Calvary Albuquerque with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

Jerusalem was not the most popular place to live. Most people preferred to live elsewhere—in outlying towns and villages. It was more expensive to be in the city, and safety was a big concern. In this section there are some vital but often-forgotten principles about God’s city, God’s people, and God’s work. Let’s glean some of these important lessons from the city planners.I. All Places Are Significant; This Place Is Sacred (v. 1)II. Projects Are Important; People Are More Important (vv. 3-36)III. Ability Is Good; Availability Is Better (v. 2)IV. Work Is Practical; Worship Is Vital (vv. 22-24)Talk with God: Ask the Lord to provide opportunities for you to pour into His people this week.Talk with others: Ask a mentor or trusted believer if they’ve noticed anything in your life that might hinder the Lord’s desire to work through you.Talk with kids: How has Jesus defeated our enemies: sin and death?

When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easy. After generations of failure, God’s people finally realized what was most important in life, so they made a list of things they were committed to changing. Their heartfelt prayer in chapter nine led to heartfelt priorities in chapter ten. Let’s explore how they committed to change in these four areas of life.I. Scriptural Authority (vv. 28-29)II. Relational Purity (v. 30)III. Spiritual Regularity (v. 31)IV. Financial Responsibility (vv. 32-39)Talk with God: Spend time in prayer as you consider each of these areas in your own life and ask the Lord to reveal areas you need to re-prioritize.Talk with others: Ask your mentor or a trusted fellow believer to provide accountability as you refresh your priorities.Talk with kids: How does Jesus save us from the punishment our sin deserves?

The purpose of prayer is not to inform God of our needs but to invite Him to rule our lives. After a national revival broke out in Jerusalem during a Bible study, the people gathered again for prayer. Let’s notice a few key elements that make for an effective experience of communicating with God.I. They Looked Up: Adoration (vv. 5-6)II. They Looked Back: Reflection (vv. 7-35)III. They Looked Within: Confession (v. 37)IV. They Looked Around: Petition (vv. 32-37)V. They Looked Ahead: Submission (v. 38)

In Philippians 3, Paul reminded believers that real joy isn't found in religious performance, but in knowing Jesus personally. He warned against those who put their confidence in the flesh. True righteousness doesn't come from what we do for God, but from what God has done for us through Jesus.

The nation of Israel was back in its homeland once again after the Babylonian captivity. The walls of the city of Jerusalem had been repaired and rebuilt. But something was missing. The spiritual hunger of the nation now demanded a clear word from the Lord. As they gathered together, we see five clear signs of how this nation was transformed, experiencing a real revival.I. Realization: They Knew They Needed More (vv. 1-2)II. Reading: They Heard the Word of God (vv. 3-8)III. Remorse: They Mourned Over Their Failure (vv. 9-10)IV. Rejoicing: They Felt the Joy of the Lord (vv. 11-12)V. Results: They Obeyed God’s Commands (vv. 13-18)Talk with God: Take an honest look at your daily walk this week and ask the Lord to refresh your heart and revive your passion for His Word.Talk with others: Ask a believing friend or mentor to encourage you to spend time in the Word each day and keep you accountable.Talk with kids: Why did God tell Joshua to be strong and courageous?

Pastor Art Reyes stepped out to plant a home Bible study in Rosemead, California in 2014. Soon after, it became known as Alive Christian Fellowship, a vibrant young church that began to grow and meet the needs in San Gabriel Valley. Currently Pastor Art is the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Downey. He has a passion for the exposition of God’s Word and a desire to see lives transformed because of it. He serves the Lord joined by his wife Briana and three kids, Caleb, Micah, and Moriah.I. The Right Attitude (v. 24)II. The Right Motivation (v. 25)III. The Right Commitment (vv. 26-27)

What if the most overlooked chapter in Nehemiah is actually the loudest proof that God keeps His promises? Nehemiah 7 isn’t just a list of names—it’s a receipt of God’s faithfulness and a record that He finishes what He starts. In a world full of broken promises, this chapter invites us to trust the One who never forgets, never fails, and never leaves His people behind.I. God Finishes What He StartsII. God Remembers Every NameIII. God Moves Hearts to RespondTalk with God: Meditate on Philippians 1:6 this week as you praise the God who will complete the work He’s doing in you.Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer to rest in the knowledge that the Lord “will sustain [them] to the end” (1 Corinthians 1:8).Talk with kids: Why is complaining a sin?

I. The Wall Was Finished, but the Work Wasn’t OverII. The Enemy Was Intimidated, but Not RepentantIII. The Victory Was Visible, but the Attacks Became SubtleTalk with God: Meditate on Romans 8:31-39 and spend time in worship as you are reminded that “God is for [you].”Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group or believing friends and family members how you can support them in their walk this week.Talk with kids: Why can we always trust God?

Nehemiah faced relentless attempts to distract, discredit, and derail him from completing God’s work. His enemies used deceit, false accusations, and even spiritual manipulation to try to lure him off the wall, but Nehemiah responded with bold focus, unwavering conviction, and consistent prayer. Refusing to come down, he modeled what it means to stand firm in the face of pressure and stay faithful to God’s mission. This passage challenges us to silence the noise, resist fear that’s been dressed as faith, and declare with confidence: “I’m doing a great work—I cannot come down.”I. The Distraction of DeceitII. The Distraction of False AccusationsIII. The Distraction of Spiritual ManipulationTalk with God: Meditate on Isaiah 41:10 this week and ask the Lord to give you the strength to continue faithfully in your calling.Talk with others: If you’re facing a struggle or battling distraction, ask a pastor, mentor, or trusted believer to lock shields with you in prayer and practical ways.Talk with kids: How can we sh

During the last two days, we have practiced and proclaimed the gospel to our community. Both Love Day and Freedom Celebration were outward expressions of the good news about Jesus Christ loving the world. But why not make it a lifestyle that continues year-round? Today we will explore four reasons Paul the apostle was not ashamed of the gospel.I. Because It’s Good NewsII. Because It’s God’s PowerIII. Because It’s Given FreelyIV. Because It Gets Us RightTalk with God: Meditate on “the righteousness of God” (v. 17) and spend time in worship as you thank Him for the salvation and freedom He’s given you through HisSon’s sacrifice.Talk with others: Come alongside a believing friend or family member facing sorrow or difficulty this week and encourage them to rest in God’s grace and continue to “live by faith” (v. 17).Talk with kids: Why is Jesus the perfect and final sacrifice for sin?

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15-17, NIV).Evidence for the Supernatural1. Documented Miracles2. Deathbed Visions3. Near-Death Experiences4. Angelic Encounters5. Mystical Dreams6. Divine ExperiencesReceive salvation through Christ so you can be confident that you’ll spend eternity with Him (see 1 John 5:13).Put on the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18).

Today we celebrate our fathers. We honor them for their sacrifice, valor, and commitment. But I’d like to explore the Fatherhood of God today as we look at the most famous prayer in the world—actually, the first line of that prayer. As we do, we discover that this prayer implies four great truths.I. RelationshipII. LordshipIII. FellowshipIV. GuardianshipTalk with God: Pray for the fathers you know—that the Lord would strengthen and guide them as they lead their families and build a legacy of faith in their communities.Talk with others: Ask a brother in Christ how you can come alongside them and support them in their walk with the Lord this week.Talk with kids: Why do we not need a tabernacle today?