GDLC Audio

The Bible gives us an important reminder in 2 Timothy 3:12 when it says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Living the resurrected life in and through the Risen Christ, that’s not what you wanted to hear, right?  But it’s true.  If you take a stand on God’s Word and are sold out for the Risen Jesus…you will be persecuted, people will oppose you.  The...

The Bible gives us an important reminder in 2 Timothy 3:12 when it says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Living the resurrected life in and through the Risen Christ, that’s not what you wanted to hear, right?  But it’s true.  If you take a stand on God’s Word and are sold out for the Risen Jesus…you will be persecuted, people will oppose you.  The...

Unfortunately, when we are brought to faith in Jesus, when we’re given the resurrected life through Him, we nonetheless retain our sinful human nature!  Baptism into Christ and into His death and resurrection takes away the guilt of our sin, but it doesn’t take away our sin.  We will be sinners until we aren’t, and that happens only when we die or Jesus returns.  As a result, we will stumble and f...

Unfortunately, when we are brought to faith in Jesus, when we’re given the resurrected life through Him, we nonetheless retain our sinful human nature!  Baptism into Christ and into His death and resurrection takes away the guilt of our sin, but it doesn’t take away our sin.  We will be sinners until we aren’t, and that happens only when we die or Jesus returns.  As a result, we will stumble and f...

The Israelites are headed around the land of Edom and are growing impatient, so they again start to speak against God and Moses. The root of all sin is pride, which is an inflated sense of self. The Israelites had started looking to themselves, and this led them into many different forms of sin. God needed to get their eyes back on Him, and He did so by sending venomous snakes as a punishment for...

The Israelites are headed around the land of Edom and are growing impatient, so they again start to speak against God and Moses. The root of all sin is pride, which is an inflated sense of self. The Israelites had started looking to themselves, and this led them into many different forms of sin. God needed to get their eyes back on Him, and He did so by sending venomous snakes as a punishment for...

This chapter focuses on honesty, integrity, and the weight of our words as followers of Christ. Max starts with a lighthearted look at exaggeration—fishing tales, golf scores, and boasting about children—before diving into the deeper issue of lying. Though we strongly discipline our children for lying, we often justify it in our own lives. This leads to reflection on how God views even small false...

This chapter focuses on turning hardships into blessings—what Max calls transforming “garbage to gold.” It challenges readers to reflect on whether they naturally look for the good in difficult situations or tend to dwell on pain and negativity. The ultimate example of garbage to gold is the crucifixion of Jesus. While human actions—Judas' betrayal, the religious leaders’ schemes, and the Roman ex...

The Israelites have sent spies out into Canaan to see if they can take the land from these people. God has already promised them this land, but they are questioning their own strength and, in so doing, are not acting in faith. Fear is always the opposite of faith and we also walk in this same wilderness of fear as we look at the things of this world and doubt. This week, we repent of our fears and...

In Numbers 12, we are brought into the Wilderness of Family Conflict as we see Miriam and Aaron arguing with Moses over who he chose to marry. They are jealous of Moses and act in arrogance and pride as they publicly shame him. God Himself has to intervene and remind Aaron and Miriam that God had chosen Moses to have a special relationship with, and it is not their business to question God. The re...

In Numbers 12, we are brought into the Wilderness of Family Conflict as we see Miriam and Aaron arguing with Moses over who he chose to marry. They are jealous of Moses and act in arrogance and pride as they publicly shame him. God Himself has to intervene and remind Aaron and Miriam that God had chosen Moses to have a special relationship with, and it is not their business to question God. The re...

This chapter focuses on being "on track" in life, using our God-given gifts for His glory and the Kingdom. Max illustrates this with a golf story where he unknowingly played the wrong fairway, using it as a metaphor for being off the life course. The chapter then challenges readers to embrace their role as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:11-21), actively inviting others to church and sharing...

In the time of the Israelites, there was a wicked false god by the name of Molech, and one of the ways they would sacrifice to this god was to bring him child sacrifices. In Leviticus 20, we read how serious God is that no one will harm one of His children in this way. Children were sacrificed on the altars of false gods then, and they are sacrificed on the altars of our false gods now. Then the g...

In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy...

In Leviticus 10, we read of the judgment that was given to Nadab & Abihu, who are Aarons sons and priests of God’s people. They did not honor God, they did not act without integrity, and God demonstrated that those who seek to serve Him are held to a higher level of accountability. The Israelites constantly had to struggle in the wilderness of poor leadership, and so do we. Paul instructs Timothy...