The Dirtiest Clean
RG AUDIO 013022 Hebrews 4:9-16 Long ago, when my boys were young, after a rainy day, they’d begged to go outside. “You can go outside,” we told them, “but stay out of the puddles.” That was like...
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RG AUDIO 013122 Matthew 19:16-22 The young man in this story is like a success-motivated student who asks, “How do I achieve the top grade?” The Teacher responds with a clear outline of the standards...
View ArticleEnduring Provision
RG AUDIO 020122 Matthew 19:23-30 We must imagine that the first listeners were mostly poor and on the margins of society. They saw wealth (as we often do) as a blessing from God. So the disciples...
View ArticleA Change of Mind
RG AUDIO 020222 Mark 8:31-38 It is impossible not to align myself with Peter in the encounter of Mark 8 with Jesus. I just cannot imagine keeping quiet if my beloved teacher spoke of giving in to the...
View ArticleJump In With Both Feet
RG AUDIO 020322 Mark 10:24-31 It is a bit unsettling to hear Jesus proclaim that it is hard to enter the kingdom of God. After all, haven’t we been taught that we are saved through God’s gift of...
View ArticleLord, Have It All
RG AUDIO 020422 Mark 12:38-44 How much is enough to give? We hear reports of mind-boggling amounts of money that wealthy benefactors give to charities and wonder how our small contribution could make...
View ArticleRemain In Christ
RG AUDIO 020522 1 John 2:15-25 I remember taking the vacation of a lifetime with my family as a teenager. We spent two weeks living an “old west” life: staying on a dude ranch, panning for gold,...
View ArticleReady For Relief
RG AUDIO 020622 Psalm 34:1-10 In the middle of deep trouble, deliverance came just in time. What seemed like an impossible situation was met with the provisions of God. Maybe you have experienced...
View ArticleGrace and Availability
RG AUDIO 020722 Matthew 19:30—20:1-8 In a world where the primary measure of our worth is our productivity. Jesus makes one thing clear: the way we measure things is not the way things are valued in...
View ArticleDisturbing Grace
RG AUDIO 020822 Matthew 20:9-16 We expect that something is wrong with this story. I have heard some rather outlandish interpretations that have attempted to “make sense” of it. How could a person...
View ArticleNecessary Workers
RG AUDIO 020922 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Paul placed a high value on the work we do for the kingdom of God. His own testimony indicated that he was among the hardest working apostles (1 Corinthians...
View ArticleDevoted Service
RG AUDIO 021022 1 Corinthians 16:10-18 1 Corinthians 16 is a “roll call” of fruitful servants. Paul writes the names of five different people who are giving themselves to the work of the kingdom of...
View ArticleGrateful Love
RG AUDIO 021122 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica had been remarkably fruitful. He, Timothy, and Silas had gone there after a very tumultuous experience in Philippi. In a matter...
View ArticleCompelled To Serve
RG AUDIO 021222 2 Timothy 1:1-10 The relationship Paul had with Timothy was close, deeply formed by a mutual love and respect. Paul was a mentor and guide to the young man and became a model of...
View ArticlePatient Service
RG AUDIO 021322 Jude 1:17-25 Nobody said this would be easy! Sometimes we assume that if we are having a hard time, are facing opposition, or are being sorely tempted, something is terribly wrong....
View ArticleA Great Feast
RG AUDIO 021422 Matthew 22:1-7 When I call my family to the table, they had better come or the food will get cold. I like them to come right away. If they don’t I feel like they don’t care about all...
View ArticleReady and Waiting
RG AUDIO 021522 Matthew 22:8-14 We all know how embarrassing it can be if we attend an event without the proper attire. I prefer not to go. I don’t like dressing up, taking too much time shave and...
View ArticleWhen He Returns
RG AUDIO 021622 Matthew 24:36-42 I remember the days my parents had to go to a district gathering when I was little. Years ago in Mexico, the gathering was seven days of conventions and meetings full...
View ArticleEveryone Is Invited
RG AUDIO 021722 Luke 14:16-24 The master and the servant are having a very interesting dynamic. His people were full of excuses and the servant reported the lame answers. I think the most powerful...
View ArticleCalled To Share
RG AUDIO 021922 Isaiah 61:5-11 The good news is well expressed in this chapter of Isaiah. We have been called priests and ministers to spread the good news to all the nations. What a privilege! And...
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