One Single Story

Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for today's edition of One Single Story as they dig into Psalm 37:1-11, tackling why we're so easily fooled by the surface-level success of the wicked, and what it really means to trust, delight in, commit to, and rest in the Lord during seasons of resistance.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 37:1-11 - An acrostic psalm of David reflecting on a lifetime of watching the wicked prosper, this passage calls believers away from envy and worry and toward trust, delight, commitment, and stillness in God's character, closing with the promise that the humble will inherit the land.

In This Episode:

• Why the prosperity of the wicked can feel like such a personal irritant, even for someone like David
• How comparison quietly shifts our baseline from faithfulness to volume, platform, and popularity
• The "cut flowers" picture of ungodly success: pretty for a moment, but rootless and destined to wilt
• Unpacking the four disciplines of Psalm 37: trust, delight, commit, and be still
• Why "being still" so often feels passive but is actually a call to active trust
• What kingdom humility looks like in practice when everyone else is self-promoting
• How an ego deflated by grace changes the way we handle credit and recognition

Key Quote: "We need to just remember that God never has asked us to be impressive. He's just asked us to be faithful. And I think that's what needs to be measured."

One Single Story is a daily podcast walking through the One Year Bible, offering a brief, honest conversation around each day's reading. Every weekday, hosts from Open Door Church break open a short passage of Scripture to help listeners grow in faith, apply God's Word to everyday life, and stay grounded in a single story worth telling.

Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or explore the full podcast archive at onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe so you never miss a day of One Single Story, and hit the bell to get notified when new episodes drop each weekday morning.

Coming This Week: The conversation continues tomorrow as the hosts return to Psalm 37 for more on freeing ourselves from envy and pursuing a life rooted in God's faithfulness rather than fleeting success.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalm37 #Psalms #TrustGod #BeStill #Humility #ChristianEncouragement

Welcome back to One Single Story! Today Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a conversation about how sin quietly whispers to us, why self-awareness matters, and how God's love can be pictured as something unmovable and unshakable.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 36:1-12 - David contrasts the self-deceiving whispers of sin in the wicked heart with the vast, unshakable, and covenant-keeping love of God, pictured through the imagery of mountains, oceans, and the shelter of His wings.

In This Episode:

• How sin whispers to the wicked and gradually blinds them to their own faults
• Staying teachable, staying in community, and guarding against the dangers of isolation
• Why self-reliance and isolation often lead to self-delusion
• Comparing God's unfailing love to the towering mountains and the fathomless depths of the ocean
• The covenant imagery behind "shelter in the shadow of your wings" and its connection to Ruth and Boaz
• Living with an interpretive "baseline" of truth through daily intimacy with God
• A lighthearted detour into lie detector tests and using them as a picture of spiritual baseline truth

Key Quote: "Self-delusion starts when we self-rely, which comes from isolation."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast walking through the One Year Bible, offering a brief lesson and honest conversation from each day's reading. Hosted by the pastors of Open Door Church, the show is designed to help listeners grow in daily Scripture engagement, spiritual accountability, and practical faith.

Join us at Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, or online at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a daily episode as we walk through the One Year Bible together, one single story at a time.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue our journey through the Psalms and head into the Book of Proverbs, unpacking daily wisdom for walking closely with God.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalm36 #Psalms #GodsLove #SpiritualAccountability

Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for today's edition of One Single Story, a daily walk through the One Year Bible. In this episode, the team wrestles with what it means to wait on God when He seems silent, how a leader's public failure impacts the wider community, and why celebrating one another's breakthroughs matters for the whole church family.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 35:17-28 - David's cry for vindication as he waits on God to act against his enemies, closing with a call for the community to rejoice together when God brings deliverance.

In This Episode:

• Learning to trust God's character during seasons of waiting, silence, and unanswered prayer
• Biblical examples of waiting well: Joseph, Esther, and Ruth
• How David modeled both private prayer and public praise
• The tension of asking, "Have you heard me, God?" and choosing to trust anyway
• How a leader's public stumble can affect the reputation of the gospel in a community
• The difference between humble repentance (David) and hardened refusal (Belshazzar)
• Why celebrating someone else's victory unifies the church and combats comparison
• Redirecting the glory of every breakthrough back to God

Key Quote: "We need to focus on his character, not his speed."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast offering brief, conversational lessons drawn from each day's reading in the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, the show brings Scripture to life through honest, practical discussion meant to encourage believers in their daily walk with God.

This episode is brought to you by Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily lesson from God's Word. New episodes release every weekday to help you stay grounded in Scripture, one story at a time.

Coming This Week: Stay tuned as the team continues walking through the Psalms in the One Year Bible reading plan, unpacking more lessons on faith, waiting on God, and living in community with other believers.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalms #WaitingOnGod #Vindication #ChristianLeadership #Repentance #Celebration #BibleReadingPlan

This week on One Single Story, Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski dig into Psalm 35:1-16, David's raw cry to God as his defender. The team talks honestly about betrayal, letting God fight our battles, and protecting our hearts from bitterness when people we've helped turn on us.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 35:1-16 - David asks God to take up shield and armor and fight for him against those who betrayed his trust.

In This Episode:

• Why betrayal from someone close cuts deeper than ordinary conflict
• Trusting God as defender instead of taking matters into your own hands
• Guarding against bitterness when people you've served turn against you
• Weighing gossip against constructive criticism without letting it ruminate

Key Quote: "The shepherd has to get bloody to help the sheep. It's hard to experience betrayal and still exercise restraint - but hurt people hurt people, so trusting God as your defender takes real maturity."

About One Single Story: A brief weekday conversation around that day's reading in the One Year Bible, hosted by the pastors of Open Door Church.

Find us at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com. Subscribe so you never miss a daily episode.

Coming This Week: We continue in Psalm 35, exploring betrayal, God's protection, and guarding our hearts from bitterness.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalms #Psalm35 #Betrayal #TrustGod

Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story! Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a candid conversation about 1 Corinthians 9, exploring what it means to lay aside our personal rights for the sake of the gospel and how ministry leaders can guard against turning a calling into a mere career.

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 9:1-16 - In this passage, Paul defends his authority as an apostle while explaining why he chose not to exercise his right to financial support from the churches he planted. Instead, he supported himself so that nothing would hinder the message of Christ, offering a powerful model of sacrificial leadership.

In This Episode:

• Why Paul built a biblical case for ministers receiving financial provision from their congregations
• The difference between being "by vocation" out of necessity versus by choice
• How churches can properly honor and sustain their leadership teams
• The danger of pastors compromising conviction to keep major givers happy
• Choosing to yield personal rights for the sake of a greater gospel impact
• How to maintain a holy sense of calling instead of treating ministry as just a job
• Recognizing the signs of someone pursuing ministry for status rather than purpose

Key Quote: "When your motivation shifts from what you can collect from your calling, rather than what you can surrender for the gospel, your ministry moves from a secular career to a supernatural force."

One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast offering a brief, honest lesson from that day's reading in the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, each episode is a real conversation around the Word of God, designed to help you grow in your daily walk with Christ.

Join us at Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily dose of biblical encouragement. New episodes release every weekday to help you stay grounded in Scripture.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue walking through the One Year Bible reading plan, digging into fresh passages each weekday and unpacking practical, faith-building truths for everyday life.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #FirstCorinthians #PastoralMinistry #ChristianLeadership #MinistryLife #GospelFirst

Welcome back to One Single Story! Today Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a candid conversation on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13. This passage tackles a real flashpoint in the Corinthian church - eating meat sacrificed to idols - and uses it to unpack a truth that still challenges believers today: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Paul addresses a cultural and theological controversy in Corinth over eating meat previously offered to idols. He teaches that while personal knowledge and freedom may be technically correct, love for others - especially those with a "weaker conscience" - must govern how believers exercise their liberty.

In This Episode:

• Why "anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much" (v. 2)
• How knowledge without love becomes harsh, arrogant, and offensive
• Real-world examples of being textually correct but relationally harsh, from hot-button issues to church hiring decisions
• Why a teachable spirit matters more than being theologically "right"
• Modern-day liberties Christians may need to lay down out of love - money, alcohol, social media, entertainment choices, politics, and more
• The difference between what we have a right to do and what we should do
• Why greater influence means greater responsibility, not greater freedom
• How wounding a brother or sister's conscience is ultimately a sin against Christ

Key Quote: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday podcast offering a brief, focused conversation on a passage from the day's One Year Bible reading. Hosted by the pastors of Open Door Church, each episode is designed to help you dig into Scripture with your Bible, a pen, and paper in hand - encouraging honest, practical conversation around the Word of God.

Open Door Church, Edenton, North Carolina visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a weekday episode, and join us as we walk through Scripture together, one story at a time.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue through the One Year Bible reading plan, exploring more of God's Word together each weekday with fresh conversation and practical application for everyday faith.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #1Corinthians #ChristianLiberty #LoveOverKnowledge #WalkInLove

Welcome back to One Single Story! Today, Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a candid conversation through 1 Corinthians 7:25-40, digging into Paul's teaching on marriage, singleness, contentment, and what it really means to build a life and a relationship around devotion to Christ.

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 - In this passage, Paul addresses the unmarried, betrothed, and widows in the early church, offering guidance shaped by a "present crisis." He calls believers to contentment in their current circumstances, warns against becoming overly attached to the things of this passing world, and counsels widows to remarry only within the faith.

In This Episode:

• Why Paul urges believers to "remain as you are" in the middle of present crisis and distress
• How marriage naturally divides time and attention, and why intentionality matters more as blessings increase
• Using the things of this world without becoming attached to them
• A personal conversation about what it would mean to lose everything but your family
• Why a shared, growing commitment to Christ is the non-negotiable foundation for any marriage
• The real-life cost of entering a relationship without a shared spiritual baseline
• The value of premarital counseling in surfacing misalignment before marriage

Key Quote: "When you realize how fast the present world is passing away, you stop trying to hoard its temporary security and you start maximizing your focus for eternity."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday podcast offering a brief, conversational look at that day's reading from the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, each episode invites listeners to open their Bible, grab a pen and paper, and engage in real conversation around the Word of God.

Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily conversation through Scripture. New episodes release every weekday, walking through the One Year Bible reading plan one passage at a time.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue through the One Year Bible reading plan, exploring more of Scripture's guidance on faith, relationships, and living with eternity in view. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you can study along with us each day.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #1Corinthians #ChristianMarriage #Contentment #BibleReading #Devotional

Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for an honest conversation about contentment, calling, and the seasons of life God assigns us — whether married, single, or navigating a spiritually mismatched marriage.

Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 7:1-24 - Paul answers the Corinthian church's questions about marriage and singleness, addressing spiritual gifting, believers married to unbelievers, and his repeated call to remain content in the situation God has placed you in.

In This Episode:

• Whether singleness is a spiritual gift and how Paul describes both its freedoms and its challenges
• Why the church should honor singleness as a season of purpose rather than a deficiency to be fixed
• Practical ways congregations can include and minister to single adults
• How a believer's godly influence can shape an unequally yoked marriage over time
• Real-life stories of perseverance, sacrifice, and faith within difficult marriages
• Why chasing "something better on the horizon" robs us of gratitude in the present
• How contentment protects us from rash, short-term decisions with long-term consequences
• Why a restless heart leaves us distracted and vulnerable

Key Quote: "Stop treating your current life season like it's an isolation ward. It is a gift from God. Honor your assignment and walk closely with your God today."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday podcast offering a brief, honest conversation around each day's reading in the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, the show helps listeners connect Scripture to everyday life, one story at a time.

Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily episode, and join us each weekday as we open God's Word together.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue walking through the One Year Bible reading plan, unpacking more of Paul's letters and discovering fresh insight for daily faith and living.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #FirstCorinthians #Contentment #Singleness #ChristianMarriage #SpiritualGifts

Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Sheryl Daughety dig into 1 Corinthians 6:1 -20, where Paul rebukes believers for taking each other to court and reminds us our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit.

In This Episode:

• Why suing a fellow believer is shameful, and how the church should handle conflict internally
• The link between influence and giving up personal liberties
• Recognizing when a legitimate freedom starts to control you
• Treating your body as sacred, God-owned property

Key Quote: "Freedom means we can say yes, and we can say no. When we can't say no, we're in trouble."

One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast from Open Door Church, Edenton, NC, walking through the One Year Bible.

visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com

#OneYearBible #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #FirstCorinthians #TempleOfTheHolySpirit #Faith

Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for a conversation from the book of Ezra, exploring how a stalled building project was reignited by the power of preaching, how God can turn opposition into a launching pad for His purposes, and why public celebration matters after a long season of resistance.

Scripture Focus: Ezra 4:24-6:22 - After the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem is halted by royal decree and years of opposition, the prophets Haggai and Zechariah call the people to restart the work. What follows is a picture of restoration through prophetic preaching, an investigation that backfires into royal funding for the temple, and a joyful, community-wide dedication once the work is finished.

In This Episode:

• How different spiritual gifts and personalities work together to accomplish a shared vision
• Why restarting a stalled effort is often harder than starting it in the first place
• The power of praying and speaking God's Word out loud to break discouragement and stagnation
• How an official investigation meant to shut the temple down ended up funding its completion
• Personal stories of obstacles God repurposed for good, from imprisonment to painful life transitions
• Why public celebration and gratitude are essential after completing a difficult, resistance-filled assignment
• The healing that comes from pausing to acknowledge and give thanks for what God has done

Key Quote: "When you stand firm in your calling, God will ensure that the very hands that tried to hold you back are the ones that have to watch you succeed."

About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday podcast from Open Door Church offering a brief, conversational lesson from that day's reading in the One Year Bible. Each episode brings together pastors and voices from the Open Door community to dig into Scripture and apply it to everyday life and faith.

Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com.

Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily devotional conversation grounded in God's Word.

Coming This Week: Join us as we continue moving through the One Year Bible reading plan, uncovering fresh insight and practical encouragement from Scripture each weekday with the One Single Story team.

Hashtags: #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #BookOfEzra #TempleRebuilding #PowerOfPrayer #Perseverance