Insight for Living

The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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1 John

His Name Is Wonderful

The Alpha and Omega, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, the True Vine—the Bible uses numerous descriptions of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

In this 12-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the profound meaning and practical significance of Jesus’ names. Each one gives us a special glimpse into our eternal, ever-present, powerful, personal God.

Let His Name Is Wonderful fill your heart with truth and grace as you get to know the Lord of Lords, the Advocate, the King of Kings in a deeper way!


Names in the Bible are far more than casual monikers; they are meaningful indicators of identity, purpose, and character. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, Jesus is described by numerous titles—the Alpha and Omega, the Good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, and the True Vine. In this series, Chuck Swindoll explores these names to give us a special glimpse into our eternal, powerful, and personal God. By understanding the significance of each name, we can grow in our appreciation of the Savior and deepen our daily walk with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

We Call Him Lord

Sermon Summary Before His followers knew Him by any other title, they knew Him as “Lord.” This message introduces the primary identity of Jesus as the sovereign Ruler of our lives. Chuck discusses how calling Jesus “Lord” is not merely a religious formality but a confession of His absolute authority. We learn that acknowledging His Lordship requires a heart of surrender and a willingness to follow His lead in every area of life.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Authority of Christ: Recognizing Jesus as the sovereign Master.
  • The Meaning of Kyrios: Understanding the biblical weight of the title “Lord.”
  • Personal Surrender: What it means to live under the leadership of Jesus.

He Is “King of Kings, Lord of Lords”

Sermon Summary Jesus is not just a king; He is the King of Kings. This message explores the supreme majesty and ultimate triumph of Christ over every earthly power. Chuck focuses on the vision of Christ in Revelation, where He is revealed as the one who holds final authority over the nations. We are encouraged that while earthly rulers come and go, our King remains on the throne forever.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Supreme Majesty: The incomparable status of Jesus above all human leaders.
  • Final Victory: The certainty of Christ’s ultimate rule over the world.

The Meaning of Messiah

Sermon Summary “Messiah” is the Hebrew equivalent of “Christ,” meaning “The Anointed One.” This message traces the prophetic hope of Israel for a coming Deliverer. Chuck discusses how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament expectations of the Messiah—serving as the Anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. We see how the centuries of waiting found their perfect fulfillment in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Anointed One: Understanding the significance of anointing in the Bible.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: How Jesus perfectly fits the messianic profile of the Old Testament.

The Day God Answered, “Amen”

Sermon Summary In an unusual and powerful title, Jesus is called “The Amen” in the book of Revelation. This message explores the significance of this name—representing truth, certainty, and the final word. We learn that Jesus is the “Yes” to all of God’s promises, providing the firm foundation we need in an uncertain world. When God sent Jesus, He was giving His final, certain answer to the problem of sin and the hope of humanity.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Certainty and Truth: Jesus as the ultimate affirmation of God’s Word.
  • The Final Word: Recognizing that in Christ, all of God’s promises are fulfilled.

He’s the Alpha and the Omega

Sermon Summary Jesus is the beginning and the end—the Alpha and the Omega. This message focuses on the eternal nature of Christ. Chuck discusses how Jesus encompasses all of history and all of our personal lives. From the first moment of creation to the final consummation of the ages, He is the One who holds all things together, giving us security in the knowledge that He is present at our start, our finish, and every moment in between.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Eternal Christ: Understanding Jesus’ presence before time began and after it ends.
  • Omnipresence: The comfort of knowing Christ is in every detail of our history.

Four Titles—Same Savior

Sermon Summary Isaiah 9:6 provides a quartet of magnificent titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. This message explores how these four titles describe the multifaceted nature of our Savior. We see Jesus as the source of wisdom, the possessor of all power, the one who cares for us with fatherly affection, and the only provider of true internal and external peace.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Wonderful Counselor & Mighty God: Finding wisdom and strength in Christ.
  • Eternal Father & Prince of Peace: Experiencing the comfort and tranquility of the Lord.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Isaiah 9:6

“I Am the True Vine”

Sermon Summary In one of His most intimate metaphors, Jesus declared, “I am the true vine.” This message focuses on the necessity of abiding in Christ for spiritual life and fruitfulness. Chuck discusses the relationship between the vine and the branches, teaching us that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. We learn the practical disciplines of staying connected to the Source of our spiritual vitality.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Spiritual Vitality: The importance of dependence on Christ for growth.
  • Fruitfulness: Understanding that our character and service are the result of abiding.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • John 15:1–11

The Shepherd of the Sheep

Sermon Summary Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep by name. This message explores the tender, protective, and guiding care of the Lord. Chuck discusses the security we have in being part of His flock and the promise that the Shepherd will never leave or forsake us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Protective Care: The Shepherd’s commitment to the safety of His flock.
  • Guidance: Trusting the Lord to lead us into “green pastures.”

Primary Scripture Reference

  • John 10:11–18

The Lamb of God

Sermon Summary “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” This message focuses on the sacrificial role of Jesus. Chuck traces the concept of the sacrificial lamb from the Passover in Egypt to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. We see that Jesus is the perfect, sinless substitute who paid the debt we could not pay, providing the only way for us to be reconciled to God.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Sacrificial Substitution: Jesus dying in our place.
  • Redemption: The power of the Lamb’s blood to cleanse from sin.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • John 1:29

The Way, the Truth, the Life

Sermon Summary Jesus made the exclusive claim: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” This message examines the absolute nature of Christ’s identity. Chuck discusses how Jesus is the only “Way” to the Father, the only source of absolute “Truth” in a world of confusion, and the only provider of eternal “Life.” We are challenged to build our lives on the singular foundation of who Jesus is.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Exclusivity of Christ: Why there is no other path to God.
  • Certainty in Truth: Finding stable ground in the Person of Jesus.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • John 14:6

Christ, Our Mediator

Sermon Summary Because of sin, there was a vast chasm between humanity and a holy God. This message explores the role of Jesus as our Mediator—the one who stands in the gap to bring two parties together. Chuck discusses how Jesus, being both fully God and fully man, is the only one qualified to reconcile us to the Father, interceding on our behalf and making peace through His blood.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Reconciliation: How Jesus brings us back into a relationship with God.
  • Intercession: The ongoing work of Christ on our behalf in heaven.

We Have an Advocate

Sermon Summary The series concludes with the comforting title of “Advocate.” When we sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense. This message explores the legal imagery of an advocate who represents us before the bar of God’s justice. Chuck reminds us that our Advocate does not argue for our innocence, but for His own sufficiency, ensuring that we are forever secure in His grace.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Spiritual Defense: The role of Jesus as our representative before the Father.
  • Security in Grace: Why our standing with God is based on Christ’s merit, not our own.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • 1 John 2:1

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Growing Up in God’s Family

God’s Word describes the body of believers as “brothers and sisters” and “co-heirs” with Jesus, and when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He began by saying, “Our Father.” Why?

We’re a family in Christ. And like any family, God’s family is filled with people in all stages of spiritual development: newborn believers, those still adolescent in their walk, and the spiritually mature.

Join Chuck Swindoll as he takes an in-depth look at the stages of growth that characterize the Christian walk.


The Bible frequently uses family language to describe the church—we are brothers, sisters, and co-heirs with Christ, under the care of “Our Father.” Like any healthy family, God’s family is composed of individuals at different stages of development. In this 16-part series, Chuck Swindoll examines the spiritual parallels to physical growth, identifying the characteristics of newborn believers, spiritual adolescents, and mature disciples. By understanding these “ages and stages,” we can better navigate our own growth and support others as we all strive toward the ultimate goal of Christlike maturity.

Analysis of a Crop Failure

Sermon Summary Jesus, the master teacher, often used parables to illustrate deep spiritual truths. This opening message analyzes the Parable of the Sower, which Chuck calls an “analysis of a crop failure.” We learn that spiritual growth depends heavily on the condition of the heart—the “soil” in which the Word is planted. By identifying the obstacles to growth, such as the hardness of the path or the thorns of worldly worry, we can prepare ourselves to become fruitful soil for God’s Kingdom.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Master Teacher: Exploring Jesus’ use of imagery to explain spiritual receptivity.
  • The Role of the Heart: Understanding why some “crops” fail while others thrive.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Mark 4:1–20

Birth and Infancy: Survival Basics

Sermon Summary Every spiritual journey begins with a new birth. This message focuses on the “survival basics” for newborn believers. Just as physical infants require constant care and pure milk, spiritual infants need the foundational truths of God’s Word to survive and begin to grow. Chuck discusses the vulnerability of this stage and the necessity of a nurturing community to protect and feed those who are new to the faith.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The New Birth: The essential starting point for entering God’s family.
  • Spiritual Nourishment: Why foundational doctrine is “milk” for the infant soul.

Look . . . I’m Walking!

Sermon Summary There is a thrilling moment in every believer’s life when they take their first stable steps in the faith. This message explores the transition from infancy to early childhood. We learn that “walking” in the Spirit involves a new level of coordination between hearing the Word and applying it. Chuck encourages those who are beginning to find their spiritual footing, emphasizing the importance of consistency and dependence on the Father’s hand.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Active Application: Moving from passive hearing to active walking in truth.
  • Spiritual Coordination: Learning to balance grace and obedience in daily life.

Adolescents in Adult Bodies

Sermon Summary One of the most challenging stages in God’s family is spiritual adolescence. This message addresses the phenomenon of “adolescents in adult bodies”—believers who have been in the church for years but still exhibit the volatility and self-centeredness of a teenager. Chuck discusses the symptoms of spiritual immaturity and the necessity of pushing through this awkward stage to reach a stable, selfless maturity.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Symptoms of Immaturity: Identifying the “childish things” that hinder spiritual progress.
  • The Stagnation Trap: Why some believers remain stuck in a state of perpetual adolescence.

When Peter Pan Comes to Church

Sermon Summary “Peter Pan” is the boy who never wanted to grow up, and sadly, his spirit is often found in the church. This message explores the resistance many feel toward becoming spiritually mature. Chuck warns against the desire to remain in a state of “carefree” irresponsibility. We learn that true maturity involves taking on the burdens of others and accepting the responsibilities that come with being a seasoned member of God’s family.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Fear of Responsibility: Why we often prefer the ease of infancy over the weight of maturity.
  • The Call to Grow Up: Understanding that spiritual maturity is a mandate, not an option.

Growing-Up Goals for Diligent Disciples

Sermon Summary The series concludes by outlining the “growing-up goals” for every diligent disciple. Chuck summarizes the hallmarks of a mature believer: a stable walk, a selfless heart, and a deep, intimate relationship with the Father. We are encouraged to keep pressing forward, realizing that growth is a lifelong process that requires diligence, grace, and a constant reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Hallmarks of Maturity: Identifying the visible traits of a seasoned saint.
  • Diligent Discipleship: The intentional effort required to reach spiritual goals.

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How Great Is Our God!

Everything—where we pin our hopes, how we raise our children, what we do in times of joy or sorrow, everything we aspire to, think, and believe—boils down to how we answer one question: Who is God?

In this series, Chuck Swindoll reminds us of the holiness and majesty of God the Father, the humility and self-sacrificing love of the Son, and the ministry and counsel only the Holy Spirit can provide. These messages provide an anchor of biblical hope in God for believers in times of both tumult and peace.


Every aspect of our lives—how we face trials, how we celebrate joys, and how we view our purpose—is determined by how we answer one central question: Who is God? In this 12-part theological survey, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the majestic attributes of the Trinity. From the holiness and glory of God the Father to the sacrificial love of the Son and the active ministry of the Holy Spirit, these messages provide a firm biblical anchor. This series is designed to reacquaint believers with the magnitude of the God they serve, offering hope and stability in an ever-changing world.

1. The Glory of God (Isaiah 42:5–8; 2 Chronicles 26)

  • Overview: Addresses the independent and unchanging nature of God’s glory. Chuck explains that God’s glory exists regardless of human awareness, serving as the ultimate standard for the universe.
  • Key Fact: God is inherently glorious; our role is not to “give” Him glory, but to recognize and reflect it.
  • Scripture: Isaiah 42:8 – “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another.”

2. The Holiness of God

  • Overview: Explores the “otherness” and absolute purity of God. Understanding God’s holiness is the necessary foundation for understanding our need for grace and the magnitude of the Gospel.
  • Key Fact: God’s holiness means He is entirely set apart from sin and is the source of all moral perfection.

3. The Love of God

  • Overview: Focuses on the “steadfast love” (Chesed) of God. This message reassures believers that God’s love is not based on our performance, but on His eternal character and commitment to His children.
  • Key Fact: God’s love is an active, pursuing force that remains constant even when we are unfaithful.

4. The Grace of God

  • Overview: Defines grace as God’s unmerited favor. Chuck explores how grace provides what we cannot earn and removes the debt we cannot pay, serving as the “fuel” for the Christian life.
  • Key Fact: Grace is the ultimate expression of God’s kindness toward those who deserve His judgment.

5. The Servant Who Came

  • Overview: Shifts the focus to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Chuck highlights the humility of the Son, who set aside His divine prerogatives to take on the form of a bond-servant for our sake.
  • Key Fact: True greatness is found in service, as modeled by the King who came not to be served, but to serve.

6. The Cup That He Drank

  • Overview: A deep look at Gethsemane and the “cup” of God’s wrath that Jesus voluntarily accepted. It highlights the intense emotional and spiritual cost of our redemption.
  • Key Fact: Jesus’ submission to the Father’s will in the garden ensured our rescue from the judgment we deserved.

7. The Lamb That Was Slaughtered

  • Overview: Explores the substitutionary atonement. Jesus is the final and perfect Lamb whose sacrifice once and for all satisfies the requirements of God’s justice.
  • Key Fact: Our peace with God is secured through the blood of the Lamb, which covers and cleanses every sin.

8. The Cross We Proclaim

  • Overview: Focuses on the central message of the Christian faith. Chuck argues that the cross is not just a historical event, but a present power that defines our identity and our message to the world.
  • Key Fact: The cross is the ultimate intersection of God’s perfect justice and His perfect love.

9. Getting Reacquainted with the Spirit of Power

  • Overview: Introduces the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Chuck encourages believers to move past confusion or neglect of the Spirit and to recognize Him as the source of supernatural power for daily living.
  • Key Fact: The Holy Spirit is a Person to be known and relied upon, not merely a force to be used.

10. What Does Being ”Filled with the Spirit” Mean?

  • Overview: Provides a practical, biblical definition of the “Spirit-filled” life. Chuck clarifies that being filled is about control—yielding our will to the Spirit’s direction.
  • Key Fact: To be filled with the Spirit is to be so dominated by His influence that our character reflects the fruit of the Spirit.
  • Scripture: Ephesians 5:18 – “And do not get drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit.”

11. Those Unidentified Inner Promptings

  • Overview: Discusses the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Chuck offers wisdom for discerning those “nudges” and promptings of the Spirit in our decision-making and interactions.
  • Key Fact: Learning to listen to the Spirit’s promptings is a key discipline of spiritual maturity and obedience.

12. The Spirit’s Most Significant Mission

  • Overview: The series concludes by highlighting the Spirit’s primary goal: to glorify Jesus Christ. The Spirit works in us to make the presence and character of Jesus visible to the world.
  • Key Fact: The most “Spirit-filled” person is the one whose life most clearly points others toward Jesus.

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Divine Love and Grace

Every Christmas we hear the familiar story. There’s a virgin, a baby, a bewildered husband, a dirty stable, a few shepherds, and that’s all there is to it. Right?

Wrong!

Christmas represents the most magnificent message that’s ever been told. The baby born in the stable was not just any baby. He is God in the flesh—the very revelation of love and grace.

Don’t forget the real significance of the season. Join Chuck Swindoll as he reminds us that the incarnation of Christ demonstrates God’s infinite love and unconditional grace.


The familiar scenes of Christmas—the manger, the shepherds, and the stable—often mask the truly radical nature of the season. In this two-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the deeper theological meaning behind the birth of Jesus. Christmas is not just a sweet story; it is the most magnificent message ever told: God in the flesh, entering human history to reveal the full extent of His infinite love and unconditional grace.

1. God’s Astonishing Love (Philippians 2:5–11)

  • Overview: Addresses the “Why?” of the Incarnation. Chuck explores the compelling force of love that moved Jesus to leave His position in heaven, break into history, and embrace a path that led through rejection to the cross.
  • Key Fact: God’s love is astonishing because it is proactive; He moved toward us when we were at our worst.
  • Scripture: Philippians 2:7 – “…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”

2. Christ’s Audacious Grace (John 1:14–17)

  • Overview: Focuses on the “fullness” of grace revealed in the person of Jesus. Chuck explains how the arrival of Christ signaled a new era where the Law met its fulfillment in the personified grace of the Son.
  • Key Fact: Grace is “audacious” because it offers a clean slate and a relationship with God to those who have no claim to it.
  • Scripture: John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

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Supernatural Living in a Secular World

What is supernatural living? Freedom from sin. Victorious living. Persevering through suffering. As believers in Christ, freedom, victory, and perseverance are parts of our rightful inheritance, but many of us instead find ourselves still shackled to sin.

Supernatural living is possible—in Christ. Chuck Swindoll invites us to experience Supernatural Living in a Secular World—a series that helps us put into practice the principles of Romans 6–8, break the bonds of sin, persevere in times of testing, and place our trust in providential God.


As believers, we are called to live a life that is distinct from the world around us—a life defined by freedom from sin, victory over trials, and a supernatural peace. In this 5-part study of Romans 6–8, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores how we can move from being “shackled to sin” to living out our rightful inheritance in Christ. This series provides the biblical keys to understanding our new identity, handling spiritual frustration, and trusting in God’s providential care.

1. Dying to Live (Romans 6:1–14)

  • Overview: Explores the theological reality of our union with Christ. Because we have “died” with Him to sin, we are no longer slaves to our old nature but are alive to God.
  • Key Fact: Victory over sin begins with “knowing” our position in Christ, “considering” ourselves dead to sin, and “presenting” our members as instruments of righteousness.
  • Scripture: Romans 6:11 – “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

2. Portrait of a Struggling Christian (Romans 7:14–25)

  • Overview: Addresses the universal frustration of the “inner war”—wanting to do good but finding ourselves doing the very thing we hate.
  • Key Fact: Romans 7 is not a portrait of a failure, but of a maturing believer who has realized that their own willpower is insufficient to conquer the flesh.
  • Scripture: Romans 7:24–25 – “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

3. Let’s Talk about Our Walk (Romans 8:1–17)

  • Overview: Shifts from the struggle of the flesh to the power of the Spirit. This message explores what it means to “walk according to the Spirit” and the assurance that comes from being God’s adopted children.
  • Key Fact: There is now “no condemnation” for those in Christ, and the Holy Spirit provides the internal power to put to death the deeds of the body.
  • Scripture: Romans 8:1 – “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

4. Glorying and Groaning (Romans 8:18–30)

  • Overview: Connects our present suffering to our future glory. Chuck discusses how the “groaning” of creation and the believer is met by the “interceding” of the Holy Spirit.
  • Key Fact: Our current trials are “not worthy to be compared” with the glory that will be revealed in us.
  • Scripture: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.”

5. Providence Made Practical (Romans 8:31–39)

  • Overview: The series conclusion, focusing on the unshakeable security of the believer. If God is for us, no one and nothing can successfully stand against us.
  • Key Fact: Nothing—neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities—has the power to separate the believer from the love of God in Christ.
  • Scripture: Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”

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God’s Masterwork, Volume Seven

When was the last time you read any of the General Epistles? Hebrews, with its references to Old Testament sacrifices and Jewish feasts, might seem outdated. Jude’s record of a cosmic battle over the body of Moses might fit best in a sci-fi movie. And Revelation, with its strange apocalyptic imagery, might stir contention and confusion within the church.

But did you know that these ancient letters contain many spiritual riches? In God’s Masterwork, Volume Seven: The Final Word—A Survey of Hebrews–Revelation, you will discover:

  • How Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law
  • Why true faith must produce fruit
  • How you can find hope in the midst of trials

The God’s Masterwork, Volume Seven audio series will help you dig into these nine treasures from the first century! You’ll gain theological depth and grow in your practical devotion to Christ.


The General Epistles and the book of Revelation contain some of the most profound theological depths and challenging imagery in the entire Bible. From the priestly focus of Hebrews to the apocalyptic visions of Revelation, these nine books provide the “final word” on the person of Christ, the necessity of authentic faith, and the certainty of God’s ultimate victory. In this survey series, Chuck Swindoll helps us discover the spiritual riches hidden in these first-century treasures, offering theological depth and practical encouragement for every believer.

Hebrews: Jesus Christ, Our Superior Savior

Sermon Summary While the book of Hebrews is filled with complex references to Old Testament sacrifices and Jewish feasts, its central message is simple: Jesus is better. This message explores how Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law and serves as our superior High Priest. We learn why Jesus is the final and sufficient sacrifice, providing a better covenant and a better hope for all who follow Him.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Supremacy of Christ: Recognizing Jesus as superior to angels, Moses, and the Aaronic priesthood.
  • Fulfillment of the Law: How the Old Testament shadows find their substance in Christ.

James: A Plea for Authenticity

Sermon Summary James is the most practical book in the New Testament, serving as a plea for a faith that works. This message addresses the necessity of spiritual authenticity. We learn that true faith must produce visible fruit, specifically in how we handle trials, how we use our tongues, and how we care for the vulnerable in our midst.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Faith and Works: Understanding that genuine belief naturally results in godly action.
  • Practical Wisdom: Biblical guidance for daily living and relational integrity.

1 Peter: Hope for the Hurting

Sermon Summary Writing to “sojourners” scattered by persecution, Peter offers a message of profound hope. This survey of 1 Peter focuses on how believers can find stability and joy in the midst of suffering. We learn that our trials are temporary and purposeful, intended to refine our faith as we look toward our eternal inheritance.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Suffering and Glory: The relationship between current trials and future rewards.
  • Living as Foreigners: Maintaining a distinct Christian identity in a hostile world.

2 Peter: Beware . . . Be Ready!

Sermon Summary In his final letter, Peter warns against the internal threat of false teachers and spiritual apathy. This message emphasizes the importance of growing in grace and knowledge to avoid being led astray. We are challenged to “beware” of deception and to “be ready” for the return of Christ by living holy and godly lives.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Guarding the Truth: Identifying the marks of false teachers within the church.
  • Spiritual Growth: The necessity of actively maturing in our faith.

1 John: God’s Life on Display

Sermon Summary How can we be sure that we have eternal life? John provides several “tests” of authentic Christianity in his first epistle. This message explores the hallmarks of God’s life on display: walking in the light, obeying His commandments, and loving one another. We learn that assurance comes from a life that aligns with the character of God.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Assurance of Salvation: Finding confidence in our relationship with Christ.
  • God is Light and Love: Reflecting the nature of the Father in our daily walk.

2 John: A Letter to a Lady

Sermon Summary This brief letter to “the chosen lady and her children” focuses on the essential balance of truth and love. Chuck discusses the danger of hospitality without discernment. We learn that while we are called to be loving, we must never compromise the truth of the Gospel by welcoming those who actively work to undermine it.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Walking in Truth: The priority of biblical doctrine in the life of the family and the church.
  • Discriminating Hospitality: The limits of love when truth is at stake.

3 John: Three Men in a Church

Sermon Summary 3 John provides a fascinating look at the internal dynamics of a first-century church through the lives of three men: Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius. This message contrasts godly hospitality and service with the destructive power of pride and ego. We learn what it looks like to be a “worker together for the truth.”

Key Facts & Themes

  • Gaius and Demetrius: Examples of faithfulness and good reputation.
  • The Danger of Diotrephes: Identifying the marks of a prideful and divisive leader.

Jude: Manual for Survival

Sermon Summary Jude’s letter is a “manual for survival” in a time of spiritual apostasy. This survey addresses the cosmic battle over truth and the necessity of “contending earnestly for the faith.” Chuck explores Jude’s warnings against those who creep into the church to turn grace into licentiousness, pointing us toward the God who is able to keep us from falling.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Contending for the Faith: The active defense of biblical truth.
  • Spiritual Preservation: Trusting in God’s power to hold His own in days of deception.

Revelation: God’s Final Words

Sermon Summary The Bible concludes not with a question mark, but with an exclamation point. This survey of Revelation moves past the confusion of apocalyptic imagery to the central figure: the triumphant Jesus Christ. We see the final victory over evil, the restoration of all things, and the glorious hope of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Triumphant Christ: Seeing Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
  • Ultimate Victory: The certainty of God’s final judgment and eternal restoration.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Revelation 1:1–8 (The Prologue)

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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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The Sanctity of Life . . . The Inescapable Issue

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

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

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