Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
4/26/2024 WED487 Revelation 3:14-22 The lukewarm church- Jesus - the faithful and true witness - rebukes the church at Laodicea for their half-heartedness. They were self-deceived, wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, and they didn't know it.
4/25/2024 WED486 Revelation 3:7-13 Let no one take your crown- Since this church patiently endured, Jesus would keep them from the coming trials. In the meantime, He's coming soon, so hold on to Him. If we overcome we become pillars before the Lord of all the earth, written with new names, showing our faithfulness.
4/24/2024 WED486 Revelation 3:7-13 The faithful church- The Lord knows who has kept His word and not denied His name. The church of Philadelphia kept and treasured their relationship with Him. Are we using our "little strength" to honor the One who opens a door of service and is a Father like no other?
4/23/2024 WED485 Revelation 3:1-6 The Book of Life- Some in Sardis had not soiled their clothes. They knew the day of the Lord would come like a thief in the night and wanted to be ready. Those who overcome will, like them, be dressed in white.
4/22/2024 WED485 Revelation 3:1-6 The dead church- The church at Sardis was alive in name only. Dead orthodoxy is the greatest threat to true life in Christ. Are we a disciple of His, and know His awesome life-giving power in our lives?
4/19/2024 WED484 Revelation 2:18-29 Hold fast to what you have- Not holding the Scripture as the final authority, a woman in the church was misleading some. As always, repentance is prescribed. "Jezebel" refused, but those who refuse idolatry to the end will be rewarded with authority over the nations, as Jesus has.
4/18/2024 WED484 Revelation 2:18-29 The corrupt church- The church of Thyatira, smallest of the 7, but with the longest letter, is spoken to by the Son of God. The one who searches hearts and minds knows their increasingly good works, but says some in the church are being misled by a "prophetess" who will be judged.
4/17/2024 WED483 Revelation 2:12-17 What the Lord hates- Jesus hates those who create a barrier between the Father and His children. Compromise damages our fellowship, but those who overcome come into a special relationship with Him. He can be the "hidden manna" we feed on.
4/16/2024 WED483 Revelation 2:12-17 The compromising church- The church of Pergamum was a place of great persecution where Satan had his throne, but Jesus reminds them that He wields the ultimate sword, not man. Antipas was a faithful witness who did not renounce his faith. He did not live in compromise.
4/15/2024 WED482 Revelation 2:8-11 Yet you are rich- Persecution impoverished the Christians at Smyrna. Satan may guide the people of this world, but God is faithful. He will not allow Christians to be tempted beyond what they are able to endure. He gives us grace when we need it, we need only ask.
4/12/2024 WED482 Revelation 2:8-11 The persecuted church- The Christians at Smyrna bowed the knee only to the Lord. For this they were crushed like myrrh. Polycarp and others were faithful to death and will receive the crown of life. Are we asking our Lord to make us this faithful?
4/11/2024 WED481 Revelation 2:1-7 Have we left our first love?- Without a daily, personal intimacy with the risen Savior, nothing else matters. We don't want to let our service for Jesus get in the way of our relationship with Him. Would our Savior say we love Him more than anything else?
4/10/2024 WED481 Revelation 2:1-7 The loveless church- Jesus knows the 7 churches and us, and gives us what we need. He commends, prescribes and makes promises. To the church of Ephesus, Jesus says they have left their first love. Leaving our first love breaks our life with Him, the light of the world.
4/9/2024 WED480 Revelation 1:6-20 Do not be afraid- Here, the only description in the New Testament of the Son of Man gives us an expanded perception of the greatness of God. John fell down as dead but the I AM told him he did not need to be afraid.
4/8/2024 WED480 Revelation 1:6-20 Patient endurance- John was persecuted yet received the greatest blessing of his life through patient endurance, seeing Jesus as never before. Jesus, the first and the last, the Almighty coming One, is making us a kingdom of priests. John writes to the 7 churches.
4/5/2024 WED479 Revelation 1:1-5 Blessed if you take to heart- John saw literal events which are also symbolic. Christians are blessed for taking to heart what the Lamb says to all the churches. His return is soon.
4/4/2024 WED479 Revelation 1:1-5 The Book of Revelation- Writing from the island of Patmos, the Apostle John shows how God winds down human history. He reveals His glory in relation to Satan, the church, the kingdom and eternity. The martyr death of all the other Apostles testifies to their unwavering commitment to the One they loved.
4/3/2024 SPM552 Mark 16:9-20 The great commission- Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to go out and preach the good news of the gospel to the world. Even though Jesus is not with us in the flesh now, He is with us through the Holy Spirit just as He was "working with them" after His ascension.
4/2/2024 SPM552 Mark 16:9-20 An alternate ending?- Some scholars argue that the last eleven verses in the book of Mark were added later, and should not be considered as part of the original text. What does the evidence really tell us? Does it all add up to a "fake" ending to Mark's gospel?
4/1/2024 SPM551 Mark 15:40-16:13 He is risen- Did the disciples of Jesus steal His body to stage a resurrection? Were the reports of eyewitnesses seeing Jesus risen from the dead the result of some mass hallucination? There are theories out there that try to discredit the resurrection of Jesus, but none of them are credible.
3/29/2024 SAM439 Isaiah 53:10-12 God's Servant Satisfied- Isaiah chapter 53 paints perhaps the greatest picture of Jesus Christ in the old testament. Follow along with Pastor Joe through this 5-part series as we take some time to focus on the person and mission of Jesus for Passion Week.
3/28/2024 SAM438 Isaiah 53:7-9 The Silent Servant- Isaiah chapter 53 paints perhaps the greatest picture of Jesus Christ in the old testament. Follow along with Pastor Joe through this 5-part series as we take some time to focus on the person and mission of Jesus for Passion Week.
3/27/2024 SAM437 Isaiah 53:4-6 The Suffering Servant- Isaiah chapter 53 paints perhaps the greatest picture of Jesus Christ in the old testament. Follow along with Pastor Joe through this 5-part series as we take some time to focus on the person and mission of Jesus for Passion Week.
3/26/2024 SAM436 Isaiah 53:1-3 God's Humble Servant- Isaiah chapter 53 paints perhaps the greatest picture of Jesus Christ in the old testament. Follow along with Pastor Joe through this 5-part series as we take some time to focus on the person and mission of Jesus for Passion Week.
3/25/2024 SAM435 Isaiah 52:13-15 God's Servant Exalted- Isaiah chapter 53 paints perhaps the greatest picture of Jesus Christ in the old testament. Follow along with Pastor Joe through this 5-part series as we take some time to focus on the person and mission of Jesus for Passion Week.
3/22/2024 SPM551 Mark 15:40-16:13 Secret disciples- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had the privilege to care for the body of Jesus after His death on the cross. Pilate granted permission to Joseph to take the body for a proper burial. Although their faith was secret, what these men did for Jesus will always be remembered.
3/21/2024 SPM550 Mark 15:22-39 It is finished- Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe on the cross, so you and I could accept the free gift of salvation through faith. We could never earn God's favor by our own works. Be careful of the "Jesus and" gospel that preaches salvation through faith in Jesus, plus works.
3/20/2024 SPM550 Mark 15:22-39 God forsaken of God?- We all experience loneliness or abandonment at some point in life. In the darkness on Golgotha, Jesus was crucified and mocked, forsaken by man, and even God the father. Jesus experienced the most extreme form of isolation and loneliness so you never have to.
3/19/2024 SPM549 Mark 14:53-15:21 Carrying the cross- When Jesus was brought before Pilate and the bloodthirsty crowd, after being condemned by the Sanhedrin, He remained silent. His purpose was not to defend Himself, but to carry the cross. A man named Simon was asked to carry the cross for Jesus.
3/18/2024 SPM549 Mark 14:53-15:21 Denied by friend and foe- When Jesus was brought to the Sanhedrin they asked if He was the Christ. He answered, "I am." He was spit on, mocked, and beaten for only speaking the truth. Standing up for the truth won't always be easy. Peter's faith failed, but his failure did not put him out of reach of God's grace and love.
3/15/2024 SPM548 Mark 14:1-52 He took the cup- The significance of the last Passover meal Jesus celebrated with His disciples must have escaped them. What new covenant was Jesus talking about? After literally taking the cup of Passover, Jesus made His way to the garden at Gethsemane where He prepared to accept the cup of God's wrath for all of mankind.
3/14/2024 SPM548 Mark 14:1-52 Anointing and betrayal- Although not in chronological order, the anointing at Bethany by Mary, and the betrayal of Judas are recorded next to each other in Mark to show a stark contrast. Mary demonstrated her love and devotion to Jesus, while Judas was conniving and deceitful.
3/13/2024 SPM547 Mark 13:14-37 Watch and pray- Jesus said He will return one day, but "of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." How could Jesus not be aware of the timing of His return? Does the way you are living reflect the fact that you believe Jesus could come back at any moment?
3/12/2024 SPM547 Mark 13:14-37 The Great Tribulation- Jesus confirmed the words of Daniel that there will be "a time of trouble" on the earth one day unlike any time in history. There are various opinions about end times events, but one thing for certain is that at the end of this period of great tribulation Jesus will return.
3/11/2024 SAM321 Mark 13:9-23 The Antichrist- What does the bible say about the antichrist? There are a lot of opinions and theories out there about this significant end times figure. Could he be alive today? The antichrist will be Satan's greatest attempt to send the world a savior that is not Jesus Christ.