The Verdict with Pastor John Munro Podcast

How does genuine faith respond under pressure? It produces a love for Christ that's even deeper than before. Pastor John Munro continues his study in First Peter, sharing why we can rejoice even in suffering. Learn how faith, tested by fire, becomes something more precious than gold.

Why are trials and suffering a part of life?  Pastor John Munro begins to examine what Scripture says about the purposes of God and what it means to have a faith that's been tested by fire. Discover how difficult seasons can become opportunities to deepen your faith and grow in your relationship with God.

What makes the Christian's future so bright? God gives followers of Jesus Christ a living hope. Pastor John Munro continues to explore this special hope and shares how this security changes our outlook on everything.

Followers of Christ have a living hope that changes our perspective. Pastor John Munro shows us why this hope isn't just wishful thinking—it's a guaranteed inheritance secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Discover the confidence that comes from this unshakable hope!

Based on the work of 16th-century theologian John Calvin, Calvinism often centers on the identity and implications of "the elect" as noted in Scripture. Some distinctions held by "Neo-Calvinists" can inadvertently confuse or divide--so what are followers of Christ to do?

What does it mean that our salvation involves all three persons of the Trinity? Pastor John Munro explores the powerful truth that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all intimately involved in our redemption. It's an encouraging reminder of the security we have in Christ as we continue our study in 1 Peter.

What is the Trinity and why does it matter? On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro examines this foundational Christian doctrine in the book of 1 Peter. Discover how God is one in essence yet three distinct Persons working together for your salvation.

When life feels out of control, what gives you security? On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explores how followers of Jesus Christ are the chosen people of God—loved with an everlasting love. Discover how God's plan of salvation for you provides unshakable identity and security, regardless of your circumstances.

As followers of Christ, we're called to be “in the world but not of it.” On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro examines Peter's first letter addressed to the “elect exiles”—believers scattered throughout ancient Rome. Learn what it means to live as strangers and exiles in a world that's not our permanent home.

Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed by the darkness or discouragement in our lives. But on this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro reminds us that life is precious and God's love for you is greater than any darkness. There is hope even in the most difficult situations of life!

All of us need good friends. But making or choosing good friends can be difficult. And being a good friend can be even harder! Join John as he reflects on the joys and risks of friendship, and how to be and make godly friends.

It'sIt'sIt's a tragic reality in our society that some people reach a point where they feel as though taking their life is the only way out. But God wants you to live a life of purpose and hope. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro begins an important discussion on the difficult subject of suicide.

Are you lonely? Have you recently lost a loved one? Are you struggling to connect with others? God didn't create us to live in isolation. He created us to live in community. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro shares what the Bible has to say about overcoming loneliness.

In recent years, many people have suffered from the pain of loneliness: loneliness in isolation, loneliness from the loss of a loved one, or loneliness from finding it difficult to connect with others. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explores what the Bible says about loneliness.

When we've been wronged, it's human nature to want revenge. And even though followers of Christ have been forgiven, that doesn't mean that it's easy to forgive those who hurt us. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro continues his encouraging study, With Wings Like Eagles, with a lesson on what to do when we're unable to forgive.

When Jesus Christ rose from the grave, it was more than just a spectacular miracle—it was victory over sin and death, and a promise of the same life and victory for all who follow Him. Pastor John Munro paints a vivid a picture of what this promise means for our lives today.

All of us want the power of God to be evident in our lives. But how is this accomplished? John discusses A.W. Tozer's Five Vows for Spiritual Power as a convicting and helpful tool in pursuing spiritual growth.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! That is the good news of the Gospel, and your response to that good news determines whether you will live in victory—or defeat. Pastor John Munro thoroughly unpacks the power found in the resurrection of Christ.

Most of us understand the idea of sacrifice. It might involve giving precious time or money to family or those in need. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro leads us to reflect on a totally unique sacrifice that is almost impossible to comprehend: the all-powerful, sovereign God giving His only Son so that we could be rescued.

Before Jesus went to the cross, He showed His disciples the full extent of His love. On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explores Jesus washing His disciples' feet. Discover the servanthood, selflessness, and sacrifice of our Savior that leads us to declare, "Hallelujah, what a Savior!"

The Gospel of Jesus Christ explains that God gave His only Son as a sacrifice so that our sins might be forgiven. But when you hear this, do you ever wonder…why? Why did Jesus have to die? Why did such a sacrifice have to be made? Pastor John Munro explains why Jesus was The Perfect Sacrifice.

Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate expression of God's love and forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and because of His perfect sacrifice, anyone can be saved by trusting in Him as Savior. In this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro helps us to understand the grace given at the cross.

Marriage is a special and sacred relationship because it was designed by God. And it's important for those contemplating marriage (even those who have been married before) to understand the biblical nature of this important covenant, often through premarital counseling.

When something goes wrong and our lives feel out of control, most of us are prone to worry. We fixate on the problem. We lose sleep. We can't think of anything else!  But in this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro turns to the Word of God to find the biblical cure for overcoming worry and anxiety.

In our world today, so many people are suffering from worry and anxiety. So, how do we exchange our worries for God's peace? In this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explores the answer as he continues an uplifting study called, With Wings Like Eagles.

When life is going well, it's easy to take things for granted and forget God. But when times are tough, we're quick to pray and ask the question: Where is God? In this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explores what we should do when our prayers seem to go unanswered.

Do you ever feel as though your prayers never make it past the ceiling? Is God simply not listening, or is He even there? Pastor John Munro discusses how to deal with those frustrating times and what to do when your prayers seem to go unanswered.

Sometimes fear is healthy when it keeps us from making dangerous choices.  But other times, our fears can paralyze us, and we become stuck and unable to move forward. Pastor John Munro presents the biblical cure for our most debilitating fears as he continues the series, With Wings Like Eagles.

Every day we are all faced with trials, struggles, and suffering. But Scripture calls for followers of Jesus Christ to respond to these times of life with a different perspective. We are people of faith, people of hope. So how does this change things?

Is there anything in your life that is causing you to be afraid? Perhaps you are worried about the future. No one is exempt from fear and current events only seem to magnify our fears! On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro shows us how to overcome our fears, even when the future appears uncertain.

Sometimes our pursuits and even our greatest successes fail to satisfy the hunger in our hearts. Why is that? What's missing that we can't seem to find? Pastor John Munro turns to Scripture to help you understand the true desires of your heart.

Have you ever reached a goal and felt disappointed or unsatisfied?  You sacrificed time and effort, but then found yourself wondering … What was the point?  Pastor John Munro begins an important discussion about what it really takes to satisfy the hunger of your soul.

We all get discouraged at times, but sometimes things go deeper and we're more than overwhelmed.  Many now struggle with depression, even young children.  But there is hope! In this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro shares a biblical perspective on Discouragement and Depression.

It's a mistake to assume that followers of Christ are immune to discouragement. Even David, who wrote many of the Psalms, struggled with dark moments. In this episode THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro shares the symptoms and the biblical cure for dealing with discouragement.

Why is preaching so important? What's different about biblical preaching vs. regular teaching or other modes of communication? And why is it so important to our spiritual growth?

In recent years, we've seen rising inflation, worsening division, and global unrest. For many of us, it sometimes feels as if our world has been turned upside down! In this episode, Pastor John Munro discusses what the Word of God can teach us about navigating these troubling times of uncertainty.

Sometimes problems creep slowly into our lives. But other times, devastating situations come like bolts from the blue—unexpected and unpredicted—and our lives are irrevocably changed. Pastor John Munro shares a lesson on what to do when life turns upside down.

Everywhere we look, people are getting angrier and angrier. Harsh words, conflicts, and acts of violence seem to dominate the headlines. How do we deal with our own frustration and the anger of others? That's the topic on this episode of THE VERDICT.

Today it seems that anger is all around us. From political division to hateful comments on social media so many are frustrated and on edge. Pastor John Munro warns us about the destructive power of anger and shares the biblical solution to handling this powerful emotion.

In the book of Psalms, the writer asks “Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Ever feel as though you can relate? Pastor John Munro offers insight and biblical truth for times of trouble, as he continues a series called With Wings Like Eagles.

How does someone read the Bible? How do you start? What should you expect? Why is it so important? Whether you're a new believer or longtime follower of Christ, go back to basics on reading God's Word!

Have you ever felt abandoned by God? When your prayers seem unanswered, and your problems only seem to get worse? Pastor John Munro explores the promises of God, and the incredible truth that God is always with us. If you've ever felt alone or struggled with doubt or despair, this message is for you!

With economic worries, brewing tensions and ongoing wars, it can be easy to worry. How do we trust God when the future seems so uncertain? Pastor John Munro shares fresh encouragement from the Word of God, as he continues a series called With Wings Like Eagles.

Fear. Loneliness. Worry. Disappointments. We all experience these struggles because life is difficult! But on this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro explains how God-centered living gives us hope and the supernatural strength we need to overcome the trials of life.

With all that's going on, it's easy to sometimes feel overwhelmed. But Pastor John Munro turns our attention to a promise in the book of Isaiah: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Each day brings new challenges we didn't see coming. And everyone, including followers of Christ, can feel overwhelmed at times. So, what are we supposed to do? On this episode of THE VERDICT, Pastor John Munro begins tackling this question in a practical biblical series called With Wings Like Eagles.

Apparently, there are more and more standing ovations in our society. Isn't that interesting? What does this tell us about ourselves? And what are the implications for clapping and ovations in worship services? Join John for his reflections on this intriguing aspect of human behavior.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ will completely transform your life. Not only are you reconciled with God and your sins forgiven, but your relationships and your perspective will be forever changed. Pastor John Munro concludes a study in Colossians, with three examples of the transformative power of the Gospel.

Pastor John Munro asks a very important question: What difference does the Gospel make in your life? Because for followers of Jesus Christ, every area of our lives should reflect His Lordship. People should see a difference. We're thinking of this marvelous transformation of the Gospel, as John continues his study in Colossians.

Some people think that going to church and being kind is what Christian living is all about. But followers of Jesus Christ are meant to live out the Gospel in every area of our lives. Pastor John Munro teaches how prayer and evangelism naturally flow from our love for Christ.

There are some who think that work is punishment! But Pastor John Munro presents the Biblical view of work which may surprise you. Work was given to man by God before the Fall, and presents a privilege and an opportunity to magnify the glory of God.