Insight for Living

The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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2014

God’s Hands on Human Clay

As we anticipate the days, months, and years to come, we have to admit we remain clueless as to what will happen on any given day.

In God’s Hands on Human Clay, Chuck Swindoll explains the treasured truth that most Christians overlook as the unknown future approaches: God is sovereign. As we encounter life’s trials, we can remain confident that the Potter, who causes all things to work for our good, kneads and reshapes us to fashion something beautiful, useful, and practical. Even though the future remains unclear, we can be certain nothing touches our lives unless it has first flowed through the “molding” fingers of our loving God.


The future is often a source of anxiety because it remains largely unknown. In this message, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores a treasured truth that many believers overlook: God is the Divine Potter, and we are the clay. Using the imagery of a potter’s house, Chuck explains how God’s sovereign hands knead, mold, and reshape our lives through trials and transitions. This perspective transforms our view of suffering, assuring us that nothing touches our lives unless it has first passed through the “molding” fingers of a loving and purposeful God.

1. The Potter’s Sovereignty (Jeremiah 18:1–6)

  • Overview: Explores the prophet Jeremiah’s visit to the potter’s house. Just as the potter has authority over the clay to make it into whatever vessel he desires, God has absolute sovereignty over our lives and our nations.
  • Key Fact: Sovereignty means God is in control of the “pressure” applied to the clay; He knows exactly how much is needed to shape us without breaking us.
  • Scripture: Jeremiah 18:6 – “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does? …Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand.”

2. The Process of Reshaping (Jeremiah 18:4)

  • Overview: Addresses the “spoiled” vessel. When the clay becomes marred in the potter’s hand, he does not throw it away; he “makes it again into another vessel.” This illustrates God’s grace in the midst of our failures.
  • Key Fact: God specializes in “re-making” lives that have been damaged by sin or circumstances, turning tragedy into something useful and beautiful.
  • Scripture: Jeremiah 18:4 – “But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.”

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Holiday Message 2014

Thinking deeply at Christmas can be difficult. Shopping for presents, decorating the tree with tinsel, family get-togethers, and holiday parties sometimes crowd out the real meaning behind Christmas.

Probing Deeper Into the Incarnation will remind you that before Mary placed baby Jesus in the manger, He existed in heaven with God the Father and God the Spirit. The Son of God became a man and eventually gave up His own life to prove His love for you—and to make it possible for you to love Him in return.


The hustle and bustle of Christmas—shopping, decorating, and parties—can easily crowd out the theological depth of the season. In this holiday message, Pastor Chuck Swindoll encourages us to look beyond the manger and the baby to the profound reality of the Incarnation. By exploring the eternal existence and voluntary humility of Jesus Christ, this message recenters our hearts on the sacrifice that made our reconciliation with God possible.

1. Probing Deeper Into the Incarnation (Philippians 2:6–11)

  • Overview: Explores the “pre-existence” of Jesus, reminding us that He was with the Father and the Spirit long before His birth in Bethlehem. Chuck details the process of kenosis—the voluntary emptying of His divine prerogatives to take on the form of a servant.
  • Key Fact: The Incarnation is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love; the Creator became a creature so that the creature could be reconciled to the Creator.
  • Scripture: Philippians 2:7 – “…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

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Listener Favorites, Volume 2

What do you spend most of your time doing? Ask a wide range of people, and two answers would inevitably rise to the surface: parenting and working. With so much time and energy devoted to these two areas, we need to take extra care to think well about what it means to be a good parent and how we can best serve as a good worker. These six messages from Chuck Swindoll take us to the heart of life as a parent and as a worker. Addressing issues such as shaping the wills of our children, seeking forgiveness from kids when we’ve failed them, and infusing our work with wisdom, this series will prove to be a vital help on the journey toward making all our moments count for Christ.

Just as a building requires a strong foundation to withstand the assault of time, a family must be firmly anchored in God’s Word to endure the pressures of the world. In this seven-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll provides essential biblical strategies for reinforcing the home, strengthening marriages, and raising confident children and grandchildren.

Message 1: Shaping the Will with Wisdom

Sermon Overview Parenting requires immense wisdom and discernment, especially in a modern, politically correct society that often mislabels all forms of discipline as abuse. Charles R. Swindoll turns to the Book of Proverbs to provide a biblical blueprint for parenting, emphasizing the critical difference between crushing a child’s spirit and appropriately shaping their will. Abuse is driven by anger and frustration, leaving degrading and demoralizing scars; in contrast, appropriate discipline is restrained, fair, and motivated by love to cultivate a child’s inner restraints and security. The message provides four practical suggestions for parents: start early, stay balanced by combining verbal reproof with physical discipline, remain consistent, and stay reasonable by distinguishing between normal childish behavior and deliberate defiance. Ultimately, the primary goal of parenting is to release a responsible, Christ-honoring young adult into the world.

Key Facts

• Defining Defiance: Parents must learn to distinguish between innocent childish mistakes (like spilling milk or putting bugs in pockets) and true defiance, which is the deliberate and stubborn resistance to obey.

• Abuse vs. Discipline: Abuse is unfair, extreme, and crushes a child’s spirit, whereas biblical discipline is fair, expected, and upholds the dignity of the child.

• Start Early: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, and parents must intervene early in life to develop habits of self-control before the child faces severe adult consequences.

• The Power of Balance: Discipline should never be administered without accompanying verbal instruction (reproof) and enormous expressions of love and affirmation.

Scripture References

• Proverbs 3:11–12; 13:24; 15:4, 13; 17:22, 25; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; 29:15, 17

• Hebrews 12:5–11

• Ephesians 6:4

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Message 2: Suggestions for Parenting Grown-Up Kids

Sermon Overview The challenges of parenting do not end when children reach adulthood; they simply change. Applying the principles of Ephesians 4 to the home, Swindoll outlines how to navigate relationships with grown-up kids by understanding core relational essentials: no family challenge is impossible, parents always remain worthy of respect, and no issue should be handled through fleshly reactions or manipulation. Swindoll extracts six two-word directives for parenting adult children: speak truth, be passionate, stop stealing, quit yelling, give grace, and be kind. By following these principles, parents can foster an environment of independent thinking and mutual forgiveness, ultimately cultivating a deep, lasting friendship with their adult children.

Key Facts

• Stop Stealing Independence: Parents “steal” from their adult children when they continue doing things the children should do for themselves, or when they rescue them from the painful consequences of their own bad decisions.

• Be Passionate, Not Passive: Parents must not passively shrug at wrongdoing; they are commanded to be angry at appropriate times, displaying a controlled, righteous indignation toward things that matter.

• Give Grace for Failures: When adult children make poor choices, parents should not respond with shaming, “I told you so” lectures, but rather offer the same grace and understanding they themselves need.

• The Power of Kindness: True kindness in a family involves maintaining a tender heart, putting away bitterness, and being willing to ask for and grant forgiveness.

Scripture References

• Ephesians 4:25–32

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Message 3: What to Do When You’ve Blown It

Sermon Overview Many parents look back on their child-rearing years and feel as though they are drowning in an ocean of guilt, shame, and regret over their mistakes. Addressing parents who have “blown it,” Swindoll offers a message of profound hope and practical recovery. He begins by acknowledging the painful reality that all humans are imperfect and personally responsible for their own wrongs. However, rather than driving their lives by staring into the rearview mirror of the past, parents must press on toward the future. Using Isaiah 58 and Joel 2, Swindoll outlines a step-by-step process for reconciliation: humble yourself, pray for the right timing, stop all pointing of fingers, and make yourself completely available and vulnerable to your children by confessing your wrongs without any excuses.

Key Facts

• A Future and a Hope: God’s plans for failing parents are not for calamity, but to provide a future and a hope.

• Restoring the Eaten Years: Just as God promised to restore the crops decimated by swarming locusts in Joel’s day, He can miraculously restore relationships devastated by years of parental failure.

• Humble Vulnerability: Rebuilding a fractured relationship requires the parent to meet privately with their adult child, confess their specific wrongs, and take full responsibility without shifting the blame.

• Trust the Process: Parents must not hide their failures, nor should they hurry the process of reconciliation; they must simply apologize, let go of the past, and trust God to bring healing.

Scripture References

• Isaiah 58:6–12

• Joel 2:21–27

• Jeremiah 29:11–12

• Romans 3:23

• Philippians 3:13

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Message 4: Wise Words for Busy People

Sermon Overview In the first half of Ecclesiastes, Solomon records his maddening, cynical pursuit of satisfaction “under the sun,” which only resulted in his absolute hatred of life. However, the second half of his journal reveals a man who has finally “come home” and discovered the immense value of God’s wisdom. Swindoll walks through chapter 7, unpacking several “comparative proverbs” that highlight what is truly better in life. Solomon teaches that a good reputation is better than expensive perfume, and that a funeral teaches us far more about reality than a party does. Ultimately, God’s wisdom preserves our lives from human pitfalls and provides us with a divine perspective, helping us trust God’s sovereignty over both prosperity and adversity.

Key Facts

• The Value of Mourning: Spending time in a house of mourning is better than a house of feasting because the reality of death instantly clarifies our priorities and strips away superficiality.

• Listening to Rebuke: It is far better to listen to the hard, truthful rebuke of a wise person than to be entertained by the empty, fleeting song of a fool.

• Patience Over Pride: A patient spirit is superior to a haughty spirit; wisdom teaches us to stand still and wait on God rather than blowing off steam in anger.

• Accepting God’s Plan: We must consider the work of God and accept what He has designed, recognizing that we cannot straighten what He has bent.

Scripture References

• Ecclesiastes 7:1–14

• Ecclesiastes 2:17–18

• Proverbs 13:1, 10; 14:10, 13; 15:16–17; 25:24

• Philippians 1:23–24

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Message 5: Putting Wisdom to Work

Sermon Overview Wisdom is not an abstract, academic concept; it is the practical, God-given ability to see life objectively and handle it with stability. Continuing in Ecclesiastes 7, Swindoll explores how wisdom works its way out into our daily experiences. God holds our entire lives—our failures, futures, and surprises—in the palms of His hands. Operating from this secure position, wisdom grants us the balance to avoid being “excessively righteous” or “excessively wicked,” the strength to handle life’s painful tensions without gullibility, and the insight to realize that our deepest problems lie within ourselves, not with God.

Key Facts

• Inscribed on His Hands: Even when we feel forsaken, God reminds us in Isaiah 49 that He will never forget us, having permanently inscribed our lives and circumstances on the palms of His hands.

• Avoiding Extremes: True wisdom gives a believer balance, keeping them from the obnoxious extreme of being pretentiously “overly wise” and the dangerous extreme of foolish wickedness.

• Strength Against Criticism: A wise person does not take every word spoken seriously; they have the strength to filter out empty flattery and to handle harsh criticism, knowing that if people knew the whole truth about them, the criticism would be much worse.

• The Illusion of Intimacy: Solomon’s search for meaning in extramarital, seductive relationships proved more bitter than death; alien intimacy arrests the beautiful, mutual discovery God designed exclusively for marriage.

Scripture References

• Ecclesiastes 7:15–29

• Ecclesiastes 2:24–26

• Isaiah 49:14–16

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Message 6: The Qualities of a Good Boss

Sermon Overview Ecclesiastes 8 provides an unexpected but highly relevant portrait of what it means to be a good and wise boss. Whether you are a corporate executive, an entrepreneur, a manager, or a parent, this message applies to anyone in a position of authority. Swindoll identifies five primary characteristics of excellent leadership from the text: a clear mind that understands the overarching “why” of the organization, a cheerful disposition that trades a stern face for a beaming one, a discreet mouth that utilizes tact, a keen judgment that navigates timing and procedure under pressure, and a humble spirit that recognizes its own finite limitations.

Key Facts

• Knowing the Interpretation: An effective leader doesn’t necessarily need to know every microscopic detail of an operation, but they must have a clear mind that understands the ultimate vision, direction, and the “why” behind it.

• A Cheerful Disposition: The wisdom of a good boss physically illuminates their face; a stern, unsmiling, hard-charging demeanor infects an organization with negativity, whereas a cheerful spirit brings life and joy to the workplace.

• A Discreet Mouth: A leader’s tongue dictates the tone of their environment; practicing tact and avoiding careless or cutting words encourages deep loyalty from employees.

• The Power of Modeling: Leaders must remember that their personal example and character will long outlive their actual corporate achievements; they are actively cycling and training the next generation of leaders.

Scripture References

• Ecclesiastes 8:1–9

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Easter 2014

At some point, everyone encounters the devastating weight of hopelessness—whether through a difficult diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, or the reality of mortality. This Easter series explores the monumental shift from despair to life that occurred when the presence of hope arose through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Message 1: When the Presence of Hope Arose

  • Overview: This message addresses the universal experience of hopelessness and the profound transformation that occurs when we encounter the risen Christ. Pastor Chuck Swindoll explains how the resurrection serves as the ultimate antidote to the “no hope” scenarios of life.
  • Key Fact: The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian hope; without it, faith is empty, but because He lives, believers have a guaranteed hope that transcends the grave.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:12–26 – “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”

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Creating a Legacy

What kind of legacy for tomorrow are you creating today? When the next generation looks back on your life, how will they remember you?

Creating a Legacy will guide you on your journey toward noble character motivated by a clear calling. You’ll look back on where you came from and see how God made you who you are. You’ll look to His Word to find out where you should be going and who you’re becoming. You’ll take positive steps toward overcoming obstacles and avoiding tragic falls. You’ll also discover how your life can become a legacy for the benefit of those who come after you.

Whether we realize it or not, we are all leaving a legacy. It may be noble and lasting, or it may be poor and fleeting, but the mark we leave is being formed by our choices today. In this 5-part series, Chuck Swindoll guides us on a journey toward building a legacy of character motivated by a clear calling from God. By looking back at where we’ve been and looking into God’s Word for where we are going, we can discover how to overcome obstacles and avoid tragic falls, ensuring our lives benefit those who come after us.

Message 1: Creating a Legacy of Remembrance

Sermon Overview Every person leaves a legacy, whether good or bad, and it is inescapably vital to the next generation. Creating a legacy does not happen by accident; it requires deliberate thought, preparation, and action, beginning with looking back at where we came from. Charles R. Swindoll examines the book of Deuteronomy, where Moses challenges the Israelites to remember how God led them through the wilderness for forty years to humble and test them. Swindoll also highlights Joshua’s leadership as he guided the Israelites across the Jordan River and commanded them to set up twelve memorial stones at Gilgal. These stones served three vital purposes: to inform the children of God’s miraculous work, to instruct the nations of His sovereignty, and to instill a deep reverence for the Lord.

Key Facts

  • Preparation is Essential: Legacies don’t just tumble into place; they are the result of conscious preparation and having one’s earthly affairs in order.
  • The Purpose of the Wilderness: Wilderness experiences are deliberately designed by God to humble believers, test their character, and reveal what is in their hearts.
  • Erecting Memorials: Believers must intentionally erect “memorial stones”—whether an ongoing journal, a photograph, or a physical object—to prevent themselves and their families from forgetting God’s past faithfulness and provision.

Scripture References

  • Deuteronomy 8:1–2, 11–20
  • Deuteronomy 9:7
  • Deuteronomy 34:1–8
  • Joshua 1:1–2, 10–17
  • Joshua 3:1–17
  • Joshua 4:1–24

Message 2: Creating a Legacy of Personal Mission

Sermon Overview A leader without a personal mission is like a ship without a captain, drifting aimlessly and making decisions based on popular opinion rather than principle. In this message, Swindoll emphasizes the necessity of having a clear personal and corporate mission, using the early church in Acts 2 and the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 as primary examples. The first church in Jerusalem established a corporate mission focused on four core elements: teaching, fellowship, ordinances (breaking bread/baptism), and prayer. Furthermore, Paul’s personal mission was to become all things to all men so that he might save some. To establish a meaningful legacy of personal mission, believers must embrace sacrifice, vision, flexibility, courage, and direct involvement with the lost.

Key Facts

  • Core Church Pillars: Without teaching, fellowship, ordinances, and prayer, a gathering is not a biblical church; mere entertainment cannot replace these core pillars.
  • The Mark of Flexibility: Paul modeled flexibility by adjusting his lifestyle to build bridges with Jews, Gentiles, the meticulous, and the weak, all without compromising God’s law.
  • Courageous Truth: Living out a personal mission requires the courage to stand for the truth of the Gospel in a pluralistic world without apologizing for Christ’s exclusivity.

Scripture References

  • 1 Corinthians 9:19–23
  • Acts 2:41–47
  • Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 6:7; Acts 9:31

Message 3: Creating a Legacy of Responsibility

Sermon Overview There is a vast difference between a prediction, which is based on opinions and assumptions, and a resolution, which is a firm determination built on convictions and purpose. Highlighting the life of Jonathan Edwards, who wrote 70 life-guiding resolutions before age twenty, Swindoll challenges believers to take full responsibility for their lives and choices. The message centers on God’s call to Joshua after the death of Moses, tasking the eighty-year-old leader with guiding Israel into the Promised Land. Despite facing massive obstacles, Joshua was commanded to be strong and courageous because he had the confidence of God’s calling, the wisdom of God’s written Word, and the promise of God’s personal presence.

Key Facts

  • Resolutions Over Predictions: A resolution is a declaration of personal responsibility, firmly stating, “I take full responsibility for this occurring”.
  • Getting Past Realities: Age, physical disabilities, the loss of a mentor, and past failures are realities we must get beyond rather than using them as excuses to quit.
  • The Power of the Written Word: Success in leadership and life demands meditating on and obeying God’s written Word day and night to avoid being swallowed by a secular culture that rejects biblical values.

Scripture References

  • Joshua 1:1–9
  • Psalm 27:1-3

Message 4: Creating a Legacy of Moral Purity

Sermon Overview King David’s tragic affair with Bathsheba proves that no one suddenly becomes base; rather, a moral fall is the culmination of unchecked weaknesses and a series of compromises. Swindoll performs a spiritual autopsy on David’s failure, noting that long before he committed adultery, the king was weakened by his polygamy, his pride in unmitigated success, and his indulgence in lazy leisure. Temptation does not necessarily fill a person with a hatred of God, but it envelops the mind in a dangerous forgetfulness of God, stripping away clear discrimination. To build a legacy of moral purity, believers are urged to acknowledge their inherent weakness, strictly guard their leisure time, remain in close accountability, and continually rehearse the devastating consequences of a moral tumble.

Key Facts

  • The Danger of Prosperity: Long periods of unhindered prosperity or middle-aged adversity provide excellent campaigning weather for the devil.
  • Idleness is Perilous: Unguarded leisure time—such as David staying home from war and pacing his roof in the evening—makes a person highly vulnerable to sexual temptation.
  • Accountability and Consequences: Accountability requires meeting frequently with a small group to ask hard, truthful questions about integrity, while resisting temptation requires rehearsing the devastating consequences before the fact.

Scripture References

  • 2 Samuel 11:1–5
  • 2 Samuel 1:25
  • Psalm 55:17–18
  • Psalm 141:2–4

Message 5: Creating a Legacy of Mentoring

Sermon Overview As in a relay race, the moment of passing the baton to the next generation is the most critical point of a legacy. Mentoring is not a brief interaction, but a lifelong attitude of tutoring, guiding, and coaching others. Using the relational dynamics between Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos in Acts 18, Swindoll identifies six indispensable marks of a good mentor. A biblical mentor cares enough to stay close, speaks truth by remaining devoted to the Scriptures, takes the long view by hanging in during tough times, trusts the mentee even when absent, uses discernment to address weaknesses, and consistently encourages and endorses the gifts of the one being trained.

Key Facts

  • Up-Close Investment: Mentoring cannot be done effectively from a distance or by proxy; it requires up-close, face-to-face investment and shared time.
  • Servant-Hearted Release: Good mentors are not insecure or controlling; they model servanthood and take joy in releasing those they train to go further.
  • Gracious Correction: When Priscilla and Aquila heard the eloquent but theologically incomplete Apollos, they did not publicly shame him; they invited him home and gracefully explained the way of God more accurately.
  • Addressing Arrogance: An arrogant young leader is typically someone who has never submitted to the correction of a faithful, discerning mentor.

Scripture References

  • Acts 18:1–11, 18–28

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Questions Christians Ask

It’s Okay to Ask Questions

Even Christians have questions. Though many people think Christians have all the answers, we often struggle with sincere doubt when trials challenge our faith.

Roadblocks of sickness, heartache, and disappointment punctuate our journeys of faith and cause us to question whether or not we’re headed in the right direction. So where do you turn when doubt wages war against the fundamentals of your faith? In Questions Christians Ask, Chuck Swindoll addresses a dozen crucial questions that all believers must examine, such as the identity of Jesus Christ, the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ, God’s plan for the future, how to deal with worry, how to live a Spirit-guided, victorious life, and more.

Find biblical answers in Questions Christians Ask that will help you strengthen your walk with God and draw you closer to Him each day.


Even for the most faithful, the journey of life often brings sincere doubts and difficult questions. In this 12-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll tackles a dozen crucial inquiries that believers face—ranging from the identity of Jesus and the reality of the resurrection to practical struggles like worry, leadership, and conflict. By providing biblical answers to these honest questions, this series helps move the believer from a place of uncertainty to a position of strengthened faith and clear conviction.

1. Who Is This Jesus? (Matthew 21:1–17)

  • Overview: Explores the identity of Jesus during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. While the crowds were asking “Who is this?”, Jesus was demonstrating His identity as the authoritative and compassionate Son of God.
  • Key Fact: Jesus’ cleansing of the temple showed that His authority was not just political, but spiritual and absolute.
  • Scripture: Matthew 21:10–11 – “When He had entered Jerusalem, the all city was stirred, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.'”

2. Christ Is Raised, but What about Me? (1 Corinthians 15)

  • Overview: Addresses the personal implications of the resurrection. Because Christ rose from the dead, believers have a guaranteed future of hope and a new nature for today.
  • Key Fact: The resurrection is the “linchpin” of the Christian faith; without it, our preaching and our faith are in vain.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20 – “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.”

3. How Can I Win Over Worry? (Matthew 6:25–34)

  • Overview: A practical look at Jesus’ teaching on anxiety. It contrasts the “striving” of the world with the “trusting” of a child of God.
  • Key Fact: Worry is described as “practical atheism”—acting as if God doesn’t exist or isn’t in control.
  • Scripture: Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

4. What’s Necessary for Victory? (Romans 8)

  • Overview: Discusses the components of a victorious Christian life, focusing on the power of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of God’s love.
  • Key Fact: Victory is not the absence of struggle, but the presence of the Spirit who intercedes for us and makes us “more than conquerors.”
  • Scripture: Romans 8:37 – “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”

5. Is My Neighbor Really Lost? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Addresses the exclusivity of the Gospel. It provides a compassionate but firm biblical answer to whether there are other ways to God.
  • Key Fact: Biblical “lostness” is not a judgment on a person’s character, but a statement about their spiritual location apart from Christ.
  • Scripture: John 14:6 – “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'”

6. What Makes a Rebel Return? (Luke 15:11–32)

  • Overview: A study of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, exploring the factors that lead a wanderer home and the father’s heart of grace.
  • Key Fact: The “rebel’s” return begins with “coming to his senses”—realizing that the father’s house is better than the pigpen of independence.
  • Scripture: Luke 15:20 – “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him.”

7. Can ‘Ordinary People’ Make a Contribution? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Challenges the idea that God only uses “super-saints.” It shows how God specializes in using the “small” and “ordinary” to achieve His purposes.
  • Key Fact: God often chooses the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:27 – “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.”

8. Will You Lead or Lag? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: A call to spiritual leadership and initiative. This message explores what it takes to step out in faith and influence others for the Kingdom.
  • Key Fact: Leadership is not a title; it is a lifestyle of influence that begins with self-discipline and obedience.
  • Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example.”

9 & 10. Why Are We So Blessed? / What Is My Response? (Deuteronomy 8)

  • Overview: A two-part look at the “danger of prosperity.” It warns against the amnesia that often follows God’s blessings and provides a roadmap for gratitude.
  • Key Fact: The greatest threat to faith is not often poverty, but a wealth that leads us to say, “My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.”
  • Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:18 – “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth.”

11. How Should We Interpret God’s Calendar? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Addresses questions about the end times and God’s sovereign timing. It encourages “readiness” over “calculation.”
  • Key Fact: We are called to be “watchmen” who are busy with the Master’s work, not “accountants” trying to balance a prophetic ledger.
  • Scripture: Acts 1:7 – “He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.'”

12. Why Do We Throw Rocks at Each Other? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Confronts the problem of internal conflict and criticism within the body of Christ.
  • Key Fact: “Rock-throwing” usually stems from pride or legalism; the remedy is a return to the grace that God has shown to us.
  • Scripture: Galatians 5:15 – “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

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New Testament Postcards

Don’t Lose God’s Postcards in the Junk Mail of Lies

In a world where fiction about God is presented as fact and where lies often overshadow the truth, we need a fresh reminder from God’s Word to strengthen our faith. The New Testament includes four “postcards”—short but powerful—that help us stand firm in what we believe.

The postcards—Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude—address some of the most important issues for Christians today, such as forgiveness, generosity, and discernment, as well as the foundational tenets of our faith—the person, work, and supremacy of Jesus Christ. Join Chuck Swindoll as he shares the hope-filled message of grace through Christ contained in these postcards. The New Testament Postcards: A Study of Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude CD series will prepare you to better understand and live out your faith.


The New Testament includes four short but powerful books that act like divine postcards. In this six-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude. These brief letters address monumental issues: the beauty of forgiveness, the necessity of discernment, the dangers of false teaching, and the call to guard the “faith once for all delivered to the saints.”

Message 1. A Postcard to Philemon (Philemon)

  • Overview: A personal letter from Paul to a wealthy friend regarding a runaway slave, Onesimus. It illustrates the transformative power of grace that turns a “useless” slave into a “useful” brother.
  • Key Fact: This letter provides a radical biblical model for conflict resolution and restitution, showing that grace does not ignore the law but fulfills it through love.
  • Scripture: Philemon 1:17–18 – Paul’s offer of substitution: “If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me. But if he has wronged you in any way… charge that to my account.”

Message 2. A Postcard to a Lady and Her Kids (2 John)

  • Overview: Addressed to “the chosen lady,” this letter emphasizes the delicate balance between walking in truth and walking in love.
  • Key Fact: John warns that hospitality should not be extended to those who deliberately bring false doctrine, as doing so makes one a participant in their evil deeds.
  • Scripture: 2 John 1:6 – “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.”

Message 3. A Postcard of Candid Truth (3 John)

  • Overview: Contrasts the character of three men: Gaius (the hospitable servant), Diotrephes (the prideful leader), and Demetrius (the man of good testimony).
  • Key Fact: The letter exposes “Diotrephes-style” leadership—loving to be first and rejecting apostolic authority—as a toxic influence in the church.
  • Scripture: 3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

Message 4. The Acts of the Apostates (Jude 1–16)

  • Overview: Jude intended to write about “our common salvation” but was compelled to shift his focus to warn against “apostates”—those who have crept in to turn grace into licentiousness.
  • Key Fact: Jude uses vivid imagery from nature (clouds without water, waves of the sea) and history (Sodom and Gomorrah) to describe the character and certain judgment of false teachers.
  • Scripture: Jude 1:3 – The call to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”

Message 5. Why Bother to Battle? (Jude 17–23)

  • Overview: Answers the question of how to maintain a positive, grace-filled faith while living in a culture of skepticism and false teaching.
  • Key Fact: Believers are called to “keep themselves in the love of God” while showing mercy to those who are doubting or being led astray.
  • Scripture: Jude 1:21 – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

Message 6. Get Your Act Together! (Jude 24–25)

  • Overview: The series concludes with the famous doxology of Jude, shifting the focus from the battle against apostasy to the absolute security and glory of God.
  • Key Fact: No matter how dark the times or how prevalent the lies, God is “able to keep you from stumbling” and present you blameless before His presence.
  • Scripture: Jude 1:24 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.”

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Living Portraits of the Church

We need one another . . . even if we don’t always want to admit it. Human beings were made to thrive in relationships—with God and with people. And yet we are often tempted to ignore God’s unique communal design for those who follow Christ: the church.

But what is the church, and what is our place in it? The Bible uses a variety of metaphors to describe Christ’s church. In this series, Chuck Swindoll explains four of those metaphors: a growing family, a dependent flock, a functioning body, and the branches of a flourishing vine. This series will help take us beyond understanding how God desires us to be in community. It will show us how it can happen.


What exactly is the church? Far more than a building or a weekly event, the church is a living, breathing community designed by God. In this four-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores four powerful biblical metaphors that define our identity and our relationships with one another. By viewing the church as a family, a flock, a body, and a vine, we discover how to move from isolation into the vibrant, communal life God intended for every believer.

1. Making Room for the Family (Ephesians 2:19; 1 Timothy 3:15)

  • Overview: Explores the church as “God’s household.” This portrait emphasizes the warmth, acceptance, and growth that occur when believers treat one another as spiritual brothers and sisters.
  • Key Fact: Just as physical families must adjust and make room for new members, the church must remain flexible and welcoming to all whom God calls into His family.
  • Scripture: Ephesians 2:19 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.”

2. Feeding the Flock a Healthy Meal (1 Peter 5:1–4; Psalm 23)

  • Overview: Focuses on the imagery of the flock and the Shepherd. This message highlights the vulnerability of the sheep and the vital importance of leaders who provide the “healthy meal” of God’s Word.
  • Key Fact: A healthy church is one where the “sheep” are not driven by fear but led to green pastures of truth and grace by caring under-shepherds.
  • Scripture: 1 Peter 5:2 – “Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God.”

3. Finding Your Place in the Body (1 Corinthians 12:12–27)

  • Overview: Discusses the church as the “Body of Christ.” This portrait emphasizes the diversity of spiritual gifts and the essential nature of every member, no matter how small their role may seem.
  • Key Fact: There is no such thing as an “unimportant” part of the body; health is achieved only when every member functions in their unique, God-given capacity.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

4. Abiding in the Vine (John 15:1–11)

  • Overview: The most intimate portrait of the church, showing our absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. As branches of the True Vine, our only source of life and fruitfulness is our connection to Him.
  • Key Fact: We do not “produce” fruit by our own effort; we “bear” fruit as a natural result of abiding (staying connected) to the Vine.
  • Scripture: John 15:5 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

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Adventuring With God

The Book of Acts

The writer of the book of Hebrews said, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

Faith played a critical role in the early church; God’s hand was constantly at work in the book of Acts. By faith in God and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the church took root and grew boldly and boundlessly. The Christian life was an adventure!

We have that same Holy Spirit at work in our lives today. What serendipitous adventures might God have in store for us? We can trust God while “Being Transformed” and expect God’s movement as we are “Prevailing through Prayer,” even in seemingly impossible circumstances. Consider this series by Chuck Swindoll a catalyst to submitting your life to the adventure of faith God has in store for you.


In this series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the early church’s explosive growth and radical faith as documented in the book of Acts. Moving from the confusion of Christ’s departure to the empowered mission of the apostles, this study highlights how the Holy Spirit transforms ordinary people into world-changers. The Christian life isn’t a safe routine; it is a “serendipitous adventure” directed by the sovereign hand of God.

Message 1. Reaching Our World (Acts 1:1–11)

  • Overview: Focuses on the transition period between Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Spirit. It addresses the common temptation to look back at the “good old days” rather than moving forward into God’s global mission.
  • Key Fact: The apostles were initially confused about the nature of the Kingdom, but Jesus redirected their focus to being “witnesses” through the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • Scripture: Acts 1:8 – The mandate for the adventure: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses… even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Message 2. Birthing the Church (Acts 2:1–13)

  • Overview: Examines the supernatural arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This message explores how God uses diverse languages and backgrounds to launch a unified movement.
  • Key Fact: Pentecost was an annual feast in Jerusalem; God chose this high-traffic moment to publicly demonstrate the presence and power of His Spirit.
  • Scripture: Acts 2:4 – “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”

Message 3. Touching Others’ Lives (Acts 3:1–11)

  • Overview: A study of the first miracle after Pentecost—the healing of the lame man at the Temple gate. It illustrates how God uses “interruptions” to display His glory.
  • Key Fact: Peter and John didn’t have material wealth (“silver and gold”), but they had spiritual authority in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.
  • Scripture: Acts 3:6 – Peter’s declaration: “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Message 4. Being Transformed (Acts 9:1–19)

  • Overview: Focuses on the radical conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road. This message reminds us that no one is too far gone for God’s grace to reach and repurpose.
  • Key Fact: Saul went from being the church’s greatest persecutor to its greatest proponent, illustrating that true adventure begins with a complete surrender to Christ.
  • Scripture: Acts 9:15 – God’s description of the transformed Saul: “He is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”

Message 5. Prevailing through Prayer (Acts 12:1–17)

  • Overview: A dramatic look at Peter’s miraculous release from prison. It contrasts the power of the political establishment (Herod) with the superior power of the church’s prayer.
  • Key Fact: Even while the church was praying for Peter’s release, they were shocked when he actually showed up at the door, teaching us that God often answers prayer beyond our expectation.
  • Scripture: Acts 12:5 – The vital activity of the early church: “So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”

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The Sanctity of Life . . . The Inescapable Issue

Our culture is at war—a quiet war against the most innocent and powerless in our society: the unborn. The tapestry of human life, woven by the hand of God, is being unraveled in the name of convenience. Abortion not only ends the lives of unborn babies, it can devastate the lives of those mothers and fathers who have chosen to have an abortion, often leaving them with depression, guilt, and regret. But God offers hope . . .

Join Chuck Swindoll as he addresses the sensitive topic of abortion—how God’s Word speaks to the issue, how to recover from an abortion, and how to devote oneself to a life of purity. Gain courage to honor God and to uphold the sanctity of life in a godless culture.

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