Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

Have you fully surrendered your life to God? Pastor Antonio Aragón walks us through Mark 14, where we see Jesus model sacrificial love and complete obedience to the Father's will. In the garden, He prayed with honesty and humility, seeking strength—while surrendering to the Father's plan: "Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" (v. 36). When we submit to the will of God, we'll experience true victory.

Today we celebrate our fathers. We honor them for their sacrifice, valor, and commitment. But I’d like to explore the Fatherhood of God today as we look at the most famous prayer in the world—actually, the first line of that prayer. As we do, we discover that this prayer implies four great truths.I. RelationshipII. LordshipIII. FellowshipIV. GuardianshipTalk with God: Pray for the fathers you know—that the Lord would strengthen and guide them as they lead their families and build a legacy of faith in their communities.Talk with others: Ask a brother in Christ how you can come alongside them and support them in their walk with the Lord this week.Talk with kids: Why do we not need a tabernacle today?

Joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s a choice. In these verses, Paul shifted from theology to testimony, highlighting two faithful believers—Timothy and Epaphroditus. Through these men, Paul painted a picture of what it means to live selflessly, serve faithfully, and put the needs of others above our own—all for the sake of Christ.

Complaining is draining! It only takes away energy from today and never solves problems for tomorrow. And what’s more, a complaining tongue reveals an ungrateful heart. Here in Nehemiah 5, we see that tension was growing among God’s people as complainers voiced their grievances. Some of these complaints were legitimate, but Nehemiah set out to fix the issues and stop the protests.I. The Local Condition (vv. 1-5)II. The Leader’s Reaction (vv. 6-7)III. The Loving Solution (vv. 7-19)Talk with God: Meditate on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the situations in your life that you are more prone to complain about than to pray about.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer to hold you accountable to pray and give thanks in everything as you “follow the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) this week.Talk with kids: How does Jesus save us from God’s judgment of sin?

In a compelling discussion, the focus is on living with humility, unity, and Christlike love. The example of Jesus is highlighted as a model of selfless obedience. There's an exploration of the challenges of conflict within the church and the importance of reconciliation. The concept of 'kenosis' sheds light on Christ's self-emptying, while practical advice encourages believers to shine as lights in a dark world. The call to rejoice and publicly confess faith concludes with an invitation to embrace a transformative relationship with Christ.

In life, you don’t get to choose between building and battling—you’re called to do both. In Nehemiah 4, we discover how to keep building the future while fighting off the fear, distraction, and opposition that threaten to stop us. Whether it’s clearing the rubble of your past, guarding the vulnerable places in your life, or learning to trust God as your ultimate defender, we are called to stay strong in the fight and faithful in the work. Don’t drop your shovel. Don’t sheathe your sword. The wall goes up when you show up.I. Buried in the Rubble (v. 10)II. Threats in the Shadows (vv. 11-12)III. Guard the Gaps (vv. 13-18)IV. Backup on the Battlefield (vv. 19-23)Talk with God: Meditate on Hebrews 4:12 and ask the Lord for the discipline and courage to take up your sword—the Word—as you step onto the battlefield each day.Talk with others: Go to battle in prayer for your Connect Group or circle of believers and ask them how you can guard the gaps and provide backup for them this week.Talk with kids: How do the Commandments teach us to love God and people?

In 2 Corinthians 7:4-13, Paul expressed the tension of being heavy-hearted over sin yet joyful over repentance. In this message, Pastor Mat Pirolo examines how conviction can be a gift when it moves us toward restoration. God uses even the weight of our sorrow to bring healing when our hearts remain open to Him.

Being a Christian can be hard in the current climate of hostility—where believers worldwide face physical oppression and persecution. In our own culture, the church is labeled archaic and irrelevant in its stance on modern issues. Today we will consider a few reasons for the opposition we face as Christians and how we can face it victoriously.I. Opposition is NormalII. Opposition is VerbalIII. Opposition is ContinualIV. Opposition is ConquerableTalk with God: Ask the Lord for the courage to stand firm in Christ, despite opposition.Talk with others: Encourage a believer or family member who’s been struggling this week and remind them that their “labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).Talk with kids: Why did Moses need help leading the people?

What would your life’s epitaph say? Dive into Paul's unplanned journey to Rome and see how his imprisonment advanced the gospel. Explore the powerful message that true proclamation matters more than the messenger's motives. Discover the inspirational courage Paul displayed that emboldened others to speak out. Experience the tension of living for Christ versus the desire to be with Him. Finally, reflect on what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel while standing united in faith.

One of the greatest coaches of all time, Vince Lombardi, said, “Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Nehemiah 3 records the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls by individuals committed to this group effort. Here we can learn several practical and spiritual principles.I. God's Work Should Be OrderlyII. There's a Place for EveryoneIII. Your Service Should Fit YouIV. Some Work Harder Than OthersV. Work Should Be Tied to PurposeTalk with God: Meditate on Proverbs 3:5-6 this week and ask the Lord to “show you which path to take” (NLT) as you seek His will in every area of your life.Talk with others: If you’re struggling with brokenness in your life—spiritually, mentally, or physically—ask a mentor or trusted fellow believer to stand with you as you start rebuilding.Talk with kids: Why can we trust God to provide for our needs?