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Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove

Written by: Tim Shapley and John Howell
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 Welcome to Walnut Grove, your spiritual haven for insightful sermons and engaging Bible study! Immerse yourself in the wisdom of the scriptures as we explore the profound teachings of the Bible. Our podcast is dedicated to nurturing your faith and deepening your understanding of the Word.

Join us each week as we deliver powerful sermons that inspire, motivate, and provide practical guidance for navigating life’s journey. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, a sense of community, or simply a deeper connection with your faith, Walnut Grove is here to support you on your spiritual path.

Our Bible study sessions go beyond surface interpretations, delving into the historical context, cultural nuances, and timeless lessons found in the scriptures. Discover the relevance of biblical teachings to your everyday life and gain valuable insights that will empower you to live with purpose and grace.

Hosted by passionate and knowledgeable Rev. Timothy (Tim) Shapley, Walnut Grove is committed to creating a welcoming space for individuals of all backgrounds and levels of faith. Tune in, engage with the teachings, and let the transformative power of the Bible guide you on your journey of spiritual growth.

Subscribe to Walnut Grove today and embark on a fulfilling exploration of the scriptures that will deepen your connection with God and enrich your spiritual life.Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality True Crime
Episodes
  • Message: trusting God When You Don’t Understand

    Message: trusting God When You Don’t Understand
    Jan 25 2026

    Sermon Date: 01/25/2026

    Bible Verses:

    • Various

    Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

    Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new

    Introduction: We Want Control, God Wants Trust

    We live in an age of planning, predicting, and protecting ourselves.

    We track. We insure. We analyze. We worry.

    And when life still goes sideways, we ask the same question in different forms: “Why didn’t this work?” “What did I miss?” “How do I fix this?”

    Scripture doesn’t shame those questions—but it does redirect them.

    God does not promise us full explanations. He promises His faithfulness.

    And the call of Scripture is not: figure everything out— It is: trust Me.

    Point One: Trust the Lord — Not Yourself

    Proverbs 3:5–6

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

    This passage does not say understanding is bad. It says understanding is limited.

    The problem isn’t that we think—it’s that we lean.

    To lean is to put your weight on something. To depend on it to hold you up.

    And Scripture is blunt: Your understanding cannot carry the weight of your life.

    God does not ask for partial trust. Not 80%. Not trust-until-it-hurts. Not trust-until-it-costs.

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”

    That includes:

    • The unanswered prayer
    • The confusing diagnosis
    • The broken relationship
    • The closed door you were sure God would open

    And notice the promise:

    “He will make straight your paths.”

    Not easy paths. Not pain-free paths. But directed paths.

    Trust does not eliminate uncertainty. It anchors you inside it.

    ✦ Faith is not knowing where God is taking you—it’s knowing who is taking you.

    Point Two: Perfect Peace Comes From a Fixed Mind

    Isaiah 26:3

    “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

    Perfect peace does not come from perfect circumstances.

    It comes from a focused mind.

    The Hebrew phrase here is literally “peace, peace”—complete, settled, guarded peace.

    But notice the condition:

    “Whose mind is stayed on You.”

    Stayed means:

    • Anchored
    • Held
    • Fixed
    • Refusing to wander

    An anxious mind rehearses fear. A trusting mind rehearses truth.

    Peace is not pretending things aren’t hard. Peace is choosing where your thoughts live.

    This verse does not say:

    • God keeps everyone in peace
    • God keeps the distracted in peace
    • God keeps the panicked in peace

    It says He keeps the trusting in peace.

    ✦ Peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of trust.

    Point Three: Cast Your Cares — Don’t Carry What God Invites You to Release

    1 Peter 5:7

    “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

    This verse assumes something important:

    You have anxieties.

    God is not surprised by them. He is not disappointed by them. He invites you to throw them on Him.

    Casting is not gently setting down. It’s not managing stress. It’s not spiritual stoicism.

    Casting is forceful release.

    Why?

    Because you were never meant to carry what only God can handle.

    And here’s the reason—simple, profound, and deeply personal:

    “Because He cares for you.”

    Not vaguely. Not theoretically. Not generally.

    You.

    Your worries matter because you matter to God.

    ✦ God does not ask you to trust Him blindly—He asks you to trust Him relationally.

    Putting It All Together

    Proverbs tells us where to place our trust. Isaiah tells us what trust produces. Peter tells us how trust is practiced.

    • Trust the Lord fully
    • Fix your mind on Him continually
    • Cast your cares on Him honestly

    This is not a one-time decision. It is a daily posture.

    Sometimes hourly. Sometimes moment by moment.

    Trust is not passive—it is practiced.

    Conclusion: Let God Carry What You Cannot

    You don’t have to understand everything. You don’t have to control everything. You don’t have to carry everything.

    God is not asking you to figure life out. He is asking you to trust Him with it.

    ✦ What you release to God is not lost—it is secured.
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    26 mins
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 81: Study Three: The Eight Beatitudes (Part Two)

    The Weekly Show - Episode 81: Study Three: The Eight Beatitudes (Part Two)
    Jan 22 2026
    Join Tim and John as they study the last Four Beatitudes. Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/ Introduction to the Last Four Beatitudes If the first four Beatitudes describe the heart of a disciple, the last four describe the life of a disciple—how a transformed heart expresses itself in a broken world. These final Beatitudes show what happens when the inner work of God overflows into outward relationships, attitudes, and actions. The progression is intentional: A person who knows they need God (poor in spirit), Who grieves their sin (mourning), Who surrenders their pride (meekness), And who longs for God’s righteousness… …will naturally begin to treat others in a radically different way. The last four Beatitudes describe this outward expression: Merciful — We respond to others with compassion. Pure in heart — We pursue integrity and sincerity before God. Peacemakers — We work to heal and reconcile. Persecuted for righteousness — We endure suffering with joy because our hope is in eternity. These final four Beatitudes form the fruit of kingdom character. They show: How kingdom people love the weak How they pursue holiness How they heal relationships How they stand firm when opposition comes While the world honors power, comfort, and success, Jesus honors: Mercy Purity Peacemaking Perseverance These are the unmistakable marks of a disciple who is becoming like Christ. The first four Beatitudes shape who we are. The last four shape how we live. Together, they form the full portrait of the flourishing life in God’s kingdom—a life only Jesus can create in us. 5. Mercy for the Merciful Jesus shifts from the inward transformation of the first four Beatitudes to the outward expression of a changed heart: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 This Beatitude reveals something essential about kingdom people: Those who have received mercy become people who give mercy. What Is Mercy? Mercy is compassion expressed in action. It is kindness toward those in misery, sin, weakness, or need. Mercy means: Not giving people what they deserve Offering forgiveness instead of revenge Showing patience instead of harshness Helping the weak instead of ignoring them Being moved by compassion rather than judgment Where grace gives us what we don’t deserve, mercy withholds what we do deserve. Why Are Kingdom People Merciful? Because they know firsthand what it feels like to need mercy. When you know that God has: forgiven your offenses, carried your shame, healed your wounds, lifted your burdens, and shown compassion in your failure, it becomes much harder to withhold mercy from others. Mercy is the overflow of a forgiven heart. What Mercy Looks Like in Everyday Life Merciful people: Forgive quickly Assume the best Help the hurting Love the weak Care for the outcast Show patience with annoying people Give generously Pray for those who wrong them Treat others the way God treated them Mercy is not weakness—it is strength governed by compassion. A Word of Warning: The Opposite of Mercy Mercy stands in stark contrast to: a harsh spirit a judgmental attitude an unforgiving heart a desire to see others "get what they deserve" indifference toward suffering Jesus repeatedly warns against becoming a “merciless disciple.” Nothing contradicts the heart of the kingdom more than receiving God’s mercy but refusing to show it. The Promise: “They Shall Receive Mercy.” This promise works in two ways: 1. We Experience God’s Ongoing Mercy Here and Now God continually pours mercy into the lives of those who extend it to others. This doesn’t mean we earn mercy— it means we walk in the stream of mercy that God delights to give. 2. We Will Experience God’s Final Mercy in the Last Day At the judgment, God will show mercy to those whose lives demonstrated mercy. Not because their mercy saved them, but because their mercy proved they were saved. Mercy is evidence of genuine faith. The Christlike Example Jesus is the ultimate picture of mercy. He touched lepers. He wept with the grieving. He forgave sinners. He restored the broken. He prayed for His executioners. He bore our sin on the cross. No one is more merciful than Jesus. So when Jesus calls His followers to mercy, He’s calling them to reflect His heart. The Good News The kingdom belongs to people who know they have been forgiven much and therefore love much. God says to the merciful: “The mercy you give will never outgrow the mercy you receive.” In God’s kingdom, mercy is a two-way street, and no one who walks it will ever walk alone. 6. The Pure in Heart See God Jesus moves deeper into the inner life of His disciples with one of the most breathtaking promises in all of Scripture: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 This Beatitude reaches ...
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Three - The Holy Spirit

    Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Three - The Holy Spirit
    Jan 19 2026
    Sermon Date: 01/18/2026 Bible Verses: Various Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new Introduction: The Most Misunderstood Line in the Creed When we say “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” many people get uncomfortable. Some think of emotional excess. Some think of strange behavior. Some think of vague spiritual feelings. Others quietly think, “I believe in God the Father… I believe in Jesus Christ… but the Spirit feels fuzzy.” But the Holy Spirit is not an optional add-on to Christianity. He is not the background music of faith. He is not a force, a vibe, or a spiritual mood. The Holy Spirit is God present with and within His people. Christianity does not function without the Spirit. Without Him, we have information but no transformation, belief without power, obedience without strength. That’s why the Creed insists we say it out loud: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” Point One: The Holy Spirit Is God With Us — and In Us Jesus promised the Spirit before the cross: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper… the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15–17) Jesus calls Him Helper—not a substitute Savior, but God’s own presence continuing Christ’s work in us. The Spirit is not less God than the Father or the Son. He is fully God—personal, active, and intentional. Paul presses this truth home: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) That means God no longer dwells in buildings made by hands. He dwells in His people. Christian belief says: God walked among us in ChristGod now lives within us by the Spirit You are not spiritually alone. You are not abandoned. You are not expected to follow Jesus by sheer willpower. ✦ The Christian life is not lived for God—it is lived with God. Point Two: The Holy Spirit Helps Us When We Are Weak One of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture is this: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26) Notice what that assumes: we are weak. The Holy Spirit is not given because we are strong—but because we are not. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us. When we don’t have the words, the Spirit carries our groans to the Father. When faith feels thin, the Spirit sustains it. The Spirit is not disappointed by your weakness. He was sent because of it. ✦ Grace does not eliminate weakness—it meets us inside it. Point Three: The Holy Spirit Empowers the Church for Witness Jesus was clear: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) The Spirit does not exist to make Christians strange. He exists to make Christ known. Power in Scripture is not about control or spectacle—it is about faithful witness. The Holy Spirit: Gives courage where there is fearGives clarity where there is confusionGives boldness where there is hesitation The early church did not grow because it was impressive. It grew because the Spirit made ordinary people faithful. ✦ The Spirit’s power is not about drawing attention to us—but to Jesus. Point Four: The Holy Spirit Produces Obedience from Love, Not Fear Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) And then immediately promised the Spirit. Why? Because obedience without the Spirit becomes legalism. And love without obedience becomes sentimentality. The Holy Spirit bridges the gap. Paul says: “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5) The Spirit does not just tell us what God wants—He reshapes our desires so we begin to want what God wants. Obedience becomes response, not pressure. Holiness becomes joy, not burden. ✦ The Spirit changes us from the inside out. Point Five: The Holy Spirit Makes Faith Personal and Present Jesus said the world cannot receive the Spirit—but believers can: “He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) That means Christianity is not merely historical—it is present tense. The Spirit convictsThe Spirit comfortsThe Spirit teachesThe Spirit remindsThe Spirit sanctifies The Holy Spirit is the reason belief doesn’t stay theoretical. He is the reason the Creed moves from words to life. ✦ What Christ accomplished, the Spirit applies. Conclusion: Belief That Breathes To say “I believe in the Holy Spirit” is to confess that God has not left us to figure this out alone. The Father planned salvation. The Son accomplished salvation. The Spirit applies salvation—daily, personally, powerfully. Belief in the Spirit means: You are not alone in your obedienceYou are not abandoned in your sufferingYou are not powerless in your witness The Christian life is not self-improvement. It is Spirit-dependence.
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    26 mins
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