The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan

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 with the goal of glorifying God no matter the situation we're in...

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 open?

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.

"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 of holiness that stand in contrast to our culture today.

"The lies start by whispering and swell to yelling..." Join in with this short prayer to the God of hope who owns the future.

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 good out of bad.

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?

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 foot view and discover the point of Daniel's life -- and also the point to our own as well.

Join in with this brief but honest prayer to the Lord who is forever faithful, even when our own faith stumbles.

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 final vision about the end of days.

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.

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 at the world. Fear not. The battles may rage, but the fight's been fixed.

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 the cross to you today?

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 new way.

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.

"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 good and evil.

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.

I invite you to engage this prayer I led recently. With thanks to William Min for the music.

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 come true?

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.

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.

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.

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 bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions, both actual and metaphorical. It was true then, and it's true now.

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.

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 instructive for all of us today.

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.

The king was proud. His words dripped with arrogance. So God humbled him. In the end, he learned a great truth: "those who walk in pride he is able to humble." This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 4 and focuses on a trait that lies at the heart of a better future - not just in general and for world leaders, but for each of us.

Daniel’s friends refused to compromise. As a result, the tyrant threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. But they would rather die faithfully than live falsely. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 3. It is an invitation to have an "even if" kind of faith today.

If you find January difficult, you're not alone...

After seeing and enduring horrible things, Daniel started to experience a meteoric rise in influence and authority. But it wasn't without serious danger. And darkness. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explains Daniel 2. What do we do, and to whom do we belong, when faced with difficulty or danger?

Join in with this prayer to the sovereign Lord who is above, beside and within, and whose smile brings heaven close. It is taken from the worship service at Westminster Church on January 11, 2026.

Abject calamity. As a youth he was taken, had his named changed, saw his city pillaged, was (probably) castrated, and trained to serve the King who had taken so much from him. What would you do in that situation? This sermon on Daniel 1 is Part 1 in a series on the book of Daniel.

Is "the true meaning of Christmas" up for debate? This short blog (and podcast episode) shares some thoughts.

It's the most famous story ever told. But what do all the details mean? What was Nazareth like? What is a Messiah, anyway? How long was the journey? And what does it all mean? This episode is a replay of a popular episode from a few years back. Enjoy this serious historical deep dive into the nativity story from Luke 2. "Long-looked for is come at last."

Jesus is coming back. This is called the "second advent" or "second coming." There is no shortage of speculation; but what does Jesus himself tell us about what we should be doing while we wait? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explains his instruction in Matthew 25:1-13. What should we be doing when the King arrives at our front door?

You sometimes hear it said that Jesus was "born to die that we might live." An important prophecy told us how over 700 years before Christ was born. God's providential hand was working powerfully, both then and now. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Isaiah 53 and God's loving plan in the incarnation for his people.

This ancient (yet often neglected) way to pray may be just what you need to grow, get unstuck, or simply go deeper with God in prayer. This is released as both a podcast episode and written blog.

Neutrality. We tend to like that. It's, well, non-controversial. But you can't follow Jesus if you're sitting on the fence. His is a radical grace and a radical truth. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) is a summary of my teaching series on 1-3 John called "For the love of God."

Isn't prayer simply talking to God? Yes, but the Bible also provides us with guidelines for prayer that is decidedly effective. This episode provides 8 (actually 9) of them. As Martin Luther King Jr said: "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing."

The word ‘encouragement’ has ‘courage’ in it. It comes from an old French word ‘corage,’ meaning heart. Encouragement is about enlarging or fortifying someone’s heart—who they are within—so that they can face the battles of life. Not only is this something we need to receive, but it’s something we need to give for the living […]

God tells us to pray. We know it's important. But are our prayers effective? Are we missing something? Maybe. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 5:14 and leaves us with several biblical guidelines for effective prayer. Alignment matters.

God's commands can feel difficult -- like something we have to do, not something we want to do. But when we better understand the reasons behind them, it can shift our perspective (and relationship). This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 5:1-12.

Distracted driving is a public safety concern. But distracted living is a much bigger threat. The apostle John has some critical words to keep us focused. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores 1 John 4:7-21. It also discusses judgment day, how "perfect loves casts out fear," and how love has a "rival" in our lives.

Have you seen those pictures where there's an angel over someone's shoulder and a demon over the other? Is that accurate, mythology, or something else? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 4:1-6, what the apostle means by "testing the spirits," and shares six helps by Jonathan Edwards.

Christie Thomas is the author of "Little Habits, Big Faith." She's also a family discipleship coach and mom. She believes that every Christian parent, including those who feel unsure at first, can nurture deep faith in their kids through little habits that add up over time. This episode is a conversation with Christie that is down-to-earth, fun, and informative.

"Christian" is a noun, yes. Early followers of Jesus were called "disciples" or people of "the Way." Have we lost something of the action-oriented dimension of our faith? In this sermon on 1 John 3:11-24 (also released as a podcast episode) I explain the text, and also John's instruction to love one another, even in the face of pain, problems, and even death.

Self-indulgence is in, self-denial is out. But God gave us fasting for our own good. Athletes go to the gym. Saints fast. This episode is an audio version of an article I wrote for LivingInTruth.ca. Originally geared toward leaders, it's helpful for anyone who wants to know more and build spiritual muscle.

The apostle says we should "purify" ourselves. It will prepare us to meet Jesus, make our lives more pleasing to God, and improve our quality of life. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores 1 John 2:28-3:10, leverages a simple-but-helpful Canadian illustration, and offers practical help.

We're in a new era, that's for sure. Did you know you're supposed to pray for your pastor? Here are 13 ideas to help.

Our culture seems to be of two minds. On one hand it celebrates being different and unique. “You do you!” On the other hand, we want desperately to fit in, to be affirmed, and to be like everybody else. This tension is felt by Christians too. But we need to wrestle with something: Why do […]