RG AUDIO 031617   Matthew 19:16-30 Our setting is Gethsemane, ground zero for the clash of kingdoms. It is a time when Jesus wrestled with spiritual attacks. It is also a time of training when Jesus tries to teach His disciples to be proactive spiritually. “Watch and pray,” (v. 41). Jesus wasn’t suggesting this to […]

RG AUDIO 031517   Matthew 19:16-30 In Matthew 19, Jesus had a conversation that astonished His disciples. Jesus told a rich young man who asked how to get eternal life to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then follow Him. The young man “went away sad” (v. 22). Peter quickly pointed […]

RG AUDIO 031417   Jeremiah 29:4-14 A couple at church played “hide and seek” with their granddaughter. There’s one problem–the toddler isn’t good at hiding. As the grandparents “look” for their granddaughter, they prolong the game by purposefully not seeing her. It doesn’t take long before the granddaughter makes herself known by shouting, “Here I […]

RG AUDIO 031317   Acts 8:26-40 Remember the television show Fear Factor? Contestants faced fear-inducing challenges. To claim the prize, they had to boldly overcome their fears. In life, we also confront challenges, and we also have a choice–be paralyzed by fear or radically trust the Lord. Israel had every right to be fearful. Their […]

RG AUDIO 031217   Acts 8:26-40 Our calendars are crowded with appointments. Some are necessary, like those that are work-related. Some are routine, such as a haircut. And some are just plain fun, like fishing or golf. A concern here would be: Are we allowing life, even church, to dictate our daily agenda? Is there […]

RG AUDIO 031117   John 4:25-42 Our world is in audio overload. Need examples? Grocery store music. Or bank conversation. Or our homes (television, phones, kids, pets, and family). Arrgh! Add discussions regarding politics, culture, and religion into the mix and you have a mess! Amid all this, how do we help our world hear […]

RG AUDIO 031017   John 4:7-24 It was a billboard. It advertised a church, gave the time, and proudly proclaimed the service as “Casual Worship.” I know what they mean. But honestly, “casual” and “worship” do not belong in the same grammatical proximity. The word “casual” is a millstone around the neck of “worship.” It […]

RG AUDIO 030917   Luke 2:22-35 Have you ever been overwhelmed with joy and praise toward God? Not some fleeting emotion that suddenly came and went, but a time when you felt the Holy Spirit of the living God take you in His arms, and you experienced His matchless love, mercy, and grace? Simeon, in […]

RG AUDIO 030817   Mark 1:1-13 John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance was attractive. However, John directed their attention toward a deeper spiritual reality–the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Consider John’s statement in Mark 1:8: “But he [the coming Messiah] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In contrast to a symbolic washing in water, […]

RG AUDIO 030717   John 14:22-31 “There’s an app for that?” Well, no, there isn’t. Many devices have an icon labeled “Reminder,” to help us remember all the things we might forget! But the “application” Jesus promised in John 14 isn’t the latest creation of modern technology. No, He promised God’s Holy Spirit, a living […]