The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan

There is a great hunger for prayer. Tim Keller writes: "Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle--yet the way to reality." Join in with this prayer I led at a worship service. "Come, Holy Spirit..."

What do we all have in common? Death, taxes, the need for air? Yes, yes and yes. But also suffering. We may not like it, but it's true. What does the apostle Peter have to say about suffering in a way that honours God? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores just that as we study 1 Peter 4.

Has Canada "banned the Bible"? Not really. But what does Bill C9 actually say, what is it supposed to do, and is there a threat to religious freedom or expression in Canada?

Jesus wasn't "meek and mild." He was radical. So too his followers, in more (and sometimes different) ways than you think.

You are Lord of all (not just some). Join in with this prayer of both praise... and confession.

We live in a digital culture which can be very polarizing. This has to do with algorithms, echo chambers, profit margins (and more). This post and podcast episode includes one suggestion that should help.

The fisherman-turned-apostle said we should honour everyone, including tyrannical emperors. Did that include blind obedience? Definitely not. He also talked about the relationship between slaves, masters, husbands and wives. What if instead of avoiding tough passages, we dealt with them head-on with the goal of glorifying God no matter the situation we're in...

Haidt has earned the right to be heard. He cares about his kids, and yours too. His recent comments deserve more attention. This post (and podcast episode) briefly explores the threat of silicon valley doing another experiment on your kids, to their detriment. Will we live with eyes wide shut, or open?

How do you be at your best when some people put you at your worst? It helps to not be naive about what love means, and to know what Jesus meant by love.

"Holiness" can make us think of unattainable moral perfection or a lack of joy. But this is a mis- (or partial) understanding. To be holy is to be set apart (distinct) for God's special purposes. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 Peter 1:13-2:12 and foregrounds 4 aspects of holiness that stand in contrast to our culture today.

"The lies start by whispering and swell to yelling..." Join in with this short prayer to the God of hope who owns the future.

When tough things happen we can ask, Why me? But there's another perspective too: How might God be refining me, and how might this help a future version of me? This sermon on 1 Peter 1:1-12 (also released as a podcast episode) looks at these questions, the apostle Peter, and the God who brings good out of bad.

It is one of Jesus' most famous teachings. It's influence is global and unparalleled. But why did he teach it, and how often did he expect his followers to say it?

What is the point of life? A lot of people want to know. As Mark Batterson writes: "It's time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death." True! This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) is a summary of my teaching series on the book of Daniel. We take the 10,000 foot view and discover the point of Daniel's life -- and also the point to our own as well.

Join in with this brief but honest prayer to the Lord who is forever faithful, even when our own faith stumbles.

Disappointment, uncertainty, chaos, pain… and hope? When you know the end of the story it can change your experience as you live through the middle of the story. It was true for Daniel, and it's true for us. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores Daniel 11:36 - 12:13 and his final vision about the end of days.

Deception, fear, worry, threat of war. What's to be done? A faithful crew in the second century B.C. were (and are) great examples to follow. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 11:1-35. No matter the pain or instability, know God, stand firm, take action.

People are getting fed up with shallow faith. They are also living in a world of increasing pain and instability. What's to be done? God's people need to re-ground themselves in the victory of the risen Christ. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), explains Luke 24:1-49. Look around at the world. Fear not. The battles may rage, but the fight's been fixed.

If you take away the cross, you take away everything. As Jesus hung there, having been tortured, mocked and crucified, he uttered 7 phrases. In this sermon (also released as a podcast episode), we look at Christ's eternal word of forgiveness in Luke 23:34. What if Jesus was speaking a word from the cross to you today?

What is God's plan for my life, and how do I navigate through these problems I'm facing? The events of the first Palm Sunday provide more help than we realize. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Luke 19:28-48, and is an invitation to consider the true Kingship of Jesus in a new way.

What is God's plan for my life, and how do I navigate through these problems I'm facing? The events of the first Palm Sunday provide more help than we realize. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Luke 19:28-48, and is an invitation to consider the true Kingship of Jesus in a new way.

This episode and blog responds to this criticism of faith with a short, simple (and memorable) response. This is a part of the "answering skeptics" series.

This episode and blog responds to this criticism of faith with a short, simple (and memorable) response. This is a part of the "answering skeptics" series.

"Welcome to the war." That's how Timothy Warner greeting a group at Fuller Seminary. But we're not in a war. Oh, but you are. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explains Daniel 10 - an enigmatic passage which pulls back the curtain on the unseen realm, and also the battle between good and evil.

"Welcome to the war." That's how Timothy Warner greeting a group at Fuller Seminary. But we're not in a war. Oh, but you are. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explains Daniel 10 - an enigmatic passage which pulls back the curtain on the unseen realm, and also the battle between good and evil.

These days men are caricatured as bumbling idiots, overgrown children, or evil oppressors. Hmm. Lets set the record straight. Here are 3 prayers for those who would rather live with honour.

These days men are caricatured as bumbling idiots, overgrown children, or evil oppressors. Hmm. Lets set the record straight. Here are 3 prayers for those who would rather live with honour.

I invite you to engage this prayer I led recently. With thanks to William Min for the music.

I invite you to engage this prayer I led recently. With thanks to William Min for the music.

Daniel staked his life on the fact that God's promises come true. It made all the difference as he lived through horror. What about us? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 9. Are we living as if God's promises will definitely come true, or as if they might potentially come true?

Daniel staked his life on the fact that God's promises come true. It made all the difference as he lived through horror. What about us? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 9. Are we living as if God's promises will definitely come true, or as if they might potentially come true?

The vision was appalling. It knocked Daniel down. On top of everything else he had experienced, how would he manage to endure it all? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores Daniel 8 and also his interior life in the midst of chaos. These 4 points are instructive for us today.

The vision was appalling. It knocked Daniel down. On top of everything else he had experienced, how would he manage to endure it all? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores Daniel 8 and also his interior life in the midst of chaos. These 4 points are instructive for us today.

In this episode and blog I use a simple illustration to respond to a criticism of Christianity - the presence of hypocrites. Beware, the road is narrow, and the ditch is wide.

In this episode and blog I use a simple illustration to respond to a criticism of Christianity - the presence of hypocrites. Beware, the road is narrow, and the ditch is wide.

Jesus compared the period leading up to his return to labour pains. Are the contractions getting worse? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 7 and a vision about the end of days. It ends with four take-aways for today.

Jesus compared the period leading up to his return to labour pains. Are the contractions getting worse? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 7 and a vision about the end of days. It ends with four take-aways for today.

It's one of the Bible's most famous stories. But this is an invitation to hear it again as if for the first time. It's not a fairytale; it's about a real person in real danger -- and has real applications for us today. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), explores Daniel 6. True bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions, both actual and metaphorical. It was true then, and it's true now.

It's one of the Bible's most famous stories. But this is an invitation to hear it again as if for the first time. It's not a fairytale; it's about a real person in real danger -- and has real applications for us today. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode), explores Daniel 6. True bravery is kneeling before God while facing the lions, both actual and metaphorical. It was true then, and it's true now.

Protestant Christians are sometimes confused (or suspicious) about Lent. Why? In this podcast episode and blog I offer some explanations and then some advice going forward for pilgrims of the Way.

Protestant Christians are sometimes confused (or suspicious) about Lent. Why? In this podcast episode and blog I offer some explanations and then some advice going forward for pilgrims of the Way.

What if you were someone's answered prayer even as your own felt unanswered -- perhaps even in a situation you asked God to change? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 5 and the infamous "writing on the wall." Daniel's ongoing steadfastness, even into his 80's is instructive for all of us today.

What if you were someone's answered prayer even as your own felt unanswered -- perhaps even in a situation you asked God to change? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 5 and the infamous "writing on the wall." Daniel's ongoing steadfastness, even into his 80's is instructive for all of us today.

I sometimes hear: "People of different religions all think theirs is best. One isn't better than the other.” When you stop to think about it, the logic just doesn't make sense. Here's my response.

I sometimes hear: "People of different religions all think theirs is best. One isn't better than the other.” When you stop to think about it, the logic just doesn't make sense. Here's my response.

The king was proud. His words dripped with arrogance. So God humbled him. In the end, he learned a great truth: "those who walk in pride he is able to humble." This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 4 and focuses on a trait that lies at the heart of a better future - not just in general and for world leaders, but for each of us.

The king was proud. His words dripped with arrogance. So God humbled him. In the end, he learned a great truth: "those who walk in pride he is able to humble." This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 4 and focuses on a trait that lies at the heart of a better future - not just in general and for world leaders, but for each of us.

Daniel's friends refused to compromise. As a result, the tyrant threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. But they would rather die faithfully than live falsely. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 3. It is an invitation to have an "even if" kind of faith today.

Daniel's friends refused to compromise. As a result, the tyrant threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace. But they would rather die faithfully than live falsely. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks Daniel 3. It is an invitation to have an "even if" kind of faith today.

If you find January difficult, you're not alone...

If you find January difficult, you're not alone...