Encounter Life

In this final episode of the Encounter Life Podcast, Pastor Kurt Richey concludes his study of James 5 and announces that the show is ending after a year and a half as he shifts his ministry focus to law enforcement chaplaincy. Thanking his listeners for their support, he invites them to follow his ongoing work on The Chaplain's Desk Podcast and signs off for the last time with his signature remin...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey continues the ongoing study through the Book of James, focusing on the biblical topic of joy. Open your Bibles, and enjoy listening!

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey explores James 3:13–18 to warn believers against boasting and embellishing the truth for self-promotion. Contrasting worldly, self-centered wisdom with heavenly wisdom that is humble, pure, and "open to reason," he urges Christians to embrace honest, unexaggerated faith that produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey addresses humanity's struggle with freedom, arguing that true Christian liberty avoids both rigid legalism and total lawlessness. Pointing to the Epistle of James, Pastor Kurt highlights how the "Royal Law" of loving others without partiality pairs with the "Law of Liberty" to show that real freedom isn't about avoiding rules, but about living out God's love thr...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey draws on his farming background to explain that just as a farmer cannot force a harvest, a preacher cannot force spiritual growth—only the living Word of God can transform hearts. Recounting how an angry father attended a rural crusade to confront the ministry team but ended up weeping and surrendering to Christ, Richey shows that true faith isn't an abstract de...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey compares the trials of faith in the book of James to a rigorous high school Advanced Algebra class, showing how life's toughest tests are meant to refine us rather than cause us to fail. Instead of taking shortcuts or blaming God during difficult seasons, believers are challenged to embrace these "examinations" with joy, trusting that God has equipped us with ev...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt tells of a childhood road trip and connects it to Hebrews 6:1. He encourages listeners facing uncertain seasons to cultivate "faith toward God." Instead of striving to move mountains or demanding to know every step of the journey, believers are called to trust God's sovereign guidance, release anxiety, and rest in the assurance that He will safely lead them to their de...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey addresses the core Gospel question, "What must I do?". He looks at the biblical responses given to the legal expert, the Pentecost crowd, and the Philippian jailer. And synthesizes Scripture's answer into three interconnected responses: repent sincerely, believe without doubt, and love unconditionally. Ultimately, Pastor Kurt emphasizes that these are not self-e...

In episode, Pastor Kurt addresses life’s pivotal crossroads by drawing from Jeremiah 6:16–17 and Robert Frost's poetry. He encourages listeners asking "Where do I go from here?" to seek the wisdom of "ancient paths," walk humbly in the "good way," and stay attentive to God's warning signals, remaining fully committed to following Jesus without turning back.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey reflects on the agonizing pain of delayed rescue. He uses the metaphor of a life-saving traffic signal installed a day after a fatal crash. And then connects it to the biblical tragedy of Stephen’s martyrdom just before his persecutor’s conversion. Pastor Kurt intensely validates the grief, anger, and bitterness of those who feel God's intervention arrived "one...

In this episode, Pastor Richey explains that Hebrews 11 honors both those who triumphed and those who suffered, proving that faith does not guarantee a trouble-free life. Ultimately, the "Faith Hall of Fame" exists to shift our focus away from human heroes and fix our eyes entirely on Jesus.

In this episode, Pastor Kurt notes that just as God chose the obscure towns of Nazareth, Colossae, and Winona Lake to unleash profound spiritual impact, He uses Colossians 1:11–14 to deliver a massive truth to believers today: our rescue from the dominion of darkness is not a future hope, but a finished reality. Comparing defeated spiritual fears to paper tigers and the giants of Deuteronomy, Rich...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey sits down with Encounter Church's new Creative Arts Director, Riley Arnold, in a newly designed outdoor space called "The Backyard." Recording from this new venue, Arnold shares her faith journey, describes her day-to-day role managing the church's digital footprint, discusses the future of social media, and offers personal spiritual insights alongside advice fo...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey shares a powerful look at Jude 22–23, explaining that biblical mercy is an active verb rather than a passive noun. He challenges believers to apply this active mercy in three distinct ways: by offering gentle care to those wrestling with doubt, moving with urgency to rescue those spiritually endangered, and exercising extreme caution when helping people entangle...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt uses the fierce brand loyalty of Detroit autoworkers to challenge listeners to examine their own spiritual allegiance. Drawing parallels between the Prophet Elijah’s showdown on Mount Carmel and Charles Spurgeon’s call to believe the Bible "up to the hilt," he addresses the modern tendency to hedge our bets in comfortable, middle-of-the-road faith lanes. Reminding the...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt uses Jude 1:3 and 2 Timothy 3:12-17 to urge believers to "contend for the faith," emphasizing our responsibility to protect the unaltered Gospel. To successfully navigate spiritual opposition, he outlines three practical guidelines: continue in what you have learned by staying spiritually current (much like a pilot maintaining flight hours); continue in what you firmly...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt dives into one of the most dramatic, yet often overlooked, narratives in the Bible: Israel’s miraculous crossing of the flooded Jordan River into the Promised Land. By uncovering hidden details—such as Joshua’s prophetic name change and the strategic placement of a hidden stone memorial—Pastor Kurt masterfully connects this ancient event to the ultimate sacrifice of Je...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt reveals the biblical secret to lasting contentment found in Philippians 4:8. Explaining that true peace does not depend on our external circumstances, Pastor Kurt highlights the power of intentionally focusing our minds on whatever is true, pure, lovely, and commendable. Tune in to discover how shifting your daily thoughts away from worry and anchoring them in Christ c...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey simplifies the daunting search for God’s will by distinguishing between worldly career paths and eternal spiritual convictions. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, he explores how God’s true will isn't a complex checklist of life choices, but a steadfast internal posture of rejoicing always, praying continually, and giving thanks in every circumstance. Tune in...

In this episode, hosts Joni and Kurt Richey welcome Brett and Donia Steele for a moving conversation about family, faith, and the rewards of lifelong service. The Steeles share their journey from disparate backgrounds to their shared ministry at Encounter Church, reflecting on the community's growth and Brett’s transformative mission work in El Salvador. Through personal stories and heartfelt advi...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey highlights three critical stages where faith is indispensable: the moment of salvation, the endurance through life's trials, and the final transition into eternity. Critiquing the modern church's tendency to avoid the topic of mortality, Pastor Kurt urges listeners to cultivate a "final faith" that looks past the body's expiration date toward the promise of resu...

In this episode, Brad and Amber Werlin join the Richeys to explore the vital role of church administration. Drawing on his business background and faith journey, Brad explains that managing budgets and facilities is a spiritual ministry essential to the Body of Christ. The conversation highlights that administration is not just about paperwork, but about stewarding the church's mission to ensure t...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey interviews Jorge and Ashley Morales, whose life journey is a powerful "go and tell" testimony. From serving as a police officer in Mexico and surviving a harrowing cartel kidnapping, Jorge shares his miraculous path to freedom, his move to Florida, and the joy of building a family through adoption with his wife, Ashley. It is a story of extreme rescue and faith,...

Christian Apologetics for the Ordinary Man series In this episode Pastor Kurt Richey and Pastor Dale Clayton explore a vital distinction for any believer seeking to apply the Bible correctly: the difference between descriptive and prescriptive scripture. Descriptive passages record what happened in history, while prescriptive passages provide direct instructions on what we are expected to believe...

In this episode, Pastor Kurt Richey talks about the profound impact of the Resurrection, describing it as the "sure and steadfast anchor" for the soul. He emphasizes that hope is the essential seedbed for faith, and without the living Christ, our spiritual journey would lack its source of power. By weaving together scriptures like II Corinthians 5 and Hebrews 6, Pastor Kurt illustrates how Jesus’...