul defines it in Galatians 2, is claiming the truth of the gospel without living the truth of the gospel. The gospel does not say Christians…
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The Benefits of the Gospel | Bishop Steven Arnold
The gospel of Jesus Christ is far more than a religious concept or a Sunday morning tradition. It is a royal announcement from God that Jesus Christ accomplished everything necessary for salvation through His life, His death, and His resurrection. As Paul declares in Romans 1:16, it is the power…
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Pulled Away But Called Back | Bishop Steven Arnold
Drifting from God is one of the most common and quietly dangerous experiences in the Christian life. It rarely announces itself. One skipped prayer becomes a week without one. One missed Sunday becomes a pattern. Hebrews 2:1 warns believers to hold tightly to the truth they have heard, because...
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Return to Community | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
We were made in the image of God, and that truth carries more weight than most of us realize. When God said, "Let us make mankind in our image," the word "us" points to something profound. Within the one God, there are three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For all of eternity, they have...
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Both Feet In: Becoming a Difference Maker | Coach Houston Nutt
Former Arkansas Razorback Head Coach Houston Nutt shares a powerful message on becoming a difference maker at the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at Grace United Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Drawing from lessons learned on the football field and through some of life’s most difficult moments, Coach…
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The Benefits of Worshipping Together | Bishop Steven Arnold
Faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. Scripture makes clear that gathering with other believers is where faith matures, real relationships form, and miracles take place. The early church in Acts 2 devoted themselves to the Word, to fellowship, and to prayer, and the result was a…
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Return to Christ | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing, but He was not talking about worldly success or achievement. He was talking about life itself, the kind of deep, lasting, complete life that the world simply cannot manufacture. The key word in John 15 is "remain." Our job is not to strive and...
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The Autopsy of the Heart | Rob Hudson
Pressure has a way of exposing what is already inside us. Like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, the difficult moments of life do not create what is in our hearts. They simply bring it to the surface. Psalm 139 gives us an honest and hopeful look at what it means to be fully known by God. David…
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Counting What Counts | Elder Mike Clowers
Psalm 90, the oldest psalm in the Bible and the only one written by Moses, confronts us with an honest look at the brevity of human life set against the backdrop of an eternal God. Moses wrote it while watching an entire generation die in the desert, yet his message is not despair. It is a call…
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I am the Psalmist | Minister Timiko Covington
Psalm 116 is a raw and personal journey from deep sorrow to surrender, salvation, and praise. The psalmist describes a place many people know well, where death feels close, trouble is all you can see, and the weight of life feels unbearable. Rather than pretending those feelings away, he named…
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Surviving Seasons of Sorrow | Pastor Roderick Rogers
Life has a way of shaking us when we least expect it, and Psalm 137 gives us an honest look at what it means to survive those seasons of deep sorrow. The Israelites, stripped of everything in Babylonian captivity, did not pretend to be okay. They sat down, they wept, and they grieved honestly...
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How to Handle Suffering | Bishop Steven Arnold
Suffering is not a matter of if, but when. When it arrives, we tend to respond in one of three ways: we become bitter, we become broken, or we become better. God's intention is always the third option. Drawing from the book of James and the life of Job, we are called to be prayerful in our pain,...
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The Faith That a Father Needs | Bishop Steven Arnold
Fatherhood is one of the greatest honors and hardest responsibilities a person can carry, and no parenting book can fully prepare you for it. What every father truly needs is real, active, undying faith in God. Faith sees beyond the problem to the Source, trusts the process even when it is…
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How to Know if My Faith is Real | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
James provides two powerful tests to examine the authenticity of our faith. The Word Test reveals that our speech directly reflects our heart condition - we cannot have an unhealthy mouth and a healthy heart. The Wisdom Test shows that our choices and their outcomes reveal whether we follow…
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Can My Faith Save Me? | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Not all faith has the power to save. James 2:14 asks whether faith without deeds can truly save us. Dead faith produces no life change, while demonic faith believes correct doctrine but refuses to follow Jesus. Only living faith transforms us, evidenced through actions like loving enemies…
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Grace to Love the Underdogs | Bishop Steven Arnold
God has a pattern of choosing those the world overlooks and using them for extraordinary purposes. From Abraham to Moses to Peter, Scripture shows us that God reaches down to the neglected and discarded, restoring them and anointing them for amazing things. True Christianity is tested not by how…
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Religion That God Accepts | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Our true identity comes from Christ, not from our circumstances, diagnoses, or struggles. Many people confuse what they've been identifying with for their actual identity in God. Real faith isn't just hearing God's word but acting on it with obedience. James provides three diagnostic tests for...
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Faith to Overcome | Bishop Steven Arnold
Life inevitably brings trials and challenges that test our faith, but these difficulties serve a divine purpose. Trials are external pressures that God allows to develop our spiritual strength and reveal our character, while temptation targets our flesh and seeks to destroy us. The key difference...
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Our Relationships In Eternity | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Many wonder what relationships will look like in eternity - will we see our pets, spouses, and children again? While the Bible doesn't answer every specific question, it reveals that animals will be present in the new creation, marriage as we know it will be fulfilled in our perfect relationship...
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What Will I Do in Heaven? | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Many people misunderstand what heaven will be like, imagining endless church services or eternal vacations. The Bible reveals that we were created in God's image to reign with Him and represent Him on earth. Originally, Adam and Eve were placed in Eden not for retirement, but for meaningful work...
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Resurrection Power: Making All Things New | Bishop Steven Arnold
The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides supernatural power that transforms every aspect of our lives in four ways: we are saved by grace, continuously transformed, empowered to be witnesses, and sustained through difficulties. This same resurrection power guarantees our future renewal…
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Grace and Gratitude | Lolita-Griffin Norwood
Queen Esther's story reveals how God positions us for purpose before we understand why. Despite her fear of approaching the king uninvited, Esther chose courage over comfort to save her people. Her journey teaches us that God doesn't want our excuses - He wants our yes. When we bloom where we're...
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What Happens When I Die? | Bishop Steven Arnold
Death is one of life's greatest mysteries, but believers don't need to face it with fear. Understanding what happens after death strengthens our faith, shapes our focus on eternal things, and sustains us through trials. When believers die, we are immediately in God's presence, as Jesus promised…
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The Big Picture of History | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
God's original plan was for humanity to live with Him in a garden with the Tree of Life at its center. When sin entered through Adam and Eve's disobedience, we lost access to this perfect relationship and were separated from God's presence. However, God doesn't offer consolation prizes. Through...
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From Confusion to Celebration | Bishop Steven Arnold
Easter Sunday marks the moment when Jesus transforms our deepest confusion into joyful celebration through His resurrection power. Two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, went to the tomb expecting to grieve but instead encountered the risen Christ. Jesus meets us exactly where we are in…
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The Good King Has Come | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Jesus' most famous message was simple yet revolutionary: repent and believe the good news. Unlike good advice that tells us what to do, this is good news about what God has already accomplished. The kingdom of God has come near through a perfect King who never sins and always acts in love. This...
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The Opportunity of a Lifetime | Bishop Steven Arnold
Palm Sunday reveals an “opportunity of a lifetime” through the perspective of the donkey chosen to carry Jesus into Jerusalem, showing how God uses ordinary vessels for extraordinary purposes. This pivotal moment teaches us about being found, released, filled, and given responsibility, as the...
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Remembering Your Deliverance | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
The Book of Esther reveals how God works behind the scenes even when He seems absent. Though God is never mentioned by name in Esther, His fingerprints are all over the story through a series of seemingly coincidental events that ultimately save His people. Faith means knowing God has the upper...
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Delivered to Make a Difference
Life's difficult moments aren't meant to destroy us but to develop us for God's purpose. Through the story of Esther, we learn that God delivers His people not for comfort, but for mission. Every test leads to transformation, which creates opportunities for turnaround. Making a difference…
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When Evil Seems to Win and God Seems Late | Bishop Steven Arnold
Life often puts us in seasons where everything seems wrong and God appears silent. The Book of Esther teaches us that even when God's name isn't mentioned and no miracles are recorded, His hand is still working behind the scenes. When evil seems to win, we must respond with humility and…
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When God is Quiet | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
The Book of Esther uniquely never mentions God's name, yet teaches a profound truth: God's silence doesn't mean His absence. Through Esther's story of becoming queen and saving her people from genocide, we learn that God positions our deliverance before we see the danger. What feels ordinary in…
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Submit to Submitting | Pastor Josh & Julie Hurlburt
The concept of biblical submission in marriage often triggers strong negative reactions due to its historical misuse as a tool for oppression and abuse. However, when properly understood through the lens of Jesus's upside-down kingdom principles, submission becomes a pathway to freedom rather…
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Speak Life | Bishop Steven Arnold
Words possess incredible power to either build up or tear down relationships. Jesus taught that our words reveal what's truly in our hearts, and they shape the atmosphere of our homes and communities. Careless words cut deep and leave lasting scars, while life-giving words build identity, create...
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Do You See Me? | Bishop Steven Arnold
In a world where we can feel invisible even among loved ones, the human heart cries out to be truly seen. Being seen means more than physical sight—it means being valued, understood, and supported for who we really are. The story of Hagar in Genesis 16 shows us how God sees the overlooked and...
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Let's Get Naked | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
God created humanity to live without shame or fear, fully known and fully loved. When sin entered the world, we began hiding behind masks and carefully curated images, afraid that if people saw the real us, they would reject us. However, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross covers our shame and makes...
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Marriage is a Metaphor | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Marriage serves as God's primary metaphor to help us understand His love and character. Through the unity of two becoming one, marriage reflects the Trinity's nature. The sacrificial love required in marriage mirrors Christ's complete sacrifice for the church on the cross. The faithfulness…
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Grace Talks | Faith + Science - Dr. Michael Belote
The apparent conflict between biblical creation accounts and scientific understanding of Earth's age has troubled many believers, creating a false choice between faith and science. This tension isn't new - it has ancient roots in Greek philosophy and epicureanism, with both sides making critical...
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All in Through Obedience | Bishop Steven Arnold
Daniel's unwavering commitment to prayer despite King Darius's decree demonstrates what it means to be completely devoted to God. True obedience isn't manufactured in crisis moments but built through consistent daily faithfulness. Faith and obedience cannot be separated - your actions reveal the...
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All in By Faith | Bishop Steven Arnold
The story of three Hebrew boys in Daniel chapter 3 demonstrates what it means to have unwavering faith in God. These young men faced death in a fiery furnace but declared they would trust God whether He delivered them or not. Being all in for God means trusting Him without conditions, not just…
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Resolve to Be All In | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
As we enter 2026, we have the opportunity to embrace a different kind of resolve - one rooted in faith rather than willpower. Daniel's story shows us what biblical resolve looks like: settling our identity and priorities before pressure comes. Most resolutions fail because our habits are stronger...
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Grace Talks | Christianity & Politics - Leon Jones, Jr.
In today's polarized political environment, Christians often find themselves caught between two extremes: complete withdrawal from politics or becoming so partisan that their political identity overshadows their faith. However, there is a biblical middle ground that honors both civic…
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Beginning a New Year | Pastor Joshua Hurlburt
Jesus extends a powerful invitation to all who are weary and burdened: Come to me and I will give you rest. This isn't about self-improvement or trying harder, but about accepting His offer to exchange our heavy burdens for His easy yoke. When Jesus describes Himself as gentle and humble in…
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The Gift: Myrrh - It's Time to Believe | Bishop Steven Arnold
Many people struggle with genuine faith despite attending church regularly. True belief isn't passive acceptance but passionate conviction that transforms our entire life. The world pulls us away through three main obstacles: the pursuit of pleasure over conviction, chasing material possessions...
About this show
Welcome to the Grace United Podcast from Little Rock, Arkansas — a vibrant, multiracial church led by Bishop Steven Arnold and Pastor Joshua Hurlburt. Each week, dive into powerful, practical messages that will build your faith. We are a church of love and grace!
Hosted by
Grace United Little Rock
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