Jesus is shifting His approach. This time, He steps into a boat while the crowd gathers on the shore and begins teaching in parables. A simple story—a sower scattering seed—carries a profound message. In this episode, we explore why Jesus chose parables and what the parable of the sower reveals.
Jesus teaches about the condition of the heart and the danger of incomplete change. He says that when an unclean spirit leaves, it seeks a resting place—but if the heart isn’t fully transformed, the work isn’t finished. Meaning, feform alone isn’t enough; true change requires a new heart, a life renewed from the inside out.
“Jesus said, ‘A tree is known by its fruit.’ In this moment, He’s confronting religious leaders who accused Him of being in league with the devil. But His question back cuts straight to the heart: ‘What fruit of My life points to evil?’ Every work He’s done up to this point has been good—healing, restoring, and freeing.
In this episode, we’ll uncover how the condition of our hearts determines what grows—and how only a good tree can produce good fruit.”
Miracle or Deception?
In part 2 of this episode, Jesus performs a remarkable healing on a man who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute. The crowds are amazed and wonder if He might be the Messiah—but the Pharisees have a very different response.
Adversity has a way of revealing who we really are. Most of us would like to think we are defined by our best days—but often it’s in the hard days that our true character shows.
In Matthew 12, Jesus faces opposition and hostility, yet instead of shrinking back or compromising, He proves Himself to be the Son of God not only in His words but also in His actions. What sets Him apart is that adversity doesn’t diminish His character—it magnifies it. In this Episode, we’re going to look at how the challenges Jesus faced actually revealed the heart of God more clearly, and what that means for us as His followers.
Are you following rules—or following Jesus?
In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the tension between legalistic rule-keeping and true devotion to God. Jesus reminds us that God desires mercy, not just sacrifice or obligation. He tells the Pharisees, “If you had understood this, you would not have condemned the guiltless,” referring to His disciples. And then, He makes a bold declaration: “For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Here, Jesus is asserting His divine authority—showing that He Himself is God, and the true fulfillment of the Sabbath.
Sabbath rules… or Jesus?
In Part 1 of this episode, we’re looking at a powerful truth: human need in the service of God is greater than legalistic rule-keeping. And even in Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders recognized that at times, devotion to God required setting aside strict traditions. But in Matthew 12, the tension comes to the surface. The Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Sabbath, yet the real issue isn’t about Sabbath rules at all—it’s about Jesus Himself. They refused to accept that He is God.
Why does God choose the weak and humble to reveal His truth?
God’s plan seems to be to take the weak, the humble, and the overlooked—and exalt them according to His purposes. Yet many see Jesus and hear His teachings without recognizing who He is. In this episode, we explore what it means to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and why those who acknowledge their need for Him are able to receive the truth He offers.
If even miracles and truth can’t move us… what will?
Jesus asked, “But to what shall I liken this generation?” Despite seeing miracles, hearing His words, and witnessing John the Baptist’s ministry, many remain unmoved. He compares them to children in the marketplace—unresponsive whether the message is joyful or mournful.
In this episode, we explore the danger of a hardened heart and what it means when nothing seems to stir a person toward God.
Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of me.”
In Greek, the word for “offended” carries the idea of being scandalized—shaken when something happens outside of our expectations. For John, the scandal was that Jesus wasn’t bringing swift judgment to Israel’s corrupt leaders or driving out the Romans. Instead, Jesus would ultimately submit to both at His death.
God was working, but in ways John didn’t anticipate. In this episode, we explore what it means to keep trusting God when He works outside our expectations.
In Jesus’ day, most Jews were expecting a conquering Messiah—a king who would bring national peace to Israel and drive out their enemies. John the Baptist was among them, but with a twist: he wasn’t focused on Rome. His eyes were on Israel’s own religious leaders. He longed for God to judge, purify, and set His people right. And John wasn’t wrong—that day will come. But he misunderstood the timing. The Messiah had other business to take care of first.
In part 2, we dig into one of Jesus’ most unsettling statements: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What does that mean for us? We’ll explore how following Christ reshapes our thinking—and sometimes even divides our closest relationships. Let’s take a closer look at what true discipleship really costs.
When Jesus tells His disciples, “Do not fear them.” What does that really mean?
In Part 1, we'll explore how the fear of people—something we all wrestle with—can become a trap,
and why a right fear of God is the key to breaking free.
Jesus prepares His disciples for the reality of persecution—and it’s not just from the outside. It will come from religious leaders, political powers, and even their own families. In this episode, Pastor Mike walks us through how Jesus calls His followers to stand firm, trust the Holy Spirit, and not be afraid when opposition comes.
Jesus sends His followers out as sheep among wolves—vulnerable, defenseless, and dependent on their Shepherd. In this clip, Pastor Mike shares what it means to be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves, balancing godly wisdom with gentle innocence in a world full of challenges.
Jesus calls the twelve disciples and sends them out as apostles, giving them exousia power—kingly authority to carry out His ministry. In this episode, we explore how He commissions them with direct, military-like orders and why their mission was initially limited to the Jews. This pivotal moment reveals the strategy behind Jesus’ ministry and sets the stage for the gospel’s expansion to the world.
Why did Jesus initially limit the disciples' ministry to the Jews, and what does that mean for us today?
In this clip, Pastor Mike unpacks how God's guidance often includes both "yeses" and "nos", and why learning to discern both is essential for following the Holy Spirit. If you’re only ever hearing one or the other, it might be time to ask: am I really listening?
When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t just see numbers—He saw individuals, weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. But the truth is, they had shepherds—just the wrong kind. Leaders who fed themselves instead of feeding the flock. Religious authorities who used people instead of serving them.
In part 2 of this episode, we explore the heart of Jesus as He steps into a broken system, offering not condemnation, but compassion—and asking us to do the same. So what does Jesus do?
In today’s episode, we’re diving into something striking about the healings of Jesus: there’s no formula.
No pattern. No “Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.” Just people coming to Jesus… and Jesus doing something only He can do. The only common thread? He’s there. And maybe that’s the question we need to ask: Are we coming to Jesus to experience Him—or are we just clinging to a process we think will fix us?
Let’s talk about what it means to truly seek the Person of Jesus.
In part 2 of this episode, we encounter a woman who had every reason to stay hidden—unclean, unwanted, and untouched for 12 long years. Cut off from worship, community, and likely even family, her condition had left her completely alone.
And yet, something in her heart stirred. Not proof. Not an argument. Not logic. Faith. A deep, undeniable conviction that if she could just get close enough to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed.
We explore what kind of faith pushes a person from isolation into a pressing crowd, risking shame and rejection, all for one moment with the Savior.