Worship Comes First - 1 Chronicles 5:18–6:81 | July 8, 2026
Release Date: 07/08/2026
Finding Contentment in God Alone - Psalm 16:1-11 | July 20, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a conversation about the "little gods" that quietly compete for first place in our hearts, and what it means to find true contentment in the Lord. Scripture Focus: Psalm 16:1-11 - David's psalm of satisfaction and security in God, rejecting other gods and resting in the Lord's constant presence. In This Episode: How everyday things, even good ones, can become "little g" gods Why healthy boundaries protect our relationship with God Living in daily awareness of God's presence, not just belief in it Breaking...
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Wages vs. Gift: How Grace Justifies the Ungodly - Romans 4:1-12 | July 17, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story! Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for a rich conversation in Romans 4:1-12, exploring the difference between wages and gifts, and what it means to be justified by faith rather than works. Scripture Focus: Romans 4:1-12 - Paul defends the doctrine of justification by faith, using Abraham as his central example. He shows that Abraham was credited righteousness through faith before he was circumcised, proving that God's grace has never depended on religious ritual or performance, for Jew or Gentile...
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Justification by Faith: How Grace Levels the Playing Field - Romans 3:9-31 | July 16, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream for today's conversation through Romans 3:9-31, one of the most pivotal passages in all of Scripture. As Romans turns from exposing human sinfulness to declaring the way of justification, this episode unpacks what it means that righteousness comes not through the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture Focus: Romans 3:9-31 - Paul builds his case that all people, Jew and Gentile alike, stand guilty before God, then reveals the solution: justification by faith apart from the works of the law. This passage is...
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Circumcision of the Heart, Assurance, and God's Faithfulness - Romans 2:25 –3:8 | July 15, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome back to One Single Story! Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream as they dig into Romans 2:25 through 3:8, wrestling with what it really means to belong to God — is it about outward religious markers, or a genuine transformation of the heart? This episode tackles heart transformation versus behavior modification, the assurance of our relationship with God, and the philosophical puzzle of whether our sin somehow gives God more glory. Scripture Focus: Romans 2:25-3:8 - Paul confronts the Jewish reliance on circumcision as a badge of identity,...
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Why We Judge Others to Justify Our Own Sin - Romans 2:1-24 | July 14, 2026
One Single Story
Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream open Romans 2, exploring why we judge others' sins to excuse our own, how God's patience is meant to lead us to repentance, and how our hypocrisy shapes the world's view of God. Scripture Focus: Romans 2:1-24 - Paul confronts the self-righteous, warning that knowing the law doesn't exempt anyone from its standard. In This Episode: Why we deflect from our own sin by pointing at others "Big rock" sins vs. quieter internal sins like pride and envy Mistaking God's patience for approval How hypocrisy in leaders damages God's...
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When Truth Gets Suppressed - Romans 1:18-32 | July 13, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to another episode of One Single Story! Host Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Alyssa Bream for a thought-provoking discussion on Romans 1:18-32, exploring what it means to suppress the truth of God and the subtle ways we trade the Creator's glory for idols of our own making. Scripture Focus: Romans 1:18-32 - Paul lays the theological foundation for the book of Romans with a sobering indictment of human sin. In this passage, he explains how people willfully suppress the truth about God despite creation making His existence obvious, and describes...
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Unseen Servants - 1 Chronicles 9:1 – 10:14 | July 10, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski as they close out this week's conversation on 1 Chronicles 9 and 10. Together they unpack the quiet, unseen work of gatekeepers and doorkeepers in God's house, the tragic downfall of King Saul, and how God uses painful leadership transitions to make room for what He wants to do next. Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 9:1 – 10:14 - This passage closes out the genealogical prologue of Chronicles, highlighting the temple gatekeepers who guarded access to God's house and the various servants who supported temple...
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Grief, Family, and God's Grace - 1 Chronicles 7:1 – 8:40 | July 9, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for today's edition of One Single Story as they walk through 1 Chronicles 7-8. In this raw and honest conversation, the hosts explore grief and mourning, the complexity of family dynamics, God's covenant faithfulness in the middle of human brokenness, and how different gifts and strengths work together to build up the local church. Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 7:1 – 8:40 - These chapters trace the genealogies of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher, pausing to record Ephraim's grief over...
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Worship Comes First - 1 Chronicles 5:18–6:81 | July 8, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to today's edition of One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a conversation about short-term faithfulness, why worship must be the centerpiece of church culture, and why the Levites never received a plot of land of their own. Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81 - This passage covers the military victories of the eastern tribes before pivoting to their eventual exile due to spiritual adultery, then shifts into a detailed account of the tribe of Levi, mapping out the priests, temple musicians, and cities allocated...
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The Danger of Settling: Reuben, Jabez, and God's Promises - 1 Chronicles 4:5–5:17 | July 7, 2026
One Single Story
Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a conversation through 1 Chronicles 4-5, exploring the line between godly ambition and worldly greed, and the quiet danger of settling for what's comfortable. Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 4:5–5:17 - Jabez's famous prayer, Reuben's forfeited birthright, and the eastern tribes' choice to settle short of the Promised Land. In This Episode: Reuben's costly choice and its ripple effect on future generations Jabez and why our pain never limits what God can do Discerning godly expansion from worldly...
info_outlineWelcome to today's edition of One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a conversation about short-term faithfulness, why worship must be the centerpiece of church culture, and why the Levites never received a plot of land of their own.
Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 5:18-6:81 - This passage covers the military victories of the eastern tribes before pivoting to their eventual exile due to spiritual adultery, then shifts into a detailed account of the tribe of Levi, mapping out the priests, temple musicians, and cities allocated to them throughout Israel.
In This Episode:
- Why continued obedience matters more than past victories, and why we're often most vulnerable right after a win
- The contrast between God answering Israel's prayers in battle and their later exile for unfaithfulness
- How true faith is a daily, lifelong endeavor rather than a single moment of crisis-driven decision
- Why worship and spiritual leadership must be prioritized over administrative structure and programming in the church
- The tension between spiritual passion and godly structure, and how both are needed to protect against abuse and manipulation
- The strategic reason the Levites were scattered among the other tribes instead of given their own territory
- How dependence on the obedience of others shaped the Levites' ministry and kept them from self-reliance
Key Quote: "We cry out in crisis, but we compromise in comfort."
About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast that walks through the One Year Bible reading plan, offering brief, practical lessons drawn from each day's Scripture reading. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, each episode brings together different voices for an honest, conversational look at how God's Word applies to everyday life and faith.
Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com.
Subscribe to One Single Story so you never miss a daily devotional. Join us every weekday as we dig into Scripture together, one story at a time.
Coming This Week: Join us as we continue journeying through First Chronicles this week, uncovering more of the genealogies, worship structures, and spiritual lessons woven throughout Israel's history that still speak to the church today.
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