Time of Grace With Pastor Mike Novotny

It's been said that taking 10,000 steps a day is beneficial for our physical health. And just like walking physically, we walk spiritually too. In this message, Pastor Mike unpacks three essential connections between our daily, physical steps and our spiritual walk with God. He also provides encouragement for aligning our paths with God’s promises, because by walking with God, we can live fulfilli...

Loneliness affects our personal health. But what can we do to stop this loneliness epidemic when work is online and relationships take the form of texts and social media? There's something we can take part in today—but it is a confusing word called "fellowship." And fellowship requires work. In this message, Pastor Mike explains what kind of work goes into the meaningful Christian relationships we...

"It's a relationship, not a religion” is something often said in Christian communities. But is it possible to live somewhere in the middle of those two words? Can we be religious and seek a relationship with God at the same time? Pastor Mike teaches that the two words truly mingle and that being a Christian means you are a part of a “religious relationship.” Get your own leathersoft NIV value thin...

Even though there are meaningful, rich, and even profound sayings in the church, sometimes they do not make sense. Understanding them comes before appreciating them. And that is what Pastor Mike will help us do in this series, “Confusing things Christians Say.” In this episode, Pastor Mike outlines what the phrase “born again” means, from repenting and believing in God to having our very own spot...

What exactly does "born again" mean? How about "a relationship, not a religion"? Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson dissect some of the phrases Christians often say—but may not know what they mean—as they preview the next six-part TV message series, "Confusing Things Christians Say." Other phrases they tackle: "fellowship," "walk with God," "hate the sin; love the sinner," and "God called me." We...

Many people, believers and unbelievers alike, have questions about the Bible and its legitimacy. No matter where you fall on this scale, sometimes you just want evidence. In this final message from the series at the Museum of the Bible, Pastor Mike teaches from the Bible Manuscript Room, proving the authorship of the Bible and explaining the key pieces of evidence associated with it. Get your own...

Was the Bible written by a person with an agenda? Or maybe by someone who simply held strong spiritual ideas? How would you finish the question, “The Bible is ... ”? If you are unclear about where the Bible comes from, in this message Pastor Mike explores the Bible's origins and shows why you can trust it and why trusting it matters. Get your own leathersoft NIV value thin line Bible. This slim ea...

How do we get past life's hurdles? The answer to our shame, sin, and weakness is in the Bible. From the first of three messages from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., Pastor Mike teaches about the most prolific book ever—the Bible. From Abraham Lincoln to Rosa Parks, people throughout history have found the Bible impactful. And it continues to impact us today. Get your own leathersoft N...

Get ready for a special, one-of-a-kind series! Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson give a sneak peek at our next sermon series that was shot on location from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.! In this new three-part series, "Why the Bible Matters," Pastor Mike dives deep into the Bible's impact, its origin, how God speaks to us through the Bible, and the evidence that proves the Bible is...

Why do we struggle to believe that God's grace is for everyone—even for those who have hurt us? That's the same struggle Jonah had as he wrestled with God for saving Jonah's enemies. It is tempting for us to draw a line, put ourselves on the right side of it, and think we're the only people God should love. But as Pastor Mike wraps up the book of Jonah, he challenges us with the question: Because...

If God so loved the world that he sent Jesus to die for us, why do we need to repent? What does "repent" even mean? To answer these questions, Pastor Mike takes us through chapter 3 of the book of Jonah and gives us four takeaways about what it means to repent and how we know we are repenting.  Get your copy of “Rewrite Your Story: A Guide to the Life-Changing Parables of Jesus” by Pastor Daron Li...

When we mess up and feel so far away from God, one of the hardest things to do is to cry out to God. We find ourselves thinking, "Why would God listen to the cry of someone in such a desperate, rock-bottom situation?" However, as Pastor Mike teaches from the book of Jonah, sometimes we need to hit rock bottom to realize our constant need for God and the grace that reaches us in our lowest places....

The book of Jonah isn’t about a big fish. In fact, it’s not even about the prophet Jonah. Instead, it’s about God and his insane love for ALL people—even “those people,” those we often regard as being furthest from God and least deserving. Which, Pastor Mike says, actually includes . . . us. This message kicks off a series that takes us through the book of Jonah as we discover how God’s grace show...

It's tempting to think that we just need to wait out this broken world until Jesus comes back, to think that joy only begins with heaven. But the apostle Peter tells us that right now, even during our struggles and challenges, an inexpressible joy is possible. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Is Manifestation Compatible With Christianity? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program!...

It's tempting to think that we just need to wait out this broken world until Jesus comes back, to think that joy only begins with heaven. But the apostle Peter tells us that right now, even during our struggles and challenges, an inexpressible joy is possible. Today's Tough Question: Is it Sinful to Use Preferred Pronouns? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program! On April 29, " Time...

Spoiler alert: the book of Jonah is NOT about a big fish. Pastor Mike and Amber Albee Swenson talk about what the book of Jonah IS actually about: God's love for his people. In their deep dive discussion, they also found ways to talk about poisonous frogs, how we can avoid falling into political divisions (hang out with Amber!), what God may think about Americans' prayers, and the impressive chart...

What happens if something gets in between you and the promise of heaven? At first glance, the Bible's answer may sound contradictory. But as Pastor Mike digs into the apostle Peter's letter that he wrote to friends who were being persecuted, we see why we can turn our fear into peace. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Where is heaven? 2. Why Are Christians Judgmental? ** Program note: This...

Amber Albee Swenson, co-host of the "Behind the Series" episodes on this podcasts, shares an announcement regarding podcast programming.

What happens if something gets in between you and the promise of heaven? At first glance, the Bible's answer may sound contradictory. But as Pastor Mike digs into the apostle Peter's letter that he wrote to friends who were being persecuted, we see why we can turn our fear into peace. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Anxiety and Depression: Where Is the Bible's Comfort? 2. Am I Supposed to...

Sometimes we feel stuck in our relationship with God. There's pain, suffering, frustration in our lives. Maybe we're just lukewarm about our faith. So how do we get closer to God? Pastor Mike says to start with writing a eulogy—about God. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Question: Does God choose everyone but knows which ones will reject him? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program! On Ap...

Sometimes we feel stuck in our relationship with God. There's pain, suffering, frustration in our lives. Maybe we're just lukewarm about our faith. So how do we get closer to God? Pastor Mike says to start with writing a eulogy—about God. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Question: How Do Christians Handle Life in a World That's Hostile? ** Program note: This is the radio edit of our program! On April 29...

Paul’s famous words about love come not in the context of a wedding celebration but in the context of a church family who did not appreciate their God-given differences. This message pushes God’s diverse people toward humility, appreciation, and love--the glue that holds the body of Christ together. Part 2 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. How Do You Know That God Is Real? 2. Do Demons Still Haunt...

Paul’s famous words about love come not in the context of a wedding celebration but in the context of a church family who did not appreciate their God-given differences. This message pushes God’s diverse people toward humility, appreciation, and love--the glue that holds the body of Christ together. Part 1 of 2. Today's Tough Questions: 1. Am I Allowed to Work on Sundays? 2. How Much Money Should...

Feeling “less than” is one of the devil’s best tricks. We notice what we’re not, what we can’t do, what’s uncomfortable, what’s out of our skill set. But Paul saves us from envy and discouragement by reminding us all that God didn’t design every part of the body to do everything. By his design you can’t do this or that. Let go of the guilt. Give up the competition. Embrace your importance in his g...

Feeling “less than” is one of the devil’s best tricks. We notice what we’re not, what we can’t do, what’s uncomfortable, what’s out of our skill set. But Paul saves us from envy and discouragement by reminding us all that God didn’t design every part of the body to do everything. By his design you can’t do this or that. Let go of the guilt. Give up the competition. Embrace your importance in his g...