Straight From The Heart Radio

Dying to self: Part 2- A true disciple must be willing to forsake everything for Christ. Even good things like our jobs or families can become a higher priority than our relationship with Jesus. Jesus used a parable to show common excuses people use to not follow Him.

Dying to self: Part 1- While eating a Sabbath meal in the home of one of the rulers of the Pharisees, Jesus exhorted His listeners to "take the lowest place." We should be willing to love and serve others without expecting anything in return, just as Jesus has done for us.

Spiritual blindness- Jesus lamented over the people of Jerusalem who were spiritually blind and could not recognize that their savior had come. Out of love and compassion, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath hoping that it would open the eyes of the Pharisees to their hypocrisy.

The narrow gate- When talking about salvation, many people bring up the proverbial "man on the island." How will he hear the good news? Jesus wants people to be concerned about their own personal decision and standing with God.

Eyes like Jesus- A woman doubled over with "a spirit of infirmity" for 18 years came to the synagogue to hear Jesus. Jesus always sees those who have the greatest need. We often live selfishly, not looking to serve and meet the needs of those around us.

The hard truth- What did Jesus mean when He said that He came to bring division rather than peace? What does that message mean for His followers? Jesus clearly taught that all are called to repentance. We should not be too quick to judge others.

Live in expectancy- Jesus Christ is coming back one day. Does that reality influence how you are living? The goal of the Christian should be to live like the faithful steward, serving and watching expectantly for the return of his master.

Live without worry- Worry and anxiety can be potent forces in our lives, many times leading to fear and lack of faith. Jesus said the Christian life does not have to be filled with worry. We can have confidence that our heavenly Father will provide for all our needs.

The fear of God- The fear of man leads to hypocrisy. The fear of God leads to peace and spiritual wealth. The man who fears God is concerned with eternal things. Jesus warned against covetousness, which can distract us from having an eternal mindset.

The fear of man- Jesus openly challenged the Pharisees because of their religious hypocrisy. They were more concerned about their outward appearance than the state of their hearts. God always knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts where man can't see.

A light to your path- The truth of God's word brings light into our lives to save us from the darkness of sin, and to guide us as we walk with Christ. Some of the Pharisees thought they were obeying God's word, but they were still spiritually blind.

The strong man- Some people explained the miraculous things Jesus did by saying He was possessed by the devil. Jesus shared a brief illustration to demonstrate His power and authority over dark spiritual forces. You might be mocked for believing in the reality of spiritual warfare.

Ask, seek, knock- If God already knows our thoughts, why does He tell us to ask and seek Him through prayer? God wants us to come to him persistently and confidently like a child goes to their father with requests.

Teach us to pray- People have all kinds of methods and strategies for an effective prayer life. If we are not careful, that can turn into legalism. Jesus shared "the Lord's prayer" with His disciples as a model for what the heart of our prayers and communion with God should be.

Serving and worshiping- Our service to the Lord is very important, but God cares more about the servant than the service. When Jesus came into the home of Mary and Martha, the way these sisters interacted with Him became a living parable for us to learn from.

Who is my neighbor?- We can have all our theology straight, but it means nothing if we are not loving and serving people. Jesus shared the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that our faith needs to be demonstrated through our actions.

Lambs among wolves- After laying out the cost of discipleship to some curious listeners, Jesus gave some guidance and instructions before sending out 70 of His disciples. Our ultimate joy should not be found in the things we do for Christ, but in the fact our names are "written in heaven."

Interview with Pastor Brian Weed- Pastor Joe sits down with Pastor Brian Weed to discuss a new Calvary Chapel fellowship meeting on Tuesday evenings in Levittown, PA. Pastor Brian shares his heart and excitement for this new gathering.

A lesson about anger- Anger is not wrong, but how we use our anger is where the trouble comes in. James and John learned a lesson about anger after they became outraged seeing some people not being very welcoming to Jesus.

Humility and greatness- After delivering a boy possessed by an evil spirit, Jesus instructed His disciples about the importance of prayer and fasting, and what greatness look like in the kingdom of God.

Up on the mountain- Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to experience His glory. Jesus knows there are times in our walk with Him when we need a fresh revelation of His love and character, and He will be faithful to give us that.

Who is Jesus to you?- Some people claim Jesus was just a good moral teacher. The truth is, Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Son of God. What exactly did Jesus mean when He said His followers would need to take up their cross daily, and follow Him?

Healing and feeding- Jesus gave His twelve disciples power and authority to heal the sick and deliver the demon possessed. But what about feeding a crowd of thousands of people with what seems to be insufficient resources? Jesus did not choose us because we are qualified.

Don't be afraid, believe- When Jairus heard his daughter had died, his worst fears came true. If only that woman did not interrupt them, maybe his daughter would have been saved. Why does God allow some to be healed and not others? When our faith is failing Jesus says, "believe."

When God delays- When expectations are delayed it can be difficult to endure. God does not always operate the way we expect Him to. A man named Jairus convinced Jesus to come heal his dying daughter, but another desperate and needy woman interrupted Jesus along the way.

Light and darkness- The Bible says that there is spiritual warfare, a war between light and darkness. After coming through the storm, Jesus displayed His authority over those dark forces when He freed a demon-possessed man.

Finding peace in the storms- Jesus was misunderstood by many throughout His earthly ministry. His family thought He lost His mind. Even His disciples doubted Him at times. Jesus was completely at peace in the storms of life, and He wants us to have His peace too.

Parable of the sower (part 2)- Jesus explains the meaning and application of the parable of the sower. Not everyone will gladly receive the seed of God's word. Are you actively praying for those in your life with hard hearts?

Parable of the sower- What is the "soil" of your heart like? Jesus said there is hard, rocky, crowded, and good soil. We could identify with any one of these four soils at different times in the Christian life.

A dinner invitation- Jesus received an invitation for dinner at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. During their social engagement, a woman living in sin came to Simon's home and washed Jesus' feet. The woman and Simon were both sinners in need of cleansing despite the disparity in their social status.

None greater than John- Jesus affirmed that John the Baptist was the last and the greatest of the prophets. How is it then that "he who is least in the kingdom of God" could be greater than John?

God has visited His people- Jesus spoke a word to a grieving mother's dead son and he came back to life. Only God could display such power and authority. Jesus came to solve the problem of sin and death, but many misunderstood what His mission was.

Treasuring the King's body- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had a special privilege no one else in history can claim. They showed great honor and dedication for the dead body of Jesus. What would their message be to the church today?

Faith that amazed Jesus- A centurion sent messengers to plead with Jesus that He might come heal a beloved servant at death's door. What was it that impressed Jesus so much about this Gentile's faith? Do you trust the authority of God's word?

A kingdom attitude (Part 2)- What foundation are you building your life on? Jesus taught that the solid rock of His words is much preferred to the shaky foundation of worldliness.

A kingdom attitude- What does it mean to be a partaker in the kingdom of God? What is expected of us as Christ followers? Jesus taught His great manifesto to a crowd of people wondering that very question.

Lord of the Sabbath- The Sabbath had become a burden to many religious Jews. It became about following rules and ordinances. The Pharisees were outraged when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath.

The great physician- Jesus seemed to push against the religious status quo of His time. He spent time with sinners, and His disciples did not fast and pray like others. Was He a trouble maker? A rebel? Jesus was clear that He came to start something new. Something better.

God alone forgives sin- Jesus looked at a paralyzed man let down through the roof by his friends and knew what his greatest need was- he needed forgiveness. His paralysis was the result of a sin problem. How much are you willing to do to bring your friends to Jesus?

He is willing- Jesus is willing to cleanse us from our sin just like He was willing to heal the leper. The question is, are we willing to surrender to Him? The disease of sin, like leprosy, will lead to isolation, decay, and death.

Preaching, healing, and calling- After his rejection at Nazareth, Jesus went to Galilee and began healing many people, fulfilling what the scripture said would be part of the work of the Messiah. Jesus is calling you and I to be fishers of men, just as He called Peter.

A not so warm welcome- Jesus came to his hometown of Nazareth and preached in a synagogue on the Sabbath. Those who were present "marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." Not everyone was thrilled with what He had to say.

Overcoming temptation- The enemy will often come to us with temptation when we are tired and weary. The temptation in the wilderness is a blueprint for us to learn how to overcome temptation and identify the strategies of Satan.

Filled and led- Jesus lived most of His life on earth in obscurity. Is there anything from those "forgotten years" we can learn? If Jesus was God what was the point of His baptism? There is no temptation we will face that the Spirit cannot help us overcome.

Preparing the way- John the Baptist was "the voice of one crying in the wilderness." He was the last and the greatest of the prophets. Under the New Covenant, followers of Jesus have a message even more clear and powerful than John the Baptist.

Where did Jesus go?- After traveling a day's journey, Mary and Joseph realized they had left young Jesus behind in Jerusalem. Does it feel like Jesus has left you at times? Does His presence feel far away? God is faithful to help us grow in our faith and trust in Him.

Peace, goodwill toward men- It did not take long for word to spread that something special happened in Bethlehem. God supernaturally revealed to some that the Messiah had come including shepherds in a field, and a "just and devout" man named Simeon.

The birth of Christ- Let's get the details straight about the birth of Jesus. There are some things about the events surrounding Christ's birth that people believe that are just not biblical. Jesus was born in obscurity, so no one would be embarrassed to come to him.

Zacharias' prophecy- Eight days after the birth of his son John, Zacharias was finally able to speak again. The Holy Spirit spoke a prophetic word through Zacharias about the calling on his son's life, and how it was to be tied to the coming of the Messiah.

Mary's song- Mary was blessed among women but imagine the challenges she faced in having to explain her pregnancy. Especially to her fiance Joseph. Mary's faith was greatly encouraged after a visit with her cousin Elizabeth.

Mary, blessed among women- Unlike Zacharias, Mary had faith that something miraculous was going to take place according to Gabriel. The Bible clearly teaches the virgin birth. If Jesus wasn't born of a virgin, that has serious theological implications.