Calvary Albuquerque with Skip Heitzig Audio Podcast

Author Margaret Atwood’s book The Handmaid’s Tale includes a character who says, “The fact is that I hate this city. I’ve hated it so long I can hardly remember feeling any other way about it.” For some people, this is a daily reality. But Nehemiah loved his city—Jerusalem—though it was a city in shambles. How can we, by God’s grace, learn to love our city for God’s glory?I. Loving Your City Begins by Asking the Right QuestionsII. Loving Your City Includes Feeling the Right EmotionIII. Loving Your City Means Having the Right ReactionIV. Loving Your City Involves Doing the Right ActionsTalk with God: Meditate on verses 10-11 and ask the Lord to give you His heart for the people of our city.Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group or believing friends how you can lock shields with them in their daily walk with the Lord and as they serve Him in their community.Talk with kids: How did God save Moses when he was a baby?

Does your family have any Easter traditions? Allow me to give you a few more. These are the instructions that a heavenly messenger gave to the women who came to the tomb early that first Easter morning: Come, See, Go, Tell! Today we’ll discover what these instructions mean.Talk with God: Meditate on today’s passage and ask the Lord to fill you with a joyful desire to fulfill the Great Commission (vv. 18-20).Talk with others: Practice sharing the gospel message with your Connect Group or a believing friend or family member so you will “always be ready” (1 Peter 3:15).Talk with kids: How did the resurrection impact our lives as followers of Jesus?

I. The AttributeII. The ActionIII. The Audience

Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD is a New Testament scholar, pastor, author, nationally syndicated radio host, Bible teacher, and apologist, and he ministers internationally as president of Christian Thinkers Society. Jeremiah loves the local church and serves as pastor of apologetics and cultural engagement at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas. Jeremiah’s passion is working with churches and pastors in equipping Christians to giveintellectually informed reasons for what they believe.I. Serious Scholars and Experts Believe the Shroud is AuthenticII. Science Today Still Cannot Explain How the Image is in the ClothIII. The Evidence Most Powerfully Points to One Conclusion: Jesus is the Man of the ShroudTalk with God: Read John’s account of the Passion (chapters 18-20) and meditate on God’s love for you as you prepare your heart for Easter this week.

Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker, TV program host, podcaster, and award-winning author. As president of CrossExamined.org, he presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity.I. Does Evil Disprove God?II. What's the Purpose of Evil?III. What's God's Solution to Evil?Talk with God: Meditate on Ephesians 3:16 this week and ask the Lord to renew and strengthen you as you walk with Him.Talk with others: Ask your Connect Group, friends, or family how you can support them in focusing on “the eternal weight of glory” (v. 17) through the struggles they may be facing.Talk with kids: What did Jesus teach when He was on Earth?

The great preacher of Victorian England Charles Spurgeon once remarked, “I do not believe there ever existed a Christian yet, who did not now and then doubt his interest in Jesus. I think, when a man says, ‘I never doubt,’ it is quite time for us to doubt him.” It’s reassuring that even a spiritual heavyweight like John the Baptist experienced doubts. Let’s see how Jesus helped him.I. The Ambivalence of John  A. Experiential Doubts  B. Intellectual Doubts  C. Societal Doubts  D. Moral Doubts II. The Answer of Jesus  A. He Answered Directly  B. He Answered Verbally  C. He Answered Practically  D. He Answered PatientlyTalk with God: Meditate on Mark 9:23-24 and ask the Lord to give you wisdom and peace as you seek to address your own doubts and unbelief.Talk with others: Encourage a fellow believer who’s wrestling with doubt or questioning their faith by reminding them that God can handle their questions (see James 1:5).Talk with kids: What did Job learn about God?

Joel Rosenberg is a New York Times bestselling author with more than five million copies of his books in print. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of All Israel News and All Arab News and the host of the Rosenberg Report, a primetime weekly news and analysis program on TBN, the most watched Christian TV network in the US. In 2006, Rosenberg and his wife founded the Joshua Fund, a nonprofit organization that has invested more than $100 million towards strengthening the church in Israel and the Arab/Muslim world to preach the Word, shepherd the flock, care for the poor and needy, teach the global church about God’s love and prophetic plan for the people of the Middle East, and fulfill the Great Commission.

Doubt is often a stepping stone on the road to a secure faith. We’ve all had our doubts; it’s what we do with those doubts that matters. Do we give up, take our ball, and go home? Or do we find unshakable reasons that faith in God is the best worldview possible? Today let’s look at the rocky journey of Thomas’s struggle between faith and doubt. Perhaps we’ll see ourselves in it.I. ConfidenceII. TurbulenceIII. DistanceIV. EvidenceV. PenitenceVI. PermanenceTalk with God: Meditate on 1 Peter 1:8-9 and thank the Lord for the peace and confidence we have in our salvation, so we can “rejoice with joy inexpressible” (v. 8).Talk with others: If you’re wrestling with a doubt or difficult question, ask a mentor or pastor for help in navigating that struggle.Talk with kids: How does God show He keeps His promises in this Bible story?

I. Stand StrongII. Stay GroundedIII. Step ForwardTalk with God: Ask the Lord to give you strength and courage as you commit to plant your flag and reclaim what the enemy has stolen in your life.Talk with others: How can your Connect Group, family, or friends take ground in your community this year?Talk with kids: How did God’s promise to Abraham continue through Jacob?

Sharing your faith with unbelievers can be the scariest experience for many of us. Just the term evangelism can make us sweat. So we make excuses like, “I’m not an evangelist,” or, “I’ll mess it up,” or, “They’ll reject me,” or, “I’m not good enough at it.” Today we get a lesson on sharing our faith from the Master Himself—Jesus Christ—as we see how He spoke to a woman who thought she’d heard it all.I. Have the Right AttitudeII. Have the Right ApproachIII. Have the Right AppealTalk with God: Ask the Lord for boldness and opportunities to share the gospel this week.Talk with others: Invite an unbelieving friend or family member to come to church with you next weekend.Talk with kids: How did finding Isaac a wife show that God was keeping His promise to Abraham?

“Cancel culture” is a newer cultural phenomenon whereby a group of people attempts to remove an individual’s or organization’s power, platform, financial resources, or livelihood. It takes place when people perceive that the target has transgressed against moral or social norms. But it’s not really new. It’s been around since the beginning. How should we live in such an environment?I. React CalmlyII. Resist FirmlyIII. Reply ClearlyIV. Respond HumblyV. Rest InwardlyTalk with God: Ask the Lord to give you a heart of compassion for those who may attack you for your beliefs, so you won’t return “evil for evil or reviling for reviling” (v. 9).Talk with others: Ask a fellow believer how you can pray for them and support their walk this week.Talk with kids: How does Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac point us to Jesus?

Love Bomb 2025 - Matthew 5:13-16 - from the series of Topical Teachings with Skip Heitzig from Calvary Church.I. Our World is DarkII. Our Walk is DifferentIII. Our Work is Demonstrated