The Daily Grind

Friday, August 2: Mariza shares her struggle with her faith journey and her feelings towards Jesus Christ. She reflects on a weekend filled with family and love, but also experiences turmoil and confusion when hearing people praise Jesus. Mariza questions why she feels this way and discusses her ongoing spiritual journey. John reassures her that it's normal to have doubts and struggles in fait...

Thursday, August 1: In today's episode of The Daily Grind, we dive into one of the most quoted and misunderstood teachings of Jesus: "Judge not, that you be not judged" from the Sermon on the Mount. As we unpack Matthew 7:1-6, we explore how Jesus calls us to avoid hypocritical and destructive judgment, urging us instead toward self-reflection and humble engagement within our communi...

Wednesday, July 31: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we delve into Jesus' call to live authentically in a world that often runs counter to Christian values. Focusing on the Sermon on the Mount, we explore Jesus' teachings on truthfulness and the power of our words. Highlighting insights from Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Stott, and Tom Wright, we discuss the importance of letting our "Y...

Tuesday, July 30: In today's episode of The Daily Grind, we continue our "Enrich Your Faith" series by exploring Jesus' command to "Abide in Me" from John 15:4-5. We'll unpack the vital relationship between the vine and the branches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a deep, life-giving connection with Christ. Drawing insights from Tim Keller and Andrew Murr...

Monday, July 29: In this episode, John continues his series on Jesus's command to observe all that he has commanded. He focuses on the importance of reconciliation and settling matters quickly in our relationships. Jesus teaches that true worship and discipleship prioritize relationships and justice over religious rituals. Reconciliation is essential in our worship, and our offerings are not a...

Friday, July 26: In this conversation, John and Mariza discuss the story of the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. They explore the historical context and the role of various kings in this period. The conversation ends with a discussion about the hope that emerges from the story and the possibility of future redemption. They discuss the consequences of persistent r...

Thursday, July 25: In today’s episode of The Daily Grind, we continue our series on the Great Commission by exploring Jesus' command to "let your light shine" from Matthew 5:14-16. What does it mean to be the light of the world? Join us as we delve into this powerful metaphor and uncover how Jesus' words can illuminate our lives today. We'll look at the context of this passag...

Wednesday, July 24: In this episode, John Spencer continues his series on the things Jesus told us to do. He explores Jesus' command to rejoice and be glad when people insult and persecute us falsely because of Him. John shares global church statistics on persecution and highlights the resilience of persecuted Christians. He explains the concept of true blessedness and how it comes from a rela...

Tuesday, July 23: In this episode, John Spencer continues his series on Jesus's command to teach and observe all that He commanded. He focuses on the foundational call to follow Jesus as seen in Matthew 4:18-22. John explores the context of this pivotal moment and the significance of Jesus's invitation to be His disciples. He explains that being a disciple means being with Jesus, becoming...

Monday, July 22: In this episode of The Daily Grind, John Spencer explores the concept of repentance and the kingdom of heaven. He emphasizes that repentance means to change our minds and see things differently, rather than just feeling guilty or apologizing. The kingdom of heaven is not a distant future hope, but a present reality where God dwells with his people. John highlights the unexpected p...

Friday, July 19: In this episode of The Daily Grind, John and Mariza continue their journey through the book of Isaiah, focusing on chapters 28 through 39. They discuss God's messages of judgment and hope for Israel and Judah, emphasizing the importance of repentance and trust in God over alliances with foreign powers. They highlight the significance of Isaiah's prophecies, particularly th...

Thursday, July 18: Welcome to The Daily Grind! Today, we explore the transformative power of trusting Jesus and finding hope, joy, and peace amidst life's challenges. We'll dive into "cross-shaped suffering," as described in Philippians 3:10, where Paul seeks to know Christ through sharing in His sufferings. We'll discuss how personal hardships, persecution, and daily trials...

Wednesday, July 17: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we delve into the spiritual discipline of service, a cornerstone of living a cruciform life. Reflecting on Jesus' teaching in Matthew 20:25-28 and his humble act of washing the disciples' feet in John 13:1-7, we explore how true service transcends self-righteous efforts and flows from a deep relationship with God. Learn to distinguish...

Tuesday, July 16: Now it’s that time on The Daily Grind to enrich your faith. In our latest episode, we continue our journey of exploring what it means to live a life shaped by the cross. Today, we're looking into the discipline of forgiveness as part of our series on the practices of a disciple. We delve into Jesus’ teachings from Luke 7:36-50, where a sinful woman’s act of deep remorse and h...

Monday, July 15: In this episode, John discusses the concept of fasting as a spiritual discipline in the cruciform life. He explains that fasting goes beyond abstaining from food and can include fasting from media, noise, technology, and other addictive behaviors. He highlights the biblical examples of fasting and the historical figures who practiced it. John emphasizes that fasting is a means of...

Friday, July 12: In this conversation, John and Mariza continue their exploration of the Old Testament, specifically the book of Isaiah. They discuss the prophetic judgments and the hope that God delivers for the nations. They delve into the poetic nature of Isaiah and the heavy messages of judgment and hope. They also touch on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and the significance of how God judges...

Thursday, July 11: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we explore the fourth part of living a cruciform life: our relationship to non-disciples as sowers of the gospel of grace. We delve into how early Christians spread their faith despite persecution and social costs, drawing inspiration from the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Discover the power of living missionally, being transparent a...

Wednesday, July 10: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we delve into the third aspect of the cruciform life: our relationship to the resources God has given us as stewards. We explore the biblical concept of stewardship, emphasizing our role as caretakers of creation who reflect God’s love and care. We also discuss how Jesus’ teachings challenge us to trust in God’s abundance and live generously,...

Tuesday, July 9: Welcome back to The Daily Grind! In today's episode, we dive into the second part of living the cruciform life: our relationship with other disciples as shepherds who encourage one another. We'll explore the importance of community, the role of discipleship, and the power of encouragement in our faith journey. Discover how being part of a supportive fellowship, engaging in...

Monday, July 8: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we continue exploring The Cruciform life as we dive into what it means to be seekers of God as disciples of Jesus. We explore how God reveals Himself to us and how our response should naturally be worship. Understanding our purpose in God’s grand design, we discuss the importance of knowing God personally, living a life that glorifies Him, and al...

Friday, July 5: In this episode, I discuss the difference between merely believing in Jesus and truly following Him. It's a challenging journey that requires a whole change of heart and a willingness to live a selfless life, showing God's love to others. We discuss how American Evangelicalism might have watered down the call to discipleship, instead of emphasizing the importance of countin...

Thursday, July 4: This episode of The Daily Grind podcast, inspired by A. W. Tozer’s teachings, explores two contrasting Christian perspectives on the purpose of Jesus’s life and death. One view suggests Jesus came to improve us, to help us become better people. The other, more radical view, posits that Jesus came to eliminate the self entirely, allowing Christ to live fully within us. The episode...

Wednesday, July 3: In today's episode of The Daily Grind, we dive into the timeless insights of John Stott’s The Cross of Christ. We explore the profound significance of Christ's cross and our call to take up our own crosses and follow Him daily. This episode features an abridged excerpt from Stott's chapter “Self-Understanding and Self-Giving,” highlighting the essence of true discipl...

Tuesday, July 2: In this episode of The Daily Grind, we delve into the profound insights of British theologian and retired Anglican bishop N. T. Wright. Exploring his sermon "The World, the Church, and the Groaning of the Spirit" from his volume The Crown and the Fire , we unpack Romans 8:17-27 . Wright reveals the extraordinary vocation of God's people in the redemption of the cosmo...

Monday, July 1: In this episode of The Daily Grind podcast, beginning a new season we’ll look into the concept of the cruciform life – living a life that mirrors the sacrifice of Jesus. We explore what it means to deny ourselves and take up our crosses, as Jesus taught in Matthew 16:24. Highlighting the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer from his book ‘The Cost of Discipleship’, we delve into the pr...