Podcast
Grow In Faith
Hosted by Christ Church IL · EN
Life giving devotionals in under 5 minutes.
Pastor Mike Woodruff, Christ Church pastors, and others will guide you through the Bible and help provide insights into scripture and practical takeaways for your daily walk with God.
73episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Do We Actually Know Anything About God?
Yesterday00:05:37Tap to summarizeHow do we actually know anything about God? We can't put Him under a microscope. We can't run experiments on Him. So where does our knowledge of God come from? In Day 19 of our Colossians devotional series, we step back and look at the bigger picture of how God reveals Himself — and why Jesus is still the clearest picture we have.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why we don't discover God through chemistry experiments or by looking inside ourselves — we know Him because He has revealed Himself → The two big categories of revelation: natural (general) revelation and supernatural (special) revelation → How creation reveals the Creator — just like a painting reveals something about the painter → Why natural revelation alone isn't enough — the world (starting with us) has been impacted by sin → How special revelation reaches its pinnacle in Jesus — the Word of God incarnate — and continues in Scripture — the Word of God written → Why God is not described as a vague force, cosmic energy, or "the ground of being" — but as a personal God who speaks, acts, and relates → The incommunicable attributes of God: infinite, eternal, unchanging, self-sufficient — qualities altogether beyond us → The communicable attributes of God: loving, just, wise, merciful — qualities we share, but never to the same degree → Why Jesus is the premier revelation: not His physical appearance, but His life, teaching, priorities, and how He treated people, power, and suffering → John Stott's powerful observation: "The world's greatest need right now is a clearer vision of God"Key takeaway: "Don't settle for a vague idea of God. Don't rely only on what you feel or assume. Go back to Jesus, because He is not just part of the story — He is the image of the invisible God. The more clearly we see Him, the more clearly we understand everything else."This devotional is a powerful framework for understanding how we come to know God — and a reminder that the journey always leads back to Jesus.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-18 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-18 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue digging into the supremacy of ChristSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's been chasing vague spirituality and needs to see God as He has actually revealed Himself.💬 Drop a comment below: Which attribute of God — communicable or incommunicable — has meant the most to you recently?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #JohnStott #AttributesOfGod #Revelation #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Theology
Transcribe →
Are You Making God in Your Own Image?
2d ago00:06:04Tap to summarizeGod is invisible. We can't put Him under a microscope. We can't run experiments on Him. So how do we actually know what He's like? In Day 18 of our Colossians devotional series, we dig into Colossians 1:15 and confront one of the most subtle dangers in modern spirituality — the temptation to remake God in our own image.In this devotional, we explore:→ Eugene Peterson's beautiful paraphrase of this verse: "We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen" → Why getting God right matters practically — what we believe about God shapes how we live → The Old Testament moments when God showed up in physical form (theophanies — burning bush, cloud, voice) and the unique revelation of God in Jesus → How modern Romanticism has trained us to look inside for spiritual answers → The real danger of trusting our feelings: "God made us in His image, and ever since then, we've been attempting to return the favor" → The fascinating example from a church in Nazareth — paintings of Mary and Jesus from 100 different countries, each one made to look like the people who painted it → G.K. Chesterton's piercing reminder: "I don't need a church to tell me I'm wrong when I know I'm wrong. I need the church to tell me I'm wrong when I think I'm right." → Why the real danger isn't when we know we're off — it's when we're confident we're right and we're notKey takeaway: "If it's been a while since something in Scripture has challenged you, if it's been a while since you've had to rethink an assumption, if your picture of Jesus hasn't stretched or unsettled you — there's a good chance you're not really looking at Him."This devotional is a powerful, humbling invitation to put down the mirror and pick up the Gospels — to see Jesus as He really is, not as we've imagined Him. Because when we see Him clearly, He doesn't just inform our thinking — He reshapes our life.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-17 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through this towering passage about JesusSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a fresh, unfiltered vision of who Jesus really is.💬 Drop a comment below: When was the last time something in Scripture genuinely challenged you? Let's encourage each other by sharing.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #ImageOfGod #GKChesterton #EugenePeterson #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1
Transcribe →
Liar, Lunatic, or Lord? C.S. Lewis Was Right
3d ago00:04:32Tap to summarizeWhat if the passage we're about to read was actually an ancient hymn sung by the earliest Christians? In Day 17 of our Colossians devotional series, we step into the towering vision of Jesus found in Colossians 1:15-20 — and discover why everything in the Christian life ultimately comes back to two things.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why many scholars believe Paul lifted this passage straight from an early first-century hymn about Jesus → The two things people almost always get wrong when they drift spiritually: who Jesus is and how we are made right with God → Why Paul doesn't engage the false teachers' specific arguments — he simply elevates the supremacy of Christ → C.S. Lewis's famous challenge: Jesus is either the Son of God — or a madman, or something worse. There is no middle ground. → The towering claims of this passage: Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the Creator (not part of the creation), supreme over all things, and the one in whom everything holds together — including your life → Why reconciliation with God doesn't come through effort, rule-keeping, or being good enough — but through Christ's blood shed on the cross → Tim Keller's profound insight: "We are more sinful than we ever realized, but more loved than we ever imagined" — and how both meet at the crossKey takeaway: "In a world with lots of voices, lots of ideas, and lots of spiritual options — don't miss Jesus. Don't reduce Him. Don't sideline Him. Don't add to Him. Jesus is enough. He is who He claimed to be. He has done what He said needed to be done. He is the one in whom all things hold together."This devotional is a powerful, soul-anchoring reminder of who Jesus really is — and why everything else in your life finds its meaning and stability in Him.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-16 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We dig deeper into the towering claims of this passageSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional as we walk through one of the most important passages about Jesus in all of Scripture. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a clear, unreduced vision of who Jesus really is.💬 Drop a comment below: Which phrase from Colossians 1:15-20 stands out most to you — and why?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #CSLewis #TimKeller #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Gospel
Transcribe →
The Best Defense Is a Good Offense (Paul's Strategy)
1w ago00:05:09Tap to summarizeWe're stepping into what may be one of the most important passages in all of Colossians — and arguably in the entire New Testament. In Day 16 of our Colossians devotional series, we set the stage for Colossians 1:15-20 — a dense, rich, towering passage about who Jesus really is.But first, we have to understand Paul's brilliant strategy for dealing with false teaching... and it's probably not what you'd expect.In this devotional, we explore:→ The context once again: Paul writing from a Roman prison to a small church he never visited → Why Paul doesn't name the false teachers or dismantle them point by point → Paul's surprising strategy: instead of reacting to error, he elevates the truth → The old sports adage that perfectly captures Paul's approach: "the best defense is a good offense" → Why this approach still works today — Jesus as "just a teacher," "just a moral example," or "one option among many" → Why in theology, the basics aren't the simple things — they're the foundational things we never move past → The startling truth: everyone is a theologian, including you — the question isn't whether you have a theological framework, but whether it's any good → A first look at the towering passage ahead: Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one in whom all things hold togetherKey takeaway: "When in doubt, focus on Jesus. When you're confused, go back to Jesus. When there are competing voices, go back and start over again with Jesus. Because when you see Him clearly, you begin to see everything else more clearly and rightly."This devotional is the launching pad for one of the most theologically rich sections in all of Scripture. Get ready — we're about to behold the supremacy of Christ.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20 (Introduction) 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-15 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Next: We begin verse-by-verse through one of the most important passages about Jesus in the New TestamentSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss what's coming. The next several devotionals will be some of the richest in the series. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a fresh, clear view of Jesus.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE thing about Jesus you're hoping to see more clearly through this passage?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #Jesus #Theology #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #ImageOfGod
Transcribe →
Stop Trying to Find the Will of God (Do This Instead)
1w ago00:04:52Tap to summarize"Pastor, should I take the job?" "Should I buy the house?" "Should I marry this person?" People come asking about the will of God all the time. And in Day 15 of our Colossians devotional series, we get incredibly practical wisdom — not just on how to find God's will, but on something even more important.In this devotional, we explore Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9 and unpack five practical filters for discerning God's will — plus the surprising twist that reframes the whole conversation.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why if you want to do God's will, you're already in a good spot — celebrate the win! → Filter 1: God has already made many things clear in His Word — He won't lead you against what He's already said → Filter 2: Use your mind. God gave you the ability to think, evaluate, weigh pros and cons, and seek wise counsel → Filter 3: Don't overread the circumstances — just because a door is open doesn't mean you're supposed to walk through it → The story of Jonah and the ship to Tarshish — "there's always a ship headed in the wrong direction" → Filter 4: At some point, you have to take a step — you don't need perfect clarity to move forward → Why God is far more gracious than to let a humble, seeking heart be permanently led astray → Filter 5 (and the most important): Don't miss that knowing God matters more than knowing His will → Why being driven to our knees in uncertainty is a win in itselfKey takeaway: "A lot of times people are trying to use God to get to the right answer — which suggests that the right answer is more important than God. But the goal is not the will of God, as significant as that is. The goal is to know God."If you're facing a decision right now and feeling stuck, this devotional is a practical, freeing reminder that God isn't playing hide-and-seek with His will. Instead of just asking "What should I do?" — try asking, "Where is God meeting me in this?"📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-14 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's wrestling with a big decision right now.💬 Drop a comment below: What decision are you praying through? How can the rest of us pray for you?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #WillOfGod #Decisions #Wisdom #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth
Transcribe →
The Second Most Important Thing About You
1w ago00:06:03Tap to summarizeWhat we believe about God shapes us in ways we can't even imagine. In Day 14 of our Colossians devotional series, we go deeper into the distinction between knowing about God and actually knowing God — and uncover the surprising pathway that draws us into a richer relationship with Him.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why what you believe about God may be the second most important thing about you — and what's actually #1 → The stunning truth that God chose to make Himself known — not because He's lonely, but because He loves → How Jesus is "the exact representation of His being" — the clearest picture we have of the Father → Why the Word of God written (Scripture) often ends up reading us → Why nothing else — success, pleasure, relationships, experiences — will ever fully satisfy the deeper longing we were made for → Augustine's profound insight: "If you fully grasp God, then that's not God" — because the finite cannot comprehend the infinite → A beautiful 40-year marriage analogy: there are always more depths to discover → The often-missed third pathway to knowing God — alongside prayer and Scripture — is obedience → Why disobedience doesn't just shape our behavior — it hardens our heart and dulls our sensitivity to GodKey takeaway: "If a way forward is not just to learn more about God but to actually have a relationship with God — and that comes through obedience — where is God prompting you? That is a place to start. Don't settle for knowing about God. Take a step toward knowing Him."This devotional is a powerful invitation to stop chasing the things that can never satisfy and start walking in the kind of relationship with God you were designed for — one that grows deeper through prayer, Scripture, and yes, obedience.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9-14 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-13 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's been chasing things that don't satisfy.💬 Drop a comment below: Where is God prompting YOU right now? What's one step of obedience you can take today?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #KnowingGod #Augustine #Obedience #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth
Transcribe →
Knowing About God vs. Knowing God (There's a HUGE Difference)
1w ago00:05:11Tap to summarizeYou can know everything about Winston Churchill — read his speeches, study his life, memorize his quotes — and still never have met him. You can have a PhD in the physics of bicycles and still not know how to ride one. And, as it turns out, you can know a lot about God... and still not actually know Him.In Day 13 of our Colossians devotional series, we land on a powerful phrase from Paul's prayer: "growing in the knowledge of God." And what Paul means by that is far deeper than information.In this devotional, we explore:→ What Paul is really praying for the Colossians — not just right behavior, not just right beliefs, but knowing God → The false teachings creeping into Colossae — and how they echo the same lies today (try harder, unlock the secret, follow the system) → The crucial distinction between knowing ABOUT God and knowing God → Soren Kierkegaard's haunting quip about two doors in heaven — one marked "Heaven" and one marked "Lectures About Heaven" — and which one too many people would choose → Why podcasts, books, sermons, and devotionals (even this one!) are means — not the end → The startling biblical analogy: marriage between a husband and wife is actually the metaphor — the real marriage is between Christ and the Church → Why our relationship with God is meant to be lived, not just studiedKey takeaway: "Don't just focus on learning more about God. Focus on spending time with Him. The goal is not simply knowledge about — the goal is to walk with Him, to meet with Him, to listen to Him, to pray, and to know."This devotional is a powerful gut-check for anyone who's ever confused information for intimacy — and a beautiful invitation to step into the relationship God actually designed us for.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:10 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-12 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that God wants relationship — not just resumes.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE practical way you can spend time with God this week — not just learning about Him?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #KnowingGod #Kierkegaard #Relationship #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth
Transcribe →
Paul Prayed THIS From a Prison Cell
2w ago00:04:39Tap to summarizeWhen Paul saw false teachers pulling the Colossian church off course, what did he do first? He didn't write an argument. He didn't launch a campaign. He prayed. And in Day 12 of our Colossians devotional series, we step into the powerful, energetic, run-on prayer of a man writing from a prison cell with love overflowing for a church he had never even met.In this devotional, we dive into Colossians 1:9-14 and explore:→ Why Paul says he has "not stopped" praying for the Colossians — not occasionally, not when it crosses his mind → The remarkable list of things Paul prays for: knowledge of God's will, wisdom, understanding, lives worthy of the Lord, fruit, endurance, patience, and joy → Why this prayer is even more striking knowing Paul wrote it from prison → The energy of Paul's writing in the Greek — no pauses, no commas, no periods — just idea after idea spilling out → Why prayer is "love in action" and one of the most powerful things you can offer someone → A practical tip: When someone asks for prayer, pray right then — don't promise to do it later → How to use Scripture itself as the structure for your prayers → Why prayer is not a last resort or a formality — but an ongoing, daily practiceKey takeaway: "There are lots of voices trying to shape us, lots of confusion, lots of noise. One of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and for others is to pray — and to focus yourself on the kinds of things we find in Scripture, which are God's Word."This devotional is a powerful, practical reminder that prayer isn't a backup plan — it's the front line. And if you've never known what to pray, Paul gives you a template right here that you can use today.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9-14 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-11 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Soon: A practical 4-week prayer class — stay tuned!Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that their prayers matter more than they know.💬 Drop a comment below: Who are YOU praying for right now? Name them (or just initials) — and let's lift each other up in the comments.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Prayer #PrayWithoutCeasing #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #PrayerLife
Transcribe →
What You Think About Is Shaping Who You Become
2w ago00:04:44Tap to summarizeIn a world full of algorithms, ideologies, headlines, and competing voices — what is actually shaping the way you think? In Day 11 of our Colossians devotional series, we pause before moving forward to highlight something foundational that runs underneath everything Paul has been writing: what we think matters.Your thoughts aren't neutral. They're shaping the person you're becoming.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Paul wrote this letter in the first place — to correct thinking, reshape views, and anchor truth → The powerful idea behind the book Ideas Have Consequences — and why it's even more personal than it sounds → Jesus's call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength → Paul's command to "take every thought captive to Christ" and to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" → John Stott's pointed reminder: "The battle for the Christian life is often won or lost in the mind" → Why 2026 is filled with forces — algorithms, media, ideologies — that are actively trying to disciple you → Why we carefully guard what our kids consume — but get casual about what's shaping us as adults → The crucial question: What are you thinking about God? Because that shapes everything elseKey takeaway: "Be a good steward of your thoughts. Pay attention to what you're feeding your mind. Notice what you're rehearsing internally. Don't simply passively absorb the ideas and ideologies in the air around us — be intentional. Ground your deepest thoughts in Scripture and in the person and work of Jesus."This devotional is a wake-up call to stop being passive consumers of culture and start being intentional stewards of our minds. Because the ideas you regularly entertain determine the person you become.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1 (Foundation) + Romans 12:2 + 2 Corinthians 10:5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-10 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We move forward into the next section of Paul's letterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that what they think about matters more than they realize.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE thing you can start (or stop) feeding your mind today? Let's encourage each other to be intentional.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #RenewYourMind #JohnStott #IdeasHaveConsequences #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualFormation
Transcribe →
Love Is Not a Feeling — It's a Principle of Action
2w ago00:04:11Tap to summarizeWe use the word "love" for almost everything — we love a team, a show, a certain kind of food. Over time, the word has become thin. But the love Paul writes about in Colossians? It's something far deeper, far stronger, and far more costly than anything Hallmark could put on a card.In Day 10 of our Colossians devotional series, we explore the final word in Paul's trio — love — and discover that biblical love looks very different from what our culture has taught us.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why the word "love" has become so thin in our cultural vocabulary → The different Greek words for love — friendship, affection, eros — and the one Paul has in mind here → Why Christian love is decisional — chosen, committed, and aimed at the highest good for the other person → John Stott's powerful insight: "Love is not a feeling, it's a principle of action" → Why a love based on feelings is unreliable — but a love based on commitment can endure → How biblical love runs countercultural to our age of "my rights, my preferences, my fulfillment" → Why Jesus calls us to serve, give, forgive, and lay down our lives — none of which is easy or natural → What every married couple learns about feelings coming and going — and how commitment leads the way → Why the gap between the love we're called to and the love we can muster should drive us to JesusKey takeaway: "Love in the Christian sense is not soft. It is strong. It's steady, and at times it's costly. It means showing up even when you don't feel like it — and choosing to act for the good of the other."This devotional is a powerful, practical challenge to rethink what love actually means — and to step into the kind of love Jesus modeled: committed, costly, and unwavering.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:4-5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-9 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through this rich opening chapterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this powerful chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that real love is a choice — not just a feeling.💬 Drop a comment below: Who is God calling YOU to love today — not based on feelings, but based on what's best for them? Let's encourage each other to step up.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Love #JohnStott #FaithHopeLove #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #AgapeLove
Transcribe →