The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan
by Matthew Ruttan
Since a pulse doesn’t mean you’re alive, this podcast is about the vitality of firm faith, pursuing personal integrity, and consistently keeping the main thing the main thing in practical ways day-by-day. It includes feature topics, interviews, expository sermons and more.
Episodes
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Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse with C.R. Wiley
We MUST stay human. This episode is an interview with C.R. Wiley, author of "Manmade: St. Anthony's Guide to Surviving the A.I. Apocalypse." What is A.I. (really)? Where is it headed? What are the alarm bells? And who will you be in our radical future?
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For Everything There Is A Season (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15)
Have we lost the capacity to stand in awe of God? Have our eyes fallen below the horizon of majesty in the plot of trivialization? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores the most famous part of Ecclesiastes: "For everything there is a season..." Yes, the good, the bad and the...
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Your Throne Does Not Tremble—a prayer
To not believe in the power of prayer is to say, in essence, that God is a liar. Join in with this prayer to the all-mighty God whose throne does not tremble, even when the world yells and threatens and consumes.
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Habits are Coordinates
At first you make your habits, and then your habits make you. That's the thing we often neglect about our habits -- whether good or bad, they're leading us in a certain direction. This episode provides some explanation and practical help.
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What is hell like?
Jesus loves us too much to lie to us. This also applies when it comes to hell. This episode is from a sermon in 2019. It debunks some myths and lays out some details from Scripture. Let's base our faith not on what we want to be true, but on what actually is.
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What is heaven like?
It was once described as a place where everything sad will come untrue. This episode debunks some myths and presents several details about heaven from Scripture. It is from a sermon in 2019. If you're not hungry for heaven, you've been misinformed. Enjoy!
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#Blessed and Forgiven (Don’t Believe the Lies), Psalm 32
Our culture lies to us every day: "You're not enough! You can't keep up! There's something missing in your life!" The world can bark like a mad dog, but if you are in Christ, you have eternity. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), unpacks Psalm 32 and some reasons to be very, very glad.
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“Behold”—a prayer
We've become accustomed to rushing, not beholding. Are we better off for it? Join in with this prayer of beholding...
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Keep Fighting (Series Summary for 1-2 Peter)
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog." True, but there's something else that's needed if we are going to persevere over the long haul. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) is a summary of our series on 1-2 Peter. Keep fighting.
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The “Disclosure Day” movie—aliens, demons, nuns, Hollywood, and other wild stuff
"Disclosure Day" (by Steven Spielberg) has a lot happening, including conversations about the intersection of aliens, humans, faith, God, and maybe even demons. Here are some thoughts.
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The Future is Beautiful (2 Peter 3:1-13)
It's easy to get discouraged about what is happening in our world. However, there is good news. The future is beautiful. This isn't a word we usually associate with Jesus' second coming, but it can be. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), studies 2 Peter 3:1-13, the restoration of...
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Are younger Canadian Christians becoming more “evangelical”?
Are younger Christians becoming more "progressive" or "evangelical"? The new Lifeway-Ligonier study shares some surprising results. What is happening, and why?
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Bad theology hurts people (2 Peter 2)
J.I. Packer said: "Bad theology hurts people." This is a reminder we desperately need in an age of increasing subjectivity. "What's true to you isn't necessarily true for me." Sometimes, but not always. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) takes us through 2 Peter 2 and Peter's…
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A rebel prayer
We sometimes use the word 'rebel' to describe other people. 'What a rebel.' But it's also a word we could use to describe ourselves. Join in with this short prayer from a service on July 5, 2026.
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A biblical definition of humility
In the ancient world, humility wasn't really a good thing. But in the Bible, it's massive--and good. Here are some biblical examples and a definition for those seeking to be like Jesus on the narrow path.
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When it comes to virtue, roots before fruits (2 Peter 1)
We often fail. And we do so in a world that sometimes seems to be throwing in the towel. And yet, we are called forward in Christlikeness. In this sermon (also released as a podcast episode) we unpack 2 Peter 1 and what he says about the "ladder of faith." We also remind ourselves that we are...
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Worry, Humility, and an Antidote to the Devil (1 Peter 5)
Can the Devil use pride and focusing too exclusively on yourself to inflate worry in your life? Yes. He can, he does, he will. Worry loves to make you question the past, fear the future, and doubt God in the present, so that you are forever frantic and mentally somewhere else. However, by…
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Why do we say The Apostle’s Creed in Church?
It goes back to the early days of the church. Some say it, some don't. What is it, and why? This post and podcast explains. These statements are hills worth dying on. And many have.
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A Hope That Will Soar Unhindered—A Prayer
There is a great hunger for prayer. Tim Keller writes: "Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle--yet the way to reality." Join in with this prayer I led at a worship service. "Come, Holy Spirit..."
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Suffering Like A Saint (1 Peter 4)
What do we all have in common? Death, taxes, the need for air? Yes, yes and yes. But also suffering. We may not like it, but it's true. What does the apostle Peter have to say about suffering in a way that honours God? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores just that as we…
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Should Christians be worried about Bill C-9?
Has Canada "banned the Bible"? Not really. But what does Bill C9 actually say, what is it supposed to do, and is there a threat to religious freedom or expression in Canada?
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Being radical for Jesus
Jesus wasn't "meek and mild." He was radical. So too his followers, in more (and sometimes different) ways than you think.
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Lord of all, not Lord of some—a prayer
You are Lord of all (not just some). Join in with this prayer of both praise... and confession.
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How to avoid the polarizing effect of the internet
We live in a digital culture which can be very polarizing. This has to do with algorithms, echo chambers, profit margins (and more). This post and podcast episode includes one suggestion that should help.
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Honour everyone—emperors, slaves, masters, husbands, wives (1 Peter 2:13-3:7)
The fisherman-turned-apostle said we should honour everyone, including tyrannical emperors. Did that include blind obedience? Definitely not. He also talked about the relationship between slaves, masters, husbands and wives. What if instead of avoiding tough passages, we dealt with them head-on...
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What Jonathan Haidt just said about A.I. and the next generation
Haidt has earned the right to be heard. He cares about his kids, and yours too. His recent comments deserve more attention. This post (and podcast episode) briefly explores the threat of silicon valley doing another experiment on your kids, to their detriment. Will we live with eyes wide shut, or...
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Why loving people isn’t the same as liking them
How do you be at your best when some people put you at your worst? It helps to not be naive about what love means, and to know what Jesus meant by love.
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Holiness is heaven’s map on earth (1 Peter 1:13-2:12)
"Holiness" can make us think of unattainable moral perfection or a lack of joy. But this is a mis- (or partial) understanding. To be holy is to be set apart (distinct) for God's special purposes. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 Peter 1:13-2:12 and foregrounds 4 aspects…
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To the God who owns the future—a prayer
"The lies start by whispering and swell to yelling..." Join in with this short prayer to the God of hope who owns the future.
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From “Why Me?” to “How Me?”
When tough things happen we can ask, Why me? But there's another perspective too: How might God be refining me, and how might this help a future version of me? This sermon on 1 Peter 1:1-12 (also released as a podcast episode) looks at these questions, the apostle Peter, and the God who brings…
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Why I think we should say The Lord’s Prayer every day
It is one of Jesus' most famous teachings. It's influence is global and unparalleled. But why did he teach it, and how often did he expect his followers to say it?
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What is the point of life? (Daniel Series Summary)
What is the point of life? A lot of people want to know. As Mark Batterson writes: "It's time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death." True! This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) is a summary of my teaching series on the book of Daniel. We take the 10,000...
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An honest prayer to the Lord who is forever faithful
Join in with this brief but honest prayer to the Lord who is forever faithful, even when our own faith stumbles.
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And you shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days (Daniel 11:36-12:13)
Disappointment, uncertainty, chaos, pain… and hope? When you know the end of the story it can change your experience as you live through the middle of the story. It was true for Daniel, and it's true for us. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores Daniel 11:36 - 12:13 and his...
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Know God, Stand Firm, Take Action (Daniel 11:1-35)
Deception, fear, worry, threat of war. What's to be done? A faithful crew in the second century B.C. were (and are) great examples to follow. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 11:1-35. No matter the pain or instability, know God, stand firm, take action.
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The Fight’s Been Fixed
People are getting fed up with shallow faith. They are also living in a world of increasing pain and instability. What's to be done? God's people need to re-ground themselves in the victory of the risen Christ. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), explains Luke 24:1-49. Look around…
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Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do
If you take away the cross, you take away everything. As Jesus hung there, having been tortured, mocked and crucified, he uttered 7 phrases. In this sermon (also released as a podcast episode), we look at Christ's eternal word of forgiveness in Luke 23:34. What if Jesus was speaking a word from…
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There Is No Version of God’s Plan For Your Life Without This (Luke 19:28-48)
What is God's plan for my life, and how do I navigate through these problems I'm facing? The events of the first Palm Sunday provide more help than we realize. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Luke 19:28-48, and is an invitation to consider the true Kingship of Jesus in a...
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Answering Skeptics #3 – Christianity is a crutch
This episode and blog responds to this criticism of faith with a short, simple (and memorable) response. This is a part of the "answering skeptics" series.
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Welcome to the War (Daniel 10)
"Welcome to the war." That's how Timothy Warner greeting a group at Fuller Seminary. But we're not in a war. Oh, but you are. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explains Daniel 10 - an enigmatic passage which pulls back the curtain on the unseen realm, and also the battle between…
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3 Prayers Married Christian Men Should Say
These days men are caricatured as bumbling idiots, overgrown children, or evil oppressors. Hmm. Lets set the record straight. Here are 3 prayers for those who would rather live with honour.
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Not because of our track record, but yours—a prayer
I invite you to engage this prayer I led recently. With thanks to William Min for the music.
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God’s unbroken promises in a broken world (Daniel 9)
Daniel staked his life on the fact that God's promises come true. It made all the difference as he lived through horror. What about us? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 9. Are we living as if God’s promises will definitely come true, or as if they might potentially...
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What God is doing—not only around you, but in you (Daniel 8)
The vision was appalling. It knocked Daniel down. On top of everything else he had experienced, how would he manage to endure it all? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores Daniel 8 and also his interior life in the midst of chaos. These 4 points are instructive for us today.
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Answering Skeptics #2 – Hypocrites disprove the credibility of Christianity
In this episode and blog I use a simple illustration to respond to a criticism of Christianity - the presence of hypocrites. Beware, the road is narrow, and the ditch is wide.
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The World Is Going Into Labour (Daniel 7)
Jesus compared the period leading up to his return to labour pains. Are the contractions getting worse? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 7 and a vision about the end of days. It ends with four take-aways for today.
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Daniel, The Lion’s Den and True Bravery Today (Daniel 6)
It's one of the Bible's most famous stories. But this is an invitation to hear it again as if for the first time. It's not a fairytale; it's about a real person in real danger -- and has real applications for us today. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), explores Daniel 6. True...
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What Should Protestants Think About Lent?
Protestant Christians are sometimes confused (or suspicious) about Lent. Why? In this podcast episode and blog I offer some explanations and then some advice going forward for pilgrims of the Way.
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Being someone’s answered prayer when yours feel unanswered (Daniel 5)
What if you were someone's answered prayer even as your own felt unanswered -- perhaps even in a situation you asked God to change? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 5 and the infamous "writing on the wall." Daniel's ongoing steadfastness, even into his 80's is...
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Answering Skeptics #1 – “People of different religions all think theirs is best. One isn’t better than the other.”
I sometimes hear: "People of different religions all think theirs is best. One isn’t better than the other.” When you stop to think about it, the logic just doesn't make sense. Here's my response.
About this show
Since a pulse doesn’t mean you’re alive, this podcast is about the vitality of firm faith, pursuing personal integrity, and consistently keeping the main thing the main thing in practical ways day-by-day. It includes feature topics, interviews, expository sermons and more.
Hosted by
Matthew Ruttan
Categories