The Word For The Valley Podcast (iOS)

Miracle or Deception? In part 2 of this episode, Jesus performs a remarkable healing on a man who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute. The crowds are amazed and wonder if He might be the Messiah—but the Pharisees have a very different response.

Adversity has a way of revealing who we really are. Most of us would like to think we are defined by our best days—but often it’s in the hard days that our true character shows. In Matthew 12, Jesus faces opposition and hostility, yet instead of shrinking back or compromising, He proves Himself to be the Son of God not only in His words but also in His actions. What sets Him apart is that adversit...

Are you following rules—or following Jesus? In this episode, we’re continuing to explore the tension between legalistic rule-keeping and true devotion to God. Jesus reminds us that God desires mercy, not just sacrifice or obligation. He tells the Pharisees, “If you had understood this, you would not have condemned the guiltless,” referring to His disciples. And then, He makes a bold declaration: “...

Sabbath rules… or Jesus? In Part 1 of this episode, we’re looking at a powerful truth: human need in the service of God is greater than legalistic rule-keeping. And even in Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders recognized that at times, devotion to God required setting aside strict traditions. But in Matthew 12, the tension comes to the surface. The Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Sabbath,...

Why does God choose the weak and humble to reveal His truth? God’s plan seems to be to take the weak, the humble, and the overlooked—and exalt them according to His purposes. Yet many see Jesus and hear His teachings without recognizing who He is. In this episode, we explore what it means to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and why those who acknowledge their need for Him are able to receiv...

If even miracles and truth can’t move us… what will? Jesus asked, “But to what shall I liken this generation?” Despite seeing miracles, hearing His words, and witnessing John the Baptist’s ministry, many remain unmoved. He compares them to children in the marketplace—unresponsive whether the message is joyful or mournful. In this episode, we explore the danger of a hardened heart and what it means...

Jesus said, “Blessed is the one who is not offended because of me.”  In Greek, the word for “offended” carries the idea of being scandalized—shaken when something happens outside of our expectations. For John, the scandal was that Jesus wasn’t bringing swift judgment to Israel’s corrupt leaders or driving out the Romans. Instead, Jesus would ultimately submit to both at His death.  God was working...

In Jesus’ day, most Jews were expecting a conquering Messiah—a king who would bring national peace to Israel and drive out their enemies. John the Baptist was among them, but with a twist: he wasn’t focused on Rome. His eyes were on Israel’s own religious leaders. He longed for God to judge, purify, and set His people right. And John wasn’t wrong—that day will come. But he misunderstood the timing...

In part 2, we dig into one of Jesus’ most unsettling statements: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What does that mean for us? We’ll explore how following Christ reshapes our thinking—and sometimes even divides our closest relationships. Let’s take a closer look at what true discipleship really costs.

When Jesus tells His disciples, “Do not fear them.” What does that really mean?  In Part 1, we'll explore how the fear of people—something we all wrestle with—can become a trap, and why a right fear of God is the key to breaking free.

Jesus prepares His disciples for the reality of persecution—and it’s not just from the outside. It will come from religious leaders, political powers, and even their own families. In this episode, Pastor Mike walks us through how Jesus calls His followers to stand firm, trust the Holy Spirit, and not be afraid when opposition comes.

Jesus sends His followers out as sheep among wolves—vulnerable, defenseless, and dependent on their Shepherd. In this clip, Pastor Mike shares what it means to be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves, balancing godly wisdom with gentle innocence in a world full of challenges.

Jesus calls the twelve disciples and sends them out as apostles, giving them exousia power—kingly authority to carry out His ministry. In this episode, we explore how He commissions them with direct, military-like orders and why their mission was initially limited to the Jews. This pivotal moment reveals the strategy behind Jesus’ ministry and sets the stage for the gospel’s expansion to the world...

Why did Jesus initially limit the disciples' ministry to the Jews, and what does that mean for us today?  In this clip, Pastor Mike unpacks how God's guidance often includes both "yeses" and "nos", and why learning to discern both is essential for following the Holy Spirit. If you’re only ever hearing one or the other, it might be time to ask: am I really listening?

When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t just see numbers—He saw individuals, weary and scattered like sheep without a shepherd. But the truth is, they had shepherds—just the wrong kind. Leaders who fed themselves instead of feeding the flock. Religious authorities who used people instead of serving them.  In part 2 of this episode, we explore the heart of Jesus as He steps into a broken system,...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into something striking about the healings of Jesus: there’s no formula. No pattern. No “Step 1, Step 2, Step 3.” Just people coming to Jesus… and Jesus doing something only He can do. The only common thread? He’s there. And maybe that’s the question we need to ask: Are we coming to Jesus to experience Him—or are we just clinging to a process we think will fix us?...

In part 2 of this episode, we encounter a woman who had every reason to stay hidden—unclean, unwanted, and untouched for 12 long years. Cut off from worship, community, and likely even family, her condition had left her completely alone.  And yet, something in her heart stirred. Not proof. Not an argument. Not logic. Faith. A deep, undeniable conviction that if she could just get close enough to t...

In this episode, we step into one of the most powerful displays of Jesus' compassion and authority.  As He responds to a desperate father and a suffering woman, we see Jesus stop for the broken, restore what seems lost, and bring life where there was only death. These two accounts remind us that no one is too far gone, too unclean, or too overlooked for the healing touch of Christ.

In part 2 of this episode, we’ll explore Jesus’ teaching about new wine and old wineskins. a powerful image that reminds us He didn’t come to patch up old religious systems, but to offer something entirely new. We’ll look at what that means for us today, and why following Him means letting go of the old and embracing a completely transformed life.

In this episode, Jesus adds a powerful new dimension to His ministry—the forgiveness of sins. This is the first time we see this concept in Matthew, and it’s a turning point that sparks serious conflict with the religious leaders. Why? Because they question both the need for forgiveness and Jesus’ authority to offer it.

In part 2 we’ll discover that even the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus. And the disciples were left marveling, "Who can this be?" Though they had followed Him, they didn’t fully know Him.  Could the same be true of us? Sometimes, it's not in the comfort of the crowd, but in the chaos of the storm, that we come to truly know who Jesus is.

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus faced a consistent struggle: crowds gathered not always to know Him, but rather to witness the miracles, the power, the spectacle. Many came for the works, not for the One doing them. In this episode, we explore how Jesus repeatedly peeled back the layers of false motivation, calling people to seek Him, not just His blessings. When we become more enamored wit...

As Jesus begins healing the crowds, word spreads fast—every kind of sickness, every kind of affliction, and He heals them all.. It’s powerful. It’s compassionate. And it’s deeply prophetic. Matthew ties it back to Isaiah: “He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” But what does that mean for us now? Pastor Mike addresses what some would claim as universal healing for anyone, anytime if we...

In reading the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of narrow gates, impossible standards, and righteousness that must exceed even the most religious. It sounds like the words of a hard man, a strict judge, someone unmoved by human weakness. And yet… turn the page and you meet the same Jesus, touching the leper, healing the servant, welcoming the outsider. Full of grace. Overflowing with compassion. ...

In part 2, Pastor Mike will make the point that coming to faith in Jesus doesn’t make life easier, but makes life meaningful. True Christian living involves purpose and service to others, which will bring stress and difficulty. Equating faith with an easy life is immature thinking. Living life properly for the greatest benefit of others, means embracing the challenges that come with it.