Calvary Church with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

<p>How many times have you heard about the separation of church and state? I’m guessing a lot! But usually, it’s from Christians who think that it is in the Bible (it is not). It comes from secularists who think that it comes from the US Constitution (it does not). Every election cycle brings with it the dilemma: Should Christians be involved in politics? If so, to what degree?</p><p><br></p><p>I. Complexity</p><p>II. Policy</p><p>III. Responsibility</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Pray for our elected leaders and candidates and ask the Lord for wisdom and clarity as you get ready to vote.</p><p>Talk with others: Encourage a believer who is anxious about the upcoming election and remind them that “no purpose of [God’s] can be thwarted” (Job 42:2, ESV).</p><p>Talk with kids: How does learning about God help us receive courage?</p>

<p>David carefully brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with great joy and reverence, and God made a covenant with him. David responded in humility, acknowledging God’s greatness. In this message, Skip Heitzig shares why true worship requires both joy and obedience, encouraging us to approach God with reverence and surrender our hearts to Him as we embrace His plans.</p>

<p>This noble-sounding little statement has been around for a couple of decades but was popularized by Oprah Winfrey at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. She stated, “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.” In all fairness, she was talking about those women who dared to speak up about being sexually harassed; however, the quip rapidly became a modern mantra for those who say absolute truth doesn’t exist, but that all truth is individual and comes from within.</p><p><br></p><p>I. We Should Know the Truth</p><p>II. We Should Guard the Truth</p><p>III. We Should Speak the Truth</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Meditate on John 17:14-19 and ask the Lord to sanctify your life by the truth of His Word.</p><p>Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group how they stay “ready in season and out of season” (v. 2).</p><p>Talk with kids: Who can you share the gospel with?</p>

<p>As David established his kingdom, he sought the Lord's guidance and warriors from every tribe united under his leadership and recognized God’s hand upon him. In this message, Skip Heitzig shares why seeking God’s direction leads to success when we choose to trust Him, revere His commands, and walk in His ways.</p>

<p>Some of the worst advice we have ever received has come from the best friends we’ve ever had. A popular slogan of our modern culture tells us each to, “Follow your heart,” and we’ve all had close friends tell us as much. But is that a good plan? Is your heart reliable? Let’s discover three valuable components of decision-making from a familiar story where things almost went really wrong.</p><p><br></p><p>I. A Good Intention</p><p>II. Some Bad Advice</p><p>III. A Better Plan</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life where you choose to follow your heart instead of seeking His direction.</p><p>Talk with others: Ask a fellow believer or mentor to be your sounding board and keep you accountable to follow the Word rather than your heart.</p><p>Talk with kids: Why is faith in Jesus the only way to be saved?</p>

<p>Saul’s reign ended in tragedy due to his unfaithfulness and disobedience to God. In contrast, David's rise marked God's faithfulness in establishing a leader after His own heart. In this message, Skip Heitzig shares why trusting God’s plans will lead us to victory and encourages us to walk in obedience and rely on God’s strength.</p>

<p>Welcome to our new weekend series, which we are simply calling The Bible Doesn’t Say That. Over the next few weeks, we will look at some sayings and concepts people think are found in Scripture but aren’t. Perhaps you heard your grandma say them, or they were given as a piece of advice that just sounded right, so you assumed they must be in the Bible. Today, we’ll look at one of the first I heard.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Where Did it Originate?</p><p>II. Is There Any Truth to It?</p><p>III. What Does the Bible Say?</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Meditate on vv. 8-10 and thank the Lord that “we shall be saved by His life” (v. 10).</p><p>Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer who may be struggling right now, reminding them that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).</p><p>Talk with kids: What are some ways you can tell others about Jesus?</p>

<p>Israel's lineage points to God's sovereign hand in preserving His people throughout history. In this message, Skip Heitzig examines God's faithfulness, the significance of the genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 1-9, and the foundation they set for the kingdom to come.</p>

<p>Saving anyone from death would, of course, be a noble goal. If physical death threatens someone and we can help them avert it, we should by all means try to do so. But especially if there is a risk of spiritual, eternal death, we should step in and try to stop it. Today I will share the four musts of saving a soul from death. These four ingredients are needed for every Christian life.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Restoration Must Be Our Plan</p><p>II. Admonition Must Be Our Call</p><p>III. Conversion Must Be Our Goal</p><p>IV. Salvation Must Be The Result</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Pray for an unbelieving or backslidden friend or family member and take comfort in knowing God’s Word “shall not return…void” (Isaiah 55:11).</p><p>Talk with others: Sharpen another believer (see Proverbs 27:17) this week through gentle, Spirit-led correction, encouraging words, or time spent praying together.</p><p>Talk with kids: What difficulties did Paul and Barnabas have to endure while sharing the gospel?</p>

<p>Paul urged believers to be strong in the Lord and stand against spiritual attacks by putting on the full armor of God. In this message on Ephesians 6:10-24, Skip Heitzig explores the need for spiritual readiness and the power of prayer in overcoming the enemy.</p>

<p>As the war on Christianity intensifies, it is tempting to feel overwhelmed and underprepared, but believers have a powerful weapon that is always available—prayer. In this message, Nate Heitzig examines James 5:16-18 to discover who prayer is for, how we should pray, and the impact it makes.</p><p><br></p><p>I. What Is It?</p><p>II. Who Can Use It?</p><p>III. What’s the Impact?</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Is there someone or something that you’ve given up praying about?</p><p>Talk with others: “Confess your faults” (v. 17, KJV) to a mentor or trusted fellow believer and ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable as you tackle these areas in your life.</p><p>Talk with kids: What’s the difference between knowing Jesus and knowing about Jesus?</p>

<p>The son of great missionary Hudson Taylor noted of his father, “For forty years the sun never rose on China that God didn’t find him on his knees.” Someone called prayer the gymnasium of the soul. When was the last time you had a good “workout”? Today, James jumps into the mysterious cooperation of the divine with the human through prayer. When and why should we do it?</p><p><br></p><p>I. Pray When You're Suffering</p><p>II. Pray When You're Smiling</p><p>III. Pray When You're Sick</p><p>IV. Pray When You Sin</p><p>V. Pray For the Saints</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Consider your prayer life—what things consistently keep you from praying (e.g. anxiety, distractions)? Surrender them to the Lord this week.</p><p>Talk with others: Invite a few friends to gather regularly to spend time in prayer together.</p><p>Talk with kids: How do you use the gifts God has given you to serve your church?</p>

<p>Paul called believers to submit to one another in love, reflecting Christ’s example, with specific instructions for wives, husbands, and children. In this message on Ephesians 5:21-6:15, Skip Heitzig highlights the importance of honoring God in our relationships. </p>

<p>Sometimes parents will tell their children not to do certain things. But such prohibitions are motivated by love. These negative commands are to ensure a positive outcome. A good biblical example of this is the list of thou shalt nots in the Ten Commandments. In this section, James gives his audience a few negative instructions so they can have a positive life.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Do Not Grumble</p><p>II. Do Not Back Down</p><p>III. Do Not Give Up</p><p>IV. Do Not Speak Hastily</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Meditate on 1 John 2:5-6 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of your life that don’t reflect your love for the Lord.</p><p>Talk with others: Ask a friend or member of your Connect Group how you can pray for them as they seek to align their lives to God’s Word.</p><p>Talk with kids: What were the believers doing while Peter was in prison?</p>

<p>Paul emphasized wisdom and living in the Spirit as he urged believers to live as children of light and to follow Christ's example by walking in love. In this message on Ephesians 5:1-21, Skip Heitzig explores the call to reflect God’s character, walk in purity, and make the most of every opportunity for His glory.</p>

<p>Ever since Jesus came to Earth over 2,000 years ago to die and rise again, He promised to return. And believers have been looking for Him since. Every generation has its doomsday preachers and prophecy “experts,” predicting when He will return. But today we examine not when He will come back, but rather how we should live until He does. James tells us three ways we are to wait for it.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Be Ready</p><p>II. Be Patient</p><p>III. Be Strong</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Meditate on verse 8 and ask the Lord to give you the wisdom to “strengthen your [heart]” (NASB), so you can continue to live for Him in the last days.</p><p>Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer to seek the Lord diligently and continue in the faith as we wait for His coming.</p><p>Talk with kids: Why should we celebrate when others repent and turn to Jesus?</p>

<p>After encouraging the church in Ephesus to walk in a way that honors God's call to follow Jesus, Paul firmly reminded them to have nothing more to do with the wickedness of their past. In this message, Skip Heitzig unpacks why being grounded in biblical truth is essential to understanding how we’re called to live as believers.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. It Can Be Obtained Wrongly</p><p>II. It Can Be Used Poorly</p><p>III. It Will Vanish Eventually</p><p>IV. It Involves Judgment Ultimately</p><p>V. It Presents An Opportunity</p><p><br></p><p>Talk 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.</p><p>Talk with others: Ask someone in your family or Connect Group how you can pray for them this week.</p><p>Talk with kids: How do our differences show God’s creativity?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. You Can’t Control the Future (vv. 13-14, 16)</p><p>II. You Must Control Yourself (v. 17)</p><p>III. Let God Control It All (v. 15)</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Meditate on Philippians 4:6-7. Ask the Lord to fill you with His peace, "which surpasses all understanding” (v. 7).</p><p>Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer by reminding them that God is in control, no matter what struggle they’re facing.</p><p>Talk with kids: How does knowing Jesus give us hope that He will make things all right one day?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Stop Condemning</p><p>II. Start Considering</p><p> A. Consider Others</p><p> B. Consider God</p><p> C. Consider Yourself</p><p><br></p><p>Talk 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).</p><p>Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer to point out areas of bitterness, judgment, or unforgiveness in your life.</p><p>Talk with kids: What does it look like to have the same attitude as Jesus?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Recognize the Source</p><p>II. Realize the Consequence</p><p>III. Repent of Your Attitude</p><p>IV. Resist the Devil</p><p>V. Rest in God</p><p><br></p><p>Talk 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).</p><p>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)?</p><p>Talk with kids: What are reasons others might not know about Jesus? How can we help them learn about Jesus?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Wisdom Is Practical (v. 13a)</p><p>II. Wisdom Is Humble (v. 13b)</p><p>III. Wisdom Is Spiritual (vv. 14-16)</p><p>IV. Wisdom Is Fruitful (vv. 17-18)</p><p><br></p><p>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).</p><p>Talk with others: Ask a mentor to hold you accountable in not acting through “envy and self-seeking” (v. 14).</p><p>Talk with kids: How can Stephen’s faith encourage us in our own faith?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>I. What You Say Is a Reflection</p><p>II. What You Say Causes Destruction</p><p>III. What You Say Is a Decision</p><p><br></p><p>Talk 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.</p><p>Talk with others: Be intentional in encouraging a fellow believer this week.</p><p>Talk with kids: What problem did the early church face? How did the apostles solve the problem?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>Just as young children ask their parents what is going to happen each day, we can find ourselves wondering how and when God is going to work in and through our lives. Hebrews 11:1-12 provides powerful examples of how God calls us to have faith in Him before He calls us to act. In this message, Cody Byrne unpacks the faith we need to step into our God-given calling. </p>

<p>You probably couldn’t find two people more different than the two examples chosen by James to show the difference between dead faith and dynamic faith. Abraham was the first patriarch and designated figurehead of the Jewish nation. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in Jericho during Israel’s assault of that city. But both demonstrate how true faith will produce action and change.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Question (v. 20)</p><p>II. Illustration (vv. 21-24)</p><p>III. Amplification (v. 25)</p><p>IV. Conclusion (v. 26)</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Ask the Lord to show you ways to put your faith into action.</p><p>Talk with others: Brainstorm some practical ways to regularly serve your community with your family or Connect Group.</p><p>Talk with kids: How does sharing the gospel show we love God and people?</p>

<p>Every believer is called to share the gospel, but one survey found that most Christians have never led another person to Jesus. There are a number of reasons people give for not sharing the gospel—but could the underlying issue be a lack of compassion and conviction? In the book of Matthew, Jesus' words and example create a blueprint for how we can pray for—and participate in—the harvest.</p>

<p>According to a recent Netflix documentary, there are more forgeries of famous paintings hanging in museums than most people suspect. From time to time, these cases come to light. But what about faith in God? The easiest thing to do is to simply say that one is a believer. But where’s the proof? James addressed this, giving four telltale signs to help us spot the genuine from the fake.</p><p><br></p><p>I. Words without Works (v. 14)</p><p>II. Sight without Sympathy (vv. 15-16)</p><p>III. Profession without Proof (vv. 17-18)</p><p>IV. Commotion without Conversion (vv. 19-20)</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Ask the Lord to give you a servant’s heart, then seek opportunities to serve or encourage someone this week.</p><p>Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if your faith is obvious in your daily habits, attitudes, and relationships.</p><p>Talk with kids: How can people see the power of God in our lives?</p>

<p>After painting a beautiful picture of new life in Christ, Paul reminded the Ephesian church what they were saved from, saved for, and saved by. In this message, Skip Heitzig explores the profound journey from spiritual death to spiritual life—and the mystery of spiritual unity between Jewish and Gentile Christ-followers.</p>

<p>Faith and favoritism are incompatible. We have been saved by a loving Redeemer and we must be willing to accept all different kinds of people. That’s not to say that people don’t need to repent of known sin. Of course they do! But one of the glaring sins of the Christian church is discriminating on the basis of outward appearance—actually, this is a flaw endemic to the whole human race.</p><p><br></p><p>I. People Are Prejudiced Naturally (vv. 1-13)</p><p>II. Favoritism Is Foolish Logically (vv. 5-7)</p><p>III. Christians Are Corrected Biblically (vv. 8-9)</p><p>IV. Life Should Be Lived Consistently (vv. 10-13)</p><p><br></p><p>Talk with God: Ask the Lord to reveal an area where you haven’t been living as one “who will be judged by the law of liberty” (v. 12).</p><p>Talk with others: Say hello and introduce yourself to someone sitting alone at service.</p><p>Talk with kids: How are we changed by the Holy Spirit?</p>