The Word in Ten

Ben Foust works through Philippians 4:6-7 and the practical question anxious people actually ask: what am I supposed to do with my fears? Paul's answer isn't to ignore them or obsess over them — it's to pray them, using a simple framework of telling God, giving thanks, and asking him to act. Speaker: Ben Foust

Ben Foust continues in Philippians 4, making the case that most of our go-to strategies for managing anxiety backfire because they're all attempts to do the job of a sovereign God. Accepting our own limitations — and the reality that God is both in control and personally invested — is what actually begins to loosen anxiety's grip. Speaker: Ben Foust

Ben Foust opens a four-part series on anxiety from Philippians 4, starting with what anxiety actually is — and why Paul's command to "rejoice" isn't a platitude. The foundation for addressing worry, he argues, isn't positive thinking but a clear-eyed understanding of what's already true of you in Christ. Speaker: Ben Foust

Ryan Lowery concludes the Joseph series as Joseph goes from prisoner to Egypt's second-in-command in a single morning, then faces his brothers who unknowingly bow before him—fulfilling his dream from 20 years earlier. He contrasts Jacob's false perception that "everything is against me" with the reality that Joseph controls Egypt's food supply and will save them all. Speaker: Ryan Lowery

Ryan Lowery traces Joseph's dramatic rise from condemned prisoner to Egypt's second-in-command after interpreting Pharaoh's dream about famine—a reversal that happened in a single morning after 13 years of suffering. He contrasts Joseph's hidden blessing with Jacob's false perception that "everything is against me" as he mourns Joseph's supposed death while starving in Canaan, unaware that Joseph...

Ryan Lowery continues Joseph's story as he's sold into slavery in Egypt, rises to manage Potiphar's household, refuses sexual advances from Potiphar's wife, and gets falsely accused of rape—landing in prison for doing the right thing. After interpreting dreams for Pharaoh's cup bearer and asking for help, Joseph is forgotten for two more years, totaling 13 years of slavery and imprisonment despite...

Ryan Lowery opens a series on Joseph's life, one of scripture's longest individual narratives, examining the paradox of a gifted, blessed son from God's chosen family whose life is marked by tragedy and betrayal. Speaker: Ryan Lowery

John Ross concludes the series in Haggai 2, where God addresses Jews discouraged that their rebuilt temple looks inferior to Solomon's original. God promises future glory when Messiah himself will visit, reminding them that his presence matters more than building materials. Ross explores the contagious nature of uncleanness versus holiness—warning that rituals and proximity to holy things don't sa...

John Ross examines the book of Haggai, where God confronts Jews who stalled temple construction for 16 years while building their own paneled houses. Through the prophet Haggai in 520 BC, God exposes their timing excuses and connects their material struggles—never enough food, clothing, or money—to spiritual disobedience. Ross explores how ignoring God's priorities for material ones brings emptine...

John Ross continues examining Israel's return from exile, focusing on the temple's reconstruction in Ezra 3-6. He explores the mixed emotions at the foundation laying—younger Jews shouting for joy while older priests wept—and the relentless opposition faced across nearly a century. Ross challenges modern believers who feel scandalized by minor pushback, contrasting it with the Jews who kept buildi...

John Ross opens a four-part series on Israel's return from Babylonian exile, examining how God moved pagan king Cyrus to fulfill prophecy spoken 170 years earlier through Isaiah. He explores the 70-year exile as both judgment and grace, tracing how God orchestrated permission, provisions, and wealth for rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. Ross connects this ancient restoration to modern believers...

Paul's fourth key to joy is intercessory prayer—specifically praying that the Philippians' love would grow in knowledge and discernment, not just sentiment. Risley emphasizes that biblical love involves truth and requires wisdom for each unique situation, comparing spiritual growth to teaching children chores—messy and time-consuming at first, but ultimately fruitful. She addresses the overwhelmin...

Paul's third key to joy is vulnerability—opening his heart to others and expressing affection despite being a driven, Type A personality. Risley challenges the notion of being "not an emotional person," arguing everyone can grow in expressing care, and notes that difficulties in relationships often stem from not being sacrificial enough rather than the other person's failures. She addresses the pa...

Paul's second key to joy is focusing on others through gratitude—thanking God for the Philippians and their gospel partnership rather than dwelling on his own suffering. Risley notes that while secular culture recognizes gratitude's benefits, Christians add a crucial dimension by thanking God for every relationship as his gift. She explains how Paul maintained both horizontal perspective (looking...

Chris Risley opens a four-part series on Philippians 1:1-11, exploring how Paul—beaten, imprisoned, and chained to Roman guards—could write a letter bursting with joy and contentment. The first key to biblical joy is understanding ourselves as bondservants of Christ, recognizing that our lives belong to God and are part of his sovereign plan. Risley examines how Paul saw his house arrest not as su...

When ordered to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John refuse—demonstrating that spiritual confidence requires serving God over man and maintaining a God-centered life through prayer. Speaker: Brian Adams

Peter and John are arrested for healing a paralyzed man and proclaiming Jesus' resurrection, then brought before the same religious leaders who crucified Christ weeks earlier. Despite being "uneducated and untrained men," they boldly testify about Jesus—a stark contrast to Peter's earlier denial. Adams identifies being filled with the Holy Spirit as the third key to spiritual confidence, explainin...

After healing a paralyzed man, Peter boldly confronts the crowd about their role in crucifying Jesus and calls them to repentance—demonstrating that spiritual confidence flows from declaring objective truth, not personal opinion. Adams examines how Peter confidently proclaims both the bad news (sin and judgment) and the good news (forgiveness through Christ), arguing that we can speak with the sam...

Brian Adams examines Acts 3-4's account of Peter healing a paralyzed beggar at the temple gate, using it to distinguish between spiritual confidence and pride. When the crowd rushes to praise Peter and John for the miracle, Peter immediately redirects glory to God—demonstrating that spiritual confidence is rooted in God's power, not self-importance. Adams explains why God opposes pride (it steals...

Brad Dufault concludes his Ephesians 4 series by examining verse 16's teaching that "each part does its work," emphasizing that every believer has a necessary role in the body of Christ. He addresses common objections—feeling too different, limited by circumstances, or lacking qualifications—by arguing that these very factors define (not diminish) each person's contribution to the body. Dufault us...

Brad Dufault continues his Ephesians 4 series by examining verses 14-15, which describe the maturity that results when leaders equip and members serve—a community marked by both truth and love. He explores how Paul links these two elements together (echoing Philippians 1:9) and warns againstmaturity lacking either component. Dufault illustrates four approaches to addressing someone drifting from c...

Brad Dufault examines Ephesians 4:11-16 to clarify a critical misunderstanding about church leadership—that leaders exist not to do all the ministry work, but to equip God's people for works of service. He argues this error has been one of the church's greatest mistakes, creating a dynamic where a few exhausted leaders serve thousands of passive spectators. Dufault breaks down the five leadership...

Brad Dufault examines Ephesians 4 to establish that Christian community is central to the Christian life, not optional. He walks through Ephesians 1-3, showing how Paul spends three chapters describing God's blessings and grace before giving his first command in chapter 4—a command focused on unity and bearing with one another in love. Dufault argues that trying to follow God outside of community...

Philip explains Isaiah 53 to the Ethiopian eunuch, revealing how this 700-year-old prophecy describes Jesus' death and resurrection—leading to the eunuch's baptism and the gospel reaching Africa. Brian Adams concludes this series by examining what made Philip an effective evangelist: his biblical study that prepared him for divine appointments and his willingness to share the gospel widely, not ju...

God directs Philip to leave a thriving Samarian revival and head to a desert road, where he encounters an Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah and searching for spiritual truth. Brian Adams examines Philip's obedience to seemingly counterintuitive guidance and his question-led approach to evangelism that uncovers genuine spiritual interest. He challenges listeners to create space to hear God's directio...