In a culture that constantly pulls us toward compromise and spiritual dryness, how do we maintain vitality in our faith? Guest speaker Chuck Gourley uses Psalm 1 to reveal that the righteous person thrives by remaining planted near the source of living water—Jesus Christ—rather than by following the counsel of the ungodly, standing with sinners, or sitting with the scornful. Through the metaphor of a tree flourishing by a river, Chuck Gourley argues that spiritual fruit, endurance, and success flow naturally from consistent meditation on God's Word and daily communion with Him. He challenges listeners to examine their spiritual proximity to Christ and to recommit to a life of deliberate, day-and-night devotion to God's commands, trusting that He will produce lasting fruit in His season.
Read MoreWhy is gratitude so difficult for us, and why do we so easily default to complaint? Guest speaker Chuck Gourley argues that thanksgiving is not merely a holiday sentiment but a divine command that transforms our spiritual identity and witness. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, he illuminates how gratitude functions as an overflow of the Holy Spirit's work within us—an attitude rooted in Christ's provision that inevitably spills into our interactions with others. He examines the specific blessings we possess in Christ: His constant presence, forgiveness, sufficient grace, and salvation. Chuck Gourley challenges believers to move beyond obligatory thanks to cultivate a genuine spirit of gratitude that reshapes perspective, produces joy, and testifies to God's goodness throughout every circumstance of life.
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