What if the breath in your lungs is more than biology—it’s a sign of a grace that preceded your first thought and outlasts your best effort? We open John 1 and dwell on the staggering claim that the Word who spoke creation into being is the same Jesus who walked among us, full of grace and truth. The Logos isn’t an abstract idea or secret knowledge; He is personal, eternal, and creative, and His light still presses into today’s darkness.

We follow the thread from Genesis and the Psalms to the prologue of John: God’s speech makes worlds, orders storms, and lights the path of the faithful. Pastor Carl shows how this light is not just information but illumination that changes lives—and why so many fail to grasp it. Enter John the Baptist, the witness who points away from himself, preparing hearts to receive the One who comes after yet existed before. His humility and courage recast what true ministry looks like: directional, costly, and clear.

From there we wrestle with a vital distinction: bearing God’s image grants human dignity, but becoming God’s children belongs to those who receive and believe in Jesus. The Word became flesh confronts both ancient Gnostic errors and modern detachment, revealing a Savior who weeps, confronts injustice, loves outcasts, and embodies truth as a living presence. Grace upon grace doesn’t erase the law; it fulfills it, welcoming us into a relationship where truth frees and grace sustains. Join us as we seek deeper fellowship with the One who made us, saves us, and still holds all things together.

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Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.

A roll call of names becomes a roadmap for modern faith. We close our journey through Romans by meeting the often-overlooked servants of chapter 16—people like Hermas, Julia, Jason, Tertius, and Erastus—whose ordinary obedience carried the gospel through homes, cities, and social barriers. Their stories show how grace gathers a diverse family and assigns real purpose to every role, from hosting a house church to writing a letter by hand.

Then comes Paul’s sharp, loving warning: watch out for those who divide and teach a message that bends away from Christ. Smooth words and flattering tones can sound spiritual while hollowing out the cross. We unpack how to practice biblical discernment without sliding into suspicion, how to walk patiently with teachable believers, and when to step away from voices that refuse correction. The key is simple and searching—become wise in what is good. Like a bank teller trained on genuine currency, we learn the real thing so well that counterfeits lose their charm.

Anchoring it all is the promise and power of God: the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet, and the grace of Jesus will establish us. We reflect on the final benediction, the revealed mystery of the gospel for all nations, and why eternity clarifies our choices now. If you’ve ever wondered how a church stays united, guards the non-negotiable gospel, and still practices warm affection within its culture, this conversation offers both conviction and comfort.

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Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.

What if the most powerful ministry in your city is happening around kitchen tables and shop benches rather than stages? We walk through Romans 16 and watch a roll call of ordinary people—business owners, freedwomen, civil servants, travelers—carry the gospel across Rome. The theme threading it all together is simple and weighty: every believer is a priest, approved in Christ, and called to represent Him where they stand.

We start with Phoebe, a trusted leader who hand-delivers Paul’s letter and builds her business in Rome while serving the church. From there we reconnect with Priscilla and Aquila—the tentmaking couple who risked their lives and opened their home for a congregation—showing how vocation can fund mission and hospitality can become a sanctuary. Names become stories: Andronicus and Junia, noted among the apostles; Ampliatus and Stachys tied to Caesar’s household; Urbanus the slave; Persis who labored much; Rufus, likely the son of Simon who carried Jesus’ cross; Hermas with a redeemed name and a writer’s pen. Each person widens the map of grace, proving that the gospel levels status and multiplies influence through faithful presence.

Along the way we press into practical takeaways. Real unity looks like culture-shaped affection and concrete support—housing travelers, resourcing callings, and honoring quiet labor. Real discernment means marking teaching that adds requirements to grace or rebuilds walls the cross tore down. And real mission happens in public roles too, as believers act as salt and light within civic life, work, and neighborhood networks. If you’ve ever doubted your place because your stage seems small, Romans 16 invites you to see your ordinary obedience as part of God’s extraordinary plan.

Listen to be encouraged, challenged, and re-centered on the gospel that approves and sends you. If this conversation helped you see your calling with fresh eyes, follow the show, share it with a friend who serves behind the scenes, and leave a review with the name of an unsung saint you want to honor.

Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.