A Moment of Hope

Begin your day with a "Moment of Hope." This podcast is a compliment to David and Marilynn's weekday devotional - providing deeper insights and encouragement. Featuring Jenn Houston.

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Awe and Wonder 12/19/2025

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Awe and Wonder by David Chadwick “And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.” Luke 1:65-66. When Zechariah’s voice returned, he started blessing God for all that had happened to him and Elizabeth. He was incredibly grateful for the birth of his child. The text goes on to tell us that all the neighbors were filled with fear. The “fear” talked about here is not dread or being afraid. On the contrary. It’s the awesome respect that one has for another. It’s a holy awe. This is what I felt toward my dad growing up. This large, godly man caused me to revere him in every way. Proverbs 1:6 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Our society and nation have forgotten the fear of the Lord. The reverence of God has become non-existent. To some, he is often treated as a best pal or buddy. For others, he is treated as a genie in a bottle to whom people only go to get their needs met. When God does a mighty work like miraculously bringing John the Baptist into the world, people are forced to come face to face with his divine grace and mercy. And the fear that this produces is good! It should make us want to love, serve, and worship our Daddy in heaven even more! When people thought about John and his arrival, they began to wonder about his future. “What would this child be?” They knew the hand of the Lord was upon John, and they could already sense it was for something great. They were right! This special child went on to be the forerunner for the life and ministry of Jesus, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5. John the Baptist was the beginning of the inauguration of God’s kingdom through Jesus. He would go on to baptize Jesus and point people to his earthly ministry. Find Jesus and you will find his kingdom. Find his kingdom and you will hunger to find your place in his story. You will hunger to see the kingdom of heaven come on earth as it is in heaven. His will is to give us glimpses of glory here on earth until the King named Jesus comes again! Awe and wonder filled the hearts of all who heard the news of John the Baptist’s birth. I pray that awe and wonder will swell in each of your hearts this Christmas season! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128125

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Words of Worship 12/18/2025

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, Words of Worship by David Chadwick When Zechariah wrote down, “His name is John,” for all to see and read, he obeyed in specificity all the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. At that moment, something significant happened. Let’s take a look. “And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God” (Luke 1:64). Immediately. What a powerful word! Not gradual, not slowly… immediately! Zechariah’s act of obedience led to his immediate breakthrough. At that moment, he was able to speak again. And the words that poured forth blessed the one true God. This might be one of my favorite stories in the Bible. The salvation of the Lord is so evident in the life of Zechariah. Did you notice how the last words spoken by Zechariah before becoming mute were words of unbelief and doubt, but the first words that he spoke after his tongue was loosened were words of faith that blessed God? Over the nine months of silence, Zechariah learned his lesson! His fear turned to faith. Words of doubt into words of praise. Words of unbelief became words of worship. His hesitation became dedication. What a profound transformation Zechariah had. He learned the power of words, praise, and worship. Because of Zechariah’s willingness to yield to the transformative work of God in his life, his words and his actions would never be the same. He would be forever marked by an experience with the awesome power of an awesome God. Zechariah had a deep appreciation for his prison of silence because it taught him to praise in ALL things. He understood like never before the power of his words. He learned to worship God no matter what the situation may be. From prison to praise. From silence to worship. This story shows the greatness of our God! This Christmas season, I would encourage you to practice praise. Learn to find words of worship. No matter what circumstance you find yourself in, choose to thank God. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128110

Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, His Name is John 12/17/2025

Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, His Name is John by David Chadwick The ultimate name of the Christmas story is born into a cradle. His name is Jesus. But there are many characters at the cradle who play significant roles in highlighting the Savior of the world. One, in particular, is the forerunner to the message of Jesus. His name is John. Luke 1:61-63 continues the story of John’s circumcision. Even though everyone thought this special baby would be named after his father, Gabriel instructed Zechariah to name him John. Because Zechariah was still mute, Elizabeth had just spoken up to tell everyone the name. No one who gathered for this special event understood. They said, “None of your relatives is called by this name” (Luke 1:61). Thinking Elizabeth was wrong, they turned to Zechariah and started to make signs to him, asking him if this was what he really wanted. Why is this so important? Because making signs implied that Zechariah was not only mute, but also could have been deaf! We don’t know for sure, but he clearly needed a sign language of sorts to understand what they were saying. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” I would imagine this is probably how Zechariah mostly had communicated with Elizabeth and others during these long nine months. After hearing from Zechariah himself, the people all wondered, “Why? How?” This suggests that they didn’t know what had happened in the temple with the angel Gabriel. It was apparently a secret between Zechariah and Elizabeth. What a beautiful nod to the sacredness of marriage. Sometimes there are secrets that only a husband and wife hold dear to their hearts. Can you imagine how Zechariah and Elizabeth communicated their hearts and expressed their faith to one another during those quiet nine months together? Maybe a longing look? A squeezed hand? A silent prayer together? They were one flesh, clinging to the goodness of God and claiming his promises together. A special love language was most assuredly forged between them! A language that most assuredly was imprinted on the heart of John even while growing in the womb You’ll have to join me tomorrow to see what happens next. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128105

Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, What’s His Name? 12/16/2025

Characters at the Cradle: John The Baptist, What’s His Name? by David Chadwick What’s in a name? There is power in a name. Meaning in a name. Purpose in a name. In Scripture, names often point to someone’s God-ordained purpose. Today, you will learn why John’s name was significant. After John was born, Zechariah and Elizabeth took him to be circumcised on the eighth day, as was the Jewish custom. This was also the time when the father would pronounce the name of the child. Often in biblical times, the child would be named after the father. This actually still happens a lot in today’s culture as well. So for John’s circumcision, everyone gathered on that day anticipating that this baby’s name would be Zechariah, after his daddy. Now remember, Zechariah is still without his voice. It’s been nine months since Gabriel closed Zechariah’s vocal cords, and not a word has been spoken in all these months. So it was Elizabeth who responded, “No; he shall be called John.” Somehow, Zechariah had clearly communicated with Elizabeth all that Gabriel had told him, including the fact that they were to name their son John. In that moment, Elizabeth communicated with precise obedience from all that Zechariah had been commanded to do. The name John means “God is gracious.” This name spoke prophetically to the fact that John would pave the way for the life of Jesus to grace this earth, a life that would forever change the course of history and the trajectory of the world. Do you get a sense as to why God chose Zechariah and Elizabeth to parent this special child named John? I believe it is because God knew that they had a heart of obedience to accomplish ALL that God would command them to do. A heart of obedience often precedes God’s gifts of miracles. This still holds true for us today. Do you have a heart of obedience? Do you desire to obey God in whatever he asks of you? I would encourage all of us to posture ourselves to be the kinds of people to whom he will entrust his plans. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128080

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, The Birth 12/15/2025

Characters at the Cradle: John the Baptist, The Birth by David Chadwick This week, we are going to look at another character at the cradle. Join me as we explore the birth of John the Baptist, found in Luke 1:57-66. We will start today by looking at verses 57 and 58. Elizabeth’s time to give birth has finally arrived! After her five months of hiddenness and Zechariah’s nine months of silence, the divine time for John to enter the world had arrived! Think about all that must have happened to Elizabeth over those nine months. Somehow, Zechariah figured out a way to tell her about Gabriel’s visit to him in the temple. The shock, the unbelief, the awe, the acceptance. You know there must have been a wide range of emotions. Then, as alluded to earlier, for five months, Elizabeth hid herself and spent time absorbing the magnitude of this news. After so many long years of praying and waiting, they would finally have a son. And oh, how great this son would be! Because Gabriel had shut Zechariah’s mouth after displaying unbelief, Elizabeth was left with a lot of time to ponder quietly during her pregnancy. She probably spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation. Then, if you remember, Elizabeth also had that special designated time with her cousin, Mary. When Mary visited Elizabeth, John leaped in her womb in the presence of Jesus. Even in the womb, John knew he was in the presence of the Son of God. It's yet another pro-life verse people should study. A child in the womb can leap for joy! When John was born, Elizabeth’s neighbors came and shared in her joy. They rejoiced in the Lord’s mercy toward her, giving her a child in old age, and ultimately removing the reproach of barrenness for her and Zechariah. JOY! It’s what they all experienced. One of the greatest producers of joy is answered prayer. In fact, the Bible says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). Think about the many answered prayers that you have seen take place in your life. As you do, let faith arise that God still may answer the deepest desires of your heart. Answered prayers always produce great joy. Have faith and continue to believe even before you have received the promise! This produces faith, which cannot be taken away. And this faith realized produces great joy! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128070

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, Let There be Praise 12/12/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, Let There be Praise by David Chadwick Let there be praise! While Mary’s Magnificat ends with verse 55, Luke 1:56 tells us what Mary did after she completed this psalm of praise. I often find that the practical action steps that follow a spiritual encounter are equally as important, if not more, than the encounter itself. It is important to put action behind our experiences. Mary did just that. The Bible says that Mary remained with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned to her home. What do you think happened in those three months? I can think of 3 things that I think happened. First, I think Mary prayed and worshiped God, soaking in his unfailing love. I think she probably reflected on the words that she cried out to God in “The Magnificat.” The magnitude of the story unfolding. The faithfulness of God through generations. Secondly, I think Mary processed with Elizabeth. If you remember, Elizabeth kept herself hidden for five months after finding out John was on the way. During that time, Elizabeth probably had times of worship and quiet reflection where she contemplated God’s mercy and grace. I’m sure she sat and reflected on all Gabriel had said to her husband, Zechariah. I can remember my Marilynn, after long years of waiting for a child, finally learning that our first baby was on the way. She spent hours in prayer, praise, and contemplation. As her belly grew, she would often rub her tummy and thank God. Sing praises. Quote Bible verses. Mary and Elizabeth probably also shared similar stories as they sat together in reflection. Can you imagine the conversations, prayer, and praise? The joy of sharing these two miracle stories? Possibly even writing things down to preserve the memories for generations to come. Whatever happened, I’m sure it was full of wonder. Third, I think Mary prepared her heart to return home. You can’t stay on a mountaintop experience forever. When God speaks, it requires action. She probably began to prepare a room in her heart before she ever had to prepare a room in that manger bed. Here’s one final thought. Do you think Mary stayed long enough to help deliver John? Her cousin was a bit older. So maybe Mary remained to ensure her cousin and baby were safe. It really is fun to think about how this story unfolded in real life. May we all praise God for his goodness, mercy, miracles, and many gifts to us. May gratitude fill our hearts! God is truly good. He has done great things, and his favor is for all of us. Walk in humility, not pride. And taste and see that the Lord is good. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128060

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Loves Israel 12/11/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Loves Israel by David Chadwick Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56 depicts a profound display of praise and adoration from Mary toward God. In the Latin Vulgate translation, “magnificat” means “magnifies.” These verses are designed to purely magnify the Lord God. In verses 54 and 55, Mary said, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” These verses mark a shift in Mary from praise for what God had done for her personally to praise for what this child would do for Israel. Mary knew that this gift of a Savior would be the greatest display of salvation that Israel had ever seen. Jesus would fulfill the promise of a Messiah, as promised throughout the Old Testament. Through Jesus, the Israelites would remember God’s mercy for them in spite of their rebellion. They deserved dispersion and God’s punishment forever. But God, rich in mercy, not only brings the Israelites back to the land, but also shows them mercy, restoration, blessing, and hope. God spoke to Abraham with covenant promises and then to his offspring through Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Throughout history, God continued to speak. And now, through Jesus, God would speak again! Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, and God in human flesh, would invade a dark world to reclaim all that was lost because of sin. Jesus was the ultimate display that God was not finished with Israel yet and that he still had a plan for salvation for Israel. God’s love for Israel is clearly seen here. It was revealed through Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and Second Coming. But this love didn’t stop with Israel. This message has always been for the masses! The love of Jesus is so radical that it was always designed to spill out onto the whole world. Salvation belongs to Jews and Gentiles, male and female, young and old, rich and poor. This salvation message has transcended generations and times. The love of God for Israel was the seedbed in which the miracle message of salvation was able to grow, multiply, and touch the ends of the earth. To you and me. All praise to our God for his lovingkindness! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128035

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, The Greatness of God 12/10/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, The Greatness of God by David Chadwick The greatness of God is one of the profound mysteries of the Christian faith. His glory, his majesty, his dominion, his power. Our God is mighty! But in his greatness and might, he chose to come down to earth, taking on the form of a servant, to live the perfect life none of us could live, die the death we deserved, and restore anyone who responds to his salvation by grace through faith back into relationship with the Father. In Luke 1:50-53, Mary expounded upon what the birth of Jesus would mean for those who are weak or feel insignificant, for those who are hungry and desperate. She emphasized the mercy of God that extends for all generations. The same mercy available to Mary is available to us. Isn’t that wonderfully good news? God doesn’t give us what we deserve. He gives mercy to everyone who fears him; to those who have a deep, awesome respect for him. This was Mary. Is this you? Do you ever contemplate how awesome and great God is? There was nothing significant about this 13-14-year-old virgin girl except her faith. And God chose to use her magnificently. He wants to do the same for you and me. The same God who pursued Mary for his will to be done on earth, pursues you and me as well. For a moment, pause and think about all the great things God has done for you. As you reflect on his goodness, you will begin to count all of the miraculous deeds accomplished for you. And you will be reminded of his strength. God’s strength is big enough to overshadow any problem we face. Under God’s humility and strength, the proud are scattered (verse 51). Just like with the Tower of Babel, God refuses to allow the proud to gather together for harm. He scatters enemies to thwart their malicious plans. Don’t wrestle and fight against God’s will. Rather, surrender to it. Yield to his mighty hand. In fact, James 4:8 says that those who humble themselves in the sight of the Lord will be lifted up to a place of honor. God fills the hungry and the humble with good things. But to the rich and haughty, they will be sent away empty-handed. God uses the seeming foolish things of this world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). Being a fool for Jesus is always the better choice. When we are weak, only then are we actually strong because our strength is found in his strength (2 Corinthians 12:9)! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Looked 12/09/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, God Looked by David Chadwick Today we will focus on Luke 1:48-49, which says, “For he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” God looked at Mary. He saw her. But think about this for a moment. Mary spent her life looking to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. In turn, God looked to Mary to help him accomplish the greatest mission ever accomplished: the salvation of the world. The gospel of Jesus is a “to you, through you” gospel. God did not just save us for eternity. He has invited us into a partnership with him to reveal his nature and character and to release the message of salvation to a dying and hurting world. We see this evidenced in Mary’s life. Mary’s praise parallels Hannah’s similar hymn of praise in 1 Samuel 2:10 when Hannah learned that she was finally with child after years and years of waiting. In both situations, it appears that God “looked” and pursued these women to give birth to special people: Hannah to Samuel and Mary to Jesus. God’s pursuit of us should prompt lives of praise. His love for us should build hearts of worship. Mary knew this. She understood the unworthiness of her life apart from her Creator. She knew that she was just an ordinary human, and she lived from that humble place. God’s greatest servants recognize that they are nothing great in the world’s eyes. This should serve as a reminder to all of us that God looks for availability more than ability. Mary continued to be overwhelmed with praise as she realized future generations would look upon her life and call her blessed; that for all time people would know that she was the special vessel through whom God chose to reveal himself in human form. From there, Mary’s praise extended beyond the impact that Jesus’s life would have on the physical world. She began to express profound magnification of the greatness of God. She had an eternal perspective. Mary was overwhelmed by God’s goodness and by his decision to choose her to bear, give birth to, and raise the Christ child. She could hardly believe this “great thing” God had done for her and for the world. She began to sing, “Holy is his name.” She knew the name of God was set apart. It was different from any other name. The power of God, which would be displayed through the name of Jesus, would be totally perfect in every way. For Jesus alone deserves all worship, all praise, and all glory! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128015

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, An Introduction 12/08/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary’s Magnificat, An Introduction by David Chadwick The Christmas season is truly upon us! As a church, we are going through the book of Luke, studying the many characters at the cradle who surrounded the birth of Jesus. Luke 1:46-55 is one of the most beautiful passages in all of the Bible. Known as Mary’s Magnificat, which means “magnifies” in the Latin Vulgate translation, these verses reveal Mary’s song of praise to the Lord after being given the news that she was pregnant with the Savior of the world. We now see Mary as a songwriter. A psalmist. A hymn writer! In this chapter, Mary was visiting Elizabeth, her cousin, who was also pregnant. At the point of her visit, John the Baptist had been growing in Elizabeth’s womb for six months. If you remember from last week, Mary was carrying the miraculously conceived Son of God in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Mary and Elizabeth greeted one another, John the Baptist leaped for joy in the womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The worship of Jesus was displayed, and the recognition of his coming kingdom was detected, even from the womb! In verse 45, Elizabeth blessed Mary’s great faith for believing Gabriel’s prophecy. The Magnificat was Mary’s response to all that was taking place, and it was an eruption of praise. Like David’s psalms of thanksgiving, which always began by thanking God for what he had done, this song of praise does the same. Today, let’s look specifically at verses 46 and 47. Mary started off by saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Praise was her weapon. Much like in Psalm 103:1, all that was within her was praising her God and his holy name. Her cry out to God as her Savior showed that she was fully aware before Jesus ever arrived of her great need for a Savior. Notice also that God is a personal Savior. He is loving, good, and kind. Surely Mary’s beautiful relationship with God and her deep, abiding faith were important in God choosing her to carry and give birth to the second person of the Godhead. Mary truly was a beautiful human in so many ways. During this Christmas season, I pray that we will all develop a personal faith in God that is as special as the one Mary had! And that we all will sing the Christmas hymns with a renewed passion for the power of praise. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39128000

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Pondering with Wonder 12/05/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Pondering with Wonder by David Chadwick This week, we have looked at Mary and Elizabeth, two characters at the cradle who loved one another deeply and who both played a significant role in ushering in the birth of Jesus to this world. These two women were full of faith and chose to play their part in God’s redeeming story with the utmost humility. They are both to be admired and respected. Especially Mary, as the mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Today, I would like to wrap up our week by focusing on one more specific insight to Elizabeth and Mary’s relationship. Imagine for a moment what it must have been like for Mary and Elizabeth to share their stories about the angelic visitation. Elizabeth waited for years, even decades, for the promise of a child to come true. She had been hoping for a child. But for Mary, she was a virgin, so her news was startling. It came out of nowhere. She had to fully hear and accept what had been said to her by Gabriel. Knowing the role that Gabriel played in Old Testament prophecies to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, it could be that Mary and Elizabeth were both pondering the significance and greatness of Gabriel’s appearance to each of them. I bet they chatted back and forth with questions like, “Why me? Why us? Why cousins? What does the future hold? And for the nation of Israel?” Neither one of them knew all the answers, but both women gladly accepted what God had chosen to do. They embodied lives of full surrender. And don’t forget Zechariah. Surely, he was there as the two cousins chatted. While unable to speak up, I am sure he listened to Mary’s story with his own sense of wonder. With a heart of worship. With utter fascination. Full of humility. Fascinated once again by grace and more aware than ever of the salvation that was about to come through this child soon to be born. With every passing word, Zechariah probably thought about the first words he would speak when his son and Mary’s child were eventually born. It would now only be a few more months. May we, too, ponder with wonder of our awesome God! May we cherish the power of the gospel once again. Oh, how great is our God! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146430

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, God's Promises are True 12/04/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, God's Promises are True by David Chadwick Elizabeth’s next words to Mary are amazing. Follow along with me as we look at Luke 1:45. Elizabeth said, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” Did you catch what Elizabeth blessed in this verse? She blessed Mary’s faith. Mary heard from the mighty angel Gabriel and she believed that every word that he had said to her was true. We all need examples of faith. It doesn’t matter if we are old or young, we all need the gift of faith. We must fight to believe that all of God’s promises are true. We must train our minds to believe that faith can cause mountains, the seemingly impossible situations of life, to move from here to there (Matthew 17:20). We must believe that what God has promised to us is received even when we can’t see it (Hebrews 11:1). We can find many examples of people who modeled this kind of faith both in the Bible and throughout history. Historically, consider missionaries like Hudson Taylor who went to China with little resources to claim it for God’s glory. Or Jim Elliott who endured tremendous hardship to reach the unreached in Ecuador, ultimately losing his life. How about David Livingston? He spent decades evangelizing in Africa. There are countless more examples. Or biblically speaking, take a look at Abraham. He waited 25 years for Isaac, the child God had promised him. Or what about Joshua? Even though the Promised Land was within reach, he had to wait 40 years before entering it. Or King David, who was faithful in the pasture before he was ever entrusted with the palace. How about Paul? He spent years in prison for the sake of the Gospel where he had to wait on the Lord. Yet in prison was where he wrote most of the New Testament. Then, there’s Mary. Perhaps she should be at the top of the list! As a virgin, she believed the child in her womb truly was the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. That this Jesus whom she bore was the Savior of the world. And that all of God’s promises really are true! This is the kind of faith we must seek to emulate! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146415

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, "Blessed are You" 12/03/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, "Blessed are You" by David Chadwick Mary and Elizabeth had a very special relationship. They were cousins. They were pregnant at the same time, Elizabeth with John and Mary with Jesus. Both of their pregnancies were supernatural in nature. Both of them were very blessed. Today, we see how extra significant Elizabeth’s honor was for her cousin Mary. Let’s take a look at Luke 1:42-44. Mary travelled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth. If you remember yesterday, when she entered Elizabeth’s home, the baby John leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Elizabeth proclaimed to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Notice Elizabeth’s posture as a great woman of God. She took a position of humility. She didn’t start talking about her situation and what had happened to Zechariah in the temple. Nor how great it was for her personal prayers to have been answered. No, she immediately humbled herself before her cousin, Mary. This scene is almost a preview to John 3:30 when Elizabeth’s child, John, would go on to say that he must decrease and Jesus must increase! John was raised by a good and godly mom who was humble before her God as well. Elizabeth knew her place in God's story and took the lower seat. She referred to Mary not as her cousin or her friend, but as “the mother of my Lord.” Somehow, Elizabeth knew that this child in Mary’s womb was her Lord! The Savior of the world. Could it be that God shared very special things with Elizabeth during her quiet months of pregnancy? It’s certainly possible. Elizabeth knew that Mary held a special place in God’s heart and that he chose her to carry his Son, our Savior, in her womb. He chose Mary to raise this child in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord. Before Jesus ever went to the cross or was raised from the dead, the power of the Gospel was so very real to both Mary and Elizabeth! We will continue the story tomorrow! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146410

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Supernatural Pregnancies 12/02/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Supernatural Pregnancies by David Chadwick Mary and Elizabeth. Two women called by God, both of whom were carrying children with tremendous purpose. Jesus, the perfect God-man, was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. The angel Gabriel delivered the news to her. In addition to this news of her supernatural pregnancy, Mary was also informed of her cousin Elizabeth’s miraculous conception in her later years. If we think family news spreads fast, imagine how quickly this news must have spread from family to family and from village to village. The fulfillment of biblical prophecy was happening before people’s very eyes. I can only imagine the relief, the excitement, and the wonder that filled the hearts of all who heard. Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. We don’t know exactly where Zechariah and Elizabeth lived, but one could suspect that it was relatively near Jerusalem because Zechariah had regular rounds of service in the temple. Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John was 6 months ahead of Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus. I am sure that both of them could not wait to share their stories with one another. Especially with the angel Gabriel being at the center of both narratives! Let’s not forget the significance of Gabriel. He is the mighty angel who was always delivering news about the Messiah. He did so in the book of Daniel hundreds of years earlier and now was also the one to bring the news of Jesus’s birth. Mary entered Elizabeth’s home. As she greeted her cousin, the baby John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, and at that moment, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. There are three significant takeaways that I want to give you when it comes to John’s leaping inside the womb. First, this leaping could very well have been prophetic, as John’s calling was to rise up as the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus. Much like a leap displays energy and action, John’s fiery message called the world to attention. Secondly, John’s leaping was a sign of worship, as John seemingly acknowledged, even from the womb, that Jesus was God’s chosen instrument to save the world, not himself. Finally, this leap is an undeniable pro-life statement. The term “baby” used in this passage is also the term for a “child” that Jesus later used when he said, “Let the little children (child) come unto me.” Only a life can worship Jesus. And the Bible recognizes this baby as a child. To God, this is so very clearly a life both inside and outside the womb. Jesus came to give life and life abundantly, and this message held power even while he was in the womb! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146405

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Called by God 12/01/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary and Elizabeth, Called by God by David Chadwick This week, we will continue to look for glimpses of glory throughout the life of Mary, but specifically in the context of her very special relationship with Elizabeth. Both called by God to very high, very important tasks. Let’s briefly recap where we are in the story. Zechariah was visited by Gabriel and given the news that he was going to have a son named John. But because of his unbelief, he was made silent until the birth of his son. Can you imagine for a moment how Zechariah communicated the news to his wife without the ability to speak? Did he write down what the angel Gabriel had said to him? Or maybe he used hand signals like a game to get her to guess that she would have a child in her old age? It’s fun to think about this! Now, try to imagine what Elizabeth must have felt as she processed Gabriel’s visit to her husband. To know that she was called by God. After years of prayers and waiting, she would finally have a son! Per Gabriel’s specific instructions, she was to name the baby John, a name that means “God is gracious.” John sure lived up to his name! He was a demonstration of God’s grace to both Zechariah and Elizabeth, and his life’s mission was to pave the way for Jesus, the fullness of grace (John 1:16), to walk out his life on earth. Afterwards, Gabriel appeared to a young virgin girl named Mary, who we began to study last week. Also called by God, Mary loved God and was a true example of Godly womanhood. God chose Mary to bear the Son of God, Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Her child would be named Jesus. He would be the Savior of the world, forgiving humanity of its sin and restoring people to the heart of the Father. The Holy Spirit’s presence overshadowed Mary’s humanity and paved the way for the incarnation of Jesus, God in human form. This week, as we look at Mary and Elizabeth’s very special relationship, remember that their closeness was deeper than being biological cousins or even being close friends. They carried similar callings. They were both called by God to extremely hard tasks for his kingdom. I like to think that there is no greater closeness than the kind that is formed while living on a common mission for Jesus. There is no greater joy than to work alongside other believers to see the gospel message go forward. Mary and Elizabeth shared this kind of closeness and joy with one another! I would encourage you, too, to prioritize relationships with others who are called by God to live on mission for Jesus and his kingdom! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146395

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, A Servant of God 11/28/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, A Servant of God by David Chadwick I hope you are enjoying these characters at the cradle. These are stories of biblical figures who find their lives intersecting with the entrance of Jesus into the world. In each story, you will see so much wonder, purpose and significance. After Mary had the encounter with the angel Gabriel, her response spoke volumes. However, before we see how she responded, do you remember what Zechariah’s response was when Gabriel told him that he would have a son after many years of waiting and praying? Zechariah spoke words of doubt and unbelief, and because of that, he was made mute throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy. As you consider the implications of unbelief in Zechariah’s life, let us finish this week by pondering Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel after all that she heard. Mary was different. Of course, she was initially stunned. But after realizing what Gabriel came to tell her, Mary showed nothing but faith. She said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). There was not even a shred of unbelief in her response. Only words of faith. Mary was the kind of woman who all women (and men!) should admire. Though not sinless, she should be a model for how to relinquish control of our lives and submit to God’s call. Instead of shrugging her shoulders with a casual, compromising “whatever” in unbelief, she held herself strong and said, “Whatever you will, my God.” God wants all of us to have a heart that is postured toward this kind of surrender and trust. A disposition that is willing to do whatever God calls us to do, no matter the cost. After Mary’s response, Gabriel departed from her. It is almost as if he knew his task was complete. The message was delivered. Her faith was evident. Job well done. Gabriel then returned to the Father in heaven for his next assignment… /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39146390

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, Nothing is Impossible 11/27/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, Nothing is Impossible by David Chadwick Mary. Cousin to Elizabeth. Betrothed to Joseph. Visited by the angel Gabriel. While she wore many hats, the most important one was this: Mary, mother of Jesus! After Gabriel visited Mary, she became aware of the divine conception that would take place in her womb. She also found out that her formerly barren cousin, Elizabeth, was now with child. The story of Mary is full of faith, hope, and wonder. Threaded throughout Mary’s life is a strong and fervent belief that with God, nothing is impossible! In fact, these were Gabriel’s last words to Mary (Luke 1:37). Take a moment to break down this verse with me today. It starts with these two words: “for nothing.” As I often joke, I looked up nothing in the dictionary. Guess what it means? Nothing. Not a single thing. Then comes that word “impossible.” Did you know there is not one single hurdle, roadblock, or setback that is impossible for the Lord? The next two words are also very important: with God. Communion with the Father. A life of abiding. Perfect union with the God of creation. The Savior of the world was ushered in on a foundation of faith and a life deeply connected to the Father. What a firm foundation! This theme of faith is found throughout the Bible. Do you remember Sarah? After 25 years of waiting for a promised son, she was told that one year later she would finally have a son (Genesis 18:14). Then in Jeremiah 32:17, we are told that nothing is beyond the power of our God who created the heavens and the earth. Consider Jesus’s own words in Matthew 19:26: “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”’ Meditate on Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” We should contemplate these truths today and forever. Whatever you are facing, consider Sarah, consider Jeremiah. Meditate on Scripture that strengthens your faith. Now consider again this beautiful story of Mary. And remember that with God, nothing is impossible. Just as Mary did, let us all contemplate these last words for our lives today as well. Nothing is impossible for God. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39135430

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, Gabriel's Message 11/26/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, Gabriel's Message by David Chadwick Gabriel’s initial appearance to Mary left her “greatly troubled” as she tried to figure out why he said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” The angel went on to tell Mary not to fear and explained that she had found favor with God. Mary settled into the news that she would bear a son and would call him Jesus. He would be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Gabriel went on to say that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. With every word that she held in her heart, her fear turned to faith. After a powerful proclamation of the news of the coming King, Gabriel gave Mary an “Oh, by the way.” What did he tell Mary, you might ask? He said, and I paraphrase, “Oh, by the way, your cousin Elizabeth, in her old age, is also with child.” He told her that Elizabeth, too, was pregnant with a son and was just six months ahead of Mary. If you remember, Elizabeth was barren and she had been totally healed! Can you imagine Mary trying to process all this information? In those moments following Gabriel’s message, Mary had to contemplate that she was a virgin who would be having a child who was the Son of the Most High God. She also had to wrap her head around the fact that her cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a miracle child as well. In Elizabeth’s old age, she found herself miraculously pregnant. Without Gabriel telling her, Mary could not have known of her cousin’s pregnancy because Elizabeth had been in solitude and quiet for five months. In those quiet early months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, without a soul ever knowing, promise was growing, hope was arising, and promise was flourishing. Every word of the story God was writing would point to the ultimate hero, Jesus, the Savior of the world. I wonder if Mary had enough time to even contemplate all that was happening in those moments. Do you think she had the wherewithal to recognize God’s redemptive purpose for all of mankind? Did she feel the anticipation swelling inside of her? Was she overjoyed? Was she stunned? I’m sure there was a mixture of many emotions! Whether she fully knew it or not, Mary was watching the early stages of God’s plan of salvation begin to unfold before her very eyes! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39135420

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, The Divine Conception 11/25/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, The Divine Conception by David Chadwick There are many holy and purposeful connections that took place between the Creator of the universe and his creation leading up to Jesus’s entrance into the world. Join me as we continue to look at some of the special characters at the cradle. I love the significance of both Gabriel and Joseph as characters at the cradle. But today, I want to place our focus more specifically on Mary, who played the very special role as mother of the Savior of the world. I left you with a cliffhanger yesterday, thinking about the profound question Mary asked after hearing from Gabriel of the coming Savior. Mary said to Gabriel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The answer: it was only done by the power of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, who is also known as the silent sovereign. Mary’s conception as a virgin is the reality that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. It is one of the most profound mysteries of the Christian faith. Some false theologians have tried to downplay the importance of the Virgin Birth. They have implied that it is not an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. Hear me loud and clear, my dear friends, and I don’t use this phrase lightly, but this is a false teaching. Anyone teaching this could not be more wrong, and their teaching is heretical. You should never ascribe to it as a follower of Jesus. It’s a biblical teaching. The early church’s credal statements affirmed it. So should we if we are faithful followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary’s humanity to conceive a holy child in her womb. Jesus, the Son of God, would be different. He would live as a perfect human and the Savior of the world. Perfect God and perfect human at the same time. A mystery, for sure, but it’s what the Bible clearly teaches. Jesus’s perfect holiness came from a divine conception. He had to be perfectly human in order to die for our sins, but perfectly God in order to forgive us for our sins. The Incarnation, God coming to earth as a man, paved the way for the greatest story ever told! As we wrap up the miracle of divine conception, do you notice the Trinity here? The Father, the Most High God, ordained the entrance of Jesus, his Son, who was then created by the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all present in the divine conception! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39135410

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, An Introduction to Gabriel, Mary, and Joseph 11/24/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Mary, An Introduction to Gabriel, Mary, and Joseph by David Chadwick This week, we will continue to look at some more characters whose lives had profound intersections with the cradle of Jesus. Over the past two weeks, we studied Zechariah and Elizabeth. This week, we study Mary, the mother of Jesus. But in order to understand Mary, we have to understand Gabriel and Joseph as well. After Gabriel visited Zechariah with the amazing news that his wife would give birth to a baby named John (the Baptist), God gave him a second assignment. He told him to go visit a young virgin girl named Mary in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. She was betrothed to a man named Joseph who was from the house of David. In those days, the betrothal time was a set apart year-long period during which a couple could get to know one another before marriage. In order to fully understand the significance of Mary and Joseph, you must know these two important biblical truths. First, Mary was a virgin. She had to be a virgin in order to fulfill the Isaiah 7:14 prophecy. The Christ child had to be conceived by the Holy Spirit to a virgin woman in order to bypass the way that Adam’s sin was transmitted through humanity ever since the Fall in Genesis 3. Secondly, Joseph had to be in the household of David in order to fulfill the prophecy that the Messiah would come from David’s lineage (Jeremiah 23:5). Joseph, too, is an important part of the story. Gabriel appears to him in Matthew’s gospel to assure him that Mary is impregnated by the Holy Spirit. He obeyed and must have been a great father. Gabriel, the same angel that appeared to Zechariah, also appeared to Mary saying, “Greetings, O favored one.” He announced the coming Messiah, telling Mary she would have a son named Jesus, which means Savior, for he will save the world of its sins. Jesus would be the Son of the Most High God. He would reign over Israel and God’s Kingdom. Mary was a Godly woman, likely a young teenager, who was specifically chosen by God to carry out a very important mission. She was not perfect, as Catholics assume, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But I do think she should be honored more than many Protestants tend to honor her. Much like Zechariah, Mary was troubled, startled, and overwhelmed. Mary wondered, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” This question is profound, and I will help answer it tomorrow. Stay tuned. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/39135405

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Husband to Elizabeth 11/21/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Husband to Elizabeth by David Chadwick After the encounter with the angel Gabriel and being rendered mute by the Lord, what did Zechariah do next? Luke 1:23 says this of Zechariah: “And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.” To Elizabeth and to his safe place of love and care. I can only imagine how he felt as he pondered all he had just seen and heard, probably praying in his spirit to the Lord about John. And have you ever thought about how he told Elizabeth about his experience with the angel Gabriel? Hand gestures? A game of charade? Writing it out? Surely he found a way to tell her. What a special moment that must have been! A few days later, Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth conceived. The Bible says that “for five months she kept herself hidden’ (Luke 1:23).” Can you imagine what she felt? The joy. The anticipation. The excitement. But given the fact that she went silent for five months, she probably also felt the extreme holiness of this moment. Can you believe Elizabeth kept this pregnancy a secret for five months! When someone becomes pregnant after a long wait, they often rush to tell everyone and anyone who will listen! The excitement overwhelms them, making it hard to keep a secret. But Elizabeth, a good and Godly woman, went silent. Why? Most likely to pray and to ponder God’s goodness. To reflect on the other childless women in the Old Testament like Sarah and Hannah who waited many long years for a child and finally saw God answer their cries as well. I can only imagine the tenderness she felt as she watched her belly swell day by day, week by week, probably rubbing her belly with great joy! Then, after five months, when Elizabeth began to show her child, she began to say all around her, “Thus the Lord has done this for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among the people” (Luke 1:25). During that time, barrenness was considered a curse. Upon seeing a barren woman, people would ask, “What is her sin that has brought this curse upon her?” Now, in a single moment, with an angel’s word of promise, all of the shame and chatter was taken away. Done. Forever removed. Elizabeth’s mountain was moved and her breakthrough occurred. If God can do it for Elizabeth, he can do it for you! Keep praying. Keep believing. And make your request known to God. And know that it’s in his hands to do it 1) his way and 2) in his time. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870160

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Made Speechless 11/20/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Made Speechless by David Chadwick In Luke 1:18-22, the angel identified himself as Gabriel. Gabriel also appears in the book of Daniel in chapters 8 and 9. In the Bible, whenever Gabriel came on the scene, he was addressing prophecy about the Messiah. The same holds true in this story with Zechariah. Gabriel came to Zechariah from the presence of God and told him that he was sent by God to share this wonderful, good news of a coming child. After all this information from Gabriel had been given to Zechariah, Zechariah asked the question, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” God calls all people to a life of faith. He is constantly urging his people to not be afraid, to be bold, to be strong and courageous, to not be terrified. Zechariah’s question was shrouded with doubt and unbelief. Because of his disobedience and doubt, God made Zechariah mute, unable to speak a word. But how could this be? Gabriel had just released a word and said what WILL take place “in their time,” in accordance to God’s perfect plan and timing. So why would God silence Zechariah? I think it’s because God wanted to highlight the power of words. Over the unborn life of someone whose mouthpiece would pave the way for the soon and coming King, I think God placed a hedge of protective and holy quietness over this child’s life, where the only words John the Baptist would hear would come from his perfect heavenly Father or his believing mom. No doubt. Not questions. No lack of faith. Only words of life and blessing were to be spoken over this child during those nine months. This story also speaks powerfully to the fact that babies can hear in the womb. Parents should always be very careful about their words when the mother is pregnant. Avoid arguing and avoid words of unbelief! Pray over the baby in utero and play songs of praise with the baby in utero. As Zechariah left his temple service, he could not say a word. Completely mute and speechless. The people who saw his face as he walked out concluded he had seen a vision, which he had! I can only imagine inwardly how much Zechariah was praising God with great joy for what he had seen and heard, and, yes, even for the silencing of his words after his expressed unbelief. I believe Zechariah somehow knew that God had a reason and would work it all together for good (Romans 8:28). /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870150

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist 11/19/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah, Father of John the Baptist by David Chadwick John was the long awaited son to Zechariah and Elizabeth. His birth paved the way for Jesus’s birth. His voice prepared the way of the Lord. His life pointed to the soon and coming King. Luke 1:16-17 says this of John: “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.” The personal calling of John’s life in God’s story grabs my heart every time. Turning many hearts to God. Going before the Messiah. Carrying the same spirit and power of Elijah, perhaps the greatest of all Old Testament prophets. God entrusted so much to John’s hands. Pause for a moment and consider the magnitude of John’s call and what Zechariah must have felt as he anticipated the coming of his long-awaited son. Now pause and consider the swell of anticipation that Israel would have with the coming of their long-awaited Messiah. Zechariah’s story is full of wonder! Both personally and for God’s people. A deeply personal and a deeply corporate groan were being answered all at once! John would fulfill Malachi 4:5, the prophecy that told of one preceding the Messiah who would turn hearts of fathers back to children and the disobedient back to the wisdom of the Lord. John would call the world to repentance and to ready their hearts for Jesus’s entrance. As you may know, this John is John the Baptist. 6 months older than Jesus, he preached a message of repentance in the wilderness. Many followed him. But he kept pointing all of his followers to Jesus saying, “I must decrease and he (Jesus) must increase” (John 3:30). May we all have John’s courage in spirit and an unwavering desire to point people to Jesus and never to ourselves. For Jesus alone is worthy to be praised! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870140

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah’s Angelic Visitation 11/18/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah’s Angelic Visitation by David Chadwick The story of Zechariah continues in Luke 1:8-15, which we will look at today. While serving as priest, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple during a high holy feast. Take note that even the drawing of straws is under the sovereign hand of Almighty God according to Proverbs 16:33. We serve a mighty God who has a timing and purpose for everything! Undoubtedly, while serving in the temple, Zechariah prayed for Israel, as all priests regularly did. However, I would suppose he also prayed fervently for a child, and probably more specifically a son, as sons were considered a special gift from God in those days as they served as a continuation of the family name. While Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel, who later in the story self-identifies as Gabriel, appeared to him. 400 years of silence from God is now broken. He said to Zechariah, “Your prayers have been heard.” Could there be a more perfect and wonderful message to receive from an angelic visitation than this? God heard Zechariah’s prayers, which were probably offered many times throughout the years, both for Israel and for a child. After Gabriel’s encounter with Zechariah, Zechariah was filled with fear, which is a common emotion when anyone in the Bible experienced a divine revelation. Can you even imagine a perfect angel appearing to you as a sinful human? I can only imagine the fear of the Lord that would come upon me if that happened to me. The angel went on to tell Zechariah that he would have a son and he was to be named John, which means “God is gracious.” And God certainly is gracious. He gave this man a son in his old age by grace, through faith. He told Zechariah that he and his wife would be filled with joy because of this baby. John would be great before the Lord, not given to strong drink or wine, and with a heart totally devoted to the Lord, filled with the Spirit from the womb. As a side note, what a miraculous demonstration of that fact that life begins at conception and that God can encounter and give promises to children in the womb! No matter what you’re going through, especially if you want a child, keep praying in faith! God hears your prayers! Nothing brings greater joy than answered prayers. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870135

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah Introduction 11/17/2025

Characters at the Cradle: Zechariah Introduction by David Chadwick This week, we begin our series called “Characters at the Cradle.” Join me as we explore the major characters whose lives intersected with Jesus’s life as he entered into this world through a cradle in a manger. Zechariah is our first character. We will spend an entire week looking at his life and exploring why he is so important to the incarnation of Jesus. Luke was very careful to tell his readers exactly what was going on when Zechariah entered the story. Luke 1:5-7 begins by giving us several important insights into Zechariah’s life. He came on the scene during the reign of King Herod. At this point in biblical history, there had been 400 years of silence since a prophetic word from the Lord had come through Malachi. Can you imagine how much anticipation there was for God’s people to hear from the Lord? After four centuries, God finally spoke! There were 24 divisions of priests who were regularly called upon for temple duties at the high holy times of the calendar and this was one of those times. A priest named Zechariah was called to his duty. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, who you will learn about in a couple of weeks, were both childless. But the Bible makes it very clear that their barrenness was not because of sin. They were both described as righteous and blameless before the Lord in verse 6. Not sinless by any means, for only Jesus is sinless, but Zechariah and Elizabeth were devoted to obeying God’s Law, the Torah. Zechariah and Elizabeth were also advanced in years and fervently desired a child, probably praying regularly to the Lord for this gift. My wife, Marilynn, and I can relate to this fervent desire for a child. We were married for 8 years before God gave us our first child. A long, awaited journey to have children drives you to prayer like nothing else ever could. Much like Marilynn’s and my story, Zechariah and Elizabeth’s desire for a child seemed hopeless…until God intervened. I believe that the children born from barrenness often are God’s greatest servants because of the number of prayers offered to God on their behalf. Keep following this story with me tomorrow…for nothing is impossible with God! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870115

A Look at Luke: The Certainty of Things Taught 11/14/2025

A Look at Luke: The Certainty of Things Taught by David Chadwick Luke wanted Theophilus, and any future readers, to know the certainty of things taught (Luke 1:4). How were truths passed on during these biblical times? First, through oral tradition. Never underestimate the ability of people to remember what has been taught to them verbally. For some in Luke’s day, this was the only way to transmit truths to future generations. Therefore, people repeated truths through families, in public arenas, and within gatherings in order to both learn and pass on information. Without oral tradition, truths and generational realities were lost. Secondly, through written tradition. As societies became more advanced, written transmission of information became more doable. There were scrolls, parchments, ink, pens, and other means of writing available to authors. Luke took advantage of means and made sure that the gospel truths were not just passed down orally, but through written word. He wanted writings to be available to other people to grow in personal discipleship and to pass down these truths to future generations. The Gospel of Luke did this. Luke carefully, painstakingly, and proudly wrote down everything he saw and heard. He provided great certainty through eyewitnesses and gave intricate details that only a doctor would seek to find. I would surmise that Luke recorded with divinely inspired certainty, yes, for Theophilus, but also for his good friend Paul, and with future generations, including you and me, in mind! Aren’t you grateful for Luke? I sure am! I am so glad that God called this amazing man and physician to give us this beautiful Gospel that we will study together over the coming months. This book of the Bible makes me love my Lord and my Savior, Jesus, with greater fervor. I pray it does the same for you! Now that we understand the author named Luke, join me next week as we take a look at our first character at the cradle, Zechariah. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870090

A Look at Luke: Friend to Theophilus 11/13/2025

A Look at Luke: Friend to Theophilus by David Chadwick Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke as a letter to the “most excellent Theophilus” (verse 4). Who is Theophilus? This friend to Luke is another important piece in understanding who authored this book. Luke was a Greek, undoubtedly impassioned to reach those like himself. This should inspire each of us. We, most likely, have been given keys by God to reach others like us as well. Maybe you are a businessman. You have skills and knowledge to reach other businessmen. Maybe you are a mom. Chances are you have unique insights to reach other moms. And so on and so forth. Theophilus most certainly lived up to his description, “most excellent.” In ancient times, this term was most often used for people of great importance. He was probably a person of great cultural influence and someone of high-ranking social standing. Yes, most of Jesus’s followers in the early church were people of no means. Converted slaves. Common people. Fishermen. But that doesn’t mean that Jesus does not love people of influence. He does! He loves all people! Joanna, wife of someone in King Herod’s inner circle, chose to follow Jesus. Barnabas had great wealth and decided to follow Jesus. Jesus will use anyone, rich or poor, young or old, Jew or Gentile, to make up his team and build his kingdom! Sometimes, it’s actually important for high-standing people to be converted so that they can influence those around them toward the gospel of Jesus. Luke, as an outstanding doctor, probably had the ability to speak to people with means and bring them to Jesus. Could it be that Luke was responsible for Theophilus’s conversion to Jesus? Perhaps! Finally, it is important to note that some scholars don’t think Theophilus was an actual person, but that he represented a general people. The name Theophilus means “lover of God” (“Theo” is God and “philus” is a form of “philea,” which is a Greek term for love). Ultimately, none of us will know the full truth until heaven one day, but whether Luke was writing to an individual or to a group of people who were lovers of God, the truths of his writings are timeless and apply to all of us. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870070

A Look at Luke: The Importance of Eyewitnesses 11/12/2025

A Look at Luke: The Importance of Eyewitnesses by David Chadwick The Gospel of Luke gives an account of the life of Jesus that is significant. Written by a physician with a tremendous attention to detail, Luke’s perspective was heavily focused on the important reality that God took on human flesh to accomplish his mission. What else do we know about Luke? Let’s keep unpacking Luke 1:1-4. Dr. Luke counted on the testimonies of actual eyewitnesses. He emphasized in verse 2 that his compilations included information delivered to him from “those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.” It seems as though these eyewitnesses must have been the 12 apostles, minus Judas and then Matthias, and Paul. Luke must have spent countless hours talking with them, verifying their stories, and ensuring their accuracy. Since there are multiple accounts of the same stories between Matthew, Mark, and Luke, one can assume they talked and compared notes. Luke had an especially close relationship with Paul. Surely, while traveling together on missionary journeys, as is outlined in Acts 16:22 and beyond, Luke must have taken copious notes from Paul about what he knew, what he had seen, and all he heard from those around him. In case you didn’t know, Luke also wrote the book of Acts. Luke and Acts go together. In fact, it appears Luke wrote both as one volume. This will become evident as you read Luke 24 and then Acts 1. Between the 12 apostles, Paul, and the others, Luke received a plethora of information about Jesus in order to pen this Gospel for his primary audience, the Greek people. Trust the Gospel of Luke. It was Dr. Luke’s account of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension after having spent countless hours with important eyewitnesses who saw these events. Luke desired to pass on everything he knew of the life of Jesus both to the people of that day and to us as well. His careful study of all eyewitness accounts gives credence to the gospel. Luke recounts words of people who saw and experienced Jesus. We are grateful to Luke for the number of hours he spent making the stories come alive for us. /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870055

A Look at Luke: The Beloved Physician 11/11/2025

A Look at Luke: The Beloved Physician by David Chadwick As we continue to learn more about Luke in order to further appreciate this New Testament author, let’s turn our eyes back to Luke 1:1-4. What else does Scripture teach us about him? Luke was a physician. In fact, Paul called him “the beloved physician” in Colossians 4:14. Apparently, Dr. Luke joined Paul in his missionary journeys in Acts 16:10-11, and they obviously became close friends. He may have even cared for Paul physically when he was imprisoned and/or in peril. We all know that Jesus, the Great Physician, is the ultimate supernatural healer. But it is clear through the life of Luke that God also uses gifted and competent doctors to provide exceptional care. Why is knowing that Luke was a physician so important to fully comprehending his writings? Because doctors, by nature and practice, are aware of details. They see things that others may not see. They pay attention to intricacies that others may overlook. Having an understanding of the brilliance of medical professionals should remind us that Luke wrote this book with painstaking detail. Luke described this Gospel as being “a narrative of all things” and an orderly account (Luke 1:1, Luke 1:3). Then in verses 3-4, Luke wrote that his desire was “to write an orderly account” for his friend, Theophilus, so that Theophilus could have “certainty concerning the things [he had] been taught.” From the beginning of Jesus’s birth narrative in chapters 1-2 to Jesus’s resurrection in chapter 24, Luke tried to make sure that everything he wrote was true, specific, and detailed. His writings were carefully documented, checked, and rechecked to ensure accuracy. God used all kinds of people from all different professions in order for his purposes to be accomplished on this earth. In the case of Luke, God chose a brilliant physician to document a crucial account of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Let’s keep leaning into Dr. Luke’s wisdom as his writings teach us more about Jesus! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870035

A Look at Luke: God Took on Flesh 11/10/2025

A Look at Luke: God Took on Flesh by David Chadwick This week, throughout the Christmas season, and even into the new year, our church is going to be doing an in-depth study of the Gospel of Luke. After doing a brief overview of Luke himself, we will be looking more specifically at the characters at the cradle. Somewhere along the way, from the conception of Jesus until his birth, you will see how each of these characters had a divine intersection with the incarnation of Jesus– the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This week, we will focus on Luke 1:1-4. Let’s take a look at Dr. Luke. Who was he? To whom was he writing? What clues do these four verses give us into Luke’s perspective, life, and writings? Who was the man who authored this book of the Bible? Without this piece, you will have a hard time understanding the lens with which he wrote this book. He was a physician, evangelist, apologist, and historical writer. He was so multi-gifted, you can readily see why God chose him to write this account. The name Luke means “light of the world.” This book is the only one of the four Gospels that was written by a Gentile and Greek, which suggests that it was primarily also written for the Gentiles and Greeks. Luke’s style presented some of the finest Greek writing in early Greek antiquity. He was obviously very intelligent and masterfully skilled in his writing craft. Luke wanted his readers to see the fully human side of Jesus, whereas John had a stronger emphasis on Jesus being fully divine. Both of these disciples’ descriptions of Jesus are incredibly important in establishing a full and complete understanding of the Savior of the world! If you look at the Greek statues that were sculpted during biblical times, you will quickly see how much the Greeks loved the human body. Luke’s writings, specifically in stories like The Good Samaritan, placed a strong emphasis on Jesus’s desire to care for the hurting and the sick. He also emphasized the importance of women in a culture that often degraded them. Every day this week, we are going to look at some specific insights into the book of Luke, a beautiful Gospel that points to Jesus, the light of the world! Written by a man who deeply loved and respected Jesus. Join me as we learn together! /episode/index/show/a852a973-4adc-4299-bb53-caff7cbf2ba5/id/38870030

A Moment of Hope

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