Faced with the testimony of the tomb guards, the grieving women, the doubting apostles, and, finally, doubting Thomas, only the fact of the resurrection can explain the radical transformation from despair to determination in the lives of Jesus' followers. The New Testament faces each of us with a choice-either declare the resurrection a fraud and c…

Whatever you might believe about faith--whether you ignore it, tolerate it, or hate it -no one can escape the historical and present day fact that since a Sunday sunrise in AD33 there has been an ever increasing multitude of witnesses who believe that Jesus escaped the prison of death. We are challenged to face this momentous choice: Declare the re…

When a carpenter hits his thumb with a hammer, or your boss gets word that your firm just lost its biggest account, what expletives do you hear? Why is it consistently Jesus Christ's name that is used in secular society for a curse? Dave Wyrtzen challenges us to consider this: What comes out of our mouth when we are angry and upset reveals the real…

Do you remember back when Noriega dreamed he was the Emperor of the South. Mocking justice, the drug broker embellished his luxury and worshiped his demons while his wounded nation pumped out its life blood. The American night attack sought to end this gangster's reign of terror in Panama. Dave Wyrtzen contrasts this night attack with another night…

"If it doesn't feel good, don't do it! Avoid anything that generates boredom, discomfort, or pain. If your internal vibrations are troubled as you contemplate whether or not to do something, do not proceed.” The ultimate objective in life is to keep yourself “feelin’ good!'” Jesus Christ did not "feel like" going to Calvary and becoming a martyr. C…

Obviously, there is no peace on earth! Look at the religious wars, wars in the Middle East, the economic and political factions, and the drug wars! Often there is no peace in our hearts! If Jesus promised peace, why is there so little of it? Discover why even believers wrestle with depression, discouragement and the absence of peace.…

If someone threatened your life, would you spend your time fleeing or feasting? Jesus Christ knew that the religious leaders were setting a trap for him; and he knew that the crowd would yell, 'Crucify him,' yet instead of fleeing, he arranged a quiet Passover meal with his friends. This fellowship meal has become the most famous supper of all time…

Speculation often swings between the prophets of doom with their cries that it is the end of the world, to the promoters of the dawning of a new age. As the news reports multiply concerning famines, earthquakes, and strange celestial happenings, how can we discern who to believe? Does anyone actually know how history will end?…

Jesus’ triumphal entry signaled the beginning of the momentous time before the cross; a week that began with the praise of the crowd, but ended with the shouts, "Crucify him, crucify him." In between, the Messiah faced the plotting of his enemies, the preparation of His disciples, and the agony of a friend's betrayal. Imagine you only had one week …

Entrances are important. A presidential candidate waits until every detail is in place before making his public appearance on the convention floor. A herald sounds his trumpet before a king enters his court. On Palm Sunday the ultimate King made his big entrance on to the stage of the city of Jerusalem. But instead of trumpets and hype, this King r…

A pure, personal devotion to the living God generates a contagious excitement about worship, and a practical concern to help others in distress. But religion, when it degenerates into the rigid keeping of rules, rituals, and traditions, becomes hateful, and can even murder. John 11:45-54 challenges you to think hard about the implications of the wo…

It only makes sense that if God sent His Son into the world, you would expect the Father to give His Son a proper introduction. The agnostic cries for God's voice to identify His Son and this is the tragic cry of many in the modern world. The truth is that the Ultimate Being in the universe has spoken, and clearly identified Himself! When God did s…

We can try to ignore it, deny it, and believe we can escape it, but death is a bounty hunter who never quits. The temporariness of our physical life can send fear tremors through our body; especially, when we face surgery, a lump that could be malignant, or the scream of a siren warning us that another life might have been unexpectedly extinguished…

In ancient Babylon the air was believed to be full of malevolent spirits, seeking to bring sickness and death upon humans. In the secular city of the modern world the air for many years was viewed as simply a gas. A demon? Only the figment of the pre-scientific imagination. Faced with demons "everywhere" or demons "nowhere," what should the followe…

Tornados, earthquakes, drought, and hurricane plagued coastlines. The weather bulletins cry out the warning -severe storm, hurricane boasting 130 mile per hour winds. Everyone in its potential path of destruction rushes to purchase plywood, hurriedly boards up the windows, and prays that the chaos of nature will not overwhelm them. Where is God whe…

This topic of "Healing"--it raises extreme contrasts in viewpoints--from the faith healer who promises instant miraculous cures to the cynical rationalist who calls it all a fake. A scared husband prays that his wife’s breast biopsy will not be malignant. Young parents to be ask God for their baby to be born well and strong. A pastor, just before o…

When the construction of a house is complete, the foundation for the most part becomes invisible. Was enough steel placed in the foundation beams? Was the ground prepared so that the entire structure will not sink and shift due to the weight of construction? No one wants their house to look like the leaning Tower of Pisa. None of these questions ca…

Fishermen, especially bass fishermen, love to tell fish stories. Throughout your life how have you reacted when the "Big Ones," and the "little ones" all got away? How have you responded to all those "daily hurts", all those "daily misunderstandings?" Are you carrying a personal checkbook filled with a list of all the "I owe yous" that are your due…

"How can I get the money to pay these bills? It’s becoming impossible to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads!" " I counted on my best friend to keep a confidence. I could kill her for blabbing some of my personal secrets!" " I committed my life to Christ, and look what I get -nothing but hard times!" Does any of this worry about making…

The Lord’s Prayer? When recited by a congregation in a beautiful cathedral, accompanied quietly by a pipe organ, this prayer exceeds the eloquence of any other ceremony. But can we enjoy the kind of family intimacy that allows us to address our Heavenly Father as “Daddy”? What was Christ's original intent in giving us these words?…

The Lord’s Prayer. It’s the most recited, most misunderstood prayer in all the world! In fox holes and emergency rooms everyone--from agnostics to devout believers--everyone prays! This reflex reaction to crisis proves that God has placed His stamp upon the human spirit. Times of crisis are not the only times most of us pray. But what does God thin…

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS--they are the foundation of morality. They are listed in full twice in the Old Testament in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Though radical twenty-year-olds laugh at their meaning in contemporary society, most adults sober up by thirty-five, and accept their wisdom. Those who obey these precepts will be welcomed at the pe…

Down through the centuries Jews have been maligned and persecuted by so-called Christians. As we listen to Jesus' accusations against the Pharisees of his day, we must not fall into the bigotry of seeing these negatives only in a religious group different than our own. Jesus' penetrating analysis exposes the hypocrisy, and the externality in all of…

The swollen bellies of the hungry children in Somali broke, and then moved all our hearts. But what about a hunger that goes beyond the cry of our stomachs? Who can deal with our illicit internal appetites, and create a hunger for food that can satisfy us forever? What Jesus meant when He said, "Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousne…

The kingdom of this world daily preaches its motivational thinking to us. If you want to be great in this world's kingdom learn this list, and apply it. Looking out for Number 1 will be your escalator to success. You'll earn your millions. Purchase your dream homes. Drive your limousines. Be feared by thousands! Take care of yourself physically--an…

Spring is the magical time of the year for fishermen. It’s the right time when the water temperature is not the frigid blue of February, or the hot tub of August. Many species school near the surface, but getting the big catch is often only the figment of the avid fisherman’s imagination. One hardly expects to encounter a fishing expedition in the …

When an astronaut, an Olympic gold medal winner, or a state finals coach returns to his hometown it is time for a parade! The floats are decorated, the confetti is shredded, and the multitude gathers. It is time for everyone to express appreciation for the star who has brought recognition and renown to his or her hometown. Imagine the terror when t…

Imagine attending a church on a Sunday morning, and about five minutes into the worship service, while the congregation sings one of the majestic old hymns, the "scarlet woman" of the town walks into the church, up the aisle--making her entrance. Imagine the whispers--"Look at that dress! Who does she think she is?" What about an immoral woman who …

When a young married couple brings home their first new baby, it is cause for great celebration!! What do you think happens in heaven when a new baby is born spiritually? Even Hollywood has become very interested in angels, but this is hardly the place to expect to discover the truth about angelic activities or spiritual truth. What does the Bible …

Many in our society are confused over what it means to be "born again." Contrary to popular opinion Jimmy Carter did not originate the idea in the 70's, nor is it some unique experience reserved only for those who reject modern technology and speak in only King James English. Where did all this “born again“ talk really originate?…

Professional religionists always figure out ways to capitalize on the gnawing spiritual hunger in the human heart. Often the reaction to these spiritual con men is to become cynical and retreat from all public worship. But is this "spiritual healing for sale" something new to the 20th century? Are all religious teachers frauds only in it for the do…

Today’s study is desperately needed in a world that is partying itself to death trying to find happiness while those who actually have found the source of joy often mistakenly believe that Jesus takes all the pleasure away. The religious Jesus who never smiles, never laughs or has a good time is not the Jesus of the Bible. Check it out as our study…

Do you stay so busy that you never have to stop and get quiet enough to listen to your innermost thoughts? Who wants to expose the pride, the false motives, the jealousy, immorality, and the hate that often lurk deep in the corners of our hearts? We hunger to get genuinely close to others, but who has the time? Sometimes even our church involvement…

Have you decided that you ate too much, and that you need to lose some weight? How is it going? The good intentions, the strict rules, the rationalizations, and the over indulgence--this sequence relates not only to our inability to control our food intake, but to our difficulty in controlling sexual desires, spending habits, alcohol consumption, a…

When your telephone rings like an alarm, and you receive word that one of your teenagers has been in a serious accident, does Jesus care? When you make a resolution that today you will control your temper, and the first words out of your mouth burn like acid, does Jesus shake his head and turn away in disgust? Does the perfect Son of God identify w…

He didn't care what politicians, or the religious hierarchy of his day, thought about him. This preacher preached to change lives, not to please his audience. He was god's powerful roto-tiller churning up the stony ground of first century Palestine, so that the seeds of the Messiah's Kingdom could grow in human hearts. John the Baptist, the wildern…

The transition from twelve to thirteen--it's one of life's most powerful times of change. Tough on parents. Tough on kids. Mom especially struggles to keep a tight hold on the reins, while her teen struggles to break free of their little child identity. How did Jesus, the perfect son, respond to his parents on the eve of adulthood?…

Contrary to much modern opinion that believes that Jesus can be ignored, He precipitates the most intense reactions. In our lust for power and the preservation of our own security, Jesus threatens our status quo, and we often react with hostility. The murderer, Herod, in the Christmas account illustrates this response. If wisdom is at the core of o…

The holidays generate great anticipation. We expect release from the pressure and stress of the normal grind, laughter and relaxation with family and friends, time for contemplating life's true values, and yet, when the special days come to a close, how can we protect ourselves from re-entering life's super highway, and forgetting that a relationsh…

Do you ever get upset about some major inconveniences? Imagine how a young teenager and her new husband must have felt when in the ninth month of her pregnancy they suddenly found out they needed to make a 90 mile trek to Bethlehem. Of all the despicable situations--an ungodly ruler seeking to increase your taxes, a tortuous journey late in pregnan…

As the travel weary young woman sweated and struggled in the corner of the stable to bring her firstborn into the world, who would have ever guessed that this child would become the world’s premier super star? Jesus of Nazareth is the most dominant figure in all of world history. Join us as Dave Wyrtzen leads us through a careful examination of the…