Podcast – Appleton Gospel Church: Recent Episodes
Appleton Gospel Church - David Parks
The images of Christ, called Faithful and True, on the white horse and white throne, are images of judgment. The beast, false prophet, and the devil himself will all be defeated, judged, and condemned along with the people who followed their evil ways. There are different views as to when and in what order this will happen, but when Christ returns, evil will finally be defeated, and justice will be done. Read More...
The return of Christ—envisioned by John as the wedding supper of the Lamb—will mark the start of the perfect, loving union of Christ and his bride, the church, going on forever. Idolatry is the battle for your heart. And the steady pull on our hearts toward misdirected worship is a real temptation in our current age. But the Wedding Supper of the Lamb will finally bring an end to the battle for your heart. Hallelujah! Read More...
What looks good to you is not necessarily good for you. This is the trap of Babylon. When John envisioned the fall of Babylon, the great 'city of man' (personified as a prostitute), he saw the eventual end of earthly kingdoms built on the seductive promise of political power and economic prosperity apart from God. Read More...
John's vision of the seven bowls represents the Great Tribulation at the end of our age. This time of distress comes to a head with the battle of Armageddon. The warning is severe, but God's judgments are both true and just. Blessed is the one who stays awake, beginning with the end in mind, for they will see the new Promised Land. Read More...
When you anticipate something in the future, it can have a huge impact on your present. John's vision of the eternal future, including both salvation and judgment, has very real implications for today. Live your life today in the truth that eternity is real. Read More...
The Great Red Dragon leverages his destructive power during our current age through the twin beasts of earthly power and false worship. This part of John's vision reveals the truth that the world is not neutral—spiritual forces compete for our worship and our allegiance. Read More...
What’s the source of the conflict in the world today? John's vision of the woman and the great red dragon reveals a spiritual adversary (Satan) who is like an angry, cornered snake. The devil is defeated but still dangerous—at least for a time. However, in the dark wilderness of our current age, we're completely safe in Christ. Read More...
While we wait for Christ's return, what should the church be doing in the meantime? Hiding? Fighting? Building a bunker?? John's vision of the seven trumpets reveals the need for the church to be a faithful witness to a world that is lost without Christ. The church must carry on her prophetic work of sharing the gospel and making disciples of all nations. Read more...
Why is the world how it is today? If Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth, then why is his world still such a mess? It can't be that he is uncaring or unaware. So why does God delay his judgment? To save a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. Read more...
What happens when you fail to see or believe the truth? Your life will always, to some degree, be out of alignment with reality. And this leads to all sorts of problems! When the Apostle John had a vision of heaven's throne room, he realized that the fundamental truth of reality is this: God deserves all our worship as both Creator and Savior. Read more...
What if Jesus wrote our church a letter? Revelation 3 records the last three messages from Jesus to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Jesus provided encouragement and warnings, but assured them that if they opened the door to him, it would be the defining moment of their lives. Read more...
What if Jesus wrote our church a letter? Revelation 2 records the first four messages from Jesus to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Jesus provided encouragement, especially regarding persecution, but also warned against the dangers of complacency and compromise. Read more...
Why is the world the way that it is? And where is all this headed? While in exile, the Apostle John received a prophetic vision revealing both a cosmic spiritual battle and the truth about how the story ends. The book of Revelation can be difficult to understand, but it's worth it! Watch for an introduction to the whole book. Read more...
Jonah's story ends with the wayward prophet hurling angry accusations against God. God responds with a patient explanation and appeal, revealing the stunning heart of God and the beautiful truth that our God is sovereign to save. Read more...
When he finally arrived in Nineveh, the people (led by the king) responded unexpectedly with humble repentance to Jonah's message. In fact, the pagan Assyrian king is one of the best examples of repentance in the Bible! But this was God's plan all along. Why? The Lord doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Read more...
The Temple in Jerusalem was the signature building project of King Solomon's reign. But almost hidden in the middle of a passage full of details about the building's design is a reminder of a Bible-long theme that is such good news: The great big beating heart behind everything God does is his steadfast desire to dwell with his people. Read more...
Solomon prepared to build the temple by negotiating with the pagan King Hiram of Tyre for timber, skilled workers, and other materials. What did God think about this? This text reveals a (perhaps surprising) pattern of God using Jews and Gentiles to build his house; a pattern that continues today in Christ. Read more...
Ancient Israel experienced something of a golden age under King Solomon's rule. The people enjoyed abundant peace and prosperity as Solomon expanded his administration, wealth, and influence. Life was good. How should Christians think and respond...to the good times?? Read more...
The Song of Songs is King Solomon's poetic celebration of the romantic love and attraction that God intended for a healthy marriage. But how do love, marriage, and sexuality work in a broken world? Solomon's love song reminds us how marriage ought to be, but also points to the perfect love of God for his people. Read more...
Who should you date? What career should you pursue? Where should you live? When should you have kids? There are so many big decisions in life. How do we make all these decisions in a way that honors God and is good for us, even if we don’t have specific direction from him? Wisdom. We need wisdom. In his lifetime, King Solomon wrote thousands of proverbs to help children (and adults!) grow in wisdom. Read more...
At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to King Solomon and asked him what he wanted. (What would YOU ask for?) Solomon asked for wisdom to administer justice for God's people. God was so pleased with this that he graciously gave Solomon far more than he could ask or imagine. The grace of God is seen throughout the Bible because this is who God is. Read more...
After his father David's death, Solomon moved to establish his kingdom. Adonijah, Solomon's brother; Abiathar the priest; Joab the military commander; and Shimei all needed justice brought to bear on their actions. Would Solomon do what was easy or what was right? Would he overreact or judge justly? The King of God's kingdom reflects God's character. Read more...
Before his death, King David gave his son, Solomon, one last charge. What did he say in those final moments? David said to be strong and act like a man by being Biblically faithful. But would Solomon learn to be a righteous king? Can anyone be truly righteous? A right belief in God’s word leads to a right understanding of how to live in God’s world. Read more...
In response to Adonijah's attempted coup, King David acted quickly to ensure that Solomon was his successor. When David's plan worked, he responded in worship for God's faithfulness to keep his word. When faith is a battle and it's hard to believe, even when it seems as if the whole world is against you, don't forget this one simple truth: God never breaks his promises. Read more...
Before Solomon could take the throne, a new rival emerged—his own brother. Adonijah was the oldest living son of King David, so he would've been the normal choice. However, both the Lord and King David had chosen Solomon. Driven by pride, Adonijah ignored both God and his father. Would Solomon learn to be humble? Humility requires faith that God is God and you are not. Read more...
Roughly 3,000 years ago, King David was the most powerful and successful king of ancient Israel. David’s reign brought peace, prosperity, and plans to build the temple before handing the kingdom to his chosen son, Solomon. How would young Solomon handle living in the shadow of his great father’s legacy? Would he learn to be a wise and godly king? Could he overcome the plotting of his enemies, the dysfunction of his family, and the temptations of virtually unlimited wealth, fame, and women? What would be his legacy? Read more...
What exactly does spiritual growth look like? And what kinds of things help people grow in their faith? We love it when people become Christians, but this is only the beginning! The whole rest of the Christian life is about growing as a disciple of Jesus. The call to discipleship is a call to be with Jesus, learn the way of Jesus, and be transformed by Jesus. Read more...
The Great Commission of Jesus, given to his disciples after Jesus rose from the dead, means that every Christian has a mission. To do what exactly? To help people come to faith and grow in their faith! The story of Philip and the Ethiopian official is a great case study for how to help people come to faith in Jesus. Read more...
The unlikely victory of the Jews in Persia, brought about by the wisdom, humility, and courage of Esther and Mordecai, was commemorated by the Festival of Purim. However, the entire book of Esther raises a crucial question: Where is God in this story? Read more...
Will God allow evil and injustice to prevail? Will God allow his enemies to win and his people to lose? The dramatic reversal of the downfall of Haman and the rise of Mordecai prevented the annihilation of the Jews in Persia. But this victory points to the truth that ultimately, God will not allow evil and injustice to prevail because of the person and work of Jesus. Read more...
Queen Esther displayed great wisdom and courage in facing King Xerxes to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people. And in a dramatic reversal, her plan works! Haman falls into his own trap prepared for Mordecai and gets the justice he deserved. In Esther's story, and elsewhere in the Bible, God uses faithful people to accomplish his justice and rescue his people. Read more...
In response to Haman's evil plot, Esther demonstrated remarkable wisdom and courage in making her appeal to King Xerxes. Then, seemingly coincidentally, the king remembered that Mordecai had saved his life and decided to honor him, much to the embarrassment of Haman! Was this God's hidden hand at work? One thing is sure: God's providence is never late. Read more...
What do you do when your circumstances are messed up and you don't have enough control to fix it yourself? The big question is this: Are you ready to do the right thing, whatever the cost? While Mordecai lamented the king's edict, Esther demonstrated real courage by being willing to sacrifice herself to try to save her people. But would it be enough? Read more...
Bad leaders corrupt organizations. How? One way is by promoting all the wrong people. In Esther, this is when the plot thickens. When King Xerxes made Haman his second in command, Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman's wounded pride led to a plot to kill and plunder all the Jewish people of Persia. Would they survive this existential threat? Read more...
What do you do when you aren't sure what would be right in a complicated situation, conversation, or decision? Chapter 2 is full of morally ambiguous situations for Esther and Mordecai — not a lot of black and white, but lots of gray. However, the history-making result was that Esther was crowned queen of Persia. God’s people need wisdom and courage to navigate the complexities of life in exile. Read more...
2,500 years ago, in the Kingdom of Persia, King Xerxes hosted an extravagant party as a lavish display of his power and wealth, but instead revealed his foolish pride and insecurity. He demanded that his wife, Queen Vashti, entertain his guests, but she refused and was deposed. This sets the stage for Esther to become the queen, but also points to the need for a better King. Read more...
Of course, we must be faithful as individual Christians. But what does a faithful church look like? A faithful church will pay close attention to how we treat one another, the attitudes we share, and the kind of people we’re becoming together in Christ. Isn’t this the kind of church you’d want to be part of? Read more...
Moses Flees to Midian (Exodus): Chapter 2 tells the story of Moses’ birth and adoption into the Egyptian royal family, which seems to set him up to be the great deliverer of the Hebrew people. However, after his disastrous first attempt at helping his people, he was forced to flee to the land of Midian. […]
Slaves in Egypt (Exodus): This is the beginning of our series on the book of Exodus, called Journey to Freedom. Exodus is a story of liberation — of God working to rescue and redeem a people for himself, freeing them from slavery and leading them to the land he promised to the family of Abraham […]
Making Room in the Church: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Because of his heart for people, Jesus was willing to be interrupted by Bartimaeus, Zacchaeus, and so many others. They believed in him, and he offered healing and forgiveness and changed their life into a testimony to the goodness of God. Jesus […]
Making Room for People: We were made to enjoy deep, healthy, long-term relationships. But this world is broken, and relationships can be just as much a source of pain as anything. What can we do? We should take a risk and make room for more people in our hearts, homes, and lives. Why? The unexpected […]
Making Room for God: What if Jesus wrote a letter to our church? In his letter to the church in the wealthy city of Laodicea, Jesus strongly warned about being lukewarm in their faith. These Christians were no different than the world around them. But this rebuke was coming from a place of love. “Here […]
Ruth and Her Guardian-Redeemer (Ruth): In the stunning conclusion, Boaz legally becomes the guardian-redeemer, Boaz and Ruth get married, and a new baby provides redemption for Naomi. But the Lord was doing much more than providing a “happily ever after.” As the ultimate Guardian-Redeemer, God was doing immeasurably more than anything they asked or imagined! […]
Ruth at the Threshing Floor (Ruth): Character matters. In this broken world, will you find yourself in a compromising situation from time to time? Absolutely. What will you do? Will you compromise yourself and follow the ways of the world? Or will you trust in the Lord and honor him with your life and the […]
Ruth in the Fields of Boaz (Ruth): The Bible, from cover to cover, is a redemption story. Sometimes, the people of the Bible reflect the redemptive love that God ultimately gives through Jesus. How Boaz treated Ruth, a poor Moabite widow working in his fields, is a wonderful picture of the steadfast loving-kindness (hesed) of […]
Ruth and Naomi (Ruth): When dealing with the tragedies of this broken world, it’s hard not to let those bitter experiences define you. Due to a famine in Judah, Naomi’s family moved to the foreign country of Moab. However, when Naomi’s husband and both her sons died there, she decided to return home to Bethlehem. […]
The Armor of God (Ephesians): Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. How can we stand firm and fight our spiritual battles? By putting on the full armor of […]
A New Relationship to Power (Ephesians): Slavery in Ephesus in the first century AD was different than most people think of when they think of slavery today. Still, the imbalance of power meant the slave/master relationship was often the context for exploitation and abuse. This is the default way of this broken world. But how […]
A New Kind of Home (Ephesians): Kids are great! But parenting is hard. What happens when you apply the gospel to the relationship between parents and children? How can parents shepherd their kids? How can adult children honor their parents when carrying wounds from their upbringing? There are many lessons here for everyone. Recorded on […]
A New Kind of Marriage (Ephesians): Do you want a better marriage? Or do you want to be better prepared for marriage in the future? There is power and wisdom in God’s word for two to become one. Is this easy? No! But it can be beautiful as two people grow together in unity, love, […]
Following a New Way: How can we learn to navigate the rough terrain of life? Not by following the ways of this world. Becoming a Christian puts you on a new path — the way of Jesus — where we learn to walk in the way of love, goodness, righteousness, truth, and wisdom. This is […]
To Be Made New: What does it mean to “put off your old self” and “put on the new self?” This hopeful calling is about experiencing the whole-life transformation God envisions for you. No longer having to follow our emotions and desires alone, anyone can learn this new way of life according to the truth […]
So That The Body Of Christ May Be Built Up: Did you know you’re needed for the ministry of the church? Even if you aren’t on staff or are a leader? You are! The whole church, equipped by leaders through the ministry of the word, is called to do the works of ministry. By speaking […]
Keeping the Unity: Unity in the church (or any close relationship) doesn’t just happen. It takes work…and lots of it! In the church, our union with Christ means we ought to have unity with each other. But staying united takes loads of humility, gentleness, and patience. This is not easy; is it worth it? Absolutely. […]
The Presence of Christ: What would be the best thing for you? How about for the people you love? To have the spiritual power that comes from a growing knowledge and experience of the love of Christ. To be rooted and established in his love. And that his presence would be real to you in […]
The Wisdom of God: If God is all-powerful and perfectly wise, how could he allow suffering to exist? People have always wrestled with this question, many Christians as well. According to the manifold wisdom of God and through the suffering of Christ, we can approach God with freedom and confidence in our time of need. […]
A New Temple: Separation from God and from other people can be hopelessly painful. But the gospel destroys all barriers and puts to death all hostility. Why? Because God is building a new temple, made up of all kinds of people, whose lives are built on Christ and aligned with his word. Recorded on May […]
Saved By Grace: What does it actually mean to be “saved” in a Christian sense? The Biblical picture of life in this broken world is bleak — that apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead. Is there any hope? Yes! The gospel says that because of God’s love and mercy, salvation is offered as a […]
Incomparably Great Power: Do you want to grow in your faith, no matter what your circumstances are? You need to understand what you’ve been given in Christ. Paul prays the Ephesians would know the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the incomparably great power they have been given in Christ. Recorded […]
The Gospel for the Ephesians: Why should we worship? Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians with a doxology, or a call to worship, in response to the cosmic scope of God’s plan in Christ. When we see the loving work of the Father, Son, and Spirit, from eternity to eternity, saving and transforming adopted […]
Jesus and Peter: John ends his gospel with a beautiful story of restoration. In the shadow of the cross, Peter had utterly failed Jesus — when Jesus most needed a friend. How would Jesus respond to him? With shame? Or punishment? Instead, Jesus restored Peter in friendship and his calling as an apostle and shepherd […]
The Miraculous Catch (A Bonus Sign of Harvest): Have you ever wondered why you are here? Have you ever wondered what meaning or purpose there might be for your life? In the story of the miraculous catch, Jesus revealed that we are invited to join his work in the world — and there will be […]
How to Struggle with Doubt: Have you wondered, does God really exist? Can we really trust what the Bible says? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Every believer, at certain times in life, will struggle with doubts. But Jesus didn’t punish or shame his followers for their questions or doubts. The story of Jesus […]
Called By Name (Easter 2024): There’s something so powerful about being called by name. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the first eyewitness was his friend, Mary Magdalene. But Mary didn’t recognize Jesus until he called her name. “Mary.” When God calls us by name, his calling changes everything. Recorded on March 31, 2024, […]
The Cross (Good Friday 2024): Ironically, during Jesus’ trial and suffering, he was questioned, mocked, and abused for being the King. In his humiliating death on the cross, Jesus proved to be the perfect Passover sacrifice. Why did Jesus endure all this? It was all for you. Recorded on March 29, 2024, on John 18:28 […]
The Beginning of the End: What should we do when life isn’t fair? For the Christian, it helps to see that in his arrest, trial, and condemnation — and, of course, in his death on the cross — Jesus didn’t get what he deserved. He got what we deserved. None of this was fair. But […]
Prayer: Communion with God: On the night before the cross, who did Jesus pray for? Jesus prayed for his disciples and those who would believe in him through their message. In other words, if you are a Christian, Jesus prayed for you! What did he pray for? Jesus prayed that we would experience true joy […]
Joy in a World of Trouble: “In this world you will have trouble,” said Jesus. How will any of us survive the troubles of this world? Jesus taught about endurance, but at the end of the Last Supper, he called his disciples to go far higher than mere survival. There will be times of grief, […]
The Spirit of Truth: The way of Jesus is the best way to live. But the uncomfortable truth is that life doesn’t automatically get easier when you become a Christian. How can this be? And how might we endure when mild difficulties become outright (or even violent) persecution? We need the Spirit of truth. Recorded […]
Jesus, the Vine: Jesus told his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” This was the perfect analogy for the Christian life. Staying connected to Jesus means staying connected to the very life and love of God. This life consists of joyful obedience, fruitful work, and friendship with Jesus. What could be better […]
The Gift of the Spirit: On the night before the cross, Jesus knew he was leaving his disciples, but he promised not to leave them alone. He would send another advocate or counselor, the Spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit would come alongside the disciples and call them forward in the way of Jesus. Even […]
The Only Way: Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But how can Jesus be the only way? Many people wrestle with the exclusivity of Christianity. This claim rests on the totally unique identity and work of Jesus — there is […]
The Love of Christ: On the night before the cross, Jesus gave his disciples a new command that would change everything: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Despite all the things that threaten to divide us, the cross-shaped, costly love of Jesus was to be the defining […]
Jesus, the Servant: The night before the cross, when he washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus modeled the type of humble service he called his followers to do. As the Son of God, Jesus was the greatest — but he wasn’t afraid to become the least to meet our greatest spiritual need. Ever since, […]
The Difficulty of Faith: At the end of his public ministry, people were still divided over who Jesus was. Some believed in him, while others did not. Even some of the people who saw Jesus do things that only God could do struggled to believe. How could this be? Because faith is a battle. But […]
Healing at Bethesda – A Sign of Restoration: Is Jesus able to restore what we have lost? Back in Jerusalem, Jesus encounters a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. Jesus responds by healing him, restoring his mobility, and so much more. This is the third of seven miraculous signs in John’s gospel, a […]
Healing the Official’s Son – A Sign of Healing: When returning to Galilee, Jesus encounters a father experiencing a parent’s worst nightmare: a young son so sick he was near death. When Jesus comments about signs and wonders of faith, the man responds in faith and heads home to find his son miraculously healed. Go […]
Jesus and the Woman at the Well: While traveling through Samaria, Jesus gently starts a conversation with a very unlikely person: a Samaritan woman with a string of failed marriages who was living with yet another man. Jesus offers her grace and truth. She responds by telling everyone in her town about Jesus, and many […]
Jesus and Nicodemus: In a private conversation with a powerful religious leader named Nicodemus, Jesus reveals the heart of the gospel and God’s great love for a world in need of a savior. If you want to know what makes Christianity different than every other religion, this is it. But if Nicodemus needed to be […]
Jesus the Bridegroom: John the Baptist clearly understood his role in God’s plan- he was there to prepare the way for Jesus. While he could have used his popularity to struggle for power, he pointed his followers to Jesus and reduced his own place in the ministry. Understanding God’s plan in and around your life […]
Jesus and the Temple: A temple is a place of forgiveness and fellowship — forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God. Jesus is the true temple, the place where heaven and earth are united and forgiveness and fellowship are offered to all. However, in Christ, you are a temple, too. This shocking reality has huge […]
Water into Wine – A Sign of Celebration: At a wedding in Cana, Jesus performed his famous miracle of turning water into wine. This served as the first sign to the disciples of who Jesus is and what the kingdom is like where he is King. And what does this miracle teach us? Turning hundreds […]
Jesus and the Disciples: The ministry of Jesus included calling men and women to become his disciples. In fact, everything that follows in John’s gospel must be seen through the lens of discipleship — of learning to follow Jesus and helping others do the same. But as we see in this passage, the journey of […]
Jesus, the Lamb of God: Before we get to Jesus, we must be prepared to see him. This was what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about: to prepare the way for the Lord. John did this through a baptism of repentance and his testimony about Jesus, the Lamb of God. But John’s […]
Jesus, the Word of God: Many people sense there must be something more to life, but what could it be? There once was an ambitious, hot-tempered young man named John whose life was dramatically changed by his friend, Jesus. John came to believe the new life he found — a real life, an eternal life, […]
Paul’s Final Word: As we bring our biographical series on the life of the Apostle Paul to a close, it’s important to see how Paul “finished the race” of his life and ministry. Though he suffered many hardships, Paul’s confidence in Christ and his heavenly reward remained unwavering. Paul not only “kept the faith,” but […]
Paul’s Power in Weakness: One of the most startling realizations for many Christians is that even with faith in Jesus, life can still be very, very hard. Tragedy can still strike. Godly people still suffer. The Apostle Paul knew this better than most. He endured great hardship during his ministry. What kept him going? What […]
Paul in Ephesus: Have you ever felt stuck? With something needing to change hanging over your head? We say it all the time: Jesus changes everything. But what can we do when change is slow in coming? The whole region was changed after the Apostle Paul spent a few years in Ephesus. We learn three […]
Paul in Athens: Have you ever been nervous about sharing your faith? In the first century AD, Athens was the center of Greek philosophy, religion, and cultural influence. The Apostle Paul had the possibly nerve-racking opportunity to share about Jesus with the Athenian elite. In his famous speech at the Areapagus, Paul demonstrates that the […]
Paul in Philippi: As the Apostle Paul ventures into Europe on his second missionary journey, he encounters three very different types of people — a wealthy woman of status named Lydia, a spiritually oppressed slaved girl, and a Roman jailer. All three experience the saving power of God in Jesus’ name, highlighting a simple lesson: […]
Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles: The spiritual awakening at Antioch produced two things: generosity toward the poor and a heart for the lost. As a result, Paul and Barnabas were sent out to bring the gospel to other people and places. They traveled to Cyprus and then to Pisidian Antioch and shared the word […]
Paul and the Revival at Antioch: After Paul spent ten years in Tarsus, God was doing a new thing in the big city of Antioch — Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) were becoming Christians. Barnabas was sent to investigate and brought in Paul to help lead this new, unexpected outpouring of grace. Have you ever wanted […]
Paul the Persecuted: When Saul (Paul), a brilliant but violent persecutor of Christians, met Jesus on the road to Damascus — it changed everything in his life. His passion and direction in life were now running in the opposite direction: He wanted to tell everyone about Jesus! Of course, it wasn’t long before he started […]
Paul the Christian: Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus is one of the most awesome and best-known conversion experiences in the Bible. But after he spends three days praying, we see an act of great faith on behalf of a local Christ-follower. Ananias is called to go visit a man that he knows […]
Paul the Persecutor: We’re introduced to the Apostle Paul in the Bible as Saul, a zealous young religious leader at the killing of Stephen, a deacon in the early church. After this, Saul went from house to house, seeking to destroy the church. In the face of this intense persecution, the church scattered. Despite all […]
Saul of Tarsus: Born Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul was a brilliant young man, a rising star in the Jewish faith, who was a violent persecutor of Christians. But then he met Jesus, and it changed everything. Eventually, Paul would become not only the preeminent Apostle to the Roman world but one of the […]
Easter Sunday 2023: Everyone has things in their life they wish they could change, things that might be silly, embarrassing, or even shameful. The resurrection is the culmination of the work of Jesus. There was a conspiracy to cover it up, but hundreds of eyewitnesses supported the truth of this claim. But if Jesus is […]
Good Friday 2023: Why should people consider something as dark and terrible as the shame and violence of the cross of Christ? When Jesus was betrayed, condemned, abused, crucified, died, and buried. Because you can’t fully appreciate the majesty and the beauty and the power of the resurrection without first gazing upon the hill of […]
Guard Your Heart: The tenth command of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Coveting means to desire something that is unhealthy, unhelpful, or unlawful. This command reminds us that all our problems are, first, heart problems. Obeying this command is especially difficult in an age of social media […]
Honor the Truth: The ninth command of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” There is a battle for truth in many areas of life. Truth produces justice, trust, and transformation. Christians ought to be people of integrity, who speak honestly about themselves and others and refuse to distort […]
Honor People’s Property: The eighth command of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not steal.” Why does God care if we take something that isn’t ours? Because God wants people to do good work, provide for themselves, and live in harmony with their neighbor. And, as they are able, to be generous and hospitable, especially […]
Honor Marriage: The seventh command of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not commit adultery.” Why does God care so much about faithfulness in marriage? What exactly is marriage, anyway? God’s vision for marriage (and sexuality) as a whole-life covenant union is counter-cultural and far from easy. But at the same time, it is beautiful, […]
Honor Life: The sixth command is, “You shall not murder.” What does it look like to keep this commandment? If God is the author, sustainer, and savior of life, then we must work for and protect flourishing life, being especially attentive to the most vulnerable lives among us. Recorded on Mar 5, 2023, on Exodus […]
Honor Your Parents: The fifth command is to honor your father and your mother. Parents are supposed to help their kids grow in their faith and in wisdom for life. But what does it look like to honor your parents when they fail to do these things? How do we honor them if we have […]
You Must Rest in Him: What is the Sabbath, and are Christians required to observe it? Should we stay at home and not do any work around the house, or are we free to do what we please seven days a week? What if you’re scheduled to work a shift on Sunday? Throughout the Gospels, […]
Deserving of Respect: What does it mean to misuse God’s name or to take the Lord’s name in vain (Third Commandment)? It means far more than being careful not to swear. Christianity is based on a relationship with God. And in this relationship (just as in any healthy relationship), our thoughts about God and our […]
Worthy of Worship: Everyone worships something. Whether that be wealth, success, people, or other created things. In the second of the Ten Commandments, we discover that Yahweh God, the Creator of heaven and earth, is the only One worthy of our worship. Recorded on Feb 5, 2023, on Exodus 20:4-6 by Pastor David Parks. Ten […]
There Is Only One God: The story leading up to the Ten Commandments isn’t just the story of Israel: it’s the story of God, and therefore of Christians throughout all of history. We see that the Ten Commandments follow the same pattern as the Gospel of Jesus: first, God rescues his people by grace, then […]
Sending People on Mission: Every Christian is an ambassador for Christ, sent out with the message of reconciliation, the gospel. Motivated by the fear of the Lord and the love of Christ, we are sent. Some of us are sent across the world, others across the street, but every Christian is a missionary. Recorded on […]
Training People for Ministry: The work of ministry isn’t just for pastors or church staff only — every Christian is a minister. Many people wonder what their purpose is in life. Using your unique set of spiritual gifts, experiences, knowledge, and passion to minister to others is a huge part of finding your God-given purpose. […]
Connecting People in Community: Humans are not solitary beings. Our horizontal relationships with people must be shaped and empowered by our vertical relationship with God; but none of us are perfect. Thankfully, the gospel provides a wonderful promise: if we confess our sins in humility, God will not only forgive us but will purify us […]
Inviting People to Worship: Worship is always the right response to a real encounter with Jesus. The disciples experienced this when Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat, and saved him despite his sinking doubts. When we see Jesus for who he truly is, we can’t help but worship and help […]
The Humility of Christmas: A world of pride is a nasty place. But a humble life is a blessing and a joy. Humility is one of the key themes of the Christmas story and is especially seen in the strange story of the visit of the Magi. In God’s kingdom, the way down is up. […]
Redeeming Friendship: In an age where people are more connected than ever, few people have even one friend they can be open, honest, and vulnerable with. So, what kind of friendships are Christians called to, and how can this change our lives? Recorded on Dec 11, 2022, on Colossians 3:1-17, by Pastor David Parks. “Redeeming […]
Redeeming Politics: Almost nothing is more divisive (and ugly) than politics today. How should Christians engage politically? Whatever issues, candidates, or parties you support, you must connect the values of God’s Kingdom and your allegiance to Jesus, your true King, to your politics — especially with people with different political views than yours! Recorded on […]
Redeeming Work: Most of us spend most of our waking hours doing work. Work can be done in or outside the home. Work can be paid or unpaid. So how does the way of Jesus impact and transform our work? And what would a uniquely Christian perspective be on the relationships we have in our […]
Redeeming Parenting: Parenting has been recognized as a blessing across societies and times. But how does the gospel change our perspective on parenting compared to society’s beliefs and practices? Christians believe that children have inherent value as image-bearers of God, not because of what value they will provide to us or society. But raising children […]
Redeeming Singleness: In the Christian life, is it better to stay single or to become married? There is not a simple, black-and-white answer for everyone. While marriage can provide loving companionship in our short time on earth, it is not without the difficulties and distractions of family life. Remaining single can allow you to focus […]
Redeeming Sexuality: In Paul’s day, as in ours, the Christian ethic has differed widely from that of the culture at large. Throughout the Roman empire, confusion was widespread as to the real purpose and nature of sexuality, which was viewed differently within marriage and outside of it. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul shows […]
Redeeming Marriage: The Bible’s version of marriage differs significantly from the way cultures have viewed it over time. Paul’s teaching on marriage is not based on men being superior to women, but as a picture of Christ’s relationship to and love for the church. The path to change and growth in marriage is costly, but […]
Redeeming Marriage: The Bible’s version of marriage differs significantly from the way cultures have viewed it over time. Paul’s teaching on marriage is not based on men being superior to women, but as a picture of Christ’s relationship to and love for the church. The path to change and growth in marriage is costly, but […]
Faith and Works, Getting the Order Right (an epilogue to The Unexpected Way series): The way of salvation is all about faith in what Jesus has already done. However, after salvation, the Christian life is then all about grace-motivated, Spirit-empowered good works. The relationship between faith and works can be tricky, but we must get […]
Building Your Life on the Rock: Life has its storms. Sometimes, the storm is a category four hurricane, but more often, it comes in the form of loss, conflict, illness, or a rough patch in an important relationship. So how are we to weather the storms of life? Jesus tackles this issue at the end […]
False Prophets and False Disciples: Jesus never sugar-coated the dangers of following his way. One danger relates to false prophets or teachers who seek to deceive or mislead for selfish gain. Another danger relates to false disciples who trust religious works in the place of a relationship with God. Can we guard against false teaching? […]
New Identity, New Path: The Golden Rule — Everybody knows it, but why is it so difficult to treat others how we want to be treated? Why is this simple concept so difficult to put into practice? What about prayer? What about all the rest of the Christian life? The key is to realize that […]
Judging Others: Christians are often perceived as being judgemental – sometimes with good reason. But how are we to apply the teachings of Jesus’ way while being both loving and honest? First, you must work on your own struggles before trying to help others, as this provides clarity and compassion and also helps to build […]
What To Do With Worry: Fear, anxiety, and worry produce a constant and overwhelming struggle for many people today. Out of all the anxiety and worry you experience, how much of it is related to money? Jesus knows how much we tend to worry about our money or possessions. But the way of Jesus, of […]
Treasures in Heaven: Money is one of those uncomfortable topics that some of us try hard to avoid. But Jesus has a lot to say about our money, wealth, and possessions. Why? Because financial issues seem to run deep in the human heart. How can we learn to be good stewards of the resources God […]
Praying Like Jesus: Prayer is simply talking with God. But more than that, prayer is an opportunity to spend precious time in communion with and awareness of God’s presence. Jesus was constantly praying and taught his disciples how to pray. Want to learn how to pray like Jesus? Listen here. Recorded on August 28, 2022, […]
Serving Those in Need: You can’t read the Bible and miss God’s heart for the poor. It’s no surprise then that the way of Jesus would include the responsibility to give to and serve those in need. However, Jesus warns his disciples that there’s a way of doing good works, even religious works, which is […]
Loving Your Enemy: Interacting with people is hard, even with those you are closest to. Nearly everyone would agree that you should be loving and kind towards others, but this is often applied only to those who are like us or fall within our group. But what about those who are different than us, those […]
Let Me Be Honest: People today have a complicated relationship with the truth. We feel that certain things are universally true but may actually be preferences or opinions. Other times we bend the truth to get out of commitments. Still other times we know that the information presented or shared online isn’t true. All these […]
How to Stay Married: If people matter so much to God, it only makes sense that God would care about how we treat one another in marriage. But this is a broken world. And sometimes, the most difficult people to love is the person you promised to love no matter what. So how do we […]
People Matter to God: What kind of person, family, or society does God want? What would the world, or our lives, look like if they truly reflected the Kingdom of Heaven? We’ll consider four examples from the Sermon on the Mount. First, we would have a much higher value for human life. Why? Because people […]
Being a Good Person: Many people think that being a Christian is synonymous with being a good person. But Jesus teaches that we will not enter Heaven unless our righteousness exceeds the best, most righteous people we know. How, then, can we achieve the righteousness required by God to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Recorded […]
Being Salt and Light: How should Christians relate to the world? Should we avoid it altogether, or live fully immersed in it, looking no different than the culture around us? In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes his followers as the salt and the light of the world- two things that are useless if […]
Learning the (Unexpected) Way of Jesus: Before anyone was known as a Christian, Jesus’ early followers were called “The Way.” Why? Because they followed the way of Jesus, which is radically different from every other philosophy or religion throughout the history of time. Today, we look at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, […]
Sovereign Over Salvation: It’s hard to understand the mercy and salvation God offers to those who are far from him, even while enjoying the mercy we have received. In Jonah 4, we see that God doesn’t offer salvation because people are righteous, but because he cares about them. Will we join God in proclaiming good […]
Sovereign Over The Nations: In a fallen world, it’s only natural to see people outside our tribe, people, language, or nation as our enemy. But is that how God sees them? In Jonah 3, God is a God of second chances, giving grace and mercy, to both Jonah and the people of Nineveh, the enemies […]
Sovereign Over the Deep: In the most well-known chapter of Jonah’s story, we do encounter a great fish. But is that what this story is all about? No! The point is that even in the deep, even in that dark and uncomfortable place, even as Jonah drifted down to what he thought would be his […]