Living Spring Podcast

Luke opens up after 400 years of silence by God. Who would you think God would use to speak again? A prophet? An angel? While those are important characters, God actually uses a common man and his wife to begin the Gospel narrative.

This week, we talk about the difference between feeling grateful and actually expressing gratitude. Using the story of the ten lepers, it reminds us that thankfulness isn’t complete until it’s voiced, and that only one returned to acknowledge Jesus. Gratitude strengthens our relationships and opens our hearts to the Holy Spirit’s work. The challenge is simple: be the one who turns back and gives thanks.

This week, we look at how tithing, which means giving the first tenth of what we earn, helps us loosen our grip on money and tighten our trust in God. It’s not about complicated rules or get-rich promises, but about learning to put God first in a simple, practical way. When we give our first fruits instead of our leftovers, we find more peace, freedom, and contentment than we expected. In the end, it’s a joyful reminder that everything we have is God’s anyway, we’re just called to stewardship of what was His to begin with.

This week we reflect on twenty years of Living Spring with Pastor John Rittenhouse and how God's faithfulness through the seasons of our lives never cease. We are taken through a parable from Mark 4, where Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a farmer scattering seed, a simple act of faith followed by a mysterious process of growth that happens beyond our control or understanding. We scatter seeds through our prayers, our decisions, our acts of obedience, and then we wait.

This week we reflect on twenty years of Living Spring with Pastor John Rittenhouse and how God's faithfulness through the seasons of our lives never cease. We are taken through a parable from Mark 4, where Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a farmer scattering seed, a simple act of faith followed by a mysterious process of growth that happens beyond our control or understanding. We scatter seeds through our prayers, our decisions, our acts of obedience, and then we wait.

Following Jesus often means facing opposition, because persecution isn’t an accident of faith but a mark of true discipleship. The final Beatitude reminds us that being “persecuted for righteousness” comes from living so differently that the world can’t ignore it. As we pursue Christ, culture may pursue us with resistance—but that tension is where the kingdom of heaven breaks in. Our call isn’t to hide our faith, but to live it boldly and authentically, trusting that godly living will inevitably provoke both challenge and transformation.

True peacemaking in God’s kingdom goes far beyond avoiding conflict—it means actively joining God’s work of restoring shalom, where justice, wholeness, and joy unite all creation. From Matthew 5:9, we learn that peacemakers reflect God’s character as His children, courageously confronting brokenness rather than masking it. This calling invites us to see others through God’s eyes, step into hurting places, and speak truth that leads to healing. Like the Liberian women who prayed through civil war, we’re called to embody Christ’s reconciling peace with courage, persistence, and faith.

As we continue through the Beatitudes, we explore what Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." This challenges us to rethink purity—not as moral perfection, but as openness and trust. Drawing from the story of Adam and Eve, we see how sin leads us to hide, yet God still seeks relationship, not flawless performance. We're invited to come to God honestly, releasing our shame and idols. In the end, seeing God is less about external perfection and more about the direction and sincerity of our hearts.

This week we are taught to rethink forgiveness in light of God’s limitless grace. The parable of the unforgiving servant reminds us that we’ve been forgiven an unpayable debt—and are called to extend that same mercy to others. Holding onto bitterness only traps us, but choosing to bless and forgive brings true freedom in Christ. In a culture of outrage, mercy is a powerful, countercultural act of faith.

This message challenges us to truly hunger and thirst for righteousness, aligning our desires with God’s will. Drawing from the Beatitudes and the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we’re reminded that only Christ offers the living water that satisfies our deepest needs. Instead of settling for temporary satisfactions, we’re urged to pursue the lasting fulfillment found in Him.