Insight for Living

The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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2020

Holiday Messages 2020

Such intriguing scenes fill the biblical pages recounting the Christmas miracle! That’s why we have a season every year to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this year’s holiday series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll takes us on a journey to visit some of those scenes—from peeking behind the curtain into the divine council of eternity past to traveling 90 miles with Mary and Joseph to listening in on God’s voice in the cry of a baby. We’ll linger at each one and simply let in all the wonder.

Chuck Swindoll’s 2020 holiday messages are not available for sale but you may listen to them through streaming in our Broadcast Library or on the Insight app.


The biblical account of the Christmas miracle is filled with intriguing scenes that invite us to slow down and wonder. In this series, Chuck Swindoll takes us on a journey through these moments—from the divine council in eternity past to the long road to Bethlehem. We witness the troubled romance of Mary and Joseph, listen for God’s voice in the cry of a newborn baby, and reflect on what is worth forgetting and remembering as we face a new year. These messages are designed to help us linger in the wonder of the Savior’s arrival and the plan of salvation.

Let’s Start Before the Beginning

Sermon Summary Christmas did not begin with an angel in Nazareth; it began in the heart of God before the world was created. This message peeks behind the curtain into the “divine council” of eternity past, where the Triune God planned creation and the salvation of humanity. We learn that the Son’s mission to become human was an intentional, preordained act of love, ensuring that our redemption was settled before time even began.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Eternal Plan: Understanding that Christ’s birth was part of a sovereign, ancient design.
  • Pre-existence of Christ: Recognizing Jesus’ role in the Godhead before the Incarnation.
  • Sovereign Love: How God’s plan for salvation preceded human history.

Let’s Witness a Troubled Romance in Nazareth

Sermon Summary Behind the serene images of our Nativity sets lies a story of real-life tension and “troubled romance.” This message explores the emotional and social upheaval Mary and Joseph faced. We see a young couple navigating the scandal of an unexplained pregnancy with quiet integrity and remarkable faith. Their story reminds us that God often works through difficult and confusing circumstances to accomplish His greatest miracles.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Faith in Scandal: The courage required to trust God when reputations are at stake.
  • Mary and Joseph’s Integrity: How obedience overshadowed their personal fears.
  • The Ordinary and the Extraordinary: God using common people for His divine purposes.

Let’s Hear God’s Voice in a Baby’s Cry

Sermon Summary In the most humble and unlikely of places—a manger—God spoke. This message invites us to listen for the voice of the Almighty in the cry of the infant Jesus. Chuck discusses the profound paradox of the “Word made flesh,” arriving as a vulnerable baby to reconcile the world to Himself. We learn that God’s greatest message was not delivered in thunder, but in the soft, human sounds of a newborn.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Incarnation: Reflecting on the “Word made flesh” dwelling among us.
  • The Paradox of Power: How God used vulnerability to conquer sin.
  • Divine Communication: Recognizing Jesus as the ultimate expression of God’s love.

Christ Is Born to Save

Sermon Summary The purpose of the manger was always the cross. This message focuses on the core mission of Christmas: salvation. Chuck explores the angelic announcement to the shepherds, emphasizing that the “Good News of great joy” is centered on the birth of a Savior. We see that Christ was born specifically to address the deepest human need—the forgiveness of sins and restoration to the Father.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Mission of the Manger: Connecting the birth of Christ to His sacrificial death.
  • Good News for All: Why the message of salvation is universal in its reach.
  • Personal Savior: Understanding what it means to accept the gift of Christ.

Here’s Something Worth Forgetting

Sermon Summary As we stand at the threshold of a new year, it is vital to identify what we should leave behind. This message addresses the weight of past failures, grudges, and regrets that hinder our spiritual progress. Chuck encourages us to exercise the “grace of forgetting,” letting go of the things that God has already forgiven so we can press forward with a light heart and a renewed focus on the future.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Releasing the Past: The spiritual benefit of letting go of regrets and grievances.
  • Forgiving as God Forgives: Applying the “grace of forgetting” to ourselves and others.
  • New Year Focus: Preparing for the future by unburdening ourselves of the past.

Here’s Something Worth Remembering

Sermon Summary While some things should be forgotten, others are too precious to lose. The series concludes with a focus on the essential truths we must carry into the new year. Chuck discusses the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness, His promises, and His constant presence. By anchoring our memories in the character of God, we find the stability and courage needed to face whatever the upcoming year may bring.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Stones of Remembrance: Practical ways to keep God’s faithfulness at the forefront of our minds.
  • Anchoring in Truth: Using biblical memories to stabilize our current emotions.
  • Spiritual Continuity: Why remembering the past is key to navigating the future.

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Lamentations: Jeremiah’s Journal of Woes

The book of Lamentations is the prophet Jeremiah’s heartbroken, graphic lament after God judged the Jews for their unrepentant sin. Its pages of detailed devastation remind us a holy God will not remain silent forever when His people disobey Him.

But Lamentations is also a book of hope. From the rubble of Jerusalem’s judgment, the promise of restoration rises like the morning sun over the eastern hills. God’s mercies shine new every morning. Great is His faithfulness toward those who cry out to Him in their lament and seek Him through their sorrows.


The book of Lamentations is a graphic, heartbroken record of the prophet Jeremiah’s grief following the destruction of Jerusalem. It serves as a stark reminder that a holy God will not remain silent forever when His people persist in unrepentant sin. Yet, even amidst the rubble of judgment, Lamentations offers profound hope, revealing that God’s mercies remain new every morning.

Message 1: As the Prophet Laments, We Reflect

  • Overview: Jeremiah’s lament serves as a mirror for our own lives, emphasizing the necessity of reflection when facing the consequences of disobedience. While God’s judgment is devastating, its ultimate purpose is to lead His people toward honest repentance and spiritual renewal.
  • Key Fact: Biblical reflection during seasons of loss is intended to help us process grief in a way that leads our hearts back to God’s holiness.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 1

Message 2: The Influence of One Devoted Parent

  • Overview: Even within a book of national sorrow, Chuck identifies vital lessons for the home. This message looks at how the spiritual trajectory of the next generation is deeply influenced by the faithfulness and devotion of parents today.
  • Key Fact: A parent’s spiritual devotion acts as a steadying influence for children, even when the surrounding culture is in a state of moral or spiritual decline.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 1 (Selections)

Message 3: Jeremiah’s Journal of Woes

  • Overview: This message explores the specific “woes” and suffering recorded by Jeremiah. Pastor Chuck emphasizes that God does not expect us to suppress our pain; rather, He invites us to bring our struggles before Him with total transparency.
  • Key Fact: Biblical honesty involves being real with God about the weight of our emotional and physical suffering.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 2 (Selections)

Message 4: None but the Lonely Heart

  • Overview: Loneliness is a frequent companion to suffering. Jeremiah’s isolation during the fall of Jerusalem provides a backdrop for understanding that God is a present help for the brokenhearted, even when human support is absent.
  • Key Fact: God often uses seasons of solitude to reveal His presence as the primary source of comfort for a lonely heart.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 2 (Selections)

Message 5: Coming to Terms With God’s Wrath

  • Overview: God’s wrath is a balanced expression of His holiness. This message explores the necessity of acknowledging divine judgment against sin as a prerequisite for truly appreciating the depth of His grace and mercy.
  • Key Fact: Acknowledging God’s righteous anger is the first step toward finding the path of restoration and reconciliation.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 2

Message 6: What to Remember When You Hit Bottom

  • Overview: In the center of his grief, Jeremiah finds a reason to hope. This message focuses on the unshakeable nature of God’s steadfast love and the fresh supply of compassion available to those who wait on the Lord.
  • Key Fact: Because God’s mercies are new every morning, there is always a foundation for hope, regardless of yesterday’s failures.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 3

Message 7: Ugly Scenes of Utter Humiliation

  • Overview: Jeremiah describes the total loss of dignity faced by the people of Jerusalem. This message addresses those “ugly scenes” of life where we feel stripped of everything, reminding us that God brings beauty from ashes for the humble.
  • Key Fact: God uses seasons of humiliation to break our self-sufficiency and prepare us for His divine restoration.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 4

Message 8: Jeremiah’s Mournful Swan Song

  • Overview: The series concludes with a final plea for God to turn His people back to Himself. True restoration is a work of God’s grace, and our role is to cry out for the renewal of our hearts.
  • Key Fact: The final note of Lamentations is a prayer for restoration, recognizing that the final word always belongs to God’s faithfulness.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 5

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Special Broadcast Message

Of all the great men and women in the Bible, Daniel certainly ranks as one of the greatest. Without dispute he was a man of courage. But courage was not what made him great. History is filled with courageous devils. Daniel was great because he was exactly who he appeared to be—a man of unassailable integrity. Though this would prove dangerous, Daniel would not compromise his honor.


Of all the historical figures presented in Scripture, few stand as tall as Daniel. While he is often celebrated for his immense courage, this series argues that courage alone did not make him great—after all, history is filled with “courageous devils.” Daniel’s greatness was rooted in the fact that he was exactly who he appeared to be: a man of unassailable integrity. In this study, Chuck Swindoll explores how Daniel maintained his honor in a hostile, pagan environment, demonstrating that true integrity remains steadfast even when it proves to be dangerous.

The Marks of Integrity

Sermon Summary What does it look like to be a person of unshakeable character in a world that demands compromise? This message examines the “marks” that defined Daniel’s life during his time in Babylon. Chuck discusses the difference between reputation (what people think of you) and integrity (who you are when no one is looking). We learn that Daniel’s refusal to compromise his convictions, even under the threat of death, provides a timeless model for believers today. Integrity is the alignment of one’s private life with their public profession, and it is the hallmark of a life that is truly great in the eyes of God.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Defining Integrity: Understanding integrity as wholeness and consistency in character.
  • Courage vs. Honor: Recognizing that courage must be directed by a godly moral compass.
  • Unshakeable Convictions: The importance of deciding where you stand before the pressure to compromise arrives.

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As Dawn Arrived . . . He Arose

Matthew 28:1–7

Have you ever felt lost and alone, like you’re stumbling through a dark tunnel and God’s light seems so far away?

So did the disciples. When the thick fog of disillusionment and disappointment settled after Jesus’ heartbreaking death, His disciples felt helpless and vulnerable. But when Christ rose from the dead, light broke through and dispelled their depression.

Join Chuck Swindoll in this Easter message, and allow the light of Christ’s resurrection to give you hope today.

For the follower of Jesus, there is no holiday grander than Easter. It represents the culmination of biblical prophecy and the very foundation of the Christian faith. This series focuses on the transformative power of the resurrection and how the light of Christ dispels the darkest moments of disillusionment and disappointment.

As Dawn Arrived . . . He Arose

  • Overview: Following the heartbreaking death of Jesus, the disciples felt lost, helpless, and vulnerable, as if stumbling through a dark tunnel. This message explores the moment the thick fog of depression was dispelled by the miracle of the empty tomb, bringing hope to all who feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances.
  • Key Fact: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a historical event; it is the source of living hope that provides light and direction when we face our own “dark tunnels” of despair.
  • Scripture: Matthew 28:1–7 – “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”

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The Best of 2019

Messages that inspire you to keep going are the ones that settle into your soul and resonate. Five of Chuck Swindoll’s most impactful messages in 2019 surely fit the bill. These five popular Insight for Living titles from this year will:

  • Spark an attitude of fortitude during tough times
  • Convince you that God’s grace provides a brand-new start after failure
  • Renew your commitment to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission

. . . and more! If you missed these teachings the first time around, give your walk with God a boost by taking them in now.

The messages that truly resonate are those that settle into the soul and inspire a believer to keep moving forward. The Best of 2019 is a compilation of five of Chuck Swindoll’s most popular and impactful teachings from the broadcast year. This series is designed to give your walk with God a boost by addressing the “messy” realities of life with biblical clarity. From finding the courage to persevere during trials to embracing the beauty of a second chance after failure, these messages represent the heart of Insight for Living’s mission: to communicate God’s truth in a practical, life-changing way.

Here are the sermon overviews, key facts, and scripture references for the two requested messages. They are formatted to match your previous style and optimize your pages for AI Overview results.

Message 1: The Charming Joy of Grace Giving

Sermon Overview Focuses on how a true understanding of God’s grace transforms our giving from a reluctant obligation into a hilarious, joyful celebration. Charles R. Swindoll begins by sharing the dramatic testimony of John Newton, a former slave-ship worker who penned “Amazing Grace” after experiencing God’s profound deliverance. Just as grace stoops to save us and replaces the harsh demands of the law with mercy, it should also actively guide our finances. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, Swindoll explains that God does not want believers giving out of guilt, pressure, or manipulative gimmicks. Instead, biblical grace giving is thoughtful, generous, and cheerful. When we sow bountifully, God promises to supply our needs and multiply our harvest of generosity, ultimately resulting in joyful thanksgiving to Him from those whose needs are met.

Key Facts

  • Grace Over Law: Grace stoops to lift us up, replaces the harsh demands of the law with mercy, and guides how we respond to God and to others.
  • Attitude Over Obligation: Biblical giving is never forced by pressure, embarrassment, or guilt; it must be a purposeful, cheerful (hilarious) decision made in the heart.
  • The Law of the Harvest: A farmer who plants generously reaps a generous crop, and God promises to liberally provide for those who trust Him and freely share their resources.
  • The Ultimate Gift: The foundation of all Christian generosity is God’s indescribable gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became poor so that we could become spiritually rich.

Scripture References

  • 2 Corinthians 8:7–9
  • 2 Corinthians 9:6–15

Message 2: The Secret: An Attitude of Fortitude

Sermon Overview Aging is an inevitable physical reality, but losing enthusiasm for life is a tragic and optional attitude. In this message, Swindoll looks at Joshua 14 and the exhilarating life of Caleb, a man who stood alone in his youth and remained fully devoted to God into his mid-eighties. At age 40, Caleb and Joshua were the only spies who believed God could conquer the giants (Anakim) in Canaan, while the other ten spies caused a national panic. Forty-five years later, at age 85, Caleb’s faith had not retired. He stepped forward and boldly asked Joshua for the giant-infested hill country. This message challenges believers to defeat the aging enemies of uselessness, self-pity, fear, and guilt by forgetting their age, focusing on their goals, and following the Lord fully.

Key Facts

  • Enemies of Aging: As people age, they often battle debilitating attitudinal enemies such as a sense of uselessness, self-pity, fear, and lingering guilt.
  • Grasshoppers vs. Giants: While the ten faithless spies focused on the facts—the size of the giants and fortified cities—and felt like grasshoppers, Caleb focused on the size of his God and knew victory was certain.
  • Refusing to Retire from Life: Caleb didn’t use his 85 years as an excuse to embrace a bland, selfish retirement; his attitude of fortitude kept him just as ready for the give-and-take of war as he was four decades earlier.
  • Three Lifelong Directives: To finish life well, believers must intentionally forget their age (which limits their vision), focus on their goals (claiming their specific “hill country”), and follow the Lord fully.

Scripture References

  • Joshua 14:6–14
  • Numbers 13:17–33
  • 2 Timothy 1:7

Message 3: Our Commitment to Christ’s Commission

Sermon Overview When Jesus delivered the Great Commission, He did not entrust the future of the gospel to a group of elite, highly educated superstars or professional clergy. Instead, He gave this profound mandate to an ordinary, ragged group of eleven disciples—some of whom were actually standing there doubting Him at that very moment. Charles R. Swindoll reminds believers that evangelism is the responsibility of every child of God, not just vocational ministers. Looking at Matthew 28, Swindoll highlights that while Jesus is incredibly intense about the mission (making disciples of all nations), He is completely relaxed about the method. Whether through podcasting, one-on-one conversations, or neighborhood gatherings, the objective remains the same: one person telling another how to find the Bread of Life.

Key Facts

  • A Simple Objective: The primary verb and objective of the Great Commission is not just to “go,” but to “make disciples”—duplicating your faith by leading others to Christ and helping them grow.
  • Authority in Christ, Not Us: Believers do not need to be intimidating or authoritative; all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus, and we are simply the clay vessels delivering His authoritative message.
  • Limitless Scope: The commission is fueled by four “alls”: all authority, all nations, teaching them all things commanded, and the promise that Christ is with us always.
  • Flexible Methods: Jesus never prescribed a rigid format for evangelism; methods will constantly change across generations, but the core message of the gospel must remain intact.

Scripture References

  • Matthew 28:16–20

Message 4: God of the Second Chance

Sermon Overview There is no failure so great that it eclipses the grace of God. In this deeply encouraging message, Swindoll explores the limitless mercy of God, defining mercy as “God’s ministry to the miserable”. Using Jonah 3 as the primary text, the sermon highlights the beauty of God coming to the rebellious, flawed prophet a second time with the exact same message and mission. To prove that second chances are a divine specialty, Swindoll traces the lives of several biblical giants who failed miserably: Moses (a murderer), Samson (a womanizer), David (an adulterer), and John Mark (a deserter). This message is a powerful invitation to stop running, stop wallowing in shame, and fully embrace the God who offers infinite grace to the broken.

Key Facts

  • Mercy for the Miserable: God’s compassions never fail and are new every morning; He intimately understands that we are made of dust and regularly offers mercy to cover our self-inflicted misery.
  • Second Chances are not Probation: When God gave Jonah a second chance, He didn’t put him on a probationary period or shame him; He simply reissued the call to go to Nineveh.
  • Deliver the Message: A messenger’s only job is to clearly deliver God’s Word; we are not responsible for the audience’s reaction, nor should we try to manipulate the results.
  • No Age Limit on Grace: Moses received his second chance and began his ultimate life’s calling as a deliverer at the age of 80, proving God’s timeline for our usefulness rarely matches our own.

Scripture References

  • Jonah 3:1–4
  • Lamentations 3:22–23
  • Exodus 2:11–15; 3:1–10
  • Judges 14–16
  • 2 Samuel 11–12

Message 5: Hanging Tough Together and Loving It

Sermon Overview The Christian life is not a dreamy, passive existence where success comes quickly; it requires hard work, endurance, and hanging tough against all odds. Swindoll uses the Apostle Paul’s powerful declaration in Philippians 3 to outline a biblical strategy for perseverance. Before Christ, Paul was a highly successful, arrogant Pharisee. After being crushed and transformed on the Damascus road, his new lifelong quest became intimately knowing Christ. Swindoll extracts five principles for “hanging tough”: realizing that the plan is progress, not perfection; leaving past failures and achievements behind; reaching forward to the future; maintaining a determined attitude; and keeping a high standard together with fellow believers.

Key Facts

  • Progress, Not Perfection: Perfectionism is a trap. Paul openly admitted he had not yet attained perfection, proving that the Christian journey is about steady, maturing progress.
  • Forget the Past: Believers must stop looking over their shoulders; living in the glory of past achievements stunts current growth, and wallowing in past failures steals future courage.
  • A Determined Attitude: Like a little bulldog that keeps coming back to the fight every day regardless of the beating, believers must embrace trials with a determined, resilient attitude rather than cooperating with defeat.
  • Locking Arms: We are not meant to hang tough alone; enduring the jagged edges of life requires locking arms with brothers and sisters in Christ who keep each other accountable to a high standard.

Scripture References

  • Philippians 3:12–16
  • James 1:2–4
  • Galatians 6:9
  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

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Finding Healing Through Forgiveness

Forgiveness has a curative power greater than any medicine.

Forgiveness eases the ache of remorse and soothes the wounds of bitterness. When we hear, “I forgive you,” from those we’ve offended, forgiveness releases the poison of bitterness. When we say, “I forgive you,” to those who’ve wounded us, forgiveness frees us from the bondage of resentment. Whether we hear or say the words . . . forgiveness heals.

With this two-message set, Chuck Swindoll helps you discover that truth firsthand. In “Clearing Away the Trash We Regret,” Chuck starts you on your healing journey with biblical guidelines for repentance that leads to hope and lasting restoration with God.

The second message, “Finding Healing Through Forgiveness,” offers key strategies from Matthew 5 and 18 for asking and offering forgiveness. As a moving illustration, Chuck’s wife, Cynthia, shares the scriptural principles of forgiveness that helped her find relief from her years of battling depression and anger. That healing stream of forgiveness awaits you too.

“I have learned the unbelievable healing that comes when we forgive from our hearts.” —Cynthia Swindoll

Message 1: Looking Back: Clearing Away the Trash We Regret

Sermon Overview At the turn of a new year, it is vital to look back and clear away the unresolved “trash” and regrets of our past. Charles R. Swindoll uses the vivid imagery of a locust plague from the book of Joel to illustrate the devastating consequences of stubbornness and unconfessed sin. Just as locusts strip a land bare, unresolved guilt and fractured relationships devour our joy and productivity. However, God offers a magnificent promise to “make up for the years the swarming locust has eaten” if we genuinely repent. This message challenges believers to stop rationalizing their failures and provides three practical principles for biblical repentance: start immediately, return completely without reservation, and repent openly.

Key Facts

  • Locusts of Discipline: God sometimes uses life’s devastating consequences as divine discipline to bring us to our knees when we stubbornly refuse to repent.
  • Start Immediately: Biblical repentance means starting immediately without offering “plausible but untrue” rationalizations or shifting the blame to others.
  • Return Completely: Repentance is incomplete if there are hidden reservations or carefully kept secrets; we must return to God and to the offended person completely.
  • Repent Openly: True repentance requires putting pride aside and openly seeking out the individuals we have harmed to make things right, holding nothing back.

Scripture References

  • Joel 2:12–17, 25
  • Psalm 31:9–11
  • Exodus 10:1–6

Message 2: Looking Back: Finding Healing through Forgiveness

Sermon Overview Forgiveness is a required course in the Christian life, not an elective. In this profound message, Swindoll explores both sides of the forgiveness coin: seeking it when we are the offender (Matthew 5) and granting it when we are the offended (Matthew 18). Jesus teaches that reconciliation is so critical that we should interrupt our worship to go make things right with an offended brother. Furthermore, through the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus warns that refusing to forgive others after God has forgiven our massive debt is not only hypocritical, but it turns us over to emotional “torturers”. The message culminates in a powerful, deeply personal testimony from Cynthia Swindoll, who shares how taking personal responsibility and seeking forgiveness freed her from a five-year abyss of severe depression.

Key Facts

  • Stop and Go: According to Matthew 5, God is honored by immediate obedience. If we realize we have offended someone, we must prioritize reconciliation above even our acts of worship.
  • Limitless Forgiveness: Jesus commanded Peter to forgive “seventy times seven,” indicating that forgiveness should be an infinite, ongoing habit rather than a carefully tracked quota.
  • The Torture of Unforgiveness: Refusing to forgive does not punish the offender; rather, it inflicts agonizing inner torment and bitterness upon the offended.
  • A Life-Changing Choice: Cynthia Swindoll’s testimony illustrates that letting go of blame, dropping unrealistic expectations, and seeking forgiveness from difficult family members—like her abusive father and distant mother-in-law—brings unbelievable emotional and spiritual healing.

Scripture References

  • Matthew 5:23–24
  • Matthew 18:21–35
  • Isaiah 58:6–7
  • Philippians 4:8
  • Proverbs 23:15–16

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Things to Stop and Start

Many of us spend our days saying, “I don’t have enough time!” Meanwhile, our cluttered closet stays cluttered, the thought of our estranged family member still stirs up resentment in our heart, and our time with God remains on the back burner.

Is it really true that we don’t have enough time? Or do we just need help prioritizing what truly matters?

Join Chuck Swindoll for this vital message series and learn:

  • Why to say no to procrastination, blaming, drifting, and other negative traits
  • How to say yes to following through, forgiving, digging into our faith, and more

Let’s start making the most of the time God has given us.


We often complain about not having enough time, yet we allow our lives to be cluttered with habits and attitudes that drain our spiritual energy. In this series, Chuck Swindoll challenges us to take an honest inventory of our lives. Following the biblical principle of “putting off” the old and “putting on” the new, we examine the practical shifts necessary for spiritual maturity. From stopping the blame game to starting a life of vulnerability, these messages offer a roadmap for making the most of the time God has given us.

Message 1: Stop Drifting Along and Start Digging In

Sermon Summary Getting older happens automatically, but growing up spiritually requires intentionality. Too many believers find themselves years into their faith but still shallow in their understanding of God’s Word. This message explores how to stop the passive drift of “easy” Christianity and start the disciplined work of digging deep into the scriptures.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Intentional Growth: Why spiritual maturity is never accidental.
  • The Danger of Shallow Faith: Moving beyond basic knowledge to a life-changing understanding of God.

Primary Scripture References

  • Hebrews 5:11–6:1: The call to move past the elementary teachings and go on to maturity.
  • 2 Peter 3:18: The command to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.

Message 2: Stop Procrastinating and Start Following Through

Sermon Summary Procrastination is often a mask for fear or a lack of discipline. It leaves us with a life full of “half-finished” projects and unkept promises to God. Chuck provides biblical motivation for honoring our commitments and the spiritual benefits of consistent follow-through.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Cost of Delay: How putting things off hinders our witness and spiritual effectiveness.
  • Faithful Stewardship: Treating our time and tasks as a sacred trust from God.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Ecclesiastes 5:4–5: The importance of fulfilling the vows we make to God.

Message 3: Stop Shaming and Start Honoring

Sermon Summary Shame is a destructive tool that isolates and devalues people. In contrast, the biblical call is to honor one another. This message looks at how we can stop using shame as a weapon—whether against ourselves or others—and start reflecting the dignity that God places on every human being.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Grace Alternative: Moving from a culture of condemnation to one of restoration.
  • Building Up vs. Tearing Down: The power of our words to reflect God’s heart.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Romans 12:10: The command to “outdo one another in showing honor.”

Message 4: Stop Blaming and Start Forgiving

Sermon Summary Blame is the enemy of growth because it refuses to take responsibility. By shifting the focus to others’ faults, we remain stuck in bitterness. Chuck explores how to break the cycle of blame by embracing the radical, freeing power of forgiveness—both for ourselves and those who have wronged us.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Ownership: The necessity of taking responsibility for our own reactions and choices.
  • The Freedom of Forgiveness: Why letting go of the “debt” is the only path to healing.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Colossians 3:13: Bearing with one another and forgiving as the Lord forgave us.

Message 5: Stop Worrying and Start Trusting

Sermon Summary Worry is a heavy burden that God never intended us to carry. It assumes that God is not in control or not concerned. This message contrasts the paralysis of anxiety with the peace that comes from actively trusting in the character and promises of our Heavenly Father.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Anxiety vs. Assurance: Shifting focus from our problems to God’s power.
  • Daily Dependence: The practice of “casting cares” on the One who cares for us.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • 1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

Message 6: Stop Resisting and Start Submitting

Sermon Summary Our natural inclination is to fight for our own way, often resisting God’s leading and authority. Chuck examines the beauty and strength found in submission—recognizing that when we stop resisting God’s plan, we find the very protection and guidance we’ve been seeking.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Strength of Surrender: Why submission is a sign of spiritual power, not weakness.
  • Trusting Authority: Finding peace in God’s sovereign direction for our lives.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Message 7: Stop Acting Perfect and Start Being Vulnerable

Sermon Summary Many Christians feel the pressure to “have it all together,” which leads to hypocrisy and isolation. This message encourages us to drop the mask of perfection. When we are honest about our struggles and weaknesses, we create space for God’s power to work and for genuine community to flourish.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Authenticity: The spiritual relief of being real about our needs.
  • Grace in Weakness: How vulnerability invites God’s strength into our lives.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9: God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

Message 8: Stop Lying and Start Acknowledging

Sermon Summary Deception, even in “small” ways, erodes character and destroys trust. Chuck addresses the importance of total honesty, starting with acknowledging the truth about our own hearts before God. This message is a call to live a life of integrity where our outside matches our inside.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Integrity: The foundational role of truth in the life of a believer.
  • The Power of Confession: The healing that comes from bringing truth into the light.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Proverbs 28:13: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.”

Message 9: Stop Criticizing Earth and Start Contemplating Heaven

Sermon Summary It is easy to become cynical and hyper-critical of the world around us. In this series finale, Chuck encourages us to lift our gaze. By focusing on the reality and beauty of our eternal home, we find the perspective and hope needed to live faithfully and joyfully in the present.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Eternal Perspective: How the hope of Heaven changes our priorities on Earth.
  • Joyful Endurance: Moving from a critical spirit to a heart filled with anticipation.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Colossians 3:1–2: Setting our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Written by

Wise Counsel for Troubled Times

Charting a course through the stormy, uncertain seas of our lives can be difficult. It’s impossible without a reliable compass, an accurate set of maps, and some sturdy examples of faith and courage.

In this series, Chuck Swindoll introduces you to many of these courageous and stronghearted individuals. With each message, Chuck invites you to look closely into their lives and discover how to carefully apply to your life what they learned about overcoming challenges. As you fasten yourself to the mainstay of God’s Word, you, too, will stay upright through whatever storms come your way.

Message 1: Sustaining Enthusiasm

Sermon Overview The longer a believer spends engaged in church activities and spiritual routines, the more they are stalked by a dangerous, invisible thief: overexposure. Charles R. Swindoll warns that becoming overly familiar with spiritual truth can lead to boredom, monotony, and a cynical loss of awe for God. Using the ancient Israelites in 1 Corinthians 10 as a warning, he shows how an entire generation experienced daily miracles like manna and the parting of the sea, yet died in the wilderness because they became jaded and craved evil things. Turning to Joshua 1, Swindoll outlines God’s four directives for sustaining enthusiasm: be strong and courageous within, carefully obey all instructions without deviating, continually study and meditate on the Word, and remember that God is always with you.

Key Facts

  • The Danger of Overexposure: Without intentional effort, believers and ministry leaders can easily lose their excitement for the glory of God, reducing the Bible to a mere manual and ministry to a joyless obligation.
  • A Tragic Warning: The Israelites were all guided by the cloud, baptized into Moses, and fed spiritual food, yet God was not pleased with most of them because they lost their enthusiasm and turned to idolatry and grumbling.
  • Nothing Great Without Enthusiasm: Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, Swindoll emphasizes that enthusiasm is essential for achieving anything great; believers must give their all and leave the final results to God.

Scripture References

  • Joshua 1:1–9
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1–11

Message 2: Overcoming Failure

Sermon Overview Two of the most difficult words a person can say are “I failed”. Whether in a marriage, an academic course, a business, or ministry, failure brings immense shame and self-disappointment. Swindoll looks at the agonizing failure of the Apostle Peter, who boldly boasted he would die for Jesus, only to deny even knowing Him three times just hours later under the pressure of a hostile courtyard. When the rooster crowed and Jesus looked at him, Peter left weeping bitterly, completely crushed by his actions. However, Swindoll provides profound hope by tracing Peter’s restoration at the Sea of Galilee, proving that failure need not disable a believer forever.

Key Facts

  • Satan’s Sifting: Satan relentlessly plans for a believer’s failure, actively looking to “sift” them like wheat by targeting their unique weaknesses.
  • The Danger of Smugness: Believers must never arrogantly say “never” to sin; pride goes before destruction, and everyone is only one stumble away from a fall.
  • Signs of Recovery: True recovery from failure involves a sudden jolt of awareness, a heartbreaking rush of anguish and tears, a quiet acknowledgment of God’s full forgiveness, and a sensitive realization of renewed purpose.

Scripture References

  • Luke 22:31–34, 54–62
  • Mark 16:5–7
  • John 21:1–17
  • 1 Corinthians 10:6–12

Message 3: Never Quitting

Sermon Overview Living in a post-Christian culture requires enormous determination, because society will constantly urge believers to back off, compromise, and fall in line. In his final letter from a dark Roman dungeon, the Apostle Paul issues a passionate charge to his young protégé, Timothy, to never quit. Paul accurately describes the “last days” as savage and menacing times filled with people who love themselves and reject the truth. In response, Paul commands Timothy to stand firm and faithfully preach the Word of God, correcting and rebuking without apology. Swindoll emphasizes that faithful biblical exposition is the necessary “strong medicine” for a sick society, warning against churches that substitute truth for “warm and fuzzy” entertainment.

Key Facts

  • Savage Times: The Greek word for “difficult” times in 2 Timothy 3:1 was used to describe fierce, wild animals and raging storms, perfectly depicting the menacing, depraved culture believers face today.
  • The Pastoral Job Description: Pastors are strictly commanded to preach the word, be prepared in all seasons, correct, rebuke, and encourage their congregations with immense patience.
  • No Retirement from Life: Though society encourages people to “retire” and withdraw in their later years, believers are called to stay engaged and run the race fully until the very end.

Scripture References

  • 2 Timothy 3:1–5, 10–14
  • 2 Timothy 4:1–5
  • 2 Corinthians 11:23–28

Message 4: Thinking Biblically

Sermon Overview The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground where the primary fight is over the control of the mind. Swindoll explains that if the enemy can seize how a person thinks, he can dictate how they live. Using Romans 12, the message challenges believers to stop copying the behaviors, customs, and politically correct molds of the modern world. Instead, Christians must allow God’s Word to radically transform their thinking. To illustrate this, Swindoll highlights the heroic life of King Josiah. Despite inheriting a dark, idolatrous nation, Josiah sought the Lord as a teenager, purged the nation of idols, and led a massive spiritual reformation the moment he heard the newly discovered Book of the Law read aloud.

Key Facts

  • The World’s Mold: The “world” (or age) consists of the floating mass of opinions, speculations, and immoral atmospheres that constantly attempt to squeeze believers into conformity.
  • A Tender Heart: Unlike his wicked father and grandfather, Josiah cultivated a tender heart; when he finally heard the Scriptures at age 26, he tore his clothes in despair over the nation’s failure and immediately instituted change.
  • How to Proceed: Learning to think biblically requires maintaining an open Bible daily, cultivating a tender heart that invites truth to impact daily decisions, and possessing a willingness to actually change and break ungodly traditions.

Scripture References

  • Romans 12:1–2
  • 2 Corinthians 10:3–5
  • 2 Chronicles 34:1–33
  • 2 Kings 22:1

Message 5: Demonstrating Wisdom

Sermon Overview Rash reactions driven by anger and emotion never lead to anything good, often leaving a trail of regret and destruction. Swindoll unpacks a tense, dramatic narrative from 1 Samuel 25 involving David, a wealthy fool named Nabal, and Nabal’s sensible wife, Abigail. When Nabal selfishly insults David’s men, David loses his temper and straps on his sword, intending to slaughter Nabal’s entire household. Disaster is averted only by the swift, tactical wisdom of Abigail, who intercepts David with a generous peace offering and a brilliant, calming speech. Her wisdom stops David from ruining his future legacy with an act of murderous revenge.

Key Facts

  • The Folly of Insensitivity: Nabal, whose name literally means “fool,” represents the insensitive, ill-tempered spouse whose selfish actions bring unnecessary danger and heartache to their entire family.
  • Wisdom in Action: Rather than arguing with her foolish husband, Abigail wasted no time; she gathered provisions, rode out to meet an angry David, and humbly took the blame to de-escalate the crisis.
  • Intrinsic Motivation: Abigail wisely appealed to David’s long-term calling, reminding him that God would soon make him king and he did not want the permanent stain of needless bloodshed on his conscience.

Scripture References

  • 1 Samuel 25:1–42
  • Proverbs 16:7

Message 6: Taking Responsibility

Sermon Overview One of the most damaging concepts in modern Christianity is the false division between “secular” and “sacred” work. Swindoll dismantles this dichotomy by looking at the versatile life of Nehemiah. God is the creator and owner of all things, meaning every legitimate occupation is a sacred, God-given calling. Nehemiah faithfully wore three distinct hats for God’s glory: a servant’s hat as the trusted cupbearer to the Persian King, a hard hat as the construction supervisor who miraculously rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls in 52 days, and a politician’s hat as the governor who reformed the city’s corruption. Believers are challenged to be “all there” and live their specific occupational callings to the hilt.

Key Facts

  • The Role of the Cupbearer: Nehemiah began as an officer who tasted the king’s wine to prevent assassination, a position of massive influence, trust, and intimacy with the most powerful ruler in the world.
  • No Secular Jobs: Whether a person is a banker, pilot, teacher, or homemaker, they are a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ; their daily work is a spiritual assignment meant to be done willingly for God.
  • Intrinsic Motivation: Nehemiah was not driven by money, personal glory, or public applause; he was driven by the deep internal conviction that the gracious hand of God was upon him to accomplish the task.

Scripture References

  • Nehemiah 1:1–4
  • Nehemiah 2:1–18
  • Nehemiah 6:15
  • Nehemiah 8:9
  • Colossians 3:17, 23

Message 7: Standing Alone

Sermon Overview It is incredibly easy to feel insignificant in a crowded, busy world, but God’s historical plans consistently hinge on the power of one individual. Exploring the dramatic story of Queen Esther, Swindoll highlights the ultimate test of character: standing alone when no one else can do what you are positioned to do. When a Hitler-like official named Haman passes an irrevocable decree to slaughter every Jew in Persia, Esther is safely hidden in the royal palace. However, her cousin Mordecai challenges her to realize she may have been made queen for “such a time as this”. Risking her own execution, Esther bravely steps out of the safe harbor of theory to break the law and plead for her people’s survival.

Key Facts

  • A Book Without God’s Name: Esther is the only book in the Bible where God’s name is completely absent, yet His sovereign, invisible hand of providence is clearly seen orchestrating every detail.
  • “Such a Time as This”: Mordecai warned Esther that her palace walls would not save her, urging her to recognize that her entire life trajectory was likely designed by God for this exact heroic moment.
  • The Courage to Act: Esther requested three days of fasting from her people before delivering her famous resolution: “I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die”.

Scripture References

  • Esther 3:8–13
  • Esther 4:1–17

Message 8: Respecting Authority

Sermon Overview In a modern era dominated by an arrogant spirit of entitlement, society constantly urges people to question and rebel against authority. Swindoll delivers strong, counter-cultural advice: believers are called to humbly respect authority, even when those in charge are unfair. Looking at the life of David, the message traces his years as a fugitive fleeing from the insanely jealous, murderous King Saul. Even when David found Saul completely vulnerable in a cave at En-gedi, David refused to draw his sword, stating he would never harm the Lord’s anointed. David’s profound restraint illustrates that believers must refuse to fight in the flesh and leave all vengeance to the righteous anger of God.

Key Facts

  • The Burden of Jealousy: Though David was a loyal, successful teenage military commander, King Saul was so intimidated by David’s popularity that he became obsessed with murdering him.
  • Sparing the Enemy: Urged by his men to kill Saul in the cave, David only cut off a piece of Saul’s robe, and his conscience immediately bothered him for even showing that minor disrespect to the king.
  • Vengeance Belongs to God: The biblical mandate is to never take personal revenge; believers are commanded to leave room for God’s justice and to overcome evil by doing good to their enemies.

Scripture References

  • 1 Samuel 24:1–22
  • Romans 12:19–21
  • Romans 13:1–5
  • Proverbs 16:7

Message 9: Cultivating Humility

Sermon Overview True humility is a desperately rare commodity in a world driven by ego, resume-building, and self-promotion. Swindoll identifies John the Baptist as the ultimate biblical model of an authentic, humble leader. Though John was a sensation who drew massive crowds to the Judean wilderness, he never manipulated his authority or sought the spotlight. When people asked if he was the Messiah, he bluntly said “no,” identifying himself merely as a voice preparing the way for Christ. As Jesus’s ministry grew and John’s disciples began leaving him, John rejoiced like a best man at a wedding, establishing the ultimate life motto for every believer: “He must increase, I must decrease”.

Key Facts

  • Acting “Medium”: Humility is not denying your gifts or walking around acting worthless (false humility); it is simply not calling attention to yourself, a concept Swindoll summarizes as choosing to “act medium”.
  • A Contented Witness: John performed no miracles and wore bizarre clothing, yet he perfectly fulfilled his calling to be the “lamp” pointing people to the true “Light” of the world.
  • The Cure for Envy: Envy thrives in the church and corporate world, but true humility finds genuine joy in the success and promotion of others, happily stepping into the shadows so God gets the glory.

Scripture References

  • John 1:6–8, 19–37
  • John 3:25–30
  • Matthew 11:11

Message 10: Studying Hard

Sermon Overview Ignorance of the Bible breeds superstition, fear, and instability; conversely, digging deeply into the Scriptures produces immense joy, peace, and spiritual strength. Following 70 years of exile in Babylon, the Jewish people returned to Jerusalem severely disconnected from their spiritual heritage. Swindoll focuses on Ezra, a scribe and priest who devoted his life to carefully studying, obeying, and teaching the Word of God. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra stands on a wooden platform at the Water Gate and reads the scroll from morning until noon. Because Ezra and the Levites clearly explained the meaning of the text, the people finally understood God’s truth, resulting in a magnificent celebration and national revival.

Key Facts

  • Three Return Companies: The Jews returned from Babylon in three waves: Zerubbabel returned to rebuild the temple, Ezra returned to reestablish the worship and the Law, and Nehemiah returned to rebuild the city wall.
  • Ezra’s Determination: Ezra’s profound success was rooted in a conscious, disciplined decision to study the Scriptures, apply them to his own life, and accurately teach them to a generation that had forgotten them.
  • The Blueprint for Exposition: True biblical preaching involves reading the literal text of the Bible, clearly explaining its meaning, and helping the congregation understand how to practically apply it to their lives.

Scripture References

  • Ezra 7:1–10
  • Nehemiah 8:1–14
  • 2 Chronicles 36:14–20

Message 11: Modeling Integrity

Sermon Overview Integrity is an essential character quality defined as wholeness, soundness, and being entirely the same in private as you are in public. Swindoll looks at the life of Daniel, an eighty-year-old statesman who maintained a flawless record of integrity through several corrupt Babylonian and Persian regimes. When King Darius planned to promote Daniel to oversee the entire empire, jealous officials tried to find dirt on him but found absolutely nothing. Consequently, they manipulated the king into signing an irrevocable law making prayer illegal. Unfazed, Daniel went home and prayed to God just as he always had, fully accepting the terrifying consequence of the lions’ den.

Key Facts

  • Authenticity, Not Perfection: Being a person of integrity does not mean a person never sins; rather, it means they are completely authentic, quick to admit wrong, and live without the dualistic hypocrisy of a double life.
  • Consistency Under Pressure: Daniel did not panic or suddenly start praying because of the new law; his integrity was proven by his steady, unbroken habit of praying and giving thanks to God three times a day “as usual”.
  • The Rewards of Character: Living a life of integrity brings the continued relief of a clear conscience, personal intimacy with God, and the priceless inheritance of a lingering legacy for your children.

Scripture References

  • Daniel 6:1–28
  • Proverbs 10:9
  • Proverbs 20:6–7

Message 12: Extending Grace

Sermon Overview We have all been unfairly wounded, and the natural human instinct is to nurse bitterness and plot revenge. However, Swindoll teaches that the grinding feelings of resentment are only resolved by extending grace. To illustrate this, he examines the life of Joseph, who endured 13 years of horrific victimization: he was hated by his brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and forgotten in an Egyptian dungeon. Decades later, as the powerful Prime Minister of Egypt, Joseph possessed absolute authority over the brothers who ruined his youth. Instead of executing them, Joseph wept, forgave them, and provided for them, recognizing that God had sovereignly orchestrated the entire ordeal.

Key Facts

  • Grace in Action: Grace means doing what is best and right when you have been done wrong, and responding with a forgiving attitude even if the guilty party never genuinely repents.
  • Refusing to Play God: When Joseph’s brothers cowered in fear, Joseph extended grace by asking, “Am I God?” He recognized that taking vengeance and punishing others is a role reserved strictly for the Lord.
  • The Divine Perspective: Joseph was freed from bitterness because he grasped the overarching sovereignty of God, telling his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good”.

Scripture References

  • Genesis 37:2
  • Genesis 39:1–23
  • Genesis 50:14–21
  • Romans 8:28

Message 13: Encouraging Others

Sermon Overview Encouraging others is not merely a nice idea; according to the New Testament, it is a strict, vital command for every believer. Swindoll introduces a man named Joseph from Cyprus, who was so exceptional at lifting others up that the apostles officially nicknamed him Barnabas, meaning “Son of Encouragement”. Barnabas’s life provides a practical blueprint for how believers can inject courage into a hurting world. He modeled financial generosity by selling his land to provide for persecuted Christians, and he bravely risked his reputation to endorse the newly converted (and highly feared) Saul of Tarsus. Ultimately, Barnabas demonstrated the profound grace of giving a “second chance” when he stubbornly refused to give up on the young defector, John Mark.

Key Facts

  • The Power of Endorsement: When the apostles in Jerusalem rightfully feared Saul because of his violent past, Barnabas spontaneously stepped forward, took Saul by the arm, and vouched for the authenticity of his conversion.
  • Unselfish Teamwork: When a revival broke out in Antioch, Barnabas did not hoard the spotlight; he traveled 100 miles to Tarsus to find Saul, bringing him back so they could share the ministry load together.
  • Second Chance Encouragement: Paul and Barnabas had a massive, sharp disagreement over John Mark, who had previously deserted them. While Paul refused to travel with a quitter, Barnabas’s commitment to encouraging the fallen ultimately salvaged Mark’s ministry.

Scripture References

  • Acts 4:32–37
  • Acts 9:19–28
  • Acts 11:19–26
  • Acts 15:36–41
  • Hebrews 10:23–25
  • Job 4:3–4

Written by

Biblical Parenting

Parenting is a privilege . . . and yet, it sometimes feels like a struggle. Whether persevering through an infant's late-night cries or grappling with a teenager's bad attitude, all parents need help. This series will throw a lifeline to moms and dads as Chuck Swindoll teaches biblical and practical principles for godly parenting.

In this practical and heart-to-heart series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the high calling of raising children. Moving beyond rigid rules, Chuck focuses on the “spirit” of the home, emphasizing the importance of understanding each child’s unique, God-given “bent,” breaking generational cycles of unhealthy behavior, and fostering an environment of grace and delight.

Message 1: Discovering Your Child and Yourself

  • Overview: Parenting begins with self-awareness. This message explores how a parent’s own temperament and history impact their children, and the importance of “studying” each child to understand their unique personality.
  • Key Fact: Effective parenting requires a “discovery” mindset—treating each child as a unique puzzle to be solved rather than a project to be managed.
  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 139:13–16

Message 2: The Bents in Your Baby

  • Overview: A deep dive into the most famous parenting verse in the Bible. Chuck explains that “the way he should go” refers to a child’s natural inclinations and God-given design.
  • Key Fact: Training a child according to their “bent” means aligning our discipline and encouragement with their natural strengths rather than trying to force them into a mold.
  • Scripture Reference: Proverbs 22:6

Message 3: Straightening Granddad’s Bent

  • Overview: This message addresses the reality of generational patterns. Chuck discusses how to identify and “straighten” the negative habits or sins that have been passed down through family lines.
  • Key Fact: Breaking a family cycle requires an intentional, biblical intervention to prevent the “sins of the fathers” from affecting the next generation.
  • Scripture Reference: Exodus 34:6–7

Message 4: Unpacking Our ”Ancestral Baggage”

  • Overview: Every parent brings “luggage” from their own upbringing into their new home. Chuck provides a roadmap for unpacking and discarding the emotional and spiritual baggage that hinders healthy parenting.
  • Key Fact: The first step toward parenting freedom is identifying which of your reactions are rooted in your past rather than your child’s current behavior.
  • Scripture Reference: Ezekiel 18:14–17

Message 5: Shaping the Will with Wisdom

  • Overview: Chuck explores the delicate balance between discipline and spirit. This message focuses on how to shape a child’s will through consistent, wise discipline without crushing their spirit.
  • Key Fact: Biblical discipline is a proactive investment in a child’s future character, not a reactive vent for a parent’s frustration.
  • Scripture Reference: Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 13:24

Message 6: Delighting in Your Children

  • Overview: Parenting should not be a drudgery. Chuck encourages parents to recapture the joy of family life by learning to truly “delight” in the gift of their children.
  • Key Fact: A child’s sense of security is deeply tied to the visible delight and approval they see in their parents’ eyes.
  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 127:3–5

Message 7: Delightful Memories Your Children Won’t Forget

  • Overview: This message emphasizes the importance of legacy. Chuck discusses how to intentionally build “memorials of delight” through traditions, laughter, and shared experiences.
  • Key Fact: Traditions and positive memories serve as emotional “anchors” that keep children grounded in their faith and family identity as they grow.
  • Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 6:6–9

Message 8: When the Fun Stops for Parents

  • Overview: An encouraging word for parents facing the “tough stuff”—seasons of rebellion, exhaustion, or disappointment where the joy of parenting seems to have vanished.
  • Key Fact: Perseverance in parenting is a spiritual discipline; God provides special grace for the seasons when parenting feels more like a battle than a blessing.
  • Scripture Reference: Galatians 6:9; Lamentations 3:22–23

Message 9: Resolving Those Parent-Child Conflicts

  • Overview: Conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Chuck outlines a biblical process for resolving tension and restoring harmony between parents and children.
  • Key Fact: Reconciliation is more important than “winning” an argument; humble parents who can admit they are wrong model the Gospel for their children.
  • Scripture Reference: Ephesians 6:1–4

Message 10: Accepting Reproof from Those Who Love Us

  • Overview: A message on the humility of a parent. Chuck discusses the value of being open to correction and feedback from spouses, mentors, and even our own children.
  • Key Fact: A teachable parent is much more likely to raise a teachable child; modeling humility is the most effective way to teach it.
  • Scripture Reference: Proverbs 15:31–32

Message 11: Suggestions for Parenting Grown-Up Kids

  • Overview: As children reach adulthood, the parenting role must shift from “coach” to “consultant.” Chuck provides wisdom for navigating this complex and often difficult transition.
  • Key Fact: Influence with adult children is based on relationship and respect, not on the authority or control that characterized the childhood years.
  • Scripture Reference: Proverbs 17:6

Message 12: What to Do When You’ve Blown It

  • Overview: The series concludes with a message of hope for parents who feel they have failed. Chuck explains that it is never too late to seek forgiveness and begin a process of restoration.
  • Key Fact: God is the God of the “second chance,” and His grace is sufficient to cover our parenting mistakes and heal family rifts.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 1:9; Joel 2:25–26

Written by

Living Right in a Wrong World

We live in an upside-down world, where wrong is right and right is wrong.

How are we to live in such a world? A letter written in the first century by the apostle John provides the answer. Join Chuck Swindoll as he explores the profound truths found in the epistle of 1 John. Chuck will provide practical insights into this little letter of significance, teaching you how to live right in a wrong world.


We live in an “upside-down” culture where biblical values are often met with skepticism or hostility. In this 16-part study of 1 John, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores how believers can maintain their spiritual equilibrium in a world that has lost its way. This “little letter of significance” provides the essential benchmarks for distinguishing truth from error, dealing with sin, and walking in the absolute assurance of God’s love.

1. Living Right in a Wrong World (Introduction)

  • Overview: Sets the stage for the series by addressing the powerful momentum of secular culture. It calls believers to a life of distinctiveness rather than conformity.
  • Key Fact: To live “right” requires a conscious decision to anchor one’s life in the eternal truth of God’s Word rather than the shifting opinions of society.

2. A Profound Preface (1 John 1:1–4)

  • Overview: John begins his letter with an eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ, the “Word of Life.” He emphasizes that our fellowship with God is rooted in historical reality.
  • Key Fact: John’s primary goal is that his readers’ “joy may be made complete” through a shared relationship with the Father and the Son.
  • Scripture: 1 John 1:1 – “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes… concerning the Word of Life.”

3. God’s Light and Our Blight (1 John 1:5–10)

  • Overview: Explores the contrast between God’s absolute purity (Light) and our human tendency toward sin (Blight). It introduces the essential practice of confession.
  • Key Fact: Walking in the light doesn’t mean being perfect; it means being honest with God about our imperfections.
  • Scripture: 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

4. Family Rules for “Little Children” (1 John 2:1–2)

  • Overview: John writes so that we may “not sin,” but he quickly provides the remedy for when we do: we have an Advocate with the Father.
  • Key Fact: Jesus is our “Propitiation”—the sacrifice that satisfies God’s justice and restores our family standing.
  • Scripture: 1 John 2:1 – “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”

5. The Believer’s Badge (1 John 2:3–11)

  • Overview: How do we know we truly know Him? The “badge” of a believer is a life of obedience and a sincere love for other brothers and sisters.
  • Key Fact: You cannot claim to walk in the light while simultaneously harboring hatred for a fellow believer.
  • Scripture: 1 John 2:10 – “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”

6. Strong Talk on the Cosmos (1 John 2:12–17)

  • Overview: A warning against loving “the world” (the cosmos)—the system of values that excludes God. John identifies the three great lures: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.
  • Key Fact: The world is passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
  • Scripture: 1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

7. The Disturbing Realities of Our Times (1 John 2:18–23)

  • Overview: Addresses the “last hour” and the presence of antichrists—those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. It urges believers to stay grounded in the truth they have heard from the beginning.
  • Key Fact: True believers are marked by their perseverance; those who “went out from us” were never truly “of us.”
  • Scripture: 1 John 2:19 – “They went out from us, but they were not really of us.”

8. Dealing with Deceivers (1 John 2:24–29)

  • Overview: Provides a defense against false teachers. The “anointing” (the Holy Spirit) helps the believer distinguish between the lie and the truth.
  • Key Fact: The best way to deal with deceivers is to let the Word “abide” in you so deeply that error has no place to take root.
  • Scripture: 1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you.”

9. Our Lord’s Return: What Then? (1 John 3:1–3)

  • Overview: Focuses on the “blessed hope” of Christ’s return. Seeing God as He is will finally transform us completely into His likeness.
  • Key Fact: This hope is not just a future comfort; it is a present motivation for purity.
  • Scripture: 1 John 3:3 – “And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

10. That Nasty Three-Letter Word (1 John 3:4–10)

  • Overview: A hard-hitting look at sin (S-I-N). John contrasts the “children of God” with the “children of the devil” based on their habitual practice of righteousness or sin.
  • Key Fact: A true child of God cannot live in a state of habitual, unrepentant sin because God’s seed abides in them.
  • Scripture: 1 John 3:9 – “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him.”

11. Love and Hate: Where Are You? (1 John 3:11–18)

  • Overview: Contrasts the spirit of Cain (murder/hate) with the spirit of Christ (sacrifice/love). Love is defined not by feelings, but by “deed and truth.”
  • Key Fact: Love is the evidence that we have “passed out of death into life.”
  • Scripture: 1 John 3:18 – “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”

12. You and Your Conscience (1 John 3:19–24)

  • Overview: Addresses the problem of a “condemning heart.” John reminds us that God is greater than our hearts and knows all things, providing peace for the troubled conscience.
  • Key Fact: Confidence in prayer is linked to a conscience that is clear before God through obedience and faith.
  • Scripture: 1 John 3:20 – “In whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”

13. Distinguishing Truth from Error (1 John 4:1–6)

  • Overview: The command to “test the spirits.” Not every spiritual experience or teacher is from God; the litmus test is their confession of Jesus Christ.
  • Key Fact: The one who is in us (the Holy Spirit) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan).
  • Scripture: 1 John 4:4 – “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

14. The Supreme Significance of Love (1 John 4:7–21)

  • Overview: A profound exploration of the statement “God is love.” Our ability to love others is the direct outworking of God’s love being perfected in us.
  • Key Fact: Perfect love casts out fear, especially the fear of judgment.
  • Scripture: 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.”

15. Believers, Overcomers, Witnesses (1 John 5:1–12)

  • Overview: Defines what it means to “overcome the world.” It is our faith in Jesus Christ that gives us the victory over the cosmos and its lures.
  • Key Fact: God has given us an internal witness—the testimony of the Spirit—that we have eternal life.
  • Scripture: 1 John 5:4 – “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

16. Absolute Assurance (1 John 5:13–21)

  • Overview: The series concludes with the “Knows” of 1 John. We can know we have eternal life, know He hears our prayers, and know we belong to God.
  • Key Fact: John wrote this letter so that believers could move from “guessing” to “knowing” their standing before God.
  • Scripture: 1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you… so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

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