I'm going to spend a few podcast episodes talking about the Bible's most famous verse, John 3:16. In this episode I only scratch the surface! But I talk about why this verse isn't just for "beginners" or "baby Christians" or people who haven't yet become Christians. It's for all of us! Scripture is John 3:14-16 . Today's song is "Don't Bring Me Down" by ELO. I recorded it from their 1979 album, Discovery ....
Hard luck stories... Everybody's got them. Is that all they are, though? Hard luck? That's just the way life goes, so get used to it? Not if the many promises in God's Word are true. Our main scripture is Psalm 66:10-12 . The music, appropriately enough, is Richard and Linda Thompson's "Hard Luck Stories," from their 1975 LP, Pour Down Like Silver .
In this episode, I reflect once again on Billy Graham's life, as seen through the eyes of Washington Post columnist George F. Will, who wrote a column deeply critical of Graham. Reading that column helped me to learn something unpleasant about myself , which I want to share with you. Maybe you can relate? Scripture is Philippians 4:11-13 . The featured song is "Blue, Red and Grey," performed by Pete Townshend on ukulele. It appears on The Who's 1975 album, The Who by Numbers ....
In this podcast, I talk about, among other things, Billy Graham. What we admired most about Graham was not his ability to fill stadiums, to convert thousands in one fell swoop, and to be a chaplain to presidents and royalty. No—what we admired most was his integrity... his character. In Graham, what you saw was what you got: a man who sincerely loved the Lord, who trusted in his Word, and who wanted everyone else in the world to do the same. Does this describe us? If not, why not? Do we doubt th...
Another jumbo-sized podcast episode! This one is all about the necessity of healing our past, without which our future won't be as good as we want it to be. Why? Because the past has a way of continuing to exert a harmful influence over our present and future. To help us find healing from our past, I reflect on some helpful resources related to forgiveness and providence from God's Word. Our main scripture is Philippians 3:8b-14 . Today's music comes from Pete Townshend and his song "Somebody Sa...
One of the most important questions we face as Christians is this: Do we believe that our heavenly Father will take care of us? Jesus promises that he will, for example, in Matthew 6:25-34 . But Jesus and the New Testament writers warn us that we'll face sickness, violence, suffering, and death. How is that taking care of us? This podcast episode hopes to answer that question. Music is provided by the Beach Boys and their #1 song "Good Vibrations," which I recorded from their 1967 LP Smiley Smil...
In this episode I talk about the inspiring testimony of Rachael Denhollander, the brave young Christian woman (and attorney) who testified against Larry Nassar, the U.S. gymnastics team doctor who molested over 150 girls. Her words about God's wrath, judgment, and forgiveness were powerful. What can we learn from them? Our scripture is Luke 7:36-50 . Today's featured song is Bob Dylan's version of "Stay with Me." It comes from his 2015 album Shadows in the Night ....
In this episode, I ruminate on answered prayer and something that a Pentecostal Christian told me one time. Our music comes from Elvis Presley—himself a Pentecostal—and his recording "How Great Thou Art." Our scripture is Luke 11:1-13 .
In today's devotional, I reflect briefly on the life of Keith Green, who, along with two of his young children, died in a plane crash in 1982—doing the work of his ministry, naturally. Green's life, as much as anyone's, was characterized by the title of his second album, No Compromise . As I argue in this podcast, Jesus teaches all of us to live lives of "no compromise." Our scripture comes from Philippians 3:8-11 ....
Short answer: yes. But listen to this podcast for the long answer. Our scripture is Psalm 38:1-3, 8-11 . This episode features the 1979 song "Daytime Nighttime Suffering," by Wings. It was the B-side to his hit single "Goodnight Tonight.
How can we be confident that all of our sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven? For starters, by not being confused about justification and sanctification. That's what this special "flu-length" episode is all about. Enjoy! The featured song is Keith Green's "Make My Life a Prayer to You," written by his wife Melody, from his 1978 album, No Compromise .
I suspect many thoughtful, sincere Christians feel guilty because of their sins. Not necessarily the ones they commit before their conversion but after . If that describes you, I hope this episode and the next one will help you. Our scripture comes from 1 Corinthians 6:13-18 . The featured song is Glen Campbell's version of the Randy Newman song "Marie." I recorded it from his 1975 LP, Rhinestone Cowboy ....
Today's podcast makes sense of Jesus' strange response to his mother in John 2:4, "Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” Our scripture is John 2:1-11 . The featured song is the Everly Brothers' "Devoted to You," which I recorded from their 2015 compilation LP 15 Everly Hits .
Have you noticed that the things that you fear today aren't things that are happening today ? Rather, they are things that might happen next week, next month, next year. Why is that? Yet Jesus says not to worry about anything beyond today. It seems clear to me, then, that our fear is a far bigger problem than the things that we're afraid of. Our scripture comes from Matthew 6:34 . Today's podcast features the Beach Boys' "In My Room," which I recorded from their best-selling 1974 double-LP compi...
As I argue in this sermon, we make prayer more complicated than it needs to be. The message of Jesus' words in today's scripture, Matthew 6:6-13 , is that prayer isn't that complicated. Listen to this message and find out way.
In this episode, I talk about the upcoming Super Bowl, and what we can learn about God from the Eagles' inevitable defeat... Just kidding! Like nearly every American outside of New England, I'll be rooting for the Eagles! Our scripture is Genesis 50:20 . This podcast features the Beatles' "I'm a Loser," which I recorded from their December 1964 Capitol album, Beatles '65 . (Yes, I know it originates on the UK album Beatles for Sale .)...
What does the band Journey have to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Find out in today's devotional podcast. Our scripture is Ephesians 5:31-32 . The featured music is Journey's "Open Arms," from their 1982 album Escape .
In today's devotional podcast, I reflect on the meaning of the Bible's many references to the Lord's being our portion . Our scripture is Psalm 16:1-11 . The featured song, "A Rose for Emily," comes from the Zombies' 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle .
This is the first of a new six-part sermon series on the Lord's Prayer. In this sermon, I talk about Jesus' promise of a reward for praying the way that he teaches. I suspect many of us haven't experienced prayer as "rewarding"—at least as much as God wants us to! I want that to change! I also talk about the privilege that we have in calling God "our Father." Our scripture is Matthew 6:5-9 .
The title of this devotional is provocative, but I mean it: Our Father wants to give us "good things," as Jesus says. The problem is, we often desperately want isn't good for us. God knows that, even if we don't! As I say in this podcast, however, there is one prayer petition that God will answer every time. Let's learn to pray for that! Today's scripture is Matthew 7:7-11 .
It's become a truism among many Christians that "listening for God" in prayer is at least as important as "talking to" God in prayer. But what if that's not true? What if prayer doesn't involve "listening" at all? If that's the case, then prayer suddenly seems much easier, doesn't it? Of course listening to God speak to us is incredibly important, but, as I argue in this podcast, the way we do that is not through prayer but through reading God's Word.
This is the second in my new series of devotional podcasts, which I've titled "Still Life." In today's episode, I tackle two big subjects: witnessing and God's sovereignty. Our scripture is Romans 8:28 . Today's featured music is Leslie Phillips's "No One but You," from her 1988 compilation album, Recollection .
Today I'm beginning a new series of devotional podcasts, the first of which is about how difficult prayer can often be. How can it become less difficult? This episode explores that question. Our scripture is Lamentations 2:19 .
Today's scripture, the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1-8 , is about more than the need to be persistent in prayer. It's also about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ—and how we can be ready for it.
Of all the amazing that God does throughout the events of the Christmas story, the most amazing thing—indeed, the most difficult —is that God provided a way for all of humanity to be saved through faith in Christ. As I say in this sermon, Jesus was born so that he could die. Scripture for this sermon is Luke 2:1-20 .
Today's sermon investigates three different responses to the news of the newborn king: from King Herod, from the scribes and chief priests, and from the magi. At different times, our own responses to Christ our king may be similar to each of these. How can we become more like the magi? Today's scripture is Matthew 2:1-12 .
In today's scripture, Luke 1:39-56 , Mary visits her relative Elizabeth and finds her pregnant, thus confirming the angel Gabriel's message to her in last Sunday's scripture. She exclaims, "My soul magnifies the Lord." In the same way, we need to teach our soul to "magnify the Lord." Too often, however, we Christians magnify our problems instead. As I point out in this sermon, our God is so much bigger than any problem we're facing....
This is my sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent. I'm working through Luke chapter 1. In this sermon I contrast Mary's response to Gabriel with Zechariah's response. When it comes to treasuring God and his Word, are we more like Mary or Zechariah? My scripture is Luke 1:26-38 . I blog regularly at revbrentwhite.com .
I'm catching up on posting my sermons! Today's comes from Luke 1:5-25 , the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. What a blessing it must have been for the two of them to be used by God as part of his saving plan for the world! But please notice something: God's blessings sometimes hurt . And when they do, it isn't a sign that God is punishing you or is angry with you. What do we do when God's blessings hurt ? I blog regularly at revbrentwhite.com ....
Merry Christmas! It's Day 23, the final day, of my series of Advent-themed podcasts. Scripture is Luke 2:13-14 . The featured song is Brian Wilson's Love and Mercy , from his 1988 self-titled solo album. I blog regularly at revbrentwhite.com .
