Faith Is…
Every Sat/Sun 8 AM ET
We believe God wants us to understand the Bible. So we’ll approach the Bible with eager anticipation, confident that God will show us the truth. Then, he’ll show us how to live in these sometimes confusing and discouraging times. Join us as we make the complicated simple, cooperate with grace, and stretch toward God’s high calling.
Every week we’ll take a fresh look at the Bible and discover that Faith Is . . . absolute confidence in the trustworthiness of God.
Born a Buckeye in southwestern Ohio, Pastor Rick Stevens has served churches from Oklahoma to New Brunswick, Canada. He has been a pastor, youth pastor, and church music director. Since January of 1997, he has been the pastor of Diplomat Wesleyan Church in Cape Coral, FL. He is married to Jan and has two children and four grandchildren. His most unusual travel experience was visiting the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine; the site of the world’s worst nuclear power accident.
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – No matter our circumstances. No matter what challenges we face. Because of Jesus ⏤ his coming as a baby and his much anticipated second coming, we can have joy. In fact, the Bible gives us a promise that we will be overtaken by joy! So take a break from the business. Stop all the activity. Take a breath or three, and…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – We hear John the Baptist’s message preparing the people for the arrival of Jesus. What would John the Baptist say to us today? If he were preparing us for the arrival of Jesus, what would he tell us to do? That message is summarized in Ten Things I Think which is really one thing. It’s what John might say to us today…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – It’s Advent, that great season of anticipation, preparation, and repentance! From Advent Wreaths and candles to prophets and great hymns, God helps us prepare for the coming of the Lord. Try to imagine a world where God makes all the wrong things right. That’s why we look forward to and get ready for the…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Today, let’s exchange anxiety for gratitude. That’s a winning exchange. Let’s also exchange sin for truth and life. That’s even better. And in the process, let’s ask God for one more thing. Please, God, give us grateful hearts…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – In a world of deception, it’s the question we should all be asking. What is truth? The answer is not complicated. In fact, it’s plain to see. Well, plain to see for all who will see. Truth is demonstrated by and in the person and work of Jesus…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – How does the coming of Jesus make you feel? Anxious? Afraid? Encouraged? Excited? Followers of Jesus need not be concerned or alarmed by the coming of Jesus. All people should be concerned about rebellion or lawlessness. Peace of heart and peace of mind when anticipating the return of Jesus flows from embracing the…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – What does the Bible mean by curses? We surely do not want to be cursed by God! And thinking of curses, should a Christian celebrate Halloween? Is it benign, or is Halloween a celebration of evil and the occult? Should a Christian even bother to vote? There’s a lot of evil in politics; should we just wash our hands and…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Can you define faith and explain it to someone who doesn’t understand faith? Would you say faith is belief? If so, belief in what or who or . . .? The Bible says even the demons believe in God, and they shudder. One day Jesus will look for faith on the earth. Today we discover what he’s looking for…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Jesus told the Samaritan man healed of leprosy, “Your faith has healed you.” Astounding! If God heals, what was the role of faith in this man’s healing? It’s very simple. It’s very clear. And most people don’t want to believe it. Follow this Samaritan man’s example and discover faith for yourself!
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – People prayed that the hurricane would go out to sea. People rebuked the storm in the name of Jesus. People prayed against the storm in all kinds of ways. But the storm did not go away; it was worse than we ever imagined, so now what do we do?
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – This week we encounter perhaps the most chilling statement in all of the Bible. Then close behind it, we discover the most chilling realization in the Bible. We learn the rich man’s lesson and how to avoid it. We learn that things are not always as they seem to be.
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – So how can a dishonest manager that is losing his job end up being praised? Is Jesus commending him for his dishonesty and shrewdness? Certainly not! But he is challenging us. He is admonishing us to smarten up out there! We need to learn from the wisdom of Jesus and put it into practice…
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – Jesus told two stories that both resulted in finding what was lost and joy! Sometimes people are alienated from God and even rebel against God. They find it difficult to turn to him. Press through to joy! The joy makes it worth it.
FAITH IS… with Pastor Rick Stevens – The potter can do whatever he or she pleases with the clay jar, and God can do what he pleases with us. The good news is that God wants to shape us into the kind of people he always imagined we could be. God wants to save us from all the stuff. Cooperate with grace, and let him do it!