RG AUDIO 062120   John 8:31-40 True freedom can only be received as a gift. As adults we sometimes hesitate to receive gifts, thinking instead about what is earned or deserved. Children have no such struggle. Rarely do they question if they have earned or deserved the gift. Instead they grasp hold of the gift, […]

RG AUDIO 062020   2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Christians in Corinth fought against a popular belief that the body and the spirit were two separate entities; culture said one could be “spiritual” on the inside while the body enjoyed the lifestyle of pagan Corinth. They wanted it both ways, without boundaries. Love, however, requires boundaries; love […]

RG AUDIO 061920   Ezra 10:9-17 At times there are no easy answers or simple solutions. The wrongs that people have done are tangled up in the lives of others; their sin affects the entire community. As the people gathered together in Jerusalem, sitting in the square before the house of the LORD, they were […]

RG AUDIO 061820   Ezra 10:1-8 The remnant of Israel, who had come home after living through generations in exile, were survivors. They had firsthand experience with God who does not give up. As Ezra continued to pray and weep, one of the people came with this reminder “But in spite of this, there is […]

RG AUDIO 061720   Ezra 9:8-15 The story of the people of God in Ezra is one of restoration and renewal; God gave this faithless people a chance to start over, to begin again. In the past, they had failed, which led to exile in a land far from home. However, that was not the […]

RG AUDIO 061620   Ezra 9:1-7 Throughout Ezra 9, the grief and sorrow of Ezra is tangible and easily visualized. Yet again, Israel has failed to follow the instruction of God. The people have not learned from the mistakes that originally led them into exile. Israel is a community; the choices that households make have […]

RG AUDIO 061520   Ezra 8:21-23, 31-35 The river held a significant place for the Israelites throughout the exile story; at the river they gathered and grieved for what they had left behind, wondering if they would ever return. Now, decades later the “hand of God” has made a way for their return. The way […]

RG AUDIO 061420   Colossians 1:1-14 Christ followers carry a deep sense of hope in their lives. This hope is evident in their love for others and their joy in life. When one experiences this hope that comes from Jesus, it can truly change the trajectory of one’s life. I have two friends who were […]

RG AUDIO 061320   Ezra 7:21-28 King Artaxerxes had a very high regard for Ezra. So much so that when the king sent Ezra back to Israel, he allowed any Israelites from his kingdom to go with Ezra. Not only that, Artaxerxes sent them with silver, gold, and freewill offerings from other people. This gives […]

RG AUDIO 061220   Ezra 7:11-20 When the Golden State Warriors basketball team made it to the finals in 2015, they rolled out a campaign called “Strength in Numbers.” It was inspired by their strong 24-0 season start, 54-win streak at home, and 74-win regular season record. Their campaign, however, was not just about statistical […]