Podcast appearances and mentions of Jim Cymbala

The greatest commandment given to Christians is to love God and others. But many of us are guilty of being unloving when someone holds a different belief than we do. People interpret the Bible differently—but differing opinions shouldn't be used as fuel in a hateful fire. We ought to be imitators of God today and love one another.

Whether it's for a new job, a good diagnosis, or a wayward family member to turn to God, we are all waiting for something. But Jesus Himself is waiting for God to right all the wickedness in the world! And God's going to be right on time. Periods of waiting can be so discouraging, but we can rest in our Father's goodness while we wait.

Instead of meditating on the Bible, many times we try to work up our own faith. It becomes a game of mental positivism—a denial of reality. But there's a gift of real faith that comes from God. Rather than rushing in and trying to believe in ourselves for things, we should spend more time in God's Word. Faith comes from hearing the Word!

When someone goes fishing and catches nothing, he probably won't revisit the same spot soon. But when the disciples spent hours in the sea without a single bite and Jesus told them to go back into the deep—they caught so much that their boats started to sink! If Jesus says to go deeper, then we must obey. None of us has reached the depths God wants us to be at in our relationships with Him. Let's launch out deeper today!

Remember the phrase “Beware a wolf in sheep's clothing”? Unfortunately, sometimes so-called spiritual leaders are those wolves. We have to hold anything someone says up to the Bible and find out if that person has an ulterior motive to his or her teaching. May we always be sincere in our sharing of Scripture and wary of false teachers.

Jesus, God's only Son, was the sacrifice for our sins. The only way for us to spend eternity in heaven with God is through repentance and faith in Him. Yet every day people reject Jesus. Even as saved Christians, we have to be careful not to turn away from our Savior. We need to live for Him every day and point others to salvation

When a monumental building is being constructed, the most significant part is the cornerstone. Builders won't pick just any old brick for this spot! Just like this important piece of a physical structure, Jesus should be the cornerstone of our lives. Yet He was rejected like a common rock by the religious teachers of His day! Let's not make that same mistake—let's give Jesus glory.

Greed and the love of money can hinder us from seeing how desperately we need a Savior. Life is too precious to be wasted on greed and too short to not trust in Jesus for salvation—it is a vapor. Those of us who are saved, we have to share this good news with our loved ones! Let's set aside our constant desire to gain more worldly possessions and focus rather on the eternal placement of others.

If we truly care about people, then we need to tell them the truth. That's easier said than done, right? It's hard to confront wrong behavior in others. But with God's grace, we can speak the truth in love and point the people in our lives toward righteousness. Let's not simply tell others what they want to hear; let's tell them the good news of Jesus!

Tax season is approaching! Most of us don't like paying the government. It was the same in Bible times. Even then, people avoided—and even cheated on!—taxes. Jesus called out the hypocrisy of the religious leaders who weren't honest in their giving to the government or to God. We Christians are to do everything as unto the Lord, so we have to be honest in all of our exchanges.  

Which is more important: the Word of God or the power of the Holy Spirit? Neither! One is not higher in importance than the other—we are supposed to know and love both. Some churches focus only on one aspect, Word or power, and that kills their spiritual health. We can't afford to live that way. Let's know and love both, in Jesus' name.

We love because God first loved us. How amazing! Jesus said that the greatest commandment in the whole Bible is to love the Lord God with everything in us. Then, because of that immense love we have from God, we are called to love our neighbors. Sometimes it's hard to love others. But we must remember Jesus' command. It gets easier when we focus on God's love for us.

One look on social media shows us the lives of millionaires, the latest trends—even the next big evangelical product. The problem is, it's all fake! Jesus tells us to watch out for hypocrites and legalists. If we claim to be believers, then we must be sincere and keep our eyes on Jesus alone. Let's block out worldly distractions and just be real.

Hey,Pastor Willy and I explore planning, the power of prayer, pursuing the Holy Spirit, Jim Cymbala, Ronnie Floyd, and more!It is our first episode with all-new equipment as well! Let us know what you think.- Pastor DanLINKS:Jim Cymbala Prayer Service (skip to 34:25)Fresh Wind, Fresh FireSupport the showFind us at! Calvary.us

We are called to be the body of Christ—that's what church means. The church is so much more than just a building. We are members of it in the same way a finger is a member of a body. We must act like we're part of the same body—the body of Christ—by loving, supporting, and encouraging one another. If you need to feel loved and included today, you can find that in your church body.

Sometimes it's hard not to be jealous when we see others receiving blessings. But we have to remember that envy destroys others. In fact, the envy of the religious leaders in Jesus' day was the human catalyst for getting Jesus on the cross! Let's pray that God delivers us from jealousy and envy. May He help us to rejoice in others' blessings.

Churches should be houses of prayer. Pause and think about that. How much time do our church services give to praying? While there's nothing wrong with focusing on a theme, the real vision of the church should be talking with and calling out to the Lord in prayer. We need to remember what the church is called to do today.

What do you have that the Lord can use? Perhaps you have a talent, a pay increase, or some spare time in your day-to-day life that you can give to God. The greatest joy in life is to be available to the Lord and see Him use us in some way for His honor and glory. It's not about us, it's about Him.

f anyone gets to sit at the right hand of Jesus, we'd think it would be one of the disciples or maybe a martyr. But when He talked about status in heaven, Jesus said, “the last shall be first.” This upside-down approach reminds us that prominence and fame on earth don't matter. All the glory belongs to God. May we serve Him together daily!

We've heard that Jesus said that the last will be first. But let's take a closer look at that. He said whoever wants to be great in His eyes has to be a servant. It is hard for us to get over our selfish desires and want to help others. But if we humble ourselves, God will give us the grace and strength we need. Let's look for ways to help others today.

We live in a society that is obsessed with self. But Jesus Christ was an example of the complete opposite. He was a servant, and we are called to imitate Him. We can't be selfish and self-absorbed like the world. To make a difference on earth and earn rewards in heaven, we must be willing to serve others. Jesus will help us, we just have to let Him!

At some point in our lives, we carry burdens so heavy that they overwhelm us. No matter if we cry silently or loudly, we should always call on God. He's rich in mercy to everyone who calls on Him. Why don't we get alone with God today and hand over the thing that's weighing on our hearts? Let's call on Him even now.

magine being blind for your whole life, then someone gives you sight. If we experienced that, we'd want to thank whoever helped us. That's exactly what happened in the Bible! Jesus healed a blind man who didn't know anything about salvation or sanctification—he just ran after Jesus in thanks for His gift. We've been given a great gift, too, so we should follow Jesus everyday!

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people called out "Hosanna!" They were drawing attention to Him. But the Lord was entering their city on a lowly colt. Jesus never showed off or tried to impress; instead, He was humble and meek. Let's be humble like Jesus today and cry “Hosanna” to His name.

Most of us have seen or heard about churches and preachers scamming people. What a shame! Jesus literally overturned tables in the temple because He saw people overcharging those who were there to give glory to the Lord. God wants His house to be a place of worship and offering. May we never be a part of taking advantage of others.

Jesus was killed by religion. Isn't that a shocking statement? The One who walked on water and healed countless hurting people was despised, rejected, and killed by the most devout religious people of His day—all so we could spend eternity with Him. That's how much He loves us. Let's live in His love today.

We aren't promised easy lives just because we're Christians. What we are promised, though, is a wonderful eternity with our Creator and Savior. Jesus gives us all we need to handle trials and persecutions today, and He calls us to live our lives with eternity in mind. What a difference it makes when we shift our focus towards Him!

Have you ever had family members turn on you? Or maybe they relocted or passed away? We know that that loss hurts. But Jesus said we as Christians gain family in God! Whatever we have lost in this life, we can find in the body of Christ—the church. Let's not turn to substances or isolation when we get hurt. Instead, let's turn to Jesus and our spiritual family.

At some point in our lives, we've all felt like we faced something impossible. Maybe you're feeling that way now—backlogged bills, rebellious children, a totaled car, a new and demanding work position. Impossible situations are burdensome. Good thing we serve the God of the impossible! We can shift our perspectives, knowing nothing is impossible with God.

None of us knows what the coming new year holds. But one thing we can be absolutely sure of: Jesus will never, ever leave us or abandon us! Because He is with us, we can be strong and courageous, no matter where God leads us in 2025.

Remember the phrase, “You can't thread a camel through the eye of a needle”? Well, Jesus was the first to say that! He said that is how difficult it is for people who love wealth to get to heaven—not because He won't welcome them, but because they won't release their riches. Money can be an idol and a master over us. May we always choose to serve God instead.

Some of us have been taught that being Christians means getting rid of all our worldly goods. But in the book of Mark, we see that there's no issue with having money and things—the problems come when we love that wealth more than we love Jesus. Let's have a conversation with God today and ask if there's anything hindering our walks with Him.

Divorce is a complex topic that requires strong biblical counseling. If a spouse is unfaithful, violent, or deserting, a pastor may counsel the other toward biblical divorce. While marriage is sacred, serious, and created specially by God, He also cares deeply for us and wants to protect us from harm. Remember, God will never leave or forsake us.

A wonderful thing about kids is their faith. Children are trusting—they don't have agendas or ulterior motives. We learn those negative angles as we grow up, but we must keep that childlike faith. Jesus loved little children and welcomed them to Him. He is still welcoming us today!

Christmas isn't about material presents. Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a smelly manger so that we could receive the real gift—eternal life. Yet many of us go about the Christmas season embracing traditions and rejecting the Gift. We look everywhere but to God for happiness. This year let's accept God's great gift.

Christians sometimes think that in order to reach the world, we have to be like the world. That way of thinking is dangerous! Not only that, it doesn't work. Jesus talked about this in terms of salt, which preserves. We must stand out and preserve the gospel. Let's be strong witnesses for Jesus today.

Marriage is a serious thing. Jesus said that the two will become one and that no one should separate what God has joined together. So are there biblical grounds for divorce? Well, God doesn't excuse unfaithfulness, but He hates divorce. We need to seek God's will regarding marriage and handle it carefully.

Like it is today, divorce was a controversial topic in Jesus' day. Old Testament laws allowed it, while New Testament laws forbade it. So what was Jesus' response to this issue? He highlighted the sacred beauty of marriage. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman. Everything God makes is good—including marriage!

Have you ever seen one Christian blast another on social media? Jesus said it would be better for us cut off our hand than to hurt another believer! Of course we're not supposed to literally cut off our hands. But Jesus wanted …

We are all too familiar with the stress of comparison. We want better and bigger gifts! If only we would think about the humble birth of the Prince of peace. Jesus was born to a poor family—and His first visitors were lowly shepherds! Yet despite His lowly station, He never lacked peace. Jesus understands us—and He will provide for us.

We all love presents at Christmas time! This tradition comes from the Magi who gave baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But let's stop and think about that—those respected grown men bowed down and gave gifts to a toddler. Why? Because they knew who He was. May we remember who Jesus is this Christmas.

Is there anything happening in your life right now that reminds you of a sweeter time you had in your life with Jesus? God used a star to guide the Magi to Jesus. He can use anything to call us to Himself. Follow that longing you have today. Let it bring you back to Jesus.

We hear the word “Emmanuel” often during the Christmas season. But do we know what it means? “Emmanual” means “God with us.” Calling Jesus by this name reveals to us a unique opportunity to study God. Any questions we have about God are answered by looking at Jesus—His life, His movements, His words. God is with us, this Christmas and every day!

Most of us associate Christmas with presents. We give and get them all season long. But in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we often forget about the real gift: Jesus Christ. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who saved us from an eternity without God, should be center stage. Let us praise Him for His amazing gift!

God has the power to fulfill every single promise He's made, like when He kept His promise to send us a Savior. And He wants us to celebrate that power. We're already celebrating during this Christmas season, right? So let's give God a gift. Yes—we can give the Almighty a present! When we trust Him and pour out our hearts to Him, God is so pleased. Let's try that today.

We often want to call out people who wrong us. Think about how Joseph must have felt when he found out his fiancée, Mary, was pregnant! He could have ruined her reputation, but he cared for her. Together they raised the Son of God. Love cares for and protects others. Let's practice that this Christmas season.

We like neutrality—a fence to sit on or a line to toe. But Jesus said, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” In other words, either we are all in for Jesus, or we are totally out. There is no neutrality with God. Let's be all in for Him!

Our world is so divided. But you know what else is divided? The church. The Bible talks about something called a party spirit, and it is detrimental to the body of Christ. A party spirit is all about division—cliques, groups, teams. We need to be kingdom-minded churches. We should root for all Christians everywhere, not just those who think like we do.

Did you know that we will get rewards in heaven? That's not to say that we have to earn our salvation or buy our way out of purgatory. Rather, knowing that we will be rewarded is an incentive for us to bless others. Let's reflect Jesus's love today.