Episodes
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The Great Exchange
In a very simple statement, the Apostle Paul summarized what took place at the cross. “For He has made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” It is a powerful statement that expresses the opposite of what took place in the fall of mankind....
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The Proper Response to the Father’s Call
This is an interesting parable. It is very brief and pointed. It is a parable of two sons, two invitations, two responses two changes of heart and two destinies. Some respond quickly to the Savior’s call but they do not follow through. They “pray a prayer” but their life gives no evidence of a...
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When Jesus Comes to Town
Much of Jesus’s teaching and ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee, particularly at Capernaum. They were responsive and they were blessed. With the blessing of have having access to Jesus comes extra responsibility. We are blessed in our country with churches on every corner. The gospel…
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The Authority of Jesus
People were amazed at the teaching of Jesus. It wasn’t just that He had command of His material. The people had heard other teachers who were scholars but Jesus’s teaching was different. His hearers recognized that He wasn’t like other scribes. “They were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught...
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Jesus Came Preaching
This is not how most of the world pictures Jesus but this is how Mark introduced His ministry. “Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” We often view Jesus as He healed, delivered and even raised the dead. He taught and fed 5000. He walked on water. Little children were welcome in...
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The Courage to Trust the Lord
Letting go is not easy. A parent may stand just out of reach in a swimming pool and say “You can do this. Turn loose of the side and come to me. I have you and you won’t sink.” It is a simple illustration but we must learn that life is best lived when we trust God and turn loose. This last…
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The Courage to Embrace the Cross
“For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but it is the wisdom and power of God to us who are saved”. Jesus embraced the cross. He did not run from it, but taking all of our sin upon Himself, He sacrificed His life as payment in our place. He calls for us to “take…
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Who Speaks For God?
Good leaders are influenced by good people. That is a biblical truth that needs to be replicated in our world. Josiah was eight years old when he became king in Jerusalem. When he was 26 years old, he instituted a refurbishment of the temple and took necessary steps to put Judah on the right…
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The Courage to Face The Future
In the Bible’s list of good kings that honored the Lord, Hezekiah, King of Judah, stands out. There was revival in the land under Hezekiah. He made right, a number of wrongs that had been incorporated into daily life. Isaiah was a constant witness to Hezekiah. He had the ear of the King. In his…
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The Courage to be a Witness
The focus of this text is on a great man, Naaman, who had leprosy. There is another great man who is important in the story. Elisha was a mighty prophet of the Lord. But there is a little slave girl mentioned and we don’t even know her name. She, however, is a hidden hero and is a key part of…
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The Courage to Confess Your Faith
Do you know the story of Rahab? She hung a “scarlet cord” from her window on the wall of Jericho. Her past was not good. Someone called her “the shady lady from Jericho”, but her life was changed the day that she confessed faith in the God of Israel. Rahab became an example of how God can change...
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Courage in the Face of Death
Mankind’s first act of disobedience centered around a lie told by the serpent. “Thou shalt not surely die.” We read the Bible and understand that while we started out in a garden, we moved into a graveyard. We believe that Jesus will return to catch away believers, resurrect the dead and put an…
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The Courage to Face Your Giant
David faced his giant but you will too! Your giant may not be 9 feet 9 inches tall. It may not come at you with a spear and a roar. You may not see your giant coming at all, but suddenly there he stands. Giants can cause the strongest to be afraid. You may find your giant in a classroom or a...
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The Call To Courage
Few people and leaders have been forced to face change to the degree that Joshua and the children of Israel faced change. They had waited for forty years to get into the land that God had promised them, and now they stood on the edge. Moses had died and Joshua was their leader. They had wandered...
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Standing in the Need of Prayer
The apostle Paul asked the believers of Ephesus to pray for him. Ephesians 6:19. He had experienced all of the warfare mentioned in this larger passage he had written. And now he simply adds “And for me…” Every pastor needs the prayers of his people more than any other means of support. He needs...
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Each Piece Put On With Prayer
You may be familiar with the song “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus.” It was written in 1858 and, in particular, was a hymn reminding people to stand up for Jesus and against slavery. It was considered a spiritual battle that could only be won through prayer. We are involved in a battle for the cause...
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Take Up Your Sword
The prophet Amos foretold a time of famine in the land. It would not be a famine of bread or water “but of hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11 It is possible to have a powerful weapon at your disposal and never put it to good use. A sword was not designed to be left in a scabbard and the...
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The Sword of the Spirit, The Word of God
God has given us everything we need in our battle against the wicked one. We don’t win this kind of battle through using our intellect or reason. Politics can’t give us a victory that changes lives. But the word of God can. We need to read it, study it, apply it and take it up as our weapon. It…
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“The Helmet of Salvation”
As a teenager I was told, “Use your head for something other than a hat rack!” In other words, “Think!” We often have thinking problems. That is especially true when we are engaged in spiritual warfare. Our salvation protects out thought processes. I often find myself praying “Lord, help me think...
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Take Up Your Shield
The next defense against the attacks of the devil is a good shield composed of faith. The Apostle Paul said “Take up your shield!” Burning arrows can come anytime from unexpected sources. But a shield made out of faith, will overcome the attack of the wicked one. This podcast deals with the...
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“Tho’ Satan Should Buffet”
Horatio Spafford wrote one of the most peace filled songs ever written out of a very broken heart. “It is Well” was written by a broken hearted father who had lost his children in the North Atlantic when their ship sank. Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come Let this blest assurance...
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The Battle For Your Heart
There is battle that is raging for control of your heart. The enemy will attack you with lies because he is a liar. Discouragement and depression may afflict you. Without the covering of God’s breastplate of righteousness we hear the enemy say things like: “Do you really think God can forgive you...
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Start With Truth
When Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, he began by questioning God. “Yeah hath God said?” Either God didn’t say what you thought you heard or He really didn’t mean it. Go ahead Eve and just taste it. Our enemy, the devil, still works that way. Jesus said that Satan is a liar and the father...
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Arenas of Conflict
We sometimes feel overwhelmed by the struggles we see around us. It is impossible to avoid conflict because we see it everywhere we turn. This podcast deals with four very clear arenas of conflict. Understand that there is always a story behind the story. There are other battlefields but these…
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The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Jesus left us with a promise. “I will build my church.” Two thousand years later, the promise is still in effect. He led His disciples to the northern most part of Israel to get some rest and to teach a lesson. Surveying the paganism of Caesarea Philippi, He asked “Whom do men say that I the Son…
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Be Strong In The Lord
We all find ourselves in the middle of conflict of heart and soul that we cannot see. We sense it. We know it. If it were a physical battle, we would seek help. We would figure something out. But it is not primarily physical in nature. The Apostle Paul closed his letter to the church at Ephesus...
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Why Boast in the Cross?
The rugged old cross is our hope for all eternity. It is not the cross itself, that can save us from our sin. Our hope is in the one who died there. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. I hope you will give serious consideration to what happened there. That event and the Resurrection stands the...
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God Wants Your Mind
The Apostle Paul gives clear instructions for what we should put in our minds. “Think on these things.” Truth be told, we allow clutter to fill our brains very much like it fills our closets. God is calling us to a Repentant Mind Renewed Mind Readied Mind Restful Mind All of this fits together…
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No Confidence in the Flesh
The Apostle Paul used himself as an illustration of one who tried please God through religion. He had a list of accomplishments that he thought would be enough. One day he witnessed the stoning of Stephen and perhaps realized that Stephen possessed something that Paul couldn’t identify with....
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No One Can Cancel The Resurrection
Easter Sunday, 2020, was the strangest Easter we have known. The passing of time has given us some understanding of the Covid pandemic. There was much we didn’t know then, that we know now. One thing I do know. Jesus rose from the dead. He is alive! The reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
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He Came In Triumph
The view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives is beautiful. The shortest path between those two points is a steep and crooked little street. It passes through a cemetery. It wanders by a garden of Olive trees. It goes across a little stream called “Kidron” and then up a hill to the Eastern Gate....
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Focused On Others
Philippians 2 is one of the great “Christological” passages of scripture that teaches much about the humiliation and the exaltation of Jesus Christ. In reading this passage we rush to verses 5-11. Those verses were used as an example to us as to how we are to deal with others. Jesus came for us.…
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A Faithfully Focused Follower of Christ
God is calling us to live a life focused on Christ. Focus is difficult with all the distractions we face. Children struggle to focus. Adults struggle as well. This tendency toward ADD and ADHD impacts Christians too. Many churches have lost focus but are not short on activity. They add activities...
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Distracted By Blessings
The reminder to be thankful is an “all the time” message. We frequently forget to be thankful. We receive blessings from God and then move on to the next set of blessings. If we are not careful we fall into the “trap of entitlement”. The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon said this about being...
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The Distraction of Fear
Storms come to all of us and occasionally the weatherman gets it wrong. Calm seas are forecast and suddenly the wind gets up. You find yourself in a small boat in a big storm. We don’t always see the storm coming. Jesus put His disciples in a boat and He went up on a mountain to pray. I think He...
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The Distraction of Revenge
We’ve heard people say “I don’t get mad. I get even.” Often that statement is meant as a joke between friends or family who have teased or tricked us. Sometimes it is not a joke. We mean it. Someone may have lied to us or lied about us. We kick into our “get even” mode. Jesus spoke much about...
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The Distracted Father
We know of King David as the great King of Israel. We sing from the Psalms that he wrote. We remember his many mighty deeds. The Bible refers to him as “a man after God’s own heart.” But we also know David as a man who failed greatly. This podcast looks at the pathway and the penalty of David’s...
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He Had Great Possessions
We don’t know this man’s name but time and tradition has given him a name. He is referred to as “the rich young ruler” and his many possessions stood in the way of his following Christ. Three rich people in the Bible show up in the parables of Jesus. There is the rich young ruler distracted by…
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The Judge Whom God Would Judge
In many ways Samson doesn’t measure up as a man of God. He judged Israel for 20 years and did many heroic acts. But Samson was easily distracted, and in that way he is a warning of our need to stay focused. He started well but he was easily drawn away by women. He lacked patience and dedication....
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The High Price of a Simple Distraction
Allow me to introduce you to one soldier in Joshua’s army. His name was Achan and as far as we know he had always been a good soldier. But at Jericho, he stole some valuable pieces and buried them under the floor of His tent. This was strictly forbidden. No one knew. At the next battle, involving…
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Remember Lot’s Wife
The story of Lot, and his settling down in Sodom, is one that Jesus used to warn of a world that was coming, and judgement that was certain. Lot was a nephew of Abraham and was held in high regard. He chose a path that led to a compromised life. It led to prosperity and easy living but ultimately...
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Fatal Distractions
It happens to nearly everyone. Your eyes change and you can’t see the board. You can’t read the sign. You can see the forest but you can’t see the trees. You need glasses. A visit to the optometrist can usually correct your vision, but what if the world you live in is fuzzy and filled with...
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Three Kinds of People I Have Pastored
Have you ever wondered why some church people act the way they act? The church at Corinth was a troubled church. They divided and chose sides over the preachers they preferred. They turned a blind eye to the deep sin that had penetrated the congregation. They argued about spiritual gifts. They...
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The People Who Walked in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light
The coming of Christ into the world was a universe of light penetrating a valley of darkness and death. No darkness can overcome His light and no valley, of a shadow of death, can be in darkness. This podcast deals with three important texts about light. Isaiah prophesied that in a darkening…
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When Fear and Joy Come Together
I can only find two occasions in God’s word where the words “fear” and “joy” are found together in the same verse. They do appear in the same context but not necessarily in the same verse. At the announcement of Christ’s birth to a bunch of humble shepherds the angel of the Lord said “Fear not! I...
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The Savior We Need
The Bible contains many passages of Scripture that proclaim the Christmas story. From Genesis to Revelation we are met with our need for a Savior. We need a Savior and we cannot save ourselves. God must interrupt the constant flow of life and death and send someone to redeem mankind. That is what...
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Will I Please God or Man?
We are to live our lives under the authority of Jesus Christ. In Colossians 3:22-25, the Apostle Paul urges us to live “heartily” unto the Lord. He covers much territory. All people All situations All activities All actions. All of life’s situations are open before the Lord and we are to be…
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A Grateful Church
Eugene Peterson in “The Message” translated our text this way. "Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ- the Message- have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your...
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Living A Thankful Life
There is always the temptation to rush past Thanksgiving. Please don’t do that. This is one of the best times of the year. Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae is rich in theology and is constantly pointing toward Christ. On a practical level we are called to live a thankful life. We are…
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The Call to Resurrected Living
Our life changes when we come to Christ. Our desires change. While we still battle temptation, the Holy Spirit fills us with power to walk in victory. This all proceeds from the new life of Christ in us. It affects our morals, our language and the way we treat one another. Thoughts of Christ fill...
About this show
Tune in weekly for uplifting encouragement and a heartfelt look into the deep and enduring ways in which Jesus cares for you.
Hosted by
Monte Shinkle
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