Podcasts about god life

One of the most frustrating things about following Jesus is when the wrong kingdom appears to be winning. It seems to have more people, more influence, more freedom, more power, more options. And if we’re honest, that can be confusing. We believe Jesus is King, that He reigns. His Kingdom is now, but also not yet. We look around & see how active the kingdom of darkness is. It’s loud, attractive, & powerful. The world still pressures us to follow its values, worship its idols, chase its promises, and trust its version of life. It’s easy to wonder, if God’s King is truly on the throne, why does the wrong kingdom still have so much influence? It’s the question many in Judah were asking in 2 Sam 2. David is finally king. The promise God made years earlier is finally being fulfilled. But almost immediately, another kingdom rises in opposition. Another king is installed. Another throne competes for Israel’s loyalty. The question was no longer “Will David become king?” That question has been answered. The question now is, “What happens when God’s true king reigns, but rival kingdoms still remain?” That is the world David steps into. It’s the world Christians live in today.

What did you think of today's message? Support the showWith Northgate Online, you can join us every Sunday live at 9:00a and 11:00a, and our gatherings are available on-demand starting at 7p! Join us at https://thisis.churchSubscribe to our channel to see more messages from Northgate: https://www.youtube.com/@Northgate2201  —If you would like to give, visit https://thisis.church/give/—Check out our Care Ministries for prayer, food pantry, memorial services and more at https://thisis.church/care—You are welcome at Northgate just like you are. Life may be going great for you or you may have hurts, hang-ups, and habits. No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome at Northgate. We value the process of journey. We believe in the transformative power of Christ. Northgate has a clear vision of transforming our homes, communities, and world by Pursuing God, Building Community, and Unleashing Compassion.—Follow Northgate on Instagram: https://instgram.com/ngatecfFollow Northgate on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsNorthgate/Follow Larry Davis: https://www.instagram.com/sirlawrencedavisSubscribe to Northgate's Podcast (Apple): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/northgate/id1583512612Subscribe to Northgate's Podcast (Google): https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS81ODE2ODAucnNzShare your experience with Northgate by leaving a review: https://g.page/r/CRHE7UBydhxzEBM/review...

What happens when success comes before humility? When power comes before character? What happens when abundance comes before dependence? We tend to think God's promises will solve our problems. It sure can feel like the hardest part of receiving God's promises is waiting for them. But what if the harder task is becoming the kind of person who can receive them well? What happens when a promise arrives before we're prepared for it? Here’s another question. Is God being cruel when He delays His promises? Or punishing us when He keeps us waiting? Some of God's greatest acts of mercy come in the form of delays. God never gives His children His promises too soon. He prepares us first. Not because He expects us to “earn” His promises. We never would, and we never could. No, He loves us enough to prepare us beforehand for those promises. In this passage, David is finally standing at the edge of everything God promised him. Saul is dead. The throne is within reach. The years of waiting are almost over. The promise is now arriving. And in this song, we discover something surprising. The greatest evidence of God's grace in David's life is not that he eventually received the kingdom. It's the kind of man God made him while he was waiting for it.

Have you ever thought you understood what makes someone tick but found out you were completely wrong? You knew the important facts about them. You knew what they liked, what they believed, what they had accomplished, but you completely misread their character, you fundamentally misunderstood who they really were. You assumed they would respond to something one way, and they responded the exact opposite. You thought they would approve of something, celebrate something, reward something... and instead they were offended by it, and rejected it. The fact is, it's possible to know a lot about someone and still completely misunderstand who they are. That's true in relationships. It's even more dangerous when it's true about God. Today we find a story of someone who knows a lot about David but completely misunderstands who he is.

This week we explore Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52, a series of short parables Jesus told to convey what God's realm is like. Today Jesus likens God-Life to yeast. Hmmm....  © Kate Heichler, 2026. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday.

What would it take for you to conclude that God's promises had failed? What circumstances would have to unfold before you finally say, "This is it. God's plan has collapsed. The enemy has won." Now, us "church people" know we're not supposed to say that out loud. But let's be honest. Most of us have faced moments that tempted us to think exactly that. "Well... there's no coming back from this." Maybe you poured years into a job, a business, or a relationship, only to watch it collapse. Maybe you thought you knew where life was headed, and suddenly it wasn't. Maybe you prayed for something that seemed right, only to watch the door slam shut. Maybe you found yourself in a season, or situation you never planned for and never would have chosen. Or maybe you’re someone who feels like you've simply made too many mistakes, taken too many wrong turns, and you will never recover what you've lost. Those are the moments when the very things we've been pointing to as evidence that God is at work suddenly begin falling apart. That's the tension of 1 Samuel 31. Can God's promises survive the collapse of everything that appears to support them? Today we'll discover that when God's promises appear closest to dying, God is often accomplishing them most powerfully.

What would it take for you to conclude that God's promises had failed? What circumstances would have to unfold before you finally say, "This is it. God's plan has collapsed. The enemy has won." Now, us "church people" know we're not supposed to say that out loud. But let's be honest. Most of us have faced moments that tempted us to think exactly that. "Well... there's no coming back from this." Maybe you poured years into a job, a business, or a relationship, only to watch it collapse. Maybe you thought you knew where life was headed, and suddenly it wasn't. Maybe you prayed for something that seemed right, only to watch the door slam shut. Maybe you found yourself in a season, or situation you never planned for and never would have chosen. Or maybe you’re someone who feels like you've simply made too many mistakes, taken too many wrong turns, and you will never recover what you've lost. Those are the moments when the very things we've been pointing to as evidence that God is at work suddenly begin falling apart. That's the tension of 1 Samuel 31. Can God's promises survive the collapse of everything that appears to support them? Today we'll discover that when God's promises appear closest to dying, God is often accomplishing them most powerfully.

Do you ever look around at other Christians and assume most everybody else is doing better spiritually than you? Like somehow, they’re winning battles you keep struggling with. Their faith seems stronger. Their life seems cleaner. Their prayers seem more confident. Meanwhile, you’re exhausted just trying to hold yourself together. Or maybe you’re on the other side of that. Maybe life is stable right now. Your faith feels strong. You’re productive, disciplined, serving, succeeding, and without even realizing it, you slowly begin measuring yourself against weaker, struggling people. We don’t like admitting that part out loud, but it happens all the time in the human heart. We compare, rank, measure. We quietly decide who seems spiritually strong, useful, mature, valuable & who doesn’t. We understand grace in theory; We still seem to operate like the Kingdom of God works the same way the world does: That blessings in the Kingdom of God are on a merit-based system. Those who are doing their best deserve more. The people who contribute the most should receive the greatest reward. But in 1 Samuel 30, David looks at the exhausted, weak men who couldn’t even finish the battle… and declares they share equally in the king’s victory. And behind that moment is one of the most beautiful pictures of grace in the entire wilderness story of David.

Do you ever look around at other Christians and assume most everybody else is doing better spiritually than you? Like somehow, they’re winning battles you keep struggling with. Their faith seems stronger. Their life seems cleaner. Their prayers seem more confident. Meanwhile, you’re exhausted just trying to hold yourself together. Or maybe you’re on the other side of that. Maybe life is stable right now. Your faith feels strong. You’re productive, disciplined, serving, succeeding, and without even realizing it, you slowly begin measuring yourself against weaker, struggling people. We don’t like admitting that part out loud, but it happens all the time in the human heart. We compare, rank, measure. We quietly decide who seems spiritually strong, useful, mature, valuable & who doesn’t. We understand grace in theory; We still seem to operate like the Kingdom of God works the same way the world does: That blessings in the Kingdom of God are on a merit-based system. Those who are doing their best deserve more. The people who contribute the most should receive the greatest reward. But in 1 Samuel 30, David looks at the exhausted, weak men who couldn’t even finish the battle… and declares they share equally in the king’s victory. And behind that moment is one of the most beautiful pictures of grace in the entire wilderness story of David.

Message from Bobby Warrenburg on June 21, 2026

Have you ever had a moment where life changed so fast it felt like the ground disappeared underneath you? Where suddenly the life you were building, the future you imagined, the things that made you feel stable and secure all started collapsing at once? For a child of God, those moments are deeply spiritual. We start asking questions we usually neglect when life is comfortable. What’s God doing? Why would God allow this? Has He abandoned me? Is this punishment? And if we’re honest, sometimes the hardest part isn’t even the pain itself. It’s the confusion. Some suffering clearly comes from our own foolishness. But some suffering crashes into our lives completely uninvited. Sometimes we suffer because we wandered. Other times because we live in a fallen world filled with sin, evil, disease, betrayal, and death. But either way, when life turns to ashes, the question underneath all the others is usually the same: “Can God still be at work here?” That’s what I see in 1 Samuel 30. This is the most powerful moment in the wilderness.

Have you ever had a moment where life changed so fast it felt like the ground disappeared underneath you? Where suddenly the life you were building, the future you imagined, the things that made you feel stable and secure all started collapsing at once? For a child of God, those moments are deeply spiritual. We start asking questions we usually neglect when life is comfortable. What’s God doing? Why would God allow this? Has He abandoned me? Is this punishment? And if we’re honest, sometimes the hardest part isn’t even the pain itself. It’s the confusion. Some suffering clearly comes from our own foolishness. But some suffering crashes into our lives completely uninvited. Sometimes we suffer because we wandered. Other times because we live in a fallen world filled with sin, evil, disease, betrayal, and death. But either way, when life turns to ashes, the question underneath all the others is usually the same: “Can God still be at work here?” That’s what I see in 1 Samuel 30. This is the most powerful moment in the wilderness.

TODAY'S TREASUREJonathan helped David find strength in God. 1 Samuel 23:16Send us a comment!Support the show

Have you ever found yourself somewhere you never thought you’d be, asking yourself, “How did I get here?” You didn’t just wake up one morning wanting to rebel against God. Instead, a series of small, seemingly reasonable decisions slowly took you there. Not because you stopped loving Jesus or stopped believing the Bible, but because fear, exhaustion, disappointment, or simply the pressure of real life slowly convinced you that trusting God wasn’t enough. At least not right now. You didn’t walk away from God. That would have been obvious. You started making practical choices that seemed wise at the time, but they slowly pulled you away from God and His people. And before you knew it, you’re standing in a place you never thought you’d stand, wondering how in the world you got there. This morning, we’re going to watch the man who stood up to Goliath… now finds himself standing shoulder to shoulder with the enemies of God’s people. The most unsettling part is, he doesn’t seem to realize how close he is to disaster.

Have you ever found yourself somewhere you never thought you’d be, asking yourself, “How did I get here?” You didn’t just wake up one morning wanting to rebel against God. Instead, a series of small, seemingly reasonable decisions slowly took you there. Not because you stopped loving Jesus or stopped believing the Bible, but because fear, exhaustion, disappointment, or simply the pressure of real life slowly convinced you that trusting God wasn’t enough. At least not right now. You didn’t walk away from God. That would have been obvious. You started making practical choices that seemed wise at the time, but they slowly pulled you away from God and His people. And before you knew it, you’re standing in a place you never thought you’d stand, wondering how in the world you got there. This morning, we’re going to watch the man who stood up to Goliath… now finds himself standing shoulder to shoulder with the enemies of God’s people. The most unsettling part is, he doesn’t seem to realize how close he is to disaster.

As a Christian you’ve had moments where you knew exactly what God wanted from you, but if you’re honest, you didn’t really want to hear it. Maybe it was forgiving someone. Maybe it was telling the truth when lying would have been easier. Maybe it was ending a relationship, confessing a sin, having a hard conversation, or walking away from something you knew was pulling your heart away from God. If you’re anything like me, in those moments we usually don’t say, “God, I don’t want to obey You.” That’s too obvious. Instead, we put it off. We delay obedience… “I just need more clarity.” “I’m just waiting on the Lord.” And honestly, sometimes all of that can be true. But other times, we’re not really waiting on God at all. We expect God to wait on us. Today’s passage takes us into the final stages of one of the darkest, sobering personal stories in the OT. It may reveal something in you, you didn’t realize needed your attention.

As a Christian you’ve had moments where you knew exactly what God wanted from you, but if you’re honest, you didn’t really want to hear it. Maybe it was forgiving someone. Maybe it was telling the truth when lying would have been easier. Maybe it was ending a relationship, confessing a sin, having a hard conversation, or walking away from something you knew was pulling your heart away from God. If you’re anything like me, in those moments we usually don’t say, “God, I don’t want to obey You.” That’s too obvious. Instead, we put it off. We delay obedience… “I just need more clarity.” “I’m just waiting on the Lord.” And honestly, sometimes all of that can be true. But other times, we’re not really waiting on God at all. We expect God to wait on us. Today’s passage takes us into the final stages of one of the darkest, sobering personal stories in the OT. It may reveal something in you, you didn’t realize needed your attention.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve had those moments when you desperately wanted God to speak, but what came back felt like deafening silence. Those moments can make it feel like life, and even your faith, is starting to unravel. It can be a diagnosis, betrayal, a child making destructive choices, and you feel powerless to stop them. It can be a marriage hanging by a thread, a financial situation you can’t fix. A temptation you thought you were past suddenly coming back stronger than ever. So you do what Christians are supposed to do, right? You open your Bible. You pray for wisdom, direction, clarity… for God to make the next step obvious. But instead of clarity, instead of direction, you get what feels like silence from Heaven. That kind of silence can mess with you. It can make strong people weak, confident people anxious, and faithful people start asking dangerous questions: Did I do something wrong? Is God disappointed in me? Is He testing me? Or worse, has God cut me off or forgotten me? Are you even there Lord? In those moments, there’s a powerful opportunity for faith to be exposed, strengthened, and even deepened. Because what you do in that silence reveals more about your heart than almost anything else in your life. Do you run to God… or do you start looking somewhere else? Saul, sadly & not surprisingly, looked somewhere else.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ve had those moments when you desperately wanted God to speak, but what came back felt like deafening silence. Those moments can make it feel like life, and even your faith, is starting to unravel. It can be a diagnosis, betrayal, a child making destructive choices, and you feel powerless to stop them. It can be a marriage hanging by a thread, a financial situation you can’t fix. A temptation you thought you were past suddenly coming back stronger than ever. So you do what Christians are supposed to do, right? You open your Bible. You pray for wisdom, direction, clarity… for God to make the next step obvious. But instead of clarity, instead of direction, you get what feels like silence from Heaven. That kind of silence can mess with you. It can make strong people weak, confident people anxious, and faithful people start asking dangerous questions: Did I do something wrong? Is God disappointed in me? Is He testing me? Or worse, has God cut me off or forgotten me? Are you even there Lord? In those moments, there’s a powerful opportunity for faith to be exposed, strengthened, and even deepened. Because what you do in that silence reveals more about your heart than almost anything else in your life. Do you run to God… or do you start looking somewhere else? Saul, sadly & not surprisingly, looked somewhere else.

We’ve all had moments where we knew what God said, even believed it, but somehow, it just didn’t feel like enough. Not enough to fully trust what He’s promised. Not enough to build your decision on or hold you up in real life. So, you didn’t walk away from God, I mean that would be silly. But you did start looking for “other options”. Perhaps something a little more practical, a little more immediate. Something you feel like you can make work. And if you’re honest, it did work. At least for a while, it gives you some relief, or it makes things feel manageable. It might have even brought a little bit of earthly success. But somewhere in the middle of all that… something felt off. Because deep down, you knew you were building part of your life on something that wasn’t true. You didn’t stop believing in God… You had just started trusting something else more. And the scary part is, that kind of shift almost never happens at all. It’s subtle, quiet, feels reasonable, even logical, like you have no other choice. That’s exactly where we find David in 1 Samuel 27. And trust me, there’s a lot to learn from this one.

We’ve all had moments where we knew what God said, even believed it, but somehow, it just didn’t feel like enough. Not enough to fully trust what He’s promised. Not enough to build your decision on or hold you up in real life. So, you didn’t walk away from God, I mean that would be silly. But you did start looking for “other options”. Perhaps something a little more practical, a little more immediate. Something you feel like you can make work. And if you’re honest, it did work. At least for a while, it gives you some relief, or it makes things feel manageable. It might have even brought a little bit of earthly success. But somewhere in the middle of all that… something felt off. Because deep down, you knew you were building part of your life on something that wasn’t true. You didn’t stop believing in God… You had just started trusting something else more. And the scary part is, that kind of shift almost never happens at all. It’s subtle, quiet, feels reasonable, even logical, like you have no other choice. That’s exactly where we find David in 1 Samuel 27. And trust me, there’s a lot to learn from this one.

We’ve all had certain moments that seem powerful & spiritual. You hear truth, and you feel it. It lands on you, maybe even hits you hard. You agree with it, you know it’s right, and for a moment, it feels like something is going to change… but then life keeps moving, and somehow, nothing does change. If we’re honest, most of us have a growing collection of moments like that, powerful moments that slowly fade into the background. And over time, truth that once felt urgent starts to feel familiar. What once stopped you in your tracks doesn’t even slow you down anymore. And here’s the uncomfortable question that comes with that: How is it possible to hear the truth, recognize it, even feel the weight of it… yet remain completely unchanged? We tend to assume that if something is clear enough, explained well enough, or felt deeply enough, then change will naturally follow. But experience tells us that’s not always true. There’s a kind of hearing that doesn’t lead to obedience, a kind of conviction that doesn’t lead to repentance. If that’s true, then the real issue isn’t just whether we’ve heard the truth… it’s what happens in us when we do. That’s what we see in today’s passage.

We’ve all had certain moments that seem powerful & spiritual. You hear truth, and you feel it. It lands on you, maybe even hits you hard. You agree with it, you know it’s right, and for a moment, it feels like something is going to change… but then life keeps moving, and somehow, nothing does change. If we’re honest, most of us have a growing collection of moments like that, powerful moments that slowly fade into the background. And over time, truth that once felt urgent starts to feel familiar. What once stopped you in your tracks doesn’t even slow you down anymore. And here’s the uncomfortable question that comes with that: How is it possible to hear the truth, recognize it, even feel the weight of it… yet remain completely unchanged? We tend to assume that if something is clear enough, explained well enough, or felt deeply enough, then change will naturally follow. But experience tells us that’s not always true. There’s a kind of hearing that doesn’t lead to obedience, a kind of conviction that doesn’t lead to repentance. If that’s true, then the real issue isn’t just whether we’ve heard the truth… it’s what happens in us when we do. That’s what we see in today’s passage.

We don't often think of God in a position of validating us! Yet, that's what He desires to do. God's way of living is one of having a tender heart toward those less fortunate, and compassion for those who are lonely and forgotten. God doesn't ask for rule keepers. Instead, He looks for those who know love restores hope, covers shame and heals broken hearts.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us. Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Nancy Holland and Adam Maddock

We learned recently in this series how as Christians, we must be willing have hard, loving conversations with each other. But we often face another kind of moment that will require wisdom and courage… when we are confronted by evil. Have you ever personally been confronted by evil & walked away thinking, “Man, I should’ve taken a stand”? Or maybe you walked away thinking, “I shouldn’t have said that… I shouldn’t have done that”? Same kind of moment. Completely different regrets. When we come face to face with evil, how we respond in that moment is critical. In those moments, something is driving you. It’s fear trying to protect you. Pride is convincing you to take control, as if you’re qualified to step into the role of God. And most of the time, we don’t even slow down long enough to recognize it. Do you see how important these moments are? When confronted with evil, we need to handle it correctly. How can we walk into those moments, see them clearly, and not get it wrong? That’s where this passage takes us.

We learned recently in this series how as Christians, we must be willing have hard, loving conversations with each other. But we often face another kind of moment that will require wisdom and courage… when we are confronted by evil. Have you ever personally been confronted by evil & walked away thinking, “Man, I should’ve taken a stand”? Or maybe you walked away thinking, “I shouldn’t have said that… I shouldn’t have done that”? Same kind of moment. Completely different regrets. When we come face to face with evil, how we respond in that moment is critical. In those moments, something is driving you. It’s fear trying to protect you. Pride is convincing you to take control, as if you’re qualified to step into the role of God. And most of the time, we don’t even slow down long enough to recognize it. Do you see how important these moments are? When confronted with evil, we need to handle it correctly. How can we walk into those moments, see them clearly, and not get it wrong? That’s where this passage takes us.

It’s easy to recognize grace when it shows up as mercy, forgiveness, or as escaping consequences we deserve. We like it when God’s grace sounds like “yes.” YES, to mercy. YES, to blessing. YES, to provision. That’s the kind of grace we like to hear about in sermons, and sing about in worship. But sometimes God’s grace is harder to recognize. Because sometimes, grace sounds like “no.” And those “no” moments can be the most important moments in your life. When grace steps in, protects you from yourself, stops you from sinning, keeps you from blowing your life up, it may not feel like grace. “No” moments feel inconvenient, interruptive, resistant, even frustrating. Imagine if God gave us the kind of heart that could recognize those moments for what they really are: moments when grace has stopped us in our tracks. Imagine how that would change our day-to-day walk with Jesus. Imagine how much stronger our precious church family would be if we all could have that wisdom. It’s the kind of grace most of us don’t recognize… and even fewer of us are willing to embrace. That’s the kind of moment we’re stepping into today.

It’s easy to recognize grace when it shows up as mercy, forgiveness, or as escaping consequences we deserve. We like it when God’s grace sounds like “yes.” YES, to mercy. YES, to blessing. YES, to provision. That’s the kind of grace we like to hear about in sermons, and sing about in worship. But sometimes God’s grace is harder to recognize. Because sometimes, grace sounds like “no.” And those “no” moments can be the most important moments in your life. When grace steps in, protects you from yourself, stops you from sinning, keeps you from blowing your life up, it may not feel like grace. “No” moments feel inconvenient, interruptive, resistant, even frustrating. Imagine if God gave us the kind of heart that could recognize those moments for what they really are: moments when grace has stopped us in our tracks. Imagine how that would change our day-to-day walk with Jesus. Imagine how much stronger our precious church family would be if we all could have that wisdom. It’s the kind of grace most of us don’t recognize… and even fewer of us are willing to embrace. That’s the kind of moment we’re stepping into today.

Sometimes, someone steps into your life… and say something you didn’t want to hear… but deep down you knew they were right. Not an enemy, or someone trying to hurt you, but someone who actually cared about you. And everything in you wanted to push back? To explain it away? To justify yourself. To say, “They don’t understand.” But if you’re honest… you knew they did understand. You just didn’t want to listen. And here’s the tension… Sometimes the greatest moments of grace don’t feel like grace. It feels like criticism. But what if it’s literally God stepping into your life before you make a sinful or unwise choice you can’t take back? Listen, we all love that part of grace that forgives us after we mess up. But we seem to be annoyed by the part of grace that stops us BEFORE we make that big mistake, we would need forgiveness for. The kind that shows up through people… at just the right moment… to say the one thing we don’t really want to hear. Maybe even more uncomfortable… Sometimes God uses you to be that person for someone else? Today is a moment where one person’s wisdom steps into another man’s life… and stops him from becoming something he never intended to be.

Sometimes, someone steps into your life… and say something you didn’t want to hear… but deep down you knew they were right. Not an enemy, or someone trying to hurt you, but someone who actually cared about you. And everything in you wanted to push back? To explain it away? To justify yourself. To say, “They don’t understand.” But if you’re honest… you knew they did understand. You just didn’t want to listen. And here’s the tension… Sometimes the greatest moments of grace don’t feel like grace. It feels like criticism. But what if it’s literally God stepping into your life before you make a sinful or unwise choice you can’t take back? Listen, we all love that part of grace that forgives us after we mess up. But we seem to be annoyed by the part of grace that stops us BEFORE we make that big mistake, we would need forgiveness for. The kind that shows up through people… at just the right moment… to say the one thing we don’t really want to hear. Maybe even more uncomfortable… Sometimes God uses you to be that person for someone else? Today is a moment where one person’s wisdom steps into another man’s life… and stops him from becoming something he never intended to be.

This week we begin a 3-sermon miniseries if you will, about foolishness, wisdom, and how we should respond to both. We tend to think foolishness is obvious. It looks like bad decisions, reckless living, people who don’t know any better. But what if the most dangerous kind of foolishness… doesn’t look foolish at all? What if it looks successful? Respected? - Even… blessed? The truth is, you can believe in God, go to church, say all the right things… and still be a fool. That’s why the greatest danger in your life right now might not be what you’re doing wrong… but what you’re convinced is right. That’s what scripture defines as foolishness. It’s not ignorance, inexperience, or even human error. It’s deciding, for whatever reason, a part of, or all of God’s authority somehow doesn’t apply to you. Today we’re going to see just how dangerous this kind of foolishness is. Because even if you look very successful, if you’re holding on to foolishness, you could be standing one step away from destruction… without even knowing it.

This week we begin a 3-sermon miniseries if you will, about foolishness, wisdom, and how we should respond to both. We tend to think foolishness is obvious. It looks like bad decisions, reckless living, people who don’t know any better. But what if the most dangerous kind of foolishness… doesn’t look foolish at all? What if it looks successful? Respected? - Even… blessed? The truth is, you can believe in God, go to church, say all the right things… and still be a fool. That’s why the greatest danger in your life right now might not be what you’re doing wrong… but what you’re convinced is right. That’s what scripture defines as foolishness. It’s not ignorance, inexperience, or even human error. It’s deciding, for whatever reason, a part of, or all of God’s authority somehow doesn’t apply to you. Today we’re going to see just how dangerous this kind of foolishness is. Because even if you look very successful, if you’re holding on to foolishness, you could be standing one step away from destruction… without even knowing it.

Matt Shiles welcomes Pastor Josh back to the studio for this episode of Extra Takes. This week, they discuss Pastor Josh's message about laughter, from Genesis 17-18 and 21 regarding Sarah and Abraham's different laughter. They go further to discuss how this was all pointing forward toward the laughter that Jesus would bring. Join us for this fun episode from the Extra Takes Studio.

The Sacred Overlap Part 7

Got a question? Let us know!Host (Heather): Welcome to Made for Mondays—the podcast where we explore ways to bring Sunday's message into our everyday lives. Who's joining me today?Guests (Jamey and Tyler): Hey everyone!WEEKEND CHITCHATHost: Alright, before we jump in—what did y'all get into this weekend?Host Transition: Okay, now that we've established we're real people with real lives…BIBLE READING CHALLENGEHost: How's Jesus speaking to you through the Bible Reading Challenge this week?(Deuteronomy, Joshua, Mark, Luke)SUNDAY DISHHost: Tyler, this week you walked us into Step 11 by reminding us that connection with God grows through practice, not pressure. From Philippians 4, you showed us that prayer, meditation, gratitude, and steadying our thoughts aren't ways to earn closeness with God—they're ways to live with Him.Q1 – Personal Entry PointWhen you think about your current connection with God, what word or phrase comes to mind—and why?Follow-up: Has that felt consistent lately, or has it been shifting?Q2 – Joy Before the ChangePaul talks about rejoicing—even while under house arrest.How does that challenge the way we tie joy to circumstances instead of closeness with Jesus?Follow-up: What might change in our prayer life if we focused on being with God before asking Him to fix things?Q3 – Practice, Not PressureOur big idea is: connection with God grows through practice, not pressure.The Jewish people built their lives around rhythms with God, while we often try to “fit Him in.”What does that difference reveal about how we view our relationship with Him?Follow-up: How might even a few intentional rhythms reshape that connection?Q4 – When Noise WinsWe talked about both external and internal noise.What tends to drown out God most in our lives right now?Follow-up: How can community help us notice when life feels full—but our souls are running dry?Q5 – The Next Right ThingTyler, you tied connection with God to simple obedience—doing the next right thing.For someone who feels stuck, what's one small step they could take this week?Follow-up: Why does God so often meet us in ordinary obedience instead of big breakthrough moments?JOIN US SUNDAY!Host: That's all we've got for today! We'll see you and your guests this Sunday at 9 and 10:45 as we take the final (yet ongoing) step together.If you can't make it in person, join us on YouTube at 1PM.We know these Steps have been challenging—but we hope they've also been deeply rewarding.Remember—it works if you work it.Until next time… go BE LOVE!Stay Connected Website: https://believerschurch.org/ Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f

Have you ever had a moment where you knew you were wrong… and you felt it? A moment when you said the right words. You even shed a few tears, said you were sorry, but deep down… nothing changed? How about this question: Have you ever admired Jesus, but quietly kept control? Ever said, “Lord, you’re right”, but walked away still negotiating? We’ve built a church culture, especially in America, that confuses emotion with devotion. We think intensity equals authenticity, assume that because we feel deeply, we’ve been transformed deeply. But sentiment doesn’t = surrender. Scripture makes a clear, uncomfortable distinction between regret & redemption, tears & surrender. If we don’t understand the difference, we can spend years looking spiritual. Singing. Confessing. Agreeing. Even weeping, but still never stepping off our throne. That’s the story we’ll see today. A man who has what seems to be a deeply spiritual moment complete with public confession, emotional breakdown, declaration of truth, all of it! In fact, if there had been some kind of “an altar call”, he probably would have gone forward, knelt, cried, prayed. Yet he walks away from that powerful moment unchanged. I call it “almost surrender.”, a dangerous spiritual condition. That’s why we need this sermon, to help us know if we are just weeping, or surrendering, & how to do that.

Have you ever had a moment where you knew you were wrong… and you felt it? A moment when you said the right words. You even shed a few tears, said you were sorry, but deep down… nothing changed? How about this question: Have you ever admired Jesus, but quietly kept control? Ever said, “Lord, you’re right”, but walked away still negotiating? We’ve built a church culture, especially in America, that confuses emotion with devotion. We think intensity equals authenticity, assume that because we feel deeply, we’ve been transformed deeply. But sentiment doesn’t = surrender. Scripture makes a clear, uncomfortable distinction between regret & redemption, tears & surrender. If we don’t understand the difference, we can spend years looking spiritual. Singing. Confessing. Agreeing. Even weeping, but still never stepping off our throne. That’s the story we’ll see today. A man who has what seems to be a deeply spiritual moment complete with public confession, emotional breakdown, declaration of truth, all of it! In fact, if there had been some kind of “an altar call”, he probably would have gone forward, knelt, cried, prayed. Yet he walks away from that powerful moment unchanged. I call it “almost surrender.”, a dangerous spiritual condition. That’s why we need this sermon, to help us know if we are just weeping, or surrendering, & how to do that.

03/08/26 Experiencing God: Life You Can't Live Without the Spirit - Johnny D by City Tribe Church

Life is about assignment! Jesus was a clear example of how to live according to the will of God. We need to continually draw close to Him to know where He's calling us!

Have you ever experienced times in your life where you felt like God was silent? Hard to hear? Difficult to access? I hear people say they need clarity, direction, guidance for God’s will, as if the issue is whether God is willing to speak. I’ve seen people assume the silence they perceive is because they’re unworthy & as a result God has cut off access! Let me break the suspense. Left to ourselves, none of us are ever worthy of Access to God, of hearing from God. Sometimes the issue isn’t whether God is willing to speak, but if we have forgotten how (or chosen not) to listen. There are stories in scripture where God’s silence is terrifying. And moments where God’s nearness is sheer grace. Today we see how God refuses to guide one man but gives explicit direction to another. What’s going on? Have you ever wondered how to interpret God’s silence?... Or for that matter wondered why God answers others but not you? This story sits in that tension. One king can no longer hear from God, another is hunted, betrayed, yet still somehow guided step by step by God’s word. It’s a story about access to God. Who has it? Who doesn’t? The questions are crucial! Because of Jesus, here is the reality. God is NEVER silent with His people. We ALWAYS have access to God. That’s why today’s story in our series on the Life of David is critical for many of you here who think God has gone silent in your life.

Have you ever experienced times in your life where you felt like God was silent? Hard to hear? Difficult to access? I hear people say they need clarity, direction, guidance for God’s will, as if the issue is whether God is willing to speak. I’ve seen people assume the silence they perceive is because they’re unworthy & as a result God has cut off access! Let me break the suspense. Left to ourselves, none of us are ever worthy of Access to God, of hearing from God. Sometimes the issue isn’t whether God is willing to speak, but if we have forgotten how (or chosen not) to listen. There are stories in scripture where God’s silence is terrifying. And moments where God’s nearness is sheer grace. Today we see how God refuses to guide one man but gives explicit direction to another. What’s going on? Have you ever wondered how to interpret God’s silence?... Or for that matter wondered why God answers others but not you? This story sits in that tension. One king can no longer hear from God, another is hunted, betrayed, yet still somehow guided step by step by God’s word. It’s a story about access to God. Who has it? Who doesn’t? The questions are crucial! Because of Jesus, here is the reality. God is NEVER silent with His people. We ALWAYS have access to God. That’s why today’s story in our series on the Life of David is critical for many of you here who think God has gone silent in your life.

There are parts of the Bible we love to frame & hang on the wall, make cute memes to post on SM. Then the parts we’re not quite sure what to do with. Stories that don’t feel encouraging, that even make us uncomfortable with God and His Word. Today is one of those. At some point in our lives, we will be forced to answer the question: Lord, why? Why did this tragedy happen? It seems so senseless, so out of step with what I expect from You. It’s not a place we want to visit, but many of us will. It’s a tragic place called “Nob”. It’s a place of brutality, injustice, and loss, that forces us to ask whether God is still sovereign when evil seems to win. But it also shows us something else. That even in places where judgment is real, even where evil is unleashed, God is still present, preserving what belongs to Him. If you’ve ever wondered how God’s judgement and mercy can occupy the same space, this sermon is for you.

There are parts of the Bible we love to frame & hang on the wall, make cute memes to post on SM. Then the parts we’re not quite sure what to do with. Stories that don’t feel encouraging, that even make us uncomfortable with God and His Word. Today is one of those. At some point in our lives, we will be forced to answer the question: Lord, why? Why did this tragedy happen? It seems so senseless, so out of step with what I expect from You. It’s not a place we want to visit, but many of us will. It’s a tragic place called “Nob”. It’s a place of brutality, injustice, and loss, that forces us to ask whether God is still sovereign when evil seems to win. But it also shows us something else. That even in places where judgment is real, even where evil is unleashed, God is still present, preserving what belongs to Him. If you’ve ever wondered how God’s judgement and mercy can occupy the same space, this sermon is for you.

We are, by nature, very short-sighted people. We look at our lives through a keyhole, we see the crisis of Tuesday, the stress of Wednesday, and the bills due on Friday. We are obsessed with the immediate "right now." And because we are so focused on the immediate, we tend to view God as a reactive God. We struggle with what I call "Temporal Narcissism", the idea that God’s clock started when we showed up. We think God sits in heaven responding to our choices, good or bad, with some immediate prescriptive consequence or blessing. Like He is just waiting for us to burn our lives to the ground so He can come up with a Plan B, or for us to “perform well” so he can send us “good job” gifts. If we truly believe in a Sovereign God, we must embrace a much bigger reality: God has no "Plan B." only Plan A. God’s Covenant of Grace is not a reaction to your faithfulness, or your failures, or your successes, or your problems. Grace & mercy in your life is a sovereign, precise plan that that predates your existence. Today, we’ll see how God never forgets a promise, leaves His redeemed hopeless, & never loses track of His heirs, even if they’re hiding in a cave.

We are, by nature, very short-sighted people. We look at our lives through a keyhole, we see the crisis of Tuesday, the stress of Wednesday, and the bills due on Friday. We are obsessed with the immediate "right now." And because we are so focused on the immediate, we tend to view God as a reactive God. We struggle with what I call "Temporal Narcissism", the idea that God’s clock started when we showed up. We think God sits in heaven responding to our choices, good or bad, with some immediate prescriptive consequence or blessing. Like He is just waiting for us to burn our lives to the ground so He can come up with a Plan B, or for us to “perform well” so he can send us “good job” gifts. If we truly believe in a Sovereign God, we must embrace a much bigger reality: God has no "Plan B." only Plan A. God’s Covenant of Grace is not a reaction to your faithfulness, or your failures, or your successes, or your problems. Grace & mercy in your life is a sovereign, precise plan that that predates your existence. Today, we’ll see how God never forgets a promise, leaves His redeemed hopeless, & never loses track of His heirs, even if they’re hiding in a cave.

There’s a movement within the church today, especially in America, that assumes God builds His Kingdom the way the world builds theirs: through power, polish, strategy, influence, and impressive people. It’s the instinct that says the church must be culturally respected, politically connected, socially adored, and publicly successful if we’re going to make any real difference. And if we’re being honest, part of us wants that. Because it feels safer. It feels legitimate. It feels like winning. I call this the “Popularity Gospel”. Make Jesus popular enough, and we will change the world. But Scripture keeps confronting us with a different pattern. God builds in places we would never think to look, and He starts with people we would never think to choose. When God forms a kingdom, He doesn’t go to the palace first, He almost always goes to the wilderness. He gathers the weary, not the strong. He picks caves over cathedrals, fishermen over Pharisees, tax collectors over senators, shepherd boys over kings. And today’s passage is one of the clearest windows into that pattern. David’s kingdom doesn’t begin with splendor and coronation, power or influence. It begins in fear, rejection, vulnerability, and a cave full of misfits. It’s a moment that forces us to ask a provocative question before we read the text: What kind of people does God gather to build His Kingdom with? And Where does He build it?

There’s a movement within the church today, especially in America, that assumes God builds His Kingdom the way the world builds theirs: through power, polish, strategy, influence, and impressive people. It’s the instinct that says the church must be culturally respected, politically connected, socially adored, and publicly successful if we’re going to make any real difference. And if we’re being honest, part of us wants that. Because it feels safer. It feels legitimate. It feels like winning. I call this the “Popularity Gospel”. Make Jesus popular enough, and we will change the world. But Scripture keeps confronting us with a different pattern. God builds in places we would never think to look, and He starts with people we would never think to choose. When God forms a kingdom, He doesn’t go to the palace first, He almost always goes to the wilderness. He gathers the weary, not the strong. He picks caves over cathedrals, fishermen over Pharisees, tax collectors over senators, shepherd boys over kings. And today’s passage is one of the clearest windows into that pattern. David’s kingdom doesn’t begin with splendor and coronation, power or influence. It begins in fear, rejection, vulnerability, and a cave full of misfits. It’s a moment that forces us to ask a provocative question before we read the text: What kind of people does God gather to build His Kingdom with? And Where does He build it?

If you say that someone is “living the good life,” you mean they're living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries. The good life is what our culture celebrates—financial success, personal comfort, and freedom from hardship. But there's something far greater, far more fulfilling, and far more enduring than the good life—it's “The God Life.” God wants you to experience the good life by living the God life. It is a life lived in the intimate presence of God, made possible through the supernatural power of God, all for the magnificent praise of God. The God life ignites when you're accomplishing the divine purpose God created you for, reflecting His glory in everything you do, and offering His goodness to a broken world that desperately needs it. How do you enter the God life? Learn from a man by the name of Elijah.

Do you want everything God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ? Then it's time to make the decision to live by faith! In this series, Dr. Jerry Savelle teaches how to receive faith, where to apply it, and how to use it in your everyday life. Gain a deeper revelation of God's glory and understand what He expects from you and me. We pray that you will make the decision to live by faith, seek first the kingdom of God—not things, but God Himself—and yield to His wonderful will, receiving the blessing of God with open arms.

Do you want everything God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ? Then it's time to make the decision to live by faith! In this series, Dr. Jerry Savelle teaches how to receive faith, where to apply it, and how to use it in your everyday life. Gain a deeper revelation of God's glory and understand what He expects from you and me. We pray that you will make the decision to live by faith, seek first the kingdom of God—not things, but God Himself—and yield to His wonderful will, receiving the blessing of God with open arms.