Nahum is not a comfortable book—and that’s exactly why we need it.

In this episode, we step into the thunderous opening of Nahum 1, where God is revealed not as tame or sentimental, but as overwhelmingly powerful. Mountains quake, seas dry up, storms become His pathway, and justice burns with holy certainty. This is the God we don’t embroider on pillows—but the God who actually saves.

We explore the tension Scripture refuses to resolve for us: a God whose wrath cannot be endured and yet who offers Himself as a refuge in the storm. A God who judges evil without hesitation and protects His people without fail. A God whose power shakes creation and whose goodness shelters the faithful.

From the whirlwind of Nahum to the cross of Christ, this episode traces how divine justice is not suspended—but satisfied—and how mercy flows from the very place wrath once fell. The safest place in all creation is not distance from God, but life lived in the shadow of His power.

The question is not whether God is powerful. The question is whether you are resisting Him—or resting in Him.

What happens when God’s goodness feels unfair?

Scripture repeatedly confronts us with a grace that refuses to play by our rules—mercy given to the undeserving, kindness poured out on people we’re convinced should know better. Nowhere is this tension clearer than in the story of a prophet who sits outside a city, furious that God didn’t destroy it.

In this episode, we explore the uncomfortable truth about grace: that it often offends us before it heals us.

We talk about the hidden danger of worshiping “fairness,” why anger is often a signal pointing to deeper wounds, and how God’s gentle questions expose what’s really going on beneath our outrage. From a plant that grows and dies overnight to a city full of repentant enemies, this story reveals how easily we become one-sided vending machines—eager to receive grace but resistant to dispense it.

Grace saves us from drowning. The question is whether we’ll remember the water we were pulled from—or stand on the shore with our arms crossed.

This episode invites you to examine where grace has disrupted your sense of justice, and whether God might be refining you in the very place you feel most offended.

Grace doesn’t just change who God saves. It changes who we become—if we let it.

When we run from God, we often end up "smelling like what swallowed us"—spiritually wrecked and marked by our rebellion. But as the story of Jonah reveals, our God is the God of the second chance. From the coal mines of the Welsh Revival to the ancient, violent streets of Nineveh, this message explores the transformative power of a simple, humble response to God. Whether you feel like a "broken servant" or you're struggling to forgive an enemy, discover how God’s mercy is not a passive concept, but a costly choice that restores nations and heals hearts.

We often sanitize the story of Jonah with colorful children’s Bible illustrations, but the reality is far darker—and far more hopeful—than we realize. In this episode, we dive deep into the belly of the fish to discover a profound truth: God’s grace swims deeper than our rebellion ever could.

Join us as we explore Jonah’s desperate prayer from the roots of the mountains. This isn't a sweet devotional; it’s a cry from a man who ran out of road and found that even in the darkness of his own making, he couldn't outrun the sovereignty of God. We discuss why our most authentic encounters with God often happen in moments of absolute desperation rather than strength, and how the "fish" in our lives—job losses, broken relationships, and seasons of silence—are often the very rescues we need.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Prayer of Affliction: Why Jonah didn’t pray until he had nowhere left to run.
• The Danger of Distance: Understanding hell as the ultimate "Thy will be done" for those who choose to be left alone by God.
• Idols vs. The Mercy Seat: How our "sin factories" (career, reputation, self-sufficiency) eventually sacrifice us, while God sacrifices Himself for us.
• The Sign of Jonah: How the grave couldn't hold Christ, and what His resurrection means for our own "pits" of despair.

If you’ve been running, performing, or maintaining a mask of self-sufficiency, this episode is a reminder that salvation belongs to the Lord alone. Stop feeding the idols that let you sink and discover the costly grace that reaches into your personal depths.

Keywords: Jonah and the Whale, Biblical Grace, Christian Podcast, Gospel of Jesus, Mercy of God, Spiritual Growth, Overcoming Despair, Bible Study, Salvation, Religious Performance vs. Faith.

When Heaven Comes Home: The Radiant Promise of Our Eternal Worth is a hope-filled journey through the final vision of Scripture, exploring what it truly means for Christ to return and for God to dwell with His people forever.

This episode looks beyond end-times speculation and taps into the deeper longing behind the question “When are You coming back?”—the ache for home, permanence, and restored worth. Walking through Revelation 21–22, we see not an escape from the world, but the renewal of it: a new heaven and new earth where Eden is not merely recovered, but perfected.

You’ll hear how Scripture describes a future with no death, mourning, pain, shame, or separation—where our worth is no longer something we defend or prove, but something fully realized in the unbroken presence of God. We explore the beauty and symbolism of the New Jerusalem, the absence of the temple, the river of life flowing from God’s throne, and the return of the Tree of Life—open, generous, and healing.

This episode also speaks to the tension of living between the already and the not yet. How do we endure suffering, grief, and uncertainty now? By anchoring our worth not in circumstances, productivity, or success—but in what is coming. The promise that Christ is making all things new changes how we live, hope, and remain faithful today.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, disposable, restless, or homesick for something you can’t fully name, this message is for you. The Bible doesn’t end in fear—it ends in hope, with a prayer and a promise:

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Your worth was given at the cross, revealed in the resurrection, and will be fully realized when heaven comes home.

christourcornerstonechurch.com

Week 3 of our Advent Series - The Soul Felt its Worth

What gives your life worth when the darkness feels heavy, joy feels distant, and hope feels fragile?

In this Advent sermon from Isaiah 9:1–7, we explore the stunning promise that God sent light into the darkest places—and that He began His work where no one expected. Long before Bethlehem, Isaiah foretold a Savior whose coming would restore worth to the overlooked, joy to the burdened, and peace to the restless soul.

In this message, you’ll discover:

• How Christ’s light destroys real darkness—not just metaphorical gloom
• Why joy is not something we manufacture, but something Christ delivers
• What the divine titles of Jesus—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—reveal about His worth and ours
• How the kingdom of Christ is already at work today, and how its fullness is still to come
• Why Advent is about both present hope and future restoration

Whether you feel spiritually weary, burdened by shame, or longing for what is still “not yet,” this message reminds us that Christ has come—and He is coming again. His worth is real, present, and eternal.

Perfect for listeners searching for: Advent sermons, Isaiah 9 sermons, Christmas messages, Christian hope, biblical theology, gospel-centered preaching, and messages about joy, peace, and restoration.

This message takes us back to the very beginning of our broken story to discover the first whisper of hope. In Genesis 3:15, we encounter what scholars call the 'proto-evangelium'—the first gospel—where God promises that the serpent who deceived humanity will one day be crushed. This isn't just ancient history; it's the foundation of our redemption story. We see God immediately responding to humanity's fall not with abandonment, but with a promise of restoration. The moment Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, God showed them something profound: their self-made coverings would never be enough. Instead, God Himself provided garments of skin, requiring the first sacrifice, the first shedding of blood. This powerful image foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice to come. Throughout the Old Testament, we see this pattern repeated—from Abel's offering to the Passover lamb, from David striking Goliath's head to Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant. Every sacrifice, every victory, every prophecy points forward to the One who would finally and fully restore our worth. The exile from Eden wasn't just punishment; it was mercy, preventing humanity from being eternally trapped in brokenness. We cannot create our own Eden or restore ourselves, but the beauty of Advent is that God crossed the distance we could never cross. Our souls ache because we are east of Eden, and Advent is God's answer to that longing.

In today’s Mailbag Episode, we tackle three big questions every Christian—new or seasoned—faces:

• Who exactly is Melchizedek—and could he have been Jesus?
• What does Ephesians 4:30 mean when it says not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”?
• And what should new believers do when all their friends are unbelievers? Should you get new friends?

This episode walks through Genesis 14, Psalm 110, Hebrews 7, and Ephesians 4 with clear, practical teaching. You’ll learn why Melchizedek matters for understanding Jesus’ priesthood, what it really means to grieve the Holy Spirit, and how to navigate friendships wisely as you grow in your faith.

Whether you’re a new Christian or just curious about Scripture, this episode gives biblical clarity, real-life wisdom, and encouragement for the journey.

Keywords: Melchizedek explained, was Melchizedek Jesus, who is Melchizedek, grieve the Holy Spirit meaning, Ephesians 4:30 explained, new Christian friendships, unbelieving friends, how to follow Jesus, Christian podcast, Bible teaching.

christourcornerstonechurch.com

logandmerrick@gmail.com