The Safe House Podcast

EPISODE 82 – “No Vacancy for Human Dignity”

Text: Luke 2:6–7 (ESV)

“And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Reflection

Jesus enters the world because there is no room for him in respectable spaces. Long before borders, detention centers, and enforcement agencies, the story of Jesus begins with displacement. The manger is not sentimental—it is evidence of exclusion. God arrives where systems fail, where policy refuses compassion, and where power decides who belongs and who does not.

Societal Lens

“No room” is not just a phrase—it is a practice. It shows up when families are separated, when migrants are detained without dignity, and when ICE raids terrorize communities under the banner of law and order. Faith that ignores this reality is not neutral; it is complicit. The question is not whether Jesus is present—but whether we will recognize him in the displaced, the undocumented, and the targeted.

Spiritual Practice

Support an immigrant defense fund, legal aid organization, or rapid response network. Learn who in your community is vulnerable—and commit to showing up if they are threatened. Faith must move beyond sympathy into protection and presence.

Conversation Questions

• Where are people being denied dignity in your city today?
• How does displacement challenge your understanding of faith?
• What responsibility does the church have when government power causes harm?

Prayer

God who dwells among the rejected, sharpen our moral clarity. Refuse to let us spiritualize injustice or remain silent when Your children are harmed. Teach us to make room where systems refuse. Amen.

 

EPISODE 80 – “The Gospel of Presence”

Live Service for Dec. 3rd, 2025

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 
Mitchell Harper

Text: Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

“‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

Reflection:
God’s presence changes everything. The incarnation is divine proximity—God entering our brokenness, not avoiding it. Presence heals what absence wounds. Jesus’ birth reveals that redemption begins when we show up where pain lives.

Societal Lens:
Many enter the holidays with grief, loneliness, or anxiety. “God with us” must become “we with each other.” In a world of digital connection but relational isolation, being fully present is counter-cultural ministry.

Spiritual Practice:
Reach out to someone who feels unseen. Don’t fix—listen. Bring warmth through presence rather than solutions.

Conversation Questions:

1. What does “God with us” mean in your daily experience?
2. How can the church embody presence in a hurting world?
3. What practices help you remain emotionally available to others?

Prayer:
“Emmanuel, You are the presence we crave. Help us to be present for others as You are for us. Amen.”

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

Episode 79 – “Waiting vs. Wanting”

Text: Psalm 130:5–6 (ESV)

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”

 

Reflection:
Advent invites us into holy waiting. The psalmist teaches that waiting deepens trust. Our culture equates waiting with failure, but God uses it for formation. Waiting tempers impatience and births discernment. It reminds us that divine timing cannot be forced.

 

Societal Lens:
We live in an on-demand world—instant gratification, immediate answers, same-day delivery. This pace erodes our spiritual endurance. The capitalist clock accelerates desire while the divine clock matures hope. Advent slows us to rediscover sacred time.

 

Spiritual Practice:
Establish a “waiting ritual.” Each morning, sit in silence for five minutes before checking your phone or beginning work. Whisper, “My soul waits for You.”

 

Conversation Questions:

1. How does waiting stretch or strengthen your faith?
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God’s timing?
3. What spiritual disciplines help you remain patient and hopeful?

Prayer:
“Lord, slow our racing hearts. Teach us to see delay not as denial but as divine preparation. Amen.”

 

Episode 78 – “The Gift of Enough”

Text: Luke 12:15 (ESV)

“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”

 

Reflection:
Jesus’ warning challenges our modern obsession with accumulation. Advent calls us to strip away illusions of worth defined by wealth. Christ’s birth in a manger reveals that simplicity is sacred. “Enough” is not mediocrity—it is freedom from striving for what cannot satisfy.

 

Societal Lens:
Consumerism has turned Advent into an economic event. Black Friday, endless wish lists, and social media comparisons form a spiritual trap. Many will overspend to prove love or status. Yet Jesus’ message interrupts this cycle: life’s meaning isn’t measured in more.

 

Spiritual Practice:
Take a “gratitude inventory.” Name five things money cannot buy that sustain you. Practice generosity in a way that costs comfort but not contentment.

 

Conversation Questions:

1. What drives our collective fear of not having enough?
2. How might simplicity become an act of faith?
3. What does “enough” mean in your spiritual journey?

 

Prayer:
“God of abundance, free us from the tyranny of more. Teach us to see provision in Your presence and sufficiency in Your grace. Amen.”

Episode 77 – The True Value of Evil

Live Service for Nov 5th, 2025

Special Guest: Fadi Suleiman

podcast notes https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson

Mitchell Harper

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

Episode 76 – I Can’t Suffer Fools Year 2 Anniversary Edition

Live Service for Oct. 22th, 2025 Special Guest—Rev. Derrick K. Holmes

 

podcast notes

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson

Mitchell Harper

 

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​ !!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​ FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!! We do not own the rights to this music. Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above

Episode 75 – Heart Conditions: When God Doesn’t Cosign Your Words

Episode 75 – Heart Conditions: When God Doesn’t Cosign Your Words

Scripture: Proverbs 16:1

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

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Proposition

A corrupt heart produces a distorted message. We can’t expect God to bless what the heart has already poisoned.

 

Main Question

What happens when the heart’s motives block God’s message?

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1. Scripture Foundation

Cross-References:

• Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things…”
• Luke 6:45 – “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
• Proverbs 4:23 – “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
• Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God…”

 

Word Study:

• “Heart” (לֵב / leb): center of the human will, desire, and decision-making.
• “Plans” (maʿarakah): arrangement, intention—what the heart constructs.
• “Answer” (maʿaneh): a divine response, revelation, or reply.
• “Tongue” (lashon): a physical organ of speech and a metaphor for spiritual expression.

 

Context Notes:

Solomon distinguishes human intention from divine inspiration. The heart may devise plans, but God determines what words (and outcomes) align with truth.

When the heart’s filter is unclean, even good-sounding plans can carry manipulative motives.

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2. The Big Questions
3. What if our plans sound holy but are rooted in ego or insecurity?
4. How do we discern when our words are Spirit-led versus self-led?
5. Can God’s truth come through a heart that refuses correction?
6. Why does the heart’s condition determine whether the tongue speaks truth or poison?
7. What does it mean to let God purify your motives before you speak your plans?

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3. Insights & Commentary

• Biblical Insight: The verse shows divine restraint—God doesn’t cosign every word, even when spoken in His name.
• Theological Insight: The tongue may move, but only a purified heart can carry God’s authority.
• Practical Insight: People can use the right vocabulary (“God told me,” “I’m walking in purpose”) with the wrong heart.
• Illustration: Pharaoh’s magicians mimicked Moses’ miracles—same performance, wrong power source.
• Reflection: The Spirit doesn’t edit deceit. God’s voice will not harmonize with our hidden motives.

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4. Community Connection

• Cultural Context: In our era of platform-driven Christianity, motives matter more than methods. Many claim divine endorsement without divine intimacy.
• Local Lens: In ministry and leadership, heart posture affects how messages are received. A self-centered agenda can distort the gospel message.
• Social/Digital Connection: People often post scripture as validation for pride or revenge—proof that the heart behind the post corrupts the power of the Word.

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5. Takeaways & Application

• Individual: Check your heart before you speak for God.
• Corporate (Church): Teach discernment—not just doctrine. The question isn’t “Did you say it right?” but “Did you mean it right?”
• Action Challenge: Spend time in prayer this week asking God, “What in my heart needs healing before I speak again?”

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6. Engagement Elements

• Audience Questions:
• How do you check your heart before you make a decision or post a message?
• Have you ever realized your words were right but your motive was wrong?
• Shareable Quote:

“God doesn’t cosign deceit, even when it’s dressed in scripture.”

• Song Suggestion: “Give Me a Clean Heart” (Donnie McClurkin) or “Refiner” (Maverick City Music).

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7. Prayer & Reflection

 

Prayer:

“God, examine our hearts. Remove every deceitful intention and every selfish motive that blocks your truth from being heard. Purify our plans, and let every word we speak carry your peace and power. Amen.”

 

Devotional Thought:

The tongue reveals what the heart conceals. If your speech doesn’t sound like heaven, it’s time to let God heal the source.

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Safe House Podcast Ep. 73 – Pentecost and the Digital Blueprint (Special Guest: Rev. D.K. Hammonds)

Live Service for Sept. 24th, 2025

podcast notes 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson 
Mitchell Harper

Clair United Methodist Church - https://www.clairumc.com/​​
!!!!!DONATE TO THE AMAZING STREAMING TEAM @ - https://bit.ly/2CwmMwT​​
FOR ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE DURING THIS TIME!!!!!
We do not own the rights to this music.
Come join us every Sunday for a Live stream service and if you would like to donate for the church click the link above