CD

Matthew 4:1–11

Although Christ’s life was marked by trials, He never succumbed to temptation. At each pressure point, He turned to His Father and to God’s Word for strength to pass all of life’s tests. With Christ accompanying us on life’s journey, things that others might interpret as a tragedy or seduction to evil take on a different appearance. Both by His example and through His power, we, too, can get through the tough stuff of temptation.

Individual message on CD

John 8:1–11

If pride precedes a fall, then shame follows it. Strong regret and public censure, mixed with humiliation and embarrassment, comprise one of the most devastating of all human emotions: shame. Who hasn’t known the sting of shame? The anguish cannot be adequately expressed in words. The agony defies description. In this message, we will witness how our Lord handled a situation shrouded in shame. What a model He left for us to follow as we get through the tough stuff of shame!

Individual message on CD

The idyllic marital bliss of Adam and Eve was split in two when sin wedged itself between them. Everything changed, between this couple and every other couple in history. Divorces are epidemic, and though the causes are myriad, at their root is sin. One partner’s sin may be overt, but the failure that results in a broken marriage is invariably a two-way journey traveled by two guilty sinners. But once the divorce is finalized, the question often arises: “Is remarriage always permissible . . . never permissible . . . sometimes permissible?” What does Scripture say?

Individual message on CD

Mark 3:1–12, 20–35

Being misunderstood is one of the most common problems a Christian must face. People fail to understand our motives. Some jump to false conclusions. Others assume things about Christians that grow out of feelings rather than facts. Misunderstanding should not surprise Christians, however, when you stop to consider that Christ’s journey to the cross was in many ways the result of being misunderstood. Take comfort in the fact that, as His disciples, we can connect with the One who can truly sympathize with us through the tough stuff of misunderstanding.

Individual message on CD

Matthew 26:36–46

Do you remember going to bed as a child and feeling pain in your legs? You may have thought some terrible disease had invaded and that the pain was the initial symptom of some form of paralysis. Of course, it was nothing as dramatic as that. The pains you felt were “growing pains.”

Instead of some dreaded disease, the unpleasant, unwelcome, and unappreciated pain was normal and healthy—a reminder that you were growing. And what was true then, during your childhood, is also true today: pain, though never sought out, is an essential part of our emotional and spiritual growth.

Individual message on CD

Matthew 27:27–44

The problem of prejudice has harmed every society. Jesus confronted the issue directly in His interaction with the Samaritan woman. In fact, He modeled a life of love without one prejudicial thought. In the end, Jesus Himself, the Lord of glory, received the most brutal of all blows from those swayed by prejudice: death by crucifixion. And yet, despite His suffering, Jesus did not let their prejudicial acts squelch His love for them. In this message, Pastor Chuck Swindoll helps us discover in Christ the only sure antidote to overcome prejudice’s poisonous effects in our lives.

Individual message on CD

Matthew 6:1–18; 15:1–9

Some of the strongest words Christ uttered were directed at the religious hypocrites of His day. These were neither ignorant men nor insignificant nobodies, but the most influential and authoritative people in Judaism—the scribes and the Pharisees. Unfortunately, the presence of hypocrisy did not fade away with the passing of those ancient sects; it is still alive and well in the church today. What is the antidote to hypocrisy? An authentic life.

Individual message on CD

Matthew 28:16–20; Acts 1:1–8

How often we overlook the human impossibility of the Great Commission! Stop and consider. At His ascension, Jesus passed the torch to a handful of frightened and incompetent men. Just over a month earlier, they had all forsaken the Master. He addressed His parting words to this same group of men: “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). They were to continue the work He had begun. With that great challenge in mind, we will discover how the church got started with such power, efficiency, and success.

Individual message on CD

John 20:24–29

Secret doubts linger in virtually every person’s life. They emerge in times of stress, when pain pushes uncertainty to the surface and when despair crowds our confidence and faith. On such occasions, we may blurt out skeptical comments or even act out faithless and irresponsible behavior. These very human lapses should not be viewed as journeys into the back roads of carnality, but as sometimes necessary steps in the faith walk. The good news is that our Lord gives us room to question, wrestle, and struggle as we grow toward maturity.

Individual message on CD