Shows
The Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith, Suffering, and Hope: a conversation with Dave DeSelmToday’s episode is different.In June of 2025, Dave was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer. And so, after five years of weekly teaching, this will be the final new episode of The Word for Everyday Disciples.Rather than a sermon, what you’ll hear today is a conversation—an honest and thoughtful interview Dave recently recorded with a longtime friend and former colleague, Clinton Faupel. Clinton is the co-founder of Remedy Live, a ministry devoted to mental health advocacy and providing real-time, online crisis support to anyone who reaches out.This conversation is not...
2025-12-2834 min
The Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmBlessed Are the Peacemakers: Taking Care of the PlankJesus’ approach to peacemaking is to pursue reconciliation. There are three steps in that process that are important for us to understand and practice. The first step is confession. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus used a word picture to get this point across when he asked, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Mt. 7:3) We have the remarkable ability to see others’ faults but remain blind to our own. Any attempt at relationa...
2023-07-0230 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Walking WiselyA wise walk on a macro level is a function of regularly making right decisions on a micro level.There’s not one of us who has not and who will not face many decisions. That’s not the issue. The issue is, “How do we make good decisions?” 1. Walking wisely is a function of seeking the mind of God.2. Walking wisely is a function of engaging with wise people.3. Walking wisely is a function of asking the right question. That question...
2022-10-3029 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: The New YouA great rallying cry for this section of Scriptures would be, “Off with the old! On with the new!” Off with the old clothes of godless living and on with the new wardrobe befitting our new identity in Christ.This can apply to a whole array of behaviors. The behaviors listed in Eph. 4:25-32 can fall into four categories. Let’s look at each one.1. Your SpeechPaul refers to 3 different aspects of our speech we’re to put off. Falsehood - pseudos (vs. 25) Lying...
2022-10-1625 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: A Change of WardrobeThose who are in Christ have been given a new identity and we are called to live in light of that identity. Like a change of wardrobe, we are to “put off our old self,” stripping off certain behaviors and attitudes as a set of filthy, smelly clothes. Off with the Old.In Eph. 4, Paul “insists” that believers must no longer live like the godless around us. Why? Because they have…· a darkened mind (vs. 17-18)Why are our minds so important? Because what we think determines what we do. Yo...
2022-10-0929 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Finding Your Place, Pt. 3Each of us in the Body of Christ have been given a role to play so that together we can build up the Church, making it strong and mature. Those roles are:ApostleProphetEvangelistShepherdTeacher Each of us has a primary gift. It’s the one you are best at, most passionate about, and most refreshed by. You might call this your “base ministry.” But as followers of Jesus, we are not exempt from stepping into the other roles. For instance, my “base ministry” is Teacher, but there are times when I must step into a Shepherding role, caring fo...
2022-10-0223 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Finding Your Place, Pt. 2In Ephesians 4, the Apostle Paul lists five unique roles God has given each one of us in the Body of Christ. These spiritual roles are the unique callings distributed to believers that enable them to fulfill strategic functions for the church.These five roles are (Eph. 4:11):Apostle Prophet Evangelist Shepherd TeacherThese are often referred to as the “5-fold Ministries” or the APEST (after the first letters).As we grow and mature into our unique roles, the Body is strengthened and the Kingdom is exten...
2022-09-2531 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Finding Your Place, Pt. 1In 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, we find lists of “spiritual gifts.” Spiritual gifts are special abilities distributed to believers that enable them to perform special actions in the church.In Ephesians 4, however, we find, not a further listing of spiritual gifts., but rather a listing of spiritual roles.Spiritual roles are the unique callings distributed to believers that enable them to fulfill strategic functions for the church.Verse 11 identifies five roles:· Apostle · Prophet · Evangelist · Shepherd · ...
2022-09-1830 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: A Worthy WalkWhen a person joins an organization, he obligates himself to live and act according to the standards of the group. The same thing should be true of believers. If you are part of the family of God, there’s an expectation that you will be loyal to your brothers and sisters and represent your Savior well. In Ephesians 4:1-2, Paul implores – literally “begs” – these believers to live lives that reflect who they truly are in Christ. To “walk worthy” of their identity as followers of Jesus. He then gives four characteristics of a worthy walk.
2022-09-1126 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Realized PotentialHas anyone ever told you that you have unrealized potential? Maybe it was in athletics or academics, or the arts. But for those in the family of God, you have the potential to make an impact for the Kingdom. Indeed, YOU can be a world-changer.We are reminded of this potential in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You are God’s “work of art.” And God has plans for you uniquely, plans prepared in advance. Paul begins to...
2022-09-0425 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Dead or Alive?As we continue our series from the book of Ephesians, we come to some of the most miraculous, hope-filled, life-changing verses in the whole epistle. These words are like a spiritual before and after picture. Paul begins by describing what it was like for us when we were…Apart from Christ. He surfaces three aspects of our desolate condition in Ephesians 2:1-3. · We were spiritually dead (v. 1)Though outwardly we looked very much alive, inside we were cut off from the essence of life because we were cut off from the...
2022-08-2826 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Praying Below the SurfaceMost of the time we pray on what might be considered “felt need” prayers. We’re facing a crisis, we have practical needs, we’re trying to cope, so we pray. We ask God to intervene. But have you ever considered that there could be a whole other level to our prayers? The Apostle Paul certainly thought so, and the prayer we find in Ephesians 1:15-23 demonstrates that. As we look at this prayer, we need to understand that:· What Paul is longing for in this people, God is longing for in us.
2022-08-2126 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Signed, Sealed, DeliveredWho are you? How do you know who you are? The World bases your identity on appearance, achievements, acquisitions, and associations. It’s a matter of how you look, what you do, what you get, and who you know. The thing is…basing your identity on these things is a set-up for a heart-break. Sooner or later, all of that will change. None of it is lasting. But the Word bases your identity on being chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, and sealed by God Most High.· You are chosen (Eph. 1:4)
2022-08-1433 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: Sinner to SaintThe letter to the Ephesians starts like this: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus...”Right away, Paul makes a striking statement about how God sees these everyday people. They are “holy people.” The Greek word here is hagios and it means “saints.” Paul is calling them…saints! Now some of you came out of a background where you heard a lot about saints. You came to understand, and even the dictionary defines, a saint as “a person officially r...
2022-08-0728 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEphesians: New BeginningsPaul’s letter to the Ephesians has been called “The Queen of the Epistles.” It brilliantly blends some of the loftiest theology in Scripture with some of the most practical application. As we begin our study together, allow me to introduce this masterful letter.1. The Writer of the Letter: the Apostle PaulAs was the custom in that day, the writer of this letter identifies himself right off the bat. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus…” Once called Saul, this highly educated and zealous Pharisee passionately hated the way of Jesus and was grimly determine...
2022-07-3125 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmHeavenly-Minded HopeLosing someone you love to death is incredibly painful. The grief you feel isn’t something you get over quickly. But for those who have a relationship with Jesus, there is actually hope in the midst of the tears. In this message, Dave offers encouraging reminders for all believers that the day of reunion nears, the reality of heaven is immediate, and the transformation of your body will be complete. Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Originally recorded October 28, 2018, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.
2022-07-2432 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmHealing: Healing Then and NowJesus‘ ministry was characterized by three things: · WORDS: He taught with authority.· WAYS: He chose disciples in whom to invest.· WORKS: He healed the sick and oppressed.And His disciples - then and now - are called to not only follow but to imitate their Rabbi. For most of my Christian life, I committed myself to obey Jesus’ words. And I have come to see that I needed to follow Jesus’ ways, intentionally and strategically investing in a few who will invest in others...
2022-07-1724 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmHealing: The Bondage BreakerWhen it comes to healing, it’s one thing to deal with the physical brokenness in our bodies or the emotional brokenness in our minds. However, there are occasions when beneath all of that is something that’s hidden yet even more deadly – the spiritual brokenness in our souls. Such strongholds can seriously affect the physical or the mental. We read of that in Luke 13:10-13. On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over an...
2022-07-1033 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmHealing: The Master's TouchThe people of Israel looked forward to the day the Kingdom of God would be revealed, ushering in an era of shalom – complete wholeness in body and soul. Blind eyes are going to see. Deaf ears are going to hear. Lame legs are going to leap. When? When God comes to save. That day ultimately arrived. Jesus entered the world, announcing that in Him the Kingdom had come. He not only declared the Kingdom, He demonstrated it. “… The blind receive sight. The lame walk. Those who have leprosy are cleansed. The deaf hear. The dead a...
2022-07-0326 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: If I'd Only KnownThere are certain regrets in life that fall under the category of what might be called, “If only I’d known…” But the ultimate regret story is the one Jesus told in Matthew 25.Nearly all of Jesus’ parables come out of ordinary life situations and this one is no different. The imagery of a mixed flock of sheep and goats would have been familiar to His audience as would the need to separate the flock at the end of the day. According to this parable, the last judgment will have such a moment of separation.The Bi...
2022-06-2626 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: Ready, Willing, and AbleWe are told right from the start why Jesus told this story. He wanted to motivate His followers to pray and never give up. In this story, there are two characters. First, there’s a widow. In the Bible, the widow symbolizes one who is weak and helpless, utterly devoid of power or resources. . The widow in our story was being harassed by some sort of adversary. Perhaps he was trying to intimidate her or exploit her. Whatever the case, she had no means of protection and was in a bad way.Ent...
2022-06-1935 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: Settling the ScoreWhenever you deal with people, there will inevitably be conflicts. People will hurt you. You may be facing that right now – in your family, your neighborhood, your job, or your church. And our response is to want to settle the score. Even as Christians we have ways of making them pay, such as:Silence. You get wounded, so the walls go up and the words shut downDistance. You withdraw, ostensibly to keep them from hurting you further; but deep down inside you’re doing it to hurt them.Sabotage. Gossip...
2022-06-1226 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: Guess Who's Coming to DinnerIt happened at a dinner party. Jesus’ critics tried to lay a trap for Him, but Jesus turned the tables on them. How? He told them a story. A man planned a banquet and sent out the invitations. RSVPs came in and preparations were made. On the appointed day, once everything was ready, the man sent his servants to each of his guests saying: “Come! The party’s ready to start.” But one by one each guest offered a lame excuse. Jesus’ audience would have laughed at the reasons given for why they couldn’t attend. They were ridiculo...
2022-06-0527 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: What We TreasureWe are treasuring creatures. The question is not if we treasure, but what we treasure. Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)Now the Lord didn’t say this to make us feel bad. He’s just stating the way things are. What you treasure is the trigger to your deepest points of response.So, what did Jesus treasure?In the parable found in Matthew 13:44, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like treasure…” There it is! Jesus valued above all else God’s Kingdom. This was H...
2022-05-2935 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmStories of the Kingdom: Soil TestMany of the lessons we learn in life come through stories. No one knew this more than Jesus. So, as He began to share with people about this Kingdom that He was launching, He told stories to capture their attention – that they might join Him in the ultimate revolution.The storytelling strategy He used is called parables. He used parables for many reasons. 1. Parables arouse our interest.2. Parables facilitate our understanding. 3. Parables disarm our objections.4. Parables challenge our sincerity.5. Parables...
2022-05-2231 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmThe Real Battle: The Weapon of WorshipWorship does many things.Worship…gives praise to the One who is above your circumstances.provides perspective in your circumstances. breaks the power of the forces of darkness behind your circumstances.Psalm 8:2 says: “From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.”And a paraphrase of Psalm 50:23 reads: “To him that uses praise over and over, enough to make a trodden path, will I show the deliverance of God.” I don’t quite...
2022-05-1529 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmThe Real Battle: The Weapon of ScriptureIn Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul tells us that the battles we face in life are not against flesh and blood humans. The real battle is against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we need to fight our battles on that front. He then uses the illustration of a Roman soldier armed for battle, instructing us to put on the armor of God, protecting and preparing us for the attacks that are sure to come. But of all the pieces of armor he describes, there is only one piece that is of...
2022-05-0830 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmThe Real Battle: The Weapon of PrayerWe live in a world at war. A spiritual war that is being felt in the lives of people since the fall of man.But the incarnation of Jesus Christ was an invasion. The Son of God dropped down from above…into occupied territory…to do battle with the Enemy…and to free those held captive. The mission was a glorious success. But the price paid couldn’t have been higher. It cost Jesus His life. Yet, because of that sacrifice, those of us who have embraced Him by faith have experienced wonderful liberation from sin and Satan...
2022-05-0127 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmThe Real Battle: Joining the InvasionOne of the strategies used by special forces teams is called H.A.L.O. – High Altitude, Low Opening. In order to minimize their exposure to enemy gunfire, these expert parachutists jump from a plane at a minimum altitude of 25,000 ft. They then free fall accelerating to up to 200 mph, opening their chutes only 2000 ft above the ground. Special forces from above, landing behind enemy lines, prepared to take back occupied territory.That’s a great metaphor for what we’re called to as disciples of Jesus. In a very real sense, we are His special forces and joi...
2022-04-2430 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEaster: The Last WordIf there was ever a prophet of hope in the OT, it was Isaiah. And yet he recognized that, as a diamond is best displayed on a black background, hope is best seen in the midst of despair. The voice said, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades… But the word of our God stands forever.”Isaiah 40:6-8Even in the darkest of situations…even in the...
2022-04-1723 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSticky Faith: Passing the BatonNear the end of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to his protégé, Timothy: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7) Each of us has a race to run. And how you run that race carries huge implications – not only in the present but for the future. Indeed, for future generations.The race of life is in fact a relay. To be sure, each of us must run our own race. But it’s our responsibi...
2022-04-1026 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSticky Faith: Reactive or Proactive?I have four audiences in mind for this message. 1. YouthYou who are in junior high school or high school face the challenge of making the faith your own faith. 2. Young AdultsYou are the Church’s hope for the future. It might encourage you to know that ever since the 1st century the greatest Kingdom movements came from 18-29 year-olds. Stay strong. Shine your light and shake your salt.3. ParentsResearch indicates (and this was kids saying this), the #1 influence in their lives was their paren...
2022-04-0333 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSticky Faith: The Not-So-Sticky-Faith RealityA few years ago a sobering statistic came out. According to Gallop polls, approximately 40% of the 18-29-year-olds who attended church when they were 16 or 17 are no longer attending church. About the same time, the Barna Group released its own, even more disconcerting, findings, noting 61% of today’s young adults who had been churched at one point during their teen years are now spiritually disengaged.The greatest crisis we may be facing in the American church isn’t the debate about a literal hell or the relaxing of sexual mores, important as those may be. It’s the...
2022-03-2731 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The LegacyWell, we’ve reached the end of Abraham’s journey of trust. At the “good old age” of 175, Abraham breathed his last and was buried by his sons. He had his flaws and failures, but all things considered, he lived a truly triumphant life. I want to leave you with a few parting principles. They’re very simple to understand but quite challenging to apply. In fact, they’ll take a lifetime to master. Yet, if followed, they can steer you well toward your goal of leaving a lasting legacy.Here’s the first: Wherever Go...
2022-03-2026 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The TestThe opening words of Genesis 22 read: “Some time later God tested Abraham.”That word “test” is only used in the Bible in reference to the people of God, never unbelievers. Which begs the question, “Why would a loving Father test His cherished children?”I’m convinced that the answer to that question is within that question. It’s because our Father is loving and does cherish us that He tests us. The purpose behind the giving of tests is to develop us, not to destroy us. At the age of 100, Abraham and...
2022-03-1324 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The ConsequencesSome of the most comforting words in all the world are these: God forgives your sins.But while God forgives our sins and wipes the slate clean in terms of our relationship with Him, our wrongdoing may have lingering consequences with others.For example, say you got caught shoplifting. As you confessed that to God, He forgives you. However, you might have to deal with the fact that you also sinned against society, and that society demands that you pay a penalty. So now you have a criminal record. Consequences. Or ma...
2022-03-0630 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The JudgmentSodom and its sister city, Gomorrah, controlled a lush, fertile valley through which the Jordan River ran. These two population centers were the economic hub for everything at the south end of the valley. The magnetic appeal of that – the culture and the wealth – was why Abraham’s nephew, Lot, chose that region when given the opportunity. He not only moved into the city, he moved up in the city.The thing is the beauty of the city’s architecture and art notwithstanding, its immorality had become notorious. The outcry against them had reached heaven, and God sai...
2022-02-2731 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The IntercessionThree visitors came to Abraham. One of them was Yahweh Himself. After a dinner where a miraculous birth was promised, God brought His friend, Abraham, into His confidence. The outcry against the repulsive depravity of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had reached the point where God chose to step in. The time for judgment had come. These cities would be wiped out.Abraham’s response was not what you or I might have done. I might have said, “Good! They deserve it!” But Abraham intercedes. He pleads with God for mercy for those who don’t deserve...
2022-02-2029 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The VisitorsThree visitors showed up at Abraham’s tent one day, and one of them….was God. The others are later identified as angels, but the Scripture makes clear, the One talking to Abraham was Yahweh Himself. And He had an incredible message for Abraham and Sarah. In one year’s time, Sarah would have a son. Is it any wonder that Sarah, eavesdropping from inside the tent laughed to herself? She was 90 years old! And Abraham was 100! Yet God responded to her doubt with a question. A question all of us should ask when we’r...
2022-02-1331 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The CovenantIt’s been 25 years since Abraham began his journey of trust by leaving his hometown of Ur. Over 10 years since the Lord had promised Abram many offspring. He is now 85 years old and Sarai, his wife, is 75…yet the promise of an heir was still unfulfilled.The Lord saw his friend struggling and He graciously appeared to him once again to offer him help and hope. He reassures Abram that he will indeed have an heir who would in fact be, not his servant, but a son of his own DNA. In fact, Abram’s descendants would be as...
2022-02-0624 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The RescueGenesis 14 would make an exciting action movie. It contains all the elements necessary: a riveting plot, villains, a hero, strategy, swordplay, and acts of daring. Abram’s nephew, Lot, who has moved into the city of Sodom, gets caught up in a retaliatory move made by a coalition of kings. Seeking to bring the rebellious Canaanite cities back into line, they invaded from the north, taking captive every man, woman, and child, and carrying off flocks, herds, and carts piled with plunder.When word reached Abram that Lot has been captured, he rallies the men all...
2022-01-3032 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The ChoiceAfter Abraham settled in Canaan, God blessed him financially. The Bible says he was “very wealthy.” And he shared that abundance with his nephew, Lot. Each man’s flocks and herds multiplied to the point that the land could not sustain them all. Soon quarreling broke out between Abram’s herders and Lot’s. So, Abram said to Lot, “Look, we’re family, so let’s stop this fighting. This is a big land with plenty of resources. Let’s part ways. You choose where you want to settle and I’ll head the other way.” Now, as patriarch of t...
2022-01-2325 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The CompromiseSelf-protection is one of the strongest of human instincts and sometimes drives us to do foolish things. That’s exactly what happened to Abraham in his journey of learning to trust God.When Abram arrived in Canaan, he and his “tribe” lived in tents, raising sheep and goats for food, clothing, and trade. As such, they were constantly on the move to find new grazing land. The time came, however, when a famine struck the land of Canaan causing the water sources and pastures to dry up. Without water, soon his crops, his flocks, and ultimat...
2022-01-1629 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The CallAbraham’s journey of trust began in the Mesopotamian city of Ur, one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. It was a city of great wealth and culture. It was also a city of deep religion. The Chaldeans worshipped a pantheon of gods and the Bible reveals that Abraham’s father Terah was a worshiper of these idols. It was here, in Ur, where God first called Abram (as he was then called). He called him to leave his family and his home and go to a land God would show him. He called...
2022-01-0932 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAbraham: The JourneyThe extent that you trust God will be the key determiner for how you navigate your life.This is true no matter where you are along the spiritual spectrum – whether you’re a skeptic, a seeker, or a Christ-follower. Since we don’t know what the future holds, nearly every decision we make is strongly influenced by what or who we trust. In short, how you live will be determined by who and who much you trust.This is why a study of Abraham can be so powerful. Because ongoingly he had to grapple w...
2022-01-0223 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmThe GiftWe don’t know a lot about the Magi. They were from the East, probably ancient Persia. And they apparently had education, wealth, and status. They had read the ancient writings of Israel about the arrival of a great king. And when they saw a unique sign in the heavens, they were motivated enough to go looking for him.They spent a lot of time, effort, and money on this journey. Why? Because they were looking for something beyond the wealth, education, and power they already possessed.And when they came to the place wh...
2021-12-2620 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFear Not: Overcoming FearThree times in the Christmas narrative, angels appear to people bringing what would seem to be news of hope and promise. But each time they begin their tidings with these words: Don’t be afraid.It happened to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds.So, for this Christmas message, I’d like us to consider each of these characters and ask these questions:1. What was it they might have been afraid of?2. What steps did they have to take to overcome that fear?3. What did they gain for having taken...
2021-12-1928 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFear Not: Moving Beyond FearFear and worry are endemic in our culture. Whether it’s TV news, social media, our upbringing, or our genetics, it seems we are being conditioned to fear. God knows what fear can cost a person and He wants us to live beyond it. That’s why, more than any other single command in the Bible, God tells us to “Fear not.” But for most people simply being told to not be afraid is not enough. Information alone is not sufficient to enable most of us to overcome patterns of fear that are real deeply ingrained in...
2021-12-1225 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFear Not: The Cost of FearThere’s a particular phrase that’s repeated over and over again in the Christmas story. It’s said to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds. “Do not be afraid.” I think a clear message was being sent to them, and to all people who were facing fearful circumstances: “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. No matter how scary things may look, fear not.” Fear is universal. Every one of us wrestles with it. Not that all fear is bad. There’s a good kind of fear as well. Good fear protects us...
2021-12-0528 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmPray First: Lifting Our EyesPsalm 121 begins, “I lift up my eyes…” A common expression in Hebrew Scriptures. It means to notice something, to become aware of the possibilities, to have your attention grabbed. Sometimes it’s a good thing that gets our attention. But sometimes it’s a difficult thing. In this case, it says “I lift my eyes to the hills.” Hills might seem like a good thing to you and me. But in the ancient world, hills represented hardship and difficulty. Psalm 121 is a “psalm of ascent.” That means it was sung by pilgrims on the way t...
2021-11-2824 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmPray First: Open Doors and Opened HeartsThe Apostle Paul knew full well the power that could be unleashed when someone determined to really pray. That’s why in Colossians 4, he exhorted those believers to become passionate, persistent pray-ers. “Devote yourselves to prayer (v.2),” he wrote. Now, this wasn’t an exhortation from some ivory tower theologian. Paul practiced what he preached. The Colossians had, in fact, been the beneficiaries of his intercession. Paul had earnestly prayed for them – and God had powerfully answered. Now he asks them to pray for him. But what’s especially striking about this is what he asks them...
2021-11-2129 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmPray First: Because Someone PrayedI’d like to tell you about someone. His name isn’t important. His gender is irrelevant (in fact we don’t know whether this someone was a “he” or a “she”). There’s no reason to think that this someone was a person of great significance. The reason why this person is important isn’t because of who they were, but because of what they did.He went to Jesus on behalf of a sick friend. John 11:3 (NCV) says, “So Mary and Martha sent someone to tell Jesus, ‘Lord, the...
2021-11-1429 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: Living in the TensionA young man once asked me, “If believing in God is such a big deal to him, why doesn’t God make himself more obvious?”That’s a great question! You’d think that if God would part the heavens and reveal Himself with a thunderclap, knocking us to our knees, that even the harshest skeptic would become a believer. But I don’t know that that would work. I think that over time, the shock would wear off and the memory fade away, and as time passed, they’d dismiss the experience as a hallucination o...
2021-11-0730 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: The Resurrection FactorAs we wrestle with issues of Faith and Doubt, the question that all of us must answer is: Who is Jesus? Is He who He said He is – the Son of God and Savior of the World? The answer to that question rises and falls on one single event: the Resurrection. Did Jesus, in fact, rise from the dead? Where does the evidence point? The case for Jesus’ resurrection necessarily involves two steps:What is the evidence to be explained?Which explanation of that evidence is most compelli...
2021-10-3131 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: Legend, Liar, Lunatic, or LordFor many people, in this age of pluralism and tolerance, that any single religion would lay claim to exclusively being the truth – well, that is...intolerable. And it has resulted in deep doubts about Christianity. “I can buy that there’s a God,” they say. “But that there’s only one way to God or that Jesus is unique among all the religious leaders who’ve ever lived...well, that’s just too narrow.” An illustration that appeals to such a point of view shows a mountain with “God” at its peak. And going up the mountain are several dif...
2021-10-2433 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: The Gift of UncertaintyThe Old Testament character of Job has become the poster child for pain, loss, and suffering. But though we’ve heard of Job and have felt sorry for Job, very few of us have ever considered what experiencing all that hardship did for Job. The struggles he went through and the doubts he had to grapple with proved to be, in the end, a gift.Psalm 84:5-7 says: “Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (literally, the valley...
2021-10-1726 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: The Valley of DoubtThe Bible contains dramatic stories of times God would show up and reveal His glory to people. Often these events took place on mountaintops. They were unforgettable moments! But here’s the thing: God never lets them stay there. He always asks them to leave the mountaintop – to leave that special moment and go down off the mountain – usually to do some difficult thing in the valley below.It’s no different for us. The walk of faith requires leaving the mountaintop of certainty and going into the valley of ambiguity.Maybe God k...
2021-10-1034 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: The Leap of DoubtWe all live in the tension of faith and doubt. They are simply part of the human experience.But for some, that doubt goes to questioning the very existence of God. If that’s you, this talk is for you. The Bible posits that God is...and that one of the primary evidences is creation itself. That such a design points to a Designer. Doubters, on the other hand, say, “The universe is nothing but meaningless stuff that came together by accident and it will disappear without a trace.” The thing is, neithe...
2021-10-0330 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmFaith and Doubt: Faith AND DoubtWe all live in the tension of what we hope for and what we wonder about. Like the father in Mark 9, we too cry out, “I believe. Help me with my unbelief.” As we walk this line between faith and doubt, let me offer a series of observations.Observation #1: Doubt is an inescapable part of the human condition.We’d like to think that we could get beyond doubt, but the fact is, there is no such thing as doubt-free living. Part of what it means to be a finite creature with lim...
2021-09-2623 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: The Ultimate QuestionIn this series, our core text has been Ephesians 5:15-17. It says: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”From these verses, we discovered a great filter for decision-making. A simple three-word question that we could ask about any area of our lives. Is it wise?In this final episode, we come to the ultimate question. The greatest decision of your life.I...
2021-09-1924 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: A Question of Money, Pt.2In his book Mastering Your Money, Ron Blue points out that there are really only 5 things you can do with your money. Spend it.Repay debt.Pay taxes.Save it.Give it.This is the order of priority most of us live by. But Jesus offered an alternative priority system in Matthew 6:25-33. In these verses, it’s clear that Jesus knows we have needs and He promises to meet them. The problem isn’t our needs. The problem is the priorities we live by. Th...
2021-09-1229 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: A Question of Money, Pt. 1One of the biggest concerns most people have is the economy. And rightly so. The statistics are troubling. Huge numbers of Americans are deeply in debt, declaring bankruptcy, and living way beyond their means. The consequences of poor decisions about money are devastating.Why do we struggle so much with money? It’s because we’ve allowed our culture to form the question instead of God’s Word. The questions our culture asks are: Is it on sale? Can I afford it? How much is my credit limit? What will the monthly payments be? When do I h...
2021-09-0530 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: A Question of TimeWhen it comes to living wisely, there is no more important area than the matter of your time. Your time equals your life. You can run out of money and still have some life left. You can run out of friends and still have some life left. But once you’ve run out of time, you have no life left.We’re told in Ephesians 5:15-16 to live “not as unwise, but as wise.” It then goes on to say “making the most of every opportunity.” From this we get this great question that can guide our decision making...
2021-08-2927 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: The Right QuestionsThe Bible gives us a filter that can help us evaluate every decision we make in every arena of our lives – whether it’s our finances, our relationships, our schedule, or our careers. It’s the simple question, Is this wise?There are three ways we can approach this question that can help us make wise decisions.1. In light of my past experience, what is the wise thing to do?Philosopher George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” To put it another...
2021-08-2226 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmDecision Making 101: The Wrong QuestionWe’ve all made dumb decisions. Choices we wish we could take back and do over. Some merely embarrass us. Others tragically scar us. Nobody ever plans to mess up their life, but few of us ever plan not to.But God’s Word offers us a filter that will help us make better decisions. It’s easy to remember…but a challenge to live out. Why? Because we all are really good at deceiving ourselves. In fact, every poor decision typically begins with self-deception.“It’s only this once.” “It won’t hurt anybody.”“I can...
2021-08-1526 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSacred Rhythms: Defying the TaskmastersGod modeled taking a day of rest way back in the beginning. But He knew that wouldn’t be motivation enough. So He mandated a day of rest in the ultimate list of laws, the Ten Commandments.We find this list of guidelines for God’s people in both Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, but the nuances we see in the two renderings of the Sabbath command give us unique insight into God’s heart for us.In Exodus 20:8-11, the text looks up – we’re to look at God and His example. It remem...
2021-08-0824 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSacred Rhythms: A Law That LiberatesFrom the beginning of time, God established a rhythm of rest and work that He knew would result in life, health, and fruitfulness for all of creation…especially mankind. In fact, it matters so much to Him that we learn to live by this rhythm, that He put it in the law. The Ten Commandments. Think about it. Right alongside “Do not murder, do not steal, and do not commit adultery” is this… “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”The word Sabbath literally means to “stop, cease, desist.” God gives us 6 days in which to do our wo...
2021-08-0130 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmSacred Rhythms: In the BeginningFrom the beginning of time, God set a rhythm into motion. A rhythm of rest and work that He knew would bring greater joy and fruitfulness for His creation. Then He modeled that rhythm for us so we could imitate Him. Six days of work and one day of rest. We call that day of rest “Sabbath,” and it is the first thing in the Bible to be called “holy.” Literally, set apart as special. In fact, God mandated this day of rest in the Ten Commandments when He said, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” What if...
2021-07-2528 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Goodbye to GoodbyesAfter 20 years of separation, years of believing his son was dead, Jacob is finally reunited with his beloved son, Joseph. And what a reunion it was! But as beautiful as this reunion was, it pales in comparison to the reunion that awaits those who are in Christ. It foreshadows the day we will say goodbye to goodbyes and be forever with the Lord, reunited with our loved ones now waiting for us in heaven.The promised reunion between God and His people is not just a passing topic in the Bible. It is mentioned in t...
2021-07-1827 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: When the Prince is Your BrotherWhen you have the right kind of big brother, it can change anything. Have a bully on your block? Big brother can take care of him. Lose your lunch money? Big brother can float you a loan. Fall down on the ice? Big brother can help you up. Big brothers at their best can be a blessing of the highest order.Could you use one in your life right about now? Of course! We all could. For Joseph’s brothers, having their brother be the Prince of Egypt was an incredible blessing! He offered three “brotherly” a...
2021-07-1131 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Becoming a BozoI grew up playing with a blow-up Bozo the Clown punching bag. I loved that I could punch it, bop it, and kick it…and it would always bounce back up. No matter what I threw at it, you couldn’t keep Bozo down.Oh, that we could be like Bozo! When life hurls its punches, we get knocked down. And many of us have a hard time getting back up. We just stay down – beaten, bruised, defeated.Joseph is a lot like Bozo. He took shot after shot, but he kept bouncing back. Now here i...
2021-07-0423 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Grappling with GuiltUp to this point in this series, we’ve been looking at the story from Joseph’s point of view. In this episode, we turn the tables and look at the story from the viewpoint of Joseph’s brothers. We learn that these men who had victimized Joseph had been haunted by guilt. But God wants to heal them too. He wants their hearts whole no less than He did Joseph’s. But first He had to awaken their consciences. How did He do that? In this passage, we see that God awakened them with affliction. He stunne...
2021-06-2728 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Releasing Your ResentmentOne of the most amazing parts of Joseph’s story is his ability to forgive those who hurt him so deeply. Most of us have the tendency to bury our hurt until it becomes a roiling cauldron of resentment. Whether it’s a recent offense or an ancient one, resentment only makes one person miserable, and that person… is you. But God’s desire is that we move out of a house of spite and into the place of grace. See, He knows that the healthiness of your future is always impacted by the healing o...
2021-06-2034 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: When Your Family Fails YouOne of the sad realities of life is that we all get wounded. You can’t live in this world without getting hurt. But an even sadder reality is that much of that wounding comes from those who are supposed to love us most – our family. That was certainly true for Joseph. And in this episode, Joseph is forced to face his past when his brothers show up out of the blue – the ones who had sold him into slavery. Joseph thought he had put all that behind him. He just wanted to forget the flawed f...
2021-06-1331 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Is God Always Good?When life is going our way, it’s easy to say, “God is good!” But what about when life is hard? When pain and struggle, sorrow and loss fill our days? Is God still good? In this episode, we learn that Joseph believed a couple of basic truths about God. First of all that God is always God. To his way of thinking, there’s never a time… there’s never a place…when God is not fully in control, totally sovereign over all that happens.In Genesis 41, Joseph tells Pharoah that there would be 7 year...
2021-06-0624 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Dead or Alive?Up to this point, it’s felt like the story of Joseph has been nothing but bad news. One painful experience after another. But all those events have been leading up to this moment. At last, all the links in the chain of God’s sovereignty are about to become clear…and it’s the greatest story of promotion in the Bible. In one day, Joseph went from being in the pit of prison to being second in command of all Egypt.The question is, “If God could do that with Joseph, is He able to do with y...
2021-05-3023 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Life in the Waiting RoomWait. In our hurry-up culture, it’s almost a dirty word. Yet waiting is not the exception in life, it’s the rule. Some of the greatest of God’s heroes had to wait a long time before His plan for them came to fruition. One of them was Joseph.Ten years have gone by. Ten years of servitude and imprisonment. Then just when he thought there might be hope of getting out of prison, he is let down again. Two more years pass before he finally gets his big chance. Two more years in...
2021-05-2330 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: Training TimeGod had big plans for Joseph, but Joseph wasn’t ready for them yet. He had to go through a time of training first. After being betrayed and sold into slavery, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. But this prison proved to be the place where God developed Joseph’s character. See, not only was God with Joseph, God wanted to do something in Joseph so He could do something through Joseph.As with Joseph, so with us. God does some of His most formational work in our prison-like situations. So, if you want...
2021-05-1627 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: God With UsThe Bible gives us multiple examples of individuals who experienced unimaginable loss only to discover that not only was God bigger than their loss, He was with them in their loss. One of the best of these is the story of Joseph.At the age of 17, he was betrayed by his very own brothers and sold into slavery. He ends up far from home in the land of Egypt with nothing but the clothes on his back. He doesn’t know the language. He has no friends. He would appear to be all alone. But Ge...
2021-05-0927 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmJoseph: You'll Get Through ThisHe was just 17 years old when his jealous brothers sold him into slavery and for the next 13 years, Joseph went from one pit to another. Perhaps you know what it’s like to live life in the pits. Life in the pits is an unexpected tumble. One day the sun is shining and next the clouds roll in and the bottom drops out. Life in the pits has an uncertain future. “What will I do now?” That which seemed to be clear is now foggy and frightening.This was certainly true for Joseph. But some...
2021-05-0228 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAfterlife: What Will Heaven Be Like?The Bible tells us that what awaits the believer in Jesus is so amazing, it’s beyond comprehension. But it also gives us glimpses of what heaven will be like. In heaven, you’ll be wondrously transformed. You’ll be thoroughly joyful. You’ll be ceaselessly productive. And you’ll be intimately cherished.With this hope and confidence set before us, how should that impact our lives here and now?Knowing there’s a heaven can keep us from handling discontentment in unwise ways. It can comfort us when times are hard. And it can encour...
2021-04-2532 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAfterlife: Is Hell for Real?The Bible has a lot to say about hell. In fact, Jesus talked more about hell than He did heaven. He described hell as a place of physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual suffering. Which begs the question: how could a loving God send anyone to such a horrible place? Ultimately, God doesn’t “send” anyone to hell. A person chooses it. Love cannot be forced and when a person says, “God, I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to submit to you. In fact, I don’t even think you exist. I...
2021-04-1832 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmAfterlife: You're Dead. Now What?We begin at the end. You’re dead. Now what?There are several popular beliefs about what happens when you die, such as reincarnation, universalism, annihilationism, purgatory, and soul sleep. But the Bible teaches that three things will happen when you die:1. Your spirit will depart from your body.2. You will immediately know your eternal destiny. 3. And you will follow one of two paths.Jesus gives us a unique glimpse into the afterlife in his parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. The diagram linked below explains a biblical p...
2021-04-1132 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEaster: The King Has One More MoveThis is a story of resurrection. But not the story you were expecting. It’s actually a prelude to that story. It’s the story of Jesus and His good friend, Lazarus. Jesus proclaims these amazing words: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Then He asks this question. “Do you believe this?"That’s a question we all must answer. Do YOU believe this?The story is told of a chess master and his friend who were in an art museum when they cam...
2021-04-0433 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmGood Friday: The Fog of WarIn the fog and darkness of that Friday afternoon, it looked like all was lost. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” Paid in full! All the failure and foul-ups that defined you BEFORE you came to faith in Christ and those that have haunted you AFTER you came to faith in Christ were all dealt with on the cross. It really is PAID IN FULL!Jesus defeated? No. Jesus defeated sin on the cross. And no fog can ever keep that glorious reality from ultimately shining thr...
2021-04-0122 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEncounters with Jesus: The Woman Who Crashed the PartyTwo people encountered Jesus at the same dinner party. One was a woman with a “bad reputation.” The local prostitute. The other was Simon. A Pharisee. She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, kissing his feet, and pouring precious perfume on them. Simon snubbed Jesus, denying him the customary courtesies of a host to his guest. Their responses to Jesus couldn’t have been more different. Why? Jesus gave the answer, “The one who has been forgiven much, loves much.” Does that mean Simon was so “holy” he didn’t have much to be forgiven fo...
2021-03-2830 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmEncounters with Jesus: The Man Who Went Out on a LimbZacchaeus, the “wee little man” of children’s Sunday School songs, was a small man in a big man’s world. He was despised and hated as a cheat and a traitor. He had learned to be a survivor. But then he met Jesus, and everything changed.Maybe you know what it’s like to be bullied, abused, betrayed or abandoned. You had to grow up too fast, had to make your own way. Jesus sees you and if you’re willing to go out on a limb…like Zacchaeus…you too can find Jesus to be your Forgiver…an...
2021-03-2122 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: All-Sufficient GraceWhen hardships happen in our lives, when difficult circumstances knock us down, the natural response for most of us is to pray that God would take them away. That He would resolve the conflict and remove the pain. But how do you bounce back when God answers that prayer with…NO? That “thorn” is going to be part of your life.In this final episode of the series Resilience, Dave looks at the story of the Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh and the word of hope God gave to him…and all of us who suff...
2021-03-1425 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: Giving When HurtingIt does not surprise us that people suffer. It does not surprise us that people are gracious and generous. It does surprise us when people who are suffering are gracious and generous. Yet that’s exactly what we see in the example Paul gives in 2 Corinthians 8. A group of people who in their “severe trial” experienced “overflowing joy,” in their “extreme poverty” displayed “rich generosity.”As we seek to build resilience, we would do well to remember:Throwing a pity party for yourself, while understandable, is seldom helpful.Helping others might well get you on the road to your...
2021-03-0728 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: Wake-up CallsSometimes when life knocks us down, it actually serves as a wake-up call: an opportunity to open our eyes, pay attention, and make a change. In 2 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul describes what happened when he gave a wake-up call to a group of young Christians. Would they respond with godly sorrow that leads to repentance or with worldly sorrow that leads to death?In this message, Dave offers these suggestions for how to respond when someone gives us a wake-up call of hard truth: Listen without getting defensive. Ask God to show you the truth in it...
2021-02-2831 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: Jars of ClayOne of the qualities that demonstrate maturity is the ability to bounce back when life knocks you down. We call that ability...resilience, and we need resilience in pretty much every area of our lives, don't we?!In this message, Dave talks about developing resilience in ministry - recovering from the disappointment and discouragement that so often comes when we pour ourselves into others. We'll look at the testimony of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4 and the three expressions that enabled him to keep going when the cost of ministry threatened to take him out...
2021-02-2127 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: Comforted to ComfortEvery one of us has…or will…experience pain, loss, disappointment, or betrayal. Such crushing pressures are part of life in a broken world. But God promises to comfort us if we will turn to Him in our troubles. His comfort enables us to bounce back, to build resilience. And as we receive God’s comfort, we can, in turn, comfort others with the comfort we have received. Text: 2 Corinthians 1:1-9 Originally recorded on May 17, 2015, at Fellowship Missionary Church in Fort Wayne, IN.
2021-02-1428 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmResilience: When You're at the Breaking PointLet’s face it: life is hard. And while most of the time you may be able to withstand its pressures, sooner or later every one of us will come close to a breaking point. How do you survive those moments? How do you bend but not break? How can you get back up when life knocks you down? It takes something known as RESILIENCE. In this message, Pastor Dave looks at the painful, traumatic experiences the Apostle Paul faced on his second missionary journey and the words of encouragement God gave him that hel...
2021-02-0729 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: The Cloak is PassedIn this message, Pastor Dave wraps up his series on Elijah by focusing on the final mission of the prophet’s life – discipling his successor. There is a lot we can learn about being and making disciples from the relationship between Elijah and his protégé. Lessons that can help us as we seek to fulfiill Jesus’ Great Commission to go and make disciples…who make disciples…who make disciples.Lessons for disciplers include ask God for a name, give high invitation along with high challenge, and monitor the enthusiasm of your disciple’s response.If you’re...
2021-01-3127 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: Singing the Spiritual BluesHave you ever hit a point in your life where you’re so exhausted, so discouraged, so depressed you’re just ready to quit? Maybe you’re there right now. If so, you’re not alone.In this message, we’re going to explore the darkest season of Elijah’s life. We’ll take a look at the pitfalls we need to look out for, such as the low that follows a high, the peril of physical and emotional exhaustion, and the danger of separating ourselves from strengthening relationships. We’ll also discover the ways God tende...
2021-01-2428 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: The Battle of the GodsIn this teaching, Pastor Dave explores one of the most dramatic moments in Scripture. Right up there with the parting of the Red Sea, David and Goliath, and Daniel in the lion’s den is this story…the showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But this is more than simply an exciting story. It’s filled with challenges for each of us in the spiritual battles we face every day. We’ll discover that sincerity isn’t the measuring stick of truth; that every god you depend on other than the Lord of heaven w...
2021-01-1729 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: American IdolsWhen you hear the word “idolatry” – what comes to your mind? Likely you think of pagan rituals and statues of wood or stone. Something that happened back in Old Testament days or maybe in undeveloped parts of the world. But surely idolatry is not something WE struggle with today. I don’t have any idols in my life! …or do I?In this episode of his series on the prophet Elijah, Pastor Dave takes us to the foot of Mount Carmel and exposes the American idols that threaten us today.Text: 1 Kings 18...
2021-01-1129 minThe Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: When Your Brook Dries UpWhat do you do when the thing you’ve depended on to get you through a hard time dries up? Moreover, why would God allow that to happen to His child? In this teaching, we learn that sometimes God forces us to leave the comfort of the known in order to get us to the place He wants us to be. For Elijah, God took him down an illogical path to an illogical place where he encountered an illogical person.In this episode, Pastor Dave will frequently be referring to a map. If you'd like to follow al...
2020-12-1426 min
The Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: Making of a Man of GodFor all the courage and commitment Elijah showed in confronting the evil king and queen, he wasn’t ready yet for the battle that was still to come. God needed to do something deep in the man before He could do something great through the man. Elijah had to go through a time of focused solitude, experience total dependence, and be challenged to unconditional obedience.Text: 1 Kings 17Originally recorded February 16, 2014 at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.
2020-12-0431 min
The Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelmElijah: A Man Like UsPastor Dave sets the stage for the story of one of the most remarkable characters in the Bible. What enabled this “man just like us” to have the courage to stand up to the most powerful, evil couple of his day? He was convinced of the reality of Jehovah, that he was a representative of Jehovah, and had the resources of Jehovah.1 Kings 16:29-17:1Originally recorded February 9, 2014, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN.
2020-12-0132 min