Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
2/24/2026 SPM654 I Corinthians 11:12-12:3 Roles in God's order (Part 2)- What application can be made from Paul's words about the roles of men and women in the church? Are women supposed to wear head coverings? One of the results of disorder in the Corinthian church was improper conduct when taking the Lord's supper.
2/23/2026 SPM653 I Corinthians 10:14-11:12 Roles in God's order- Paul's words about men and women may seem controversial at first glance. When it comes to marriage, family, and the church God calls men and women to play certain roles. These are not general rules to be applied to men and women in society.
2/20/2026 SPM653 I Corinthians 10:14-11:12 Flee from idolatry- Paul redirected the focus of the Corinthians who were concerned about eating food offered to idols to consider whether that would stumble a brother or sister in Christ. Would it glorify God? The food itself is neutral, but the ritualistic practices were idolatry.
2/19/2026 SAM713 I Corinthians 10:6-13 Privilege and responsibility (Part 2)- Because of the difficulty of the journey, the children of Israel began to despise the provision of God. They forgot about God's goodness and deliverance in the past. If we aren't careful we can follow the same path.
2/18/2026 SAM712 I Corinthians 10:1-13 Privilege and responsibility- The people of ancient Israel had protection, redemption, and provision from God. We have all the same privileges from God now through Christ. Paul warned the Corinthians not to continue in sin like the people of ancient Israel.
2/17/2026 SPM651 I Corinthians 9 Run in such a way- We are all running a race in this life, and the reward is "an imperishable crown." But the opponent is not who you think. We are competing against our own flesh. Paul exhorted the Corinthians to continue the race, and run well, by the grace of God.
2/16/2026 SPM651 I Corinthians 9 Surrendering your rights- What are you willing to surrender for the sake of the gospel? Paul challenged the Corinthians to be willing to forsake some of their liberties for their brethren. As an apostle, Paul had the right to exercise certain freedoms, but chose not to.
2/13/2026 SPM650 I Corinthians 7:18-8:13 Love builds up- Another concern in the church at Corinth was the matter of what to do with food offered to idols? Mature Christians may have felt the liberty to eat certain foods without condemnation, but Paul warned against becoming a stumbling block to those younger in the faith.
2/12/2026 SPM650 I Corinthians 7:18-8:13 To the unmarried- When Paul observed what was going on in the culture, he exhorted those who were single to consider the sacrifices that would come with marriage. Is Paul saying that the state of being single is better than marriage?
2/11/2026 SPM649 I Corinthians 7:1-18 To the married- Is it more honorable to remain single rather than marry? How does someone know if they have the gift of celibacy? What does a Christian man or woman do if they are married to an unbeliever? Paul addresses questions about singleness and marriage.
2/10/2026 SPM649 I Corinthians 7:1-18 Biblical sexuality- The Corinthian church had all kinds of perverted ideas about sex. They were heavily influenced by the immoral culture they lived in. Sound familiar? Paul instructed the Corinthians on how they should properly view sex and its purpose in marriage.
2/9/2026 SPM648 I Corinthians 6 Don't you know?- We were once ruled by our sin. But now, Paul says, we are washed, sanctified, and justified by the blood of Christ. Our bodies are "members of Christ." We are "the temple of the Holy Spirit." So how can we now live in immorality with our bodies?
2/6/2026 SPM648 I Corinthians 6 Settling disputes- What is the proper approach for settling disputes in the church? Is it ever right to take another believer to court and let the civil government become involved? People in the church at Corinth were suing each other without any restraint.
2/5/2026 SPM647 I Corinthians 4:6-5:13 Church discipline- Paul spoke to a specific matter in the church at Corinth of sexual immorality that lead into a larger conversation about dealing with sin in the church. How are we supposed to reach out to brothers and sisters in Christ that are living in sin?
2/4/2026 SPM647 I Corinthians 4:6-5:13 Paul's paternal warning- A big problem in the Corinthian church was giving in to the temptation to look at each other as the standard for righteousness. This was leading to pride and all sorts of issues. As a loving parent, Paul exhorted them to remember the true standard.
2/3/2026 SPM646 I Corinthians 3:8-4:5 Servants and stewards- What does it mean to become a fool for Christ? It means denying the world's wisdom and relying on the Spirit that dwells inside of you. God is calling us to faithfulness as His stewards.
2/2/2026 SPM646 I Corinthians 3:8-4:5 No other foundation- Many people get caught up in finding the perfect formula for a successful church. How big is the sanctuary? What is the worship band like? Paul reminds us that none of that matters without the firm foundation of the gospel and Jesus Christ.
1/30/2026 SPM645 I Corinthians 2:6-3:7 Spiritual, natural, carnal- There should not be a profession without practice, or belief without behavior. The believers in Corinth understood the truth of the gospel, but they were immature and carnal in their faith.
1/29/2026 SPM645 I Corinthians 2:6-3:7 Hidden wisdom- Christian, you will likely be mocked by unbelievers for believing the "foolishness" of the gospel. Spiritual mysteries can only be understood by human intellect through revelation from the Holy Spirit.
1/28/2026 SAM702 I Corinthians 2:1-5 The power of God- Our responsibility is to bring Christ to men. Only God can bring men to Christ. Paul was determined to deliver the message of Christ crucified to the world by the leading of the Spirit. The power is in the message, not the persuasiveness of the messenger.
1/27/2026 SAM701 I Corinthians 1:18-31 The foolishness of God- Paul reminded the Corinthian church that the cross of Jesus Christ was not just a superior philosophy. It may seem like foolishness to the world, but the message of the cross is the answer to the greatest need of all humanity. It is the power of God.
1/26/2026 SPM643 I Corinthians 1:1-17 First things first- There was a litany of issues in the Corinthian church that Paul needed to address. What was the first thing he exhorted them about? Divisions in the church. Paul knew that one of the things God hates is "one who sows discord among brethren."
1/23/2026 SPM643 I Corinthians 1:1-17 First to the Corinthians- The church at Corinth was a church infected by the pagan culture that surrounded it. The Holy Spirit has much to say through this letter to the modern-day church, which has also been heavily influenced by the immorality of the current culture.
1/22/2026 WED641 Judges 19-21 The wages of sin- When "every man does what's right in his own eyes" God can't just sit back because He is holy and righteous. God graciously brought the civil war between Benjamin and the rest of the tribes of Israel to an end, but only after much death and bloodshed. God must judge sin.
1/21/2026 WED641 Judges 19-21 Taking the wrong side- Early in the days of the judges, a civil war was ready to break out between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel because Benjamin decided to defend wicked men. Why would Benjamin stubbornly stand up for such sinful behavior?
1/20/2026 WED640 Judges 17-18 What else do I have?- The enemy would love for you to become content with a life seeking to satisfy fleshly desires. When all of Micah's idols were stripped away he felt that he had lost everything. Anything in life that you esteem higher than Christ can become an idol.
1/19/2026 WED640 Judges 17-18 Don't settle for less- You can do all kinds of things in the name of religion, but if God's Word is not the standard it can turn into idolatry or compromise. That was the case with a man named Micah, who convinced a young Levite to compromise and serve him for a modest price.
1/16/2026 WED639 Judges 16 Backslider vs. apostate- God is gracious and long-suffering, but eventually He must let us experience the mess that our sin makes. Samson learned the harsh reality of that lesson at the end of his life. Don't mistake God's grace and patience for His approval.
1/15/2026 WED639 Judges 16 Samson and Delilah- There is a cost that a follower of Christ will have to bear if we are going to be separate from the world. Samson was not willing to make the sacrifice that comes with holy living, and his stubbornness and rebellion finally caught up with him when he met Delilah.
1/14/2026 WED638 Judges 14-15 A lesson in humility- God gave Samson a great victory when he slew a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. In his great exhaustion after battle, Samson cried out to God for water to revive him. God wants us to be just as dependent on Him in the battle than afterwards in our victory.
1/13/2026 WED638 Judges 14-15 "AA" and "CC"- Samson was chosen by God to deliver Israel from the Philistines. He was raised in a Christian home. He was set up for success, but he had a couple big problems. Samson had authority without accountability, and consecration without communion.
1/12/2026 WED637 Judges 12-13 God listened to Manoah- When Manoah heard that the Angel of the Lord appeared to his wife and informed her that she would have a child, he prayed and asked God to give them some parental instruction. God graciously answered his prayer. Do you turn to God when you feel lost or in need of guidance?
1/9/2026 WED637 Judges 12-13 From one judge to another- Jephthah was a judge in Israel for a relatively short amount of time, but much is written about his life. In contrast, what we know of other judges like Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon is much more obscure. God was preparing Samson to be the next deliverer of Israel during this time.
1/8/2026 WED636 Judges 10:15-11:40 Jephthah made a vow- Ever try to cut a deal or bargain with God? Wanting to see Israel victorious in battle, Jephthah made a strange vow to God that involved his daughter. God's love and generosity toward us is a gift that we could never earn or deserve.
1/7/2026 WED636 Judges 10:15-11:40 Who will fight?- Israel was in search of a leader to fight against their enemies the Ammonites. God raised up Jephthah, the son of a harlot, to be a deliverer for Israel. Jephthah shows us that the sins of the past won't limit the good work God can do in a life that's surrendered to Him.
1/6/2026 WED635 Judges 9:1-10:14 Real repentance- Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years and refused to turn from his evil ways. God allows us to live in our sin so that we might be led to repentance. Are you sowing to the Spirit or the flesh?
1/5/2026 WED635 Judges 9:1-10:14 King Abimelech- Abimelech wanted to be made king of Israel, but he was just one of the seventy sons of Gideon. How could he set himself apart from the competition? There is a reason why it was not God's intention to have a king rule over them.
1/2/2026 WED634 Judges 7:23-8:35 Gideon's legacy- The men of Israel wanted to make Gideon king after the Midianites were defeated, but Gideon resisted the temptation to take the glory for what God had done. Gideon's life and service to the Lord was far from perfect, but he walked with God by faith.
1/1/2026 WED634 Judges 7:23-8:35 Tired but still in pursuit- As Gideon and his 300 men chased down the kings of Midian to complete their victory, they made a pit stop to request food from the men of Succoth. You can expect the enemy to bring doubt and discouragement along the path of service to the Lord.
12/31/2025 WED633 Judges 6:33-7:22 But if you are afraid- God gave Gideon assurance that the battle against the Midianites was already won and challenged Gideon to confidently go into battle with only 300 men. It's hard to step out in faith sometimes, but God is faithful to give us confirmation that we can trust His word.
12/30/2025 WED633 Judges 6:33-7:22 Taking God at His word- God promised Gideon victory over the Midianites, but Gideon wanted God to confirm His word through a sign. Have you ever "put out a fleece" when looking to hear from God? God wants us to learn to trust in His word above everything else.
12/29/2025 WED632 Judges 6:1-32 Face to face with God- Gideon had no confidence in himself to deliver Israel, but his faith was strengthened when he realized that the one who stood before him and called him was God Himself. Acting in obedience will not make us very popular in a Godless culture.
12/26/2025 WED632 Judges 6:1-32 Where is God?- Israel once again found themselves under the rule of their enemies because of their sinful ways. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and called him to deliver Israel, but Gideon had his doubts. What reason was there to trust God's love and faithfulness when there was so much despair around him?
12/25/2025 SAM424 Isaiah 9:6 Unto us a child is born- Around 700 years before the time of Christ, Isaiah prophesied and described who the Messiah would be, and what he would do. He would come as a child, he would become the savior of the world, and one day set up his everlasting kingdom on earth.
12/24/2025 SAM150 Luke 2:1-14 A Savior is born- An angel appeared to shepherds in a field and declared the greatest news of joy and peace for humanity. A savior had been born in Bethlehem. What are the chances that anyone other than Jesus could have been the one to fulfill the Messianic prophecies of the old testament?
12/23/2025 WED631 Judges 4-5 At her feet he sank- As God had spoken through Deborah, Barak and the army of Israel were victorious over the enemy army of the Canaanites led by Sisera. Sisera thought he had fled to safety, but his security was short-lived. Is there sin dwelling in your heart that needs to be dealt with?
12/22/2025 WED631 Judges 4-5 Deborah a prophetess- Deborah was raised up by God to be a judge and deliverer in Israel. What made Deborah special? She was chosen by God not necessarily because of her own great skills, but her greatest quality was her faith and trust in the Lord.
12/19/2025 WED630 Judges 3 Ehud and Shamgar- God raised up Ehud the son of Gera to deliver Israel from Eglon the king of Moab. This account offers some needed comic relief in the book of Judges. Little is known about Shamgar, the next deliverer raised up by God after Ehud.
12/18/2025 WED630 Judges 3 Failing the test- God allowed certain enemy nations to remain in the land to test Israel's faithfulness to Him. Othniel was the first of the judges raised up to be a deliverer for Israel.
12/17/2025 WED629 Judges 1-2 The Lord raised up judges- A new generation in Israel "forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt." God graciously raised up judges to point His people back to Him. If we let sin linger in our lives God will give us up to the consequences of those decisions.
12/16/2025 WED629 Judges 1-2 The book of Judges- The book of Judges documents a 450-year period in the history of Israel spanning from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the ministry of Samuel. Sadly, this was a time of continual rebellion against God where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes."
12/15/2025 WED628 Joshua 24 We will serve the Lord- Joshua made a covenant with the people of Israel to serve and obey the Lord before his death. The testimony of his life was that "Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua." Will you make a stand and serve the Lord in a wayward culture like Joshua?