Insight for Living

The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Ezekiel

Cultivating a Dynamic Ministry

God designed His church to be a reliable refuge . . . a steadfast pocket of resilience and charm . . . a welcoming place where people can rebuild broken relationships, share their grief, discover godly wisdom, and weather life’s fiercest storms.

Do you long to be a part of such a place?

God’s Word holds the key to believers’ becoming the light He intends us to be as we journey through life together!

In this two-message set, Chuck Swindoll looks to Scripture to help you diagnose problems and cultivate the essentials of worship, fellowship, and time in the Word. First, drawing warnings from Ezekiel, Chuck alerts us to the dangers of spiritual decay. Then he takes us to 1 Corinthians to discover the vital characteristics of a thriving church.

And the most important characteristic? “Do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).


The church was designed by God to be a reliable refuge—a place of resilience, charm, and wisdom where broken people can find healing and community. In this two-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores how to move away from spiritual decay toward a thriving, vibrant ministry. By diagnosing the signs of a “dying” ministry and highlighting the essentials of a “dynamic” one, this series provides a roadmap for any believer or church leader who longs for their spiritual community to be the light God intended.

Message 1. Discouraging Signs of a Dying Ministry (Ezekiel 8)

  • Overview: Drawing sobering warnings from the book of Ezekiel, Chuck identifies the internal symptoms of spiritual rot. Just as the temple in Ezekiel’s day became corrupted by secret idolatry and spiritual apathy, modern ministries can lose their life when they prioritize image over integrity.
  • Key Fact: A dying ministry often looks successful on the outside, but is defined by a lack of genuine worship and the presence of “hidden” idols in the hearts of its people.
  • Scripture: Ezekiel 8:12 – “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are practicing in the dark, each man in his room of carved images?'”

Message 2. Encouraging Essentials for a Dynamic Ministry (1 Corinthians 16)

  • Overview: Shifts from warning to inspiration, using Paul’s closing instructions to the Corinthians to define a healthy church. A dynamic ministry is characterized by alertness, strength, and above all, a commitment to love.
  • Key Fact: The “secret sauce” of a thriving ministry is not a better program or a bigger building, but the quality of love that permeates every action.
  • Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 – “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

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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.

Spiritual maturity is not an automatic result of time; it is a process of intentional growth. In this series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the “ages and stages” of the Christian life. By comparing spiritual development to human physical growth—from infancy to adulthood—Chuck provides a roadmap for identifying immaturity and pursuing the “solid food” of a deep, seasoned relationship with Christ.

Message 1: Analysis of a Crop Failure

  • Overview: Why do some Christians stop growing? Using the Parable of the Soils, Chuck analyzes the internal and external “choke points” that prevent the Word of God from producing a harvest in a believer’s life.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual “crop failure” is rarely a seed problem; it is almost always a soil problem involving the distractions of the world or a lack of depth in the heart.
  • Scripture Reference: Matthew 13:1–23

Message 2: Growing Up in God’s Family

  • Overview: An introduction to the family dynamics of the Kingdom. Chuck establishes that every believer enters God’s family as a “newborn” and outlines the biblical expectation for consistent maturation.
  • Key Fact: Just as physical growth is the natural result of health, spiritual growth is the natural result of a healthy connection to the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:12–14

Message 3: Ages and Stages of Growing Up

  • Overview: Chuck explores the distinct phases of spiritual life mentioned by the Apostle John: little children, young men, and fathers.
  • Key Fact: Each stage of spiritual growth has its own unique strengths (such as the energy of “young men”) and its own unique vulnerabilities.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:12–14

Message 4: Birth and Infancy: Survival Basics

  • Overview: Every believer starts at the same place: spiritual infancy. This message focuses on the “survival basics” of the new life in Christ, primarily the craving for the “pure milk of the word.”
  • Key Fact: Spiritual infants are characterized by a total dependence on others for “feeding” and a high need for protection and basic nurture.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 2:1–3

Message 5: Look . . . I’m Walking!

  • Overview: The transition from being a passive recipient of the Word to an active doer. Chuck discusses the first steps of spiritual obedience and the “wobbles” that often accompany early growth.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual “walking” begins when a believer moves from merely hearing the Truth to applying it in daily, practical decisions.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 5:11–14

Message 6: The Delights of Childhood

  • Overview: Childhood is a season of wonder and simple trust. Chuck encourages believers to maintain a “childlike” faith—characterized by curiosity and dependence—without becoming “childish.”
  • Key Fact: Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who approach Him with the humility and openness of a child.
  • Scripture Reference: Mark 10:13–16

Message 7: Adult Talk about “Childish Things”

  • Overview: There is a point where a believer must “put away childish things.” Chuck identifies the behaviors that are appropriate for a child but indicate a lack of growth in an adult believer.
  • Key Fact: “Childishness” in the church is often manifested through divisiveness, jealousy, and a focus on self-interest rather than the needs of the Body.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3

Message 8: Three Proofs of Growth

  • Overview: How do you measure spiritual maturity? Chuck provides three objective benchmarks: a growing knowledge of Christ, an increasing discernment of truth, and a deepening stability in character.
  • Key Fact: Maturity is not measured by how much you know, but by how much your knowledge has transformed your character.
  • Scripture Reference: 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:13–15

Message 9: Adolescents in Adult Bodies

  • Overview: A challenging message regarding spiritual “arrested development.” Chuck describes the frustration of being chronologically old in the faith but spiritually immature.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual adolescence is marked by a “know-it-all” attitude combined with a lack of consistent, sacrificial responsibility.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 5:12; 1 Corinthians 3:1–4

Message 10: When Peter Pan Comes to Church

  • Overview: Drawing on the literary figure who refused to grow up, Chuck addresses the “Peter Pan syndrome” in the church—believers who want the benefits of the family without the responsibilities of adulthood.
  • Key Fact: A healthy church requires “fathers and mothers” in the faith who are willing to mentor the next generation rather than remaining perpetual consumers.
  • Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:12–16

Message 11: What’s Right about Adolescence?

  • Overview: While adolescence can be a time of turmoil, it also brings passion and strength. Chuck explores how the zeal of “young men” in the faith is vital for spiritual warfare and church health.
  • Key Fact: Spiritual adolescents often possess the “word of God abiding in them” and the strength to overcome the evil one in ways that more passive believers do not.
  • Scripture Reference: 1 John 2:14

Message 12: Reasons We Resist Becoming Mature

  • Overview: Why do we stay small? Chuck identifies the common hurdles to growth: the comfort of the familiar, a fear of what God might ask of us, and a lack of spiritual discipline.
  • Key Fact: Resistance to growth is often a subtle form of self-protection that keeps us from the “abundant life” Christ promised.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 6:1–3; Galatians 5:1

Message 13: The Church: Who Needs It?

  • Overview: Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Chuck makes a compelling case for the necessity of the local church as the “greenhouse” where spiritual maturity is cultivated through fellowship and accountability.
  • Key Fact: Isolation is the enemy of maturity; we are commanded to “provoke one another to love and good works” through regular gathering.
  • Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:24–25

Message 14: A Story for Adults to Remember

  • Overview: Using a narrative approach, Chuck shares a powerful “story of growth” that illustrates the shift from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
  • Key Fact: Biblical stories and parables serve as “mirrors” that allow us to see our own spiritual standing more clearly than abstract lists.
  • Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11–32

Message 15: A Song for Adults to Sing

  • Overview: A message on the role of worship and gratitude in the life of a mature believer. Chuck explores how our “song” changes as we grow deeper in the Lord.
  • Key Fact: The mature believer’s worship is rooted in the “theology of the soul” rather than just the emotions of the moment.
  • Scripture Reference: Psalm 40:1–3; Colossians 3:16

Message 16: Growing Up in God’s Family

  • Overview: The series finale. Chuck synthesizes the lessons learned into a final call to pursue Christ with everything we have, moving toward the goal of “fullness in Christ.”
  • Key Fact: The ultimate goal of growing up in God’s family is to reflect the character of the Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, to a watching world.
  • Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:11–16

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The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal

The church belongs to Jesus and to no one else. She is His bride. But if a local church strays from its holy calling, that church risks losing its very identity.

What can a church do, then, to remain pure and deep? God’s Word has the answer.

In this important series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll casts a clear, biblical vision of what comprises a healthy church. Learn these essential truths and timely applications in this nine-part series that will inspire church leaders and congregants alike!


In a culture that is increasingly secular and a church that is often drifting toward entertainment or legalism, there is an urgent need for a “wake-up call.” In this 9-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll returns to the foundational blueprint of the New Testament church. By emphasizing the Lordship of Christ and the essential marks of a healthy community, Chuck provides a roadmap for local churches to move away from “the long drift” and toward a vibrant, contagious, and deep spiritual life.

Message 1. The Church: Let’s Start Here (Matthew 16:13–19)

  • Overview: Sets the foundation by declaring that the Church belongs to Jesus and no one else. The Church is built on the confession of Christ as Lord, not on human personalities or clever marketing.
  • Key Fact: The existence and purpose of the church rest entirely on the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Matthew 16:18 – “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the symbols of Hades will not overpower it.”

Message 2. Challenges, Struggles, Solutions, Priorities (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Addresses the modern “identity crisis” of the church. Chuck identifies the specific cultural challenges that cause churches to lose their way and points back to the priorities of the early church in Acts.
  • Key Fact: When a church confuses its mission with cultural trends, it risks losing its power to transform lives.
  • Scripture: Acts 2:42 – “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Message 3. Distinctives of a Contagious Church (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: What makes a church “contagious”? It is not high-production value, but the presence of genuine love, uncompromised truth, and a spirit of joyful resilience.
  • Key Fact: A contagious church doesn’t just attract a crowd; it impacts a community through the visible transformation of its members.

Message 4. Worship: A Commitment . . . Not a War (Part One)

  • Overview: Tackles the “worship wars” that have divided many congregations. Chuck argues that worship is a heart-commitment to God, not a matter of musical style or personal preference.
  • Key Fact: True worship is vertical (directed at God) and should never be sidelined by horizontal arguments over tradition versus contemporary trends.
  • Scripture: Psalm 95:6 – “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

5. Worship: A Commitment . . . Not a War (Part Two)

  • Overview: Continues the study on worship, focusing on the “spirit and truth” required for genuine encounter with God.
  • Key Fact: Worship is an active response of the soul to the greatness of God, which transcends the “performance” aspect of a service.
  • Scripture: John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Message 6. What Must the Church Realize? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: A sobering look at the spiritual reality of the Church’s position in the world. Chuck encourages churches to realize their role as a “lighthouse” in a dark culture.
  • Key Fact: The church must realize that its primary influence comes from being different from the world, not similar to it.

Message 7. How Should the Church React? (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Provides a strategic response to cultural hostility and internal apathy. The church is called to react with grace, boldness, and a renewed commitment to its first love.
  • Key Fact: The church’s reaction to a wrong world should be “right living” and a fearless proclamation of the Gospel.

Message 8. The Church on a Long Drift (Revelation 2–3)

  • Overview: Uses the letters to the seven churches in Revelation to illustrate how a healthy church can slowly “drift” into lukewarmness, legalism, or compromise.
  • Key Fact: The “long drift” is usually subtle and occurs when we stop being vigilant about our spiritual health and doctrine.
  • Scripture: Revelation 2:4 – “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Message 9. It’s Time to “Restore the Years” (Joel 2:25)

  • Overview: The series concludes with a message of hope and restoration. No matter how far a church has drifted, God is able to restore what has been lost through genuine repentance and renewal.
  • Key Fact: Renewal is always possible because the Potter is still at work on His human clay, and He delights in “restoring the years that the locust has eaten.”
  • Scripture: Joel 2:25 – “Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten.”

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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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God’s Masterwork, Volume Three

Have you ever needed wisdom? Ever longed for a calming word during trying times? Have you ever worried about the future?

When issues like these arise, Chuck Swindoll reminds us of the best place to turn—God’s Word. In this informative and practical series, covering the books of Job through Daniel, Chuck guides us through the Wisdom Books, the Psalms, and the Major Prophets to help us answer the pressing questions of our day.


In this third volume of the God’s Masterwork survey, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the Wisdom Books and the Major Prophets (Job through Daniel). This section of the Old Testament provides a deep dive into the human experience—wrestling with suffering, expressing profound worship, seeking practical wisdom, and understanding God’s sovereign control over history. Through these books, we find that God is not only the Architect of the universe but the intimate Companion of those who walk through the dark valleys of life.

Message 1. Job: Magnificent Man of Misery

  • Overview: Addresses the universal question of human suffering. Through the story of Job, we learn that God’s ways are often beyond our understanding, yet He remains completely trustworthy.
  • Key Fact: The book of Job teaches that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin; sometimes it is a platform for God to display His sovereignty and glory.
  • Scripture: Job 1:21 – “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Message 2. Psalms: Inspired Anthology of Praise

  • Overview: A survey of the Bible’s “hymnbook,” which provides a vocabulary for every human emotion, from deepest despair to exuberant joy.
  • Key Fact: The Psalms are categorized into different types, including laments, thanksgivings, and messianic psalms that point forward to Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Psalm 150:6 – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”

Message 3. Proverbs: Reliable Counsel for Right Living

  • Overview: Practical wisdom for everyday life. This book serves as a manual for navigating relationships, finances, and personal character with a “vertical” perspective.
  • Key Fact: Wisdom in Proverbs is not just intellectual knowledge; it is “skill in living” that begins with a healthy reverence for God.
  • Scripture: Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Message 4. Ecclesiastes: Searching for the Meaning of Life

  • Overview: Solomon’s philosophical exploration of life “under the sun.” He concludes that without God, everything—wealth, pleasure, and work—is ultimately “vanity.”
  • Key Fact: The book serves as a powerful apologetic, showing that human fulfillment can only be found when God is at the center of one’s life.
  • Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments.”

Message 5. Song of Solomon: Poem of Faithful Love

  • Overview: A beautiful, poetic celebration of romantic and marital love. It highlights the sanctity and beauty of the physical and emotional bond between a husband and wife.
  • Key Fact: While often interpreted allegorically, the book primarily serves to affirm that God is the author of romantic love and desires it to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage.
  • Scripture: Song of Solomon 8:7 – “Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it.”

Message 6. Profile of a Prophet

  • Overview: An introduction to the role and character of the biblical prophets. These were men called by God to be His “mouthpiece,” often speaking unpopular truths to a rebellious nation.
  • Key Fact: A prophet’s primary job was “forthtelling” (speaking God’s word to their current generation) as much as “foretelling” (predicting the future).
  • Scripture: 2 Peter 1:21 – “For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Message 7. Isaiah: Prince among the Prophets

  • Overview: A majestic survey of the “Messianic Prophet.” Isaiah’s book mirrors the structure of the entire Bible, moving from judgment to the promise of comfort and a suffering Servant.
  • Key Fact: Isaiah contains some of the most vivid prophecies regarding the birth, ministry, and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
  • Scripture: Isaiah 9:6 – “For a child will be born to us… and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.”

Message 8. Jeremiah: Weeping, Warning, and Waiting

  • Overview: Known as the “Weeping Prophet,” Jeremiah faithfully delivered a message of judgment for forty years without seeing a national revival.
  • Key Fact: Jeremiah’s life demonstrates that success in God’s eyes is defined by faithfulness to the message, not by popular response.
  • Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'”

Message 9. Lamentations: A Prophet’s Broken Heart

  • Overview: A collection of five acrostic poems expressing the deep grief over the destruction of Jerusalem. It shows that God allows and even validates the expression of deep sorrow.
  • Key Fact: In the very center of this book of sorrow lies one of the greatest declarations of God’s faithfulness in all of Scripture.
  • Scripture: Lamentations 3:22–23 – “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease… They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Message 10. Ezekiel: Strong Man of God

  • Overview: Written from the heart of the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel used dramatic visions and symbolic acts to remind the people that God’s glory had not abandoned them.
  • Key Fact: Ezekiel’s name means “God strengthens,” which was necessary for a prophet ministering to a “stubborn and obstinate” people.
  • Scripture: Ezekiel 36:26 – “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”

Message 11. Daniel: Man of Integrity, Message of Prophecy

  • Overview: A study of a man who maintained absolute integrity in a pagan culture. The book combines personal biography with staggering visions of future world empires.
  • Key Fact: Daniel demonstrates that it is possible to be “in the world but not of it,” influencing the highest levels of government without compromising one’s faith.
  • Scripture: Daniel 6:10 – Daniel’s consistent character: “Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed… he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying.”

Common Questions: God’s Masterwork, Volume Three

1. Why does the Bible include a book as “depressing” as Ecclesiastes? As Pastor Chuck explains in “Searching for the Meaning of Life,” Ecclesiastes is essential because it validates our human frustrations. It shows that if we look for meaning only “under the sun” (in the material world), we will always end up disappointed. It drives us to look “above the sun” to find our purpose in God.

2. Is the “love” in Song of Solomon about Christ and the Church or a man and a woman? While many scholars see an allegorical application to Christ and the Church, the series emphasizes that the primary purpose of Song of Solomon is to celebrate God’s design for human marriage. It teaches that physical and emotional intimacy is a gift from God to be honored and enjoyed.

3. What is the difference between a “Major” and a “Minor” prophet? The distinction is based on the length of the books, not the importance of the message. The “Major Prophets” (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel) wrote longer, more comprehensive scrolls, whereas the twelve “Minor Prophets” wrote shorter, more focused messages.

4. How could Jeremiah stay faithful when no one listened to his preaching? In “Weeping, Warning, and Waiting,” it is noted that Jeremiah’s strength came from his “fire in the bones”—a divine calling that he could not ignore. He teaches us that we are responsible for our obedience, while God is responsible for the results.

5. How do the prophecies in Daniel apply to us today? Daniel provides a “skeleton of world history.” By showing how precisely God fulfilled Daniel’s prophecies regarding the Greek and Roman empires, it gives us absolute confidence that God is still in control of modern geopolitics and that Christ’s final kingdom will eventually be established.

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Can One Person Make a Difference?

The apostle Paul. Martin Luther. Corrie Ten Boom. Winston Churchill. Each name is instantly recognizable, because each person demonstrated courage in the face of opposition, overcoming evil with good and changing lives.

Can we make a difference?

You don’t need a famous name to make a difference. Through the power of God, anyone can impact neighborhoods, workplaces, and even the world. In this inspiring series by Chuck Swindoll, you’ll hear true stories of brave Christians in church history, learn the fundamental role of the church, and be equipped with the courage and discernment that life in Christ promises.

Can we make a difference? Yes we can.


In this 10-part series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the profound impact that a single individual can have on the world when they are empowered by God. By weaving together stories from church history—most notably the Protestant Reformation—with biblical mandates for the local church, this series challenges every believer to step out of the shadows and embrace their role in God’s unfolding plan.

Message 1. The Truth That Set Us Free (Romans 1:16–17; 4:5)

  • Overview: Sets the theological foundation by revisiting the “spiritual birthright” of the Reformation. It explores how rediscovering the truth of justification by faith alone changed the course of history.
  • Key Fact: The date October 31, 1517, is cited as a turning point more significant than many national holidays, marking the beginning of a return to biblical authority.
  • 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. A Monk, a Door, a War, a Hymn (Psalm 46)

  • Overview: A biographical look at Martin Luther’s stand against the religious establishment of his day. It illustrates how one person’s conviction can ignite a global movement.
  • Key Fact: Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” was born out of his meditation on Psalm 46 during a time of intense personal and political crisis.
  • Scripture: Psalm 46:1–2 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Message 3. Being a Church that Makes a Difference (Acts 2:41–47)

  • Overview: Analyzes the DNA of the early church to determine what makes a community of faith truly impactful in a pagan culture.
  • Key Fact: The early church was characterized by four pillars: apostolic teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
  • Scripture: Acts 2:42 – “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Message 4. Ministry: Movement or Monument? (2 Kings 18:1–8)

  • Overview: A warning against “institutionalization.” This message uses King Hezekiah’s reforms to show that true ministry must remain a living movement rather than a static monument to the past.
  • Key Fact: Hezekiah broke in pieces the bronze serpent Moses had made because the people had turned a tool of God into an object of worship (Nehushtan).
  • Scripture: 2 Kings 18:5 – “He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah.”

Message 5. Thinking Right about the Church (Matthew 16:13–18)

  • Overview: Corrects common misconceptions about the nature and purpose of the church, focusing on Christ’s declaration of its invincibility.
  • Key Fact: The “rock” upon which Christ builds His church is the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
  • Scripture: Matthew 16:18 – “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Message 6. Flexing with a Future in Flux (1 Chronicles 12:32)

  • Overview: Discusses the importance of cultural relevance and discernment, highlighting the “sons of Issachar” who understood their times.
  • Key Fact: Impactful people are those who remain biblically grounded but are “flexible” enough to apply eternal truths to a changing world.
  • Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:32 – Describing men “who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.”

Message 7. How to Help Our Nation Survive (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Addresses the believer’s role in civil society, emphasizing that the health of a nation is often tied to the spiritual vitality of its individuals.
  • Key Fact: Salt and light are the two metaphors Jesus used to describe the influence Christians should have on a decaying and dark world.
  • Scripture: Proverbs 14:34 – “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Message 8. A Passion That Stays Balanced (Philippians 4:1–9)

  • Overview: Warns against the “zeal without knowledge” that can lead to burnout or legalism, advocating for a balanced Christian life.
  • Key Fact: Stability in ministry comes from a mind stayed on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, and lovely.
  • Scripture: Philippians 4:8 – The checklist for a balanced mind: “Whatever is true… honorable… right… pure… lovely… dwell on these things.”

Message 9. Can One Person Make a Difference? (Nehemiah 1:1–11)

  • Overview: The titular message of the series, focusing on Nehemiah’s broken heart for Jerusalem and his subsequent action.
  • Key Fact: Nehemiah’s impact began not with a plan or a budget, but with a season of fasting and prayer over the ruins of his heritage.
  • Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4 – “When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

Message 10. This Is No Time for Wimps! (Joshua 1:1–9)

  • Overview: A concluding charge to live with courage and strength, following the example of Joshua as he prepared to lead Israel into the Promised Land.
  • Key Fact: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of God; Joshua was commanded three times in one passage to “be strong and courageous.”
  • Scripture: Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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