The Encouraging Word

Episode 15: Strength Without Domination Series: Week 3 — Surrendered Strength  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on how surrendered strength changes how we relate to others. Power that is no longer self-centered becomes a source of blessing. In the Kingdom, strength is not used to dominate—but to serve, protect, and restore.   Scripture: Matthew 11:29   Quote Featured: Richard Foster – “Power...

Episode 14: The Inheritance of the Gentle Series: Week 3 — Surrendered Strength  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on the promise that the meek will inherit the earth. This inheritance is not seized through force but received through trust. God’s way of giving is different from the world’s way of taking—and it leads to a deeper, lasting kind of fulfillment.   Scripture: Matthew 5:5   Quote Fea...

Episode 13: Trusting Rather Than Grasping Series: Week 3 — Surrendered Strength  In this episode, Pastor Eric explores the tension between grasping and trusting. The instinct to control often comes from fear, but the Kingdom invites us into trust. Letting go is not loss—it is the beginning of freedom grounded in God’s faithfulness.   Scripture: Psalm 37:8-9   Quote Featured: John Ortberg – “Hurry...

Episode 12: Power Under God’s Control Series: Week 3 — Surrendered Strength  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on what it means for power to be shaped by God. Strength is not removed in the Kingdom—it is reoriented. When our strength is surrendered, it becomes a force for good rather than control, reflecting the character of Christ.   Scripture: James 1:19-20   Quote Featured: Richard Foster –...

Episode 11: Blessed are the Meek Series: Week 3 — Surrendered Strength  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric introduces the third Beatitude and reframes the meaning of meekness. Far from weakness, meekness is strength that has been surrendered to God. It is power under control—not self-assertion, but trust. The Kingdom belongs not to those who grasp, but to those who rest in God’s...

Episode 10 (50): Living with Tender Hearts Series: Week 2 — Honest Grief  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on what it means to live with a heart that remains open. This devotional explores how grief, when received through grace, produces tenderness rather than hardness. A tender heart becomes more responsive to God, more compassionate toward others, and more alive to the work of the Kingdom....

Episode 9 (49): Comfort as Divine Presence Series: Week 2 — Honest Grief  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on the nature of God’s comfort. This devotional explores how comfort is not always the removal of pain, but the presence of God within it. Jesus promises that those who mourn will be comforted—not eventually, but personally. God meets us in our sorrow with His presence.   Scripture: 2 Co...

Episode 8 (48): The Healing Power of Lament Series: Week 2 — Honest Grief  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on lament as a spiritual practice of honesty before God. This devotional explores how lament allows us to bring our pain, confusion, and questions into relationship with Him. Rather than turning away, lament turns toward God with raw honesty. And in doing so, it becomes a place where he...

Episode 7 (47): Grieving Sin Without Despair Series: Week 2 — Honest Grief  In this episode, Pastor Eric reflects on the role of grief in confronting sin. This devotional explores how recognizing brokenness can either lead us toward despair or toward healing. The gospel invites us to grieve honestly—but not hopelessly. When sorrow is held within the mercy of God, it becomes a doorway to transforma...

Episode 6 (46): Blessed are Those Who Mourn Series: Week 2 — Honest Grief  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric reflects on the second Beatitude and the surprising blessing found in mourning. This devotional explores how grief, when brought honestly before God, becomes a place of healing rather than despair. Jesus does not call us to suppress sorrow, but to enter it truthfully. Mou...

Episode 5: Living in Humble Dependence Series: Week 1 — Awakening Dependence  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric reflects on what it means to live daily in humble dependence. The journey does not end with recognizing our need—it continues as we learn to live from it. Humble dependence is not a one-time realization, but a way of life. It shapes how we pray, how we respond, and how...

Episode 4: Receiving the Kingdom as Gift Series: Week 1 — Awakening Dependence  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric reflects on the nature of the Kingdom as a gift. Drawing from the Beatitudes, this devotional explores how the Kingdom of God is not something we achieve—but something we receive. This challenges the way we often approach life. We are used to earning, striving, and p...

Episode 3: Letting Go of Self-Sufficiency Series: Week 1 — Awakening Dependence  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric reflects on the subtle pull of self-sufficiency. While independence is often celebrated, the life of the Kingdom invites us into something deeper—dependence on God. Letting go of self-sufficiency is not about becoming passive, but about releasing the illusion that w...

Episode 2: Recognizing Spiritual Need Series: Week 1 — Awakening Dependence  In this episode of The Encouraging Word, Pastor Eric reflects on the importance of recognizing our spiritual need. Building on the first Beatitude, this devotional explores how awareness of our need is not something to resist—but something to embrace. We often try to manage, minimize, or ignore our need. But the Kingdom i...

Episode 1: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Series: Week 1 — Awakening Dependence  In this opening episode of the Beatitudes series, Pastor Eric introduces the first movement of the Kingdom life: awakening to our need. Drawing from Matthew 5:3, this devotional explores what it means to be “poor in spirit”—not as weakness or failure, but as the beginning of spiritual clarity. To be poor in spirit is...

Episode 40: The Atonement and the Life of Worship Series: Week 8 – The Integrated Vision of Atonement (The Whole Gospel) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric concludes the series by reflecting on the natural response to the cross — worship. When we truly grasp what God has accomplished in Christ, our lives become offerings of gratitude, devotion, and love. The cross does not simpl...

Episode 39: Living in the Reality of Redemption Series: Week 8 – The Integrated Vision of Atonement (The Whole Gospel) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric reflects on what it means to live in the present reality of redemption. Salvation is not only something that happened in the past or something we hope for in the future — it is life now. New creation has already begun. Union wi...

Episode 38: One Gospel, Many Facets of Grace Series: Week 8 – The Integrated Vision of Atonement (The Whole Gospel) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric explores the richness and diversity of how Scripture speaks about salvation. There is one gospel — yet many ways of describing its meaning. Forgiveness, victory, reconciliation, healing, renewal, transformation, and communion — ea...

Episode 37: The Cross Reveals the Fullness of God’s Love Series: Week 8 – The Integrated Vision of Atonement (The Whole Gospel) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric reflects on the cross as the fullest revelation of God’s love. Every dimension of salvation — justice, mercy, victory, healing, transformation, and communion — flows from divine love. The cross is not simply an event t...

Episode 36: One Saving Work, Many Dimensions Series: Week 8 – The Integrated Vision of Atonement (The Whole Gospel) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric begins the final week of the series by bringing together the many ways Christians have understood the cross. Throughout history, believers have described salvation in different ways — victory, restoration, justice, transformation,...

Episode 35: Communion as the Goal of Salvation Series: Week 7 – Theosis / Participation (Transformation) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric reflects on the ultimate goal of salvation — communion with God. Eternal life is not merely endless existence, but shared life with the One who created us. Salvation culminates not in legal standing, but in relationship. Not in distance remo...

Episode 34: Becoming by Grace What Christ Is by Nature Series: Week 7 – Theosis / Participation (Transformation) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric explores one of the most profound truths of the Christian tradition — that through grace, believers are transformed into the likeness of Christ. Human beings do not become divine by nature, but by participation. Through union with Ch...

Episode 33: The Healing of Human Nature Series: Week 7 – Theosis / Participation (Transformation) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric reflects on how salvation heals human nature itself. Sin does not only create guilt — it wounds the human person at the deepest level. Through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, human nature is restored, renewed, and healed....

Episode 32: Grace as Participation, Not Just Pardon Series: Week 7 – Theosis / Participation (Transformation) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric explores how grace is more than forgiveness — it is participation in divine life. Grace does not simply remove guilt; it restores communion and transforms existence. To receive grace is to share in the life of Christ — to be united with...

Episode 31: Salvation as Union with God Series: Week 7 – Theosis / Participation (Transformation) In this episode of The Encouraging Word , Pastor Eric reflects on salvation as union with God. Redemption is not only the removal of sin or the restoration of moral standing — it is the gift of life with God Himself. Through Christ, humanity is not merely forgiven — we are brought into relationship, c...