Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
2/21/2025 WED460 I Peter 2:15-25 The Christian citizen- What should our conduct look like as followers of Jesus Christ in relation to the government? Peter gave his instructions on this topic during a time when the ruling authorities were hostile towards Christians.
2/20/2025 WED459 I Peter 2:4-15 Called to good works- To be a follower of Jesus is a high calling. Now that we have "obtained mercy" and received the free gift of salvation we should not be living according to "fleshly lusts." What does it look like to live life as a sojourner and pilgrim?
2/19/2025 WED459 I Peter 2:4-15 The chief cornerstone- Who is Jesus to you? Jesus is either the foundational stone your life is built on, or He is a stone of stumbling that conflicts with how you want to live your life. There is no neutral ground. The church, among other things, provides fellowship that is essential for the Christian life.
2/18/2025 WED458 I Peter 1:20-2:3 Desire for the Word- Are you hungry for the Word of God? Peter says Christians should desire God's Word like a baby desires milk to grow and mature. The Bible is not just a book of rules or doctrine. It gives us a deeper understanding who God is and how He loves us.
2/17/2025 WED458 I Peter 1:20-2:3 Belief that behaves- A belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ should lead to Christ-like behavior. The child of God will be able to endure trials through faith and hope, live a life that is set apart from the world, and love others with genuine, sacrificial love.
2/14/2025 WED457 I Peter 1:7-19 No time for sloppy thinking- The hope of a heavenly inheritance should remind us that earth is not our home. Is your life moving toward God? Holiness is not just separation from the world, but separation unto God.
2/13/2025 WED457 I Peter 1:7-19 What the prophets foretold- As an eyewitness, Peter could confidently speak of the hope that we have through Jesus. Our confidence in the gospel also comes from the fact that "the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" were written down through prophecy in the Old Testament.
2/12/2025 WED456 I Peter 1:1-6 A living hope- There is an inheritance "reserved in heaven for you." If God has promised such a blessing for us, we can be secure in our eternal future. We can't escape trials in life, but Peter reassures us that they are only temporary, and that God will keep us through those times.
2/11/2025 WED456 I Peter 1:1-6 Peter's first epistle- Our response to persecution and trials will either result in growth or bitterness toward God. Peter wrote his first epistle to encourage believers that were being persecuted for their faith. This letter is full of practical application for the daily life and calling of a Christian.
2/10/2025 SAM950 I & II Thessalonians Summarizing the rapture (part 2)- We can be confident in the biblical teachings of the imminent return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Paul said he did not want us to be ignorant regarding these topics. Did the early church believe in a pre-tribulation rapture?
2/7/2025 SAM950 I & II Thessalonians Summarizing the rapture- We can be confident in the biblical teachings of the imminent return of Christ and the rapture of the church. Paul said he did not want us to be ignorant regarding these topics. Did the early church believe in a pre-tribulation rapture?
2/6/2025 SAM949 II Thessalonians 3:6-18 God's looking for workers- The body of Christ functions at it's best when every part is contributing what it can. Going to your job every day may not always be enjoyable, but hard work and diligence please God. There is no insignificant work done for the Lord.
2/5/2025 SAM949 II Thessalonians 3:6-18 Avoid these people- Unfortunately, there will always be "disorderly" people who make a habit out of taking advantage of others in the church. Paul said the church should separate from these people, so they would repent and stop their immature behavior.
2/4/2025 SAM948 II Thessalonians 3:1-5 Promises and prayer- Charles Spurgeon said, "The strongest man in Israel will be the better for the prayers of the weakest saint in Zion." A healthy relationship between spiritual leadership and the church is built on prayer. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians through his own prayers.
2/3/2025 SAM948 II Thessalonians 3:1-5 Paul's prayer request- Paul was not too proud to ask for prayer from the Thessalonians. We shouldn't be too shy to ask for prayer either. Paul's prayer request gives us insight into how to pray for our pastors and leaders.
1/31/2025 SAM947 II Thessalonians 2:13-17 Take a stand- How often are we praying for our church community? Paul prayed that the Thessalonians would stand firm against the great deception coming on the world and gave some compelling reasons to do so.
1/30/2025 SAM946 II Thessalonians 2:7-12 A choice to be made- The Holy Spirit is restraining the work of Satan in the world today by His grace. When His restraining work is over, there will be a clear distinction between those who have accepted the truth, and those who prefer to take "pleasure in unrighteousness."
1/29/2025 SAM945 II Thessalonians 2:3-8 A prophetic war yet to come- The prophet Ezekiel spoke about a notable war between Israel and its enemies. Has this conflict already occurred? Is it still in the future? How might this war open the door for the unveiling of the Antichrist?
1/28/2025 SAM945 II Thessalonians 2:3-8 What about the Antichrist? (part 2)- There are a lot of theories and conversations about the Antichrist. What does the Bible say about this mysterious figure? It has a lot more to say about him than you might think. The book of Daniel is a good place to start when studying who he is.
1/27/2025 SAM944 II Thessalonians 2:3-7 What about the Antichrist?- When Paul describes the role of "the man of sin" in the tribulation period, is he talking about one man or some other representation of evil? Who is the Antichrist? What will he do? Could he be alive today?
1/24/2025 SAM944 II Thessalonians 2:3-7 Are we living in the end days?- The Thessalonian church was shaken because of a false teaching spreading around that they were living in the tribulation. Paul specifically outlined the reasons why that was not true. How will we know when the tribulation has come?
1/23/2025 SAM943 II Thessalonians 2:3-5 Deception in the church (part 2)- Beware when people start proposing new "secret" revelations from the bible that have been previously unknown. Diving too deep into biblical conspiracy theories can get us off track from the truth, not to mention sounding silly to the outside world.
1/22/2025 SAM942 II Thessalonians 2:1-3 Deception in the church- What if someone comes claiming to have a new prophecy or divinely inspired writing from God? How do we discern what is true? Paul wrote to clear up troubling rumors going around in the church that challenged his teaching about the end times.
1/21/2025 SAM941 II Thessalonians 1:11-12 Your calling- Paul paused to pray for the Thessalonians four times in this letter. In his first prayer, Paul prayed that they would fulfill the calling God had for their lives. What is God's calling for your life? How do we know what it will look like?
1/20/2025 SAM940 II Thessalonians 1:1-10 God's righteous judgment- The true path of a Christian is one of suffering. It's the path that Jesus took. The Thessalonians were able to patiently endure persecution because they knew God is perfectly just, and their persecutors would receive just punishment from God one day.
1/17/2025 SAM940 II Thessalonians 1:1-10 Faith under fire- The pressure of tribulations started to become a heavy weight for the Thessalonians. Where was God? Ever felt this way? Since Paul's first letter to the church at Thessalonica, false teaching also threatened to corrupt the truth they were taught.
1/16/2025 SAM939 I Thessalonians 5:19-28 Concluding words- Among some other encouraging thoughts and warnings, Paul reminded the Thessalonians as he wrapped up his letter that God would be faithful to help them accomplish the things they were being called to live out.
1/15/2025 SAM939 I Thessalonians 5:19-28 Don't quench the Spirit- After going through a list of things we should be doing according to the will of God, Paul begins a list of "don'ts" for the Christian life. What does it mean to "quench" the Spirit, and how do we make sure we aren't doing it?
1/14/2025 SAM938 I Thessalonians 5:12-18 Relationships in the church- Our relationships within the body of Christ should be different than worldly relationships. Paul outlines what some of that practical conduct should look like. This also includes our relationship with church leadership.
1/13/2025 SAM937 I Thessalonians 5:4-11 Not appointed to wrath- What "wrath" is Paul assuring us God has delivered us from? Is he talking about our eternal salvation or deliverance from the wrath of God during the tribulation? How seriously are we taking Paul's charge to build each other up as we wait for Christ's return?
1/10/2025 SAM937 I Thessalonians 5:4-11 You are not in darkness- Does your conduct reflect what you believe about your eternal future? Paul said we are children of the light so we don't have to live in fear of where the world is headed. We also should not be so comfortable in the world that we become complacent.
1/9/2025 SAM936 I Thessalonians 5:1-3 The day of the Lord- What is "the day of the Lord?" How is it connected to the rapture of the church? One thing we can be sure of, Paul said, is that the day of the Lord will come "as a thief in the night."
1/8/2025 SAM936 I Thessalonians 5:1-3 Understanding the end days- Paul spoke to the Thessalonians in great detail about "the times and seasons" prior to writing his letter to them. Do we as the church have an understanding of eschatology? Are you prepared to give an answer to a lost world about the end times?
1/7/2025 SAM935 I Thessalonians 4:13-18 What about the rapture?- Is the rapture of the church an undeniable fact biblically? If so, when will it happen? What will it look like? Who will be "caught up" with the Lord and who will be left behind?
1/6/2025 SAM935 I Thessalonians 4:13-18 The facts of our future- Whatever your theological stances on death and the afterlife are, Paul wants us to be assured of these facts: 1) Jesus is coming again. 2) He's coming for His church. 3) The dead in Christ will not miss this event. 4) His coming will produce a glorious reunion.
1/3/2025 SAM934 I Thessalonians 4:1-12 Living out your sanctification- A life of sanctification does not mean perfect performance, but it does mean our behavior should reflect the reality that we are "set apart" for His purposes. Practically, that looks like avoiding sexual sin, laziness, and meddling in other people's business.
1/2/2025 SAM934 I Thessalonians 4:1-12 God's will for your life- Ever wondered what God's will for your life is? Paul says that God's will for you is your sanctification. Our sanctification is not only a one-time transaction. It's a lifelong process. Part of living out God's will is to abstain from sexual sin.
1/1/2025 SAM933 I Thessalonians 3 A war of devotion- Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica repeatedly in the middle of persecution to remember that Jesus was coming back. We don't face the same persecution in our culture, so we must constantly fight against spiritual complacency that can threaten our devotion.
12/31/2024 SAM933 I Thessalonians 3 Enduring trials and temptation- When we bear the weight of trials and temptations our enemy will strike. He knows how to kick us when we are down. Paul had a word of encouragement for the Thessalonians, so their faith would not fail under the pressure of their circumstances.
12/30/2024 SAM932 I Thessalonians 2:13-20 What is your hope?- Our hope can change as quickly as our circumstances do in life. Satan is often working behind the scenes through his strategies to discourage us, but he can never touch the hope and future we are assured of in God's Word.