Sunday Morning Podcast | The Moody Church

Today, we're diving deep into the heart of what it means to truly live, and it all boils down to one powerful principle: Living in Light of Eternity. You see, it's easy to get caught up in the here and now, but Jesus calls us to a higher perspective, one that recognizes that our choices today have implications that stretch far beyond our earthly existence.   Principle: Living in Light of Eternity Life is a Stewardship that Echoes into Eternity. Everything we have—our time, talents, possessions—they're all gifts from God, entrusted to us for a season. The question is, how will we manage them? Will we hoard them for ourselves, or will we use them to build up treasures in heaven? Jesus, in Luke 16, gives us four powerful case studies to illustrate this principle: Wealth: It's not about how much we have, but how we use it. Are we faithful with what God has given us, using it to bless others and advance His kingdom? Status: The world chases after titles and accolades, but true significance comes from seeki

Friends, we've all felt lost at some point, haven't we? Like that feeling in Disney World when you think you've lost your parents. It's a terrifying feeling. But what if I told you that feeling of being lost is something we all experience spiritually? You see, we were created for a relationship with God, our Father. But sin, like a powerful current, can pull us away, leaving us feeling lost and afraid.   In Luke chapter 15, Jesus, through three powerful parables, reassures us of God's relentless love. He tells us about a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to find the one lost sheep, a woman who diligently searches for her lost coin, and a father who welcomes home his lost son with open arms. Each story highlights the immense joy experienced when something lost is found.   Notice how Jesus intentionally narrows the focus in these parables. We go from a ratio of 99 to 1, then 9 to 1, and finally 1 to 1. He wants us to understand that each one of us is precious to God, so much so that He leaves the ni

The path of discipleship is not for the faint of heart. It demands everything, a complete surrender to Jesus. It's like a king going to war, he's got to count the cost, assess his strength, before engaging a more powerful enemy. Are you willing to lay down your all, to make peace with the King of Kings?   The truth is, many are invited to the feast of God's kingdom, but they find themselves preoccupied with the things of this world. They'd rather chase after fields and oxen than partake in the banquet of God's grace. But let me assure you, true blessing lies in answering the call of discipleship, no matter the cost.   Now, some might balk at this, thinking it all sounds too difficult. But remember, we're not saved by our own efforts, by our ability to perfectly renounce everything. Salvation is a gift, received by grace, through faith in Jesus. It's in our surrender, in acknowledging our weakness, that we find true strength in Him.   This radical surrender, this "dying to self," is at the heart of the C

The Protestant Reformation of the 1500s is particularly fascinating. It's surprising how some historians miss the theological depth of the Reformation, seeing it merely as a political struggle. But the reformers stood on two theological pillars: the Bible as the supreme authority and justification by faith alone.   In Romans, Paul addresses our universal problem: we are all sinners, standing before God in filthy clothes, much like Joshua in Zechariah's vision. Satan accuses us, but Jesus commands, "Take off the dirty clothes," symbolizing the forgiveness of sins. We are then clothed in a spotless robe, representing the righteousness credited to us through justification. This is God's work, a gift of grace, not something we earn.   Justification by faith alone means that through faith in Jesus, God declares us righteous. This doctrine was pivotal for Martin Luther, leading to his spiritual rebirth and the Protestant Reformation. Luther realized that righteousness before God was not his own but credited to

In 1972, Francis Schaeffer, a renowned Christian philosopher, wrote He is There and He is Not Silent, arguing that God is actively revealing Himself in countless ways. His presence is evident in the cosmos, from the starry night sky to the laughter of a child. As Psalm 19:1-2 declares, the heavens are proclaiming God's glory. Schaeffer and the Bible remind us that the universe echoes with God's voice, speaking through creation, scripture, and most profoundly, through Jesus Christ. The question is, are we listening?   In Luke 13, Jesus addresses the tragedies of His time, like the Galileans killed by Pilate and the collapse of the tower in Siloam. These events serve as a reminder that God is speaking through history. Jesus teaches that these tragedies are not necessarily due to the victims' sins but are part of the world's brokenness since the fall of Adam and Eve. He emphasizes the need for repentance, warning that unless we repent, we too will perish.   Understanding and interpreting the signs of the tim

Pop quizzes in school are dreaded because they reveal whether you're prepared. Similarly, the Bible tells us an ultimate "pop quiz" is coming: the return of Jesus, the King of kings. We can't afford to be unprepared.   Luke 12:35-59 outlines how to be ready for His return: Be Alert: Like servants waiting for their master, we must stay vigilant because Jesus will return when we least expect it. Be Faithful: Jesus challenges us to be faithful stewards, ready for His return, and to avoid neglecting or abusing our responsibilities. Be Loyal: Our loyalty to Jesus must surpass even family ties. His message will divide, but we must choose Him. Be Prepared: Just as we anticipate weather changes, we must live in light of Jesus' return. It's essential to settle accounts with Him before it’s too late. Takeaway: Live in Light of the Return of the King If you don’t know Jesus, now is the time to embrace Him as Savior. If you do, it’s time to take discipleship seriously—be alert, faithful, loyal, and prepared.

What exactly is the promise of Romans 8:28 (the translation question)? Romans 8:28 promises that God works all things together for the good of His people. Different translations emphasize either "all things work together for good" or "God causes all things to work together for good," but both affirm that God is actively involved. He is the one orchestrating all events for the good of His people.   To whom does God make the stunning promise of Romans 8:28? To “those who love God” - These are believers whose love for God is a result of His prior love for them, expressed in saving faith. To “those who are called according to his purpose” - This refers to those whom God has called to salvation. Their calling is rooted in God’s eternal plan, ensuring that their salvation depends on His purpose, not their effort.   What has to be true of God for Romans 8:28 to be a gloriously true promise? God must be wisely omniscient. He knows all things and directs them with perfect wisdom. God must be omnipotent

Everyone needs a "why"—a reason to get up, a purpose for life. It leads to big questions: What is life all about? Why are we here? How do we live meaningfully? For followers of Jesus, these questions are central to the journey of discipleship.   In Luke 12, Jesus tackles these existential questions through parables and analogies, focusing on what truly matters in life.   1. Money-Grubbers There’s no life in amassing stuff. In Luke 12:13-21, Jesus addresses a man's desire for wealth by warning against greed. Through the parable of the rich fool, He highlights the futility of storing up possessions for oneself, as life is not measured by abundance. The rich man’s wealth couldn’t secure his life, and he wasn’t "rich toward God." Jesus reminds us that true life isn't found in amassing material things. 2. Worry-Warts There’s no life in fretful survival. In Luke 12:22-28, Jesus tells His followers not to worry about their basic needs, like food or clothing. He uses ravens and lilies to show that God pr

A lot of us are disenchanted with religion. There’s so much hypocrisy and abuse and scandal. No wonder so many people are checking out of organized religion, even if they still find Jesus to be compelling. Here at the end of Luke 11 and into 12 Jesus himself railed against the dangers of religion. It turns out that God isn’t actually interested in religion after all. He’s always been after a relationship with his children.   If you find yourself disenchanted with religion, I want to invite you to hear what Jesus has to say. I think you’ll find that Jesus is even more upset with the dangers of religion than you are, and that his call is far more compelling than you might imagine.   1. The Danger of Hypocrisy God desires integrated lives. The Pharisees focused on outward rituals while their hearts were far from God. God wants our inner devotion and outward actions to be in harmony, avoiding the pretense of righteousness without true transformation. 2. The Danger of Elitism God desires earnest pu

Who is Jesus? This is the most important question anyone can ask.   Is He a deceiver, a lunatic, a prophet, a teacher, or the Son of God? These questions have been asked for centuries. In the Gospels, people wrestled with who Jesus was—healing the sick, calming storms, and teaching with authority. Yet, they reached different conclusions.   In Luke 11, we see groups who Mistook Jesus, thinking they had Him figured out, but they were wrong. Their mistaken responses are still seen today. Let’s learn from their mistakes and avoid Mistaking Jesus.   Dismissing without Discernment Jesus desires, deserves, and demands our attention. Liberation without Lordship Jesus desires, deserves, and demands our surrender. Fandom without Following Jesus desires, deserves, and demands our obedience. Signs without Seeking Jesus desires, deserves, and demands our trust. Revelation without Receiving Jesus desires, deserves, and demands our welcome. Takeaway: What will you do with Jesus? C. S. Lewis in Mere

Matthew 4:1–11 is a foundation to illustrate how Jesus prepared for his mission through fasting and resisting temptation.   Context of Matthew 4: The passage follows Jesus' baptism, where He identifies with humanity despite having no need for repentance. Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted, which demonstrates both His humanity and divine nature. 4 Lessons we learn about fasting: Obedience: Jesus' immediate obedience to God's direction, despite the harsh conditions, underscores the importance of responding promptly to God’s commands. Empty to Be Filled: Fasting, as demonstrated by Jesus, is not just abstaining from food but an intentional act to gain spiritual strength and perspective. The Sufficiency of the Word: Jesus relies on Scripture to resist temptation, highlighting the importance of using God’s Word as a defense against sin. Desperation vs. Preparation: Jesus’ example shows us not to fast out of desperation but to fast during preparation as well

The Ends God’s Justice Will Cover the Earth: Christ's reign extends justice across the earth. Brings fairness and righteousness to all creation. God’s People Will Be Liberated: Christ liberates God's people from spiritual blindness and bondage. God’s Glory Will Be Celebrated: Christ's reign leads to the celebration of God's glory. The renewed creation worships and honors God. The Means Behold THE Servant: Jesus Christ is the true servant in Isaiah 42. Recognize and behold Him as sent by God. The Bruised Reed He Will Not Break: Christ is gentle and compassionate. He cares for the weak and vulnerable. The Smoking Wick He Will Not Quench: Christ is patient and restorative. Christ is patient and restorative. Why It Matters These truths assure believers of God's ultimate purposes. Christ's reign calls for alignment with God's will. Trust in Christ's work to bring about a renewed creation.

Now, in life, hard things will happen. We live in a fallen world marked by sin and selfishness. When you are on the ropes, God is faithful and His heart cares for people dealing with the consequences of their own sin and rebellion. When things go from bad to worse, how should we respond?   Will You Double Down? When we devote ourselves to idols—something less than God—we become less human. We shrivel up and turn inwards on ourselves as we become sad self-centered shells of wasted human potential. But if we worship the triune God of the Bible—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we will become more like Him, overflowing in peace, love, and joy, and will become more truly human than we ever thought possible. When trouble comes, will we pursue something other than God in the hopes that it will save us?   Will We Believe the Promises of God? The Promise of Deliverance: If God loved you enough to send Jesus to die for you when you were his enemy, will he forget about that later and not keep you when you have bee

The Symptoms A world under wrath (Romans 1:18) A people in chaos and pain (1:24, 1:26, 1:28-31) A world condemned to die (1:32) The Illness and Its Progression Rejection of the Truth and the darkens of hearts (Romans 1:21-23) Embracing of the Lie and the worship creation (Romans 1:25) The Cure A timely provision (Romans 5:6) An act of love (Romans 5:8) An effective rescue from the wrath of God (Romans 5:9) Takeaways: God cares first about the heart. He will change the rest. Our call is to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Tell them the truth. Believe God and worship Him.

One of the greatest privileges we have as a child of God Is the fact that we can come to God in prayer anytime, anywhere, with anything. In Christ and by the Spirit we have total, unrestricted access to the Father. But, so many of us don’t know where to start. Fortunately, we’re not the first humans to be unsure when it comes to prayer. In this passage, Jesus’ disciples come to Him with a simple and yet bold request: “Lord, teach us to pray.”   What We Pray In prayer, we acknowledge our deep dependency on God. Jesus is teaching us to offer prayers that reflect our utter helplessness and total reliance upon God. We Pray as a child looking to his Father, Longing for His glory to heal the world And for His rule to set all to rights. We pray Looking to Him as our Portion and Provider, The Forgiver of our sin-riddled souls and Our Protector and Keeper in the face of whatever trials might come our way.   How We Pray In prayer, we acknowledge our daring desperation. You only call a friend at 2am when you’re desper

]One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry is His use of parables, short and powerful stories jam-packed with spiritual insights and timeless lessons. 2,000 years later, we’re still unpacking these brilliant tales. Today we get the privilege of diving into one of the most famous of all Jesus’ parables: The Good Samaritan.   Like many of Jesus’ stories... this Parable of the Good Samaritan is given in a very specific setting. Jesus isn’t telling a random story; it’s a story with intent. Jesus is speaking into real life with these parables.   In the case of The Good Samaritan, this story is purposefully sandwiched between two events: A Lawyer’s Question and Two Sisters at Odds. The Good Samaritan is the link that connects everything.   The Lawyer An expert in the Old Testament Law has come to test Jesus. He asks Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer is to love God and love your neighbor. Keep Love Before You God desires, deserves, and demands our loving allegiance—hear

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23–25   Know God through Worship • We find ourselves, not within, but in worship.   Feed Your Soul through Community • We find fulfillment, not in autonomy, but in community.   Grow in Love through Service • We find meaning, not in success, but in service.   Change Your World through Mission • We find purpose, not in monuments, but in mission.   Takeaway: Jesus is inviting you on The Journey of a Lifetime… How will you choose to respond?

God is a missional God. The Father sends the Son to redeem the world. And Jesus sends us, His disciples, to the ends of the earth with the message of salvation by grace through faith in Him. We are commissioned by Jesus to show and share the love of God wherever we go.   All of us are sent out on mission by Jesus, and there are valuable lessons we need in this passage...   1. The Plan Jesus appoints 72 disciples, puts them into 36 pairs, and sends them out on mission into the towns and villages ahead of Him. This mission requires dependency. Go as Ambassadors of Kingdom Peace. 2. The Stakes As the 72 disciples go as ambassadors of kingdom peace, what’s on the line? With great light comes great responsibility. Go with a Message of Eternal Consequence. 3. The Joy From the weight of woes, now we turn to see the joys of blessing. Your name is written in heaven as a free gift of grace from your Father though the Son by the Spirit. Go in the Beloved Security of Divine Intimacy. Takeaway: Go

Have you ever come down from grand moment in life? You’re on this high and then you come down. Back to reality and it’s business as usual. It can be quite disorienting!   That’s similar to what’s happening with Jesus in Luke 9. He goes from glory on the mountaintop and then back down to this broken world. As this chapter closes, Luke narrates a raft of discipleship failures in rapid succession. You see, Jesus will soon depart. And the disciples are going to be the ones who will carry on this Gospel movement to the ends of the earth. But they’ve got a whole lot to learn from Jesus.   And they say the best way to learn is to learn from other peoples’ mistakes. So as the disciples get mired inthese pitfalls along the path, let’s lean in and learn from their mistakes. Because we need to learn the same lessons that Jesus is teaching them. So let’s join up with the twelve on the road with Jesus.   There are 6 Pitfalls on the path that can mire us as we seek to follow Jesus…   Pitfall #1 – Self-Reliance (Luk

“Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th’ incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel.” - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Charles Wesley   In the incarnation, Jesus is God incognito. He is undercover, veiled, and among us in secret. Until Luke 9:28-36, when the veil is lifted and His glory is revealed.   1) The Glory Jesus is Gloriously Transfigured Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain and see Jesus for who he really is.   2) The Tents The Kingdom is Gloriously Tangible Peter asks to put up tents for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. But he had forgotten that Jesus’ path to the crown must first pass through the cross.   3) The Cloud The Father Gloriously Testifies “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” Peter followed Jesus through the cross to the crown!   Takeaway: Jesus is our Transfiguring Glory You will be glorious in Christ! C.S. Lewis once preached a sermon called “The Weight of Glory”: “...There are no ordinary people. You have never talk