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Share a comment If you knew tomorrow was your last day, would you change anything or would you live it the way you’re living today? We open with John Wesley’s bracing answer and then follow Jesus as he heads toward Jerusalem, still healing, teaching, and saving without hesitation. That steady purpose becomes the lens for Luke’s Jericho scenes, where need, sin, and hope all collide on the roadside. First, we meet a blind beggar who refuses to be silenced. Bartimaeus cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me,” and Jesus stops long enough to ask the question that exposes desire and faith: “What do you want me to do for you?” Then the spotlight swings to Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector with a stained reputation and a curious heart. Jesus calls him by name, chooses his house, and Zacchaeus responds with real repentance that shows up in real restitution. Finally, we walk through the parable of the minas, a story about stewardship, accountability, and what faithfulness looks like while we wait for the King to return. We connect the dots to Jesus’ mission statement, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost,” and we end with a personal inventory of our time, finances, talents, and spiritual gifts. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what would you change if today were your last day? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Some world records make you laugh, others make you stare in disbelief, but they all have one thing in common: somebody wanted to be first. That same hunger for recognition shows up in quieter ways every day, and it is exactly what Mark 10 puts under the microscope as Jesus heads toward Jerusalem. We walk through the striking contrast in the Gospel of Mark: Jesus moves with steady resolve toward betrayal, suffering, and death, while His disciples struggle to grasp what He is saying. James and John step forward with a bold request for the highest places of honor, and the moment feels uncomfortably modern. We talk about what drives spiritual ambition, how blind spots form when we avoid the cost of discipleship, and why even sincere followers can drift into a “me first” mindset. Then Jesus rewrites the definition of leadership. Instead of chasing rank or using authority to “lord it over” others, He calls His people to become servants and even slaves of all. The centerpiece is His own mission: the Son of Man comes not to be served but to serve, giving His life as a ransom for many. If you care about Christian growth, servant leadership, humility, and what real greatness looks like in everyday life, this is a message that lands where we live. If this encouraged or challenged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a reset on ambition, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment A man with status, morality, and money comes to Jesus with an honest question: what good deed will finally secure eternal life? We trace the moment Jesus answers in a way that feels unexpected, pointing him straight to the commandments. Rather than offering quick reassurance, Jesus uses God’s law like a flashlight, revealing how easy it is to confuse religious performance with a surrendered heart. If you have ever felt like you are one habit away from being “good enough,” this conversation hits close to home.  From there, we talk about the turning point: “sell what you possess… and come follow me.” This is not a formula for buying heaven. It is a loving confrontation with idolatry, showing how wealth and comfort can become the thing we trust most. We also clear up the common misconception around “the camel through the eye of a needle” and why Jesus is describing something impossible on purpose. The disciples’ question, “Who then can be saved?” opens the door to the core message: salvation by grace, through faith, made possible by God alone.  Finally, we follow Peter’s anxious question about reward into Jesus’ promise of restoration and the parable of the workers in the vineyard from Matthew 20. The landowner’s equal pay is a picture of divine generosity, reminding us that God is not stingy, and He never owes us. If you want a clearer understanding of Christian discipleship, the danger of self righteousness, and why grace is the bottom line, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment The fastest way to lose the plot on marriage is to start with exceptions instead of design. We walk with Jesus through Matthew 19 as the Pharisees try to bait Him with the question of divorce “for any cause,” and He answers by rewinding the conversation to Genesis, creation, and covenant. That move changes everything: marriage is not a human invention or a flexible contract, but God’s idea with a purpose, a shape, and a meaning we ignore at our own cost.  We unpack three grounding principles for a biblical view of marriage: severance (your spouse becomes your primary human relationship), permanence (a glued-together commitment meant to last), and oneness (a uniquely shared life, not just shared space). Along the way, we talk about why the setting in Perea matters, how Herod’s scandal helps explain the trap, and how Scripture speaks with clarity and compassion when sin and suffering collide in real relationships. If you’re looking for Christian marriage teaching that is rooted in the Bible and practical for everyday decisions, this conversation keeps the focus where Jesus keeps it.  Then the disciples ask the question many people whisper: if marriage is hard and we might fail, is it better to stay single? We explore Jesus’ honor for singleness as a genuine calling for some, including those who choose a single life for kingdom service. The close of the passage is a needed correction for any culture: Jesus welcomes children, defends their worth, and calls us to remove barriers that keep them from Him. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Prayer is one of those things nearly every Christian says matters and almost every Christian admits feels hard to practice. We start with that tension, from the quick mealtime prayer to the distracted last-second request, and then we let Jesus’ words in Luke 18 reset what a real prayer life is meant to do: keep us from losing heart. We walk through the parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge, paying close attention to the twist many people miss. Jesus isn’t portraying God as reluctant, cold, or easily annoyed. He’s giving a contrast that builds confidence: our heavenly Father is present, attentive, and perfectly just. Persistent prayer isn’t about wearing God down. It’s about holding on to God’s character while we wait for his kingdom, his righteousness, and his timing. Then we shift to the temple, where two men pray in radically different ways. The Pharisee recites a spiritual resume meant to impress, while the tax collector can barely lift his eyes and simply asks for mercy. Jesus says the humble man goes home justified, declared righteous by God. That lands with force: you can’t trust in yourself and trust in God at the same time, and your prayers will always reveal which one you’re doing. If you want a prayer life marked by honesty, humility, and endurance, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels discouraged, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What kind of prayer do you want to be known for? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment A ship once sailed into the Arctic betting everything on a “sure thing” theory about an open polar sea and the cost was devastating. That true story sets the tone for a sharper warning from Luke 17: the most dangerous mistakes are often the assumptions we never question, especially the assumptions we make about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. We follow the Pharisees as they press Jesus on when the kingdom will come. Their question sounds spiritual, but Jesus exposes what sits underneath it: rejection of the King who is already standing in their midst. We talk through what Jesus means when he says the kingdom is not coming with signs to be observed, and why demanding constant proof can be a cover for unbelief. If we assume we are “in” because of background, tradition, or good behavior, we may miss the only doorway that matters: faith in the Messiah. Then we shift to Jesus’ private tutoring for the disciples on the Second Coming and the end times. We unpack his warning about chasing claims of “look here” or “look there,” and why his return will be as unmistakable as lightning across the sky. We also dig into his vivid comparisons to the days of Noah and the days of Lot: daily routines rolling on until sudden judgment breaks in, plus the haunting reminder to remember Lot’s wife and the danger of clinging to this life at all costs. If you want clear Bible teaching on Luke 17, the Kingdom of God, readiness, judgment, and what it means to respond to Jesus today, listen all the way through. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Ten lepers cry out for mercy, and Jesus answers in a way that messes with our expectations: he tells them to start walking before they see any change. The healing shows up “as they went,” turning the road itself into a lesson about faith, obedience, and trusting Christ when you don’t have proof yet. We also set the scene in the final weeks leading up to the crucifixion, right after Lazarus is raised in Bethany and the pressure around Jesus escalates, forcing him to withdraw to Ephraim while he keeps shaping his disciples for what’s coming.  What really stings is what happens next. Ten men receive the same miracle, but only one turns back. He returns praising God at full volume, falls at Jesus’ feet, and gives thanks and he’s the Samaritan, the outsider. Jesus points to the irony: the one labeled “foreigner” recognizes grace more clearly than the ones who should have known better. That contrast pushes us to examine our own hearts: do we chase the blessing and forget the One who gave it?  We lean into the practical takeaway for Christian life and spiritual growth: gratitude isn’t just good manners, it’s worship, and it can open your eyes to a deeper work God is doing. The story ends with a stunning line from Jesus: “Your faith has saved you,” showing how thanksgiving can become the doorway from physical rescue to eternal salvation. If you’ve ever wondered why gratitude matters, how faith actually works, or how the Gospel changes everyday priorities, you’ll want to hear this. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment A friend is dying, the message reaches Jesus, and then He… waits. That single detail in John 11 can rattle anyone who has ever prayed for help and heard only silence. We pick up our chronological study of the Gospels with the raising of Lazarus, and we slow down to face the question underneath the story: what do you do with the delays of Jesus when the situation is already past what feels fixable?  We walk through Bethany with Mary and Martha, listen to their raw words (“Lord, if you had been here…”), and sit with Jesus’ response that cuts through both despair and religious clichés: “I am the resurrection and the life.” We talk about why Jesus asks what Martha believes rather than how she feels, why the fourth day matters, and how “Jesus wept” shows a Savior who is not distant from human grief even as He prepares to defeat death. Along the way we unpack the moment at the tomb, the power in the command “Lazarus, come out,” and the community’s role when Jesus says, “Unbind him and let him go.”  Then the story turns sharp. The same miracle produces two reactions: faith and willful unbelief. We explore how fear, control, and spiritual blindness can make people reject even overwhelming evidence, and we end with a direct warning not to cover your ears and eyes to the truth about Jesus Christ. If you care about Bible study, Christian faith, the Gospel of John, and real hope in the face of death, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the message of resurrection life. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Temptation is guaranteed. Becoming the reason someone else falls is not. Working through Luke 17:1–10, we walk with Jesus as he trains disciples for real life: integrity when nobody claps, courage to confront sin, and a kind of forgiveness that doesn’t deny the truth. If you’ve ever wondered how to follow Christ in a hostile culture without growing cynical or careless, this teaching puts steel in your spine and mercy in your hands. We start with Jesus’ warning about “scandal” and stumbling blocks. The stakes are higher than personal failure, because our choices can trap “little ones” and new believers who are still learning what faith looks like. Then we move into the most misunderstood part: forgiveness. Jesus connects forgiveness to repentance and reconciliation, which raises honest questions about what you can do when someone refuses to admit wrong, can’t be reached, or will never say sorry. We talk about releasing that burden to God, and how prayer can be a real act of forgiveness even when fellowship cannot be restored. Finally, Jesus turns to faithful service. The picture is simple: servants do their duty without demanding thanks. That humble mindset, “we are unworthy servants,” becomes the engine that powers careful living and a forgiving spirit. We also look ahead to the judgment seat of Christ, where God rewards faithful obedience and we return those crowns to Jesus in worship. If you want practical Christian discipleship that’s grounded in Scripture and honest about pain, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment A story about a rich man and a starving beggar does not sound like a roadmap to eternity, but Jesus uses it to deliver one of his clearest warnings about the afterlife. We step into Luke 16 and watch the “great reversal” unfold: Lazarus, overlooked and suffering at a gate, is carried to Abraham’s side, while the rich man who had everything wakes up in torment in Hades. The shock is the point, because our culture still confuses comfort with God’s approval and pain with God’s rejection. We also slow down and explain what Jesus is revealing about Sheol, Hades, and Paradise, including why this scene describes a temporary state prior to final judgment, and how the New Testament frames a believer’s death as being away from the body and at home with the Lord. Along the way, we draw out six practical, sobering observations: no one stops existing at death, people are conscious and aware, identity remains recognizable, memory continues, destiny becomes fixed, and unbelief does not get the last word. If you care about Christian theology, heaven and hell, judgment, or what the Bible actually claims about life beyond the grave, this is a passage worth facing directly. One of the hardest lines lands when the rich man asks for a miracle to warn his family, and Abraham points them back to Scripture, insisting that miracles do not create faith when the heart refuses God’s Word. That brings everything home: what we do with Jesus now matters forever. If this helped you think clearly about eternity, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us what part of Luke 16 challenged you most. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment A lot of people can quote wedding vows, but far fewer know what the Bible actually says when marriage turns into a long pattern of betrayal, addiction, or harm. We wrestle with the question many couples are afraid to ask out loud: when is divorce biblically permitted, and what does Scripture say about remarriage? We start with the big picture of Christian marriage, not as a romantic fantasy, but as a covenant designed for unity, permanence, and spiritual growth between two sinners. Then we move into Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16 and the wider context that shows why His view of Scripture is so unbending. When He says even the smallest part of God’s law stands, He’s also shutting down the idea that divorce is a casual escape hatch. From there we follow the trail to Matthew 19 and the “exception clause” for sexual immorality, explaining why divorce is permitted but not commanded, and why genuine repentance is the critical issue. We also walk through 1 Corinthians 7, where Paul addresses separation, remarriage, and what it means for an unbelieving spouse to “consent” to the marriage. That leads to the hard but necessary category of abandonment and the real-world signs of it, including ongoing unrepentant sin, pornography, gambling, substance abuse with deception, financial theft, threats, and physical abuse. We make the case that peace matters, safety matters, and staying in harm’s way is not a biblical badge of honor. If you want clear biblical teaching on divorce, Christian marriage, sexual immorality, abandonment, repentance, and remarriage, listen and weigh the Scriptures with us. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs clarity, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Money has a way of finding the softest spot in us, and Jesus doesn’t avoid that tension. We open Luke 16 with one of the most surprising stories He ever told: a manager caught squandering his boss’s assets, facing an audit, and then pulling a last-minute scheme that looks downright unethical. Even stranger, the owner commends him for being shrewd. That moment stops a lot of listeners cold, so we slow down and trace what’s actually happening and why Jesus tells it this way.   From the details in the story, we talk about what “wasting” really means, why the debts are so large, and how the debtors become partners in deception by rewriting invoices. We also explore why the rich man is not a stand-in for God, but a picture of worldly thinking that is just as devoted to money and just as willing to compromise for gain. The point is not to copy dishonesty, but to learn from the urgency and intentionality people show when they care deeply about their future.   Then we land on three practical principles for Christian financial stewardship and biblical money management: be strategic with the opportunities you have, be intentional with the money you have, and be faithful no matter how much you have. We unpack what Jesus means by “unrighteous wealth,” why money is temporary, and how generosity can become an eternal investment in people you may not meet until heaven. We also confront the heart issue head-on: money can be a tyrant, a trap, or a tool, and we cannot be mastered by God and money at the same time.   If this challenges you, share it with a friend who thinks about faith and finances, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one change you want to make in your stewardship this week? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Most people remember the prodigal son as a story about wild living and a tearful walk home. We’re convinced that’s only half the punch. This teaching flips the familiar angle and shows why Jesus is actually telling a parable of two prodigal sons, both lost, both breaking their father’s heart, and both needing to be found. We start with the setup in Luke 15: Pharisees and scribes are upset that Jesus eats with people they’ve written off. That tension matters, because it explains the target of the story and the main theme: God seeks the lost, and heaven rejoices when sinners are found. We trace the younger brother’s journey and why his pig-pen speech begins less like true repentance and more like a plan to regain control, save face, and negotiate a new arrangement. Then the shock lands. The Father races to meet his son, not only to welcome him, but to protect him from the village’s public rejection and shame. From there we unpack the Father’s gifts of grace: the robe that signals restored honor, the ring that grants family authority, and the shoes that mark sonship rather than slavery. Finally, we face the older brother, whose resentment sounds “fair” but reveals a heart that treats obedience like leverage and grace like an offense. If you’ve ever felt trapped between rebellion and self-righteousness, this conversation puts words to it and points to the gospel: grace is undeserved, and Jesus paid it all. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the brother you relate to most right now. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment Jesus’ story of the prodigal son is one of the most loved and misunderstood parables. The son didn’t leave home just to find freedom—he left because he was already lost in his heart. He returns not out of repentance, but out of desperation. Yet even then, Jesus reveals a father who is full of grace. This lesson explores the deeper meaning behind the prodigal’s journey, why he really came back, and what hope this parable offers for anyone who loves someone running from God. It’s a powerful reminder that grace begins—even when repentance is still catching up. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show

Share a comment The people everyone else avoids are the people Jesus moves toward. That’s the tension that sparks Luke 15: tax collectors and sinners crowd in to hear Him, while the Pharisees grumble that He welcomes the “unclean” and even shares a meal with them. We slow down and trace what that outrage reveals about the heart of God, and why love, not approval-seeking religion, is what pulls the lost toward Christ. From there, we walk through two of Jesus’ most memorable parables: the lost sheep and the lost coin. A good shepherd does not shrug and say, “you win some, you lose some” he goes after the one until it’s found, then rejoices. A woman sweeps, searches, and sifts through dust until the missing coin is recovered, then calls her neighbors to celebrate. Together, these stories build a clear message about repentance, salvation, grace, and the real value of a sinner God is rescuing. We also dig into a surprising phrase: “joy before the angels.” If the angels are watching, who is celebrating? That question leads to a thought-provoking look at heaven, increased joy, and the possibility that those already with the Lord rejoice when someone on earth comes to faith. If you’ve ever felt you had to clean yourself up before coming to God, this conversation turns that idea upside down. Subscribe for more Bible teaching through the Gospel of Luke, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. What part of Luke 15 hits you the hardest? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more at https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show