Advertise on podcast: CorrytonCast

Is the wine of the Bible what people drink today? What does the Bible actually teach about drinking? Christians have debated alcohol for generations. Some argue that drinking is always wrong, while others point to wine in Scripture as justification for drinking today. So what does the Bible actually say? In “The Bible and Drinking,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey begins a two-part Biblical study examining alcohol, sobriety, drunkenness, and the differences between wine in Biblical times and alcoholic beverages today. John 7:17 establishes an important principle for this study: we must be willing to do God's will if we want to recognize His truth. The goal should not be to defend what we already want to believe, but to understand and obey what God has said. Pastor Rocky begins by making several important distinctions. Scripture does not categorically condemn drinking wine, but it consistently condemns drunkenness. God's people are also called to live soberly and exercise self-control. The message goes beyond the question of whether drinking is permissible. Why do people turn to alcohol in the first place? Some drink to cope with difficulties, escape emotional pain, relax, gain confidence, or fit in socially. Yet these are needs Christians should ultimately bring before God rather than depend on alcohol to meet. Pastor Rocky also examines the language and historical context of wine in Scripture, including: The Hebrew terms shekar, tirosh, and yayinThe Greek word oinos in the New TestamentThe differences between fresh grape juice, fermented wine, and strong drinkThe practice of mixing or diluting wine in Biblical timesWhat Scripture does and does not specify about the Lord's SupperHow the alcohol content of ancient beverages compares with modern beer, wine, and distilled spiritsWednesday at Corryton gives us room to slow down, open the Bible, and deal carefully with difficult subjects that deserve more than simple answers. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What happens when life doesn't meet your expectations? We all have expectations about how God should work, how others should treat us, and how our lives should unfold. Those expectations can shape our relationships, influence our decisions, and sometimes become a source of disappointment. In Acts 3, a man who could not walk expected to receive money from Peter and John. Instead, through the power of Jesus Christ, he received something he never anticipated. In “The Weight of Expectations,” Education Pastor William Hunt teaches how expectations influence three important areas of our lives: Our perspective of God: Learning to trust His character rather than expecting Him to fulfill our personal plans.Our relationships: Recognizing the burden of expecting too much from others while learning to appreciate what they can give.Our personal growth: Living according to God's will rather than allowing other people's expectations to define us.Scripture reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are greater than ours, that we should seek His Kingdom first, and that He is faithful to complete the good work He begins in us. Are your expectations helping you walk by faith, or keeping you from seeing what God is doing? Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

You can know what the Bible says and still fail to live it. In “The Christian Life That Few Live,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey challenges believers to consider the difference between knowing Biblical truth and actually putting it into practice. 1 Corinthians 8:1 reminds us that knowledge can make us proud, but love builds others up. The Christian life is not measured simply by how much Scripture we understand. It is revealed in how faithfully we obey God, love others, and use our lives to serve Him. God knows those who genuinely love Him (1 Corinthians 8:3). Jesus taught that our love for Him is demonstrated through obedience (John 14:21), and that calling Him "Lord" means little if we refuse to do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21). In this message, Pastor Rocky addresses five truths about the Christian life: 1. Knowing more than we practice produces pride, while living what we know produces humility. 2. God knows who truly loves Him. 3. Loving God means serving Him by serving others. 4. Christians should avoid becoming a stumbling block to others. 5. Helping others come to Christ should matter more than exercising our personal freedoms. Paul was willing to become a servant to others so that he might win more people to Christ. His concern was not simply what he was free to do, but how his choices could affect another person's relationship with God. That's a powerful standard for our marriages, families, churches, relationships, and everyday decisions. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What is a pastor actually supposed to do? A pastor's responsibility goes far beyond preaching a sermon every Sunday. Scripture describes pastoral ministry as the work of a shepherd who must lead, feed, and protect the people God has entrusted to his care. In 1 Peter 5:1-4, pastors are instructed to shepherd God's flock willingly, eagerly, and humbly—not for financial gain, personal recognition, or control over others. In “What a Pastor Must Do,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey teaches the responsibilities and expectations that come with pastoral ministry. A pastor must be prepared for suffering, equipped through experience, skilled in his work, and committed to serving others. He must lead with humility, demonstrate godly character, and remain faithful to his calling. Ultimately, every pastor serves under Jesus Christ, the Chief Shepherd, who will one day reward faithful service. As we continue our Pastor Appreciation Month messages, we turn to God's Word to understand not only who a pastor should be, but what he must do. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

Who are you really living for? Following Jesus involves more than believing the right things, attending church, or avoiding obvious sin. It requires a daily decision to surrender our lives to Him. In this message, Dr. Rocky Ramsey challenges Christians to examine whether they are following Christ fully, mostly, or just sort of. First Peter 1:15–16 calls believers to holiness in all their behavior. That means our commitment to Christ should affect more than what we say we believe. It should shape the decisions we make, the relationships we build, the freedoms we exercise, and the influence we have on others. Jesus said that anyone who follows Him must deny himself and take up his cross daily (Luke 9:23). Paul reminds us that Christ died so that we would no longer live for ourselves but for Him (2 Corinthians 5:15). So how should that change the way we live? In this message, Pastor Rocky presents five Biblical principles to guide our everyday decisions: 1. I will not dishonor God in anyone’s eyes. 2. I will serve God and others, not myself. 3. I will do nothing that may hurt my influence with believers or unbelievers. 4. I will do nothing that could possibly control me. 5. I will do that which honors God most. Drawing from passages throughout the New Testament, including John 14, Philippians 2, Romans 16, and 1 Corinthians 6, 8, 9, and 10, Pastor Rocky explains why the Christian life is about more than asking whether something is technically permissible. The better question is whether our choices honor God, strengthen our witness, serve others, and demonstrate genuine love and trust in Him. The Christian life is not about seeing how much of ourselves we can keep while still following Jesus. It is about learning to live entirely for Him.

What does the Bible say a pastor should be? A pastor is more than a preacher or a church administrator. Scripture describes him as an overseer who manages, an elder who leads, and a shepherd who cares for God's people. In “Who a Pastor Should Be,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey examines the Biblical calling and qualifications of pastoral leadership through 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1, and 1 Peter 5. God's Word makes it clear that pastoral ministry is not about gaining influence, recognition, or personal success. A pastor must demonstrate faithfulness, humility, integrity, servant leadership, and a firm commitment to Scripture. During Pastor Appreciation Month, we turn to the Bible to understand both the responsibility pastors carry and the standard God has established for those who lead His church. What should you expect from a pastor? More importantly, what does God expect? Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What happens when the things that matter most are not intentionally maintained? Ecclesiastes 10:18 gives a vivid picture: when a house is neglected, the rafters begin to sag and the roof begins to leak. William Hunt uses that image to show how neglect works in every area of life. Neglect rarely begins with a decision to destroy something important. More often, it happens little by little. Hebrews 2 warns us about drifting away from what we have heard. Proverbs 24 pictures the gradual consequences of laziness, while Song of Solomon 2:15 reminds us that small problems can damage something valuable. A small leak may not seem urgent today, but ongoing neglect eventually causes damage, weakens what should have been maintained, and exposes what has been ignored. In this message, William Hunt examines the cost of neglect. Neglect costs more than maintenance. What begins small can spread, as Galatians 5:9 reminds us. Proverbs 18:9 warns that negligence can become destructive, while Ephesians 4:27 teaches us not to give the enemy an opportunity. The answer is not simply to work harder. Scripture gives us a better path: Ask God to reveal what has been ignored, as David prayed in Psalm 139:23–24. Repair the weak places, following the example of Nehemiah and the people rebuilding the wall. Recommit to faithfulness in the small things, as Jesus teaches in Luke 16:10. Refuse to grow weary in doing good, as Galatians 6:9 encourages us. Then guard what God has entrusted to you, remembering the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23. Wednesdays at Corryton Church gives us room to slow down, open the Bible, and deal with the everyday decisions that quietly shape our lives, homes, families, and faith. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What does abuse look like in the Bible? In this second message on abuse, Dr. Rocky Ramsey goes deeper into Scripture to show that abuse is not a modern problem and that the Bible does not hide the destructive ways people misuse power. Pastor Rocky defines abuse as taking advantage of someone you have power over. That power may be actual, or it may be power another person perceives or has been conditioned to give. Abuse can take many forms, including mental abuse through gaslighting, verbal abuse through criticism and condemnation, emotional abuse through punishment and withdrawal, physical and sexual abuse, financial abuse through control of resources, and spiritual abuse through the misuse of Scripture. This message then traces examples of abuse throughout the Bible. Pastor Rocky points to the effects of sin in the earliest families of Scripture and examines difficult accounts involving Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Sarah and Hagar, Lot and his daughters, Isaac and Rebekah, the horrific events surrounding a man’s daughter and a concubine, David and Bathsheba, Uriah, and Amnon and Tamar. These stories are uncomfortable because the Bible is honest about human sin. Some of the people involved were heroes of the faith. Some were deeply flawed. Some were victims. Some became abusers themselves. Scripture does not sanitize their stories. The same Bible that records their faith also records the damage caused when people use power selfishly, sexually, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. After several weeks of teaching on marriage, divorce, and abuse, this Wednesday message gives us room to slow down, open the Bible, and look carefully at passages that are often difficult to discuss. Wednesday at Corryton gives us room to slow down, open the Bible, and deal carefully with difficult subjects that deserve more than simple answers. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

The Christian life is meant to grow. In 1 John 2, Scripture describes believers as children, young men, and fathers—pictures of spiritual infancy, development, and maturity. Each stage has its own characteristics, struggles, and opportunities for growth: • Spiritual infancy is a season of newness. We begin learning who God is, what His Word says, and what it means to belong to Him. • Spiritual development brings struggle. Temptation teaches us obedience. Trials teach us trust. God uses both to strengthen us, shape our character, and make us more like Christ. • Spiritual maturity brings a settled relationship with God. Obedience becomes less about constant internal resistance and increasingly flows from knowing Him, loving Him, and wanting His will. Life becomes centered on His glory, His purpose, and His Kingdom. Where are you in that process? Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What does the Bible actually say about abuse, submission, protection, and personal safety? After several weeks of teaching on marriage and divorce, Dr. Rocky Ramsey turns to an issue that often sits underneath those conversations: abuse. Many Christians have been taught ideas about submission, forgiveness, marriage, and suffering that can leave victims confused, condemned, or trapped. Scripture presents a different picture. In this message, Pastor Rocky explains that submission is chosen, not forced; that submission is always limited by God’s will; that protecting yourself and others can be right; and that Christians are called to confront sin rather than enable it. Using passages including Matthew 5:39–41, John 10:18, Matthew 26:53, Ephesians 5:18–33, Colossians 3:16–21, Luke 4:28–30, John 7:1, Proverbs 12:10, 1 Peter 2:13–25, Revelation 3:19, Luke 17:3, and 1 Corinthians 5:11, this teaching addresses both Biblical principles and the realities abuse victims often face. Pastor Rocky also identifies several forms of abuse: • Mental abuse, including gaslighting • Verbal abuse through criticism and condemnation • Emotional abuse through punishment and withdrawal • Physical and sexual abuse • Financial abuse through control of resources • Spiritual abuse through the misuse of Scripture The message also addresses the ways victims can be further harmed when others refuse to believe them, treat abuse like an ordinary marital disagreement, pressure them into unsafe reconciliation, condemn them for seeking safety, or accept an abuser’s claims of change without understanding what the victim has experienced. For further study, Pastor Rocky recommends: Why Does He Do That? — Lundy Bancroft The Verbally Abusive Relationship — Patricia Evans Is It My Fault? — Justin and Lindsey Holcomb The Emotionally Destructive Marriage — Leslie Vernick Wednesday at Corryton gives us room to slow down, open the Bible, and deal carefully with difficult subjects that deserve more than simple answers. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What happens when Jesus truly becomes first in your life? The Apostle Paul knew what it meant to have a past he regretted, a future completely redirected by Christ, and a life that became far more difficult after following Jesus. Still, Paul could say that everything he once valued was loss compared with the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. In “Jesus First,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey looks at Paul’s life and what Scripture teaches about the results of putting Jesus first. Paul went from persecuting Christians to becoming one of the most influential followers of Jesus in history. His story reminds us that our past does not have to determine our future, and our present circumstances do not determine whether following Christ is worth it. The question is not whether Jesus has a place in your life. Does He have first place? Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What does the Bible actually teach about divorce? After weeks of going deeper into the Old Testament, the words of Jesus, and the teaching of Paul, Dr. Rocky Ramsey brings the entire Biblical case together in the conclusion of this study on marriage and divorce. God never intended divorce. His design is one man and one woman joined together for life. Scripture also recognizes that sin can bring betrayal, abandonment, abuse, and brokenness into a marriage. So what happens when a marriage cannot—or should not—continue? In this message, Pastor Rocky addresses several truths Christians cannot afford to ignore: divorce is not automatically condemned in Scripture, Moses permitted legal divorce, remarriage was permitted, God used the language of divorce concerning Israel, and the Bible speaks directly to circumstances involving betrayal, abandonment, and abuse. This message also challenges the way Christians respond to people whose marriages have ended. We often know far less about another couple’s marriage than we think we do. Both people are not necessarily equally responsible for a divorce, and there are circumstances when remaining in a marriage can cause greater harm. The Church therefore has two responsibilities: fight for marriages that can and should be saved, and help people whose marriages have ended begin rebuilding their lives. Jesus demonstrated both truth and grace when He encountered broken people. The Gospel does not minimize sin, yet it never leaves repentant people without hope. If divorce or remarriage is part of your story—or if you want your convictions about marriage to come from the whole counsel of Scripture—this conclusion to our Wednesday deep dive is an important message. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What does it look like to put God first when obedience costs you something? In Genesis 22, Abraham faces an unimaginable test. God asks him to surrender Isaac, the son through whom God had promised to fulfill His covenant. Abraham does not understand how the promise and the command fit together, yet he chooses to trust God and obey Him. In “God First,” Dr. Rocky Ramsey shows how Abraham demonstrated that God truly had first place in his life: • He did what God asked him to do. • He trusted God when he did not understand. • He obeyed God even when obedience was costly. Genesis 22 also gives us a powerful picture of the gospel. Abraham points us toward the Father who would give His Son. Isaac points us toward Jesus willingly trusting the Father. The ram points us toward Christ, our substitute, who suffered for our sins so that we could be brought to God. Putting God first does not mean we will always understand His plan. It means we trust His character enough to obey His Word. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

What does the Bible really say about divorce, remarriage, and adultery? God's design for marriage is clear: one man and one woman joined together for a lifetime. Divorce was never God's intention. Yet Scripture also speaks honestly about sin, broken marriages, abandonment, unfaithfulness, and what happens when people fail to live according to God's best. In this in-depth teaching on divorce, Dr. Rocky Ramsey brings together the Old Testament foundation, the words of Jesus, and the teaching of Paul. Moses permitted legal divorce. Malachi condemns the treacherous treatment of wives. Jeremiah even uses divorce to describe God's judgment of unfaithful Israel. Jesus teaches that divorce exists because of the hardness of the human heart and connects remarriage with adultery. Paul addresses abandonment, singleness, marriage, sexual immorality, and the freedom of a widowed spouse to marry again. So when is remarriage not adultery? Scripture identifies three circumstances addressed in this study: • Unfaithfulness — Matthew 19:9 • Abandonment — 1 Corinthians 7:15 • The death of a spouse — 1 Corinthians 7:8-9; 1 Timothy 5:14 This message also confronts an equally important truth: adultery is serious, but adultery is not an unpardonable sin. 1 Corinthians 6 describes people whose former lives included sexual immorality and adultery, then gives one of the most hopeful statements in Scripture: "Such were some of you." God's standard does not change. Sin has consequences. God's grace is still powerful enough to cleanse, forgive, and give people a new way forward. Whether you are married, divorced, remarried, single, or helping someone navigate a broken marriage, this message provides a Biblical framework for understanding what God's Word actually says. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://corryton.online.church/

It is easy to say that God comes first. The harder question is whether His will actually has first place when it conflicts with the people we love, the things we own, the careers we pursue, the comfort we prefer, or the dreams we have for ourselves. In “Is God Really First?”, Dr. Rocky Ramsey teaches from Colossians 1:16 and 18, where Scripture says that everything was created through Christ and for Christ so that He would have first place in everything. This message asks what that looks like in real life: • When God is first, His will matters more than people. • His will matters more than possessions. • His will matters more than career. • His will matters more than comfort. • His will matters more than our personal dreams. • When God is truly first, we recognize that we belong to Him. Pastor Rocky also addresses one of the questions Christians ask most often: How do I know God’s will for my life? God’s will begins with God’s Word. We obey what He has already made clear, and we remain willing to follow Him in what we do not yet understand. “When you don’t know what to do, do what you know to do.” Being a Christian means more than including Jesus in your life. It means Jesus is Lord of your life. Do you have a question for Pastor Rocky? Email [email protected] to submit your questions today. Watch Corryton Live every Sunday at: https://bit.ly/3b3Igjh MORE: https://bit.ly/corryton