Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

When life is easy, it can be tempting to put our faith in our own effort and ability. But when we face difficult circumstances, we have an opportunity to respond with praise as we rely on God and deepen our faith in Him. In this message in Acts, Nick Macedo unpacks an example from the apostle Paul's life that shows us how to embrace holy hardship for our sanctification and God's glory.

Christians are cautioned not to condemn others by their judgment, yet the Bible is clear that we should be discerning and live wisely. So how can believers know which approach God wants us to take? In this message, Nate Heitzig looks to James 4:11-12 to discover how we can replace condemnation with compassionate evaluation and discernment.I. Stop CondemningII. Start Considering  A. Consider Others  B. Consider God  C. Consider YourselfTalk with God: Ask the Lord to fill your heart with grace and forgiveness so that you “do not speak evil of one another” (v. 11).Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer to point out areas of bitterness, judgment, or unforgiveness in your life.Talk with kids: What does it look like to have the same attitude as Jesus?

If we are not on guard against "philosophy and empty deceit" (Colossians 2:8), we can fall prey to false beliefs about Jesus and Christianity. Paul wrote a letter to the church at Colossae to address the heresy taking root among them. In this message from Colossians, Kaiden Ritchie examines the clear and powerful Who, what, and how of the gospel.

Conflict resolution is an entire field of practice—used from the counselor’s couch to the United Nations. Evidently, conflicts were a problem in early congregations. James, in forceful language, addressed this and told his audience how to fix it. Today we see several steps to resolve conflict. And today, instead of me writing the outline for you, I will let you do the honors.I. Recognize the SourceII. Realize the ConsequenceIII. Repent of Your AttitudeIV. Resist the DevilV. Rest in GodTalk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal areas in your life that you haven’t submitted to His control. Surrender them to Him this week as you “draw near to God” (v. 8).Talk with others: Do you need to seek resolution or reconciliation with someone in order to “live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18, NLT)?Talk with kids: What are reasons others might not know about Jesus? How can we help them learn about Jesus?

God's plan for a new society, called the church—where all believers, Jews and non-Jews alike, are united in Christ by faith—was once hidden but had finally been fully revealed. Wrapping up the doctrinal section of his letter, Paul expanded on the power and importance of that shocking revelation. In this message, Skip Heitzig explores Paul's costly dedication to delivering the good news, and what it means for us today.

In the ancient world, few virtues were more revered than wisdom. In the biblical Hebrew culture, wisdom was considered the skill to live well, or more precisely, a wise person was an expert in godly living. According to James, wisdom has little to do with IQ, SAT scores, or education. Wisdom is different from knowledge. Rather, true wisdom is the right application of knowledge. In this passage, James showed the difference between true and false wisdom with four notable traits.I. Wisdom Is Practical (v. 13a)II. Wisdom Is Humble (v. 13b)III. Wisdom Is Spiritual (vv. 14-16)IV. Wisdom Is Fruitful (vv. 17-18)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to fill your heart with “the wisdom that is from above” so your life will be “full of mercy and good fruits” (v. 17).Talk with others: Ask a mentor to hold you accountable in not acting through “envy and self-seeking” (v. 14).Talk with kids: How can Stephen’s faith encourage us in our own faith?

Bookstores are full of helpful leadership advice, but as believers we have access to the ultimate source of wisdom: the Bible. God's Word includes important examples and principles for leaders. In this message from 2 Chronicles, Robert Furrow looks at the story of King Asa and identifies seven principles of biblical leadership that can be applied to any industry or leadership role.

Do the words that come out of your mouth bless others and honor God, or do they bring bitterness and destruction? In this message, Nate Heitzig examines what James 3:2-12 says about the power of the tongue and reminds us that God is the only one capable of changing our heart—and the words that flow from it.I. What You Say Is a ReflectionII. What You Say Causes DestructionIII. What You Say Is a DecisionTalk with God: Ask the Lord to help you break any habits of complaining, gossiping, or tearing others down—and to help you use your words to bless and encourage.Talk with others: Be intentional in encouraging a fellow believer this week.Talk with kids: What problem did the early church face? How did the apostles solve the problem?

Since the days of the early church, false teachers have claimed that a believer's faith is incomplete without the addition of worldly elements like philosophy, mysticism, or legalism. Paul's letter to the Colossians counters this message by pointing to the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. In this message, John Miller examines what believers truly need to live the abundant life that is found through faith in Christ alone.

When our lives don't match our testimony, it gives unbelievers an excuse to blaspheme the name of God and diminishes our witness to a lost world. It's critical that believers continually develop their spiritual character and stay accountable for their conduct. In this message, Nate Heitzig applies James 3:1 to Bible teachers—and every believer who faces the scrutiny of a skeptical world.