Wisdom for the Heart

Stephen Davey

Stephen Davey will help you learn to know what the Bible says, understand what it means, and apply it to your life as he teaches verse-by-verse through books of the Bible. Stephen is the president of Wisdom International, which provides radio broadcasts, digital content, and print resources designed to make disciples of all nations and edify followers of Jesus Christ.

Play

Open in

42 episodes
daily
Avg 26 min
English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Support this Podcast

Episodes 42

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Yesterday · 26 min
The Final Song Part 2 (1 Chronicles 28-29)
Share a comment The hardest spiritual test is not hearing God say “no” to a bad idea, it’s hearing Him say “no” to a good one. We sit with King David at the end of his life as he looks straight at an unfulfilled dream: he spent years planning a temple for God’s glory, only to watch the assignment pass to Solomon. Instead of bitterness, David gives us a rare picture of maturity: honest desire, real disappointment, and a steady “yet” that keeps trusting God’s wisdom. From there, we move into a surprisingly practical blueprint for Christian parenting and spiritual leadership. David, a man with public wins and private failures, speaks to his son with clarity: know the God of your father, serve Him with a whole heart, seek Him, be strong, and do the work. We talk about why that personal faith matters more than a “successful life” checklist, and how a parent’s real repentance can carry more weight than perfect performance. We also unpack David’s public prayer in 1 Chronicles 28 to 29, where stewardship and worship meet. He reminds us that generosity starts with humility because everything we bring to God already came from His hand. And he prays for Solomon’s integrity, not comfort, pushing back on the fantasy that God’s best plan is always the easiest path. If you’ve ever felt the sting of a delayed dream, a redirected calling, or a parenting moment you wish you could redo, this conversation will help you reset your priorities and reclaim a worshipful perspective. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a steady “yet,” and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
Wednesday · 26 min
The Final Song Part 1 (1 Chronicles 28-29)
Share a comment The hardest kind of disappointment is not failing, it is watching someone else live the dream you carried for years. We sit with David at the end of his life as he admits, without spin, that building God’s temple was “the intention of my heart” and then names the ache: God gave that assignment to Solomon. Instead of bitterness, David offers a surprising gift to anyone facing unanswered prayer, delayed hopes, or a future that does not match the plan you thought was faithful. From there, we widen the lens to the power of last words. We reflect on historical “final statements” that reveal regret, pride, and emptiness, then contrast them with David’s finest recorded speech in 1 Chronicles 28. David refuses to celebrate himself. He re-centers the story on God’s choosing, God’s grace, and God’s worth, even when God’s will blocks David’s personal legacy project. If you have ever asked, “Why would God say no to something good?” this conversation gives language for surrender that is honest and strong. We also turn toward parenting and spiritual legacy. David, a man who often got family life wrong, finishes with a clear father-son charge: know God, serve Him, seek Him, be strong, and do the right thing. It is a needed correction to the checklist version of parenting that focuses on success while neglecting the soul. If you want practical Christian encouragement on disappointment, purpose, and raising the next generation with real faith, listen through to the end and share this with someone who needs a fresh “yet” today. Subscribe, share, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
Tuesday · 26 min
Do Babies Really Go To Heaven Part 2 (2 Samuel 12:14-23)
Share a comment The question isn’t academic if you’ve ever held an ultrasound photo, walked out of a hospital empty-handed, or wondered what God does with the smallest lives. We take the most tender and controversial question head-on: do miscarried, stillborn, aborted, and newborn children go to heaven, and what does the Bible actually say? We start with Romans 5, tracing the contrast between Adam’s disobedience and Jesus Christ’s obedience, and why Paul’s “many will be made righteous” can’t be reduced to a narrow, adult-only category. From there we tackle the foundational claims underneath the whole debate: life begins at God-ordained conception, every human being lives forever because we’re made in the image of God, and the real issue becomes where we live forever. Then we test popular answers against Scripture. We push back on post-mortem salvation using Luke 16, and we examine baptismal regeneration claims (including household baptism arguments) to ask whether any ceremony can guarantee heaven. Finally, we walk through the grace-versus-works tension: saved by grace alone, yet condemned with reference to willful rebellion and suppressed truth (Romans 1). That framework shapes how we think about “age of accountability” as a state of moral awareness, not a magic number. If you’re grieving, questioning, or trying to think clearly as a Christian, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review with the question you still want answered. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
Monday · 26 min
Do Babies Really Go To Heaven Part 1 (2 Samuel 12:14-23)
Share a comment One sentence can stop a grieving parent cold: “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” We start there, with David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 12, because the death of a child forces honest Christians to face the hardest pastoral question people ask through tears: did my baby go to heaven? We don’t reach for a Hallmark answer, and we don’t pretend the Bible offers a single easy proof text for the miscarried, the aborted, the stillborn, or the severely mentally disabled. Instead, we do what careful biblical theology requires: compare passages, connect doctrines, and follow the clues. Psalm 139 takes us into the womb where God “knits” a unique life together, and Jeremiah’s language shows God speaking to an unborn person with purpose and destiny. Along the way, we contrast a Scripture-shaped view of human dignity with modern bioethics that reduces people to animals and then calls almost anything “morally acceptable.” The conversation also widens to what sits underneath the whole debate: life begins at conception, every person is eternal, and the real question becomes where we will live forever. If you’ve carried grief after pregnancy loss or you’re trying to form a clear Christian view of abortion, infant mortality, and the eternal destiny of children, this is an episode to sit with slowly. Subscribe, share with someone who needs careful hope, and leave a review with the question you still wrestle with. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 11 · 27 min
Telling The Truth To God (Psalm 51)
Share a comment Shame makes smart people act like fugitives. Sometimes the hiding is obvious, like a new name and a new city. Sometimes it’s quieter, like a carefully managed story, a tight smile, and a private fear that the truth will catch up. We start with the real account of Katherine Power, who lived for decades under an assumed identity after a bank robbery went wrong and a police officer was killed. When she finally turned herself in, she explained why: she was tired of living with shame, hiddenness, and guilt. That one sentence opens a bigger conversation about what it really takes to come clean. From there, we walk straight into Psalm 51 and listen to David do the hardest thing a sinner can do: stop defending and start confessing. We organize the psalm around five simple words that map the journey back to God: petition, admission, origin, restoration, and resolution. You’ll hear why David appeals to mercy and steadfast love instead of “a fair shake,” why blot out, wash, and cleanse describe different depths of forgiveness, and why real confession refuses excuses that subtly blame family, circumstances, or even God. We also talk about the roots beneath the actions. David goes beyond “I sinned” to “I am a sinner,” naming the deeper problem of a corrupted nature. That honesty sets up real hope: restoration is not self-improvement, it’s a miracle of renewal, a clean conscience, and a new heart. We close with David’s resolve to turn forgiveness outward, teaching others the way back and turning grace into a song the whole community can sing. If you want language for true repentance, a clearer picture of mercy, and a practical way to stop hiding, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a fresh start, and leave a review telling us what line stayed with you. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 10 · 27 min
Caught Red Handed Part 2 (2 Samuel 12)
Share a comment A king hears a simple story about a stolen lamb and explodes in rage, sure he’s defending justice. Then the prophet looks him in the eye and says the line that collapses every excuse: you are that man. We trace the turning point in 2 Samuel 12 where David, exposed after Bathsheba and Uriah, finally stops managing the narrative and tells the truth God has been waiting to hear. We dig into why Nathan’s parable works, how guilt quietly eats away at peace, and why we’re often quickest to judge the very sin we tolerate in ourselves. The conversation also gets painfully practical: the secrets we hope never surface, the way hidden compromise reshapes a home, and why forgiveness doesn’t erase every consequence. If you’ve ever tried to cover your tracks spiritually, David’s story reads like a mirror. The most surprising moment is how short David’s confession is and how quickly mercy answers. We talk about repentance, grace, and why the sufficiency of atonement does not depend on the intensity of our tears. The passage even pulls a gospel thread that points beyond David to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the true substitute who takes the stain so we can be made clean. If this helped you, subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with the takeaway that hit you hardest. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 9 · 26 min
Caught Red Handed Part 1 (2 Samuel 12)
Share a comment A year of silence can look like success on the outside and feel like slow collapse on the inside. We pick up the story of King David after 2 Samuel 11, when adultery and murder seem safely buried, and we ask the question nobody wants to answer: what does hidden sin do to a person over time? Pulling language from Psalm 32, we talk honestly about guilt and shame, sleepless nights, and the heavy hand of God that won’t let a true believer settle into the mud. Then we follow the moment God breaks the stalemate by sending Nathan. Instead of a public takedown, Nathan tells a tender story about a poor man’s lamb, and David’s outrage flares. That’s where the trap closes, the defenses fall, and the prophet delivers the line that still echoes through every conversation about accountability and repentance: “You are that man.” We unpack why we’re often quickest to spot a small version of our own sin in someone else, and how spiritual blindness can coexist with strong moral opinions. We also explore the meaning behind “caught red-handed,” why people hunger for forgiveness without questions, and why no religious system can simply wipe stains away on demand. Finally, we walk through the consequences Nathan names, the reaping-and-sowing principle that follows even real forgiveness, and what this teaches about Christian leadership, integrity, and spiritual restoration. If this challenged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 8 · 26 min
The Cover Up Part 2 (2 Samuel 11:6-27)
Share a comment One bad choice rarely stays lonely. We walk through the David and Bathsheba narrative in 2 Samuel 11 at the exact moment David tries to outsmart consequences, and we watch his options shrink until he starts sacrificing other people to protect his image. The result is a clear, unsettling map of how a cover-up actually works, not in theory, but in real decisions that compound fast. We break the spiral into the episode’s four moves: stay calm, apply pressure, conspire to kill, keep up appearances. Uriah becomes the unexpected mirror in the story, a man so committed to duty and brotherhood that he will not go home even when the king tempts him and even when wine is used to lower his guard. Then the plot turns darker: Uriah carries the letter that orders his own death, and Joab reveals how cynical power can get when secrets become leverage. The most sobering moment is not the battlefield, it’s the silence. God does not speak right away, and that quiet can feel like permission if you want it to. We talk about why God’s silence does not mean God is absent, why patience does not equal approval, and why hidden sin often hits the most faithful people nearby. If you care about biblical leadership, integrity, repentance, and the real cost of moral compromise, this conversation is for you. Listen, share it with a friend who needs a reset, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next part of the story. After you listen, leave a review and tell us: where are you most tempted to keep up appearances? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 7 · 26 min
The Cover Up Part 1 (2 Samuel 11:6-27)
Share a comment The most unsettling scandals aren’t the ones that start with failure. They’re the ones that continue with planning. We take a hard look at the definition of a cover-up and why the attempt to hide wrongdoing so often becomes more reprehensible than the original act, then we connect that pattern to everything from corporate deception to the Bible’s most famous leadership collapse. We walk through 2 Samuel 11 as King David responds to Bathsheba’s pregnancy, and we track his choices through four clear steps: staying calm, applying pressure, conspiring to kill, and keeping up appearances. Along the way, Uriah’s integrity becomes the unexpected spotlight, refusing comfort while fellow soldiers sleep in the open field and the Ark of God remains with the troops. Even David’s attempt to lower Uriah’s convictions through drunkenness fails, exposing just how far a cover-up will push a person who’s desperate to control the story. We also slow down for the personal warnings the text brings: physical maturity doesn’t exempt us from sin, spiritual maturity doesn’t exempt us from catastrophic sin, and “Bathshebas come in many disguises” today. We talk about the collateral damage that follows, including how Joab reads David’s weakness and gains power, proving that hidden sin rarely stays contained and never stays private. If you care about biblical leadership, integrity, accountability, and the real cost of damage control, listen through to the end. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the moment that hit you hardest. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 4 · 27 min
Governed By Lessor Passions Part 2 (2 Samuel 11:1-5 )
Share a comment Temptation doesn’t walk into your life carrying a warning label. It shows you the highlight reel, then asks you to decide fast. We start with that brutal reality and follow it straight into one of the most sobering moments in Scripture: King David, at the peak of success, choosing comfort over duty, boredom over vigilance, and desire over wisdom, until one look becomes a chain of choices he can’t control. We slow down in 2 Samuel 11 and connect the dots: why idleness makes us vulnerable, how lust escalates, and why David’s private compromises set the stage for public collapse. The details matter, including the warnings he receives, the cold, transactional way the encounter is recorded, and the two-word message that forces consequences into the open. Along the way we talk plainly about adultery, sexual integrity, and the way our culture normalizes “no strings attached” while ignoring relational wreckage, financial loss, emotional despair, and even physical realities like sexually transmitted diseases. But we don’t leave you with fear. We end with a hopeful strategy rooted in Christian discipleship: one passion may feel irresistible until a greater passion arrives. Drawing from Paul’s words, we explore what it looks like to put off the old self, renew your mind, and put on the new self through a deeper love for Christ, God’s Word, the church, and the people who are also thirsty for something real. If you want practical spiritual growth that doesn’t sugarcoat temptation, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with what hit you hardest. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 3 · 26 min
Governed By Lessor Passions Part 1 (2 Samuel 11:1-5 )
Share a comment A single line can expose an entire life: “Forbidden lust is like someone dying of thirst while begging for salt.” We start there, then zoom out to a headline-worthy cautionary tale, Marcus Antony and Cleopatra, where desire doesn’t stay personal. It rewrites priorities, fractures trust, and leaves empires and families paying the bill long after the thrill is gone. Then we turn to the story that still grabs readers thousands of years later: King David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11. One reason this passage hits so hard is that the Bible suddenly shifts into slow motion, almost forcing us to watch each choice. We talk through why David is most vulnerable when life is easy, why staying home from battle matters, and how a second look becomes a settled craving. Along the way we connect the dots back to Deuteronomy 17, where God warned kings not to multiply power, wealth, or wives, and we name the uncomfortable truth that compromise often looks “fine” right up until it isn’t. We also unpack the messenger’s built-in alarms: Bathsheba is someone’s daughter, tied to David’s inner circle, and the wife of Uriah, one of David’s mighty men. When desire takes the wheel, logic, worship, and friendship get pushed aside. A sobering quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer helps frame what’s happening: temptation thrives not only on rebellion, but on forgetfulness of God. If you want a clearer view of how temptation actually works, how integrity erodes, and what leadership failure teaches all of us, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who values honesty, and leave a review, then tell us: what early warning sign do you most need to take seriously? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 2 · 26 min
At The Table Of Grace Part 2 (2 Samuel 9 )
Share a comment A new king usually cleans house. David does the opposite. He calls for a nationwide search to find a living relative of Saul, the very house that once hunted him, and he names his motive without flinching: he wants to show “the kindness of God.” That single choice turns 2 Samuel 9 into a masterclass on grace, covenant love, and what it means to be welcomed when you expect to be rejected. We walk through the tension of the search, the slippery role of Ziba, and the haunting detail that the last heir is “crippled in his feet.” Instead of treating weakness as a deal-breaker, David’s only question is the one grace always asks: where is he? From Lodabar, a nowhere place marked by barrenness and hiding, Mephibosheth is brought into the light, into the courtroom, and into a relationship he never could have earned. Along the way, we connect the story to the gospel, salvation by grace through faith, and the reality that we bring God nothing but need. The turning point is personal and stunning: “Do not be afraid.” David restores what was lost, gives what was never deserved, and repeats the promise like he wants it etched into memory: you will eat at my table always. It’s adoption language, not mere charity, ending with the unforgettable image of a tablecloth of grace covering what you want to hide. If you’ve ever felt unwanted, inconvenient, or beyond help, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
September 1 · 26 min
At The Table Of Grace Part 1 (2 Samuel 9 )
Share a comment A king goes looking for the family of his enemy, and what he plans to do with them flips every instinct about power on its head. We walk through 2 Samuel 9 and David’s decision to show covenant kindness to Mephibosheth, the surviving son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, a man hiding in fear and living with a disability he can’t undo. Instead of asking who is worthy, David asks who is left, and that single question becomes one of the clearest pictures of biblical grace anywhere in the Old Testament. We also sit with a modern story that makes the theme painfully tangible: girls in the Mumbai region who were literally named “unwanted,” then offered a public chance to choose a new name. That idea of renaming opens the door to a deeper conversation about status change, moving from outcast to family, from enemy to friend, from worthless to priceless. Grace is not a reward for the helpful or impressive. It is love that is undeserved, unearned, and impossible to repay. Along the way we meet Ziba, the opportunist who tries to discourage the whole mission, and we talk about why there are always obstacles to grace. We trace Mephibosheth’s childhood fall, connect it to the broader story of humanity’s fall into sin, and lean into the New Testament language of being brought into God’s family. The episode closes with David’s stunning promise: “You shall eat at my table always,” a line that turns a feared rival’s heir into a son-like guest. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What part of the story most challenged the way you think about grace? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 31 · 26 min
When The Answer Is No Part 2 (2 Samuel 7)
Share a comment God says “no” to David, and it’s not because David’s motives are wrong. That’s what makes the moment so unsettling. David wants to build a house for God, a temple that would feel like the ultimate act of devotion, and then Nathan returns with a reversal: you will not be the one. If you’ve ever had a dream that looked right, felt right, and still got denied, you’ll recognize the punch of that kind of disappointment. We follow the story all the way through the emotional turn of one small word: “but.” The plans change, the path shifts, and the question becomes painfully practical: how do we respond when God closes the door? We lay out five responses modeled by David that reshape Christian living and spiritual growth in real time: humility instead of protest, gratitude that trusts God’s longer timeline, surrender that rests in being God’s servant, praise that chooses worship over wrestling, and readiness that stays alert for the window God opens next. Along the way, we talk about contentment as something learned, not wished for, and why trying to “force the locks” only drains faith. Then we land on the surprising beauty of preparation. David can’t hammer one nail into the temple, but he spends years organizing, gathering resources, and setting Solomon up to succeed without becoming bitter. It’s a picture of faithful obedience, Christian leadership, and trusting the will of God even when the work will outlive you. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s stuck in a painful no, and leave a review so more people can find it. Where are you tempted to wait for “someday” instead of serving God today? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 28 · 26 min
When The Answer Is No Part 1 (2 Samuel 7)
Share a comment The word “but” can crush a plan in seconds. David is living the dream: peace in the land, a secure throne, a cedar palace, and a holy desire to honor God by building a temple. He asks the prophet Nathan, gets an enthusiastic yes, and you can almost hear the blueprints unrolling. Then God speaks, and everything shifts. We walk through 2 Samuel 7 and the moment God closes a door on something that looks good, noble, and spiritually motivated. That’s what makes it so personal. Most of us don’t struggle with God saying no to obvious bad choices, we struggle when the no lands on something we truly wanted to do for the right reasons. Along the way we connect the dots to how our childhood dreams change, how God redirects our steps, and why trusting the Lord means more than trying harder to force a locked door open. The surprise is that God’s no is paired with a massive yes. Instead of accepting David’s offer to build God a “house,” God promises to build David a “house” through the Davidic covenant: a lasting line, a kingdom, and a throne that points forward to the Messiah. We also slow down on David’s response, because it’s the model we need when plans unravel: humility instead of self-defense, gratitude instead of fixation, and surrender that rests in whose we are. If you’re dealing with closed doors, delayed dreams, or a painful redirect, press play and sit with this story. Subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs steadiness today, and leave a review if it helped. Where are you tempted to push harder when God might be guiding you elsewhere? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 27 · 26 min
The Last Meal Part 2 (1 Samuel 28 & 31)
Share a comment God’s silence can feel mysterious until you realize what King Saul refuses to face: you can’t demand closeness with God while you’re actively protecting the sin you already know needs confession. We walk through Saul’s final descent and why his complaint “God won’t answer me” isn’t a puzzle, it’s a mirror. Along the way, we use a painfully funny illustration about a man hiding a lit cigarette from his pastor to expose how often we try to “stuff” disobedience out of sight while still asking for guidance, comfort, and clarity. From there, the story turns darker and stranger as Saul seeks out the medium at Endor. We unpack the reality of the unseen spiritual world without sensationalizing it, and we talk candidly about spiritual deception: why evil doesn’t know the future the way God does, how it can still manipulate with real information, and why chasing supernatural shortcuts can pull us away from God’s revealed Word. We also explain why the passage reads most naturally as a genuine appearance of Samuel delivering God’s final message to Saul. Then comes the gut punch: a 48-hour death notice. Saul is handed a last mercy window, yet he chooses denial and control, marching toward the outcome he’s been warned about. That leads us to the bigger contrast that closes the message with hope: Saul’s death looks like the end of Israel’s future, but it opens the way for David’s line and ultimately the Messiah. Jesus Christ’s death looks like the end of spiritual hope, but it becomes the doorway to the church, saving grace, and a coming kingdom for unlikely people like us. If this conversation sharpens your thinking, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find it. What would you change today if you truly believed time is shorter than you think? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 26 · 26 min
The Last Meal Part 1 (1 Samuel 28 & 31)
Share a comment One person with the wrong theology and the right access can tilt a whole nation. We start with a surprising historical thread, Rasputin’s shadow over the Russian monarchy, and use it to spotlight a timeless pattern: when a culture gets “all aflutter” with mysticism and the occult, deception doesn’t stay on the fringe. It moves inward, shaping decisions, weakening trust, and leaving real damage behind. Then we open to one of the darkest scenes in the Bible, the Witch of Endor in 1 Samuel 28. King Saul is terrified as the Philistines mass for war, and when he asks God for direction, heaven is silent. We talk honestly about why that silence happens, how unrepentant sin cuts off fellowship, and why blaming God misses the real issue. Saul’s next move is the turning point: he disguises himself, seeks a medium, and tries to force guidance from the dead after rejecting the guidance God already provided. We also tackle the big question head-on: was it really Samuel who appeared? Walking through the details in the text, we explain why this moment reads like a sober act of God’s judgment, not a party trick, and why the occult remains spiritually dangerous even when it seems to deliver “legitimate” information. If you care about biblical teaching, spiritual warfare, and learning to hear God without chasing shortcuts, this conversation will challenge you. If this helped you think clearly, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review. What do you reach for when God feels silent? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 25 · 26 min
Misled By A Misguided Heart Part 2 (1 Samuel 27, 29, 30)
Share a comment Panic loves to sound like wisdom. It tells you to move fast, trust your gut, and do whatever it takes to feel safe again. That’s exactly where David is in 1 Samuel 27 to 30, and we follow the chain reaction as his “perfect plan” seems to work at first, then traps him: conniving in enemy territory, cornered into an unthinkable battle, crushed by loss at Ziklag, and finally corrected when he seeks God instead of his own instincts. We talk through why “listening to your heart” can be dangerous, especially when discouragement is twisting your thoughts into something that feels reasonable. Along the way we pull in F B Meyer’s counsel for biblical decision making: never act in panic. Get quiet, let the pulse slow, and wait for God’s way rather than baptizing your relief as “peace.” We also wrestle with the hard tension that God remains faithful even when we are faithless, without pretending that self-directed choices are harmless. One of the most unforgettable moments is a warning story about a raccoon named Bandit and the confidence that says, “It’ll be different for me.” It’s a mirror for how compromise works until it suddenly doesn’t. The good news is where the story ends: David finally asks God, God answers with clarity, and grace meets him on the road back. If this helped you rethink a decision, share it with a friend who’s under pressure, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one place you’ve mistaken relief for God’s peace? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 24 · 26 min
Misled By A Misguided Heart Part 1 (1 Samuel 27, 29, 30)
Share a comment Discouragement isn’t just a feeling, it’s a lever. When it gets under the edge of your heart, it can pry you open and start rewriting what you believe about God, yourself, and the future. We start with a stark reminder from Scripture: even when we are faithless, God is faithful. That truth doesn’t erase consequences or discipline, but it does give us a solid floor when fear tells us we’re finished. Then we walk through David’s nearly fatal slide in 1 Samuel 27 to 29. Under real pressure, David stops bringing his fears to God and starts holding private conversations “in his heart” until he talks himself into a plan that seems wise: run to the Philistines. For a moment it feels like it works. Saul stops chasing him, the pressure lifts, and David finds a new home base in Ziklag. But we tease out why relief is not the same as guidance, and how a false sense of peace can be one of the most convincing traps. Finally, the story turns when David’s compromise boxes him into the unthinkable: marching with the enemy against Israel. This is where the episode gets painfully practical about self-talk, panic decisions, and the lies we feed our souls. And it’s also where God shows up quietly, moving pieces behind the scenes to rescue David from a disaster of his own making. If you’ve ever made a “perfect plan” that later unraveled, you’ll feel this one. Subscribe for more Bible teaching that connects to real life, share this with a friend who’s discouraged, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one decision you’re tempted to make out of panic right now? Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters
August 21 · 26 min
Beauty and Two Beasts Part 2 (1 Samuel 25:1-44)
Share a comment One careless insult can light a fuse that years of faithfulness never triggered. We watch David, the future king of Israel, go from steady endurance to a sword-strapped march of revenge after Nabal dismisses him with contempt. The shock is the point: character isn’t only tested by massive crises but by smaller slights that poke our pride. If you’ve ever been cheated, overlooked, or repaid with harshness after doing good, you’ll recognize the “disease of me” that turns pain into payback. We follow the story of Abigail and David in 1 Samuel 25, where Abigail shows up with courage, generosity, and a tactful confrontation that prevents bloodshed. Her appeal is a blueprint for Christian conflict resolution and anger management rooted in Scripture: don’t stoop to a lower level, don’t take matters into your own hands, don’t diminish your high calling, don’t play the part of God, and don’t forget your future. Along the way, we talk about spiritual leadership, gratitude versus entitlement, and why teachability often matters more than being “right.” The episode also honors the quiet strength of believers who live faithfully in difficult homes and unseen pressure, sanctifying their families through perseverance and godly commitment. The central question lingers: will we treat people based on who they are, or based on who we are in God? If this helped you rethink how you respond when you feel wronged, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with the line that challenged you most. Learn more about twenty-five years of global impact, and reserve tickets to our gala. https://www.wisdomonline.org/mp/25 Learn more: https://www.wisdomonline.org/ Support the show
- Transcript
- Chapters

Showing 1–20 of 42 episodes