The Word For The Valley Podcast (iOS)

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.

Sabbath rules… or Jesus?In Part 1 of this episode, we’re looking at a powerful truth: human need in the service of God is greater than legalistic rule-keeping. And even in Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders recognized that at times, devotion to God required setting aside strict traditions. But in Matthew 12, the tension comes to the surface. The Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Sabbath, yet the real issue isn’t about Sabbath rules at all—it’s about Jesus Himself. They refused to accept that He is God.

Why does God choose the weak and humble to reveal His truth?God’s plan seems to be to take the weak, the humble, and the overlooked—and exalt them according to His purposes. Yet many see Jesus and hear His teachings without recognizing who He is. In this episode, we explore what it means to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and why those who acknowledge their need for Him are able to receive the truth He offers.

If even miracles and truth can’t move us… what will?Jesus asked, “But to what shall I liken this generation?” Despite seeing miracles, hearing His words, and witnessing John the Baptist’s ministry, many remain unmoved. He compares them to children in the marketplace—unresponsive whether the message is joyful or mournful.In this episode, we explore the danger of a hardened heart and what it means when nothing seems to stir a person toward God.

Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of me.” In Greek, the word for “offended” carries the idea of being scandalized—shaken when something happens outside of our expectations. For John, the scandal was that Jesus wasn’t bringing swift judgment to Israel’s corrupt leaders or driving out the Romans. Instead, Jesus would ultimately submit to both at His death. God was working, but in ways John didn’t anticipate. In this episode, we explore what it means to keep trusting God when He works outside our expectations.

In Jesus’ day, most Jews were expecting a conquering Messiah—a king who would bring national peace to Israel and drive out their enemies. John the Baptist was among them, but with a twist: he wasn’t focused on Rome. His eyes were on Israel’s own religious leaders. He longed for God to judge, purify, and set His people right. And John wasn’t wrong—that day will come. But he misunderstood the timing. The Messiah had other business to take care of first.

In part 2, we dig into one of Jesus’ most unsettling statements: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What does that mean for us? We’ll explore how following Christ reshapes our thinking—and sometimes even divides our closest relationships. Let’s take a closer look at what true discipleship really costs.

When Jesus tells His disciples, “Do not fear them.” What does that really mean? In Part 1, we'll explore how the fear of people—something we all wrestle with—can become a trap,and why a right fear of God is the key to breaking free.

Jesus prepares His disciples for the reality of persecution—and it’s not just from the outside. It will come from religious leaders, political powers, and even their own families. In this episode, Pastor Mike walks us through how Jesus calls His followers to stand firm, trust the Holy Spirit, and not be afraid when opposition comes.

Jesus sends His followers out as sheep among wolves—vulnerable, defenseless, and dependent on their Shepherd. In this clip, Pastor Mike shares what it means to be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves, balancing godly wisdom with gentle innocence in a world full of challenges.

Jesus calls the twelve disciples and sends them out as apostles, giving them exousia power—kingly authority to carry out His ministry. In this episode, we explore how He commissions them with direct, military-like orders and why their mission was initially limited to the Jews. This pivotal moment reveals the strategy behind Jesus’ ministry and sets the stage for the gospel’s expansion to the world.

Why did Jesus initially limit the disciples' ministry to the Jews, and what does that mean for us today? In this clip, Pastor Mike unpacks how God's guidance often includes both "yeses" and "nos", and why learning to discern both is essential for following the Holy Spirit. If you’re only ever hearing one or the other, it might be time to ask: am I really listening?

When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t just see numbers—He saw individuals, weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. But the truth is, they had shepherds—just the wrong kind. Leaders who fed themselves instead of feeding the flock. Religious authorities who used people instead of serving them. In part 2 of this episode, we explore the heart of Jesus as He steps into a broken system, offering not condemnation, but compassion—and asking us to do the same.  So what does Jesus do?

In today’s episode, we’re diving into something striking about the healings of Jesus: there’s no formula. No pattern. No “Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.” Just people coming to Jesus… and Jesus doing something only He can do. The only common thread? He’s there. And maybe that’s the question we need to ask: Are we coming to Jesus to experience Him—or are we just clinging to a process we think will fix us?Let’s talk about what it means to truly seek the Person of Jesus.

In part 2 of this episode, we encounter a woman who had every reason to stay hidden—unclean, unwanted, and untouched for 12 long years. Cut off from worship, community, and likely even family, her condition had left her completely alone. And yet, something in her heart stirred. Not proof. Not an argument. Not logic. Faith. A deep, undeniable conviction that if she could just get close enough to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. We explore what kind of faith pushes a person from isolation into a pressing crowd, risking shame and rejection, all for one moment with the Savior.

In this episode, we step into one of the most powerful displays of Jesus' compassion and authority. As He responds to a desperate father and a suffering woman, we see Jesus stop for the broken, restore what seems lost, and bring life where there was only death. These two accounts remind us that no one is too far gone, too unclean, or too overlooked for the healing touch of Christ.

In part 2 of this episode, we’ll explore Jesus’ teaching about new wine and old wineskins. a powerful image that reminds us He didn’t come to patch up old religious systems, but to offer something entirely new. We’ll look at what that means for us today, and why following Him means letting go of the old and embracing a completely transformed life.

In this episode, Jesus adds a powerful new dimension to His ministry—the forgiveness of sins. This is the first time we see this concept in Matthew, and it’s a turning point that sparks serious conflict with the religious leaders. Why? Because they question both the need for forgiveness and Jesus’ authority to offer it.

In part 2 we’ll discover that even the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus. And the disciples were left marveling, "Who can this be?" Though they had followed Him, they didn’t fully know Him. Could the same be true of us? Sometimes, it's not in the comfort of the crowd, but in the chaos of the storm, that we come to truly know who Jesus is.