Christ 2R Culture Podcast
369 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsIt is all about Jesus! Dr. Kurt Trucksess is the Lead Pastor of CrossWinds - a multisite Evangelical Free Church in Spirit Lake and Spencer, IA. This channel carries his sermons and occasionally a little something special for those who connect via the Internet.
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Episodes
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 - The Power Of A Quiet Life
April 21, 2024 21:12 - 46 minutes - 64.2 MBHarold Camping of Family Radio predicted that Christ’s return and the world’s end would occur in May 2011. In no surprise, he was wrong. In his enthusiasm for Christ’s return, he provoked people into selling their property, giving him millions of dollars, and making other foolish decisions. In spite of putting up over 5,000 billboards, his preoccupation with Christ’s return did more harm for the cause of Christ than good. How should we prepare for Christ’s return? If Jesus was to return in th...
1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:8 - The Sanctity Of Sex
April 14, 2024 18:56 - 56 minutes - 78 MBA common question for young adults is, “How far is too far when it comes to sex?” In this study, Paul answers that question and tells us how to pursue sexual purity in a sex-saturated world.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-10 - The Heart Of A Good Pastor - Part 2
April 07, 2024 22:02 - 49 minutes - 68.7 MBWhat does good spiritual leadership look like? In 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul gives us an X-ray of his heart, showing us his love for the Thessalonians. This window into Paul’s soul helps us understand what good spiritual leadership looks like in the church.
Matthew 28:11-15 - The Lie That Proves The Resurrection
March 31, 2024 22:22 - 44 minutes - 62.1 MBIf Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, what happened on resurrection Sunday? Join us as we examine the last 2,000 years of alternative explanations for the resurrection and see how they ultimately prove Jesus’ resurrection is true.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 - How Can I Be A Good Pastor - Part 1
March 24, 2024 20:01 - 46 minutes - 64.8 MBRecently, my father went to the doctor for an X-ray. This gave the doctor a true picture of his bones. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, Paul gives us an X-ray of his heart. We get a chance to see the heart of a good pastor. By seeing a good pastor, we can be a good pastor.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 - A Story Of Sadness Or Gladness
March 17, 2024 18:43 - 51 minutes - 71.6 MBHave you squandered an opportunity? Have you seen someone so close to a good thing but miss it through a foolish decision? As we continue in 1 Thessalonians, Paul contrasts the Thessalonians and the Jews. One makes him glad as they embrace the gospel with limited opportunity, the other makes him sad as they reject it after countless chances to embrace it. Join us as we learn how to choose wisely with the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 - How Can I Be A Good Spiritual Leader
March 10, 2024 19:33 - 51 minutes - 71.6 MBToday, most men are encouraged to be couch potatoes rather than bold leaders. There are plenty of manipulators, scammers, and those who lack character in positions of power. More acute than the leadership crisis in the world is the crisis of leadership we have in the church. Many of us don’t know what makes a good spiritual leader or how to be one. Join us as we learn what the gospel teaches about good spiritual leadership.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - How Do I Recognize Genuine Faith?
March 03, 2024 16:13 - 51 minutes - 71.3 MBArtificial Intelligence makes it harder to distinguish between a deep fake and reality. It generates lifelike videos, where only experts can tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Deep fakes are nothing new when it comes to the Christian faith. Many claim to be saved by Christ but, over time, walk away from Him. How can we tell the difference between genuine faith and fake faith? Join us to learn the difference.
What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness?
February 25, 2024 16:19 - 55 minutes - 77 MBHow do we handle the wounds of life? The world tells us to get even. Recently, a man in Colorado shot a dog to death because days earlier, it was in a fight with his dog, so he plotted revenge. War in the Middle East never ends because of a commitment to revenge instead of extending forgiveness. In this study, we look at what the Bible says about the aroma of forgiveness from the life of a Christian introduces people to Jesus.
Acts 17:1-10 - When God Plants A Church
February 18, 2024 21:45 - 53 minutes - 74.2 MBWhen life is difficult, it is easy to become discouraged. We long for easier days. As Christians, when society is against us, it is tempting to think our relationship with Jesus will fade and the church will wilt. As we begin the book of 1 Thessalonians, we find the opposite is true. 1 Thessalonians is the story of healthy Christians and a thriving church in a city hostile to the gospel. Join us as we learn that God does some of his best work in us and through us when the world is against us.
2 Samuel 24 - Needing A Better King
February 04, 2024 20:58 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBDavid saved Israel from their enemies through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. In the book’s closing chapter, we find one enemy from which David couldn’t save the nation. That was God and his just wrath against their sin. Join us as we finish the book and see the need for a better king named Jesus!
2 Samuel 23 - Successful Leaders And Their Team
January 29, 2024 02:09 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBZvika Greengold was celebrating Yom Kippur at his Israeli kibbutz when he heard the sound of a jet fighter. Realizing there would be no military exercises on a religious holiday, he turned on his radio and learned that Egypt and Syria sprung a surprise attack on Israel. It was October 6, 1973. As a reserve tank commander, Zvika ran to his tank and drove it to the Golan Heights. Force Zvika singlehandedly held back two thousand advancing Syrian tanks, giving the Israeli military enough time to...
2 Samuel 22 - Speaking Of God's Goodness
January 21, 2024 22:55 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBHave you listened to a worship song and found your heart resonating with the song’s words about the goodness of God? Many of us know that experience. As the author of 2 Samuel prepared to draw his book to a close, he shared one of David’s final songs. It is a song where David looks back on his life and worships God for all the goodness shown to him. In the song, he answers the question, “What can we do to put ourselves in a position where we experience the abundant goodness of God?”
2 Samuel 21 - Sin's Consequences And Teamwork
January 14, 2024 23:33 - 48 minutes - 45 MBAs we come to the last four chapters of 2 Samuel, instead of organizing themselves chronologically, they look back on David’s kingdom, God’s kingdom, and the relationship between them. Chapter 21 discusses some of life’s biggest questions, such as, “If there is a good God, why does he allow natural disaster and suffering?” Join us as we turn to the Bible for answers to some of life’s biggest questions.
2 Samuel 19:40-20:26 - The Corrupted Kingdom
January 08, 2024 00:55 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBEvery election season politicians make promises. The promise to lower the debt, solve immigration, and reduce taxes while raising our benefits. What should we expect from our flawed leaders? As David's kingdom is restored after Absalom's coupe, we see the limits of human leaders and why Jesus is the better king we need.
Psalm 119 - Why Read the Bible?
December 31, 2023 23:23 - 53 minutes - 49.9 MBIn today's world, who can you trust? Stockbrokers don't always pick winners. Doctors make mistakes. Fortune tellers are virtually never reliable. Whose word is good? Is the Bible simply another authority we cannot trust? In this study, we examine what the Bible claims to be and do in our lives.
Jesus Our Savior Is Born!
December 24, 2023 23:29 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBJesus changed many things in this world. He changed education, medicine, science, civilization, arts, and politics. Most importantly, he came to change us. Jesus came to save us from our sin, to be the savior of the world. In our final message of this series, we look at how Jesus saves lives, and how he can save yours today.
Luke 2:1-7 - Jesus Changed Civilization, Arts, And Politics
December 10, 2023 23:35 - 50 minutes - 46.9 MBThe world into which Jesus was born was a harsh place. He was born in a stable because the inn had no room and people had no compassion. He grew up in poverty. He grew up in a world where the Roman government heavily taxed their people and crucified all who resisted. For entertainment, the Romans watched gladiators kill one another and animals dismember defenseless humans. The gothic tribes of Europe that eventually overran the Romans were not better. They practiced polygamy, blood sacrifices...
Matthew 2:1-12 - Jesus Changed Education, Medicine, And Science
November 26, 2023 22:15 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBIn the 1946 film classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, the character played by Jimmy Stewart gets a chance to see what life would be like had he never been born. In many ways, that movie is the springboard for this series. The film’s main point is that each person’s life impacts everyone else’s. Had they never been born, there would be gaping holes left in their absence. This series aims to help us realize Jesus's enormous impact on history.
2 Samuel 19:8-43 - The Return Of The King
November 19, 2023 19:36 - 58 minutes - 54.3 MBWhen was the last time you struggled with forgiveness? It is hard to forget and forgive after someone has said or done something hurtful. How do we work for unity and restoration in the church and our family? As we continue our study in 2 Samuel, we will examine how David worked for unity in a divided nation and the tensions that tried to tear it apart.
2 Samuel 17:24-19:8 - Battle For The Kingdom
November 12, 2023 19:38 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBFrom 1955 until 1962, the world’s largest statue of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin loomed over Prague. The 17,000-ton monster dominated the skyline. When sculptor, Svec Polesny, applied to build the monument, he never expected to win the opportunity and spend the next five years of his life building it. During construction, the size of the project overwhelmed him. He fell into depression, became an alcoholic, and had an affair on his wife, which resulted in her committing suicide. As the monume...
2 Samuel 17 - God's Plans Or Man's Plans
November 05, 2023 21:10 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBIn most cases, we are told of biblical figures to emulate, such as Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Jesus. There are other biblical figures we are told to avoid, such as the Jews who hardened their hearts after the Exodus and Lot’s wife. At the top of the list of biblical characters to avoid in the Old Testament is Ahithophel. He was an evil genius committed to destroying the life of David. In this chapter, we learn about the difference between man’s plans and God’s plans. No matter how brilliant or c...
2 Samuel 16 - From Friends To Foes
October 29, 2023 20:38 - 47 minutes - 44.1 MBOn September 11, when the Twin Towers in New York were attacked, many were late for work. They were frustrated because they were caught in traffic or overslept their alarm. What appeared to be a problem was God’s grace in their life as they were not in the World Trade Center when it was attacked. Many times, God has a way of taking the evil plans of those who are against us and carrying out God’s grace to us through it. In 2 Samuel 16, we meet three of David’s enemies who are unwittingly used...
2 Samuel 15 - David's Darkest Hour
October 22, 2023 20:41 - 49 minutes - 46.3 MBIn 1942, Red Cross packages arrived for prisoners in German concentration camps. When the Red Cross asked for an accounting, 23,000 packages were missing. When Nazi German collapsed, many of these packages were found in the barracks of SS officers. The packages were not intended for them, but they took them anyway. In 2 Samuel 15, that is what we find. Absalom attempts to seize the kingship from his father, a kingship that doesn’t belong to him. In David’s darkest days, we learn about conspir...
2 Samuel 14 - Absalom Returns
October 15, 2023 22:16 - 47 minutes - 44.5 MBPoliticians manipulate their peers. Parents manipulate their children. Employees manipulate one another at work. As we continue our study in 2 Samuel, we see political manipulation in David’s kingdom. When David fails to deal decisively with his rebellious sons, he is manipulated into placing Absalom, his murderous son, just outside the kingship. Join us as we learn the importance of genuine repentance before restoration.
2 Samuel 13 - Like Father, Like Son
October 08, 2023 15:53 - 49 minutes - 46.2 MBWhat are the dangers of passive parenting? What happens when fathers are too busy at work to play an active role in comforting and correcting their children? What happens when children are left to act on their urges and instincts? In 2 Samuel 13, we get a window into King David’s passive parenting and the disaster that followed when he failed to discipline his sons. It is a chapter that will motivate every parent to be involved in guiding their children, no matter what their age.
2 Samuel 12 - Sin's Consequences And God's Grace
October 01, 2023 22:49 - 48 minutes - 45.3 MBOne of the fictions we hear during the political season is that a leader’s personal life has no impact on public performance. We know that this is untrue. What happens at home never stays at home. It follows us to work. A personal life that lacks character and integrity will lead to a public one that looks the same. If ever there was a man whose private life influenced his public world, it was King David. After committing adultery and murder in private, this brought God’s public judgment on h...
2 Samuel 11 - David And Bathsheba
September 24, 2023 20:15 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBThe election season is in full swing. Candidates text and call our phones. We see political advertisements on YouTube and television. Every candidate promises to turn the country around. While some candidates are better than others, the sad truth is that all candidates will fail us. They are flawed human beings, just like us. In 2 Samuel 11, we see that even David, a man after God’s own heart, fails his nation. He gives in to sexual desires and has an affair. What left him vulnerable? What fa...
What Does The Bible Say About Acquiring Money?
September 19, 2023 12:58 - 55 minutes - 51.7 MBBuilding wealth has become problematic in recent years, especially with soaring inflation. Half of American households do not have enough cash reserves for an an unexpected $400 expense. The most brutal hit is the lower class, with an income between $23,000 and $40,499. Their net worth fell by half in recent years. Payday loans and credit cards are some of the biggest financial killers offering easy access to money at predatory rates. What does the Bible say about building wealth? In this stu...
Naaman - Healing And Humility
September 03, 2023 14:22 - 51 minutes - 48.1 MBOn September 11, airplanes were hijacked. Two were flown into the Twin Towers, and another into the Pentagon. Flight 93 did not reach its target (probably the White House) thanks to a handful of ordinary people that God used to make a difference. As we continue our study on how God uses ordinary and broken people to make a big difference, in 2 Kings 5, we meet an unnamed junior high girl who was captured and sold into slavery. God used her to reach the second most powerful person in the Syria...
Caleb - Finishing Well
August 06, 2023 14:19 - 54 minutes - 50.6 MBIn the finals of the 2004 Olympics, Perdita Felicien of Canada tripped on her first hurdle and then fell into the adjacent lane taking out Irina Shevchenko of Russia. Felicien was ranked number one in the world when she started, but her race ended in defeat. The Christian life is also described as a race. What does it take not just to start but also to finish the Christian life well? Caleb was one of only two in the Exodus generation to see the Promised Land. Join us as we learn from his life...
Barnabas - The Encourager
July 23, 2023 20:27 - 51 minutes - 47.7 MBLife can be difficult. Discouragement is a common human experience. Sometimes, the purpose of the insignificant things we do seems impossible to understand. We may want to give up. Without encouragement, life can be burdensome. Without encouragement, we begin to think God is unconcerned for us. This is why the Bible tells us to encourage one another. We are to remind one another that God loves us, He promises to equip us for the challenges we face, and we are Christ’s precious treasure. In th...
Speaking The Lord's Name in Vain And Swearing
July 09, 2023 14:23 - 49 minutes - 46.1 MBRichard Stevens, a British psychologist from Keene University, conducted an experiment in which people immersed their hand in ice water. He concluded that the act of swearing during the experiment enabled participants to have an increased pain tolerance of up to 33 percent. Does this mean we should curse when in pain or around difficult people? Join us as we look at what the Bible says about cursing.
Boasting, Flattery, and Exaggeration
July 02, 2023 14:20 - 54 minutes - 62 MBJack LaLanne was a pioneer in American fitness. At age 62, he swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge underwater while handcuffed and towing a 1,000-pound boat. At age 70, he swam towing 70 rowboats with 70 people in them for one mile while handcuffed and shackled on his feet. At age 96, he gave an interview claiming he would live forever! His arrogant boasting didn’t help when shortly after the interview, he contracted pneumonia and died. In this study, we learn what the Bible says about h...
Gossip and Slander
June 11, 2023 16:10 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBIn 2013, Justine Sacco, a communications executive with the media company IAC, sent a sarcastic tweet to her 170 Twitter followers just before boarding a plane for Africa. The tweet dripped with racial animosity — “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” During her 11-hour flight to Cape Town, the tweet spread like wildfire from her tiny band of Twitter followers until she became the number one worldwide trend on Twitter. Hundreds called for her firing. Thousands lab...
James 3:1-12 - The Power Of Words
June 04, 2023 20:04 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBIn 2017, while struggling with depression, 15-year-old Molly Russell took her life. During the dark struggle, she turned to social media for help. Before her suicide, she interacted with over 2,100 posts about suicide and self-harm on Facebook and Instagram. The words of the posts convinced her that instead of seeking help, she should take her life. Recently a British court held Meta, Facebook’s parent group, liable for her death because of the words they chose not to censor. As we begin our ...
2 Samuel 10 - Resisting The King
May 28, 2023 20:01 - 50 minutes - 47.1 MBShaquille O’Neill, the four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest basketball players ever, renounced his celebrity status in an interview with the New York Post. He feels celebrities are “freaking crazy.” He doesn’t like how they treat people, what they do with their life, and what they say. “That has never been me.” Shaq said, “I hope to be remembered for my kindness both on and off the basketball court.” In 2 Samuel 10, David also shows incredible kindness. The question is, will people ...
2 Samuel 9 - The Kindness Of The King
May 21, 2023 15:23 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBIn 1932 Franklin Roosevelt made a speech in Pittsburgh where he talked about the importance of restraining government spending. Four years later, he wanted to speak in the same city in favor of government spending. He asked one of his advisors what he should do. They told him to deny the works he had spoken four years before! In 2 Samuel 9, David could have done the same thing and conveniently forgotten about a promise he had made almost twenty years before. Instead of going back on his word,...
2 Samuel 8 - The Conquests Of The Kingdom
May 08, 2023 01:18 - 55 minutes - 51.4 MBWhat will it be like when Jesus returns? How will He treat those who have rebelled against Him? What will happen to those who longed for Him? In 2 Samuel 8, we preview Jesus’ eternal rule as God’s anointed king over creation through the lens of David, God’s anointed king over Israel. Join me as we look at what Jesus’ leadership will be like in our future.
2 Samuel 7:17-29 - Praying God's Promises
May 01, 2023 01:14 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBThe story is told of how Louis XIV requested that at his funeral in the cathedral of Notre Dame, all be darkened — except for one candle burning on his casket at the front. When Massillon, the court preacher, rose to give the funeral sermon, he walked over to the casket and blew out the candle. He began his funeral message with the words, “Only God is great! Only God is Great!” In 2 Samuel 7, David was overwhelmed by God’s goodness to him. We learned that because God is so good, the best thin...
2 Samuel 7:1-16 - The Davidic Covenant
April 23, 2023 15:15 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBWhat should you do when you have made it? What should we do if we can retire? Join us as we learn from King David what to do when we are to financially comfortable.
2 Samuel 6 - The Ark Comes To Jerusalem
April 16, 2023 20:04 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBIn 2003, in Texas, 19 people died after being left inside an airtight truck trailer. At the time, it was called the nation’s deadliest smuggling attempt. While the driver of the trailer truck was clearly at fault, the sin began years before with illegal immigration. In 2 Samuel 6, we learn that the harsh and surprising consequences of sin often begin long before with a pattern of lesser sin. Join us as we learn the blessings of consistent obedience to God’s Word.
Easter 2023 - Is The Resurrection Fact Or Fiction?
April 09, 2023 19:18 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBOn Sunday, December 4, 2016, a man with a rifle came into a northwestern Washington D.C. pizza shop and started shooting. Thankfully he was arrested, and nobody was hurt. It was the motive for his crime that was shocking. The pizza shop, Comet Ping Pong, was accused on Twitter of serving as the base for a pedophile sex ring involving presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and members of her campaign. The accusations of the pizza shop sex ring were re-tweeted and re-posted on social media so m...
2 Samuel 5 - The Rise Of David
April 02, 2023 13:53 - 57 minutes - 53.3 MBIn Psalm 130:5, David writes, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word, I hope.” David waited over a decade for God to keep his word and make him king. The double-digit years of waiting were filled with discouragement, near-death experiences, and difficulty keeping peace in a nation at war. The story of David’s rise to power is an encouragement for all of us who find ourselves waiting for God to answer our prayers.
2 Samuel 4 - Wait For The Lord
March 26, 2023 20:34 - 43 minutes - 40.7 MBHave you found yourself stuck in a situation where you do not know how to move forward? It may be a difficult marriage or job. The only options to find relief are ungodly choices? What should we do? Join us as we learn how David faced times when there was no god-honoring path forward.
2 Samuel 3 - Seeking Peace
March 19, 2023 22:29 - 44 minutes - 41.6 MBIn May of 2016, John Houser opened fire in a movie theatre. Teacher Allison Martin and her friend, Jena Beaux were credited with helping save lives after the gunman opened fire. They shielded others with their bodies. Both of them were shot. Allison managed to pull the fire alarm emptying the 300-person theatre complex before more were injured and killed. When police arrived, John Houser turned the gun on himself and took his life. When interviewed after recovering in the hospital, Allison ta...
2 Samuel 2 - Civil War
March 13, 2023 03:07 - 50 minutes - 46.8 MBWhat kind of leader are you? What does a godly leader look like in our dog-eat-dog world? 2 Samuel 2 is a contrast between an egotistical leader who is eager for war and a godly leader who is eager for peace. Join us as we learn what godly leadership looks like and the futility of rebelling against Jesus, God’s chosen king.
2 Samuel 1 - Does Crime Pay?
February 26, 2023 17:06 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBAdoniram Judson was a student at Providence College in 1808. He grew up in a Christian home, but in college he was captivated by a group of students who embraced Enlightenment ideas from Europe. He was especially fond of an upperclassman named Jacob Eames, who persuaded Adoniram to abandon his Christian faith and adopt deism. Adoniram moved to New York to pursue a life of pleasure in the theatre. It was at that time when he stayed in an Inn. It just happened that the man in the next room was ...
WISDOM - Do I Make Wise Choices?
February 19, 2023 19:38 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBAdriana Kuch was a 14-year-old freshman viciously beaten by girls in the hall of her New Jersey high school. It was a planned beating, with other students recording the incident on their cell phones. The purpose was to upload the video to TikTok and become famous. Two days after the beating, after hundreds of hateful comments on the video from people she didn’t know, Adriana committed suicide. So far, there are three students charged as an accessory to her death. Many of the students involved...
WORKS - Do I Use My Gifts In The Church?
February 13, 2023 01:32 - 46 minutes - 39.2 MBJohn Patton was a missionary to the cannibals of the New Hebrides Islands. Shortly after arriving, his wife and his newborn son died. He was forced to guard their bodies to keep cannibals from eating them. Rather than leave, he pressed on staying for the next 35 years. In a remarkable transformation. over three decades, every native on the islands gave their heart to Christ. Do not underestimate the way God can use the power of our witness to change a life. In this message, we learn how a hea...