Word of Life

As Christians, we all find ourselves in a rut at one time or another. We go about our routines and can’t help but have moments with the Lord that feel disconnected. In today’s message, Pastor Richard wants you to know that you need to keep your prayer life focused and consistent. He is calling you to worship Him and one of the purest forms of worship is prayer. Even if you don’t know what to say,...

When a plant is without water and is in the sun for too long, it gets baked and starts to wither. All the leaves and branches of the plant start to dry up and turn brown. It’s obvious the plant hasn’t had enough water and has had way too much heat. Sometimes this happens with people too! Today, Pastor Richard explains how people get too much “heat,” or pressure from the culture about what’s opposi...

When you’re driving and you get off-course, your GPS reroutes you and gets you back on track toward the direction you should be going. Did you realize that God’s Word has the same effect on your life? The Bible is an effective “rerouting tool” to remind you, and convict you of how to get back on track and follow after God. Today, you get to hear from Pastor Richard about a nation that was being re...

When you’re hungry for food, you can only put off eating for so long, before your body starts to rebel. Your appetite is what drives you to go eat something, to satisfy that hunger your stomach is alerting you to. In today’s teaching, Pastor Richard speaks about having hunger and an appetite for the Word of God that can’t be denied. Your spiritual hunger is something you can satisfy with God’s Wor...

When an army platoon is advancing, there’s a purpose - a mission that they’re on. They’re moving forward, with intention. On the other hand, when a military group sees that they’re outnumbered, they might retreat, and run away. Which camp would you want to be in…one that’s advancing to greater things, or retreating in fear? Today, Pastor Richard touches on what this looks like in a spiritual sense...

Just because you have a wall of defense doesn’t mean you should let down your guard. Notice how castles and fortresses from times past have a strong wall for protection, but there’s still a need to be on high alert, looking out for the enemy. Pastor Richard reminds you today that you should also be vigilant for those enemy attacks and invasions that are looking to creep into your heart and mind. B...

Has anyone ever accused you of doing something that was blatantly untrue? Jesus has been where you are. As Pastor Richard teaches today, you'll learn how devastating it can be to have others lie about you. Even more than just hurt feelings, it can throw off your ministry impact! Being derailed is a real threat to what God has called you to do. Pastor Richard reminds us that we should seek God to k...

Are you good a creating order in your day? Some say it's a talent to be organized and maximize your daily calendar. As Pastor Richard teaches today, you'll learn that prioritizing isn't just a business skill, but one that is spiritual and taught in scripture. We discover how Nehemiah stayed focused through many attempts of being “worn down.” Pastor Richard reminds us that the discipline of maintai...

God is the illustration and teacher of all good things. We learn about generosity only because we have been recipients of God's generosity in our lives. As Pastor Richard teaches today, you'll learn you can afford to be generous, whether monetarily or through giving your time and love, because God was first generous to you. Pastor Richard reminds us that sincere giving is anchored in the heart of...

When you hear the word “generosity,” do you often start thinking of how much money you would love to give away? As Pastor Richard teaches today, you'll learn that money is not the only way you can be generous. Your time, talent, skill, love, and kindness are ways you can give of yourself lavishly. Pastor Richard reminds us to be proactive by walking in the spirit and therefore, you'll “grow” in yo...

How do you deal with conflict? Do you throw up your fists and say, “bring it on!” Or do you run the other way, avoiding it at all costs? Pastor Richard teaches us in today's message, that God cares how we deal with conflict because He cares how we deal with each other. The world's way always says, “I'm right and you're wrong.” God's way say's, “I forgive you.” His way say's, “I love, and I will la...

In Today's world, we're no strangers to conflict. We see it all around us, whether it's two nations at war with each other, or national politics, or a dispute among your own family. We all know conflict. In today's Message, Pastor Richard teaches us that as Christians, much conflict is avoided when we submit ourselves to the word of God. When we live under the authority of His word, we'll experien...

Well, God may not use your lunch to feed thousands of people, but He will do great things with what you do offer Him, no matter how small it may seem. Nehemiah’s story shows you that God is after your willingness to work. He wants you to give of yourself and your resources for the task He has for you. Pastor Richard urges you to ask the Lord to show you what part you can play in what He’s doing ar...

Be on guard. It’s a standard warning throughout the Bible. This a call to be watchful because you have a spiritual enemy who wants to take you out. That’s the connection that Pastor Richard makes in today’s study. Nehemiah and the others stand against those who want to physically tear them down. One hand is rebuilding the wall, while the other holds a sword. You’ll learn the importance of spiritua...

The older you get, the more you realize that most of your life comprises ordinary, everyday moments. It’s the phone calls, doctor’s visits, dishes, and bedtime routines. It’s building relationships and going to work. Today, Pastor Richard encourages you to follow Nehemiah’s example and keep going, even when it’s hard and you’re tired. God is with you; He’ll give you what you need to move forward o...

I think we can all relate to what Pastor Richard is describing here. Sometimes it does seem like everything blows up as soon as you decide to do what the Lord put on your heart. That’s why today’s passage is so reassuring. It reminds you that you’re not the only one. Through Nehemiah’s story, God is encouraging you to press on. You’ll see how Nehemiah deals with opposition and how he keeps going e...

When Nehemiah got to Jerusalem, he found the walls around the city in disrepair. The people were vulnerable without that protection. So they began repairing what was damaged, working near their homes to shore things up. Today, Pastor Richard shares that you need to be doing the same. When you build up the body of believers that you’re a part of, you’re protecting those you love by investing in the...

You’ve heard the saying about taking a village. Well, the truth is that God never intended us to go through life on our own. We’re wired to be part of a community. It’s really how we work best… how we’ll thrive the most. And you’ll see this in today’s passage. Nehemiah can’t do all the repairs on his own. He needs everyone to do their part to make things better. Pastor Richard reminds you that God...

Contrary to what Simon and Garfunkel may say, you are not a rock or an island. God created you to be in a community with others, growing and serving alongside each other. And you’ll see this in today’s passage too. Pastor Richard explains that God gave Nehemiah a vision, one he prayed about and pursued by himself. But then, he shared what the Lord had put on his heart with others, inviting them in...

The stage is set, and the pieces are all in place. Nehemiah has arrived in Jerusalem and is ready to get the lay of the land and check out the work that needs to be done. He’s ready to get started. But, as Pastor Richard shares today, that first step can feel like a huge hurdle. Can you relate to that? Have you put off doing things because you felt overwhelmed or underprepared? You’ll be reminded...

Many of us would probably agree that it seems like the older we get, the list of people we can rely on grows all the smaller. On the other hand, how many of us can confidently say that others would vouch for us to be as reliable as we'd prefer others to be? In today's message, Pastor Richard reflects on the importance of being trustworthy and reliable to others. In his study, you'll learn the impo...

Praise be to God that it's not the efforts of our own works, but by the finished work of the Cross that we are saved from our sin. Rather than spending life in angst wondering if we've done enough, we can have full assurance of the hope of salvation. However, as Pastor Richard discusses in his message today, this salvation is marked by a life transformed by The Spirit of God. Is your life being re...

Are you mindful of these things that many of us take for granted day in and day out? The Sun, the rain, or even something as simple yet pleasant as a cool breeze to cool the sweat off our brows? In today's message, Pastor Richard will encourage you to align your heart with that of Nehemiah. In his study, you'll learn about the faithful, humble, and yearning heart of Nehemiah, who desired nothing m...

Due to the constant flow of information regarding our own environment, many of us can scarce imagine the problems of other societies. In fact, the concept of being deeply concerned for places we've never visited is absolutely foreign to most. However, as Pastor Richard discusses in his message today, having a heart that carries the burden of The Lord is a worthwhile pursuit. Are you willing to ope...

While God's desire for us to be saved is a wonder in and of itself, the fact that He wants to include us in His plans is an even bigger wonder. The fact that the maker of the Heavens and the Earth wants to use us at all is truly remarkable. As Pastor Richard discusses in his message today, each and every believer has used it in The Kingdom of God. Are you making yourself available for this amazing...