The inspiring story of Horatio Spafford is a wonderful example of faith during times of loss. But for most people, grief is long, difficult road of mixed emotions where one often feels lost, angry, depressed and confused. How can we, as Christians, support and encourage our friends and family members who are grieving the loss of a loved one? Pr. Bob explores. If you have experienced a death in your circle of family and friends, don't miss this episode!
For resources, links and more information, please visit
https://inspirationalsermons.com/working-through-grief

Do you worry? Does your worrying sometimes consume you? And do you worry about your worrying because, after all, Jesus tells us we shouldn't worry? In the end, is worrying and anxiety a faith thing? Face it, especially in 2020, anxiety is everywhere. So, how are we as Christians to manage it? And how do we follow Jesus's commands about worrying? In this episode, dynamic preacher Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins gives practical advice so we may "take heart" and defeat the anxiety that can steal our joy!

For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/when-anxiety-attacks

How often do you forgive someone genuinely and from your heart? And what, if anything, has to happen for you to forgive? Do you need remorse to be shown? Does it need to be something "forgivable"? What if the damage that has been done to you is extreme, horrendous? What if, God forbid, someone recklessly causes the death of members of your family? Could you ever even get to the point of being ready to forgive? This true story will inspire you to re-think your own beliefs about your ability to forgive others and the very nature of "radical forgiveness."

For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/forgiveness

Have you ever considered that if you tried hard enough and if you were good enough you could contribute to your own salvation? While that concept is about as far from Christianity as one could get, that thinking still makes its way into the church. The apostle Paul addressed the idea of reverting back to the works of the law in his letter to the Galatians. In this episode, Rev. John McGowan tackles Galatians 3:1-5 and unpacks its meaning for us.

For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/one-size-fits-all

Can relationships get to a point where they can become too burdensome? How do we respond when we believe they do? What is it about our human nature to feel that sometimes we have reached our limit in a relationship? And more importantly, what does that recognition tell us about who God is? Join Pr. Bob as he uses experiences from his ministry to delve deeper into the nature of both humanity and divinity. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/water-under-bridge

The best preachers use their skills, talents, and life experiences to unpack scriptures and present them in ways that inspire and uplift. They often have a charisma and presentation style that engages their audience in multiple ways.

Yet, more than that, the best preachers tend to approach scripture differently. They ask questions others don't often ask, questions that provide listeners with skills to create a new life, one that is richer and more meaningful, where they draw nearer to God.

In this episode, Pr. Bob highlights one of the most important questions preachers can ask their congregations. If you're looking for some inspiration, this episode is for you. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/new-life

We all want to feel blessed by God, or at least feel as if we are in the right place and doing the right things to be blessed by God. But, what if receiving God's blessings has nothing to do with any of that? What if being blessed by God is more a matter of the heart? Fact is, while we do not orchestrate or dictate God's blessings, we really don't have to guess who God blesses and in what circumstances He blesses His children; He has shown us throughout scripture. The Rev. David Kibler reflects on God's blessings as we discuss his sermon: Who Does God Bless?
For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/who-does-God-bless

Do you believe in the power of prayer? Why? What happens when you pray? Do you get answers? If not, why not? And what if the answer you get is not what you were praying for? Was that prayer ineffective? When should you give up praying for something? What is prayer supposed to do anyway? These questions are common in the life of a Christian, but so often we are reluctant to address them. In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Judy Kincaid discusses her sermon on prayer based on Luke 18, verses 1 through 8, and her insights may change the way you pray. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/prayer

What do you do when the plan you had for your life runs off the road and into a ditch? How do you deal with the pain and disappointment that comes from shattered dreams? And is God to blame, or even to be found? If you've ever found yourself angry and depressed over events that have altered the plans for your life, then you know how your faith can be challenged. And if you've ever said, "I never thought I would be in this situation, and I am struggling to survive it!," then this episode is for you. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/difficult-times

You think of yourself as a Christian and you’re trying to be a faithful believer, yet sometimes you just can’t help but have doubts. Thoughts that maybe God isn’t really paying attention to you, working things out in your life for good, or that He doesn’t have your back, they just creep in; you can’t help it. And to top it off, you meet people who seem to have a rock solid relationship with God where they are so sure of their beliefs. They never seem to doubt anything about God, who He is, and His role in their lives. Do you ever wonder why you can’t be like that? Ever think, “What’s wrong with me?” You don’t want to doubt, but you do. In this episode, the Rev. Mark Schaefer discusses his sermon on faith and doubt (John 20:19-31), and his insights are both encouraging and inspiring. Don’t miss this one! For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/doubt-and-faith

Have you ever considered that wherever you go you bring the Kingdom of God with you? That as a Christian you're in effect a walking, talking embassy? And your home? Kingdom territory! An embassy in a foreign land. So, do you act as an ambassador? Do you take your role as a representative of Christ seriously? When was the last time your shared your faith with someone who needed to hear about Jesus? Rev. Mark Vander Tuig shares his experiences and explains one of the most important roles of a Christian - being an ambassadors for Christ. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/ambassador

A key tenet of the Christian faith, forgiveness can often be a difficult task. And the most difficult person for us to forgive sometimes is ourselves. In this "In Focus" episode, Pr. Bob discusses how we can begin the process of self forgiveness and free ourselves from burden of guilt and shame. Perhaps you can relate to the story Pr. Bob tells of a church member whose guilt has held her back from fully living. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/forgive-yourself-first

Are you a Christian? If so, why? Have you ever thought about that? Or more succinctly, if someone asks you why you are a Christian can you give a good, concise answer? What experiences have you had that confirm your faith? In short, amidst all the world's religions, why Christianity? Few people are ever genuinely asked, and fewer still have an answer prepared. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Charley Reeb provides an answer; he discusses what the Christian faith says about God and you. For resources, links and more information, please visit  https://inspirationalsermons.com/why-christianity

"But who do you say that I am?" Jesus asked His disciples. Peter answered, and he got it so right - until he didn't. When we grow in Christian discipleship and when we help others grow as disciples, is our chief goal to simply get to the confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God"? Rev. Dr. Jim Shaddix tells us there is a lot to unpack in Peter's confession and in Jesus's statements that follow in Matthew 16. And why does Jesus tell His disciples not to tell anyone? Dr. Shaddix's insights may bring you to a new level of understanding of discipleship. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/peters-confession

We all face barriers in our lives. It may be a job barrier, financial barrier, relationship barrier or some other seemingly impossible gulf between where we are and where we feel God wants us to be. If you wonder how you're going to get to where God would have you to be, then you should know that God has a message for you. And this wonderful Old Testament account from Joshua is just the inspiration you need. For resources, links and more information, please visit  https://inspirationalsermons.com/barriers

Know the feeling of being blown away by a sermon? Great preachers have gifts that enable them to uncover and present the scriptures in ways that are life-changing and life-giving. In this trailer, Dr. Bob describes the importance of truly "inspirational sermons" - those that breathe life into us - and why this podcast is for you. For resources, links and more information, please visit https://inspirationalsermons.com/why-this-podcast-is-for-you/