Advertise on podcast: Food For Your Soul

Why did Judas Iscariot betray Jesus? Was it really just about 30 pieces of silver—or was something far more dangerous happening in his heart? In this in-depth Bible study of Mark 14:10–16, we explore the betrayal of Jesus Christ, the spiritual danger of loving money, and the remarkable truth that God's sovereign plan was unfolding even through humanity's most wicked actions. Judas was not an outsider. He was one of the Twelve disciples who had walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and heard His teaching. Yet he chose money over Christ. How could this happen? And what warning does his betrayal hold for us today? In this episode, we examine the human and divine dimensions of Jesus' journey to the cross. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

Could you be drifting into spiritual sleep without even realizing it? Discover six biblical warning signs of spiritual complacency in this in-depth, expository sermon on Mark 14:1–9. Spiritual sleep rarely happens overnight. Just as a driver can gradually fall asleep behind the wheel without recognizing the danger, Christians can slowly lose their spiritual alertness. Fear of God diminishes, sin becomes less troubling, worship loses its significance, and the promises of Scripture no longer seem as real as they once did. In this message, we examine Jesus' anointing at Bethany and discover what the contrasting responses of Mary, the disciples, and the religious leaders reveal about the condition of our hearts. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

Why would a woman anoint Jesus for burial while he was still alive? And was it a wise use of a year's wages? In Mark 14:1–8, we encounter an unnamed woman who breaks an alabaster jar of extremely expensive perfume and pours it over Jesus. The disciples are outraged. They see waste. Jesus sees something beautiful. In this expository sermon, we explore why this woman understood something the religious leaders and even Jesus' disciples were missing: Jesus was going to the cross, and His death was worthy of extravagant worship. This passage introduces the passion narrative in Mark and brings us into what can be called the "holy of holies" of the Gospel—the unfolding story of Christ's death and the meaning of the cross. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

How should Christians watch for Christ's return? What does Jesus actually mean when He commands us to "keep watch"? In Mark 13:32–37, Jesus gives His disciples a final and repeated command concerning His Second Coming: "Keep Watch!" But this passage raises an important question: If no one knows the day or hour—not the angels, and not even the Son—what does it actually mean to be ready for Jesus' return? In this sermon, we work carefully through Mark 13:32–37, with connections to Matthew 24:32–35, 43–44, Luke 21:29–36, Romans 13:11–14, 1 Thessalonians 5:1–8, Acts 1:7, and Revelation 3:10. Rather than trying to calculate the date of Christ's return, Jesus teaches us to live in a state of constant spiritual readiness. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

In this in-depth expository sermon on Mark 13:28–31, we examine Jesus' parable of the fig tree and the meaning of His statement that His coming is "near." What does "near" actually mean? Can Christians know when Christ will return? What is the significance of the fig tree, summer, harvest, judgment, and the phrase "this generation will certainly not pass away"? Rather than trying to calculate the date of Christ's return, Jesus calls His followers to something deeper: certainty, readiness, encouragement, and confidence in His word. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What will actually happen when Jesus Christ returns? Who are the mysterious "powers of the heavens" that will be shaken at His Second Coming? And what does Jesus' teaching in Mark 13:24–27 tell us about the Tribulation, final judgment, the rapture, the resurrection, and the return of Christ? In this message, we take a deep dive into Jesus' stunning prophecy in the Olivet Discourse and examine His description of the glorious Second Coming. Jesus says that "the Son of Man" will come in the clouds with great power and glory, and that He will send His angels to gather His elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. This passage raises profound questions about the end times. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-star rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What would it take to become a truly great thinker—not by the world's standards, but by God's? In 2 Peter 3, the apostle writes with deep affection to stir something in you—a way of thinking that will protect you from being deceived and draw you into deeper and deeper closeness with God. This sermon on 2 Peter 3:1–3 explores what it means to develop a mind governed by Scripture rather than by the desires of the flesh. Peter calls believers to "pure thinking"—not merely thinking about pure subjects, but learning to think, reason, evaluate, and make decisions according to God's truth. The world often measures thinking by IQ, education, creativity, logic, knowledge, or the ability to solve complex problems. But God's definition of great thinking is different. According to Peter, the greatest thinkers are those whose minds are directed by the Word of God. Your thoughts are constantly moving from one idea to another. The crucial question is: **What is steering the progression of your thoughts?** Are your thoughts being directed by Scripture and the will of God, or are they being driven by your desires? In this message, we examine the difference between flesh-driven thinking and Scripture-driven thinking, and we consider how our desires can influence the conclusions we are willing to accept. Peter warns that false teachers and scoffers follow their own evil desires, eventually using their desires to reject the truth of Christ's return, final judgment, and the authority of God's Word. ## In This Sermon - What Peter means by "pure thinking" in 2 Peter 3:1. - The meaning and importance of the Greek word *dianoia*, referring to the mind, understanding, or way of thinking.

Why does Jesus tell His followers to run when the "abomination of desolation" appears? Can you outrun God's judgment—and if God's wrath is not directed at His people, why does Jesus tell them to flee and pray? Jesus moves from the "beginning of pains" to the terrifying period of tribulation associated with the abomination of desolation. In the Olivet Discourse, we examine what the abomination of desolation means, its connection to Daniel, its partial fulfillment in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and its apparent future fulfillment at the end of the age. We also explore the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist, God's purpose in judgment, and the surprising biblical connection between tribulation and God's mercy. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-star rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What if the persecution you experience for following Christ is not merely something to survive—but an opportunity God can use to advance the gospel? In Mark 13:9–13, Jesus prepares His disciples for persecution, arrest, trials, betrayal, hatred, and opposition because of His name. Yet His warning comes with an extraordinary purpose: persecution can become a platform for preaching the gospel, even before governors, kings, and the powers of this world. In this in-depth study of Mark 13:9–13, we examine Jesus' teaching on the Beginning of Pains, persecution, gospel proclamation, perseverance, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the relationship between the events surrounding AD 70 and the Second Coming of Christ. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What does Jesus want Christians to think when wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, and false teachers dominate the headlines? In Mark 13:5-8, Jesus gives His disciples a crucial warning: "Watch out that no one deceives you," and "do not be alarmed." He describes a period called the "beginning of pains"—a time when His followers will face deception, disasters, and persecution while continuing the mission of preaching the gospel to the nations. In this study of Mark 13:5-8, we examine what Jesus meant by the beginning of pains and whether these events point to the destruction of Jerusalem, the Second Coming, or an unfolding prophetic process that began in the first century and continues until Christ returns. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

*The false teachers of 2 Peter 2 were monsters. But what were they like before they became false teachers? The answer to that question is crucial for maintaining your walk with the Lord and for understanding why we so often return to sin that we have forsaken in the past.* 2 Peter 2 ends with one of the Bible's most disturbing descriptions of apostasy: a dog returning to its vomit and a washed pig returning to wallow in the mud. But Peter doesn't just show us where these false teachers ended up. He shows us their spiritual journey. They had once **escaped the corruption of the world** through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. They knew the way of righteousness. Yet somehow they became entangled again, enslaved again, and ultimately returned to the very defilement they had escaped. How does that happen? Why do we sometimes return to sins we once hated? Why do old temptations regain their appeal? How can a person escape the world's corruption, only to become entangled in it again? And what can you do to recognize the danger before the strands of this world wrap themselves around your heart? In this sermon on **2 Peter 2:20–22**, we explore: * Why the false teachers' past was so different from their present * What it means to escape the corruption of the world * Why their final condition was worse than their beginning * How spiritual entanglement happens gradually * Why returning to sin is different from merely falling into sin * How sin slowly gains mastery over a person's life * Why Peter compares returning to sin with a dog returning to vomit * Why we are tempted to remember sin's pleasures and forget its ugliness

What do James Talarico, Joel Osteen, and Karl Marx have in common? Like the false teachers in 2 Peter 2, they all lead people astray by promising a form of freedom. This message will help you recognize deceptive promises in our day and pursue the kind of freedom that leads to joy and fullness of life instead of bondage to sin.

Did you know there are 19 commands in Jesus' teaching about the end times in the Olivet Discourse in Mark 13? Are you keeping them? The disciples asked Jesus for signs of the end of the age. Jesus responded by giving some non-signs—events that false teachers will tell you are signs, but are not. The first thing Jesus did when they asked for signs and times was to look them in the eye and say, "Watch out that no one deceives you." This message will help you keep from being deceived by popular but misguided claims about the signs of the end, and it may revolutionize your way of reading the Olivet Discourse. In this expository study of Mark 13:5-6, we examine the structure and purpose of the Olivet Discourse. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

What did Jesus really mean in the Olivet Discourse? Was He predicting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. or describing His Second Coming? … Or both? In this study of Mark 13:1–4, we examine one of the most debated passages in Scripture. You'll learn why faithful Bible-believing Christians have disagreed over this chapter for centuries, compare preterism, futurism, and the dual-fulfillment view, and discover how the rest of the New Testament helps interpret Jesus' words. Rather than defending a theological system, this message follows the biblical text wherever it leads, showing how prophecy is meant not to divide believers, but to encourage one another as we await Christ's return (1 Thessalonians 4:18). If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

# Ever catch yourself irritable or restless for no clear reason—like something deep inside just… isn't quite right? The Bible calls that the hunger and thirst of the soul, and learning to discern it is one of the most important wisdom principles you can learn. It's the key to… * Finding satisfaction in life * Loving God with your soul * Gaining long-term victory over temptation * Understanding why bad moods come out of nowhere Why does Proverbs 9 describe wisdom as a meal instead of the familiar image of two paths? In this message, you'll discover that God intentionally chose the metaphor of food and drink because your deepest spiritual struggles are not merely decision-making problems—they're hunger problems. Every human soul thirsts for satisfaction, and when we fail to recognize that thirst, we instinctively reach for counterfeit "bread" that can never truly satisfy. In this expository sermon through **Proverbs 9**, you'll learn: * Why your soul experiences spiritual hunger and thirst * How to recognize soul-thirst before it drives destructive choices * Why irritability, discouragement, anxiety, and restlessness are often symptoms of spiritual dehydration * What the Bible means when it calls God the Bread of Life and Living Water * Why worldly pleasures can never permanently satisfy the human soul * The biblical secret to overcoming temptation through stronger desires instead of stronger willpower * What it really means to love God with all your soul * How to experience God's presence as true food and drink by trusting his promises