Advertise on podcast: Salem Chapel

When You Need Direction (Acts 1:12–26) We all face moments when we’re unsure what to do next. In Acts 1, the disciples show us that finding direction from God begins with depending on Him. Instead of rushing ahead, they pause to pray, pursue God’s perspective through His Word, and move forward while continuing to trust Him. When we need direction, the answer isn’t greater control but greater dependence on the One who knows the way.

The Unstoppable Gospel – Week 1Saved for More… (Acts 1:1–11) Following Jesus was never meant to stop with being saved. Jesus saves us and sends us to share the hope of the gospel with the world around us. Living sent means growing more like Jesus, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, and sharing what Christ has done in our lives. We’ve been saved for more, and every follower of Jesus has a part to play in His mission.

Free to Live (Romans 5:1–11) Because of Jesus, we don’t have to live wondering where we stand with God. Through faith in Christ, we have peace with God, access to Him, and a secure place in His grace. That security gives us hope even when life is hard, knowing God can use what we walk through to shape who we are becoming. Because Jesus has made us right with God, we are free to live secure, hopeful, and confident.

The Parables of Jesus – Week 6Remember the Mercy (Matthew 18:21–35) Forgiving someone who has hurt us can be one of the hardest things Jesus asks us to do. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus reminds us that the mercy we have received should shape the mercy we extend to others. As we remember the debt God has forgiven, we can release the offenses we were never meant to carry and choose forgiveness again and again. Remembered mercy produces repeated forgiveness.

The Parables of Jesus – Week 5Crossing the Line (Luke 10:25–37) In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us that mercy refuses to draw lines around who deserves our love. Self-righteousness looks for limits, but mercy changes the questions we ask, the people we see, and the way we respond. Following Jesus means moving toward people others might avoid, accepting inconvenience, and being willing to pay the cost. True mercy doesn't just feel compassion. It acts.

The Parables of Jesus – Week 3It’s Time to Come Home (Luke 15:11–32) In the parable of the lost son, Jesus shows us a Father whose love remains open to those who have wandered. Coming home means leaving the lies that pulled us away, laying down our pride, and turning back to the Father, even if all we can do is limp home. Grace doesn’t merely tolerate us when we return. It restores us to the Father’s family and celebrates what was lost being found. No matter how far you’ve wandered, the road back home is always open because the Father’s love has never closed.

The Parables of Jesus – Week 2When Love Came Running (Luke 15:1–7) In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus shows us the relentless love of a Shepherd who refuses to give up on the lost. He comes for us when we wander, carries us when we are helpless, and celebrates when we come home. Salvation is not about finding our own way back to God, but trusting the Shepherd who came to rescue us. No matter how far you've wandered, you are never too lost for Jesus to rescue.

The Parables of Jesus – Week 1The Great Exchange (Matthew 13:44–46) The Parables of Jesus reveal timeless truths about the kingdom of God through simple, everyday stories. In the parables of the hidden treasure and the priceless pearl, Jesus shows that He and His kingdom are worth more than anything this world can offer. When Christ becomes our greatest treasure, surrender is no longer a sacrifice but a joyful response. As we treasure Jesus above everything else, trade the temporary for the eternal, and trust that His kingdom is worth the cost, our greatest desire becomes advancing His kingdom with our lives.

Tomorrow Will Thank You (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28; 23:19–21) The choices you make today are shaping the life you'll live tomorrow. Proverbs reminds us that wisdom is found in practicing self-control, standing on conviction, and resisting the slow drift toward compromise. As we choose restraint over rage and conviction over compromise, God forms a life marked by wisdom instead of regret. The smart move is making decisions today that your future self will be thankful for tomorrow.

Who's Influencing You? (Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 27:17) The direction of your life is deeply shaped by the people you choose to walk with. Proverbs reminds us that relationships are never neutral. They are always influencing who we become. Wise people intentionally surround themselves with people who point them toward Christ, sharpen their character, and speak truth with love. As we pay attention to who is shaping us, evaluate where they're leading us, and remain humble enough to receive honest correction, God uses those relationships to grow us into the people He is calling us to be.

Smart Moves – Week 7The Smart Move of Wise Counsel (Proverbs 12:15; 1 Kings 12) Wise people understand they don't have to learn every lesson the hard way. God often provides direction, protection, and clarity through the counsel of others who know Him and walk in wisdom. Rehoboam's story shows the danger of surrounding yourself with voices that simply affirm what you already want to hear. As we cultivate a desire for godly counsel, pursue people marked by faith, love, objectivity, and experience, and humbly receive their guidance, we discover that the right voices can keep us from making the wrong choices.

Smart Moves – Week 6The Smart Move When You Are Wrong (Proverbs 9:7–12) No one enjoys being corrected, yet Proverbs reminds us that one of the clearest marks of wisdom is a teachable heart. Rather than becoming defensive or cynical, the wise receive correction as an opportunity to grow. As we learn to welcome truth, submit ourselves to the Lord, and respond humbly to His instruction, we discover that the smartest move we can make when we are wrong is to remain teachable before God and others.

Smart Moves – Week 5The Smart Move to Avoid a Slacker Life (Proverbs 6:6–11) A life of purpose is rarely built through dramatic decisions. More often, it is shaped by daily choices, consistent effort, and faithful stewardship of what God has entrusted to us. In Proverbs 6, Solomon points to the ant as an example of wisdom, initiative, and preparation. As we learn to wake up, work diligently, and recognize that today's decisions shape tomorrow's reality, we discover that the smart move is to stop slacking and start living with purpose.

Smart Moves – Week 4Guarding Your Heart Guards Your Life (Proverbs 4:20–27) Every day, countless voices compete for our attention and influence the direction of our lives. Proverbs 4 reminds us that the direction of our lives flows from our hearts, making it one of the most important things we can guard. As we learn to listen to God’s wisdom, keep it before us, and live it out in our words, focus, and choices, we discover that small decisions today shape the destination of our lives tomorrow. Because Jesus has given us a heart worth guarding, wisdom calls us to protect it carefully.

Smart Moves – Week 3The Smartest Financial Move You Can Make (Proverbs 3:9–10) Money has a way of revealing what we trust most. In Proverbs 3, Solomon teaches that trusting God is not limited to our beliefs, it also shapes how we handle our finances. When we honor the Lord, give Him our first and best, and trust His provision, we learn that generosity is not about what we lose but about who we trust. The smartest financial move we can make is placing our resources in the hands of the One who faithfully provides all we need.