Where trust is lacking, we often manipulate others to swear they’ll keep their promise. But swearing oaths is symptomatic of a deeper problem in our hearts. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller looks at the symptoms, the diagnosis, and the prescription of Doctor Jesus. What did Jesus mean when He said: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’”? T…

In a world full of miserable marriages and devastating divorces, there’s a better way. It all starts with a new heart that only Jesus can give us. In this message from Matthew 5, Pastor Philip Miller makes three key observations about the grounds for divorce, the hardness of the human heart, and the holiness of marriage. Jesus offers a new way of l…

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the topic of lust, and it’s not what we think it is. We’ll see the severity needed to overcome a “lustful look.” In this message from Matthew 5, Pastor Philip Miller explains three factors in developing new affections. We can’t look to human beings to meet the deep soul needs that only God can satisfy. Th…

Sometimes our anger is big and explosive, while other times it’s simmering and smoldering. Anger carried around in our bodies spills out like acid on those around us. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller invites us to follow Jesus’ radical way of an inner heart righteousness. What if the anger within our hearts could be diffused before it ever gat…

In Jesus’ day, a Pharisee would have been the poster child for righteousness. We might try to clean up our act outwardly, but our hearts are a sinful mess. In this message from Matthew 5, Pastor Philip Miller contrasts the Pharisees’ righteousness with God’s by asking three provoking questions. How do we become truly righteous? This month’s special…

Every one of us is entrusted with a sphere of influence. Our actions, words, and deeds leave a mark on the world. In this message from Matthew 5, Pastor Philip Miller explains what it means to be salt and light and asks: Where is God calling us to radical holiness and presence? It’s the little things that end up changing our world. This month’s spe…

A young Jewish carpenter-turned-Rabbi turned the world upside down with His Sermon on the Mount. He announced blessing for the least, the last, and the left behind. In this message from Matthew 5, Pastor Philip Miller explores three unexpected themes from Jesus’ beatitudes. Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. This …

Our modern world is dominated by divisive and corrupt political kingdoms. Whose kingdom will we live for? In this message introducing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 4, Pastor Philip Miller shares three ironic realities about the kingdom of God. What if the upside-down way of Jesus is, in fact, the right-side up way of life? This month’s sp…

In many ways, the Book of Philippians is a kind of “thank you” note from the apostle Paul. Despite their own hardships, the Philippian believers had pooled their resources and sent a gift to sustain him. In this message from Philippians 4, Pastor Philip Miller notes three values of those who are truly rich. What do we value most in life? This month…

Satan loves to sow discord and disunity into the church. He’s not creative, but he is effective. In this message from Philippians 4, Pastor Philip Miller uncovers three keys to peace-filled relationships within the church. Let’s overcome disunity by getting past the misapplication of some of the most well-known verses in the Bible. This month’s spe…

Every moment of every day is an opportunity to be with Jesus and learn from Him. We’re all still growing up—with a lot of maturing ahead of us. In this message from Philippians 2, Pastor Philip Miller walks us through three insights on spiritual maturity while living here but belonging in heaven. Who do you want to be when you “grow up?” This month…

We all long to be affirmed and approved. Our sense of self and identity determine how we behave and who we become. In this message from Philippians 3, Pastor Philip Miller shows us three basic strategies we can employ to gain a sense of self. What if we found approval from the one Person in all the universe whose opinion matters most? This month’s …

We, whether knowingly or not, imitate those we are around. So, are we imitating someone who is imitating Christ? In this message, Pastor Philip Miller shows why Paul says Timothy and Epaphroditus are models of Christ-likeness. They embodied three levels of service, as emissaries, as encouragers, and as exemplaries. This month’s special offer is ava…

What makes someone great? While society’s definition of greatness focuses on the external, God’s idea of greatness centers on the internal. In this message from Philippians 2, Pastor Philip Miller provides four insights about true greatness: its priority, model, secret, and beauty. Let’s get back to the basics of being humble, servant-hearted Chris…

We all have a core reason to go on living. Imagine what the apostle Paul must have felt under house arrest: anxiety, self-pity, helplessness, or even bitterness. In this message from Philippians 1, Pastor Philip Miller shows Paul’s model of a life worthy of the Gospel. What if Christ were our reason for rejoicing, our purpose in living, and our mea…

Life is complex. But the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes everything. In this message from Philippians 1, Pastor Philip Miller shares four fruits of the Gospel which change our family, our priorities, and our destiny. Let’s get back to the basics of a joyful life in God, bearing abundant fruit. This month’s special offer is available for…

We’re called to reach a culture that has rejected God and run in the other direction. Could God be inviting us to embody the scandal of His grace towards our enemies? In this message from Jonah 4, Pastor Philip Miller shares the shocking ending of Jonah’s call to Ninevah. Let’s discover the do’s and don’ts of sharing God’s heart for our enemies. Th…

We might think the Old Testament only portrays the wrath and judgment of God. But God’s enduring character is displayed throughout the entire Bible, including His unrelenting grace. In this message from Jonah 3, Pastor Philip Miller helps us see afresh three aspects of God’s posture towards undeserving people. God is so quickly moved toward compass…

Just as coal must be crushed to become a diamond, there’s a brokenness we must learn to be useful to God. When Jonah came to the end of himself in the belly of the great fish, he prays a beautiful poem. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller points out four pivotal moments of Jonah’s prayer. God-ordained trials might just be our redemption. This mon…

When we run and hide from God, God comes looking for us. Jonah tried to run, but God sent a ferocious storm and a giant fish to bring him back—because God loved Jonah. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller notes three movements in God’s relentless pursuit of Jonah. God never gives up on those He loves. This month’s special offer is available for a …

When God speaks, everyone is supposed to listen. But the story of Jonah is for people like us who run from God and need second chances. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller explores three themes from Jonah’s story: an uncomfortable call, an unexpected flight, and an unrelenting grace. God will never stop pursuing us. This month’s special offer is …

Supernatural evil does exist. Paul uses the analogy of a Roman soldier armed for battle to describe the spiritual protection that is ours in Jesus Christ. In this message from Ephesians 6, Pastor Philip Miller zeroes in on the reason, function, and source of the armor of God. We have all we need to fight off Satan’s attacks. This month’s special of…

The Gospel matters all day, every day. It has implications for all of life, especially in family and work relationships. In this message from Ephesians 6, Pastor Philip Miller explores eight principles for our relationships, from supervisors and employees to parents and children. Our relationship with God changes all our other relationships. This m…

The world views marriage as a path to societal stability or to personal fulfillment. What is the Christian understanding of marriage? In this message from Ephesians 5, Pastor Philip Miller lays out the shape, call, and purpose of Christian marriage. Both marriage and singleness are meant to display the nature of God’s love. This month’s special off…

The change that God intends to bring into our lives isn’t superficial. The power of the triune God is forming us into the image of Christ. In this message from Ephesians 5, Pastor Philip Miller walks us through God’s three-dimensional transformation: upward, outward, and inward. The deep, comprehensive change we need is beyond our doing. This month…

Our new family in Christ doesn’t live like other families do. Living in God’s house, as part of His family, means the house rules have changed. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller contrasts our “old self” with how we are called to walk in our new life in Christ. Let’s consider five examples of what a Spirit-led life in God’s family looks like. Th…

If God is so loving, why doesn't He intervene in human suffering? Yet God loves us in ways we do not understand. Pastor Lutzer confronts our expectations of love from Romans 8, giving hope in our suffering. As children of God, we are loved eternally, even as Jesus is loved. This episode was originally published April 22, 2019 as “The Attributes of …

If we’re God’s children, how does God want us to live? Paul’s letter to the Ephesians addresses the whole church to answer this question. In this message from Ephesians 4, Pastor Philip Miller focuses on three indications of interdependency within the church: unity, diversity, and maturity. We all have different gifts, but we belong to one body. Th…

What does it mean that God loves the "world"? The love is God is a difficult teaching, especially when we consider His hatred for sin and evil. Pastor Lutzer explores the deeper questions related to John 3:16. Each of us is invited to love God in return and be loved eternally. This episode was originally published April 15, 2019 as “The Attributes …

God hears and listens to children He loves. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is one of the most powerful and glorious prayers recorded in the Bible. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller shows us how prayer is our lifeline to God. By walking us through Paul’s prayer, we’re encouraged to pray in full confidence. This month’s special offer is available f…

If we are saved, there is nothing we can do to convince God to love us more or less. The redeemed are loved with the same love as Jesus. Pastor Lutzer ponders the implications for believers because of God's unconditional love. Is such a love fair? This episode was originally published April 8, 2019 as “The Attributes of God | Week 14: Love.”…

What makes suffering for Christ worthwhile? In the Gospel, all our hardship, pain, and loss have a purpose. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller unpacks God’s surprising plot twist that makes our sacrifices worth it. God uses ordinary sinners, like Paul suffering for the Gospel in prison, to enact God’s wondrous Gospel story. This month’s special …

Society wants to believe any kind of "love" is God. But the true nature of God's love is actually difficult when we try to reconcile it with what's happening in the world. Pastor Lutzer explores the origin of the love of God to define it biblically. Can we really understand the complex love of God? This episode was originally published April 1, 201…

Easter Sunday marks the turning of the tide. The power of sin is shattered, the chains of Satan are broken, and the dominion of death is conquered. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller identifies three seismic shifts in our world because of the empty tomb: historically, philosophically, and spiritually. Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. This…

Many people come to God thinking they deserve something from Him. But all our efforts and achievements do not make us more deserving. Pastor Lutzer reflects on how we can have the unique privilege of accessing God’s throne from the book of Hebrews. Our confidence in approaching God must rest in His character. This episode was originally published M…

Like a cross, salvation works on both a vertical and a horizontal axis. Salvation reconciles us with God, and it reconciles us with one another. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller shows us three stages in the story of our adoption into God’s family. Is it possible to break down the walls that divide us? This month’s special offer is available fo…

Most Christians believe God provided salvation at the cross but our contribution is to believe. In fact, Jesus was crucified within the providence and the predetermined plan of God. Pastor Lutzer shares insights into how God’s mercy is displayed in our salvation. What does it take for people to be redeemed? This episode was originally published Mar…

All of humanity is born spiritually dead. But by God’s grace, through our faith in Christ alone, we can be made spiritually alive. In this message from Ephesians 2, Pastor Philip Miller relates how our new life in Christ gives us a new purpose in life. Even now, God has prepared good works that we might walk in them. This month’s special offer is a…

Many wonder how God's mercy can be compatible with His strong penalties for sin. In the Old Testament and the New, God is never changing in His character—always merciful and longsuffering. Pastor Lutzer explores the hope of God's mercy from Leviticus to Lamentations. Where is God’s mercy in the middle of judgment, despair, or grief? This episode wa…

Christians have a secret identity. Even though we may not feel it at times, through faith in Jesus we are sons and daughters of God. In this message from Ephesians 1, Pastor Philip Miller shares three ways we can be confident of this truth: a bold prayer, a glorious perspective, and immeasurable power. Our secret identity will soon be revealed in g…

None of us will enter heaven unless we’re as perfect as God. The moment we realize we have nothing to offer God is the moment we receive God’s mercy and grace. Pastor Lutzer observes the basis for God’s mercy and the posture of any sinner who receives mercy. What’s the difference between mercy and grace? This episode was originally published Februa…

To be alive in Christ is nothing short of a miracle. The Triune God purposed we would be His children. In this message from Ephesians 1, Pastor Philip Miller opens one of the most beautiful and transcendent prayers of blessing for believers. Before time began, God knew us, loved us, and chose us. This month’s special offer is available for a donati…

In such a broken world, many question why God chose the means He did to achieve His purposes. We may even praise God for who He is, but we wonder if all the evil in the world was truly necessary. Pastor Lutzer considers whether evil could eventually contribute to God’s glory. What if we could see from the standpoint of eternity? This episode was or…

Where do we turn when we need sustaining grace? The real challenges the early Christians faced—false teachers, false doctrine, and cultural pressures—are what every church and every Christian must deal with. In this message, Pastor Philip Miller’s sweeping overview of Ephesians exhibits the glories and warning of Paul’s epistle. God’s Word gives gr…

We often depend on our own wisdom, or even the world’s, in making everyday decisions. God’s purposes flow from His wisdom, so we should seek His wisdom. Pastor Lutzer reflects on God’s multi-faceted wisdom to create His church and how we can depend on God’s wisdom in our everyday decisions. Do we consult God’s wisdom? This episode was originally pu…

The Word of God is constant even as generations of preachers come and go. In this service from September 2021, Philip Miller is officially installed as the 17th senior pastor of The Moody Church. We’ll hear encouraging messages from Pastor Lutzer, Pastor Philip, and others. Pastor Philip will be the next voice on Moody Church Hour, as Pastor Lutzer…

Though some wear a cross as a pendant around their necks, others see it as a foolish, primitive symbol. How can God's plan for the cross defy the world's wisdom? Pastor Lutzer encourages us by the multifaceted wisdom of God seen in the death of Jesus on the cross. We can learn to love the cross. This episode was originally published February 11, 20…

This world, with its pleasures and trials, is passing away. Whatever is invested in the world to come will endure forever. In this message from 2 Corinthians 4, Pastor Lutzer focuses on the glories of eternity and how the present sufferings we endure will be worth it in the end. Which world are we living for? This month’s special offer is available…

We need true wisdom, even in the best of circumstances, to avoid foolish decisions. But can the wisdom of God the Creator turn evil or senseless acts for His good purposes? Pastor Lutzer distinguishes God's infinite wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We can entrust ourselves into the arms of God. This episode was originally published February 4,…

Do you know what your child is looking at? At home? At school? Technology is a monster and it must be tamed. It’s designed to drag away the hearts of our children and turn them into addicts. Media of all types is addicting and they are trying to find new ways to enslave your children. Are we prepared to protect our home? We must develop a strategy.…