RG AUDIO 102417   Romans 6:15-23 On January 1, 1863, United States President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that “all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” Even […]

RG AUDIO 102317   Romans 6:1-14 In Romans 5, Paul establishes the abundant grace available to all in Jesus Christ. Where sin once brought death, “God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (v. 17). He concludes, “But where sin increased, grace increased […]

RG AUDIO 102217   Psalm 118:1-14 I had a fitness test several years ago. I soon knew I was out of shape. My strength and durability were just a fabrication of my brain. Strength training is an important part of exercise. I am not an expert, but I know that the core muscles of the […]

RG AUDIO 102117   Psalm 37:1-11 My college friend Ed talked me into standing on the edge of Percy Priest Cliff. Then he convinced me to jump into the water below. It seemed like it took 10 minutes to decide to jump off perfectly safe ground. Once committed, there was no going back. Making the […]

RG AUDIO 102017   2 Corinthians 5:11-21 I came home from church one night in 1981. I walked in and told my parents I loved them. I then went to my room. My mom and dad were amazed: “Jonathan never says, ‘I love you.’ What’s up with this kid?” The angry teen was changed. I […]

RG AUDIO 101917   Matthew 18:1-10 A small shadow came near to me. Natalie greeted me every Sunday morning. I would give her a hug and ask her about her mother. That morning she gave me a handwritten note: “Dear Pastor Jonathan, Thank you for being my pastor, and thank you for coming to pray […]

RG AUDIO 101817   John 3:22-36 I sat looking right at my friend, Dot Kelley. She was seated in a recliner in the last stages of cancer. With only days to live, she was weak and exhausted, but surprisingly alert and able to speak with me. She was seeking one last reassurance that eternal life […]

RG AUDIO 101717   John 3:16-21 The words came out of my mouth before I even had a chance to stop myself. I had uttered words of rebuke to a close friend. I sincerely felt those words, and I certainly believed them, but I had just damaged a relationship that was very important to me. […]

RG AUDIO 101617   John 3:1-15 The conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3 took place in the darkness of night, a living demonstration of John 1: “The light shines in darkness and the darkness has not understood it” (v. 5). Night symbolized the misunderstanding many religious people had concerning Jesus. Nicodemus sincerely attempted […]

RG AUDIO 101517   Psalm 49:5-15 The perception of time is subjective. Car trips can be endless for children who ask, “Are we there yet?” The longest week for an expectant couple is the last week before the baby is due. As a child, the time between birthdays is forever, but for adults, the days […]