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There's something invigorating about being the first one out and around in the morning; you sort of feel like the conqueror of your environment. Like when you're the first one out exercising in those first hours of the new day. I had that feeling one morning as I went out for my fitness walk.

I really like to walk when I'm away from home, too. And I was in a setting where right behind me there was this really scenic 18-hole golf course. I'm not a golfer, but I am a walker. There was a beautiful path around there, so I struck out on my early morning walk, and the mist was there, and the dew was all over the golf course. And I said, "You know what? I am the first one to conquer this golf course today. There'll be a lot of people out here later, but I have beaten all the golfers." I felt like the world was all mine, or so I thought. Then I got to one hole and I saw a carpet of dew covering the green, and footprints all across the green. Someone had walked there before me.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Someone Else Has Walked There First."

Our word for today from the Word of God is from John 10:4. Jesus beautifully, intimately describes His relationship with us here as being like that of a shepherd with His sheep: Him shepherd, me sheep. John 10:4 says this, "When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and the sheep follow Him."

I discovered this verse many years ago, just before we moved from all of the "knowns" that we had in Chicago, to all of the unknowns of northern New Jersey and New York City. We moved there to begin a youth ministry. We had no supporters, we had no place to live, we had no office, we had no staff. We knew nothing. We just claimed this verse, "...when He brings out His sheep, He will always go ahead of them." We got there and we found out that God had picked out an apartment, He picked out friends, He had picked out a church, He had picked out an office for us, He picked out supporters; people who could open doors that we needed opened, and that's what God does for all His kids.

Everywhere Jesus will lead you to walk, He promises to walk there first; He goes ahead of you. That's how a shepherd operates. Wherever he's going to take his sheep, he goes ahead of them to see if there's enough pasture for them to be fed, if there are any wolves there that he needs to take care of, and where the cliffs are that they might walk over. He makes sure that He checks it out before they get there. He prepares it for them. That's just the kind of Shepherd He is.

Think of the fear that takes out of the future; the uncertainty that takes out of the future. Like the old song says, "I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future." Right now maybe you're looking ahead at the next few weeks, maybe months and you're anxious about it. Honestly, there's a whole lot of question marks; there's a lot of unknown out there.

Well, there is one known in the midst of your unknowns. Guess what? That one known covers all the unknowns. Jesus will always be your "go ahead" Shepherd. He always does that with His sheep. He has promised that He would, and He always keeps His promises.

In fact, today He knows your situation, and I think He brought us together and brought this verse to my heart for you, as a personal assurance from Him to you that He is already stepping ahead of you. There's nothing to fear on a path that Jesus has walked before you. It's the blessed security that only a follower of Jesus Christ can know.

So, wherever He takes you, yours won't be the first set of footprints you'll find there. Jesus got there first.

Not a day goes by without falsehoods of one kind or another besieging us. Because they are often packaged with just enough truth to make them appear trustworthy, we’re called to be vigilant and discerning. Pastor Jack Hibbs will help us distinguish error from that which is good and right. Discover how to stand strong and shine God's light into a dark world!

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You’ve probably heard about the spiritual armor Paul describes in Ephesians. But have you ever really thought you needed it? In this message, Pastor J.D. walks through each piece of spiritual armor so that you know how to arm yourself for the spiritual attack happening right now, but also so you understand that you need every part of your body covered—because where the gospel has built you up, Satan cannot attack you.

Even when you feel at the top of your game, a slump is never far away. Dr. Tony Evans explains what to do when those moments come and how to respond with wisdom.

After more than two decades as executive producer, Dave Arnold steps into a new role while Christopher Diehl takes the reins of the audio drama. What led to this transition and what does it mean for the future? Dave and Chris share the story behind the change.

A growing number of Christians are asking not just how to invest, but whether their investments reflect what they believe.

For many believers, investing has often been treated as a purely financial activity—something focused on returns, risk, diversification, and retirement goals. But what if investing is also deeply connected to our faith and calling?

Luke Bolton, Executive for Strategic Relationships at Kingdom Advisors and co-author of the upcoming book, The Theology of Investing: A Biblical Perspective for Contemporary Investors, joins us on the show today to say that this is ultimately about more than financial strategy. It is about theology—what we believe about God, money, stewardship, and the world He created.

Most Christians encounter investing at some point, whether through a workplace retirement plan, an IRA, a brokerage account, or a conversation with a financial advisor. But many have never paused to ask a deeper question: What does my faith have to say about this?

For Bolton, the answer begins with the lordship of Christ. If we confess that Jesus is Lord, then He is Lord over everything—including our money, savings, and investments.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That “everything” includes how we invest.

This does not mean every Christian will make the exact same investing decisions. But it does mean investing should not be placed in a separate category outside discipleship. Our portfolios, like every other part of life, should be brought under the wisdom and purposes of God.

A biblical approach to investing starts with what is happening internally.

Are we trusting God, or are we trusting the markets? Are we investing out of wisdom and stewardship, or anxiety and fear? Are we content and grateful, or driven by comparison and accumulation?

Those heart-level questions matter because financial decisions are never purely financial. They reveal what we value, what we fear, and where we place our hope.

Scripture repeatedly reminds us not to put our ultimate confidence in wealth, which is uncertain, but in God, who richly provides. That perspective changes the way we think about return, risk, security, and purpose.

Faith-based investing is not only about the heart, though. It also shapes outward decisions.

Bolton explained that over the last 20 to 30 years, a growing number of Christians have begun taking meaningful action through their investments in three key ways.

Some seek to avoid investments that conflict with their faith. Others look for opportunities to use their influence as investors for good. Still others seek investments that actively align with God’s heart for human flourishing and the good of His world.

In other words, faith-based investing can move beyond simply asking, “What should I avoid?” It can also ask, “What good can my investments help accomplish?”

Jeremiah 29:7 says, “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you…for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Galatians 6:10 adds, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Those passages help frame investing as an opportunity. Capital can be deployed in ways that contribute to human flourishing, support productive work, and reflect God’s concern for the world He made.

That does not remove the need for careful financial analysis. Investors still need wisdom, diversification, and sound counsel. But it does add another layer of due diligence: How might this investment reflect God’s character, purposes, and mission

After 1,200 interviews, Fuller Youth Institute’s Brad Griffin & Kara Powell offer conversations to navigate teens’ biggest questions--like, “Who am I?”

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