Straight From The Heart Radio

Blind Bartimaeus- There is a difference between seeing and perceiving. Although Bartimaeus was physically blind, he was able to perceive that Jesus was in his presence. What good is sight if you are blind to spiritual realities?

The rich young ruler- The rich young ruler had what so many people strive for: money, power, and wealth. He kept the commandments of God the best he could, but he was still empty inside. Jesus, in love, helped the rich young ruler to see what was missing in his life.

Faith like a child- What does real faith look like? Many people who claim to have genuine faith in God only have religion. Because of our human nature we strive to be accepted by God based on our performance, but what we need is childlike faith.

Pray or faint- How should we respond to the reality of judgment coming to our world? Jesus said that we "always ought to pray and not lose heart." Is Jesus painting a harsh picture of the Father in the parable of the unjust judge?

Remember Lot's wife- We can know all about the return of Christ, but it will not make any difference if it is just knowledge without action. Lot's wife knew about the judgment that was coming, but her heart longed for worldly things.

The days of Noah- Jesus said when He returns it will be sudden and unexpected, like lightning, and the state of the earth will be like "the days of Noah." How is our modern time anything like the world Noah lived in? What lessons can we learn from how Noah lived in a godless culture?

Ten lepers cleansed- Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When ten lepers cried out to Him for healing, He responded. Only one of the ten lepers returned to give glory to God for what He did. Are thanksgiving and gratitude to God a regular part of your prayer life?

Forgiving others- Forgiveness is not a matter of faith it is a matter of obedience. It can be very hard to forgive the people who have offended us. How should forgiving others as a follower of Jesus look different from the world?

Heaven and hell- Is the doctrine of hell and eternal punishment biblical? Some people have offered alternative ideas about the afterlife because they struggle with the reality of hell.

Thinking eternally- Many of the Pharisees were consumed with following every part of the law because of the fear of man. They were not thinking about the eternal consequences of their actions. Jesus challenged that thinking by telling the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.

The dishonest steward- In the parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus seems to be commending the conduct of an unjust man. Why would He do that? Are we so caught up in the activities of earth that we are not planning and preparing for our heavenly future?

The prodigal son: Part 3- Most of the attention is usually placed on the prodigal in this parable, but what about the older brother? What can we learn from his attitude? Jesus followed the story of the prodigal son with another parable, continuing the theme of not being wasteful.

The prodigal son: Part 2- The prodigal son is really a tale of two sons. The younger was not content with his father's provision and looked to another country for satisfaction. The older was bitter and envious of the grace the father showed to his brother. Which son do you identify with?

The prodigal son: Part 1- The prodigal son is really a tale of two sons. The younger was not content with his father's provision and looked to another country for satisfaction. The older was bitter and envious of the grace the father showed to his brother. Which son do you identify with?

God loves the lost- The parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin reveal God's heart of love towards the sinner. God pursues lost sinners because of His love and grace, not because they are inherently valuable or special.

Salt is good- Salt has a lot of uses. It adds flavor to food, it's a preservative, it stings and purifies. Jesus explained to His listeners how the usefulness of salt relates to our spiritual life.

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.