God has gifted each of us more than just grace, but abilities and special jobs to do with those abilities during our time on earth. Today, we talk about how we as Americans can bristle at the idea of being stewards, not owners, of our blessings and our timidity in investing them.

In Matthew 25, Jesus presented the parable of a master entrusting treasure to servants while he goes away. Some of these servants passed this test, and some failed.

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray joined us in our podcasting studio for an update on the student savings account program currently being held up in litigation at the Wyoming Supreme Court. Secretary Gray enunciates the legal issues at play and urges those with an interest to communicate to law makers their desire for a stout legal defense. Secretary Gray gives voice to his personal political feelings about the nature of those opposing the legislation, and we remind our audience that our church holds no party affiliation but simply wishes to understand the condition and outlook of this bill that will affect many of Wyoming's Christian residents.

From the garden to the temptation of Jesus, to Phillipi, to this very day, the enemy's lies have not gotten more creative. Like Paul, we need to learn how to hear them, and how to drown them out with the truth.

In our final sermon of the Mysteries Unveiled series, Pastor Jon pulls back the curtain on the oracle woman from Phillipi in Acts 16. Discovering what was going on behind the scenes, Jon asks us to search our current circumstances and see if we are struggling against the same forces, and perhaps need to take action against them.

One resounding takeaway from Pastor Galen's message this week was that just as Erastus, the Ephesian treasurer, can use his time, treasure and talent to further the gospel, so can each of us today. But what does that look like?

The Ephesian city treasurer mentioned several times in Paul's letters may have been brought to life through following archeological clues, and what we discover is a person worthy of emulation. In our everyday worries, we forget our position of relative privilege and plenty, of the ways God has equipped us and the opportunities He sets before us. Like Erastus, we are called to grab these with both hands to further the Gospel to the greater glory of God.

NOTE: Apologies for the tardiness uploading this episode, as we were experiencing difficulties with the podcast's host site.

This week's sermon centered upon the way God providentially prepares the way for those who are carrying out His plan on earth. In the Companion Podcast, we discuss the ways in which that same providence is active and visible today and explore how we might discover the purpose God has for each of us right now.

Pastor Jon Simpson examines the conditions of the first-century Roman Empire, and how it was the perfect stage for the entry of Jesus and the Gospel. God is intentional in how He works, and seeing that reminds us He is intentional with us, as well, working all things toward His final goal in the fullness of time.

There's a war raging in the spiritual realm, a war Jesus will ultimately win. We are not mere spectators, but combatants in need of defending ourselves. The battle isn't won by our strength, but our efforts are required. Jesus wants fruit! So we must know and wear our armor against the enemy, know and rightly wield our weapons. But first, we must know WHO our enemy is.