Dr. Smith discusses the difficulty of waiting in a modern, on-demand culture, contrasting it with the abundance and convenience of modern life. He references Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasizing that those who wait on the Lord will be strengthened and blessed. Waiting on God requires hope, expectation, and trust, binding oneself to Him. It's not passive but an active faithfulness, accepting truth and reality, even when obstacles exist due to the fallen world. He uses the story of Ruth and Boaz to illust...
Jun 15, 2025
Dr. Smith discusses the difficulty of waiting in a modern, on-demand culture, contrasting it with the abundance and convenience of modern life. He references Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasizing that those who wait on the Lord will be strengthened and blessed. Waiting on God requires hope, expectation, and trust, binding oneself to Him. It's not passive but an active faithfulness, accepting truth and reality, even when obstacles exist due to the fallen world. He uses the story of Ruth and Boaz to illust...
Jun 15, 2025•45 min
Dr. Smith discusses the necessity of taking risks in faith, highlighting that God often calls us to uncertain paths. He uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this, emphasizing Naomi's guidance for Ruth to approach Boaz, a kinsman redeemer. This was a faith-based decision involving potential social and personal risks. Dr. Smith points out that Ruth's integrity and Naomi's wisdom were crucial to this risky endeavor being successful. He argues that while God's path may be scary, acting wit...
Jun 08, 2025
Dr. Smith discusses the necessity of taking risks in faith, highlighting that God often calls us to uncertain paths. He uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this, emphasizing Naomi's guidance for Ruth to approach Boaz, a kinsman redeemer. This was a faith-based decision involving potential social and personal risks. Dr. Smith points out that Ruth's integrity and Naomi's wisdom were crucial to this risky endeavor being successful. He argues that while God's path may be scary, acting wit...
Jun 08, 2025•46 min
Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the importance of both giving and receiving in healthy relationships, including our relationship with God. He highlights how solely giving leads to isolation and burnout, while only receiving alienates others. Using the story of Ruth and Naomi, Dr. Smith explores how to respond to unexpected blessings. He recounts an experience where generosity felt awkward, underscoring the need to humbly accept gifts. Ruth's gratitude towards Boaz is examined, noting her humility ...
Jun 01, 2025
Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the importance of both giving and receiving in healthy relationships, including our relationship with God. He highlights how solely giving leads to isolation and burnout, while only receiving alienates others. Using the story of Ruth and Naomi, Dr. Smith explores how to respond to unexpected blessings. He recounts an experience where generosity felt awkward, underscoring the need to humbly accept gifts. Ruth's gratitude towards Boaz is examined, noting her humility ...
Jun 01, 2025•51 min
Dr. Smith explores the Book of Ruth, emphasizing faith and obedience. Even when confused or hurt, trusting in God is paramount, as demonstrated by Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's decision to glean wasn't a demand but a trust in God's existing provisions for the vulnerable, like widows. This act showed faith, not expecting miracles, but relying on God's established ways. Dr. Smith highlights the importance of storing God’s word in our hearts before crises arises, enabling us to act in faith, not panic. Fa...
May 25, 2025
Dr. Smith explores the Book of Ruth, emphasizing faith and obedience. Even when confused or hurt, trusting in God is paramount, as demonstrated by Ruth and Naomi. Ruth's decision to glean wasn't a demand but a trust in God's existing provisions for the vulnerable, like widows. This act showed faith, not expecting miracles, but relying on God's established ways. Dr. Smith highlights the importance of storing God’s word in our hearts before crises arises, enabling us to act in faith, not panic. Fa...
May 25, 2025•48 min
Dr. Smith discusses how theological education often fails to prepare pastors for shepherding people through immense personal crises. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and dealing with suffering rather than medicating it away, noting that bitterness and hope can coexist. Using Naomi's story in Ruth, he illustrates how it's okay to be truthful and sad, as God gave us emotions for a reason. He encourages embracing sadness and directing anger towards God rather than withdrawing from God....
May 18, 2025
Dr. Smith discusses how theological education often fails to prepare pastors for shepherding people through immense personal crises. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and dealing with suffering rather than medicating it away, noting that bitterness and hope can coexist. Using Naomi's story in Ruth, he illustrates how it's okay to be truthful and sad, as God gave us emotions for a reason. He encourages embracing sadness and directing anger towards God rather than withdrawing from God....
May 18, 2025•44 min
Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses faith in the Book of Ruth, emphasizing that it's about trusting God even without grand gestures. He highlights Naomi's difficult situation and her urging her daughters-in-law to return to their former lives. However, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, demonstrating unwavering faith. Dr. Smith explains that Ruth's vow shows a commitment to faith, choosing a hard path. He contrasts this with Orpah, who returns to her old life. He stresses that investment in God's kingdom...
May 11, 2025
Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses faith in the Book of Ruth, emphasizing that it's about trusting God even without grand gestures. He highlights Naomi's difficult situation and her urging her daughters-in-law to return to their former lives. However, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, demonstrating unwavering faith. Dr. Smith explains that Ruth's vow shows a commitment to faith, choosing a hard path. He contrasts this with Orpah, who returns to her old life. He stresses that investment in God's kingdom...
May 11, 2025•47 min
Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses the theme of investment, particularly investing faith in God during difficult times. It uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this concept, highlighting their decision to leave Moab and return to Judah after a famine. Dr Smith emphasizes that faith often requires making decisions without guarantees, trusting in God's goodness and power even when resources are scarce. It also stresses the importance of recognizing God's work amidst chaos, as demonstrated by N...
May 04, 2025
Dr. Roger L. Smith discusses the theme of investment, particularly investing faith in God during difficult times. It uses the story of Ruth and Naomi to illustrate this concept, highlighting their decision to leave Moab and return to Judah after a famine. Dr Smith emphasizes that faith often requires making decisions without guarantees, trusting in God's goodness and power even when resources are scarce. It also stresses the importance of recognizing God's work amidst chaos, as demonstrated by N...
May 04, 2025•51 min
Preston Sander's message focuses on discernment in faith, family, and feelings, emphasizing its importance for Christians. It stresses distinguishing between truth and error and between what's best and what's better, all within the framework of God's word, not personal opinions. Preston underscores the need to identify essential doctrines for salvation and warns against false teachings and religions. He uses the story of Adam and Eve to illustrate how Satan distorts God's word. He urges listener...
Apr 27, 2025•54 min
Dr. Smith emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus as the most significant event in creation, where God's kingdom triumphed over the world's. This pivotal moment, a once-for-all sacrifice, challenges our understanding of life and death. The initial response to this truth is often disbelief and attempts to rationalize it, as seen with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Accepting this transformative truth requires a process of wrestling with it, allowing it to reshape our worldview. The personal encoun...
Apr 20, 2025
Dr. Smith emphasizes the resurrection of Jesus as the most significant event in creation, where God's kingdom triumphed over the world's. This pivotal moment, a once-for-all sacrifice, challenges our understanding of life and death. The initial response to this truth is often disbelief and attempts to rationalize it, as seen with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Accepting this transformative truth requires a process of wrestling with it, allowing it to reshape our worldview. The personal encoun...
Apr 20, 2025•48 min
In the final part of the Divinity Invested series, Dr. Smith emphasizes Jesus' unique God-man nature. He highlights that Jesus, despite his divine power and right to be served, selflessly gave his life for humanity. Jesus' prayer in John 17:24-26 reveals his desire for his followers to share in his glory and be with him eternally. Dr. Smith stresses that this is not merely a mission but Jesus' heartfelt wish. He encourages believers to understand that this glory surpasses earthly treasures and p...
Apr 06, 2025
In the final part of the Divinity Invested series, Dr. Smith emphasizes Jesus' unique God-man nature. He highlights that Jesus, despite his divine power and right to be served, selflessly gave his life for humanity. Jesus' prayer in John 17:24-26 reveals his desire for his followers to share in his glory and be with him eternally. Dr. Smith stresses that this is not merely a mission but Jesus' heartfelt wish. He encourages believers to understand that this glory surpasses earthly treasures and p...
Apr 06, 2025•48 min
In John 17, Jesus prays for believers to be one, sharing the glory the Father gave Him. This glory, central to God's character, isn't worldly fame but a manifestation of His self-revelation. It unites, excites, and drives us. God displays His glory through creation, His holiness, and His purposeful actions, like freeing prisoners, and giving sight to the blind through Jesus. This glory, once veiled, is now unveiled through Christ's cross, a triumph of love and justice. Believers, indwelt by the ...
Mar 30, 2025
In John 17, Jesus prays for believers to be one, sharing the glory the Father gave Him. This glory, central to God's character, isn't worldly fame but a manifestation of His self-revelation. It unites, excites, and drives us. God displays His glory through creation, His holiness, and His purposeful actions, like freeing prisoners, and giving sight to the blind through Jesus. This glory, once veiled, is now unveiled through Christ's cross, a triumph of love and justice. Believers, indwelt by the ...
Mar 30, 2025•45 min
In his high priestly prayer, Jesus paused to pray not only for his followers at that moment but for all who would believe in Him. He prayed for unity and witness, vital components of the mission given to the body of Christ. Jesus prayed that believers would be one, just as He and the Father are one, so the world may believe in Him. Jesus shifted His prayer to include believers from all time, praying for their unity. He highlighted the importance of believing through the word of the apostles, emp...
Mar 23, 2025
In his high priestly prayer, Jesus paused to pray not only for his followers at that moment but for all who would believe in Him. He prayed for unity and witness, vital components of the mission given to the body of Christ. Jesus prayed that believers would be one, just as He and the Father are one, so the world may believe in Him. Jesus shifted His prayer to include believers from all time, praying for their unity. He highlighted the importance of believing through the word of the apostles, emp...
Mar 23, 2025•51 min
In this passage, Dr. Roger L. Smith explores the concept of safety, contrasting the deceptive safety offered by the world with the genuine safety found in God's truth. Dr. Smith uses the analogy of a dog finding a safe space in a home, highlighting how humans also seek refuge in familiar but potentially dangerous systems. The passage emphasizes that truth, while not always comfortable or easy, is the only true anchor in life's storms. It draws from John 17, emphasizing the divide between the wor...
Mar 16, 2025
In this passage, Dr. Roger L. Smith explores the concept of safety, contrasting the deceptive safety offered by the world with the genuine safety found in God's truth. Dr. Smith uses the analogy of a dog finding a safe space in a home, highlighting how humans also seek refuge in familiar but potentially dangerous systems. The passage emphasizes that truth, while not always comfortable or easy, is the only true anchor in life's storms. It draws from John 17, emphasizing the divide between the wor...
Mar 16, 2025•48 min
In John 17, Jesus prays as a faithful guardian, emphasizing His protection and nurturing of His disciples. He reveals that He guarded them, keeping them in God's name, and only Judas was lost, fulfilling scripture. Jesus actively built their faith, resolve, love, and strength, investing personally in each disciple, despite their differences. Dr. Smith highlights the transformation of John from a "son of thunder" to the "disciple whom Jesus loved," and Simon the Zealot's shift from political extr...
Mar 09, 2025
In John 17, Jesus prays as a faithful guardian, emphasizing His protection and nurturing of His disciples. He reveals that He guarded them, keeping them in God's name, and only Judas was lost, fulfilling scripture. Jesus actively built their faith, resolve, love, and strength, investing personally in each disciple, despite their differences. Dr. Smith highlights the transformation of John from a "son of thunder" to the "disciple whom Jesus loved," and Simon the Zealot's shift from political extr...
Mar 09, 2025•47 min
In this sermon, Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the crucial distinction between God's people and the world, referencing John 17:9-11. He argues that Jesus' prayer for his followers, not the world, signifies a godly division based on faith in Christ. This division is not about exclusion, but about aligning oneself with God's principles and receiving his blessings. Dr. Smith challenges the modern, cultural view of Jesus as universally accepting, highlighting that true acceptance comes through repent...
Mar 02, 2025
In this sermon, Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the crucial distinction between God's people and the world, referencing John 17:9-11. He argues that Jesus' prayer for his followers, not the world, signifies a godly division based on faith in Christ. This division is not about exclusion, but about aligning oneself with God's principles and receiving his blessings. Dr. Smith challenges the modern, cultural view of Jesus as universally accepting, highlighting that true acceptance comes through repent...
Mar 02, 2025•48 min
In this sermon, Dr. Roger L. Smith emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus Christ. Referencing John 17:6-8, he explains that Jesus’ revelation of God to humanity is the ultimate testament to God's love and plan for salvation. Dr. Smith argues that true faith lies in receiving and believing God's word, as demonstrated by the disciples whose faith, though imperfect, was celebrated by Jesus. He reassures listeners that even a small amount of genuine faith is enough for God, who views us through...
Feb 23, 2025
