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A bible Study style podcast to talk about the word and to spread gods word.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
Wednesday Oct 15, 2025
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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- 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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- The Big Questions
- What if our plans sound holy but are rooted in ego or insecurity?
- How do we discern when our words are Spirit-led versus self-led?
- Can God’s truth come through a heart that refuses correction?
- Why does the heart’s condition determine whether the tongue speaks truth or poison?
- What does it mean to let God purify your motives before you speak your plans?
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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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- 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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Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
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
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Episode 72 – Transitions— For Better or Worse: When the Water Is Healed
Text: II Kings 2:15–22
Lens: Community resistance to new leadership; unhealthy nostalgia vs. healthy acceptance; what it takes to validate leadership.
- Scripture Foundation
- Text (ESV):
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him… they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”… They urged him to send men to look for Elijah… but they did not find him… Then Elisha healed the water… and the water has been healed to this day.
- Cross-References:
- Joshua 1:1–9 – God affirms Joshua after Moses.
- Acts 1:23–26 – Community confirms Matthias as apostle.
- 1 Timothy 4:12–16 – Paul urges Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth.
- Word Study:
- “Rest” (nuach, Hebrew): to settle, dwell, remain. The Spirit’s resting validates Elisha.
- “Heal” (rapha, Hebrew): to make whole, restore, repair.
- Context:
- Prophets recognize Elisha yet resist closure (searching for Elijah).
- Elisha shows leadership patience, then demonstrates authority through miracle.
- Healthy transition requires both recognition and fruitfulness.
- The Big Questions
- Why do people resist new leadership—even when God confirms it?
- What does it take for a leader to be validated in the eyes of the people?
- How do nostalgia and denial keep churches from moving forward?
- Why must new leadership be both patient with resistance and bold in action?
- What does healing the water teach us about the role of leaders in times of transition?
- Insights & Commentary
- Biblical Insight: The prophets bowed (respect) but also begged (resistance)—mirroring how communities honor leaders while clinging to the past.
- Community Leadership Insight: Elisha’s patience (“Send them…”) shows pastoral wisdom; he doesn’t shame them, but lets reality confirm the truth.
- Practical Leadership Insight: Elisha’s first act was not self-promotion, but service (healing the city’s water). True leaders bless the people.
- Modern Parallel: When pastors or leaders are transitioned (via itinerancy, firing, or retirement), congregations often struggle—“searching” for the old leader even when God has moved on.
- Community Connection
- Church Parallel: Like the prophets, congregations may resist a new pastor, waiting for the old one to “come back.” This creates tension and delay.
- Contemporary Example: In situations like Pastor Joel Tudman’s departure, or Methodist itinerancy, the congregation’s denial can be as disruptive as leadership’s decisions.
- Local Angle: How can Clair or similar churches move past grief to embrace new beginnings?
- Takeaways & Application
- Individual: Don’t waste energy searching for what God has already moved. Embrace what is before you.
- Corporate (Church/Community): Validate new leadership through fruitfulness, not favoritism. Judge leadership by life-giving acts.
- Action Challenge: Ask: What “water” in your life/community needs healing—and how can you step into that role instead of longing for the past?
- Engagement Elements
- Audience Questions:
- Have you ever resisted a new leader or season because you were still searching for the old one?
- What “water” in your life needs healing right now?
- Shareable Quote: “True leadership in transition is proven when the water is healed, not when egos are preserved.”
- Possible Song/Clip: “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” — a hymn of God’s leading through transitions.
- Prayer & Reflection
Prayer:
“God of continuity and change, forgive us when we cling to the past instead of embracing your present work. Help us honor those who came before us without resisting those you’ve called now. Make us life-givers, healers of the water, in every place you’ve planted us. Amen.”
Devotional Thought:
The surest sign of God’s Spirit in new leadership is not control, but healing.
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
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Live Service for June 11th, 2025
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Reflection Time
Philippians 3:12-16
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Conversation
1. Have we become the Safe House?
2. What have been the conversations that have stood out the most?
3. How do we continue to make this space safe?
4. Are you safe here?
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
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Wednesday Jun 04, 2025
Episode 69
Rise Up: The Resurrection Moment
Mark 5:35-43
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Conversation
- Recap of Annual Conference
- What are we resurrecting?
- When lament turns to laughter
- The Atmosphere to foster a Resurrection moment
- Will we rise truly?
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Wednesday May 21, 2025
Live Service for May 21st, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
The Conclusion or The Beginning
Philippians 3:13-16
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Conversation
1. How are you feeling?
2. What does the cross mean to you now?
3. The Gospel is not for the privileged…
4. Reclaim the Sword…
5. Begin Again…
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
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Live Service for May 14th, 2025
order The Cross and the Lynching Tree
https://a.co/d/4xn5nVL
podcast notes
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iv4h1VA2zvbgt0vE3NzMEsD2O1Tpzb0Z?usp=drive_link
Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson
Mitchell Harper
Chapter 5
Judges 4:4-9
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army,
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Wednesday May 07, 2025
Episode 66
Chapter 4 (Part II)
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
Discussion
- Revisit Last Week
- Open for Questions/Reflections
- Can We Unite With Different Gifts?
- What Is the Message Now?