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An invitation to a free banquet sounds like a good opportunity. But before we tuck in our napkins, we should know who the host is and what it is they offer. Not every free meal is a blessing. Dr. John concludes his series of "Wisdom Matters" with the portrayal of two banquets - one hosted by Wisdom and the other by Folly. Consider which table will leave us satisfied! 

Wisdom Matters: Is it better to be wealthy, good looking, successful, popular or wise? If any Christian isn't sure of the answer, then Proverbs has something to say! In this 10-message series, Dr. John will point us to wisdom that shapes our living. Proverbs doesn't guarantee us wealth or popularity, but it does promise the blessings of God. 

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Castaways." Enjoy!

Infidelity destroys everything in its path—marriages, families, and the future. One of the greatest gifts you can give to your spouse and your family is your fidelity.

In this message on Romans 5, Pastor Chuck Swindoll discusses how a Christian’s life should be marked by triumphant joy. Rejoicing allows you to live above your circumstances.

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

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40 years ago, Dr. John Trent discovered the power of “the Blessing” — the powerful affirmation and unconditional love that parents give to their children. He and his grown daughter, Kari, explore the challenges of missing or losing your blessing, and how God can redeem that blessing in our lives.

It was one of those really special 90-degree days, when it is very humid and I was just finishing about eight miles on my bike. I was feeling all fit, and then I passed Tom running all ten and a half miles around that lake. Well, I realized that Tom did that every day. Nobody knew; nobody noticed actually.

But I knew that he'd be in the headlines back home, and he'd be in the headlines a lot. Because he was one of the county's champion track stars. And I yelled to him from my bike, "No time off for vacation?" And he reminded me that running is a 12-month sport.

Champions aren't made on the day of the race with the crowd applauding. It turns out they're made on like 1,000 unsung mornings.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Unseen Secret of Spiritual Champions."

I've never understood people who get involved in a sport or an activity or in anything and just settle for like being mediocre. If you're going to get into something, well, aim to be all you can be. Right? If that's true in sports, it's really true when it comes to serving the King - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Maybe you've looked at spiritual champions you know, or some leader, or somebody you admire as a spiritual person and you said, "Boy, I'd like to be used by God that way. I wish I could teach, or preach, or minister musically, or lead like that. I'd like to make a difference. I'd like to influence people for Christ like that person does." And you see them in a public setting at the pulpit, or you watch them on television or you hear them on radio. You read their book, maybe hear them in concert. But the ministry you see in a spiritual champion is because of something you don't see. Just like that championship runner, chugging out those miles on those back roads. Nobody noticed, nobody seeing him, but that's where the champion is built.

Okay, Isaiah 50:4, our word for today from the Word of God says this: "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary." Now, how does he keep coming up with the words that people need? It says that "God wakens me morning by morning; wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." Okay, the great prophet of God says here, "morning after morning" there is a meeting with his Lord that nobody sees.

And while others are resting, the champion is in God's Word, he's on his knees, not going on spiritual binges occasionally to get some great spiritual insight. No, no, no, no. He does it day after day, week after week, month after month. And finally there's all these years of accumulated time with God, and how He's touched you, and how He's changed you, and how He's moved you. So, when he speaks, he speaks with a "God-instructed tongue" because he shows up for class every morning. See, there's no glory there. There's no crowds applauding. It's just Christ's personal presence, and you're there with Him.

Anything I have ever said for the Lord that has ever touched anyone has been because He touched me in private first where no one could see, no one else could hear. He wants to do that for you. He wants to do that for all His kids. Do you want to be used greatly by your Lord? Well, before you try to do a great work for Him, why don't you let Him do a great work in you? And you wake up each morning and let Him teach you before you leave.

I saw that in a young track star; a picture of any of us who would like to be God's champion, a winner who's being built on 1,000 unsung mornings.

such things. Philippians 4:8

Lap after lap, Katie Ledecky was in a familiar spot during the 1500-meter freestyle race at the 2024 Paris Olympics. For some fifteen minutes, she was far ahead of the rest of the swimmers and alone with her thoughts. What was Ledecky thinking about during the long race? In an interview conducted immediately following her gold-medal-winning performance in which she set a new Olympic record, Ledecky said she was thinking about her training partners and saying their names in her head.

Distance swimmers aren’t the only ones who need to focus their minds on the right things. We as believers in Jesus also need to guard our thoughts throughout our faith journey.

The apostle Paul encouraged the Philippian church to “rejoice in the Lord,” not be “anxious about anything, but pray about everything (Philippians 4:4, 6). The result? “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (v. 7). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, helps put our worries and troubles in perspective.

Paul also encouraged believers: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (v. 8).

As we go about our day, let’s be aware of our thoughts. When we see God’s hand in our life, we can count our blessings and worship Him.

Segment 1:

• A tragedy: Charlie Kirk’s murder forces us to wrestle with God’s sovereignty.

• Why does a good God ordain evil acts? Four rules help us think rightly.

• God is working out good, but we must guard against demanding to see it.

Segment 2:

• What God ordains is always good—even when we do not understand how it could be.

• Wrestling with suffering? The problem is never God’s character, but our perspective.

• Develop a robust theodicy—God ordains all, yet isn’t the sinner.

Segment 3:

• The assassination exposes the real crisis: the human heart, not politics.

• Political divides weren’t always deadly—what changed?

• The only way forward isn’t civility campaigns but the Gospel itself.

Segment 4:

• Should the murder reignite debate on the death penalty?

• Taking a life is dehumanizing—Romans 1 on display.

• If this tragedy grieves us, how much more does it grieve God?

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Thanks for listening!

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