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
Be Safe
January 03, 2024 05:00There's no way to sugarcoat the truth: we live in a dangerous world. Not only do we face physical struggles constantly -- we face spiritual battles every day. The Bible tells us to hide ourselves in God and He'll cover us. He's faithful to protect us from the attacks of the enemy when we call on His name.
All You Can Eat
January 02, 2024 05:00When we give God our lives, He gives us so much more in return. He allows us the privilege of partnering with Him to change the world for His glory. We only need to read Scripture to see how He provides for those who trust in Him: He offers the Bread of Life -- Jesus Himself.
Yesterday, Yes Today and Yes Tomorrow
January 01, 2024 05:00We sometimes talk about being a "yes" person like it's a bad thing. But when it comes to our walk with the Lord, giving our "yes" to Him is not only a choice we get to make, but the biggest privilege we could have. If you've said "no" until now, make this the moment to give Him your "yes" -- and never underestimate what He can do with the willingness of His people when we make ourselves available to Him.
New Ear’s Eve
December 30, 2023 05:00Sometimes, we allow the outside noise of the world to drown out God's voice because we're afraid of what He's trying to say to us. Other times, we just plain get distracted. Regardless, when we stop to listen and He tells us what to do, it's our job to respond with immediate obedience. Listening only makes an impact when it's followed by action.
Ignert
December 29, 2023 05:00Some people heard the stories of the Bible before they were even out of the womb, and they grew up knowing the Gospel message by heart. But for many others, the words of Scripture are brand new. If we're in the first group, may we never make new believers feel stupid, but always be ready to graciously answer questions and help to teach; if we're in the second group, may we never stop asking questions or lose excitement about the miracle of the Gospel!
Wheels Off
December 28, 2023 05:00Do you want to hear some really, really good news today? The same God that parted the Red Sea, raised Jesus from the dead, and rescued Paul from prison works on behalf of you and me. God may allow suffering, but He always has a plan to bring us through suffering.
Only Fans
December 27, 2023 05:00If you've ever been a film junkie, a sports enthusiast, or an avid supporter of a musician or band, you know that there's a difference between being a "fan" and being a "follower". We can all be fans of Jesus without ever actually obeying what He told us to do in order to follow Him. We can choose to be Christians who believe for the sake of salvation and continue to go about life as we please, or we can accept the exciting and fulfilling invitation Jesus extends for us to follow Him.
Boy Wonder
December 26, 2023 05:00The miracle baby whose birth we celebrate on Christmas grew into the Savior Who took our sins to the cross. But in between birth and death was the life of a boy wonder! Mary and Joseph walked obediently in God's will and raised Jesus to fulfill God's plan for Him. In the same way, the Lord asks us to respond to our Savior by walking in obedience and surrendering our lives to Him.
It’s A Wrap
December 25, 2023 05:00Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth, but in a way, it's also a reminder of His sacrifice. Just as He was wrapped up in swaddling clothes as a baby when He was first declared the Messiah, He was later wrapped and buried after His death -- a death He died all so that we could have eternal life. God offers us the gift of salvation, wrapped up in His Son -- and all we have to do is reach out and receive it.
The Night Before Christmas
December 23, 2023 05:00For centuries throughout Old Testament times, the people waited on the promise that a Messiah would come. During that period of waiting, the Israelites experienced a lot of darkness before the Light of the World arrived. Like them, we all go through difficult seasons, but when we cling to the hope we have in Christ, He brings light to the darkest corners of our lives.
Christmas Eve
December 22, 2023 05:00When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them free reign in what you'd consider "paradise on earth": the Garden of Eden. They had just one command to follow -- and as we all know, they blew it. Their decision to sin in that moment set the stage for every generation of humanity since, and our imperfect, sinful nature has caused our separation from a perfect, holy God. We needed a flawless sacrifice to cover our sin and bridge the gap between us and God. That sacrifice came in the form of a baby...
What Child Is This?
December 21, 2023 05:00What's in a name? In God's case: everything! Some of the world's most famous people -- athletes, actors, historical figures -- are remembered by just their first name. But the most notable is the name that was given to a baby boy by His earthly father, who was told by an angel to name that baby boy "Jesus". And it wasn't just a name for a child -- it was the name for the Child who was born to save the world.
Baby Proof
December 20, 2023 05:00Did you know that the scientific probability of someone fulfilling 8 different Old Testament prophecies is 1 in 100 quadrillion? The Bible contains more than 300 prophecies about the coming Messiah -- and Jesus fulfilled all of them. Statistics prove that Jesus really is the Messiah, but at some point, each of us has to decide whether we're going to continue arguing the facts and ignoring the evidence, or whether we're going to trust Scripture, have faith, and share the Gospel with others.
Holy Day Inn
December 19, 2023 05:00Jesus was a lover of people -- but more specifically, He was a lover of strangers. Jesus demonstrated His love for all humanity by dying for every single one of us without preference or prejudice. Not only that, He lived out His earthly life by showing kindness to each person that He met. When we become part of His family, we're called to adopt the same mindset of hospitality -- by opening our arms, our homes, and our hearts, even to strangers.
No Vacancy
December 18, 2023 05:00When it comes to letting Jesus into our lives, many of us are more likely to put up a "No Vacancy" sign than we are to roll out the welcome mat. But when we finally turn off the "No" and make room for Him, Jesus changes our hearts and our lives from the inside out.
Two Personal Fowls
December 16, 2023 05:00Mary wasn't perfect. And yet, God used her to bring His Son into the world. After Mary gave birth to Jesus, she continued to be faithful and followed Old Testament law by bringing fowls to the temple to be sacrificed. But she also brought something of far greater importance: she brought the Lamb of God, who would become the ultimate sacrifice and take away the sins of the world.
ETA
December 15, 2023 05:00If we ever doubt God's reason, purpose, and perfect timing for our lives, we only need to look at the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled to realize that He's always had His hand in each and every detail! There's nothing that happens in your life or mine that's outside the plan and the will of God. He sees the bigger picture -- even when we don't.
Xmas
December 14, 2023 05:00There are too many different elements of the Gospel story that line up perfectly for it to be dismissed as coincidence. It's not bad to question why we believe what we believe, but at some point we have to have faith in what the Bible says or pass it off as nothing more than a hoax. If it's a hoax, there's no "Christ" in Christmas...and if there's no "Christ" in Christmas, then we're still waiting for a Messiah who will come and save us from our sins.
All I Want For Christmas Is You
December 13, 2023 05:00The Christmas story is about Jesus giving Himself for us. He came to earth as a baby who would grow up to die for our sins. And in response, He asks us to love Him with our whole selves and hold nothing back. When we give Him all of us, it's amazing how He uses that commitment to change the world around us.
Mary Had A Little Lamb
December 12, 2023 05:00In the book of Exodus, we read how the Israelites needed the blood of a spotless lamb to save themselves from physical death. Today, we need the blood of God's spotless Lamb -- Jesus -- to save us from spiritual death. And when we understand there's nothing else that can save us but the blood of Christ, we realize how important it is to share that news with others.
Ebenezer Scrooge
December 11, 2023 05:00The Israelites wasted 20 long years because they chose not to repent and follow the Lord. They only brought more consequence on themselves in the end. Often, we're like the Israelites: we procrastinate on our repentance, and God allows consequences to come our way in order to draw us back to Him.
Hail Mary
December 09, 2023 05:00How amazing is it that God wants to use you and me to reach people?! But in order to do that, we have to be willing to see past the "impossible" and believe in Him to make all things possible. There's no better time and no greater opportunity than Christmas to step out in obedience and boldly proclaim the Gospel - let's trust God to give us the words and the courage we need.
Gift Tag
December 08, 2023 05:00God gave up His one and only Son so that we could be offered the gift of eternal life. All He asks is that we offer ourselves to Him in return. Scripture teaches us to surrender our whole lives to the Lord, and then to stand back and watch the amazing things He can do with us.
Christmas Sale
December 07, 2023 05:00In a time when people have never owned more stuff, we've never been more owned by our stuff. So we tend to get uncomfortable when we read Jesus' charge to us to care for the poor, particularly when it requires self-sacrifice. It might not sound appealing to part with our things, but things should always take a backseat to people -- especially when those people have the potential to become brothers or sisters in Christ as a consequence of the love, compassion, and generosity we extend to them.
EPT
December 06, 2023 05:00God called Mary to bear His Son -- a task so monumental and "impossible" that there's no way she could have followed through unless she had faith. She trusted God to do what He said, and to equip her with everything she'd need to fulfill His purpose for her. God calls us to that same kind of obedience -- the kind that requires our dependence on Him -- and when we rely on Him, our faith not only grows, but we become a living, breathing showcase to the amazing things that only He can do.
Immaculate Misconception
December 05, 2023 05:00God literally worked out the impossible in order for Mary, a virgin, to conceive and give birth to His own Son. So why do we doubt that He can work out the seemingly "impossible" things in our own lives? When His Spirit lives within us and we walk in obedience, He fills us with the power to accomplish His plan and purpose.
Fourtold
December 04, 2023 05:00God told four different people about His plan to send His Son to this earth in order to save all those who believe in Him from their sins. And in doing that, He gave hope to humanity. Because we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we now have the responsibility and the privilege of telling the world what He's done for us and for them.
Sent Of A Woman
December 02, 2023 05:00Mary was chosen to carry the Son of God, to give birth to the Savior who would come in the flesh to save us from our sins. She trusted God's promises, and because she allowed the Holy Spirit to work through her, He fulfilled them. As Christians, the same Holy Spirit dwells in each of us -- and when we trust God for His promises, it impacts not only our own lives, but the world around us.
Dumb Priest
December 01, 2023 05:00God answered Zechariah and Elizabeth's prayers to have a baby -- but He did it within His perfect timing. He had a plan for that baby far beyond what anybody could see: John the Baptist would grow up to pave the way for God's own Son. Our prayers might seem repetitive, and it might even feel like they're falling on deaf ears. But God not only hears, He answers, and our only job is to wait on Him and trust Him in the process.
Heart Attack
November 30, 2023 05:00When we're disconnected from God, we're prone to spiritual attack. We have to connect with Him on a daily basis in order to prevent attacks on our hearts by the enemy. To do that, it's crucial to remain in God's Word and to be in regular fellowship with other believers.
Corona Lite
November 29, 2023 05:00When we invite Jesus into our lives, the transformation that happens within us should be reflected to the world outside us as we become instruments of His workmanship. Everywhere we go, there should be a noticeable difference between the light that's in us and a world that lives in darkness -- and we're not meant to keep that light to ourselves.
15 Minutes
November 28, 2023 05:00God used John the Baptist for the sole purpose of preparing people for the coming of Jesus. When we're fulfilling our purpose in life -- not seeking our 15 minutes of fame, but looking for ways to direct others' attention to Him -- we won't receive the glory for our actions, but He will.
Mad At Jesus’ Dad
November 27, 2023 05:00In this world, it's hard to wrap our brains around the fact that God is good in the midst of so much bad. We struggle to reconcile the immense suffering we face with what we hear and read about a loving and almighty God. But that same God who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us will not abandon us to suffer needlessly -- we just have to trust in His plan.
Who’s The Boss?
November 25, 2023 05:00The easiest and most accurate way to find out what your heart is truly devoted to is to look at your finances and see where they're going. God promises to take care of us in all of our needs, but we have to trust Him and let Him be Lord over our whole lives, including our money and the ways we use it.
Stuffed
November 24, 2023 05:00We look to everything this world has to offer -- including food -- to fill us. And if we're not careful, trying to fill ourselves with too much of anything can turn to an act of sin. We overindulge out of a desire to fill the emptiness we feel inside, but Jesus is the only One who can do that. When we allow Him in, change starts happening from the inside out.
Pig Out
November 23, 2023 05:00When you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you. We're often guilty of pointing fingers at others for their "obvious" sins while hiding sins that nobody likes to talk about because they make us uncomfortable. Gluttony is addressed specifically in the Bible as a sin, but we forget this when we sit down at a table full of food. Some of us need to spend less time judging others and more time seeking accountability from someone we trust to help us clean out ...
All The Fixins
November 22, 2023 05:00Just like the delicious food we enjoy at a holiday meal with family and friends, God's Word is full of all the "fixins" for our walk with Him. His table is set and there's a place for us. Come, taste and see that He is good!
Jackass
November 21, 2023 05:00What has God put in your life to protect you, that you're hardheadedly and stubbornly trying to destroy? He can use seemingly obscure things to get our attention, just like He did with Balaam and his donkey. If we're so focused on getting that "thing" out of our lives, we'll fail to see how it's protecting us.
This Is A Football
November 20, 2023 05:00There are basic -- but essential -- concepts to which the Church needs to hold fast in order for it to stay healthy and continue to grow. Discipleship, servant leadership, worship, community, and evangelism are just some of the key tenets of church health. Our ultimate purpose is to glorify God by spreading the Gospel and increasing His Church.
100% Clay
November 18, 2023 05:00Theodore Roosevelt once said, "comparison is the thief of joy." God made us for His work, to be molded and shaped into whatever vessel He wants to use. Instead of comparing ourselves to other people and being jealous of how God's using them, let's focus on allowing Him to work in us and through us in order to bring Him all the glory.
The Cross Is Foolishness
November 17, 2023 05:00God designs everything so that He gets the glory in everything. That means He does some things "backwards". The cross seemed foolish to the world, but it saves all who believe. Likewise, He'll use the weak and foolish because when they admit their need for Him, He's glorified in them.
Homo(notso)genius
November 16, 2023 05:00In a world filled with segregation, the Church should be set apart, not homogeneous with culture. God calls us to love people -- all people -- no matter their race, location, or socioeconomic status. When non-believers look from the outside in, they should see the Body of Christ as a unified being, loving one another the way God loves each of us.
Cracked Pots
November 15, 2023 05:00Each of us is a "cracked pot", scarred by our own brokenness. The good news is this: God wants to use those cracks to draw others to Him. And when we're willing to be vulnerable enough to reveal the cracks in our lives to others, God not only uses them -- He also repairs them.
The Milkman
November 14, 2023 05:00The Bible is to a believer what milk is to a human being: nourishment. And while it's understandable that new Christians are infants in their spiritual maturity, there has to come a point when we stop acting like newborns and start developing into the life God has in store for us. The only way to do that is through spiritual growth.
Oh Brother
November 13, 2023 05:00The downfall of so many churches is their tendency to build walls that push away the very people they claim to want to reach. If we're not careful, we as the Church can become so exclusive that people who desperately need Jesus find themselves feeling unwelcome. We should be the family that welcomes everyone in, the family who isn't deterred by someone's brokenness but who seeks to come alongside them and walk with them through the messiness of life.
Mouth To Mouth
November 11, 2023 05:00Ministry isn't just a "job" for vocational pastors; it's a way of living for all Christians. Each and every one of us are called to follow Jesus and the example He gave us of how to reach the lost, be ministers of revival and restoration, and expand the Kingdom.
YOLO
November 10, 2023 05:00We get one chance at this temporary life. We can choose to spend it living for God with the promise of eternal life in heaven with Him, or we can choose to give in to all this world offers and find hell waiting for us at the end. The choice is ours; what's it going to be?
Whoopin’
November 09, 2023 05:00Take a good look at your life. Is there an area where you're experiencing escalating consequences, and if so, have you asked yourself why that might be the case? In the same way that parents discipline their children, God disciplines us when we make poor choices. There are consequences to our actions, but God gives us those consequences because He wants us to learn, grow, and move forward.
18 Inches
November 08, 2023 05:00There's a big difference between knowing God's Word, and knowing God. One involves reading the text and having the information in our head; the other involves truly believing with our whole heart. Religion requires us to attain knowledge and apply it to our lives in order to change our behavior, but God offers us so much more than that when He transforms us from the inside out.
High & Mighty
November 07, 2023 14:15If we’re not careful, we can make the mistake of thinking that the gifts God has given to us are ours to be proud of, or to do with as we please. But the Bible’s clear about the importance of humbling ourselves before the Lord. Without humility, we’re on the fast track to destruction as a consequence of our pride.