Podcast Summary: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Goodness & Mercy | Nancy Dufresne | Paducah, KY | Sunday PM | Miracle Crusade 2022
Date: June 2, 2022

Main Theme Overview

In this heartfelt and encouraging sermon, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the foundational revelations of God’s goodness and mercy. Speaking to a Sunday evening congregation in Paducah, KY, she challenges listeners to move from performance-based faith to a posture of trust in God’s unwavering benevolence. Using scripture, personal stories, humor, and practical exhortations, Pastor Nancy emphasizes that all spiritual victory and confident relationship with God begin and flourish within the assurance that “the Lord is good, and His mercy endures forever.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Simplicity and Power of God’s Goodness (00:00–07:30)

• Pastor Nancy opens by inviting people to expect and embrace change through God’s Word, underscoring that there’s “always more” in God.
• Key Scripture: Psalm 118:1 — "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth forever."
  • Repeats that God’s only flow is good; reminders are necessary because not everyone we encounter is in a flow of good.
  • Warns against projecting onto God the unkindness or negativity encountered elsewhere.
• Simplicity is profound: “That’s where most people miss it. If they would get that straight, it unravels every other unsound way of thinking.” (04:10)

Trusting in God’s Goodness Defeats Condemnation (07:31–17:40)

• Cites Psalm 34:8: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good."
  • Trust is essential to be blessed; doubting God’s goodness hinders receiving.
• The accuser (the devil) tries to drag us into sin-consciousness and performance, weakening faith:
  • “The devil will never remind you of your successes, and he'll never remind you of who you are in Christ. He’ll always remind you of where you failed in the flesh.” (09:42)
  • Living under condemnation leads to lack of faith in God’s mercies and skill in yielding to His good flow.

The Perils of Performance-Based Christianity (17:41–25:10)

• We are not to trust in our performance; good works matter, but they don’t purchase what God’s goodness provided.
• "He empowers us for good works because good works matter...but they don't earn what his goodness provided." (18:55)

Scriptural Patterns: Praising Goodness Releases Miracles (25:11–36:20)

• 2 Chronicles 5:12: A cloud filled the temple when they proclaimed, “For he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.”
  • Miracles and divine presence are released not by performance, but by magnifying God’s goodness.
  • Illustration from Jehoshaphat: Praisers led the battle, declaring God’s mercy, which mobilized God’s deliverance.

New Every Morning: Receiving God’s Daily Mercy (36:21–44:44)

• Lamentations 3:22–23: "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed...They are new every morning."
  • God’s mercy is a daily supply, never exhausted. Our confession should be about His mercy, not about earning through repetitive declarations.
• “If we would live mindful of that and talk about that, sin consciousness is a thing of the past.” (41:15)

Fear, Correction, and Boldness Before God (44:45–58:55)

• Hebrews 4:16: Come boldly to the throne to “obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
  • Fear of God’s anger is rooted in sin consciousness—God is not mad at you.
  • Story: A pastor put "God is not mad at you" on a billboard and received backlash.
• God’s correction is a flow of love, not anger.
  • “Never get offended or draw back with love. Every branch that bears fruit, what’s he do? He prunes it... but its future looked even richer.” (50:01)
• Correction may feel uncomfortable, but it’s always for our advancement, never to push us down.

Relating to God as a Good Father: Personal Stories and Illustrations (58:56–1:24:40)

• Personal anecdote: The story of a church member’s embarrassing wedding blunder demonstrates the value of mercy and kindness—helping others quietly and gently adjusts what’s out of place.
  • "You don't have to know somebody to be good to them. You don't have to know somebody to be merciful to them." (1:03:41)
• Pastor Nancy details how she used to approach God with “guardedness,” waiting for the “other shoe to drop” during seasons of correction.
  • God said: "Your approach to me is unkind and unfair. That I have to disarm your guard before you'll even warm up to me." (1:16:16)
• Genesis comparison: Adam and Eve hid from God after the fall, suspecting unkindness, even though they’d only known His goodness.
  • "Their contact with the serpent affected their view of God, the kind one. They no longer treated him as kind." (1:23:38)

Mindsets That Hinder or Help Receiving (1:24:41–1:46:20)

• Doubt and worry are forms of accusing God of not being good.
• The “pipeline” analogy: Faith is the pipeline that allows His goodness to flow; it is not faith that heals, but God’s goodness.
  • “Your faith does not heal you... Your faith opens the door for his goodness to flow.” (1:41:56)

Responding to God’s Goodness: Restoration, Repentance, and Confidence (1:46:21–1:53:55)

• When we run to God in repentance, He always responds with restoration.
  • "When you say, Father, I messed up so bad that only you can get me out of this. And He delights in you, in you acknowledging that flow of His goodness." (1:47:14)
• Illustration from family life: Running to (not away from) a loving parent after a mistake illustrates trust in goodness.

Flourishing Under Goodness, Not Harshness (1:53:56–2:04:46)

• Personal testimony: Experience with two piano teachers: The kind, encouraging teacher caused flourishing; the harsh teacher fostered anxiety and mediocrity.
  • “That’s not God. He’s always in the good flow. His flow is goodness. Because He is good, He’s never dealt with any of us from a negative direction.” (1:57:39)
• Jesus’ response to the adulterous woman: Goodness that lifts and transforms, rather than condemnation.

Final Exhortations and Call to Meditate on Goodness (2:04:47–end)

• “Don’t take advantage of the goodness to be less than pleasing. Don’t receive of the goodness and not respond with pleasing him…Your highest flow comes from him, not you. It comes out of his goodness and he lets you step into his goodness and it elevates you.”
• The closing exhortation: “Acknowledge, meditate, and thank Him for His goodness. Your mercy is in His goodness. Your miracles are in His goodness. Your healings are in His goodness. The Lord is good to the just and the unjust—because He can’t help but be good.” (2:07:02)
• Stand in gratitude: “His goodness delivered you to this chair...His goodness kept dealing with us and wooing us and loving us.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The devil will never remind you of your successes, and he'll never remind you of who you are in Christ.” (Nancy Dufresne, 09:42)
• “He empowers us for good works because good works matter...but they don't earn what his goodness provided.” (18:55)
• “It’s a kindness when God helps us adjust what’s out of place so we don’t walk through this life exposed to the enemy.” (1:06:26)
• “Your approach to me is unkind and unfair. That I have to disarm your guard before you’ll even warm up to me.” (1:16:16)
• “Their contact with the serpent affected their view of God, the kind one. They no longer treated him as kind.” (1:23:38)
• “Your faith does not heal you... Your faith opens the door for His goodness to flow. Faith is a pipeline.” (1:41:56)
• “He delights in you, in you acknowledging that flow of His goodness.” (1:47:14)
• “The sweetness of the lips increases learning. Why? Because that’s the way God deals with us, in sweetness. Because He’s so good to us.” (1:58:30)
• “Don’t take advantage of the goodness to be less than pleasing. Don’t receive of the goodness and not respond with pleasing him.” (2:06:17)
• “He’s looking for someone who knows how good he is so he can flow mightily through them.” (2:08:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:10: Introduction—purpose and foundation: God’s only flow is goodness.
• 09:42: The devil’s accusations—focus always on the flesh, never on your identity in Christ.
• 18:55: Good works matter, but are a fruit of, not a reason for, God’s goodness.
• 25:12–31:00: The story of Jehoshaphat—victory through praising mercy and goodness.
• 44:55–50:01: Hebrews 4 & correction as love—a call to fearless, bold approach to God.
• 1:03:41: Wedding anecdote—a call to show mercy and goodness to others, even strangers.
• 1:16:16: God’s direct challenge: “Your approach to me is unkind and unfair.”
• 1:23:38: Adam and Eve wrongly assuming God’s unkindness after contact with the serpent.
• 1:41:56: “Faith is a pipeline”—faith’s role is to channel God’s goodness, not generate answers in itself.
• 1:58:30: Flourishing under kindness—contrast between harshness and benevolence.
• 2:04:47–end: Final exhortations: Meditate on and thank Him for His goodness; this is the foundation for miracles and true fellowship.

Overall Tone and Takeaway

Throughout the message, Pastor Nancy’s tone is warm, humorous, practical, and compassionate. She gently corrects performance-mindedness, replacing it with affection for God’s compassionate character. Her teaching is rich with scriptural references, personal transparency, and an intentional focus on helping listeners enjoy and trust in the tangible goodness and mercy of God—in prayer, in correction, in daily mistakes, and in every pursuit of God’s blessing.

Key Takeaway:
Fellowship, miracles, and lasting spiritual victory are rooted not in our performance, but in experiential trust of God’s unfailing goodness and mercy. The invitation is simple and profound: “Run to Him—not away—when you fail, and you’ll always find His goodness ready to restore, lift, and empower.”