Average Joe: Stepdad of a Savior

There’s not much about Joseph in the Bible story, and he pretty much misses out on all the extraordinary, spectacular stuff. That just never struck me as fair! So, let’s see what all we can know about Joe. (NOTE: Audio improves at 2:24) From December 18, 2011

Red Chairables #14: The Rich Fool

This parable isn’t as much about the Haves and the Have-Nots as it is about the Trusts and the Trust-Nots. Contentment doesn’t come from a lack of desire; it comes from an abundance of trust (in the goodness of God). From December 4, 2011

Beached by God

Jesus said we must carry our own cross to be His disciples. So for us, as Christ followers – or modern-day disciples – what is our cross and how well will we finish? Guest speaker: Graham Kerr. From November 27, 2011

Red Chairables #13: The Rich Man and Lazarus

Among Jesus’ dozens of recorded parables, only one fictional character in one story is given a name: Lazarus. And you have to wonder why. From November 20, 2011

Red Chairables #12: The Shrewd Manager

If our love for God isn’t greater than our love of money, we won’t be able to be spiritually shrewd with our worldly wealth for His eternal purpose. From November 13, 2011

Giving the Bread Away

The message of the cross is for you to be a blessing to humanity. Jesus died for you, He rose for you, and He’s redeemed you to do something significant, to do good. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From November 6, 2011

Handling Halloween

When you sift through the history, the myths, and the urban legends of Halloween, you find a mixed bag of traditions from many sources. So, how do we handle this mish-mash American secular holiday? From October 30, 2011

Remembering Forward

When you look back on moments in your life, do you recall pain, hurt, rejection, and loss? Paul urges us to forget what is behind us and strain toward what is ahead. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From October 23, 2011

Is the Sacrifice Worth It?

The sacrifices we make to help others hear God’s good news are definitely worthwhile. A report of the church’s involvement in the ever-growing Philippines ministries. Speaker: Nick Harris. From October 16, 2011

Overview of the NT: The Victory of Redemption

Today we string the NT books and their context in chronological order. Exact dates are disputed, but my goal isn’t to argue dates. I want to tell a story! From October 9, 2011

Route 66 #66: Revelation

John’s letter unveils a single portrait of Jesus as Righteous Judge and Conquering King! From October 2, 2011

Route 66 #65: Jude

We can’t contend out of weakness, and according to Jesus’ little brother Jude, complacency is not an option. From September 25, 2011

Route 66 #64: 3 John

Why is it that believers who’d never think of coaxing someone into murder, strife, deceit, and malice, often give so little consideration to coaxing them into God-hating gossip? From September 11, 2011

Route 66 #63: 2 John

2nd John is a micro version of 1st John. John wants us to discern deception and respond with truth that’s balanced with love. From September 4, 2011

Route 66 #62: 1 John

Whatever the heresy, it’s always about the same one thing: diminishing Jesus as God’s Son always conveniently ends up justifying sin and rationalizing disobedience. From August 28, 2011

As Is

We humans come only one way: as is! And like porcupines, we all have sharp quills that can get raised when we feel threatened. But that’s not how God intends us to be. From August 14, 2011

Red Chairables #11: The Good Shepherd

We can choose to be led into security, freedom, and joy, or driven by our impulses, pride, or fear into death and destruction. But, if we’re going to follow, we have to know the Shepherd’s voice. From August 7, 2011

Red Chairables #10: The Unshrunk Cloth & The New Wine

We can’t make ourselves spiritually healthy or holy with inflexible, rules-based religion. We’ll only shrink the joy we have in grace and burst under the pressure. From July 31, 2011

Just Keep Swimming

It seems as we “progress” as a society, we lose our ability to endure and persevere through stress. There will be pain and struggles in life, but don’t use that as an excuse to quit! Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From July 24, 2011

Red Chairables #9: The Friend at Midnight

This parable tends to be avoided; because, it compares God to an indisposed friend who must be badgered into offering assistance. From July 17, 2011

Red Chairables #8: The Hidden Treasure & The Priceless Pearl

The point in both these parables is that God’s kingdom doesn’t come without our surrender; so, there is a cost to be counted … and it’s absolutely, categorically worth it! From July 10, 2011

Count the Hidden Cost

If you were going to stay at a Motel 6 for just a few days, how likely would you be to spend any time or money redecorating and refurnishing the room? Guest speaker: Todd Thompsen. From July 3, 2011

Route 66 #61: 2 Peter

In this follow-up letter, Peter deals with those who pick and choose which of Jesus’ commands to follow. And if ever there was a model of total surrender and passionate, undivided devotion, it’s Peter. From June 26, 2011

Route 66 #60: 1 Peter

Anyone ever mischaracterize your beliefs as being judgmental or unloving? You’ll never reflect Jesus more powerfully or convincingly than when you suffer unjustly and bless those responsible. From June 19, 2011

Route 66 #59: James

James is often compared to Proverbs, because he offers so much practical teaching in short-burst statements. But, it’s all one big challenge to examine our faith and confirm that it’s authentic, or confess that it’s artificial. From June 12, 2011

Count It!

God doesn’t look at situations and people the way that humanity does. With His help, we can change and start to see things the way He does. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From June 5, 2011

Salad Days

As Christians, we want to grow beyond what Shakespeare called, “my salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood.” Let us be awake and watchful, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Guest speaker: Graham Kerr. From May 29, 2011

Route 66 #58: Hebrews

The writer of Hebrews made the unusual choice of not including his or her name. But whoever it was, the bigger question is: Why didn’t they sign such an incredible work? From May 22, 2011

Route 66 #57: Philemon

In Paul’s shortest surviving letter, he asks Philemon (a wealthy believer Paul had led to the Lord) to have mercy on a returning, runaway slave named Onesimus. From May 15, 2011

Route 66 #56: Titus

When you’re living on an island, and surrounded by “Cretans”, a slack effort seems admirable by comparison! That’s why ye be needin’ to chart a course, find a loyal crew, and keep a sharp eye … Yarr! From May 8, 2011

Searching in Cemeteries

All of humanity is groaning and searching for hope, purpose, and healing. But we look for life in broken places! Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From May 1, 2011

Is the Gospel Graspable?

How was Jesus fully man and fully God? How could God both die on a cross and observe from Heaven? The answer is the Trinity. But, how do we begin to comprehend a God who is three and one?! From April 24, 2011

Are the Claims Credible?

The integrity of the Bible doesn’t matter if the original writers had ulterior motives, or were delusional or gullible. We would simply have a reliable copy of unreliable claims! From April 17, 2011

Voice of Life

The Words of God are more than we give them credit for. His voice was and is the origin of our life. And His voice restores us, heals us, calls us, and transforms us. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From April 10, 2011

Is the Bible Reliable?

Seeing how fervently God worked to communicate, authenticate, and preserve His Word, tells us volumes about how passionately He wants to get the message of His love, grace, and life to us. From April 3, 2011

Route 66 #55: 2 Timothy

It’s rather difficult to read Second Timothy and come to the conclusion that Christianity offers any kind of quick and easy solution to suffering. From March 27, 2011

Route 66 #54: 1 Timothy

Although Timothy had been traveling with and assisting Paul for over 15 years, it seems Paul had far more faith in Timothy than Timothy had in Timothy. From March 20, 2011

Wasteful Giving

Jesus desires an intimate relationship with us, but proximity does not equal intimacy. We need to be careful that our routines and practices don’t become rituals without heart. Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From March 13, 2011

Route 66 #53: 2 Thessalonians

Paul wrote this letter because someone had convinced the Thessalonians that their suffering was happening because Jesus had already come back, and they were left behind. From March 6, 2011

Route 66 #52: 1 Thessalonians

This letter, most likely Paul’s very first epistle, is one of comfort, instruction, and encouragement to fledgling believers who are faithfully enduring bitter persecution. From February 27, 2011

Route 66 #51: Colossians

The Colossians received this letter, not because of their size or prominence, but because of the insidious doctrinal errors bombarding them on every side! From February 20, 2011

Route 66 #50: Philippians

Seventeen times Paul uses the word “joy”, “rejoice”, or “glad” as he challenges the Philippians to respond to their situation the way he is responding to a possible death sentence. From February 6, 2011

Route 66 #49: Ephesians

Ephesians is a short letter of encouragement to a group of believers that Paul had been very close to. Paul’s theme throughout the book is to imitate Christ; the objective is to be an imitator without being an imitation. From January 30, 2011

This Is Our Giant

When David faced Goliath, he moved from just observing to actually doing something for God. How do we make that move in our own lives? Guest speaker: Chris Herbert. From January 23, 2011

Route 66 #48: Galatians

In Galatians, Paul confronts and tackles the heresy of Christian Pharisees who convinced gentile converts that they must abide by Old Testament laws and customs in order to complete their salvation in Christ! From January 16, 2011

Route 66 #47: 2 Corinthians

The Corinthian church has a new problem: False teachers with impressive credentials claim that Paul is a fraud and a con artist. So Paul is compelled to “boast in the Lord” and defend his credibility. From January 9, 2011