Encounter Life

In this final episode of the Encounter Life Podcast, Pastor Kurt Richey concludes his study of James 5 and announces that the show is ending after a year and a half as he shifts his ministry focus to law enforcement chaplaincy. Thanking his listeners for their support, he invites them to follow his ongoing work on The Chaplain's Desk Podcast and signs off for the last time with his signature reminder that one encounter with Jesus can change everything.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey continues the ongoing study through the Book of James, focusing on the biblical topic of joy. Open your Bibles, and enjoy listening!

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey explores James 3:13–18 to warn believers against boasting and embellishing the truth for self-promotion. Contrasting worldly, self-centered wisdom with heavenly wisdom that is humble, pure, and "open to reason," he urges Christians to embrace honest, unexaggerated faith that produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey addresses humanity's struggle with freedom, arguing that true Christian liberty avoids both rigid legalism and total lawlessness. Pointing to the Epistle of James, Pastor Kurt highlights how the "Royal Law" of loving others without partiality pairs with the "Law of Liberty" to show that real freedom isn't about avoiding rules, but about living out God's love through merciful words and actions.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey draws on his farming background to explain that just as a farmer cannot force a harvest, a preacher cannot force spiritual growth—only the living Word of God can transform hearts. Recounting how an angry father attended a rural crusade to confront the ministry team but ended up weeping and surrendering to Christ, Richey shows that true faith isn't an abstract debate between belief and actions; rather, a heart transformed by God's implanted Word naturally produces good works simply because living things do what living things do.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey compares the trials of faith in the book of James to a rigorous high school Advanced Algebra class, showing how life's toughest tests are meant to refine us rather than cause us to fail. Instead of taking shortcuts or blaming God during difficult seasons, believers are challenged to embrace these "examinations" with joy, trusting that God has equipped us with everything we need to grow and eventually guide others.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt tells of a childhood road trip and connects it to Hebrews 6:1. He encourages listeners facing uncertain seasons to cultivate "faith toward God." Instead of striving to move mountains or demanding to know every step of the journey, believers are called to trust God's sovereign guidance, release anxiety, and rest in the assurance that He will safely lead them to their destination.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey addresses the core Gospel question, "What must I do?". He looks at the biblical responses given to the legal expert, the Pentecost crowd, and the Philippian jailer. And synthesizes Scripture's answer into three interconnected responses: repent sincerely, believe without doubt, and love unconditionally. Ultimately, Pastor Kurt emphasizes that these are not self-earned achievements, but spiritual realities fully empowered by the Cross of Christ.

In episode, Pastor Kurt addresses life’s pivotal crossroads by drawing from Jeremiah 6:16–17 and Robert Frost's poetry. He encourages listeners asking "Where do I go from here?" to seek the wisdom of "ancient paths," walk humbly in the "good way," and stay attentive to God's warning signals, remaining fully committed to following Jesus without turning back.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey reflects on the agonizing pain of delayed rescue. He uses the metaphor of a life-saving traffic signal installed a day after a fatal crash. And then connects it to the biblical tragedy of Stephen’s martyrdom just before his persecutor’s conversion.

Pastor Kurt intensely validates the grief, anger, and bitterness of those who feel God's intervention arrived "one day too late." Rather than attempting to explain why God allows such painful timing, he finds profound solace in the story of Jesus calming the storm. The episode concludes by noting that true peace comes not from understanding God's mysterious timeline or questioning His power. But true peace comes by choosing to trust that He deeply and personally cares for us in the midst of our darkest tragedies.