He Delights in Us - Psalm 18:16 -36 | July 23, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a heartfelt conversation on Psalm 18:16-36, exploring what it means to be rescued by God not out of obligation, but because He genuinely delights in us. This episode digs into the difference between obedience born from fear and obedience born from love, and what it looks like to stand firm when life gets unstable. Scripture Focus: Psalm 18:16-36 - David shifts from recounting his physical rescue from deep waters to a personal declaration of integrity, righteousness, and trust in God. This section highlights God...
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Crying Out in Crisis - Psalm 18:1-15 | July 22, 2026
One Single Story
Welcome to One Single Story! Today, host Pastor Stephen Mizell and Pastor Jay Rivenbark are joined by Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a powerful conversation through Psalm 18:1-15, exploring the many names David gives to God, the intensity of crying out in crisis, and what it means to know God as multi-dimensional rather than distant. Scripture Focus: Psalm 18:1-15 - A psalm of David, written after his deliverance from Saul and all his adversaries. David responds to God's rescue not with a quick thank you, but with an overwhelming, intentional outpouring of praise, worship, and adoration. In...
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Guarding Your Heart from Worldly Wealth - Psalm 17:1-15 | July 21, 2026
One Single Story
Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for today's edition of One Single Story as they dig into Psalm 17:1-15, David's urgent prayer for vindication in the face of ruthless enemies. The conversation explores what it means to invite God to examine our hearts, why integrity requires ongoing internal scrutiny, and how believers can guard against chasing worldly wealth instead of resting in God's presence. Scripture Focus: Psalm 17:1-15 - A high-tension petition from David, written while he feels surrounded by prideful and ruthless people. David asks God to...
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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...
info_outlineJoin Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a heartfelt conversation on Psalm 18:16-36, exploring what it means to be rescued by God not out of obligation, but because He genuinely delights in us. This episode digs into the difference between obedience born from fear and obedience born from love, and what it looks like to stand firm when life gets unstable.
Scripture Focus: Psalm 18:16-36 - David shifts from recounting his physical rescue from deep waters to a personal declaration of integrity, righteousness, and trust in God. This section highlights God making David's feet "as sure as the feet of a deer" even in high, treacherous places.
In This Episode:
- Why David's declarations of blamelessness reflect a heart postured toward God, not sinless perfection
- The difference between fearing punishment and being motivated by knowing God delights in you
- How childhood teaching about conditional love can create insecurity in our relationship with God
- Untangling the tension between "God loves you no matter what" and the reality that intimacy with Him requires repentance
- What spiritual stability looks like when leading through volatile or uncertain seasons
- Practical convictions that keep our feet steady on slippery spiritual ground
Key Quote: "You should stop trying to hold yourself up through your own grit and rest in the hand that is currently supporting your weight, and that is the Almighty God."
About One Single Story: One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast offering a brief, practical lesson from that day's reading in the One Year Bible. Hosted by the pastoral team at Open Door Church, each episode is designed to help listeners connect Scripture to everyday life through honest, conversational Bible study.
Open Door Church is located in Edenton, North Carolina. Learn more at visitopendoor.com and explore more episodes at onesinglestory.com.
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Coming This Week: Stay tuned as we continue walking through the One Year Bible reading plan, with fresh daily conversations on Scripture, faith, and how to live it out in real life.
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