Destination Church Spokane Podcast

As Jesus is nearing Jerusalem he makes an unusual request, intending to ride into the city on a never-before-ridden colt, an inexperienced young animal.  This could be embarrassing if the donkey throws him, maybe even dangerous, but Jesus has a purpose.  He has a purpose in our lives too, and is seeking us out.  He knows right where we are; He considers us necessary for His purpose in the earth, a...

What do a nationwide census, a deadly outbreak, and talk of good versus evil have in common?  Though this sounds like it could be describing current events, it's actually the final chapter of 2 Samuel.  When our "normal" is turned upside down we may not be able to control our environment, but we can respond to God well as we worship Him.

Do you currently have desires in life that seem out of reach?  David could relate.  He just wanted a drink from his favorite well, but it was currently behind enemy lines.  Three of his warriors overhear him expressing his desire, and they take it upon themselves to fulfill it!  His response in 2 Samuel 23 is a great reminder that God may be refocusing our priorities !  In the current climate arou...

When Eleazar stood to face the Philistines on the same ground where David had fought Goliath years before, the battle was intense, so intense that his hand basically "froze" to his sword.  The victory was great that day, and the lessons we can learn about holding on to God's word in the battles of life are significant.  How we fight the spiritual battles of our day is truly importan...

Have you ever been able to sit and listen to an older person with decades of experience in life?  David is a wise old poet, songwriter, and leader.  He may no longer be the young warrior he once was, but his wisdom is on display in the final song-poem he wrote, recorded for us in 2 Samuel 23:1-7.  We can learn much from him about humbly trusting a sovereign God, making wise decisions in the presen...

Once Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier, now over 1,400 runners have done the same thing.  When David killed Goliath it seemed like a one-off event, but there's something inspiring about a man whose faith in God is coupled with action.  Now in the closing verses of 2 Samuel 21 we see four more descendants of the giants - FOUR! - defeated in four different battles by men who follo...

What if God is more committed to our long-term reconciliation than to our short-term goals?  What if he is more interested in our long-term healing than our short-term success?  What if God is more interested in our long-term blessing than in our short-term budget?  These things are true, and God has plans to bless a radically reconciled people.  The question is, are we willing to reconcile, not o...

One of the most vulnerable times in life is when we feel despised, overlooked, or under-appreciated.  In these seasons our hearts may tend to follow after worthless promises.  The good news is that there is a promise of freedom for all those who will turn to Christ from those worthless ways of living.  It was true for the people of the city of Abel in 2 Samuel 20, and it is still true today.  Toge...

No one wants to feel like a victim, especially of someone else's sin or poor choices.  Sin does create victims, but victimhood is a deeper issue of identity.  When he is lied about and his inheritance is stripped from him, the way Mephibosheth responds in 2 Samuel 19 gives us a glimpse of true victory, found only in our King.  The gospel of Jesus Christ lifts our focus from the wrongs we&apos...

David had fled, and now his rebel son will pursue.  The decisions they make now will determine the future of the kingdom.  We can learn so much from what each of these men do, including much about God working behind the scenes of our lives, and His heart for restoration for sinners.

Would you want to know if there were warning signs that you are living out of insecurity and a wounded heart?  Absalom had a wounded heart, and the pain of his father's failures deeply impacted his life and desires.  Like Absalom, we may try to fill the brokenness of our wounded hearts in unhealthy ways, but God has a much better plan.  David's servant Ittai demonstrates a completely dif...

The king was longing for his sinful son, but how could he bring him home?  Could God be longing for us in the same way, and can he bring us home too?  2 Samuel 14 reveals the heart of God for reconciliation with us.  Even in our dysfunction, God has a plan.  Where we've failed as parents, as children, and in other relationships.  God has a plan to reconcile broken relationships and to reconci...

As we step into the tragic stories of Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom, scenes of depravity and revenge take the stage.  Rape, murder, betrayal, and assassination are front and center, but can God redeem even this?  What is God's heart for sinners?  Even in the midst of King David's failures as a father, in 2 Samuel 13 we see the light of the gospel shining through the pages of Scripture.  Even...

David was a murderer.  Staying home at the wrong time turned into an affair, which led to a cover-up, which led to murder.  Would God reject him now?  Many today may ask the same question: "After what I've done, has God rejected me?"  As we look forward in a new era, the same God who confronted and convicted David in 2 Samuel 11-12 is calling us to find hope in his story.  There is...

Beginning in the second chapter of Matthew, we learn of the wise men, distant travelers drawn by a star to God's new hope: Jesus. They were foreigners, men of education and science, men of means. Unlike anyone else in the Christmas story, they were not Jewish or of Israel, reminding us that God will reveal himself to people who are like us and to people who are not like us, people who may sur...

Did you know that B.C. and A.D. in the Western calendar really do stand for "Before Christ" and "Year of our Lord"?  Our measurement of history itself has been influenced by Jesus' birth.  Could Jesus' birth really signify the end of the world as we know it, and the beginning of a new supernatural life made possible through him?  Yes, and this is true for everyday peo...

What is it about Mary that makes her so favored by God?  What is it that qualifies any of us for God's supernatural favor?  Is it great faith?  Is it great obedience?  These things have merit, but is there something deeper?  The answer to this question inspires us today to say, like Mary in Luke Chapter 1, "Be it unto us according to Your word."

God is a supernatural God, but when Zechariah was carrying out his duties for the day he didn't expect to encounter the supernatural in such a stunning way.  When God chose to speak prophetically for the first recorded time in 400 years, it was to declare an end to the barrenness in Zechariah's family.  God had heard the prayers of Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, and breakthrough was...

Who is this Jesus?  Why is it such a big deal to celebrate his birth?  The prophet Isaiah spoke of a virgin who would give birth to a son, and his name would be called Immanuel, meaning God With Us.  John the gospel-writer would later declare that Jesus is the Word made flesh.  Could it be that Jesus really is God?  Our answer to this question can lead us out from fear and into freedom.

A radical act of kindness can change everything.  When David extends extreme kindness to Jonathan's son in 2 Samuel 9 we see a beautiful picture of our Father's love for us as well.  God is calling people to Himself intentionally, calling us by name, calling us into restoration and relationship through Jesus Christ, and inspiring us to extend His kindness to others in Jesus' name.  

The signals are crossed.  Emotions are involved.  The dream is at stake.  In situations like this we need to hear from God clearly, and David is no different than you or I in this.  He needs more than the approval of his friend; he needs to know what God is actually saying. When God then turns David's desire on its head in 2 Samuel 7, the promise is for more than just David.  God's plan...

How does God want us to treat His presence?  Could He really want us to desire Him?  Are we really able to be "carriers" of His presence?  Is it okay to have fun being with God, or is that disrespectful?  In 2 Samuel 6 we find David desiring to bring up the ark of God's presence to Jerusalem; what he learns and demonstrates in the process may challenge some of our long-held worship...

Do you ever feel like stress is a sign of a lack of God's favor?  Both Saul and David found themselves in great distress, but only one of them was in sin.  Everyone, no matter who they are, will experience significant stress in life, but not everyone knows what to do when it happens.  In 1 Samuel 30 David responds to stress in two specific actions that can influence our lives in a wonderfully...

Vengeance sells.  From Hollywood to heavy metal, vengeance often seems to win the day! When David has the opportunity to take vengeance on his enemies in 1 Samuel 24-26, his response and God's intervention have much to teach us about the power of mercy.  God Himself chose to seek and save His people even while they were His enemies.  Imagine the power that could be unleashed in the earth toda...

What would you do if God began to gather hundreds of broken people around you?  This is what happened to David while he was on the run from Saul, the king who wanted him dead.  What David did is what Jesus has done for all of us: welcoming us from our various paths of distress, debt, or discontentment, becoming our Captain, and mobilizing us into an effective people!