The Alley Church Podcast

A young man asked an evangelist, “what must I do to be saved?” The evangelist said, “You are too late!” Alarmed, the young man said, “Do you mean that it’s too late for me to be saved?” “Is there nothing I can do?” “It’s already done!” “The only thing YOU can do is believe it & receive it”. That is it! We either believe it or we don’t. If we believe it, it will change your life. This of course...

This is Palm Sunday, where we commemorate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We briefly hit on this a few weeks ago, but just as a quick review—Matthew 21:1–11 tells us how the disciples fetched a donkey that had never been ridden. People spread their cloaks and palm branches, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. That word “Hosanna” comes from the Hebrew...

Matthew places four scenes before us: the plot to kill Jesus, the worship of a devoted woman, the betrayal of Judas, and the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Each one reveals something about the heart of humanity and the mission of Christ. The central truth is this: Jesus willingly gives Himself so that sinners can be forgiven and welcomed into God’s covenant family. Scene 1 Matthew 26:1-5 When J...

 Can you remember when you realized who Jesus really is? Today, we read about the 3 disciples who went from one of the most discouraging weeks they have experienced to a divine encounter with the Holy trinity of God.  The Disciples have had quite a week in the region of Caesarea Philippi.  First, Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of the living God. And gets the highest accolades of h...

Several years ago, a story circulated about a mountain rescue team sent to save stranded hikers after a sudden storm. The rescuers knew something the hikers did not: the only safe route down the mountain was not the scenic ridge they had climbed. That ridge was now unstable and deadly. The only way down was a narrow, steep, exposed descent that felt more dangerous than staying put. When rescuers r...

(14) “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. (15) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. (16) He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. (17) So also he who had the two talents made two talents more...

We have finished Matthew’s accounts of the parables~ YAY We are take some time to flip back now in the book of Matthew to capture some of the major teachings of Jesus for two weeks, then we hit the last couple days of Jesus' life leading to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday.(our superbowl sunday - April 5th)  Start praying about who you can invite now. (13) When Jesus c...

This is the third parable in a series that depicts people who refuse to respond properly to being invited into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is about the joy of receiving an invitation to the grandest wedding of all time. Revelation calls it the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. WOW  This is the third parable in succession that deals with rejecting the Kingdom of heaven. And it forces every li...

Imagine renting a house where everything has been provided for you. The owner built it, maintains it, and trusts the tenants to live there responsibly and take care of things. But over time, something shifts. The tenants stop answering the owner’s calls. They decide what they owe the owner is optional. When a representative shows up, they send him away beat up & bleeding. Eventually, when the...

In the Bible, There are passages in Scripture that comfort us—and there are passages that confront us. This parable does both. (23) Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” (24) Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one questio...

We are back in the parables of Jesus and when we finish the parables we will then teach on the major teachings of Jesus, which this begins with...  Jesus has just told His disciples how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. So they asked who then can be saved?     (26) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (27)...

Intro…Our desire for you is that you desire to make 2026 a great year because it’s rooted in God’s purpose and presence. Growth doesn't happen by accident—it happens through intentional faith, daily practice, and fixing our eyes on Jesus. Together, these will equip us to live boldly, purposefully, and victoriously in the year ahead. Defense YEAR - hard year - it was fine but wasn’t fulfilling...

The Ultimate Love Today is Week 4 of Advent, and this week we focus on love. As a quick reminder, Advent culminates this Wednesday with our Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Stone House. Advent is about preparing our hearts—not just to celebrate Christmas but to remember his sacrifice of love to come rescue us, but to receive the gift of Christ and be excited for his return. And when we tal...

God Has Come to Earth Luke 2:8-14, Matthew 2: 1-18 Pop quiz: What does Advent (adventus) mean “coming” or “arrival”  For extra credit what week are we on? JOY First, that Jesus came as the Messiah, the Christ, to die for our sins, And He is coming again to get us... in all His fullness, power and glory. Light candles Hope  -   A wholehearted, evidence-based conviction that God will make the future...

ADVENT WEEK 2 - Luke 2:8-15 Advent means what? Coming or arrival. It is the season of the “already and not yet.” THE MEANING OF ADVENT (ADVENTUS) Adventus in the Roman world referred to the arrival of a king or emperor.  Early Christians used the word intentionally:  Advent is royal. The King has arrived. The wreath is a circle: God’s eternal nature; His unending love. The four candles represent:...

Today is the first day of Advent and this morning you got a text to invite you into a reading plan here is the link  https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/63750  We are going to talk today about: I. What Advent MEANS  2. Why advent MATTERS 3. Jump into week 1 - HOPE But first… Imagine standing in a pitch-black room. You can’t see the walls, the floor, or even your own hands. Then someone lights a...

Matthew 18:21–35 -“HOW TO Forgive From the Heart Thumb in Colossians 2:13–15 Today we are going to offer you a tool on how to forgive and be free from the tormenting sin of unforgiveness. This is part 2 of an essential characteristic of a Christian -  forgiveness. We have been forgiven and we are to forgive. Forgiveness is a choice that sets you free from bitterness, dread, and resentment towards...

Have you ever… been mad at God?”   “I’m not talking about a little frustration… I mean really mad. The kind of anger that sits deep in your chest. The kind that you don’t even know how to pray through anymore. The kind that makes you say, ‘God… if You’re so good, then why would You let this happen?’” “Some of you in this room have never said it out loud. But you’ve felt it. You’ve felt that ache,...

Matthew 18:21-35 - The Sin of Unforgiveness (21) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” (22) Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (23) “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. (24) As he began the settlement, a m...

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about...

We have been learning all about the parables in Matthew 13. I like how Matthew is grouping these parables on the Kingdom of heaven in one chapter. Jesus is using parables to speak to the crowd, but when the crowds disperse Jesus explains the parable of the sower and the wheat and weeds to the questioning disciples. Some of the parables are not explained.  So Jesus asks them.  (51) “Have you unders...

The US and many nations around the globe are experiencing an identity crisis. This isn’t a sudden event but a culmination of interconnected issues like economic inequality, mental health deterioration, moral degradation, housing instability, political polarization, open borders, social ideologies, and eroding social and political trust. We are divided, untrusting, and confused. For example, I reme...

We are on the topic of the parables of Jesus.  Today we will be talking about the Mustard Seed and the Yeast Turn to Matthew 13:31-35 …Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19, In the first two parables Jesus gave an explanation to His disciples but He doesn’t explain the parables we are studying this morning.  Matthew 13:31-35 ESV this morning (31) “He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom...

( 24) “Jesus told them another parable: ’The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. (25) But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. (26) When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.  (27) The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did th...