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1 Corinthians

God’s Masterwork, Volume Six

Do you need a biblical pick-me-up? The New Testament contains 13 letters written by the apostle Paul that explain theology, correct faults, encourage godly living, and outline the structure and function of the church. God’s Masterwork, Volume Six: Letters to God’s People—A Survey of Romans–Philemon describes how these topics apply to your life today.

In God’s Masterwork, Volume Six, Chuck Swindoll reminds listeners that even though the apostle wrote during the first century AD, Paul’s epistles comprise God’s inspired, inerrant Word, which applies to your life today. So, you can read these New Testament letters as if Paul addressed them to you!

Enjoy God’s Masterwork, Volume Six, and grow in your love and obedience to Christ.


In this sixth volume of the God’s Masterwork survey, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the thirteen New Testament epistles written by the apostle Paul (Romans through Philemon). These letters form the theological core of the Christian faith, addressing everything from the mechanics of salvation and the mystery of the church to practical instructions for leadership, marriage, and handling conflict. By studying these “letters to God’s people,” we discover that the ancient wisdom provided to the early church is exactly what we need to thrive in the modern world.

Message 1. Romans: Cornerstone of Christian Truth

  • Overview: A grand theological treatise that methodically explains the gospel, beginning with humanity’s need for a Savior and ending with the practical outworking of grace in daily life.
  • Key Fact: Romans has been the primary instrument God has used to shape the minds of history’s greatest theologians, from Augustine to Martin Luther.
  • Scripture: Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Message 2. 1 Corinthians: Conflicts at Church

  • Overview: Paul addresses a “problem church” struggling with division, lawsuits, and moral compromise, providing the timeless corrective of love and spiritual discipline.
  • Key Fact: The famous “Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 13) was originally written as a corrective for a church that was abusing spiritual gifts and neglecting character.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Message 3. 2 Corinthians: A Man and His Ministry

  • Overview: The most personal of Paul’s letters, where he defends his apostolic authority and explains the beauty of God’s power being displayed through human weakness.
  • Key Fact: This book teaches that our “jars of clay” (weakness) are intentional so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be seen as from God and not us.
  • Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Message 4. Galatians: Letter of Liberation

  • Overview: A fierce defense of the gospel of grace against legalism. Paul argues that we are justified by faith alone and called to live in spiritual freedom.
  • Key Fact: Galatians is often called the “Magna Carta of Christian Liberty” because it liberates the believer from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor through the Law.
  • Scripture: Galatians 5:1 – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Message 5. Ephesians: True Portrait of the Church

  • Overview: Focuses on the “mystery” of the church—the body of Christ. It details our high position in the heavenly places and our calling to walk in a manner worthy of that position.
  • Key Fact: The first three chapters focus on our wealth in Christ (position), while the last three focus on our walk for Christ (practice).
  • Scripture: Ephesians 2:8–9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God; not as a result of works.”

Message 6. Philippians: Joy in Abundance

  • Overview: Written from a prison cell, this “letter of joy” emphasizes that true contentment is found in Christ, regardless of external circumstances.
  • Key Fact: The word “joy” or “rejoice” appears sixteen times in just four short chapters.
  • Scripture: Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Message 7. Colossians: Christ, Our All in All

  • Overview: A powerful declaration of the supremacy and preeminence of Jesus Christ, written to combat early forms of Gnosticism and legalism.
  • Key Fact: Paul argues that because “in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells,” we are made complete in Him and need no other secret knowledge or ritual.
  • Scripture: Colossians 1:18 – “He is also head of the body, the church… so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

Message 8. 1 Thessalonians: A Heart-to-Heart Talk

  • Overview: A warm, encouraging letter to a young church, focusing on their growth in faith and the comforting hope of Christ’s return (the Rapture).
  • Key Fact: Every single chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout… and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

Message 9. 2 Thessalonians: Christ’s Coming . . . My Response

  • Overview: Written to correct a misunderstanding that the “Day of the Lord” had already come, Paul urges the believers to stay busy and remain steadfast.
  • Key Fact: This letter clarifies that while we wait for Christ, we must avoid being “undisciplined” or idle, but should work and serve faithfully.
  • Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:15 – “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught.”

Message 10. 1 Timothy: Wise Counsel for Shepherds

  • Overview: The first of the “Pastoral Epistles,” giving Timothy instructions on church leadership, sound doctrine, and the qualifications for overseers and deacons.
  • Key Fact: Paul wrote this letter to ensure that Timothy knew “how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God.”
  • Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12 – “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather… show yourself an example.”

Message 11. 2 Timothy: Paul’s Swan Song

  • Overview: Paul’s final letter, written from a cold Roman dungeon shortly before his execution. He urges Timothy to “preach the word” and stay faithful until the end.
  • Key Fact: This book contains Paul’s “final words,” where he famously declares, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”
  • Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”

Message 12. Titus: Talk for Pastors

  • Overview: Written to Titus on the island of Crete, this letter focuses on the importance of “good deeds” as the natural fruit of sound doctrine.
  • Key Fact: Paul emphasizes that the church’s leadership must be strong to silence “rebellious men” and “empty talkers.”
  • Scripture: Titus 2:11–12 – “For the grace of God has appeared… instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires.”

Message 13. Philemon: An Appeal for Grace and Forgiveness

  • Overview: A personal postcard to a slave-owner named Philemon, asking him to receive back his runaway slave, Onesimus, no longer as a slave but as a beloved brother.
  • Key Fact: This short letter is a masterpiece of Christian diplomacy and a beautiful illustration of the power of reconciliation.
  • Scripture: Philemon 1:17 – “If then you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.”

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Staying Pure in a World Gone Wild

Drive down any highway, and your eyes will be assaulted by scantily clad women on billboards. Sit down to watch a football game, and you’ll want to change the channel when the commercials come on. And we haven’t even mentioned the Internet or reality television! It’s not easy remaining moral when the world is so immoral. But Chuck Swindoll offers help in this series of four timely and practical messages on sexual purity. It’s a series for the married or single, man or woman. It’s a series for anyone who wants to learn how to keep from falling into immorality and for those who have already fallen. It’s a series for all who desire to walk with God without shame.


Our modern world is an obstacle course of moral challenges. From billboards and television to the constant accessibility of the internet, the pressure to conform to a culture of promiscuity is relentless. In this four-part series, Chuck Swindoll addresses the essential topic of sexual purity with directness and grace. Whether you are single or married, man or woman, these messages offer practical help for guarding your heart, resisting temptation, and—for those who have already stumbled—finding the path back to a walk with God without shame.

Message 1: A Plea for Morality

Sermon Summary Sexual promiscuity is as old as humanity, yet it always attempts to disguise itself with new, more “palatable” labels. In this message, Chuck strips away the modern euphemisms to look at the timeless biblical plea for morality. We explore why our bodies are not our own but are temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased at a great price. Understanding this sacred ownership is the first step in living a life that honors God’s design for human sexuality.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The High Cost of Immorality: Recognizing that sexual sin carries unique spiritual and emotional weight.
  • Divine Ownership: Shifting our perspective to see our bodies as belonging to the Lord.

Primary Scripture References

  • 1 Corinthians 6:15–20: Paul’s instruction to flee from sexual immorality and glorify God in the body.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:1–7: The call to live a life of sanctification and self-control.

Message 2: How to Say “No” When Lust Says “Yes”

Sermon Summary Temptation often speaks with a loud, demanding voice. This message provides practical, tactical advice for the moment of decision. Chuck discusses the importance of setting boundaries, guarding our “eye gates,” and developing a proactive strategy for resistance. We learn that saying “no” to lust is only possible when we have already said a greater “yes” to the satisfaction found in Christ.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Strategy of Resistance: Identifying “danger zones” and creating escape routes.
  • Internal Transformation: The role of the mind and the heart in overcoming external temptation.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Proverbs 5: Solomon’s practical warnings and instructions regarding the pitfalls of adultery.

Message 3: Creating a Legacy of Moral Purity

Sermon Summary Our moral choices do not happen in a vacuum; they affect the generations that follow. In this message, we look at the long-term impact of a commitment to purity. Chuck encourages us to see our integrity as a vital part of our family legacy, providing a model of faithfulness and security for our children and those who look to us as examples.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Power of Example: How a consistent walk of purity builds a foundation for others.
  • Long-Term Vision: Shifting focus from immediate gratification to a lasting spiritual heritage.

Message 4: Who Says the Honeymoon Must End?

Sermon Summary The best defense against immorality is a healthy, vibrant, and joyful marriage. In this series finale, Chuck focuses on the proactive side of purity: cultivating intimacy and romance within the bonds of matrimony. By prioritizing the marriage relationship and keeping the “honeymoon” spirit alive, couples can create a fortress that protects them from the lures of the world.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Cultivating Intimacy: Practical ways to deepen the connection between husband and wife.
  • The Joy of Faithfulness: Celebrating the beauty of God’s design for sexual expression within marriage.

Common Questions about Purity and Morality (FAQ)

Is it really possible to stay pure in today’s digital culture? Yes, but it requires intentionality and a reliance on the Holy Spirit. Purity is not just the absence of sin; it is a proactive commitment to godliness. Utilizing accountability, internet filters, and—most importantly—a daily saturation in God’s Word are essential tools for modern believers.

What should I do if I have already fallen into immorality? There is hope and restoration in Christ. The first steps are honest confession to God, turning away from the sin (repentance), and seeking biblical counseling or accountability to walk the path of healing. God’s grace is sufficient to wash away the past and provide a new beginning.

Why is the Bible so strict about sexual behavior? God’s laws are not meant to steal our fun, but to protect us. Like a fireplace protects a house from the destructive power of fire, the boundaries of marriage protect the intimacy and power of sex from becoming a destructive force in our lives and families.

Does purity apply to my thoughts as well as my actions? Yes. Jesus taught that the heart is the source of our actions (Matthew 5:27–28). Cultivating purity of thought by meditating on what is true and honorable is the best way to ensure that our outward actions remain consistent with our faith.

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Best of 2009

“God . . . in control? Are you kidding? Look around; all you see is chaos and godlessness.”

David wrote in Psalm 12:8 that “the wicked freely strut about / when what is vile is honored among men” (NIV). There certainly seems to be a lot of strutting about these days, making it difficult for some believers to live lives of godliness and causing others to doubt God’s sovereignty. But Chuck Swindoll encourages us to stand fast in the faith and continue to trust in the truth that our God is in control, when he provides a “Survival Strategy for Our Times” and helps us recall “Timely Reminders of Timeless Truths.”


In a world that often feels chaotic and increasingly godless, it is easy for believers to feel “out of joint” or to doubt God’s sovereignty. This two-part collection of the most impactful messages from 2009 provides a spiritual anchor. Pastor Chuck Swindoll offers a clear “survival strategy” for modern times, reminding us that even when the wicked seem to thrive, God remains in absolute control. These messages serve as a vital encouragement to stand fast in the faith and rely on truths that never change.

Message 1. Survival Strategy for Our Times (1 Corinthians 16:13)

  • Overview: Addresses the fundamental spiritual unease that many experience in a shifting culture. Chuck provides four specific commands for survival: be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong.
  • Key Fact: Survival isn’t about hiding; it’s about a proactive, courageous stance rooted in the strength and love of Christ.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

Message 2. Timely Reminders of Timeless Truths (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: A survey of the foundational biblical truths that provide stability during uncertain times. This message acts as a “spiritual reset,” bringing our focus back to God’s character and His promises.
  • Key Fact: When what is “vile” is honored in society, the believer’s best defense is to return to the timeless Word of God.
  • Scripture: Psalm 12:8 (NIV) – “The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.”

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Getting Through the Tough Stuff

Wouldn’t it be great if our days came with a “Do Over” button?

Ever had one of those days when nothing, absolutely nothing, goes according to plan? Well, Chuck Swindoll has had his share of days he’d like to do over. But since life doesn’t come with a “Do Over” button, Chuck shares how we can make the best of our days—even if it always seems that it’s one thing or another.

In this practical series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the reality that life doesn’t come with a “do-over” button. By looking at how Jesus and biblical figures handled crises, Chuck provides a roadmap for finding hope and resilience.

Message 1. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Temptation

  • Overview: No one is immune to the pull of temptation. By examining Jesus’ encounter with Satan in the wilderness, Chuck demonstrates that temptation is not a sin, but a test of our allegiances.
  • Key Fact: Temptation often strikes at our points of greatest physical or emotional weakness (the “chink in the armor”); the primary defense is a pre-determined reliance on Scripture.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 4:15

Message 2. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Misunderstanding

  • Overview: Jesus was misunderstood by the religious elite, his townsfolk, and even his own family. This message offers comfort for those who feel isolated or wrongly judged.
  • Key Fact: Being misunderstood is often the price of following God’s unique call on your life. Acceptance from God is more foundational than approval from people.
  • Scripture Reference: Mark 3:21; Mark 3:1–35

Message 3. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Anxiety

  • Overview: Anxiety “strangles” our perspective. Using the story of Mary and Martha, Chuck shows how to slow down, simplify, and prioritize our relationship with Christ over “much serving.”
  • Key Fact: The “Mathematics of Worry” involves adding expectations, subtracting God’s presence, multiplying problems through imagination, and dividing life into sacred and secular.
  • Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:6–7; Luke 10:38–42

Message 4. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Shame

  • Overview: Shame is “naked guilt”—a public exposure that whispers “you are worthless.” Chuck looks at the woman caught in adultery to show how Jesus offers grace over condemnation.
  • Key Fact: Jesus was the only person qualified to condemn the woman, yet He chose to defend her, becoming our “shame-bearer” on the cross.
  • Scripture Reference: John 8:1–11; Hebrews 12:2

Message 5. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Doubt

  • Overview: A look at “Doubting Thomas.” Chuck explains that faith does not always come easily and that God is patient with our sincere struggles to believe.
  • Key Fact: Doubt is not the opposite of faith, but an invitation to a deeper, more personal encounter with the risen Christ.
  • Scripture Reference: John 20:24–29

Message 6. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Divorce

  • Overview: Chuck provides a careful biblical analysis of marriage permanence while addressing the painful reality and grace available when a marriage breaks.
  • Key Fact: While divorce was never God’s ideal, Jesus addressed the reality of its occurrence with truth and a call to a necessary acceptance.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 19:3–12; Mark 10:1–12

Message 7. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Remarriage

  • Overview: This message focuses on the grace-filled possibility of a fresh start. Chuck explores the biblical parameters and the “new creature” reality for those seeking to move forward.
  • Key Fact: It is theologically inconsistent to believe Christ’s death atones for all sins except a failed marriage; God is the God of new beginnings.
  • Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 7:12–15

Message 8. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Confrontation

  • Overview: Conflict is inevitable in a fallen world. This message explores the “Jesus way” of responding to injustice and the importance of healthy, biblical confrontation.
  • Key Fact: A non-retaliatory spirit can lead to personal freedom and a more powerful witness than returning blow for blow.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 18:15–17; Galatians 2:11–14

Message 9. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Pain

  • Overview: Explores Jesus as the “Man of Sorrows.” When we are in the crucible of physical or emotional pain, we find a Savior who is intimately acquainted with grief.
  • Key Fact: Pain signals unseen trouble and, spiritually, helps us grow into mature people of faith by teaching us daily dependence on God.
  • Scripture Reference: Isaiah 53:3; Hebrews 5:7–8

Message 10. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Prejudice

  • Overview: Prejudice is a deep-seated sin problem rooted in the human heart. Chuck identifies the antidote in Christ’s interaction with the Samaritan woman.
  • Key Fact: Prejudice is a learned trait that keeps people in spiritual darkness and binds them to the past, preventing them from seeing others as God does.
  • Scripture Reference: Mark 7:18–23; Matthew 27:27–44

Message 11. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Hypocrisy

  • Overview: Chuck confronts the “disease of the soul” where religious activity becomes a theatrical performance for public applause.
  • Key Fact: A hypocrite is literally “one who speaks from behind a mask.” The remedy is an authentic life characterized by private worship rather than public display.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:1–18; Matthew 23:13–33

Message 12. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Inadequacy

  • Overview: The Great Commission was given to “frightened and incompetent” men. This message shows how God uses our weaknesses to achieve the impossible.
  • Key Fact: Our inadequacy is the “stage” upon which God displays His power through the Holy Spirit.
  • Scripture Reference: Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:16–20

Message 13. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Disqualification

  • Overview: For those who feel they have “blown it” beyond repair, Chuck shares how God’s grace is larger than our greatest failures.
  • Key Fact: Restoration is the heartbeat of the Gospel. Failure does not mean the end of one’s usefulness in the Kingdom of God.
  • Scripture Reference: John 21:15–19; Psalm 51

Message 14. Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Death

  • Overview: Addressing the final “tough stuff,” Chuck provides hope for those facing the loss of a loved one or their own mortality.
  • Key Fact: Because Christ conquered the grave, death for the believer is not an end but a transition to the presence of God.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 15:54–57; John 11:25–26

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Dropping Your Guard

Don’t Let Technology Drown Out Deep Relationships!

E-mail. Internet. Video. Texting. Tablets. Smart phones. The list never ends, does it? As technology advances, real human connection becomes harder and harder. If we’re not careful, each new gadget can draw us further away from the family of believers God designed us to be.

If you want to experience a close community with other Christians, the Dropping Your Guard series by Chuck Swindoll will challenge you to escape the trap of superficiality and to develop tight bonds that will feed your soul and mature your spiritual family. Keep your relationships connected . . . by dropping your guard.


In this transformative series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the “hidden” life of the believer. Many Christians live behind high walls of protection, fearing that if they are truly known, they won’t be loved. Dropping Your Guard is a call to biblical authenticity, vulnerability, and the “shared life” that God intended for His people. By moving from isolation to intimacy, we discover the freedom that comes from being real with God and with one another.

Message 1: Digging Deeper, Risking Change (Part One)

Overview: Pastor Chuck Swindoll introduces the essential need for biblical authenticity in an increasingly superficial world. This message explores the “hidden” life of the believer and the high walls of protection many Christians build to avoid being truly known. It challenges the “Lone Ranger” mentality and invites listeners to embrace the vulnerability required for genuine community.

  • Key Fact: Authentic fellowship begins only when we admit we are “cracked pots” in need of God’s grace and others’ support.
  • Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 4:13–16; 1 Corinthians 12:21

Message 2: Digging Deeper, Risking Change (Part Two)

Overview: Continuing the foundation of the series, this message focuses on the “ragged edge” of life and why we were never meant to walk it alone. Chuck discusses the specific risks involved in being real with others and how the rewards of intimacy—being fully known and fully loved—far outweigh the safety of isolation.

  • Key Fact: Human connection is the primary tool God uses to mature the spiritual family; without it, spiritual growth stagnates.
  • Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

Message 3: Getting Closer, Growing Stronger

Overview: This sermon provides the biblical argument for “the other.” Chuck outlines the four essential benefits of community: productivity, support during failure, comfort in cold seasons, and protection during spiritual attacks. As we grow closer to one another, we inherently become stronger in our faith.

  • Key Fact: A “threefold cord” is not easily broken; intentional proximity provides a defensive shield against the enemy.
  • Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

Message 4: Operation Assimilation

Overview: Moving from the “why” to the “how,” Chuck explores the process of integrating into the Body of Christ. This message addresses the fears of rejection that keep us from assimilating and highlights the beauty of a church that functions as a cohesive, supportive unit rather than a collection of strangers.

  • Key Fact: Assimilation requires a shift in focus from “What can I get?” to “How can I belong and contribute?”
  • Scripture Reference: Romans 12:4–5; Acts 2:42–47

Message 5: United and Invincible

Overview: Drawing from the accounts in Joshua and Psalm 133, this message illustrates that unity is a prerequisite for spiritual victory. Chuck shows that when God’s people pull together in one accord, they become a force the enemy cannot defeat. Unity is described as “precious oil” that soothes and consecrates the church.

  • Key Fact: Biblical invincibility is not about being superhuman; it is the result of God’s presence invited into harmony.
  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 133:1–2; Joshua 6:1–20; John 17:21–23

Message 6: When the Fellowship Breaks Down

Overview: No community is perfect, and conflicts are inevitable. Chuck addresses what happens when the “guard” is dropped and feelings are hurt. This message provides a roadmap for restoration, focusing on the need for a spirit of gentleness and the humility to admit when we are wrong.

  • Key Fact: Broken relationships are worth the “restoration cost”; the longer a breakdown lasts, the deeper the spiritual impact.
  • Scripture Reference: Galatians 6:1–5; Matthew 5:23–24

Message 7: Authentic Love

Overview: This message defines “authentic love” as a love that does not wear a mask. Chuck examines the “Love Chapter” (1 Corinthians 13) through the lens of transparency, showing how love acts as the “glue” that allows us to stay vulnerable even when relationships get difficult.

  • Key Fact: Authentic love is a choice to prioritize the spiritual health and well-being of others over our own personal freedom.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 12:9–10

Message 8: Needed: Shelter for Storm Victims

Overview: Life is filled with “whirlwinds”—job loss, illness, betrayal, and grief. Chuck describes the church’s role as a “shelter” for those picking up the pieces. This message emphasizes being a safe harbor where people can find comfort without judgment while they rebuild their lives.

  • Key Fact: Rebuilding after a storm begins with seeing God’s presence in the storm and His plan through it.
  • Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Psalm 46:1

Message 9: Some Things Have Gotta Go!

Overview: To build deep relationships, certain “baggage” must be discarded. Chuck identifies the specific attitudes—such as legalism, judgmentalism, and pride—that act as barriers to intimacy and must be removed to create a “roomy” faith.

  • Key Fact: Vulnerability is only possible in an atmosphere of grace; legalism is the ultimate “guard” that prevents closeness.
  • Scripture Reference: Romans 14:1–13; Ephesians 4:31–32

Message 10: Choose for Yourself

Overview: Authentic community is not automatic; it is a choice. Chuck challenges listeners to decide whether they will remain in the safety of the “lobby” or move into the deeper, riskier, and more rewarding areas of shared life. This message is a call to action for personal commitment.

  • Key Fact: Close relationships are the direct result of time, energy, and intentional cultivation.
  • Scripture Reference: Joshua 24:15; Hebrews 10:24–25

Message 11: The Necessity of Accountability

Overview: Chuck challenges the “live and let live” philosophy of modern society. He argues that Christians are most vulnerable when they live in secrecy. Accountability is presented not as a burden of control, but as a “guardrail” that provides security and reassurance.

  • Key Fact: True accountability must be led by the Holy Spirit to remain a source of grace rather than a tool of legalism.
  • Scripture Reference: Proverbs 13:20; Proverbs 27:17; Romans 12:4–5

Message 12: A Hope Transplant: The Essential Operation

Overview: In the series finale, Chuck addresses those who have lost hope in relationships or the church. He describes “hope” as the prince and power of motivation. For a church to flourish, it needs an infusion of hope that comes from resting on the strong foundation of God’s Word.

  • Key Fact: Hope is to the church what the heart is to the physical body; without it, the community cannot survive.
  • Scripture Reference: Romans 15:4, 13; Lamentations 3:21–24

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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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Strike the Original Match

Of all the hot-button issues of our day, marriage sits near the top of the list. With a gaggle of voices clamoring for an audience, the masses have grown increasingly confused about the most fundamental understanding of marriage. As Christians place a high value on God’s Word, we look to it for clarity on the most significant questions. How does God define marriage? What direction does the Bible offer on making marriage last? What is the nature of commitment, and what does it look like in this day and age? This series from Chuck Swindoll will bring clarity and offer direction as you navigate the views and vices that threaten this most sacred union.


In an era of confusion regarding the definition and purpose of marriage, this series returns to the biblical blueprints. Pastor Chuck Swindoll addresses the threats to the sacred union and provides direction on how to maintain a vibrant, lifelong commitment. By “striking the original match,” couples can reignite the passion and purpose God intended for marriage from the beginning.

Message 1: Let’s Consult the Architect

  • Overview: Before we can fix a marriage, we must understand its design. This message takes us back to the original “Architect” of marriage to see His definition and purpose for the union between a man and a woman.
  • Key Fact: Marriage is a divine institution, not a social contract; therefore, its rules and definitions are set by God rather than cultural trends.
  • Scripture: Genesis 2:18–25 – “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

Message 2: The Project: Let’s Consider the Cost

  • Overview: Building a lasting marriage requires a realistic assessment of the investment involved. Chuck discusses the emotional, spiritual, and physical “costs” of maintaining a healthy, growing relationship.
  • Key Fact: A successful marriage is a lifelong “project” that demands consistent effort, sacrifice, and the counting of the cost before and during the journey.
  • Scripture: Luke 14:28–30 – “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost…?”

Message 3: Let’s Repair the Foundation

  • Overview: When a marriage begins to lean or crack, the issue is often at the foundation. This message focuses on identifying and repairing spiritual and relational cracks before they lead to structural failure.
  • Key Fact: Repairing a marriage starts with a return to the foundational principles of honesty, mutual respect, and a shared spiritual life.
  • Scripture: Psalm 11:3 – “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Message 4: In Defense of Monogamy

  • Overview: In a culture that often devalues exclusivity, Chuck offers a biblical defense of monogamy. This message explores why total faithfulness is essential for the depth and security of the marital bond.
  • Key Fact: Biblical monogamy is the only context in which the “one flesh” union can truly flourish and provide lasting emotional security.
  • Scripture: Proverbs 5:15–23 – “Drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well.”

Message 5: Bricks that Build a Marriage

  • Overview: This message identifies the specific “bricks” of character and habit that build a strong home, such as unselfishness, patience, and a sense of humor.
  • Key Fact: A strong marriage is built one small act of service and one kind word at a time, rather than through occasional grand gestures.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 – “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant…”

Message 6: Watch Out for Cheap Substitutes!

  • Overview: Couples often look to career, children, or hobbies to provide the fulfillment that only a healthy marriage and relationship with God can give. Chuck warns against these “cheap substitutes.”
  • Key Fact: Substituting secondary activities for primary intimacy leads to a hollow marriage that lacks the resilience to face trials.
  • Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13 – “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me… to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

Message 7: Who Says the Honeymoon Must End?

  • Overview: Romance and passion are not just for the early days. This message encourages couples to intentionally keep the “spark” alive throughout every season of life.
  • Key Fact: Sustaining romance in marriage is an act of the will and a matter of priority, not just a spontaneous feeling.
  • Scripture: Song of Solomon 4:1–10 – “How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are!”

Message 8: Termites in Your Troth

  • Overview: Termites are small, hidden pests that cause massive damage. Chuck identifies the “hidden” sins and habits—like resentment or neglect—that eat away at the strength of a marriage.
  • Key Fact: The greatest threats to a marriage are often not the “big” crises, but the small, unaddressed issues that accumulate over time.
  • Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:15 – “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards…”

Message 9: How to Have a Good Fight

  • Overview: Conflict is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. This message provides biblical “rules of engagement” for resolving disagreements with grace and respect.
  • Key Fact: The goal of marital conflict should be resolution and growth, not winning an argument or hurting the other person.
  • Scripture: Ephesians 4:26–27 – “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

Message 10: Til Debt Do Us Part

  • Overview: Financial pressure is a leading cause of marital stress. Chuck offers practical biblical wisdom for managing money and avoiding the trap of debt that threatens family peace.
  • Key Fact: Financial unity requires shared goals, honest communication, and a commitment to living within God’s provided means.
  • Scripture: Proverbs 22:7 – “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.”

Message 11: Commitment Is the Key (Part One)

  • Overview: In the first part of this look at commitment, Chuck explores why a solid “covenant” is the essential ingredient that holds a marriage together when feelings fade.
  • Key Fact: Biblical commitment is a promise kept regardless of the circumstances, modeled after God’s covenant with His people.
  • Scripture: Malachi 2:14–16 – “She is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Message 12: Commitment Is the Key (Part Two)

  • Overview: This message continues the study of commitment, focusing on the practical “how-to” of staying faithful and devoted through the long haul of a lifelong union.
  • Key Fact: Staying committed requires a daily decision to choose your spouse and protect your relationship from outside interference.
  • Scripture: Matthew 19:6 – “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Message 13: Don’t Just Get Older, Get Better!

  • Overview: Addressing the later years of marriage, Chuck encourages couples to view aging as an opportunity to deepen their love and refine their character together.
  • Key Fact: A “seasoned” marriage can be the most beautiful phase of the relationship as couples reap the harvest of years of faithfulness.
  • Scripture: Psalm 92:14 – “They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green.”

Message 14: What to Do with an Empty Nest

  • Overview: The series concludes with advice for the transition after children leave the home. Chuck discusses how to rediscover your spouse and find new purpose in this significant life stage.
  • Key Fact: The empty nest is not an end, but a new beginning—a chance to focus on the “original match” that started the family.
  • Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:9 – “Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life…”

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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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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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God’s Masterwork, Volume One

God begins a relationship with His chosen people . . . and had you in mind.

From God as close Companion to Lawgiver, from creation to the fall of humanity into sin, from the heights of Joseph’s Egyptian years to the unhappy slavery of Israel, this sermon series offers an overview of the biblical books from Genesis to Deuteronomy.


The Bible is not a collection of disconnected stories, but a single, grand masterpiece of divine revelation. In this first volume of the God’s Masterwork series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll provides a “bird’s-eye view” of the first five books of the Bible—the Pentateuch. By understanding the themes, authors, and historical contexts of these foundational books, we see the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.

Message 1. Genesis: Where It All Begins

  • Overview: A survey of the “Book of Beginnings.” It covers the creation, the fall, the flood, and the call of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph).
  • Key Fact: Genesis provides the “roots” for every major doctrine in the Bible, including marriage, sin, and the promise of a coming Savior.
  • Scripture: Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Message 2. Exodus: A Story of Redemption

  • Overview: Chronicles Israel’s transition from slavery in Egypt to nationhood. It highlights the power of God in the ten plagues and the delivery of the Ten Commandments.
  • Key Fact: The Passover in Exodus is the clearest Old Testament picture of Christ, our “Passover Lamb,” whose blood saves us from judgment.
  • Scripture: Exodus 12:13 – “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”

Message 3. Leviticus: A Manual for Holiness

  • Overview: Often overlooked, Leviticus details the laws and sacrifices required for a sinful people to live in the presence of a holy God.
  • Key Fact: The central theme of the book is “Holiness”—being set apart for God’s purposes.
  • Scripture: Leviticus 19:2 – “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

Message 4. Numbers: The Discipline of a Nation

  • Overview: Named for the censuses taken, this book records Israel’s 40-year “wandering” in the wilderness due to their unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-barnea.
  • Key Fact: Numbers serves as a sobering reminder that while God is faithful to His promises, He will discipline His children for their lack of faith.
  • Scripture: Numbers 14:34 – The consequence of the spies’ bad report: “For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins.”

Message 5. Deuteronomy: A Remainder of the Covenant

  • Overview: A series of farewell “sermons” from Moses to the new generation of Israelites. He urges them to remember God’s law before they enter the Promised Land.
  • Key Fact: The name Deuteronomy literally means “second law”—not a new law, but a repeating of the Law for a new generation.
  • Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4–5 – The Shema: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…”

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