Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
4/18/2025 SAM793 John 19:38-41 Treasuring the King's body- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had a special privilege no one else in history can claim. They showed great honor and dedication for the dead body of Jesus. What would their message be to the church today?
4/17/2025 WED162 Luke 7:1-23 Faith that amazed Jesus- A centurion sent messengers to plead with Jesus that He might come heal a beloved servant at death's door. What was it that impressed Jesus so much about this Gentile's faith? Do you trust the authority of God's word?
4/16/2025 WED161 Luke 6:12-49 A kingdom attitude (Part 2)- What foundation are you building your life on? Jesus taught that the solid rock of His words is much preferred to the shaky foundation of worldliness.
4/15/2025 WED161 Luke 6:12-49 A kingdom attitude- What does it mean to be a partaker in the kingdom of God? What is expected of us as Christ followers? Jesus taught His great manifesto to a crowd of people wondering that very question.
4/14/2025 WED160 Luke 5:27-6:11 Lord of the Sabbath- The Sabbath had become a burden to many religious Jews. It became about following rules and ordinances. The Pharisees were outraged when Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath.
4/11/2025 WED160 Luke 5:27-6:11 The great physician- Jesus seemed to push against the religious status quo of His time. He spent time with sinners, and His disciples did not fast and pray like others. Was He a trouble maker? A rebel? Jesus was clear that He came to start something new. Something better.
4/10/2025 WED159 Luke 5:12-26 God alone forgives sin- Jesus looked at a paralyzed man let down through the roof by his friends and knew what his greatest need was- he needed forgiveness. His paralysis was the result of a sin problem. How much are you willing to do to bring your friends to Jesus?
4/9/2025 WED159 Luke 5:12-26 He is willing- Jesus is willing to cleanse us from our sin just like He was willing to heal the leper. The question is, are we willing to surrender to Him? The disease of sin, like leprosy, will lead to isolation, decay, and death.
4/8/2025 WED158 Luke 4:14-5:11 Preaching, healing, and calling- After his rejection at Nazareth, Jesus went to Galilee and began healing many people, fulfilling what the scripture said would be part of the work of the Messiah. Jesus is calling you and I to be fishers of men, just as He called Peter.
4/7/2025 WED158 Luke 4:14-5:11 A not so warm welcome- Jesus came to his hometown of Nazareth and preached in a synagogue on the Sabbath. Those who were present "marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth." Not everyone was thrilled with what He had to say.
4/4/2025 WED157 Luke 3:18-4:13 Overcoming temptation- The enemy will often come to us with temptation when we are tired and weary. The temptation in the wilderness is a blueprint for us to learn how to overcome temptation and identify the strategies of Satan.
4/3/2025 WED157 Luke 3:18-4:13 Filled and led- Jesus lived most of His life on earth in obscurity. Is there anything from those "forgotten years" we can learn? If Jesus was God what was the point of His baptism? There is no temptation we will face that the Spirit cannot help us overcome.
4/2/2025 WED156 Luke 2:39-3:17 Preparing the way- John the Baptist was "the voice of one crying in the wilderness." He was the last and the greatest of the prophets. Under the New Covenant, followers of Jesus have a message even more clear and powerful than John the Baptist.
4/1/2025 WED156 Luke 2:39-3:17 Where did Jesus go?- After traveling a day's journey, Mary and Joseph realized they had left young Jesus behind in Jerusalem. Does it feel like Jesus has left you at times? Does His presence feel far away? God is faithful to help us grow in our faith and trust in Him.
3/31/2025 WED155 Luke 2:1-38 Peace, goodwill toward men- It did not take long for word to spread that something special happened in Bethlehem. God supernaturally revealed to some that the Messiah had come including shepherds in a field, and a "just and devout" man named Simeon.
3/28/2025 WED155 Luke 2:1-38 The birth of Christ- Let's get the details straight about the birth of Jesus. There are some things about the events surrounding Christ's birth that people believe that are just not biblical. Jesus was born in obscurity, so no one would be embarrassed to come to him.
3/27/2025 WED154 Luke 1:39-80 Zacharias' prophecy- Eight days after the birth of his son John, Zacharias was finally able to speak again. The Holy Spirit spoke a prophetic word through Zacharias about the calling on his son's life, and how it was to be tied to the coming of the Messiah.
3/26/2025 WED154 Luke 1:39-80 Mary's song- Mary was blessed among women but imagine the challenges she faced in having to explain her pregnancy. Especially to her fiance Joseph. Mary's faith was greatly encouraged after a visit with her cousin Elizabeth.
3/25/2025 WED153 Luke 1:1-38 Mary, blessed among women- Unlike Zacharias, Mary had faith that something miraculous was going to take place according to Gabriel. The Bible clearly teaches the virgin birth. If Jesus wasn't born of a virgin, that has serious theological implications.
3/24/2025 WED153 Luke 1:1-38 The gospel of Luke- Dr. Luke's record of the life and ministry of Jesus contains details not revealed to us in the other gospels. Luke begins his gospel with the miraculous, and at times humorous story, of the angel Gabriel's appearance to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist.
3/21/2025 WED469 II Peter 3 Grow in grace and knowledge- If we really believe Jesus is coming back shouldn't that influence our actions and behavior? Peter's final exhortation in his second epistle is a challenge to "holy conduct and godliness" as we wait for Christ's return.
3/20/2025 WED469 II Peter 3 The day of the Lord will come- The return of Christ is one of the most, if not the most talked about subject in the New Testament. There will always be naysayers who mock your faith, but Peter reminds us to be encouraged and trust that God keeps His word.
3/19/2025 WED468 II Peter 2:4-22 The fate of false teachers- Peter says that false teachers "have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam." What is the way of Balaam? What final lessons can we learn from this passage on identifying false teachers in the church?
3/18/2025 WED468 II Peter 2:4-22 The Lord knows how- Peter gives three examples to show how God does not allow the wicked to go unpunished. If God will judge the unrighteous, He also knows how to deliver those who are Godly from destruction.
3/17/2025 WED467 II Peter 1:12-2:3 Destructive teachings- How do you identify false doctrines and heresies in the church? You familiarize yourself with the truth, so the counterfeit version is easy to recognize. No matter how successful some of these false teachers may seem to be, they will not escape judgment.
3/14/2025 WED467 II Peter 1:12-2:3 A trustworthy word- How can we believe the things we read in the Bible about Jesus? Are they just stories written down by a bunch of men? Peter wanted to assure you and I that the things he saw were only confirming what the prophetic scriptures had already spoken of.
3/13/2025 WED466 II Peter 1:1-11 Add to your faith- If we are "partakers of the divine nature" there should be a continual pursuit of growth and maturation in our faith. Peter describes some traits that will be characteristic of a Christian whose life is bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.
3/12/2025 WED466 II Peter 1:1-11 Peter's second epistle- Peter's first epistle was an encouragement for believers to endure through persecution that comes from outside sources. His second epistle addresses the potential threat from false teachers and doctrines that can come from within the church.
3/11/2025 WED465 I Peter 5 Submit and resist- In the concluding words of his first epistle, Peter urges believers to be "clothed with humility." We must remain humble and watchful because we have an enemy, the devil, who is seeking to destroy our lives.
3/10/2025 WED465 I Peter 5 The standard for church leaders- Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad examples and representations in our culture of church leadership. Peter is clear that there is a certain standard that those called to shepherd and lead the church should be held to.
3/7/2025 WED464 I Peter 4 Serving and suffering for God- God gives everyone in the body of Christ spiritual gifts. We are called to be good stewards over those gifts by using them to serve and love others to the glory of God. Suffering and trials should not discourage us in our service to God.
3/6/2025 WED464 I Peter 4 Man's will vs. God's will- Every day we have to choose if we will live a life of sin, according to the lusts of the flesh, or a life of suffering, like Jesus, according to the will of God. Peter says we should be "serious and watchful" in our prayers as we wait for Christ's return.
3/5/2025 WED463 I Peter 3:8-22 Christ suffered once- We will face suffering, but because Christ suffered and died for us, we have a hope that helps us endure through the temporary trials of life. Peter takes a sharp turn from practical Christian living to consider the theology of Christ's death.
3/4/2025 WED463 I Peter 3:8-22 The Christian attitude- No matter where you live, where you are employed, whether you are single or married, there is a certain way a Christian should conduct themselves. Peter lays out what those expectations are, and how obedience leads to blessing.
3/3/2025 WED462 I Peter 3:7 The Christian marriage (Part 4)- How does a husband follow Peter's instruction to honor his wife? Husbands should continue dating and getting to know their wives throughout marriage. What does it look like for a husband to treat his wife as "the weaker vessel?"
2/28/2025 WED462 I Peter 3:7 The Christian marriage (Part 3)- Husbands are commanded to love their lives with agape love. What does that kind of love look like? It's unconditional and sacrificial. Christ loves the church with this kind of love.
2/27/2025 WED461 I Peter 3:1-6 The Christian marriage (Part 2)- How is a wife called to love her husband in a Christian marriage? For wives, having love and affection for their husbands may come a little more naturally. Respect and reverence must be added to love.
2/26/2025 WED461 I Peter 3:1-6 The Christian marriage- As Christians, we should be familiar with God's design for marriage. Our world is very confused about what marriage should look like. Peter starts his discussion about Christian marriage with instruction for wives.
2/25/2025 WED460 I Peter 2:15-25 Loving when it's hard- It's not natural for us to show love towards our enemies. How do we endure unjust treatment from others? Jesus is our example. He knows exactly what it feels like to be mistreated and wrongfully accused.
2/24/2025 M238 Podcast Interview with Pastor Brian Weed- Pastor Joe sits down with Pastor Brian Weed to discuss a new Calvary Chapel fellowship meeting on Tuesday evenings in Levittown, PA. Pastor Brian shares his heart and excitement for this new gathering. Check out ccphilly.org/levittown for more information.