Why Jesus Waited: Lazarus, Grief, and the Bigger Picture - John 11:1-54 | May 20, 2026
Release Date: 05/20/2026
Why Jesus Waited: Lazarus, Grief, and the Bigger Picture - John 11:1-54 | May 20, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, the weekday podcast where we open the Word of God and draw out lessons from the One Year Bible reading plan. Today we are in John chapter 11 -- the raising of Lazarus -- and we are talking about why Jesus delayed, what his authority over death really means, and whether grief and faith can coexist in the same heart at the same time. Scripture Focus: John 11 -- Jesus intentionally waits before going to Bethany. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. What follows is a stunning display of Christ's power over death -- and a window into his...
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The Claim That Changes Everything - John 10:22-42 | May 19, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, where each weekday Pastor Stephen Mizell and Jay Rivenbark and guest host sit down with one passage from the One Year Bible. Today Pastor Sheryl Daughety and the hosts dig into John 10:22-42, where Jesus declares "the Father and I are one" — one of the boldest claims to deity in all of Scripture — and the fierce reactions that follow. Scripture Focus: John 10:22-42 - Jesus claims unity with the Father, defends his identity through his works, and divides every listener into one of two camps. In This Episode: Why Jesus' claim to deity makes neutrality...
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The Good Shepherd - John 10:1-21 | May 18, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, your weekday guide through the One Year Bible. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a conversation from John 10, exploring Jesus as the Good Shepherd, what it truly means to hear his voice, and how his leadership differs from anything the world has to offer. Scripture Focus: John 10:1-21 - Jesus fulfills the Old Testament promise of a true shepherd, contrasting himself with leaders who exploit rather than serve. In This Episode: What it means to recognize Jesus's voice in a world full of imitations Why...
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David and Goliath: Redefining Strength - 1 Samuel 17:1–18:4 | May 15, 2026
One Single Story
Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for the May 15th edition of One Single Story. Today's discussion centers on David and Goliath — and what it truly means to face overwhelming odds with faith instead of fear. Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 17:1 - 18:4 — Young David steps forward to face the Philistine giant Goliath while the entire army of Israel stands paralyzed, and what follows in the aftermath of his remarkable victory. In This Episode: Why David's confidence came from a history of faithfulness, built through past battles with a lion and a...
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Partial Obedience, The Heart, and Why God Chose David - 1 Samuel 15:1–16:23 | May 14, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, the weekday podcast where Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream walk through the One Year Bible one passage at a time. Today we are in 1 Samuel 15 and 16, where Saul's partial obedience costs him the kingdom -- and an overlooked shepherd boy is quietly anointed as Israel's next king. Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 15-16 -- Saul's rejection and David's anointing. In This Episode: Why partial obedience is still disobedience -- and how we rationalize our way around what God clearly asks Saul's fall from humility to self-glorification,...
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What Jonathan and Saul Teach Us About Trusting God - 1 Samuel 14:1-52 | May 13, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to the May 13th edition of One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for a look at one of Scripture's sharpest leadership contrasts -- Jonathan's fearless faith against Saul's fear-driven control in 1 Samuel 14. Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 14:1-52 -- Jonathan leads his armor bearer in an uphill assault on a Philistine garrison that should have been military suicide. Meanwhile, Saul's rash oath forbidding his troops from eating nearly destroys the very army God just used to win the battle. In This Episode: * Why Jonathan didn't tell...
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The Danger of Impatience - 1 Samuel 12:1–13:23 | May 12, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for today's reading in 1 Samuel 12 and 13, where we explore the danger of impatience and what happens when pressure pushes us ahead of God. Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 12-13 - King Saul, facing enemy threats and a restless army, takes matters into his own hands rather than waiting on God. In This Episode: Why religious activity and genuine obedience are not the same thing How pressure reveals where we truly place our trust What Saul's impatience cost him and what it teaches...
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Humble Beginnings and the Promise of Leadership - 1 Samuel 10:1–11:15 | May 11, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for today's weekday devotional from the One Year Bible. In this episode, the team explores Saul's early reign in 1 Samuel 10-11:15, unpacking what humble beginnings, divine confirmation, and unified purpose look like in the life of a leader called by God. Scripture Focus: 1 Samuel 10-11:15 - Samuel anoints Saul as Israel's first king, confirms his calling through a sequence of signs, and Saul leads a unified Israel to victory over the Ammonites. In This Episode: How...
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Peace, Envy & Caring for the Poor - Proverbs 14:30-31 | May 8, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story, the weekday devotional podcast where Pastor Stephen Mizell and co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski walk through the One Year Bible together. Today we are in Proverbs 14:30-31, exploring the power of a peaceful heart, the danger of envy, and what it means to honor God by caring for the poor. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 14:30-31 - Solomon contrasts the life-giving nature of peace with the destructive rot of jealousy, and ties our treatment of the poor directly to how we honor our Creator. In This Episode: Why a peaceful heart produces real...
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Leadership, Self-Control & the Power of Character - Proverbs 14:28-29 | May 7, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story. I'm Pastor Stephen Mizell, joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski. Today we are in Proverbs 14:28-29, where Solomon ties a leader's influence directly to their self-control - and warns that a hot temper is a mark of foolishness, not strength. We discuss why patience creates the space for wisdom, how anger narrows your perspective and leads to decisions you will regret, and why character - not charisma - is what keeps a leader in the room long-term. "Charisma opens a lot of doors. Character lets you stay in the room." One Single Story is a...
info_outlineWelcome to One Single Story, the weekday podcast where we open the Word of God and draw out lessons from the One Year Bible reading plan. Today we are in John chapter 11 -- the raising of Lazarus -- and we are talking about why Jesus delayed, what his authority over death really means, and whether grief and faith can coexist in the same heart at the same time.
Scripture Focus: John 11 -- Jesus intentionally waits before going to Bethany. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. What follows is a stunning display of Christ's power over death -- and a window into his full humanity, including grief, anger, and compassion.
In This Episode:
- Why Jesus delayed, and what it reveals about God's timing and purpose
- Jesus's emotional response at the tomb -- his anger and anguish -- and what it means that he felt deeply and still stayed in control
- The contrasting responses of Martha and Mary, and how our personalities shape the way we handle crisis
- How grief and faith are not mutually exclusive -- and why God prioritizes revelation over relief
Key Quote: "I don't think faith eliminates sorrow. It reframes it -- puts it in a different light."
One Single Story is a daily weekday podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Subscribe wherever you listen, and join us tomorrow for the next conversation around the Word of God.
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