Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

This is undeniably one of the most difficult passages in the Bible. It is seldom preached on because the language is accusatory and blunt. But I’ve learned that everyone is concerned about money to some extent, and this passage gives us several reasons as to why we should be careful with money.I. It Can Be Obtained WronglyII. It Can Be Used PoorlyIII. It Will Vanish EventuallyIV. It Involves Judgment UltimatelyV. It Presents An OpportunityTalk with God: Read Matthew 25:14-30 and prayerfully consider your attitude toward money. Ask the Lord for wisdom to intentionally steward the resources He’s given you.Talk with others: Ask someone in your family or Connect Group how you can pray for them this week.Talk with kids: How do our differences show God’s creativity?

You can tell a lot about a person by observing their walk. As Paul continued his letter to the Ephesians, he explained that a believer's calling to the faith should change how they live their life, revealing their identity as believers who have become members of one body under Christ. In this message, Skip Heitzig unpacks the importance of walking in unity as we embrace our unique spiritual gifts and build up the church.

Do you put your trust in earthly things like money, relationships, and personal ability—or in God? In this message, Nate Heitzig examines what James 4:13-17 has to say about submitting our ambitions and best-laid plans to God's will and timing as we place our confidence in Him.I. You Can’t Control the Future (vv. 13-14, 16)II. You Must Control Yourself (v. 17)III. Let God Control It All (v. 15)Talk with God: Meditate on Philippians 4:6-7. Ask the Lord to fill you with His peace, "which surpasses all understanding” (v. 7).Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer by reminding them that God is in control, no matter what struggle they’re facing.Talk with kids: How does knowing Jesus give us hope that He will make things all right one day?

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.