The Word For The Valley Podcast (iOS)

In Matthew 22, the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders continues to intensify.After Jesus exposes their rejection of God through a series of parables, the Pharisees change tactics. They send their disciples with the Herodians to trap Jesus with a politically charged question about paying taxes to Caesar.Their goal is not really to discover truth. They are trying to force Jesus into an answer that can be used against Him and turn the people away from Him.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins teaching through Matthew 22:15–33 and shows us how questions can be used, not to seek truth, but to manipulate and discredit.

In Matthew 22, the king’s invited guests refuse to come to the wedding feast.So the invitation goes outward.The servants are sent to the highways to invite people who would never have expected a place at the table. The feast has already been prepared, the cost has been covered, and the king desires people to come and honor his son.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 22:1–14 and shows us how the rejection of some becomes an opportunity for the invitation of God’s kingdom to reach others.

In Matthew 22, Jesus continues confronting a dangerous assumption: that proximity to the things of God guarantees a place in His kingdom.The religious leaders trusted in their heritage, their position, and their identity as God’s chosen people. But Jesus tells a parable about a king who prepares a wedding feast, only to have those originally invited refuse to come.So the invitation is extended beyond them to people on the highways, outsiders who never expected to receive it.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins teaching through Matthew 22:1–14 and shows us why entrance into God’s kingdom is not based on nationality, background, or religious privilege, but on our response to the invitation God has graciously given.

In Matthew 21, Jesus asks the religious leaders what the landowner should do to the wicked tenants who rejected his servants and killed his son. Their answer is immediate: those men deserve judgment, and the vineyard should be entrusted to others who will produce its fruit.But in giving that answer, they unknowingly pronounce the verdict on themselves.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 41–46, helping us understand the justice of God and the consequences of rejecting His Son

In Matthew 21, the response to Jesus begins to change.The crowds had welcomed Him with celebration, hoping He might overthrow Rome, restore their nation, and bring outward prosperity. But Jesus had come to accomplish something much deeper.Rather than confirming their expectations, He confronts the spiritual condition of those who claimed to follow God while failing to recognize the work of God directly in front of them.In this episode, Pastor Mike teaches through the parable of the wicked vinedressers, helping us understand the danger of wanting God’s blessings while rejecting Him personally.

You cannot receive help for the person you refuse to reveal.In Matthew 21, Jesus confronts religious leaders who are more committed to protecting their image than receiving the truth. Their mask may preserve their position, but it also keeps them distant from the One who could actually change them.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 21 and shows us why honesty before God is the beginning of real transformation.

In Matthew 21, Jesus is returning to Jerusalem after the triumphal entry. The crowds have praised Him, welcomed Him, and celebrated His arrival. But Jesus carries a much heavier understanding of what He sees in the city and in the temple.On His way back, He encounters a fig tree that looks healthy from a distance but bears no fruit. That image reflects the spiritual condition He is about to confront in the temple.In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us understand what the fig tree reveals about Israel and the kind of fruit God desires from His people.

What does a healthy relationship with God actually look like?For many of us, prayer can feel uncertain or distant. But when we look at Jesus, we see a God who is present, attentive, and deeply relational—One who listens and knows our hearts before the words are even spoken.And that is part of why the life of Jesus matters so deeply. We learn what a healthy relationship looks like by watching Him relate: how He draws near, how He listens, how He responds, and how He loves.In this episode, we’ll learn that Jesus did not come merely to be observed from a distance, but to bring us into a real and personal relationship with God.

In Matthew 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem as King—but not in the way the world might expect.His ministry is not built around celebrity, self-promotion, or personal advancement. It is marked by service, generosity, humility, and care for people.In this teaching, Pastor Mike begins walking through Matthew 21:1–17 and contrasts the ministry of Jesus with our tendency to equate size, recognition, and momentum with spiritual success. Jesus shows us that kingdom greatness is not found in building a name for ourselves, but in using our lives to bless and serve others.

What does greatness look like in the kingdom of God?In Matthew 20, James and John are seeking position, honor, and authority. They want to be great, but their request reveals that they still misunderstand the nature of Jesus’ kingdom. So Jesus gathers His disciples and teaches them that His kingdom does not operate like the kingdoms of this world. The world uses authority to climb over others, to rule over others, and to measure importance by position. But in the kingdom of God, greatness is not found in being over people. It is found in serving them.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through this section, helping us see how Jesus redefines authority, leadership, and greatness through the way of humble service.

Jesus lived on purpose. In Matthew 20, we see Jesus moving steadily toward Jerusalem, fully aware of what is waiting for Him there. He has already told His disciples what will happen—His suffering, death, and resurrection—and yet He continues forward in obedience to the will of the Father. That kind of purpose is very different from the aimless way many people live: moving from crisis to crisis, surviving the next moment, but never really knowing where they are going.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through this section, helping us see how Jesus’ purpose carried Him through every season, and how walking with Him teaches us faithfulness in both the highs and the lows.

What if the reward is not only what we receive at the end, but the privilege of being with the Lord along the way?In Matthew 20, the workers who labored all day complain because those hired at the eleventh hour received the same payment. They say, “You made them equal to us,” because they are focused only on the wage.But Jesus is exposing something deeper. Those who worked all day had more than payment. They had the security of being in the vineyard, the opportunity to labor, the care and instruction of the landowner, and the privilege of watching him work throughout the day.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 20, helping us see how comparison can blind us to the greater blessing of walking with God, serving Him, and being near Him before the reward ever comes.

After the rich young ruler walked away, Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?” And while Jesus does answer that question, He also begins to address something deeper underneath it.Because beneath Peter’s question is another question—one he may not have said out loud: “Doesn’t our sacrifice make us greater than him?”In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through Matthew 20, where Jesus tells a parable that confronts our assumptions about reward, fairness, comparison, and the grace of God’s kingdom.

Who then can be saved?That is the question the disciples ask after hearing Jesus speak about the difficulty of entering the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus’ answer is both sobering and hopeful: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The issue is not just that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. The deeper truth is that it is impossible for anyone to enter by their own strength, effort, goodness, or merit.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 19: helping us see that salvation is not something man can accomplish, but something only God can make possible.

What happens when someone sincerely wants eternal life, but misunderstands how it is received?In Matthew 19, a rich young ruler comes to Jesus with an important question: “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” His question reveals both sincerity and confusion. He believes eternal life is something he can gain by doing more, adding something good to the life he already has. But Jesus begins to show him that the issue is not what he needs to add—it is what he is unwilling to release.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through Matthew 19:16–30, helping us see the danger of trying to earn eternal life while still holding tightly to the things that may be keeping us from truly following Christ.

What are we really seeking when we come to Jesus?In Matthew 19, the children brought to Jesus receive more than a blessing. They receive time, attention, and love from the Savior Himself. In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us consider the difference between seeking God’s hand and seeking God’s face—and why the greatest gift Jesus gives is ultimately Himself.

In Matthew 19, we move from confrontation to invitation.While the religious leaders came to Jesus looking to test Him, now parents come bringing their children—hoping for blessing, prayer, and the touch of the Messiah. But surprisingly, the obstacle in this moment is not the crowd, the children, or even the parents. It’s the disciples. They rebuke those who are trying to come to Jesus.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through this section, helping us see how easily we can misunderstand the heart of God—and how important it is not to become a barrier to others coming to Christ.

The conversation about marriage and divorce continues—but now Jesus brings the issue deeper than legal permission and into the condition of the human heart.The Pharisees assume that because Moses allowed divorce, God must have commanded it. But Jesus makes an important distinction: permission is not the same as design. Divorce was never God’s ideal—it was a provision made because of the hardness of human hearts.In this episode, Pastor Mike continues through Matthew 19, helping us understand the difference between what God permits and what He originally intended.

In Matthew 19, the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question—but it isn’t an honest search for truth. It’s a test.They’re looking for a way to trap Him, asking a question they know will stir emotion and division: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”But instead of avoiding the tension, Jesus uses the moment to speak clearly about God’s design for marriage, the seriousness of divorce, and the condition of the human heart behind it all.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins walking us through Matthew 19, helping us see not just the question being asked, but the deeper truth Jesus is revealing.

How do we know if we’ve truly understood the love of God?It’s one thing to say we believe it—but the real indicator shows up in how we treat other people. In this section, Jesus tells a parable that exposes the connection between receiving God’s compassion and extending it to others. And In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us see how God’s love is not only something to believe, but something that must be lived out.

How do we handle conflict in a way that truly reflects the heart and will of God?In Matthew 18, Jesus speaks about authority that had previously been given in the context of teaching and doctrine. But here, he applies it in a different way. This time, the focus is on how we live it out—how we navigate relationships, conflict, and restoration within the body of Christ.In this episode, Pastor Mike begins working through this section, helping us understand not only what is true, but how to faithfully apply that truth in our relationships.

Jesus repeats a striking warning—if something causes you to sin, remove it. But unlike earlier in His teaching, the emphasis here is not just personal holiness. It’s about how our actions impact others, and the seriousness of leading someone else into sin.In this teaching, we explore what Jesus is calling us to, and why the way we live matters not only for ourselves, but for those around us.

What does greatness really look like in the kingdom of God?The disciples come to Jesus with a question that reveals how they were thinking—and in many ways, how we often think as well: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” But what follows is a redefinition of greatness that challenges a worldly perspective and calls us into something entirely different.In this episode, Pastor Mike walks us through this section, helping us see the true nature of God’s kingdom and what it requires of those who belong to it.

What does it really mean to have faith?When Jesus tells His disciples that nothing will be impossible for those who believe, it’s easy to misunderstand what He’s saying. Many people assume faith means believing strongly enough that something will happen — that if we just trust harder, pray harder, or believe more, the outcome will follow. But that’s not what Jesus is teaching. As we continue in Matthew 17, Jesus begins to show His disciples that the issue wasn’t the size of their faith — it was where their faith was placed.

In the Christian life, there are mountaintops — and there are valleys.In Matthew 17, the disciples have just witnessed the glory of Jesus revealed on the mountain. But now the scene shifts. Where the mountain revealed the glory of Jesus, the valley now exposes the weakness of the disciples. And in many ways, that’s the rhythm of the Christian life. Joy and sorrow are both part of the journey. But often it’s the valleys that help us understand the mountaintops. It’s in the difficult places that what God revealed in the high places begins to make sense.

As Jesus comes down from the mountain of Transfiguration, He begins preparing His disciples for what lies ahead. While there is glory in the kingdom of God, that glory must come in the right manner and at the right time. Walking with Jesus does not only mean suffering — but it also does not mean shortcuts to power either. The way of the Messiah is cross before crown… surrender before reward.

What if God has already prepared you for the hardest season of your life — and you just didn’t realize it?In this section Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain… and for a moment, His glory is unveiled. Moses and Elijah appear. The Father speaks from heaven. This powerful moment would stay with the disciples for the rest of their lives, strengthening them through persecution, suffering, and deep trials.In this episode, we’re reminded that God often speaks before the trial comes. The question is — are we listening when He does?

The Christ RedefinedIn this section, Jesus begins to reveal that His mission would include suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. The disciples finally know who Jesus is and then He tells them not to tell anyone. Why? Because they didn’t yet understand what the Messiah came to do. In this episode, we explore why Jesus kept His identity quiet for a time, what it really meant for Him to be the Messiah, and how God’s plan often confronts our expectations.

Who do you say that Jesus is?Jesus asks His disciples a question that is simple on the surface, but searching at its core: “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” It’s a question filled with vulnerability, the Creator asking His creation how they see Him. And as we’ll see, the answers reveal a common tendency: to give Jesus respect and honor, yet still underestimate who He truly is.In today’s episode, Pastor Mike walks us through this section and invites us to examine not just what others say about Jesus, but what we believe in our own hearts and what that belief means for how we live.

Jesus says something startling in this section: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.” Not because signs are always wrong—but because of what demanding them reveals about the heart. This passage presses us to ask whether we’re responding to what God has already revealed… or continually asking for more while refusing the greater truth right in front of us.

As Jesus continues His ministry, great crowds begin bringing their broken—those who are lame, blind, mute, and wounded in every way—and they lay them at His feet. And He heals them all.What makes this moment especially significant is where it’s happening. These crowds are primarily Gentiles—people long considered outside the reach of God’s promises. Yet Jesus shows no hesitation, no limitation, no distinction. His compassion, power, and grace extend fully to them as well.In this passage, we see a Savior whose mercy knows no boundaries, and a kingdom that reaches farther than anyone expected. As we walk through this scene, we’ll see what it means to truly come to Jesus—and what happens when people do.

In this moment of the account, the conversation between Jesus and this woman reaches its turning point. Instead of pushing back, taking offense, or trying to elevate herself, she does something remarkable—she agrees with Him. She accepts her place in the story, not with shame or resentment, but with humility and faith.“Yes, Lord,” she says. “I understand the order. I know who I am. And I also know that even the crumbs from Your table are enough.”

In today’s study we meet a Canaanite woman. A Gentile from the region of Tyre and Sidon who becomes one of the clearest pictures of what genuine faith looks like. In this episode, we’ll explore how Jesus engages this woman, why her persistence matters, and how her story reveals the way Jesus still invites anyone—regardless of background, tradition, or status—to come directly to Him in faith.

In this section, Jesus turns His attention to the Pharisees and scribes and calls them what they truly are: hypocrites—people more concerned with appearances than obedience. They talked about God. They honored God with their lips…but their hearts were miles away. Jesus cuts through all of it and brings the issue back to what matters most: Not how we look, not what others approve of, but the honest condition of our hearts before God and His Word. In today’s passage, we explore what happens when faith becomes performance—and how Jesus calls us back to something real.

Who are you—really? Not your name, not your job, not the place you’re from, and not the list of things that have happened to you. Scripture keeps pulling us back to this deeper reality: you are not the sum of your circumstances. Jesus teaches that beneath all the external noise—your experiences, failures, achievements, wounds, and successes—there’s something far more essential. The Bible calls it the heart. The “you inside of you.” In today’s episode, we’re going to look at why the heart matters so much. 

In one of the most memorable moments in the Gospels, Peter steps out of a boat and onto the water—not because he was fearless, but because he was willing. As Pastor Mike will point out, our fellowship with Jesus is always as close as we want it to be. The limitations aren’t on His end; they’re on oursIn this episode, we’ll look at the kind of desire and surrender that led Peter to say, “Lord, let me come to You,” and the simple, stunning response of Jesus: “Then come.”

After the feeding of the five thousand, something dangerous begins to happen—dangerous not because of persecution or lack, but because the crowd misreads Jesus. John’s Gospel tells us they were ready to take Him by force and make Him king. Not the King He truly is—but the king they wanted. And right in that moment, Jesus does something surprising. He immediately sends His disciples away in a boat—removing them from the pressure, the misunderstanding, and the momentum of a crowd that was heading in the wrong direction.

We ended Part 1 with the deeply painful and unjust death of John the Baptist. His disciples carried his body away, and the news of John’s death reached Jesus. And it’s at this moment—out of grief, loss, and the heaviness of injustice—that the next scene unfolds. Instead of turning inward or withdrawing completely, Jesus responds in a way that reveals His compassion, His heart, and His mission more clearly than ever.

In today’s passage, we step into one of the most unfair, unjust moments in the entire Bible. It’s the kind of  moment that exposes corruption, abuse of power, and the deep darkness of the human heart. And yet… in the middle of this tragedy, Matthew is setting the stage for something important: how Jesus responds to the world at its very worst.

As Jesus closes this section of parables, He reminds us that the truths of God never change—but they’re always fresh. The same gospel that transformed lives centuries ago still transforms hearts today.We don’t need new truths; we need the old truths made new in our lives—lived out, rediscovered, and applied in the moments we face right now.

Jesus tells two short but deeply revealing parables — the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price. Both describe someone who discovers something so valuable, they joyfully give up everything to gain it.Are they about us seeking God — or God seeking us? Who is the one selling all to obtain the treasure?

Jesus reminds us that while God is not okay with hypocrisy, He allows it for a time. The field isn’t perfect, but it’s still His. God’s patience is His mercy—giving every person time to turn before the harvest comes. But the delay in judgment doesn’t mean it’s forgotten. And the longer hypocrisy grows, the greater its reckoning will be.

As we continue through the "Parable of the Sower", Jesus reveals a third factor at work. There’s an enemy—who actively sows deception, distraction, and division among the good seed.In this episode, we’ll also uncover how the wheat and the tares grow together, what that means for our spiritual lives, and why discernment matters more than ever.

What makes for good soil? In the Parable of the Sower, good soil is more than just fertile ground—it’s a heart prepared to receive God’s Word. In this episode, we’ll learn how to cultivate that kind of heart—one that welcomes truth, grows deep roots, and bears abundant fruit.

Jesus is shifting His approach. This time, He steps into a boat while the crowd gathers on the shore and begins teaching in parables. A simple story—a sower scattering seed—carries a profound message. In this episode, we explore why Jesus chose parables and what the parable of the sower reveals.

Jesus teaches about the condition of the heart and the danger of incomplete change. He says that when an unclean spirit leaves, it seeks a resting place—but if the heart isn’t fully transformed, the work isn’t finished. Meaning, feform alone isn’t enough; true change requires a new heart, a life renewed from the inside out.

“Jesus said, ‘A tree is known by its fruit.’ In this moment, He’s confronting religious leaders who accused Him of being in league with the devil. But His question back cuts straight to the heart: ‘What fruit of My life points to evil?’ Every work He’s done up to this point has been good—healing, restoring, and freeing. In this episode, we’ll uncover how the condition of our hearts determines what grows—and how only a good tree can produce good fruit.”

Miracle or Deception? In part 2 of this episode, Jesus performs a remarkable healing on a man who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute. The crowds are amazed and wonder if He might be the Messiah—but the Pharisees have a very different response.

Adversity has a way of revealing who we really are. Most of us would like to think we are defined by our best days—but often it’s in the hard days that our true character shows. In Matthew 12, Jesus faces opposition and hostility, yet instead of shrinking back or compromising, He proves Himself to be the Son of God not only in His words but also in His actions. What sets Him apart is that adversity doesn’t diminish His character—it magnifies it. In this Episode, we’re going to look at how the challenges Jesus faced actually revealed the heart of God more clearly, and what that means for us as His followers.

Are you following rules—or following Jesus?In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the tension between legalistic rule-keeping and true devotion to God. Jesus reminds us that God desires mercy, not just sacrifice or obligation. He tells the Pharisees, “If you had understood this, you would not have condemned the guiltless,” referring to His disciples. And then, He makes a bold declaration: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Here, Jesus is asserting His divine authority—showing that He Himself is God, and the true fulfillment of the Sabbath.