Richard Ellis Talks
1,302 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 335 ratingsThe daily podcast with Richard Ellis. Follow / Like him @TalkWithRichard
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Episodes
Rock Star
March 30, 2020 06:01The story of David and Goliath is a perfect example of how God is more than capable of overcoming our obstacles. And more than that, it's a reminder: we'll all face trials and tribulations in life, but we can trust God to fight for us in the midst of them. Instead of being consumed by worry over the struggles we face, let's believe His Word, which says He is greater than anything that comes against us!
Net Prophet
March 28, 2020 06:01When we're filled with Christ, we can't help but overflow with His love! But to truly follow Jesus, we have to cast a net out for others and lead them to Him. When we share the Gospel, we also need to teach people how to follow -- because the knowledge doesn't mean anything unless it's accompanied by the relationship.
Chinese Food
March 27, 2020 06:01The Bible is filled with examples of God caring for His people throughout history, because He's promised to supply all of our needs. But unless we eat the "food" found through Scripture, we will never be filled. Jesus teaches that we have more than just physical needs -- and the only way to satisfy our spiritual needs is through Him.
Out Of The Box
March 25, 2020 06:01When it comes to doing Kingdom work "outside the box", Jesus gave us countless good examples! The truth is, obedience to God draws us outside our comfort zone so He may be glorified and His name made known to others. Are there "boxes" that keep us from living out God's call on our lives?
You’re Fired
March 24, 2020 06:01Isaiah 43:2 tells us, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." The Bible's filled with examples of men and women who chose to obey God in spite of serious consequences. When we trust Him, He promises to walk with us through any fire we face.
Vanity Mirror
March 23, 2020 06:01Scripture tells us that no amount of earthly treasures or pleasures can fix our own brokenness. Only God can change us from the inside out. The best way to enjoy the life that He's given us is to chase after Him -- and in doing so, we'll find true purpose and meaning!
No Average Joe
March 21, 2020 06:01Joseph of Nazareth was just an "average Joe" who decided to obey God. His obedience led him to become Jesus' earthly stepfather! When God uses ordinary people, He works in them to do extraordinary things. The moment we become followers of Christ, God begins living in us and uses His Holy Spirit to do His work.
March Madness
March 20, 2020 06:01Throughout the Old Testament, when God's people went out to face battle on their own, they were always met with defeat. But when they started praising the Lord before the battle, fixing their eyes on Him, and following His instructions -- no matter how crazy they seemed! -- they would always be led into victory. The same is true of us today: when we keep our eyes on God and obey His direction, the result will always be a "win" for us and the Kingdom!
Death Wish
March 19, 2020 06:01We're all going to die one day -- and not all of us are sure what happens to us after death. The good news is: thanks to Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we can know where we're going to spend eternity! When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we can be certain of our salvation, and our "death" wish becomes eternal life with Him.
The Missing Peace
March 18, 2020 06:01The world is filled with anxiety. Especially in our current circumstances! But when we let ourselves become consumed by worry, what we're really saying is that we lack trust in God. When we re-direct our focus towards choosing to trust Him, He gives us an unexplainable, supernatural peace -- and the ability to rejoice in our circumstances, no matter what they are.
Loveproof
March 17, 2020 06:01In the Old Testament, God commanded His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. But in the New Testament, Jesus takes it to the next level when He challenges us to love others as we love ourselves. The only way we can do that is to first understand God's love for us and love Him in response -- so that we can turn around, love ourselves, and love others in the same way.
What The Hell?
March 16, 2020 06:01In the tough moments, it's easy for us to trade in our original plans for momentary pleasures. But when we give up our commitment to be obedient to God, it can lead to huge mistakes and grave consequences. Instead, let's keep our focus on Him -- and know that every choice we make has an impact on ourselves and others.
Model Home
March 14, 2020 06:01The Bible instructs us how we're supposed to live, and how to model for others what it looks like to serve God. Our lives aren't mean to be "model homes" that appear bright and shiny and perfect on the outside. They're meant to represent the work that God's done in us as a proclamation of what He can do in others.
Coors Light
March 13, 2020 06:01Jesus told us that He's put His light in each of us so that we can go light the darkness around us. And the best way to do that is by proclaiming the knowledge of God's glory! Through His love that shines in our hearts, God can use us to help change the world.
Gate Change
March 12, 2020 06:01The Bible tells us that the world is headed down the easy, wide path to destruction. But as followers of Christ, we're called to follow God's spiritual "gate change" announcement and walk the narrow path to eternal life instead. Taking the road less traveled might be difficult -- but it's worth it for the reward we have in Jesus.
Vote Of Confidence
March 11, 2020 06:01Jesus lived a sinless life, then He took our sin on the cross and paid the price on our behalf. Because of what He's done for us, we've been washed clean and made holy. Not only that, but we can approach God boldly, knowing we're forgiven.
The Con Sequence
March 10, 2020 06:01When it comes to sin, one of the biggest hurdles for us to overcome is ourselves. The Bible urges us to learn from our past mistakes and not continue down the same path toward darkness. If we choose to learn from the consequences of our actions, we won't be deceived -- and we'll choose the path that leads to life.
Teardown
March 09, 2020 06:01There are a lot of obstacles in life that can come between us and God, whether it's our sin struggles, outside distractions, or even other wholesome and honorable pursuits. But in order to live the life of freedom God offers, we have to tear down the walls that are keeping us separated from Him. When we examine our lives and see what those barriers are, we can ensure they no longer stand in the way of our relationship with the Lord.
Pain In The Neck
March 07, 2020 06:01We face situations in life where God's asking us to obey Him in some way, and we can stiffen up in stubbornness because we don't want to do the very thing He's asking us to do! In those instances, we have to allow ourselves to be softened up and listen to His call. He has a purpose for every thing beyond what we can see, and it could be for the benefit of other people in ways we don't even realize.
Wanna Be
March 06, 2020 06:01The Christian life is meant to be lived out in community, so we can have examples in godly men and women who model for us what it means to live a God-honoring life. As they follow Christ and we imitate them, we learn how to be disciples of Jesus. Not only that, but there are others behind us who are looking to follow our example, too.
Pardon Me
March 05, 2020 06:01No matter what each of us has done, God's chosen to forgive us and pardon us through the death of His Son. And when we realize how greatly we've sinned, we're able to realize how much greater God's forgiveness is towards us. Because of Christ's death on the cross, we have the opportunity to accept the pardon that He's offered to us.
It’s Not Working
March 04, 2020 06:01Religion says we have to follow all the rules and check off all the boxes in order to earn God's love for us. But grace says there's nothing we can do to earn His love, and that He's been waiting to give it to us all along! Salvation's a free gift, and once we accept it, the best way we can respond to it is by letting Him live and work in us and through us.
Pretty Prayers
March 03, 2020 06:01The Bible tells us to pray constantly, but it doesn't tell us to pray fancy! God isn't concerned with the words we use, but with the heart that we bring to Him in prayer. Even if He doesn't answer the way we want Him to, He'll transform our hearts in the process.
Voo Doo Dolls
March 02, 2020 06:01When we stop to realize how much God's forgiven us, it becomes obvious that we, too, should forgive those who have wronged us. But the only way we can forgive other people is if we first truly understand how much God's forgiven us. Not only did He send Jesus to pay our debt on the cross, He wiped our slate clean and offered us a fresh start and a new hope.
Blood Relative
February 29, 2020 06:01This life was never meant to be lived out alone. And that's especially true for the body of Christ. When we become followers of Jesus, we become part of the family of God. That means loving each other, living life together, and making His family a safe place for anyone to come just as they are.
Blood Test
February 13, 2020 06:01The Old Testament gives us a detailed picture of the Tabernacle that God commanded His people build in order for them to worship Him. It was beautiful, ornate, and precious -- but the purpose of it was to slaughter animal sacrifices and spill their blood to cover the sins of the people. Since Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice whose blood has covered all our sins, we're able to come before Him and be washed clean from our past.
Maternity Test
February 12, 2020 06:01Being a Christian doesn't mean we're exempt from the pain and suffering of this world. But being a Christian does mean we're promised hope -- a hope that will sustain us through those difficult times. God promises to turn our times of weeping into times of dancing, but that hope can only come from Christ, Who redeems all things.
Abstinence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
February 10, 2020 06:01Jesus said that if we even look with lust at someone who's not our spouse, we've already committed adultery in our hearts. But He calls us to a life of holiness, and that includes abstaining from sexual immorality. God offers us grace and mercy when we fail, but He continues to call us to a higher standard -- a standard of true love.
Wooley Boogers
January 29, 2020 06:01When we choose to accept Jesus as our Savior, we're also choosing to make personal sacrifices in order to follow Him. No matter what other people are saying or doing, if we profess to love Christ, then we're called to obey Him. Are we willing and available to do whatever God's asking us to do?
Lifers
January 18, 2020 06:01Our culture promotes the idea of making our lives a "buffet", where we pick and choose the things we do want, and toss out the things we don't. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, rather than being "pickers and choosers", we need to be "lifers" and commit to the things God calls us to fight for -- no matter the cost. That includes the decision to commit ourselves to a certain church, to commit ourselves to a certain group of people, and to commit ourselves to following Him.
Pregnancy Test
January 17, 2020 06:01In today's culture, one of the most dangerous places to be in this world is in the womb. Increasingly high abortion rates tell us that life before birth has been devalued in our society, but if we believe what the Bible says, a person is a person whether they're still in the womb or outside of it. Even if we've made a mistake before, God offers forgiveness and restoration from our past and the opportunity to be both recipients and ministers of restoration.
Stop
January 14, 2020 06:01Scripture teaches us the importance of listening to the Spirit and following what He tells us do, when He tells us to do it. And that means when He says, "Stop", we should stop! We all struggle with different sins, and the Spirit works on each of us in different ways and different times, but when we listen and obey, it'll benefit us in the end.
Anno Domini
January 02, 2020 06:01As one year comes to a close and another begins, it's a good opportunity to reflect on how we used our time the past 12 months to bring honor and glory to God. But more than that, it's important as we move into a new year to not waste the time He's given us. At the end of this life, when all we've done is "sifted" and only those things we did for Him remain, will we have anything to offer Him -- or just empty hands?
Day One
January 01, 2020 06:01With a new year comes a sense of new beginnings, and an opportunity to do things differently. One area where the Bible teaches us how to live is in how we use our finances. When we give our first fruits to God by placing our treasures in our church home, it indicates that we're committed to a body of believers like He's called us to.
After Birth
December 26, 2019 06:01Once the beautiful miracle of birth is over, the messy reality of "afterbirth" comes. This same process takes place in our spiritual lives, too, because there's a mess in the life of every believer after we're born again. While we still have consequences for our actions, Jesus not only gives us life after birth -- He also gives us afterlife in eternity with Him.
Out Of Africa
December 21, 2019 06:01Sometimes God calls us to move. But other times, He calls us to stay. Regardless of what the instructions are, when God tells us to do something, we should do it! The only safe place we can ever be is exactly where He's called us.
Assume The Position
December 05, 2019 06:01Jesus "assumed the position" when He hung on the cross to die for us. Now it's our turn to assume a position and take a stand for human life. As Christians, we have a duty to fight for the millions of innocent lives that are lost to abortion, and to be a voice for the voiceless.
Thanks Giving
November 28, 2019 06:01God's blessed us beyond what we could ever comprehend. And the best way to thank Him for all that He's given us is to turn around and give Him all that we have. The Lord's asking us to give generously, no matter how much or how little we have, because when we do, He always fills us with so much more.
Weaners
November 27, 2019 06:01Just as a mother feeds her baby milk, God allows us to feed on "spiritual milk" until we grow mature enough to feed ourselves. But we're not meant to stay dependent forever. As growth takes place in our relationship with the Lord, He begins to reveal certain behaviors we need to be weaned from in order to continue moving forward.
Thank Again
November 26, 2019 06:01Have you ever noticed that an angry person tends to lack gratitude, while a joyful person tends to be rich in thankfulness? It's no coincidence that the things we think about affect the way that we act. When we find it hard to come up with things to be grateful for, let's challenge ourselves to do it anyway, and to thank God continually!
Thanks But No Thanks
November 25, 2019 06:01The world is watching Christ-followers to see if we live out the values we claim to believe. People are drawn to authenticity, and when we're authentic in our faith and genuine in our lives, we're better able to pass on to others the mercy that God first extended to us. Then it's up to them whether they'll receive His gift of salvation or say, "Thanks, but no thanks."
The TrueMan Show
November 21, 2019 06:01Would you think or act differently if you knew someone was always watching? Not only does God see everything we do, but He knows every thought that crosses our minds. As Christians, He's in us 24/7. His desire isn't for us to "put on a show" to look good on the outside, but to live out a sanctified life that's truly pleasing to Him.
The Middle Man
November 20, 2019 06:01Fathers are called to be examples to their children of our Heavenly Father. But no dad can do that in his own strength! A father is a kind of "middle man" who teaches his child to lean on the Lord. In the same way, Jesus was a middle man for us -- and it's through Him that we can have a relationship with God the Father for all eternity.
Peter Out
November 05, 2019 06:01God calls us to serve Him. But we'll tire out fast if we try to do it all on our own! When we take our eyes off Jesus and start working in our own strength instead of relying on Him, we lose His power and "peter out" pretty quickly. He wants us to depend on Him -- to fix our eyes on Him -- in order to accomplish what He's asked us to do.
Haunted House
October 31, 2019 06:01Though this world is filled with evil, God's given us the ability to overcome it through the power and protection of His Holy Spirit. He's chosen to dwell in us so that we may become more like Him and able to fight against darkness. And once the Spirit lives within us, there's nothing that can ever separate us from Him!
Stand By
October 24, 2019 06:01When it comes to reaching the world with the Good News of salvation, the most harmful thing we can say is...nothing at all. We need to be on "stand by" mode so that when an opportunity presents itself for us to speak up and share our faith, we'll be ready to step in. God wants to use us to expand His Kingdom -- let's always be prepared to given a reason for the hope people see in our lives!
The Infantry
September 26, 2019 06:01The Bible tells us that our battle's not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). It's easy to make people the target of our anger and to view them as "the enemy" when we're in the middle of conflict, but Jesus came to save us from the real Enemy -- and our battle against evil is with Satan, not with others. When we feel ourselves tempted to point our anger in the wrong direction, let's focus on Jesus and let Him lead us to victory in the spiritual b...
Haydn Seek
September 02, 2019 06:01When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, hiding in shame because of their sin, God came looking for them. And when we're lost in the sin that threatens to destroy our lives, He comes looking for us, too. Instead of hiding in our sin, let's allow ourselves to be found by the Seeker -- and then walk out into the new life that He offers us!
Fear Less
August 13, 2019 06:01We're all afraid of something. But the Bible tells us that when God's in us, there's nothing to fear! When He calls us to do something, He'll equip us to do it, too. So what do we need to do to face our fears and live in His spirit of power and love?
Cul-De-Sac
July 16, 2019 06:01God doesn't tell us that we might be tempted in this life -- He guarantees that we will be tempted in this life! Temptation's inevitable in a broken world, and many of us find ourselves tempted by the same things over and over and over again. The good news? God promises that He'll always give us a way out and an "exit sign" to escape temptation, if we're just willing to obey and follow Him!