The apostles of Christ were common men. That’s God’s modus operandi (way of doing things). “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1 Corinthians 1:27, NLT). Here, as Jesus sends them out, we can see five stages for any of us who live to do God’s work.

I. Mission (v. 7)

II. Provision (vv. 9-10)

III. Proclamation (vv. 10, 12)

IV. Opposition (v. 11)

V. Completion (vv. 12-13)

Learn Your Bible: Search for instances of God using unexpected, common people to accomplish His will throughout the Bible.

Love Your Neighbor: Look for a small way to serve someone practically this week.

Live in Freedom: Meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:27 and surrender your need to prove yourself useful to the kingdom of God.

Scripture is the permanent expression of God’s heart to our heart in writing and as we spend time in His Word, it draws us near to Him, renews our mind, and prepares us for the day ahead. In this message, Pastor Skip Heitzig reminds us of the importance of a personal, daily devotional life.

I. What It Is

II. What It Does

III. How to Do It

Unbelief is different than doubt. Doubts come and go. They are normal and a natural part of the human experience. But unbelief is a conclusion reached by a hardened heart. It is the decision to live life apart from God. Faith and doubt can coexist in a heart, but faith and unbelief cannot.

I. Unbelief Respects His Wisdom (vv. 1-2)

II. Unbelief Recognizes His Work (v. 2)

III. Unbelief Reduces His Wonder (v. 3)

IV. Unbelief Robs of Well-Being (vv. 4-6)

Learn Your Bible: Using your favorite Bible dictionary or concordance, dive deeper into the differences between doubt and unbelief in Scripture.

Love Your Neighbor: This week, dedicate yourself to interceding for someone in your life who’s embraced unbelief.

Live in Freedom: Have an honest conversation with the Lord about the doubts or questions you’ve been working through lately.

Job wrestled with one of life’s hardest questions: Why does God seem indifferent to suffering? In this message, Pastor Skip Heitzig explains how Job found comfort in knowing that God’s judgment may not come immediately but is always inevitable. Job discovered that true wisdom is found only in the fear of the Lord—a reverential awe which produces humble submission to a loving God.

Two miraculous healings are sandwiched together in this text. But one of these miracles brought a delay. It seemed like Jesus waited too long. But when circumstances say, “It’s over,” Jesus says, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (v. 36). Delays aren’t necessarily denials; sometimes they’re upgrades.

I. A Desperate Father (vv. 21-24)

II. A Determined Sufferer (vv. 25-34)

III. A Delayed Answer (vv. 35-36)

IV. A Different Procedure (vv. 37-43)

Learn Your Bible: What voices in your life are currently telling you to be afraid, give up, or stop believing? Spend time in the Word and focus on giving greater weight to Jesus’ words than to fear, doubt, or despair.

Love Your Neighbor: Is there someone in your community who may feel unseen, interrupted, or forgotten? Find one practical way you can treat them with dignity and compassion this week.

Live in Freedom: What fear, disappointment, or “late” situation are you tempted to believe is beyond Jesus’ reach? Ask the Lord to help you surrender those things to Him.

In this message from Pastor Skip Heitzig, we encounter the false theology that suffering is always the result of sin through Job’s friends’ accusations. Job countered this ideology by pointing to this simple truth: Health and wealth are not a measure of one’s standing with God. God's invisibility doesn't make Him unavailable. In your hiding, sorrow, and pain, God sees you. 

You can’t see the electromagnetic radio waves and microwaves that provide signal for your internet or cell phone, but they exist and they are very powerful. Likewise, there is an invisible world which affects life in the visible world. In this section of Scripture, those two worlds come to the forefront. We will consider four desires that are true simultaneously as seen in this story.

I. Satan’s Desire to Ruin (vv. 1-7)

II. Jesus’ Desire to Rescue (vv. 8-13)

III. People’s Desire to Resist (vv. 14-17)

IV. Heaven’s Desire to Reach Out (vv. 18-20)

Learn Your Bible: How should these truths shape the way you prepare for spiritual warfare?

Love Your Neighbor: This week, create a habit of covering your friends and family in prayer, interceding for them through every difficult circumstance and temptation.

Live in Freedom: Ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and equip you to face the battles that come your way in this season.

In these chapters, we see Job at his lowest point. But God turned his greatest misery into his greatest ministry: A declaration that God, his Redeemer, lives. In this message from Pastor Skip Heitzig, we’re reminded that Jesus is the Redeemer who intercedes and provides assurance of our salvation because He lives.

No one looks for difficulties in life; they just come. And storms come in many forms—some are physical, others are emotional, many are spiritual. This well-known story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee holds several helpful guidelines for those of us navigating problems.

I. Accept the Regularity (v. 35a)

II. Look for the Promises (v. 35b)

III. Invite Jesus Into Your Boat (vv. 36-37)

IV. Take Your Cues From Him (v. 38)

V. Swap Fear for Faith (vv. 39-40)

VI. Find the Purpose (v. 41)

Learn Your Bible: Meditate on Isaiah 41:9-10 this week and rest in the knowledge that, no matter what storms you’re walking through, Jesus is walking with you.

Love Your Neighbor: Ask a friend or loved one who’s going through a storm of their own how you can help strengthen and encourage them.

Live in Freedom: Ask the Lord to reveal areas of your life in which you’re allowing fear to overshadow your faith and obstruct your obedience to Him.

Job affirmed God's absolute sovereignty and intricate design of human life yet honestly shared his confusion and pain. In this message, Pastor Skip Heitzig reminds us that, though Job had questions about death and the afterlife, we now have the answers in Jesus. If you don't know Christ, your best days are behind you; if you do, your best days are ahead, no matter the suffering this life may bring.