Digging In : Recent Episodes
Unlimited Potential
Weekly conversations and teachings intended to help our community of professional baseball players learn a new way of life and a new way of thinking about the world based on the life and teachings of Jesus. Unlimited Potential is a small ministry team of seven former professional baseball players who are cultivating relationships with other players and helping them to follow Jesus.
We are putting a pause on releasing new episodes for the time being. However, if you are interested in other podcasts, here are some good ones we like:
The Bible Project
Shema Discipleship with Terry Evans
Practicing the Way
Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life
In this week's episode, Simon, Tyler, and special guest AJ Graffanino discuss the well-known parable of the lost son. They talk about the important cultural relevance at the time and how this unveils the love of the Father, the role of repentance, and receiving sonship.
In this week's episode, Terry walks us through Luke 14. Jesus has been invited to a Sabbath meal at a Pharisee's house and takes this opportunity to teach everyone there about the kingdom way of doing things.
In this week's episode, Mickey teaches on the importance of consistent and persistent prayer. He shares potential hindrances, helpful resources, and different ways our staff approaches prayer.
In this week's episode, we converse about what is at the heart of our ministry - discipleship. Working through the outline developed by John Mark Comer, we navigate these chapters in Luke discussing what it means to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to do what Jesus would do if He were me.
In this week's episode, Tyler shares thoughts about what it means to be hearers and doers of God's word. He shares how it brings unity and intimacy with God and each other.
In this week's episode, Brian teaches about Jesus' approach to changing the course of history. Jesus intentionally handpicked each disciple to be with Him, to walk with Him and to work with Him. In doing so, he created in them the ability and charge to go and do the same. May we go and do the same.
In this week's episode, you get a sneak peak into an organic conversation that we have on our Digging In calls. We usually talk and record afterwards. However, Simon recorded without anyone knowing. So, here is a raw, real look at our conversations. Enjoy listening in as we discuss God's gift of repentance.
In this week's episode, our staff has a conversation surrounding the births of Jesus, John the Baptist and the church. The common denominator of them all was the Holy Spirit. Who is He? What is His role? What does that mean for us?
In this week's episode, Mickey teaches on the powerful story in which Jesus restores Peter. The scene transforms all of Peter's senses, to redeeming his betrayal and identity while calling him to something far greater.
In this episode, we let you in on our weekly conversation as we discuss the resurrection of Jesus and his immediate interaction with Mary Magdalene at the tomb. These weekly conversations are what informs and shapes the weekly messages that we put out on this podcast, and so we thought it might be cool to keep letting you in on those meetings.
In this week's episode, Tony leads a special conversation with a group of former players and beloved friends. They discuss Jesus' words on glory, unity and knowing the Father in this intimate prayer before Jesus' death. They share how this prayer can have and has had direct impact in our immediate world around us.
In this episode Tyler and David discuss one of Jesus' last encouraging words to his disciples. They consider what it means to remain connected to Jesus, to bear fruit and how to cultivate habits of abiding during the season.
In this episode, we try something new and let you in on our weekly conversation about what we are reading together in Scripture. These weekly conversations are what informs and shapes the weekly messages that we put out on this podcast, and so we thought it might be cool to just let you in on one of those meetings.
This week we are in John 13-14 and Brian Hommel leads the rest of the team in a conversation about what it would have been like to have your feet washed by Jesus in the middle of your last meal with him. Hope you find this helpful and thanks for listening!
In this week's episode, Simon Guehring talks about how Jesus' triumphal entry in John 12 ought to inform our expectations about Jesus. Simon reflects on this story and shares insights on what we can learn about the definition of success from Jesus' triumphal entry.
In this week's episode, Luke shares insight to hearing and following the voice of the Shepherd. He teaches two different ways to do this: through Scripture and God's people.
In this week's episode, Mickey shares a reflection on what is truth. He highlights how Jesus came as truth to give us truth, His Spirit and Word, to set us free from the lies of the enemy and to live in the reality of that truth.
In this week's episode, Terry highlights Jesus' words in John 5 where he declares that he only does what the Father is doing. Terry explores what Jesus is saying here and asks what it would look like for us to wake up and live each day with the same mindset that Jesus had — focused on what our Father in heaven is doing?
In this week's episode Brian shares a deep reflection from one of the most popular verses in Bible. He emphasizes that we are all prone to love conditionally and we all have some biases within us when it comes to loving others. How do we overcome that? He shares that with man this is impossible... but not with God!
In this week's episode Tony is up, and we are beginning the Gospel of John. Tony challenges us to read the Gospel of John differently this time. To look for symbolism or allusions to the Old Testament and to ask, "Why is he writing it this way?" or "What is happening here?" or "What is John trying to show me?" And then for us to go back to the Old Testament and look to see what is happening so we can fully understand what John is saying. John wants us to see how the story of God has been fully realized in the life and death of Jesus.
In this week's episode Tyler teaches on how Mark invites his readers to a journey of perception. To encounter how Jesus seeks to reconfigure our reality of who He is and the mission He accomplished. This all culminates at the cross and the empty tomb giving each reader of Mark the chance of embarking on the journey to be given eyes to see and ears to hear.
In this week’s episode Simon is up and we are in Mark 13-14. Simon takes us through a traditional Passover meal and the five cups associated with that meal. This helps us better understand the significance of the Lord's Supper and Jesus' prayer in the garden to have the "cup" removed from him. We hope you find this conversation helpful and thanks for listening!
In this week’s episode Luke Hochevar is up and we are in Mark 11-12. Luke talks about Jesus' teaching on prayer and the visual aid of a withered fig tree. We hope you find this conversation helpful and thanks for listening!
In this episode, Mickey Weston reveals how things in our culture have a way of grabbing our attention like a shiny lure to a fish. Those attractions can have sharp hooks that take our focus away from kingdom of God. Mickey highlights how Jesus reminds each of us to become like a child or a servant in order to resist our desire for greatness and power over others.
In this episode, Brian Hommel sits down with former MLB catcher Nick Hundley and they talk about the feeding of the four-thousand and the naked man who may have played a huge role in that story. Brian and Nick talk about God's compassion and generosity, and Nick share some lessons that he has learned on remembering the goodness of God. Hope you guys find this helpful. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Terry Evans walks us through the story of Jairus. Terry highlights how the challenge that confronted Jairus is the same challenge for all of us. For many of us, as long as God plays according to our rules and expectations then we can trust him. But the moment he begins to act contrary to what we’re comfortable with, we’re tempted to question him. Thanks for listening!
In this episode, Tony Graffanino talks about the fact that Jesus focused his teaching on those who genuinely wanted to know and understand what he was teaching. Tony also points out how Jesus’ teachings reveal things about ourselves and force us to respond one way or the other. We must come to grips with who Jesus is. If he is truly our Rabbi and Lord then that will dictate how we respond.
In this week’s episode Tyler Keele sits down and has a conversation with San Fransisco Giants’ pitcher, Tyler Beede, on what we can learn from the Father’s words of affirmation during Jesus’ baptism. Tyler and Tyler share their own experiences with personal struggles and insecurities, and how we must learn to see ourselves the way the Father sees us. We hope you find this conversation helpful and thanks for listening!
Song: Mirror by KV https://www.youtube.com/c/KVmusicprod
In this week’s episode, Simon invites us to consider what went wrong with Judas and how important it is that we have the right perspective of who Jesus is and what he’s actually seeking to accomplish in this world. Simon challenges us to consider how we will follow Jesus today and how we will carry out his great commission in our own circles of influence.
In this week’s episode, Luke piggy-backs off Mickey’s message from last week and talks about what faithfulness looks like in a time of waiting. This week we read through the parable of the Ten Virgins, the parable of the Talents and Jesus’ teaching about the Final Judgement. Luke does a good job of pointing out how these teachings show us what it looks like to live a life of faithfulness while we wait for King Jesus to return.
In this week’s episode, Mickey addresses the big question that disciples of Jesus have been asking for 2,000 years — “What will be the sign of the end of the age?” Mickey encourages us to think about what we want to be doing when Jesus returns. Jesus teaches us to live ready and stay alert like a faithful servant because we don’t know when the Master might return home.
In this week’s episode, Graff describes the controversial nature of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem and contrasts that with the way a Roman ruler would have entered into the city. Graff does a great job of demonstrating the clash of kingdoms that is taking place through Jesus’ life and ministry and what that means for us who swear allegiance to Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us that we need to learn how to render to Caesar what is Caesar’s without compromising our allegiance to God.
In this week’s episode, I sit down and have a conversation with Paul Goldschmidt from the St. Louis Cardinals. Paul and I talk about his approach to reading the Bible, how that approach has evolved over the years and how him a few teammates have committed to reading through the Bible together throughout the year. We also hit a little bit on Jesus’ definition of greatness and what that looks like in the professional baseball world.
In this week’s episode, Brian sits down and has a conversation with Shan from Consider the Lily, a home created to rescue and redeem girls in the Philippines, from exploitation. Brian and Shan take some time to share her story of how Jesus has rescued her and given her the power to forgive those who have hurt her. Shan has a beautiful story and I am so thankful that she was willing to share her story with us. She has blessed me and encouraged me to be someone who forgives like Jesus too. Shan has set an incredible example for all of us.
In this week’s episode, Tyler sits down and has a conversation with Josh Lindblom, a pitcher with the Milwaukee Brewers who also just happens to have a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies. Tyler and Josh take some time to talk about Jesus’ invitation to his disciples to take up your cross. What does it mean to pick up your cross? How does death ultimately lead to life? And what is the life that we are all longing to live?
In this week’s episode, Simon challenges us with two questions that are pivotal in our discipleship to Jesus. Simon breaks down the story of Jesus walking on water and points out the reason why Peter got out of the boat and walked on water too (even though it was for just a moment). This story should encourage us. The fact that Jesus has called us to be his disciples ought to fill us with the courage that we need to “get out of the boat” and to be just like Jesus.
In this week's episode, Luke describes how our expectations (especially our unmet expectations) can grab hold of us and take us captive. Luke points out that we often without even realizing it put more trust in our expectations than we do in God himself. This was a struggle that even the great Israelite prophet, John the Baptist, experienced, and Luke does a great job of connecting John’s struggle to our own personal struggles with unmet expectations.
In this episode, Mickey demonstrates for us how the authority of Jesus gives us everything that we need to change the lives of others through compassionate actions. Mickey points out how following Jesus ought to lead us to live our lives for the sake of others. I thought Mickey did a great job of communicating how Jesus’ instructions to his first disciples are instructions that are still relevant to us today as 21st century disciples of Jesus.
In this episode, Tony takes a look at all the so-called "outcasts" that were included in Jesus lineage, and the outcasts that made up Jesus' disciples. Tony also elaborates on what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus, and he helps us see discipleship as this process where these outcasts became kingdom builders who helped bring more outsiders into the family of God.
In this episode, Terry looks at what is perhaps the most shocking and profound sentence that any teacher, philosopher, sage or rabbi has ever uttered. This teaching of Jesus is so counterintuitive and so challenging that we are tempted to water it down because it just seems too inconvenient and not practical. We are tempted to make this teaching a little more “doable” because a straightforward commitment to it just seems too reckless and dangerous.
This episode is a message given by our friend Jay Stringer on anger and lust. Jay is a therapist, author and speaker who specializes in helping men and women discover how their story is shaping their patterns of unwanted sexual behavior. Jay’s book, Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing is based on Jay’s research on over 3,800 men and women addressing the key drivers of unwanted sexual behavior.
In this episode, Terry shares a teaching on what is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. This introductory announcement that opens Jesus’ famous teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount paints a beautiful picture of how the kingdom of God turns our typical value systems and our perceptions about who and what are significant completely upside down. The Beatitudes introduce us to the kingdom way of life, and to the types of people through whom Jesus intends to transform the whole world.
In this week’s episode, Brian invites us into a conversation with his friend Jason Wahler. Jason appeared on MTV’s hit shows Laguna Beach and The Hills. And after years of publicly battling with addiction, Jason has an amazing story of redemption and restoration and now dedicates his life to raising awareness about addiction.
In this week's episode, Tyler Keele kicks things off for 2022 and gets us going in our journey through the Gospel of Matthew. Tyler focuses in on two forgotten characters in the Christmas story, Joseph and King Herod, and unpacks how the rule of God confronts the reign of man.
Music:
"Life" by KV
In this episode, Terry Evans introduces us to the new Bible Reading Plan that we have put together for 2022! We would like to invite you to join us. This year our plan is focused simply on the 4 Gospels. We will read short subsections each week that will take us through the Gospels at a slow pace of only 2 chapters per week. You can follow along on the UPI App, our Bible Reading Group and by listening to the Digging In Podcast. Join us and invite some friends.
Music:
"Life" by KV
In this week's episode, Terry Evans finishes out this year's Bible Reading Plan by recapping the one big story that the Bible is telling. Terry takes us cover to cover from Genesis to Revelation to share the story of how God is partnering with humanity to rule over this incredible world that he has created.
In this week's episode, Simon Guehring connects the season of Advent with John's vision in Revelation of the Lamb who was slain. Simon shares the Roman perspective behind the word advent, the significance of a lamb from Bethlehem and how all of these things are combined to declare that Jesus is the one true King and the only one worthy of our total allegiance.
Tony shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He gives an introduction and overview to the book of Revelation. In doing so, he prepares and gives tools on how to read this long misunderstood letter.
Mickey shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on how intimate fellowship with God and others is an intentional pursuit that requires community, hard work, vulnerability, and sacrifice. It’s costly, but beautiful when done right.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading from the book of Daniel. Terry highlights how the story of Daniel and his three friends reveals a way to resist compromising with the dominant culture around us.
Tyler shares a reflection from this past week's readings. He speaks on how being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger can radically transform us into seeing people through the eyes of our King.
Luke shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on experiencing the power of God through our pain and suffering.
Brian shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on what a true friend looks like. Someone who sits in the pain and does not try to fix it.
Simon shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He speaks on how Jesus is not afraid to meet us where we are at.
Mickey shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on how in Jesus' final discourse, He instructs us on what is truth and the benefits of walking in His truth.
Tony shares some thoughts from this past week's reading on the God of Unmet expectations. He works through these questions: What happens when life doesn’t go as we expected? How do we respond? Tony reflects in the video that God not doing what people expect is pretty common. Yet, that does not mean God is not working, in fact, it could mean that He is doing something even greater than we could have ever imagined.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading on the book about the prophet Jonah. Terry highlights how the story of Jonah invites all of us to look into the mirror and ask ourselves a difficult question… are we okay with God showing compassion and forgiveness towards those who have harmed us?
Tyler shares a brief reflection from this past week's reading. He talks about how the Bible gives us wisdom on how to live our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit through the meditation of our hearts.
Luke shares a brief reflection from this past week's reading. He speaks on the intentionality of living in response to God's grace.
Simon shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He teaches on the importance of having someone who speaks truth into our lives.
Brian shares a reflection from this past week's reading. He highlights how the King has rescued us so that others will know that He is Lord.
Mickey shares a reflection this past week's reading. He provides thought on how we all have responsibility in being transformed by the gospel. Starting by understanding that we are secure in our relationship with Jesus which gives us the choice to submit our lives as a sacrifice to His glory. Then as we yield our lives to His control, Jesus begins the transformation by utilizing His Word to renew and reshape our hearts, our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions.
Tony shares some brief thoughts from this past week's reading. He highlights how Paul is helping us to know and understand the Gospel. While simultaneously, giving us a way to remember and share it.
Terry Evans shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on the first sentence in Paul's famous letter to the Romans. Terry highlights three words that are essential to our understanding and sharing of the gospel.
Tyler shares a reflection from this week's reading about how the power of memory is a gift to be used wisely.
Simon shares a reflection from this week's reading about living a life led by God and being obedient to His calling.
Luke shares a brief reflection from this week's reading about living for the common good in one spirit and body.
Mickey Weston shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on how the Holy Spirit transforms our perspective, thoughts and actions. Mickey highlights how the Spirit helps us become more like Jesus.
Tony shares a brief reflection of this week's reading about how Paul is warning us about different ways division can arise within the church, while at the same time reminding us of what God has called us to do.
Terry Evans shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on the last exhortation that Paul gives in his letter to the Colossians. Terry highlights three things that we need to hear from this exhortation.
Tyler shares a brief reflection from this week's reading about Paul's secret of contentment and how it has the power to change everything in our lives.
Luke Hochevar shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel. Luke challenges us to examine our own lives to see how the gospel reframes the manner in which we live our lives.
Brian Hommel shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on the passing of the torch from David to Solomon and what we can learn from their relationship. Brian challenges us to examine our own lives to see if we are more interested in building our own dynasty than leaving a legacy that is all about King Jesus.
Simon Guehring shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on the tragic story of David and Bathsheba. Simon explores the reality that no matter our status, we are never immune to sin nor are we too wise for advise.
Mickey Weston shares a brief reflection from this week's reading on all the examples of good discernment that we have seen in the readings. Mickey emphasizes the importance of honoring God through wisdom and discernment.
Tony Graffanino shares a brief refection from this week's reading and compares the lives of the two Saul's that we have been studying this week. Tony challenges us to look at our own life and to see which Saul we look like the most in the way that we are living our lives.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading and discusses the disturbing story from the last three chapters of the Book of Judges. The story of the Levite and his concubine points out the corruption and evil that takes place when human beings decide to do what is right in their own eyes.
Luke Hochevar shares a reflection from this week's reading and talks about simple obedience being the only appropriate response to God's various demonstrations of his power.
Tyler Keele shares a reflection from this week's reading and invites us into the wrestling match of what it means to be a unified community of Jesus followers.
Simon Guehring shares a reflection from this week's reading and discusses the ongoing struggle of trusting God's ways over our own ways. Simon explores the mindset of embracing what we've been saved for instead of just being content with what we've been saved from.
Brian Hommel shares a reflection from this week's reading and explores the reality of death and the power of resurrection. Brian challenges all of us to really think deeply about who Jesus is and to think honestly about how we are spending our time each day.
In this bonus episode, Terry shares some quick thoughts on getting in the right mindset as we enter into this Easter weekend. Terry invites us into a particular rhythm and time of reflection as we remember and celebrate the reason we have the hope that we have - Jesus the Messiah died, was buried but then was raised again!
Mickey Weston shares a reflection from this week's reading and examines the implications that following Jesus should have on your everyday life. Mickey challenges us to learn what it might mean for us to purposefully live as bondservants of the Messiah.
Tony Graffanino shares a reflection from this week's reading and examines the role that Moses was called to play as the leader of God's people. Graff challenges us to learn from the success and failures of Moses' leadership in order to better live out what God has called us to do.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading and what we learn from the Israelites' experience in the wilderness. The Book of Numbers has been a wild journey, but there is a very important lesson that is being taught throughout.
Tyler Keele shares a brief reflection on David's perspective in Psalm 39. Tyler reminds us of how the gift of knowing how fragile our lives are produces a hope to live now and forever in God's abiding love.
Terry shares a parable that his son, Asher, shared this morning on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. We seem to put so much emphasis on believing the right things but being a disciple is so much more than simply believing the right things.
Luke Hochevar shares a reflection from this week's reading and how being faithful with what God has entrusted to us ought to be second-nature for those who truly know God.
Simon Guehring shares a reflection from this week's reading and explores the generosity of God. Simon discusses how many of us exalt the idea of "fairness" to the point where we actually find God's radical generosity offensive.
Brian Hommel shares a reflection from this week's reading and explores the gift of the Sabbath. Brian discusses how many of us have come to believe that being busy is a good thing and how we are missing out on the practice of stopping and resting.
Tony Graffanino shares a reflection from this week's reading and highlights the Biblical theme of the Kingdom. Tony connects the Law of Moses to the teachings of Jesus and encourages us to remember that what we do matters.
Terry Evans shares a reflection from this week's reading and highlights a theme that stood out to him from the story of Moses and the Sermon on the Mount. This week has shown us that God has a way of using broken people to do big things.
Tyler Keele shares a reflection from this week's reading in Mark, and how Mark challenges us to continue the story. Mark wants his readers to face the reality of the empty tomb and to decide where we will go, what we will say and what we will do in response.
Luke Hochevar shares a reflection from this week's reading in Mark, and how Jesus' command to love has changed his life and the way that he views others. Luke shares why we should love those around us, even those who constantly seem to just make a mess of things.
Simon Guehring shares a reflection from this week's readings in Genesis, and what the story of Abraham and Isaac teaches us about God as our generous provider. Simon also shares how we often miss out on what God has in store for us because we fail to obey.
Brian Hommel kicks off the New Year with our first message from the 2021 Bible Reading Plan. Brian reflects on what we can learn about relationships from the story of Adam and Eve, and he calls us to fight for our relationship with Jesus in 2021.
Mickey Weston shares the Bible Reading Plan that we have put together for 2021. We would like to invite you to join us in reading through the Bible together and each week's teaching will come from what we are reading together.
Tony Graffanino continues our Advent series with a message on joy and how true joy is not based on our circumstances but rooted in the advent of the Messiah - God with us. Tony points out how our pursuit of happiness can actually rob us of our joy and challenges us to choose joy this Christmas.
Terry Evans continues our Advent series with a message on love and how a true love for God is demonstrated through total allegiance to God. Terry highlights Jesus' teaching that there is no greater commandment than the commandment to love and invites us to adopt a new practice this Christmas season.
Tyler Keele continues our Advent series with a message on living as people with true peace. Tyler highlights how true peace is not escapism or indifference and shares his own personal experience of Jesus granting him indescribable peace in the midst of a tragic storm.
Luke Hochevar leads off our Advent series with a message on living as people with an incredible hope. Luke highlights how our future hope ought to empower us to persevere whatever the present may throw at us.
Simon Guehring shares thoughts on how we might respond to his previous message on the kingdom response to what's going on in our world today. Simon highlights how we are called to do good and to live different.
Simon Guehring leads us to reflect on how Paul's letter to Titus speaks right into our political climate today and the way we are reacting to this global pandemic. Simon offers a unique perspective as he speaks into these issues from the eyes of a German follower of Jesus.
Brian Hommel shares thoughts on how we might respond to his previous message on representing Jesus in everything that we do. Brian unpacks why it is necessary that we teach others what we are learning in our journey with Jesus.
Brian Hommel leads us to reflect on Paul's instructions to Titus regarding our mission and purpose in life. The things that we say we believe should be validated by the way that we live our lives.
Mickey Weston shares thoughts on how we might respond to his previous message on the character traits of a leader described by Paul in his letter to Titus. Mickey shares a personal lesson that God has taught him on how to overcome holes in our character in order to become more like Jesus.
Mickey Weston leads us to reflect on the character of a leader described by the apostle Paul in his letter to Titus. These character qualities are not just intended for a select group of "super-Christians". These are things that should describe every Christian man as we grow in our journey with Jesus.
Tony Graffanino shares thoughts on how we might respond to his previous message from the opening greeting of Paul's letter to Titus.
Tony Graffanino leads us to reflect on the way that the apostle Paul saw himself. Do we see ourselves as a servant of Jesus who has been entrusted with a message and sent on a mission to deliver that message?
Jesus knew that he was about to be executed, that he had been secretly betrayed by one of his friends and that he is going to be vindicated by God, and yet he gets up from the table, takes his sweatshirt off, grabs a towel and a bucket of water and begins to do a slaves’ job of washing the disciples’ feet.
How many of us find ourselves sometimes seeking Jesus out for the wrong reasons? We hope a relationship with him or a prayer thrown his way might help us in our pursuit for security, success, health or prosperity. Jesus might say to us, “Don’t just seek me out for temporary provision or blessing; seek me out for the brand new life that I am able to give you.”
So is Jesus on the side of justice or compassion? The religious leaders want him to pick a side. We often want him to pick a side. In this story, Jesus is refusing to join in on the debate, but the religious leaders aren’t going to stop pushing him to choose.
The Almighty God of this world is probably the most misunderstood and misrepresented being in human history. Many people have many wrong ideas about who he is and what he is like. And like Moses and Philip, many people just want to see God so that they can truly know who he is and what that means for them.
How should followers of Jesus respond to the threat of a global pandemic, the increasing political division in this country, and the underlying issues of injustice, inequality and racial tension that are front-and-center in our society right now?
There is a trap that Jesus addresses, and all of us can fall into it. We get selective in the way that we obey what God has said in the Scriptures, and then we find subtle ways to twist the Scriptures to justify certain preferences and behaviors in our life.
Many of us, even those who read our Bibles and say our prayers, end up with misconceptions about who God is and what he is doing in the world. We are the sheep of his pasture and when one of us goes wandering off, he comes looking for us. Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save the lost” because God does not give up on people as easily as we give up on people.
There are times when we are desperate for help (we’re going through a difficult time, we’re in a slump, or our marriage is struggling, or a pandemic is occurring, or whatever), and so we cry out to God for help and we are willing to do whatever he tells us to do. But then when he gets us through it and things start to go well for us again, we forget about God and we just get back to life as normal.
Like the money manager in the story, your time in the game will come to an end, and then the only thing that will have any real lasting value is the relationships that you made while you were in the game. So many guys get caught up with the money, the big league lifestyle and the attention that you get from being a Major League Baseball player. But then once the game is over, all of this starts to slowly fade away. And if you haven’t built solid relationships during your time in the game, you begin to feel isolated and desperate for what you once had.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 57:9-11 Scripture Reading: Luke 16:1-13
If I had to pick one word that describes the way most people are feeling right now, it would probably be the word anxious. For most of this year, life as we know it has been completely disrupted. What the future will look like is a little uncertain. And this lack of certainty and this disruption to daily life naturally creates some level of anxiousness.
Psalm Reading: Psalm 47:6-9 Scripture Reading: 12:22-39
We had spent the last several months going through the gospel according to Matthew, and so I wanted to wrap up that series with a bird’s-eye view of the entire account so that we could see the big idea that Matthew is trying to present to his readers. A big reason that I wanted to do this is that I wanted to challenge some of our popular ideas and preconceived notions about what the gospel is all about. Many people in the church hear gospel and think of Jesus dying on the cross so that we could be forgiven by God and go to heaven when we die. I wanted to challenge that way of thinking.
The bigger picture of the good news about who Jesus is and what he is doing in this world has transformed my life and the way that I view the world. It’s changed my approach to how I teach the Bible to my children, and it’s changed the way that I pray and what I find myself praying for.
So, I am humbled by the fact that you are taking time to listen to this right now, but I am also hopeful that this particular message will give you a fresh perspective on what this whole Jesus thing is all about. The gospel is a much bigger idea than many of us are imagining.
Thanks for listening!
For more resources, check out www.upi.org
In this teaching, Jesus is warning is his own followers and he is pronouncing judgement against the leadership in Jerusalem. In their own efforts to do what they thought was pleasing to God, God’s own people were blind to the fact that they were rejecting him in the process. That is a very sobering reminder for all of us.
This was a difficult message to prepare for and not the kind of message that you get excited to share. But it was a good reminder to me of what God truly wants from us; it really is more about a real relationship than a religion.
Thanks for listening!
For more resources, check out www.upi.org
In this teaching, Jesus is clearing up some misconceptions that his own disciples had about belonging to his kingdom and exactly how the kingdom of God was going to go about exercising power, overcoming evil and conquering the world. In this particular teaching to his disciples, Jesus directly challenges our normal ideas about power and redefines greatness and status in a way that was just as revolutionary then as it is today.
This was a good reminder for myself and just like most of Jesus’ teachings it has challenged me in the way that I carry myself at home and when I'm around other people. I think we as men especially need to hear what Jesus is saying in this teaching and respond to it with a new approach to all of our relationships.
Thanks for listening!
In this teaching, Jesus is answering a question that many of us might ask today and he shares a story that should rattle us a little bit. Jesus is laying out a requirement for those who belong to his kingdom movement and he wants to make sure that his followers get it.
What Jesus teaches us here is clear and straightforward and it has me checking myself to make sure I’m obeying him in this area and being the kind of man that he wants me to be. We all need to embrace what Jesus is teaching here and the world would be a better place if we all did.
Thanks for listening!