Pursuing Life

Have you ever wanted to share your faith, but weren’t sure where to start? At some point, many of us wonder: What do I even say? What if I don’t have all the answers? And how do I talk about Jesus without sounding awkward or pushy? Maybe you worry about saying the wrong thing. Maybe you’ve had conversations that didn’t go the way you hoped. Or maybe you genuinely want the people around you to know...

God’s sovereignty is a foundational part of the Christian faith—but it can also raise honest questions. At some point, many of us wonder: If God is in control of everything… do my prayers even matter? Maybe you’ve been told that God has a plan for all things, and it leaves you wondering what role your prayers actually play. Maybe you’ve prayed for something specific and didn’t see the outcome you...

Hearing God’s voice is something we all long for—but what about the seasons when He seems quiet? What if it doesn’t always feel clear or consistent? At some point, many of us find ourselves asking: Why does God feel silent sometimes? Is He really, or am I just not hearing Him?  Maybe you’ve been praying and don’t sense any response. Maybe you’re waiting for direction, clarity, or comfort—and nothi...

Growth is a core part of the Christian life—but it doesn’t always feel like progress. At some point, many of us find ourselves asking: Why do I feel stuck in my faith? Shouldn’t I be further along by now? Maybe you’ve been following Jesus for years but feel like you’re in the same place. Maybe certain struggles keep resurfacing, or your spiritual rhythms feel inconsistent. Or maybe you’re quietly...

The Bible is central to the Christian faith—and it can also raise big questions. At some point, many of us wonder: Can the Bible be trusted? Maybe you’ve heard it taught your whole life. Maybe you’ve encountered contradictions or difficult passages. Or maybe you’re wondering how an ancient text can still speak with authority today. If you’ve ever had doubts about the Bible, you’re not alone. In th...

Doubt isn’t something we talk about much—but it’s something most of us feel. Whether your faith feels steady or uncertain, you may have found yourself asking: Is doubt a sin? Maybe you’ve been told that real faith leaves no room for uncertainty. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out if doubt is something to suppress—or something God can actually use. If you’ve ever felt that tension, you’re not alo...

Some questions sit just under the surface—easy to ignore, but hard to shake. Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years or you’re unsure what you believe, you may have wondered: Can God really be trusted? Maybe you’ve experienced disappointment and aren’t sure what to do with it. Maybe parts of your story make it hard to believe God is good. Or maybe you’re still trying to figure out if faith is buil...

Sometimes the most important questions are the ones we’re afraid to ask. Whether you consider yourself a Christian or you’re skeptical about faith, you’ve probably wondered: Is Jesus really the only way to heaven? Or maybe you’ve heard about this “sin problem,” but you’re not convinced there’s actually a solution. Or maybe you struggle to believe that a good God would exclude good people from eter...

Christmas may be over, but why we celebrate is true all year!  We read about the heavenly host joining the angels to rejoice as they announce the coming of the Messiah. But do we stop long enough to consider what it really means when they declare “peace on earth”? Today, Pastor Dave Ross joins us to explain why this is one of his favorite parts of the Christmas story… and the reason might just sur...

When we encounter genealogies in the Bible, it’s easy to glaze over long columns of difficult-to-pronounce names. But today, Pastor David Harrop is explaining why the genealogy of Jesus brings so much depth to the Christmas story that we might just miss if we pass it by.  Read Matthew 1

Listen in as Tammy McDaniel reflects on Like 2:19—what it must have felt like to ponder and meditate on the miraculous things God was doing, while still sitting in so many unknowns.  Read Luke 2

Join host, Monica Kirsch, and Director of K-4 Ministries, Kylie Martin, as they reflect on what the announcement of the coming of Christ must have felt like after 400 years of perceived silence.  Passages referenced in this episode:  Luke 2 Matthew 2

Is what you’re feeling guilt—or shame? In this episode, Pastoral Counselors, George May & Chris Torchia, unpack how these emotions shape our lives, relationships, and healing, and share tools for moving from paralyzing shame to growth-driven guilt. We also explore how the gospel not only frees us from guilt but restores our identity and belonging as beloved children of God. Resources for Furth...

Each of us has likely experienced loss in one way or another. The process of grieving those losses looks different for everyone, but what remains true is that God promises to walk through those valleys of grief with us. Rebekah is no stranger to grief. When her son, Dagan, passed away suddenly at age 23, Rebekah’s world was flipped upside down. Today, she is so generously sharing her story—one fil...

Today, Pastor George May, Chris Torchia, and Greg Schmalhofer are unpacking the struggle with addiction. Whether you or someone you know wrestles with addiction, or you’ve ever found yourself turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with the heaviness of life, this episode is for you! We’ll talk about what it’s like for someone experiencing addiction, how different addictions can present the...

Since childhood, Mike has struggled with anxiety and depression. Throughout the years, that struggle has presented itself in different ways, and he has walked through both good seasons and hard seasons. When Mike married Julie, she entered into the battle with him and began to understand struggles of mental health in a new light. Today, Mike and Julie—along with Pastoral Counseling Associate, Chri...

Caryl Roper is Calvary’s newest Pastoral Counseling Associate. While she’s new to the team, she has been working in private practice for many years and has been a longtime member of the church. Caryl is typically the person that is genuinely curious and inquisitive of other people’s lives, but today she’s allowing us to turn the tables and hear about her life. Caryl’s testimony and passion for her...

After relocating from Boston to Lancaster in 2024, Jason Smith joined Calvary’s staff as a Worship Associate, primarily focusing on our environments for youth and young adults. Today he’s not only sharing his story of faith, but about the ways he and his family have seen God direct them in ministry over the last several years, what it’s looked like to obediently follow Him, and how he’s learned ab...

Jeremy and Svatia Mueller are Global Partners serving in the Czech Republic. As a young adult, Jeremy went on several short-term trips to Czech, and it was there that he met Svatia, who is a native. After marrying and feeling drawn to missions, they now live in the Czech Republic, where Jeremy works with university students, and Svatia seeks to be a light for the gospel through her everyday relati...

Joel & Rachel Shelley are Calvary Global Partners serving with Word of Life in the Philippines. Their focus is on camp ministry, where they seek to introduce people to Jesus and disciple the next generation of believers, equipping them to make disciples of their own. Today, Joel & Rachel are sharing the story of how God called them into missions, ways they’ve seen Him at work in the Philip...

Calvary Elder, Freeman Chakara, was born in Zimbabwe and all but orphaned as a young boy. After committing his life to Christ as an early teen, he faced quite a bit of persecution from his extended family. But the one thing that has been true throughout Freeman’s life is that God is faithful to provide. Today he is sharing the story of how God brought him from a small village in Africa to where he...

Today we have the privilege of hearing from Steve Iseman, who has served on the Elder Board for about 5 ½ years. You may have heard a bit about Steve on Episode 20, when we heard from his wife, Meg, who oversees our ministry to 5th & 6th graders here at Calvary. Like Meg, Steve is also a former teacher, and he loves being able to serve alongside her in C56, because he believes it’s such a form...

Grif Jack recently rejoined the Elder Board, taking the place of another Elder whose vocation moved him out of the area. While Grif previously served as an Elder, he’s excited about the ways God will use his unique giftings to contribute to the overall leadership of Calvary Church at this specific point in time. If you’re a regular listener of Pursuing Life, you may remember hearing from Grif’s ot...

Our series may be ending, but for us, the resurrection is just the beginning. Today we reflect back on what we've learned and what it looks like to not only behold the King, but to follow Him. Follow along by reading John 21, or use this episode as a companion to our current sermon series, Behold the King. If you missed this week’s message, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠calvarychurch.org/messages⁠⁠⁠⁠.

A video edition of this episode is available ⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠ . We've reached the culmination of our series. Jesus is crucified as a sacrifice for the sins of all, and just when it seems like the battle has been lost, He victoriously conquers death by rising from the dead. Follow along by reading Matthew 27:27-28:10, Mark 15:16-16:8, Luke 23:26-24:43, and John 19:18-20:23, or use this episode as a co...