Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

The ending of Bible book of Judges requires an adult I.D. to read. A woman chopped into pieces and mailed throughout Israel? That’s really messed up! But the Spirit inspired this story to prove two points. First, that life falls apart when everyone does what he or she thinks is right. Second, that God does not give up on people after the most disgusting sins.Transcript

Gideon seemed so good. The humble farmer who became a Sunday school hero. But the fame went to his head, and good ol’ Gideon died as a spiritual adulterer and snare for his people. That’s messed up! But the story reminds us to fight the good fight through the final round, run the race until the last step, and worship God until our final breaths.Transcript

A quivering commander. A female savior. A housewife who plunges a tent peg through a general’s brain. That’s messed up! But that’s what happened in Deborah’s day. Her unlikely story proves that God blesses and saves his people through those we would least expect—little children, common mothers, and a carpenter from Nazareth.Transcript

June 9, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. The teachers of the law knew Jesus spoke his scathing parable of the tenants against them. Yet instead of repenting, they looked for a way to kill Jesus. They cared more about their embarrassment than their relationship with God. How about you? Will you cling to your image? Or will Jesus become marvelous in your eyes?

Authority. Jesus’ enemies adored it. They refused to submit to Jesus’ teaching, even when caught in their own duplicity. They missed finding true life because they refused to die to having the last word. Modern Americans face the same dilemma. Will Jesus be the Lord who gets the last word? Or will we cling to our plastic gavels and tell Jesus what to do?Transcript

The book of Proverbs might imply that hanging out with unbelievers is a bad idea, but the Bible is more nuanced than that. Rubbing shoulders with those who don’t know Jesus is the best way to share the hope that only the Savior can give. This message explores the way Christians can invest in those who do not yet believe in Christ.Transcript

“Show me your friends, and I will show you your future.” That wisdom is repeated in the book of Proverbs. This message is God’s reminder to choose your friends carefully, since they have an incredible influence on your choices and future.Transcript

What does it mean to find a Christian friend? Is that the same as being part of the fellowship of a church? This message explores what it means to have friends who share your faith as well as the important distinction between the fellowship of Christians and the self-selected blessing called friendship.Transcript

May 11, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Listen to the entire devotional series from this week, as Pastor Mike Novotny explores friendship as Christians. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

May 10, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. A good friend works through the hard conversations. Do you have a friend like that? Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

May 9, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. If you struggle with loneliness and friendship, don't forget about this friend. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

May 8, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Do you have to be friends with people at church? Just don't forget about fellowship. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

May 7, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Friendship is not easy in the grown-up world. But Pastor Mike shares some ways to make your friendships rock. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

May 6, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. How can you become a better friend? How can you find better friends? Pastor Mike teaches about friendship from a biblical perspective. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

The Bible speaks of God befriending people in the Bible, a term of incredible closeness and intimacy. How does that compare to the modern, social media-driven idea of a “friend request”? What would it mean for our lives if the Almighty God was actually our ever-present friend?Transcript

April 28, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Life in God’s family is not pain free. The apostle Peter is honest about suffering, grief, and “all kinds of trials.” But he also tells us God’s plan for our pain—to refine us and lead us to a greater desire to see God face-to-face.

April 7, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Too often Christians see joy as something that has to wait until heaven. But Peter tells us that we can be filled with an inexpressible joy right here and right now as faith fills us with the joy of knowing Jesus as our Savior.

April 6, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Listen to this past week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

April 5, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Why would Jesus tell us to be the impossible—to be perfect? Listen to this week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

April 4, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Is God real? Look at our complex world, and you will see evidence that God is real. Listen to this week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

April 3, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. God wants us to coexist with others. But not all religions are equal. Listen to this week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

April 2, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. Is it okay to get angry? Yes. But our anger should not lead us to sin. Listen to this week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

April 1, 2019. Pastor Mike Novotny. God invented sex, not just to feel good but to bond two people together. Listen to this week’s series as Pastor Mike tackles tough questions from his congregation. Time of Grace is a donor-supported effort. If you would like to give a gift of support. please donate here: http://bit.ly/2DS4ztC You can also watch Time of Grace daily video devotionals by subscribing on YouTube to get new videos each weekday: http://YourTimeOfGrace.com

Feelings of depression involve a complicated struggle that has both chemical and spiritual components. This message looks to the psalms to resonate with “down and out” Christians and to remind them of the God who walks with them in the darkest valleys.TRANSCRIPT