Growth for Today with Joel Norris

That question from Jonah chapter 4 still confronts believers today. Jonah wanted judgment, but God chose mercy. Instead of celebrating repentance, Jonah isolated himself and struggled with bitterness toward God’s plan.

“The simplicity of obedience to God is better than the complexity of our own disobedience.” That idea captures the entire book of Jonah. Jonah complicated his life by running from God’s clear instruction. But when he finally obeyed, God used a simple message to completely change Nineveh.

Jonah’s story reminds us that God’s mercy can meet us even in the middle of disobedience, frustration, and failure. Sometimes the very thing we would call a setback is the thing God is using to bring us back to Him.

Storms in life are often seen as trials to survive, but they reveal something deeper. They are not meant to help you understand yourself better. They are meant to teach you about God.

Jonah is on a sinking ship, yet he sleeps. Around him, men cry out to their gods and throw everything overboard to survive. They search for answers everywhere, but not in the one place that can truly save them.

Sometimes storms reveal disobedience. Sometimes they serve a different purpose. But in every case, God uses them to draw you closer to Him.

Explore Romans 1:17 and what it means to live “from faith to faith.” They reflect on how God consistently reveals His righteousness through His faithfulness, both in Scripture and in everyday life. Even when His hand is not visible, His character remains constant.

What actually lasts in this life? Most things break down. Our bodies weaken. Technology becomes outdated. Very little made by man stands the test of time. But the gospel of Jesus Christ perseveres because it comes from God. No matter what you face, the gospel continues pursuing and sustaining the child of God.

The phrase “to everyone” removes every boundary we try to create. Cultural differences, personal preferences, and pride often cause us to separate ourselves from others. But the gospel was never limited. It is not ours to decide who receives it. It is meant for people who are different from us, people we understand, and people we don’t.

The gospel is the power of God for everyone who believes. We must stop deciding who deserves to hear this message and start embracing God's universal love. Learn why His faithfulness and grace are for all people.

The gospel offers something different. It brings real power that transforms not just spiritual moments, but everyday life—how you lead, parent, work, and respond to others. When that power is present, it changes how you give grace, how you see people, and how bold you become in your faith.

We’ve all had that moment where nothing works, only to realize the power source isn’t connected. In our spiritual lives, we often do the same thing. We follow routines, check the boxes, and still feel exhausted, stagnant, or powerless.

Romans 1:14–15 reminds believers that the gospel is not limited to a pulpit. Every Christian carries the responsibility to represent Christ in daily life. A life surrendered to the Lord becomes a visible message of what the gospel can do.

When many people think about preaching the gospel, they immediately think about a pulpit or a public platform. Yet throughout the New Testament, the message of the gospel spreads through the daily lives of believers. If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, you are called to preach the gospel with your life.

A church is not defined by its building. The place of the gospel is wherever believers gather to know God, grow together, and show others His love. In this conversation from Romans 1:11–13, we explore why the church is meant to be a spiritual home where believers are strengthened, encouraged, and established in their faith.

A church home is more than a building or a physical address. What makes a place feel like home is the people. The local church is a community where believers encourage one another, sharpen one another, and grow together in their relationship with God.

Too often, prayer becomes a way to test God. We pray for what we want. We ask for comfort, prosperity, or relief. But Paul models something different. He prays for a prosperous journey — by the will of God. He is not demanding his plan. He is surrendering to God’s.

Paul understands that God knows his heart. God knows the spirit of his prayers. And God is the one who has shown grace through the power of the gospel. When we come to prayer, it is important to know what we are praying for. But what is most important is to remind ourselves who we are praying to.

Why is it sometimes difficult to love others? We can be annoyed, frustrated, in a hurry, or focused on our own agenda. We can even treat people as a means to accomplish something instead of seeing them as created in the image of God. We may have a hundred reasons not to love someone, but we only need one reason to love them: the love of Christ.

Have we started caring more about our perspective than the people we are called to reach? Do our schedules, programs, and preferences replace genuine love and service? The gospel calls us to reach people, not to make them look like us, but to point them to Jesus Christ.

When you understand that you have been placed into God’s family—not because of your works, but because of His goodness and grace—it changes how you see yourself and others. You were once on the outside looking in. Now, through Jesus Christ, you are called a saint. Not because of you, but because of Him.

“By whom we have received grace.” Grace is foundational to our understanding of the gospel. It is not something we earn by being good enough, spiritual enough, or disciplined enough. It is something God freely gives. The gospel begins with God moving toward us, not us climbing our way toward Him. Jesus came down, lived, died, and rose again because of His great love for us.

In this episode of the  Growth for Today Podcast , we begin a new series focused on becoming unashamed of the gospel, rooted in Romans chapter 1. We explore how Paul’s identity was transformed by Christ, how the gospel doesn’t merely give us a purpose but becomes our purpose, and why boldness flows naturally when the gospel fills every part of our lives.

Using Romans 1:1–16, this message looks at how the Apostle Paul became unashamed—not through position or personality, but because the gospel had done a real work in him. Before Paul was a servant, an apostle, or separated unto the gospel, he was changed by meeting Jesus Christ. The gospel became his purpose.

New Year's is a time when we set goals and objectives, often summarized in resolutions. But for the child of God, there is good news: God wants to do something new in you that far outweighs any self-made resolution. As it says in Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do a new thing ."