The Word For The Valley Podcast (iOS)

What does greatness look like in the kingdom of God? In Matthew 20, James and John are seeking position, honor, and authority. They want to be great, but their request reveals that they still misunderstand the nature of Jesus’ kingdom. So Jesus gathers His disciples and teaches them that His kingdom does not operate like the kingdoms of this world. The world uses authority to climb over others, to...

Jesus lived on purpose. In Matthew 20, we see Jesus moving steadily toward Jerusalem, fully aware of what is waiting for Him there. He has already told His disciples what will happen—His suffering, death, and resurrection—and yet He continues forward in obedience to the will of the Father. That kind of purpose is very different from the aimless way many people live: moving from crisis to crisis, s...

What if the reward is not only what we receive at the end, but the privilege of being with the Lord along the way? In Matthew 20, the workers who labored all day complain because those hired at the eleventh hour received the same payment. They say, “You made them equal to us,” because they are focused only on the wage. But Jesus is exposing something deeper. Those who worked all day had more than...

After the rich young ruler walked away, Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?” And while Jesus does answer that question, He also begins to address something deeper underneath it. Because beneath Peter’s question is another question—one he may not have said out loud: “Doesn’t our sacrifice make us greater than him?” In this episode, Pastor Mike begins...

Who then can be saved? That is the question the disciples ask after hearing Jesus speak about the difficulty of entering the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus’ answer is both sobering and hopeful: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” The issue is not just that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom. The deeper truth is that it is impossible for anyone to enter by...

What happens when someone sincerely wants eternal life, but misunderstands how it is received? In Matthew 19, a rich young ruler comes to Jesus with an important question: “What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” His question reveals both sincerity and confusion. He believes eternal life is something he can gain by doing more, adding something good to the life he already has. But...

What are we really seeking when we come to Jesus? In Matthew 19, the children brought to Jesus receive more than a blessing. They receive time, attention, and love from the Savior Himself. In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us consider the difference between seeking God’s hand and seeking God’s face—and why the greatest gift Jesus gives is ultimately Himself.

In Matthew 19, we move from confrontation to invitation. While the religious leaders came to Jesus looking to test Him, now parents come bringing their children—hoping for blessing, prayer, and the touch of the Messiah. But surprisingly, the obstacle in this moment is not the crowd, the children, or even the parents. It’s the disciples. They rebuke those who are trying to come to Jesus. In this ep...

The conversation about marriage and divorce continues—but now Jesus brings the issue deeper than legal permission and into the condition of the human heart. The Pharisees assume that because Moses allowed divorce, God must have commanded it. But Jesus makes an important distinction: permission is not the same as design. Divorce was never God’s ideal—it was a provision made because of the hardness...

In Matthew 19, the Pharisees come to Jesus with a question—but it isn’t an honest search for truth. It’s a test. They’re looking for a way to trap Him, asking a question they know will stir emotion and division: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”But instead of avoiding the tension, Jesus uses the moment to speak clearly about God’s design for marriage, the seriousnes...

How do we know if we’ve truly understood the love of God? It’s one thing to say we believe it—but the real indicator shows up in how we treat other people. In this section, Jesus tells a parable that exposes the connection between receiving God’s compassion and extending it to others. And In this episode, Pastor Mike helps us see how God’s love is not only something to believe, but something that...

How do we handle conflict in a way that truly reflects the heart and will of God? In Matthew 18, Jesus speaks about authority that had previously been given in the context of teaching and doctrine. But here, he applies it in a different way. This time, the focus is on how we live it out—how we navigate relationships, conflict, and restoration within the body of Christ. In this episode, Pastor Mike...

Jesus repeats a striking warning—if something causes you to sin, remove it. But unlike earlier in His teaching, the emphasis here is not just personal holiness. It’s about how our actions impact others, and the seriousness of leading someone else into sin. In this teaching, we explore what Jesus is calling us to, and why the way we live matters not only for ourselves, but for those around us.

What does greatness really look like in the kingdom of God? The disciples come to Jesus with a question that reveals how they were thinking—and in many ways, how we often think as well: “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” But what follows is a redefinition of greatness that challenges a worldly perspective and calls us into something entirely different. In this episode, Pastor Mike wa...

What does it really mean to have faith? When Jesus tells His disciples that nothing will be impossible for those who believe, it’s easy to misunderstand what He’s saying. Many people assume faith means believing strongly enough that something will happen — that if we just trust harder, pray harder, or believe more, the outcome will follow. But that’s not what Jesus is teaching.  As we continue in...

In the Christian life, there are mountaintops — and there are valleys. In Matthew 17, the disciples have just witnessed the glory of Jesus revealed on the mountain. But now the scene shifts. Where the mountain revealed the glory of Jesus, the valley now exposes the weakness of the disciples. And in many ways, that’s the rhythm of the Christian life. Joy and sorrow are both part of the journey. But...

As Jesus comes down from the mountain of Transfiguration, He begins preparing His disciples for what lies ahead. While there is glory in the kingdom of God, that glory must come in the right manner and at the right time. Walking with Jesus does not only mean suffering — but it also does not mean shortcuts to power either. The way of the Messiah is cross before crown… surrender before reward.

What if God has already prepared you for the hardest season of your life — and you just didn’t realize it? In this section Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain… and for a moment, His glory is unveiled. Moses and Elijah appear. The Father speaks from heaven. This powerful moment would stay with the disciples for the rest of their lives, strengthening them through persecution, suffering,...

The Christ Redefined In this section, Jesus begins to reveal that His mission would include suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. The disciples finally know who Jesus is and then He tells them not to tell anyone. Why? Because they didn’t yet understand what the Messiah came to do. In this episode, we explore why Jesus kept His identity quiet for a time, what it really meant for Him to be...

Who do you say that Jesus is? Jesus asks His disciples a question that is simple on the surface, but searching at its core: “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” It’s a question filled with vulnerability, the Creator asking His creation how they see Him. And as we’ll see, the answers reveal a common tendency: to give Jesus respect and honor, yet still underestimate who He truly is. In today...

Jesus says something startling in this section: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.” Not because signs are always wrong—but because of what demanding them reveals about the heart. This passage presses us to ask whether we’re responding to what God has already revealed… or continually asking for more while refusing the greater truth right in front of us.

As Jesus continues His ministry, great crowds begin bringing their broken—those who are lame, blind, mute, and wounded in every way—and they lay them at His feet. And He heals them all. What makes this moment especially significant is where it’s happening. These crowds are primarily Gentiles—people long considered outside the reach of God’s promises. Yet Jesus shows no hesitation, no limitation, n...

In this moment of the account, the conversation between Jesus and this woman reaches its turning point. Instead of pushing back, taking offense, or trying to elevate herself, she does something remarkable—she agrees with Him. She accepts her place in the story, not with shame or resentment, but with humility and faith. “Yes, Lord,” she says. “I understand the order. I know who I am. And I also kno...

In today’s study we meet a Canaanite woman. A Gentile from the region of Tyre and Sidon who becomes one of the clearest pictures of what genuine faith looks like. In this episode, we’ll explore how Jesus engages this woman, why her persistence matters, and how her story reveals the way Jesus still invites anyone—regardless of background, tradition, or status—to come directly to Him in faith.

In this section, Jesus turns His attention to the Pharisees and scribes and calls them what they truly are: hypocrites—people more concerned with appearances than obedience. They talked about God. They honored God with their lips…but their hearts were miles away. Jesus cuts through all of it and brings the issue back to what matters most: Not how we look, not what others approve of, but the honest...