Insight for Living

The Bible-Teaching Ministry of Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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A Conversation with Chuck Swindoll about the Great Commission

Ever wonder what motivates Chuck Swindoll to keep on proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ? It’s his all-consuming enthusiasm to obey Jesus when He said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). In fact, it’s what has caused Chuck to remove the word “retirement” from his vocabulary.

In this personal conversation with Chuck, he shares his passion for preaching and his excitement about what God is doing through Insight for Living Ministries in the United States and around the world. Be inspired to do your part in fulfilling God’s plan!


What motivates a person to spend over six decades proclaiming the Gospel? In this intimate and personal conversation, Chuck Swindoll shares the driving force behind his ministry: an all-consuming enthusiasm to obey Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all the nations.” This series offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the heart of Insight for Living Ministries, exploring why the Great Commission is more than just a mandate—it is a life-giving mission that should ignite the heart of every believer and every local church.

Message 1: A Conversation with Chuck Swindoll about the Great Commission

Sermon Summary In this message, Chuck reflects on the global reach of God’s Word and the urgent need for biblical teaching in every language and nation. He discusses his genuine passion for the local church and the pastors who lead them, bringing a fresh perspective to the familiar words of Matthew 28. Chuck shares how this mission has shaped his personal life, leading him to remove the word “retirement” from his vocabulary in favor of a continued commitment to the harvest.

Key Facts & Themes

  • Motivation for Ministry: Understanding that the Great Commission is the primary engine for everything Insight for Living Ministries pursues.
  • Global Vision: Exploring the excitement of what God is doing through international ministry efforts and the “Vision 195” initiative.
  • The Role of the Individual: Encouragement for every Christian to find their place in God’s plan for the world, whether through going, sending, or praying.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • Matthew 28:18–20: The foundational command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them.

Common Questions about the Great Commission (FAQ)

What exactly is “The Great Commission”? The Great Commission refers to the final instructions Jesus gave to His disciples before His ascension. It is the command to spread His teachings to the whole world, ensuring that people from every nation have the opportunity to become followers of Christ and grow in their faith.

Why does Chuck Swindoll say he won’t “retire” from ministry? For Chuck, the calling to share the Gospel is a lifelong passion that doesn’t have an expiration date. As long as there are people who haven’t heard the good news and as long as God gives him the strength to preach, he views his role as an ongoing privilege rather than a job one retires from.

How can I help fulfill the Great Commission if I’m not a missionary? Fulfilling the Great Commission is a team effort. You can participate by supporting those who go, praying for the reach of God’s Word in unreached areas, and—most importantly—making disciples in your own “mission field,” which includes your family, workplace, and community.

Does the Great Commission only apply to pastors and leaders? No. Jesus gave this command to all His followers. While pastors and leaders have specific roles in teaching and equipping, every believer is called to be a witness and to help others follow Jesus in their daily lives.

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Transformed by Grace

When life falls apart, how do you pick up the pieces and move forward? The answer is REFRAME.  To reframe is to see your losses, struggles, and burdens through God’s lens of grace and to let Him reshape your pain into new purpose. Paul describes this process: “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2).

With God’s power, you can become a new person as God guides your thoughts, heals your heart, and energizes new habits. Reframing is not easy; it is an ongoing process of growth as God transforms you by His grace. Join Chuck Swindoll and his daughter Colleen Swindoll Thompson as they transparently share their reframing journeys.


When life falls apart due to prolonged seasons of calamity or heartache, how do you pick up the pieces? In this transparent series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll and his daughter, Colleen Swindoll Thompson, explore the concept of Reframing. Reframing is the spiritual discipline of seeing your losses and burdens through God’s lens of grace rather than your own pain. By allowing God to change the way you think, you can emerge from the “crucible of His will” with a new personhood and a reshaped purpose.

Message 1. Transformed by Grace (Message & Interview)

  • Overview: Introduces the process of “reframing” life’s struggles. Through a combination of teaching and personal testimony, Chuck and Colleen discuss what it means to be a “new person” as God heals the heart and energizes new habits.
  • Key Fact: Transformation is an ongoing process of growth, not a one-time event, requiring us to continually surrender our thoughts to God’s perspective.
  • Scripture: Romans 12:2 – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Common Questions: Transformed by Grace

1. What does it mean to “reframe” my pain? In this series, “reframing” is defined as looking at your circumstances through a different “lens”—God’s lens. Instead of seeing a loss as purely a disaster, reframing allows you to see how God might be using that very struggle to reshape your character and reveal a new purpose for your life.

2. Is this series just for people going through major tragedies? While it addresses “prolonged seasons of calamity,” the principles of reframing apply to anyone carrying burdens or feeling “stuck” in a negative mindset. It is for anyone who needs to “renew their mind” to experience the freedom and healing found in God’s grace.

3. How does God “energize new habits” in my life? The series suggests that as our thinking changes (the reframe), our actions naturally follow. When we stop viewing ourselves as “victims of circumstance” and start seeing ourselves as “recipients of grace,” God provides the spiritual energy to replace old, destructive patterns with new, healthy ones.

4. Why is transparency emphasized in this series? Pastor Chuck and Colleen share their own “reframing journeys” to show that even those in ministry face seasons where life falls apart. Their transparency serves as a powerful confirmation that God’s grace is sufficient for everyone, regardless of their position or the depth of their heartache.

5. How long does the “reframing” process take? The series emphasizes that this is an ongoing process. It is a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment, commitment to let God transform you. There is no “quick fix,” but there is the constant, sustaining presence of God’s power as He guides your thoughts and heals your heart over time.

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Miracle Announced from a Tomb: "He Is Risen!"

He is risen. He is risen, indeed!

Declare the news far and wide! Our Lord Jesus has risen from the grave! His resurrection assures us that our sins are forgiven and our future resurrection is certain. Because Jesus is alive, He is with us through each dark night and difficult day.

Listen to Chuck Swindoll’s Easter message and relive the moment of discovery when an earthquake shook the ground and a shining angel rolled aside the stone, announcing, “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:5–6). 

What a glorious moment . . . what a wonderful Savior!

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God Knows What He’s About

When we consider the vastness of the universe, much less the seven billion souls inhabiting our planet, we can struggle to believe that God cares about our circumstances.

We can trust that God knows us, and His plans are woven in the fabric of our everyday lives. By studying the prophet Jonah and Saul of Tarsus,  we will learn that even when we doubt, rebel, and display our weakness of pride, God knows what He’s about. His plans will not be thwarted.


In this five-part holiday series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the unshakable certainty of God’s sovereignty. Whether through the precise fulfillment of ancient prophecies or the dramatic transformation of a stubborn heart, these messages demonstrate that God is never surprised and never sidelined. By looking at the lives of Mary, Jonah, and Saul of Tarsus, we see that God’s plans are woven into the fabric of history and our individual lives, reminding us that even in chaos, He knows exactly what He is about.

Message 1. God Keeps His Promises (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Micah 5:2)

  • Overview: Examines the staggering accuracy of Messianic prophecies. It establishes that if God kept His word regarding the first coming of Christ, we can be certain He will keep every other promise in Scripture.
  • Key Fact: Prophecies about Christ’s birth were given hundreds of years in advance, pinpointing the lineage, the nature of the birth, and the specific location (Bethlehem).
  • Scripture: Micah 5:2 – “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.”

Message 2. God Chooses His Servants (Luke 1:26–38)

  • Overview: Focuses on the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. It highlights God’s tendency to choose the obscure and the humble to fulfill His greatest purposes.
  • Key Fact: Mary’s response (“Behold, the bondslave of the Lord”) is the ultimate model of availability and trust in God’s sovereign plan.
  • Scripture: Luke 1:38 – “And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.'”

Message 3. God Sends His Son (Luke 2:1–20)

  • Overview: A Christmas message detailing the “quiet entry” of the Savior. It explores how God used a Roman census and a pagan emperor to ensure the Messiah was born exactly where prophecy predicted.
  • Key Fact: The “fullness of time” included the perfect political and social conditions for the arrival of the King of kings.
  • Scripture: Luke 2:7 – “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger.”

Message 4. God Bends a Stubborn Will (Jonah 1–4)

  • Overview: Traces the reluctant journey of Jonah. It illustrates that while we can run from God’s call, we cannot outrun His reach or His determination to accomplish His mission.
  • Key Fact: God is more interested in the transformation of His servant than just the delivery of a message to Nineveh.
  • Scripture: Jonah 2:9 – “Salvation is from the Lord.”

Message 5. God Humbles a Proud Heart (Acts 9:1–19)

  • Overview: The dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. This message proves that no heart is too hard for God to break and no past is too dark for God to redeem.
  • Key Fact: Saul went from “breathing threats and murder” to being a “chosen instrument” to carry God’s name before kings and Gentiles.
  • Scripture: Acts 9:15 – “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings.”

Common Questions: God Knows What He’s About

1. How can I trust God’s plan when my life feels out of control? As Pastor Chuck explains in “God Keeps His Promises,” our trust is based on God’s track record. When we see how He managed the complex details of Christ’s birth through multiple world empires and centuries of time, we can rest knowing He is equally capable of managing the details of our lives today.

2. Why does God often choose “ordinary” people for extraordinary tasks? In “God Chooses His Servants,” it is noted that God chooses the humble so that His power—not human talent—gets the glory. Like Mary, our greatest “qualification” is our willingness to be available for whatever He asks.

3. Does God still “bend” wills like He did with Jonah? Yes. In “God Bends a Stubborn Will,” the series teaches that God’s “severe mercy” often involves allowing us to reach the end of ourselves (the “belly of the whale”) so that we finally look to Him. His “bending” is always an act of love to bring us back to His purpose.

4. What can the conversion of Saul teach us about difficult people in our lives? The message “God Humbles a Proud Heart” reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. If God could transform the church’s greatest persecutor into its greatest apostle, He can reach the most “impossible” person in your life.

5. How does the “sovereignty of God” help with New Year’s anxiety? The series conclusion emphasizes that because “God knows what He’s about,” we don’t have to know every detail of the future. We can enter a new year with confidence, not because we know what the year holds, but because we know who holds the year.

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Finding Healing Through Forgiveness

Forgiveness has a curative power greater than any medicine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Key Facts

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

Scripture References

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

Message 2: Looking Back: Finding Healing through Forgiveness

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

Key Facts

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

Scripture References

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

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A Living Hope

We can navigate the placid waters of life one moment and get tossed by the storms of trials and tribulations the next. That’s why we need hope. Hope illumines and warms our souls on cold, dark days. Hope is a lighthouse when we’re storm tossed.

In this uplifting series, you’ll be inspired by our eternal Hope—Jesus—by listening in on the always winsome and grace-filled messages from Chuck Swindoll. Learn how the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and that transformed a gruff fisherman like Peter into the eloquent “Rock” of the church energizes us to let our lights brilliantly shine with hope for a dark world.


Hope is the lighthouse that guides us through life’s most violent storms. In this two-part Easter series, Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the transformative power of the Resurrection. By looking at how the empty tomb changed the course of history and the character of the Apostle Peter, these messages demonstrate that the same power that “untied the death ropes” is available today to energize our faith and turn our darkness into light.

Message 1. When God Untied the Death Ropes (Acts 2:22–24; Matthew 26:31–35)

  • Overview: Explores the transformation of Peter from a fearful, hot-tempered denier to a bold proclaimer of the Gospel. It highlights the reality of the Resurrection as the event that broke the power of death and despair.
  • Key Fact: Peter’s boldness on the Day of Pentecost was not a result of his own willpower, but a direct consequence of witnessing the resurrected Christ.
  • Scripture: Acts 2:24 – “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

Message 2. Marching Orders from the Master (Selected Scriptures)

  • Overview: Focuses on the “living hope” that believers possess because of the empty tomb. It provides practical “marching orders” for how to live as people of the Resurrection in a world that is often devoid of hope.
  • Key Fact: The Resurrection is not just a historical fact to be believed, but a current power to be lived out through our witness and character.
  • Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Common Questions: A Living Hope

1. Why is the hope of a Christian called a “living” hope? In the series, Pastor Chuck explains that a “living hope” is dynamic and active. Unlike “dead hope” (wishful thinking), a living hope is anchored in the person of the resurrected Jesus. It grows stronger as we walk with Him and provides constant warmth even on life’s coldest days.

2. How did the Resurrection change Peter’s character? Before the Resurrection, Peter was impulsive and easily intimidated, as seen in his denial of Jesus. After seeing the risen Lord, Peter became “The Rock”—eloquent, steadfast, and willing to face persecution. The “death ropes” were untied not just from Jesus, but from Peter’s spirit.

3. What does it mean that it was “impossible” for death to hold Jesus? Drawing from Acts 2:24, Chuck teaches that because Jesus was sinless and was God in the flesh, death had no legal or spiritual claim on Him. The Resurrection was the inevitable triumph of Life over the temporary shadow of the grave.

4. How can I find this hope when I’m in the middle of a “storm”? The series uses the imagery of a lighthouse. When you are storm-tossed, you don’t look at the waves; you look at the Light. By standing on the “strong foundation of God’s Word,” you can endure calamities because you know the end of the story—victory in Christ.

5. What are our “marching orders” as Resurrection people? Our orders are to let our lights “brilliantly shine.” This means being grace-filled and winsome in our communication, bold in our witness, and confident in our future, knowing that the same power that raised Jesus is at work in us.

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Things to Stop and Start

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

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

Join Chuck Swindoll for this vital message series and learn:

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

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


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

Message 1: Stop Drifting Along and Start Digging In

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture References

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

Message 2: Stop Procrastinating and Start Following Through

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 3: Stop Shaming and Start Honoring

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 4: Stop Blaming and Start Forgiving

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 5: Stop Worrying and Start Trusting

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 6: Stop Resisting and Start Submitting

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 7: Stop Acting Perfect and Start Being Vulnerable

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 8: Stop Lying and Start Acknowledging

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

Message 9: Stop Criticizing Earth and Start Contemplating Heaven

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

Key Facts & Themes

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

Primary Scripture Reference

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

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Simple Faith

Real Christianity. Where is it? What does it look like? Many Christians are wondering that these days—especially those who once based their faith on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ but have since become trapped in the rat race of performance-based faith . . . caged by the self-imposed demands of works, works, and more works. As a result, many now wonder, “What is real Christianity?”

Simple Faith is about gaining freedom from tyrannical expectations and rediscovering the beauty of what Christ really taught. It’s about getting out of the cage and winging your way back to freedom, peace, and rest in Jesus. Simple Faith recounts the real message of the Sermon on the Mount—what it means to live an authentic, uncomplicated life. In short, it is a call to simple faith.


In a world that complicates Christianity with rules, performance-based demands, and religious “pizzazz,” Pastor Chuck Swindoll calls us back to the basics. Based on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), this 14-part series explores what it means to live an authentic, uncomplicated life. Simple Faith is about trading the “rat race” of religious works for the freedom, peace, and rest found in Jesus Christ.

Message 1. Let’s Keep It Simple (Matthew 5–7 Intro)

  • Overview: Introduces the most famous sermon ever preached. Jesus moves past the surface-level traditions of the Pharisees to get to the heart of real spiritual life.
  • Key Fact: Simple faith is not shallow; it is profound and penetrating, stripping away the “extra” to focus on the essential.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:1–2 – “He went up on the mountain… and He opened His mouth and began to teach them.”

Message 2. The Qualities of Simple Faith (Matthew 5:1–12)

  • Overview: A study of the Beatitudes. Jesus defines “blessing” in ways that contradict the world’s standards, emphasizing poverty of spirit, mourning, and meekness.
  • Key Fact: The Beatitudes are not “entry requirements” for heaven, but descriptions of the character developed in those who live under God’s kingdom.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Message 3. A Simple Counterstrategy: Shake and Shine (Matthew 5:13–16)

  • Overview: Explores the believer’s role as “salt” and “light.” Simple faith doesn’t hide; it influences the world by simply being what God intended it to be.
  • Key Fact: Salt must stay salty (preserved character) and light must stay visible (public testimony) to be effective.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?”

Message 4. Simplicity Starts from Within (Matthew 5:17–20)

  • Overview: Jesus explains that He didn’t come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. He demands a righteousness that goes deeper than the external “letter of the law.”
  • Key Fact: External obedience without internal transformation is merely acting; simple faith starts in the heart.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:20 – “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Message 5. Simple Instructions on Serious Issues (Matthew 5:21–32)

  • Overview: Jesus addresses anger and lust, showing that the root of murder and adultery starts in the mind and the heart.
  • Key Fact: Simple faith involves “radical surgery” on the thoughts and attitudes that lead to sinful actions.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:28 – “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Message 6. Simple Advice to the Selfish and Strong-Willed (Matthew 5:33–48)

  • Overview: Challenges us to be people of our word, to go the “extra mile,” and to love our enemies rather than seeking retaliation.
  • Key Fact: Perfecting our love means reflecting the indiscriminate kindness of God, who sends rain on the just and the unjust.
  • Scripture: Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Message 7. Beware! Religious Performance Now Showing (Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18)

  • Overview: A warning against “hypocrisy”—the act of doing spiritual things (giving, praying, fasting) specifically to be seen by others.
  • Key Fact: If you do it for the applause of people, that applause is the only reward you will ever get.
  • Scripture: Matthew 6:1 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.”

Message 8. Prayer and Fasting Minus All the Pizzazz (Matthew 6:7–15)

  • Overview: Jesus provides the “Lord’s Prayer” as a model of simple, direct communication with God, devoid of meaningless repetition or showmanship.
  • Key Fact: Prayer is about aligning our will with God’s, not about impressing Him with our vocabulary.
  • Scripture: Matthew 6:9 – “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.'”

Message 9. When Simple Faith Erodes (Matthew 6:19–24)

  • Overview: Discusses the danger of materialism. When we start storing up treasures on earth, our focus shifts and our faith becomes complicated and anxious.
  • Key Fact: You cannot serve two masters; your heart will always follow your treasure.
  • Scripture: Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Message 10. The Subtle Enemy of Simple Faith (Matthew 6:25–34)

  • Overview: A deep dive into the problem of anxiety. Jesus points to the birds and the lilies to show that God is a reliable Provider who can be trusted for tomorrow.
  • Key Fact: Anxiety is “striving” for what God has already promised to provide; simple faith is “seeking first” His kingdom.
  • Scripture: Matthew 6:34 – “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.”

Message 11. If You’re Serious About Simple Faith, Stop This! (Matthew 7:1–5)

  • Overview: The command to “judge not.” Simple faith involves looking in the mirror to remove the “log” from our own eye before pointing out the “speck” in someone else’s.
  • Key Fact: We are called to be discerners, not self-appointed judges of other people’s motives.
  • Scripture: Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”

Message 12. The Most Powerful of All Four-Letter Words (Matthew 7:6–12)

  • Overview: Focuses on “G-I-V-E.” Jesus encourages persistence in prayer (Ask, Seek, Knock) and concludes with the Golden Rule.
  • Key Fact: God is a “Good Father” who delights in giving good gifts to His children who ask Him.
  • Scripture: Matthew 7:12 – “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you.”

Message 13. Simple yet Serious Warnings for Complicated Times (Matthew 7:13–23)

  • Overview: Discusses the “narrow gate” and the danger of false prophets. Simple faith requires discernment because not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” truly knows Him.
  • Key Fact: The “fruit” of a person’s life is the ultimate test of their spiritual authenticity.
  • Scripture: Matthew 7:16 – “You will know them by their fruits.”

Message 14. The Simple Secret of an Unsinkable Life (Matthew 7:24–29)

  • Overview: The series concludes with the parable of the two builders. An “unsinkable” life is built not just on hearing the words of Jesus, but on doing them.
  • Key Fact: Storms come to everyone; the difference in the outcome is the quality of the foundation.
  • Scripture: Matthew 7:24 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Common Questions: Simple Faith

1. Is “Simple Faith” the same as being “simple-minded”? Not at all. As Pastor Chuck explains, simple faith is actually quite sophisticated because it requires the discipline to strip away the “religious clutter” that humans tend to add to God’s Word. It is a “refined” faith that focuses on the core teachings of Jesus.

2. How do I know if I’m trapped in “performance-based” faith? If your spiritual life feels like a “rat race” of trying to earn God’s approval through works, or if you feel a sense of “tyrannical expectation” from others, you might be in a performance trap. Simple faith is characterized by “rest” and “peace,” knowing that Christ has already done the work.

3. What does it mean to “shake and shine”? In “A Simple Counterstrategy,” this refers to being Salt (to preserve and sting) and Light (to illuminate). Simple faith doesn’t need to over-complicate its mission; it just needs to exist authentically in the world to make a difference.

4. Why is anxiety called the “subtle enemy” of faith? Anxiety is subtle because it often feels like “responsibility.” However, in Matthew 6, Jesus points out that anxiety is actually a lack of trust in God’s character as a Provider. It “erodes” simple faith by shifting our focus from God’s kingdom to our own survival.

5. What is the “simple secret” to surviving the storms of life? According to the final message, the secret is Obedience. The house built on the rock didn’t survive because the builder “knew” more than the other guy; it survived because the builder acted on what he heard. Simple faith is a “doing” faith.

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Gaining a Fresh Perspective

Grudges grind friendships to a halt. Bitterness turns marriages into marathons of misery. Misunderstandings build walls of resentment between neighbors who erect high fences. Even churches aren’t immune to the painful results of hurtful words and unmet expectations.

Are you stuck in the disappointment of a broken relationship? Desperate to break free from the chains of bitterness and anger? A fresh perspective is the place to start, and that’s God’s specialty. His Word provides the hope and help you need.

In Gaining a Fresh Perspective: Seeing Relationships through New Eyes, Chuck Swindoll uses the lens of Scripture to offer you a hope-filled outlook on your relationships. The Lord is ready to restore and renew! Discover how His grace can provide genuine healing and lasting transformation.


Relationships can be the source of our greatest joy or our deepest misery. Grudges, bitterness, and unmet expectations often build walls of resentment that seem impossible to scale. In this series, Gaining a Fresh Perspective: Seeing Relationships through New Eyes, Chuck Swindoll explores how the lens of Scripture can transform our outlook. By applying God’s curative power of forgiveness, we can break free from the chains of anger and move toward a life characterized by restoration and renewal.

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

Sermon Summary Many of us live with a “rearview mirror” filled with regret over the messes we’ve made in our own lives or the wreckage of broken relationships. In this message, Chuck uncovers wisdom from the book of Joel, showing how God’s tender mercies are activated through our grief and repentance. We learn that “clearing the trash” of the past is a necessary step before we can move forward into the healing God has planned for our future.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Necessity of Repentance: Understanding how a heart turned toward God opens the door to mercy.
  • Facing the Truth: The courage required to address the failures and regrets that we often try to hide.

Primary Scripture Reference

  • The Book of Joel: A study of God’s restoration following a season of national and personal brokenness.

Message 2: Looking Back: Finding Healing Through Forgiveness

Sermon Summary Forgiveness is the most powerful curative agent in the human experience, yet it is often the hardest to apply. This message focuses on the practical and spiritual dimensions of releasing others from the debts they owe us. By looking back at our injuries through the lens of God’s grace, we discover that forgiveness isn’t just for the offender—it is the key that unlocks our own prison of bitterness and allows genuine healing to begin.

Key Facts & Themes

  • The Curative Power of Grace: How letting go of grudges restores spiritual and emotional health.
  • Lasting Transformation: Why forgiveness is the foundation for renewed friendships and marriages.

Primary Scripture References

  • Ephesians 4:31–32: The call to let go of bitterness and forgive as God in Christ forgave us.
  • Colossians 3:13: Bearing with one another and maintaining a heart of forgiveness.

Common Questions about Relationship Healing (FAQ)

What is the first step toward fixing a broken relationship? The first step is often gaining a “fresh perspective” by looking at the situation through God’s eyes rather than our own hurt feelings. This involves an honest evaluation of our own part in the conflict and a willingness to prioritize reconciliation over being “right.”

Does forgiving someone mean I have to trust them again immediately? No. Forgiveness and trust are two different things. Forgiveness is a gift of grace given freely to the offender to release your own bitterness. Trust is a quality that must be rebuilt over time through consistent, faithful behavior.

How do I handle a regret that keeps coming back to haunt me? Scripture tells us to “clear away the trash” by confessing it to God and accepting His complete forgiveness. When regrets resurface, remind yourself that God’s mercy is new every morning and that in Christ, your past does not define your future.

What if the other person doesn’t want to reconcile? As believers, we are called to live at peace with everyone so far as it depends on us (Romans 12:18). You can offer forgiveness and extend an olive branch, but you are not responsible for the other person’s response. Your healing is found in your obedience to God, regardless of the outcome.

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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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