The Surge Podcast

This message, based on Matthew 23:23, challenges us to re-examine our priorities, moving away from a superficial, performative faith toward an authentic, heart-centered connection with God and others. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for meticulously tithing even the smallest spices—mint, dill, and cumin—while neglecting the "weightier provisions of the law": justice, mercy, and faithfulness, as echoed in Micah 6:8. The core message is clear: do not invert priorities by focusing on minor religious observances while ignoring the profound, active love God truly desires. The message explores tithing, affirming it as a biblical and beneficial practice. Drawing from Malachi 3:8-12, the message highlights God's unique invitation to "test me" in tithing, promising blessings like open "windows of heaven" and protection from financial "devourers." It emphasizes that while God doesn't need our money, He deeply desires our hearts in every area, including our finances. Under the New Covenant, God's expectation for us is not grudging compliance but joyful, generous giving, as articulated in 2 Corinthians 9:7, where He loves a "cheerful giver." Delving deeper into the spices mentioned here, the message suggests an intriguing connection to the weightier matters. Mint, often used to cover unpleasant smells, contrasts with true justice, which doesn't cover up but brings hidden wrongs to light, demanding moral clarity. Dill, used for temporary stomach relief, is contrasted with biblical mercy, which doesn't just soothe symptoms but actively intervenes to address the root cause of suffering, like leaving the ninety-nine to pursue the one lost sheep. Cumin, an aggressive and overhearing spice, is contrasted with humbly walking before God in faithfulness. This calls us to move beyond superficial comfort to genuine, transformative action. The message further illustrates this contrast between performative and authentic love through Shakespeare's King Lear. Lear's first two daughters offer exaggerated declarations of love for inheritance, while Cordelia expresses her love simply and honestly, "according to my bond, no more, no less." Her integrity, though costly, reveals a love that is true, not transactional or performative. This mirrors Jesus' call for a faith that is real and active, rather than one focused on outward appearance or rigid adherence to minor details while neglecting the heart of God's kingdom. Ultimately, we are invited to bring God our very best, our "first fruits," with gratitude and joyful generosity, stepping into the true heart of God's plan for us and those around us.

Paul closes Colossians by showing that even a “goodbye” passage can disciple the church. He points to three people in the final greetings as living examples of what mature Christian life looks like. Epaphras models persevering prayer. Paul says Epaphras is “struggling” or “wrestling” in prayer for other believers, showing that prayer can be hard and requires intention, self-control, and sometimes sacrifice. The goal of his prayer is that Christians would “stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God”—not stuck in doubt or anxiety about God's direction. The sermon encourages believers to invest in disciplined prayer (planning for it, shaping habits around it), trust that God is working even when results aren't immediately visible, and look first to Scripture and wise counsel when seeking God's will—resting in the freedom God gives within biblical boundaries. Nympha models practical, courageous service and gospel community. Though only briefly mentioned, she hosts a church in her home, reminding the congregation that God uses ordinary resources—like a home, space, hospitality, and generosity—to build the church. House churches and smaller gatherings are highlighted as a New Testament pattern that helps believers truly “do life together,” deepening relationships beyond Sunday services. Archippus models faithfulness in ministry. Paul publicly urges him to “fulfill the ministry” he received from the Lord, which the sermon applies to anyone who feels discouraged, slowed down by life, or tempted to quit. Faithfulness doesn't always mean moving fast; sometimes it means slowing down without giving up and taking the next step, even if it's small. The message anchors this perseverance in God's character: even when we struggle to be faithful, God remains faithful, and he strengthens his people to keep going. Ultimately, every believer shares a core ministry in the Great Commission—making disciples—so the call is to keep obeying and serving steadily. Pastor Miguel concludes with a simple takeaway: pray like Epaphras (disciplined, persevering, seeking maturity and assurance in God's will), serve like Nympha (use what you have to build community and advance the gospel), and stay faithful like Archippus (keep fulfilling your calling, trusting God's faithfulness as you move forward).

In a difficult season for the early church—when leaders like Paul were imprisoned and communication was limited—the message is that God's people are part of something far bigger than a human organization, and God always has purpose in what He is doing. Paul's instructions in Colossians 4:2–6 become a practical guide for how the church remains strong and faithful in any era. First, believers are called to devote themselves to continual prayer—not as a spiritual luxury or empty church language, but as essential “oxygen” for spiritual life. Prayer should be watchful and alert: looking inward with honest self-examination (including confession, weakness, and spiritual thirst) and looking outward to notice the deeper needs of people that only Christ can truly meet. Along with prayer, gratitude should be genuine and from the heart, not merely polite words. Second, the church should pray intentionally for open doors to share the gospel and for pastors and leaders to proclaim Christ clearly. The sermon highlights that this matters both locally (including ministries to young adults) and globally (especially gospel work among children and schools), because the spread of the gospel is ultimately God's work, advanced through faithful prayer and obedience rather than human strength. Third, believers are urged to “walk in wisdom” toward outsiders—making the most of every opportunity and keeping their focus on what matters eternally. Non-believers are not opponents to win arguments against, but people to love, pray for, and invite into salvation, with a sincere desire that they would be in heaven with us. Finally, Christians should be ready to give a clear, hopeful answer for their faith with gentleness and respect. The gospel must not be diluted or treated as outdated—it is the life-changing message that Jesus died for sinners to rescue them from eternal separation from God, and it still transforms people, families, and communities today. The goal isn't to measure success by numbers, but to be found faithful—servants who prayed, lived wisely, spoke graciously, and made Christ known.

God's heart is the “shepherd heart” from Luke 15: He leaves the 99 to go after the one who's lost, hurt, or vulnerable, even putting Himself at risk to rescue and carry them home. Using Fantastic Four and the contrast with Galactus's transactional “consume and move on” mindset, the sermon challenges us to reject people-as-numbers thinking and ask: how far am I willing to go to protect and pursue the one God values?

The sermon uses the movie Thunderbolts as a picture of what it feels like to live with a painful past and the heavy weight of shame. The characters are trained killers and “disposable delinquents” with real darkness behind them, and the film's central struggle becomes: what do you do when you can't escape what you've done, what you've seen, or what you believe you are? From there, the message turns to Jesus' parable of the two sons (often called the prodigal son). The younger son's failure is obvious—he dishonors his father, wastes his inheritance, and ends up broken and desperate. But the sermon also points out that the older son is sinful too, not through wild living but through entitlement and self-righteous rule-keeping—believing the father “owes” him. The key takeaway is that everyone needs grace: the openly broken and the quietly proud. A major theme is the difference between guilt and shame. Guilt says, “I did something bad,” which can lead to repentance and change. Shame goes deeper and says, “I am something bad,” and that's where people get trapped—isolating, hiding in silence, replaying failure, and losing hope. The sermon connects this to the movie's “void” imagery, where people are forced to relive their worst moments, and to real life, where shame can feel spiritually and emotionally suffocating. The good news is that God's answer to shame is not condemnation but the Father's love. In the parable, the father does the shocking thing: he runs toward his son, embraces him before the son can prove anything, and restores him fully—robe, ring, sandals, and a feast. That picture is meant to reshape how we see God: not an angry boss waiting to punish, but a gracious and compassionate Father, slow to anger and abounding in love. The sermon emphasizes that Christians don't earn a place at the table; they are made clean and welcomed only through the blood of Jesus. Finally, the sermon highlights that shame is healed in the light—through confession, community, and people who will speak God's truth back to us. Like the Thunderbolts pulling someone out of the “void,” believers help one another by saying, in effect, “You're not alone, and you can come back.” Church is meant to be a fellowship of broken people—a “party for sinners,” a “dance for people who can't dance”—where no one pretends they qualify, but everyone is welcomed because of grace. The closing call is to stop hiding, come home to the Father, trust that God truly removes shame through the cross, and then live in gratitude, freedom, and honest community.

What if the little things you overlook every day are actually the key to winning the race that matters most? Pastor E draws from the film *F1* to illuminate one of Scripture's most beloved commands: *"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God"* (Micah 6:8). Just as driver Sonny reads the track, notices hidden details, and outmaneuvers his opponents through integrity and sacrifice, Pastor E challenges us to live with that same intentional awareness. He unpacks the Hebrew word *hesed*—covenant loyalty in action—showing how Sonny's relationships transform an entire racing team, mirroring David's radical welcome of Mephibosheth to his own table. Most powerfully, Pastor E reveals that Micah 6:8 isn't merely a moral checklist—it's a prophetic portrait of the cross, where divine justice and mercy are perfectly reconciled in Christ, freeing us from arrogance and expanding our capacity beyond our own limitations. You are not bound by your past, your exhaustion, or your inadequacy. This week, open your eyes to the people around you—and run your race with justice, *hesed*, and humble, resurrection-powered faith.

What if God has already shown you where you're headed, but the path feels impossible? Through the story of King David—anointed king yet hunted, doubting, hiding in caves—Pastor Wadmar reveals that faithfulness isn't the absence of struggle; it *is* the struggle. Like David singing "Why, God?" while fleeing Saul, we've all wrestled with callings that don't make sense. Wadmar's message offers a powerful contrast between Saul's hollow apologies and David's genuine repentance, challenging us to follow through on our "sorry." Don't miss this transformative message—watch it now!