Latest Samra Podcast Episodes
God’s Love for the Unborn and the Sinner
Calvary Church - December 03, 2023 13:24 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsThis week we are in Matthew 18:10-14, a passage wherein Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. We learn through this how God loves the most vulnerable. In our message, we see how the ongoing verses of Matthew 18 widen the scope of focus, applying these particular verses to a spectrum from the u...
God’s Love for the Unborn and the Sinner
Calvary Church - December 03, 2023 13:24 - 36 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThis week we are in Matthew 18:10-14, a passage wherein Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep. We learn through this how God loves the most vulnerable. In our message, we see how the ongoing verses of Matthew 18 widen the scope of focus, applying these particular verses to a spectrum from the u...
A Warning Against Stumbling Blocks
Calvary Church - November 26, 2023 13:16 - 34 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThis message examines Jesus’s stern warning against causing our fellow believers to stumble. It helps us under what a stumbling block might look like in our own lives and how we can ensure we don’t create one for others.
A Warning Against Stumbling Blocks
Calvary Church - November 26, 2023 13:16 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsThis message examines Jesus’s stern warning against causing our fellow believers to stumble. It helps us under what a stumbling block might look like in our own lives and how we can ensure we don’t create one for others.
Getting in and Thriving in the Kingdom of God
Calvary Church - November 19, 2023 15:32 - 36 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this message, we see God teach us what the kingdom of heaven is like and how we live in it.
Getting in and Thriving in the Kingdom of God
Calvary Church - November 19, 2023 15:32 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this message, we see God teach us what the kingdom of heaven is like and how we live in it.
God With Us in the Mundane Things of Life
Calvary Church - November 12, 2023 13:46 - 32 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn Matthew 17:24-27, God provides an example of how Jesus is present and can relate to us, not only in the highs and lows but in the mundane things of life as well.
God With Us in the Mundane Things of Life
Calvary Church - November 12, 2023 13:46 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn Matthew 17:24-27, God provides an example of how Jesus is present and can relate to us, not only in the highs and lows but in the mundane things of life as well.
All Things Are Possible When We Believe
Calvary Church - November 05, 2023 13:56 - 27 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this passage of Matthew, Jesus has to cast out a demon his disciples were unable to. The disciples ask Jesus why they could not and Jesus tells them it is because of their little faith. Out of this comes the question: Where does faith come from? We then make some observations in the passage, d...
All Things Are Possible When We Believe
Calvary Church - November 05, 2023 13:56 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this passage of Matthew, Jesus has to cast out a demon his disciples were unable to. The disciples ask Jesus why they could not and Jesus tells them it is because of their little faith. Out of this comes the question: Where does faith come from? We then make some observations in the passage, d...
The Cross Before the Crown
Calvary Church - October 29, 2023 12:29 - 48 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsThe passage addressed in this sermon is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Here Jesus informs his disciples of his imminent death. Our message looks at the three requirements Jesus lays out for following Him as he shares this news. It concludes with word of the glory that awaits those who ...
The Cross Before the Crown
Calvary Church - October 29, 2023 12:29 - 48 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThe passage addressed in this sermon is a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. Here Jesus informs his disciples of his imminent death. Our message looks at the three requirements Jesus lays out for following Him as he shares this news. It concludes with word of the glory that awaits those who ...
I Will Build My Church
Calvary Church - October 22, 2023 13:18 - 38 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsWe hear a message from Jesus about His church in Matthew 16:13-20. We are reminded of some of God’s purpose, mission, and vision in creating the Church, as well as Calvary’s more specific role in that work as well. We are also reminded that Jesus is building his church and that he invites us to ...
I Will Build My Church
Calvary Church - October 22, 2023 13:18 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsWe hear a message from Jesus about His church in Matthew 16:13-20. We are reminded of some of God’s purpose, mission, and vision in creating the Church, as well as Calvary’s more specific role in that work as well. We are also reminded that Jesus is building his church and that he invites us to ...
Doubting God’s Power and Love
Calvary Church - October 15, 2023 12:39 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this message, we see how doubt can work against our ability to experience God’s love and power. But Jesus, in these passages in Matthew, teaches us to trust in God in the midst of our troubling circumstances.
Doubting God’s Power and Love
Calvary Church - October 15, 2023 12:39 - 35 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this message, we see how doubt can work against our ability to experience God’s love and power. But Jesus, in these passages in Matthew, teaches us to trust in God in the midst of our troubling circumstances.
How to Have Great Faith
Calvary Church - October 08, 2023 11:38 - 43 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsCalvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra (616)956-9377
How to Have Great Faith
Calvary Church - October 08, 2023 11:38 - 43 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsCalvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Samra (616)956-9377
Virtue Signaling
Calvary Church - October 01, 2023 12:28 - 30 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThis message addresses how Jesus calls out the concept of virtue signaling in Matthew 15:1-20. Though a more modern term, we see what the pharisees were doing as virtue signaling and how Jesus denounces, and points out the flaws of it. We then learn what the opposite of virtue signaling is and ho...
Virtue Signaling
Calvary Church - October 01, 2023 12:28 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsThis message addresses how Jesus calls out the concept of virtue signaling in Matthew 15:1-20. Though a more modern term, we see what the pharisees were doing as virtue signaling and how Jesus denounces, and points out the flaws of it. We then learn what the opposite of virtue signaling is and ho...
Faith, Submission, and Obedience
Calvary Church - September 24, 2023 12:23 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this message, we read Matthew 14:22-36 which tells the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter’s act of faith, submission and obedience. We are encouraged to think about the difference between the results of desire, ambition, and effort and the results that faith, submission, and obedience p...
Faith, Submission, and Obedience
Calvary Church - September 24, 2023 12:23 - 31 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this message, we read Matthew 14:22-36 which tells the story of Jesus walking on water and Peter’s act of faith, submission and obedience. We are encouraged to think about the difference between the results of desire, ambition, and effort and the results that faith, submission, and obedience p...
God Provides
Calvary Church - September 17, 2023 12:38 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsThis message looks at Jesus feeding the 5000. We look at the other three accounts of the story told in the books of Mark, Luke and John to compare them. Out of the comparison comes five differences. These five differences show us how God provides for our physical, spiritual and emotional needs.
God Provides
Calvary Church - September 17, 2023 12:38 - 33 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThis message looks at Jesus feeding the 5000. We look at the other three accounts of the story told in the books of Mark, Luke and John to compare them. Out of the comparison comes five differences. These five differences show us how God provides for our physical, spiritual and emotional needs.
People Pleasing or Serving God
Calvary Church - September 10, 2023 12:28 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn Matthew 14, we see how people-pleasing affected the decision-making of Herod. We saw in Herod’s life, God teaching us the dangers of working to please people rather than working to please God. We are also reminded of John the Baptist’s commitment to obedience and were encouraged to follow Chri...
People Pleasing or Serving God
Calvary Church - September 10, 2023 12:28 - 39 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn Matthew 14, we see how people-pleasing affected the decision-making of Herod. We saw in Herod’s life, God teaching us the dangers of working to please people rather than working to please God. We are also reminded of John the Baptist’s commitment to obedience and were encouraged to follow Chri...
Passing the Tests of Life
Calvary Church - September 03, 2023 15:29 - 27 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this sermon, we look at Matthew 7:24-29. We learn that rain, water, and wind will come to us – just like in the story, there are troubles that come up in our lives suddenly. We see that we need to both hear and act on the teachings of our teacher, Jesus. When we do so, we’ll have a house that ...
Passing the Tests of Life
Calvary Church - September 03, 2023 15:29 - 27 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this sermon, we look at Matthew 7:24-29. We learn that rain, water, and wind will come to us – just like in the story, there are troubles that come up in our lives suddenly. We see that we need to both hear and act on the teachings of our teacher, Jesus. When we do so, we’ll have a house that ...
The Two Paths
Calvary Church - August 27, 2023 12:28 - 36 minutes - Video ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsIn this message, we learn about the narrow road, which represents the path of following Jesus. We are reminded that though sometimes the narrow road may feel lonely, be less traveled and require sacrifice, God provides abundant life and agency for those who are faithful to stay on the narrow road...
The Two Paths
Calvary Church - August 27, 2023 12:28 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 28 ratingsIn this message, we learn about the narrow road, which represents the path of following Jesus. We are reminded that though sometimes the narrow road may feel lonely, be less traveled and require sacrifice, God provides abundant life and agency for those who are faithful to stay on the narrow road...