This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:

The Preeminence of Christ

Today we're in Colossians 1:13–20, one of the highest mountain peaks in all of Scripture. Paul takes us straight to the throne of the preeminent Christ—the One who rescued us from the dominion of darkness, the One by whom and for whom everything exists, the One in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, the One who reconciled all things by the blood of His cross.

Here's the big idea we'll keep coming back to: Jesus Christ is supreme over creation, supreme over the new creation, and therefore supreme over every square inch of our lives. The proposition is simple and life-changing: Because Christ is preeminent in everything, we must gladly give Him first place in everything.

During the next minutes we'll look at three points in the text:

1. He has delivered us and transferred us (vv. 13–14)
2. He is the Creator and Sustainer who holds all things together (vv. 15–17)
3. He is the Head of the church and the Reconciler of all things (vv. 18–20)

Then we'll land on some very practical ways this supreme Christ changes how we wake up tomorrow morning, how we face cancer or any other trial, how we treat our spouse, how we spend our money, and how we speak about Jesus to our neighbors.

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Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word!

If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media.

"Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

"Welcome to Words To Live By. This is Pastor Warren. Life isn't always easy, and we all face trials that test our faith. But in God's Word, we find promises that steady our hearts and truths that guide our steps."

In this episode we will consider Isaiah 43:2:

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." (NASB95)

Life brings moments that feel like drowning. The waters rise, the pressure builds, and the current seems too strong to stand against. Whether it's illness, loss, fear, or deep uncertainty, every heart eventually faces the flood.

But in this promise from Isaiah, God speaks into the storm: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you."

Notice God doesn't say if you pass through the waters. He says when. Trouble is not optional—it's part of living in a broken world.

Yet the beauty of this verse is not the avoidance of hardship, but the assurance of God's presence in it.

"Welcome to Words To Live By. This is Pastor Warren. Life isn't always easy, and we all face trials that test our faith. But in God's Word, we find promises that steady our hearts and truths that guide our steps."

In this episode we will consider Psalm 34:18:

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (NASB95)

Heartbreak has a way of silencing the room. Sometimes life strikes so deeply that even prayer feels hard to form. Grief, sickness, disappointment, and loss—each can leave us feeling hollow and alone. Yet into that emptiness, God speaks a gentle, unchanging promise: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

David wrote these words during one of the darkest chapters of his life. He was fleeing from danger, uncertain of the future, hiding in caves. Fear and fatigue were constant companions. And it's right there—when everything felt uncertain—that he discovered a truth we all need:

God draws closest to us when life hurts the most.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:

The Day Is Coming!

Today we're digging into a passage that has both weight and hope: Malachi 4:1-6. We'll walk together through the final admonition of the Old Testament, exploring the coming "day of the Lord," the promise for those who fear His name, the call to remember God's statutes, and the hope of restoration through the one sent before that great day.

Here's the thing — this passage doesn't simply belong in ancient history; it speaks to us here, now, in our lives, our families, our community. I'm aware, myself, as I go through my health journey, how life sometimes feels fragile, how time sometimes seems shorter; and in that awareness I find this passage deeply comforting and challenging.

It's comforting because we belong to God, and He assures us of healing and restoration.

It's challenging because He warns us of a day coming, a day we cannot avoid, a day we need to be ready for.

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Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word!

If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media.

"Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:

Standing Firm Until He Comes

Today we're opening God's Word to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8—a passage about calmness in confusion, truth in the face of deception, and endurance when the world seems to shake. Paul writes to believers who were frightened, convinced that the day of the Lord had already come. Some were anxious, some disillusioned, some even giving up hope. But Paul reminds them—and us—that God has not lost control.

We'll walk through three major truths:

1. The call to not be shaken, to stay anchored when rumors and fears swirl.

2. The revelation of lawlessness and the mysterious restrainer—reminding us that evil is real but never sovereign.

3. And finally, the glorious triumph of Christ, who will destroy wickedness simply by the breath of His mouth.

* * * * *

Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word!

If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media.

"Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

"Welcome to Words To Live By. This is Pastor Warren. Life isn't always easy, and we all face trials that test our faith. But in God's Word, we find promises that steady our hearts and truths that guide our steps."

In this episode we will consider 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (NASB95)

There are seasons when life feels stripped bare—when pain, weakness, or uncertainty press so hard that even breathing feels like effort. I've just walked through one of those weeks.

The Apostle Paul knew affliction firsthand—shipwrecks, imprisonments, beatings, sleepless nights. Yet instead of questioning God's goodness, he praised Him: "Blessed be the God of all comfort." Paul wasn't speaking from theory; he was speaking from the battlefield of suffering. He had discovered that God doesn't stand at a distance, sending sympathy notes from heaven. He comes close. He comforts.

This Sunday's Inspirational Message is:

God's Call To Wash And Return

Today's message comes from the book of Isaiah, chapter one, verses ten through eighteen — a passage where the Lord speaks to His people about the danger of empty religion. It's a strong word, yet a gracious one. God is not rejecting worship itself; He is calling for hearts that are sincere, lives that match the prayers we pray, and faith that transforms the way we live.

Isaiah's words pierce through the surface of religion and reach deep into the heart. They remind us that God desires obedience more than offerings, repentance more than ritual, and transformation more than tradition.

If you've ever wondered whether your walk with God has grown routine — if your faith has ever felt mechanical, distant, or tired — then this message is for you. The Lord invites His people to reason with Him, to come and be cleansed. His grace is greater than our rebellion, and His mercy is still calling us home.

Stay with me, and together we'll walk through Isaiah 1:10–18 — When Religion Becomes Rebellion: God's Call to Wash and Return.

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Once again, thanks for joining us in our time of worshiping the Lord through His Word!

If you enjoyed this episode and want to help support this ministry, please share it with others and post about it on social media.

"Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible: New American Standard Bible. 1995. LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The music "Be Thou My Vision" and "Revive Us Again" arranged and played by Don Wigton. Used by Permission.

"Welcome to Words To Live By. This is Pastor Warren. Life isn't always easy, and we all face trials that test our faith. But in God's Word, we find promises that steady our hearts and truths that guide our steps."

In today's episode, we will consider Joshua 1:9 NAS95: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you."

There's a kind of strength that isn't found in muscle or willpower—it's born in weakness, in the middle of nights that feel too long and pain that feels too heavy. That's the kind of strength God was talking about when He spoke to Joshua: "Be strong and courageous."

This verse wasn't meant for someone sitting comfortably. Joshua was standing on the edge of a huge task. Moses had died. The wilderness was behind them, but battles were ahead. Joshua had to lead a nation into unknown territory. He must've felt the weight of that. He must've wondered, "Lord, how am I supposed to do this?"

And maybe that's a question you've asked too. I know I have. This past week, chemotherapy reminded me how fragile this body really is. There were moments I felt empty and weak, moments when prayer was just a whisper: "Lord, help me trust You." And yet, this verse kept echoing in my heart: "Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."