The Christians at Smyrna were undergoing some tremendous trials. Persecuted by the government, slandered by their neighbors, and losing their jobs and homes, they had some steep hills to climb. But Jesus himself writes them a note of encouragement to keep holding on, reminding them of the reward that lies ahead. Join us as we explore the victory that can come from staying true to our faith in even the darkest of trials.

Ever been in a slump, feeling like everything has just become "going through the motions?" When Jesus looked at the church at Ephesus in Revelation chapter 2, that's what he saw. They were still doing a lot right, but they'd lost their passion and love. It happens in churches, it happens in marriages, it happens in life. Jesus himself gives Ephesus the encouragement needed to get out of the slump, and that same messages lives today to help us get out of our ruts. Join us as we see in Revelation chapter two how to recover a forgotten love.

Fresh off the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus comes face to face with people who were wrestling with life and death. One was a leper, the other a Roman centurion, both had one thing in common: faith that if anyone could help, it would be Jesus of Nazareth.

Join us as we explore the stories of their encounters with Jesus, and catch a glimpse of how our encounter with Jesus could indeed impact our own story.

Mark chapter eight contains a very interesting miracle by Jesus, the healing of a blind man that took Jesus laying hands on his eyes not once, but twice. I think there's a reason for that -- a lesson Jesus is trying to get across -- and that's what we will explore in this message from God's Word.

What does the Bible actually say about the end of the world and the return of Christ? Well, with all the hype and book sellers, you might think it's an enigma wrapped in a riddle, but the Bible is actually much plainer than you might expect. You may just be surprised how clearly Jesus spoke about his return, and how the truths he and the apostles spoke will help you easily cut through most the hype and false prophecy around these days.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Criticism, especially when unfair, can be hard to handle. When a man named Shimei started lobbing rocks, dirt, insults and criticism at King David, David set an incredible example of how we can best respond to criticism, fair and unfair alike.

She had longed to have children for years, but to no avail. Her heart ached, another woman who did have children mocked and bullied her, and her husband was starting to question why she couldn't at least find joy in their relationship. For far too many, this is a familiar story. But Hannah never gave up her hope in God. She kept praying, kept worshiping, and as we'll see in today's podcast, God heard her and brought her not only her son Samuel, but other children, too.

She was a woman of incredible strength, faith, and integrity, and a woman who knew above all that prayer is powerful, and the God of her heart faithful and merciful.

(Due to a technical glitch, this is recording is of the same lesson presented Mother's Day at the Troy Church of Christ, but in a different format. This was recorded in studio for our radio ministry.)

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work."

David to his son, Solomon. 1 Chronicles 28:9-10, NIV

"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" (1 Corinthians 15:50-54, NIV)

When David wrote Psalm 22, he had no idea how profound it really was, as it was more than a psalm, more than poetry--it was a prophecy of Christ's suffering on the cross of Calvary, and one that the Messiah would quote even as was crucified.