Walnut Grove copertina

Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove

Di: Tim Shapley and John Howell
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A proposito di questo titolo

 Welcome to Walnut Grove, your spiritual haven for insightful sermons and engaging Bible study! Immerse yourself in the wisdom of the scriptures as we explore the profound teachings of the Bible. Our podcast is dedicated to nurturing your faith and deepening your understanding of the Word.

Join us each week as we deliver powerful sermons that inspire, motivate, and provide practical guidance for navigating life’s journey. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, a sense of community, or simply a deeper connection with your faith, Walnut Grove is here to support you on your spiritual path.

Our Bible study sessions go beyond surface interpretations, delving into the historical context, cultural nuances, and timeless lessons found in the scriptures. Discover the relevance of biblical teachings to your everyday life and gain valuable insights that will empower you to live with purpose and grace.

Hosted by passionate and knowledgeable Rev. Timothy (Tim) Shapley, Walnut Grove is committed to creating a welcoming space for individuals of all backgrounds and levels of faith. Tune in, engage with the teachings, and let the transformative power of the Bible guide you on your journey of spiritual growth.

Subscribe to Walnut Grove today and embark on a fulfilling exploration of the scriptures that will deepen your connection with God and enrich your spiritual life.Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Catechesi ed evangelismo Crimini reali Cristianesimo Spiritualità
Episodi
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 81: Study Three: The Eight Beatitudes (Part Two)

    The Weekly Show - Episode 81: Study Three: The Eight Beatitudes (Part Two)
    Jan 22 2026
    Join Tim and John as they study the last Four Beatitudes. Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning and https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/halloween-time Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/ Introduction to the Last Four Beatitudes If the first four Beatitudes describe the heart of a disciple, the last four describe the life of a disciple—how a transformed heart expresses itself in a broken world. These final Beatitudes show what happens when the inner work of God overflows into outward relationships, attitudes, and actions. The progression is intentional: A person who knows they need God (poor in spirit), Who grieves their sin (mourning), Who surrenders their pride (meekness), And who longs for God’s righteousness… …will naturally begin to treat others in a radically different way. The last four Beatitudes describe this outward expression: Merciful — We respond to others with compassion. Pure in heart — We pursue integrity and sincerity before God. Peacemakers — We work to heal and reconcile. Persecuted for righteousness — We endure suffering with joy because our hope is in eternity. These final four Beatitudes form the fruit of kingdom character. They show: How kingdom people love the weak How they pursue holiness How they heal relationships How they stand firm when opposition comes While the world honors power, comfort, and success, Jesus honors: Mercy Purity Peacemaking Perseverance These are the unmistakable marks of a disciple who is becoming like Christ. The first four Beatitudes shape who we are. The last four shape how we live. Together, they form the full portrait of the flourishing life in God’s kingdom—a life only Jesus can create in us. 5. Mercy for the Merciful Jesus shifts from the inward transformation of the first four Beatitudes to the outward expression of a changed heart: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 This Beatitude reveals something essential about kingdom people: Those who have received mercy become people who give mercy. What Is Mercy? Mercy is compassion expressed in action. It is kindness toward those in misery, sin, weakness, or need. Mercy means: Not giving people what they deserve Offering forgiveness instead of revenge Showing patience instead of harshness Helping the weak instead of ignoring them Being moved by compassion rather than judgment Where grace gives us what we don’t deserve, mercy withholds what we do deserve. Why Are Kingdom People Merciful? Because they know firsthand what it feels like to need mercy. When you know that God has: forgiven your offenses, carried your shame, healed your wounds, lifted your burdens, and shown compassion in your failure, it becomes much harder to withhold mercy from others. Mercy is the overflow of a forgiven heart. What Mercy Looks Like in Everyday Life Merciful people: Forgive quickly Assume the best Help the hurting Love the weak Care for the outcast Show patience with annoying people Give generously Pray for those who wrong them Treat others the way God treated them Mercy is not weakness—it is strength governed by compassion. A Word of Warning: The Opposite of Mercy Mercy stands in stark contrast to: a harsh spirit a judgmental attitude an unforgiving heart a desire to see others "get what they deserve" indifference toward suffering Jesus repeatedly warns against becoming a “merciless disciple.” Nothing contradicts the heart of the kingdom more than receiving God’s mercy but refusing to show it. The Promise: “They Shall Receive Mercy.” This promise works in two ways: 1. We Experience God’s Ongoing Mercy Here and Now God continually pours mercy into the lives of those who extend it to others. This doesn’t mean we earn mercy— it means we walk in the stream of mercy that God delights to give. 2. We Will Experience God’s Final Mercy in the Last Day At the judgment, God will show mercy to those whose lives demonstrated mercy. Not because their mercy saved them, but because their mercy proved they were saved. Mercy is evidence of genuine faith. The Christlike Example Jesus is the ultimate picture of mercy. He touched lepers. He wept with the grieving. He forgave sinners. He restored the broken. He prayed for His executioners. He bore our sin on the cross. No one is more merciful than Jesus. So when Jesus calls His followers to mercy, He’s calling them to reflect His heart. The Good News The kingdom belongs to people who know they have been forgiven much and therefore love much. God says to the merciful: “The mercy you give will never outgrow the mercy you receive.” In God’s kingdom, mercy is a two-way street, and no one who walks it will ever walk alone. 6. The Pure in Heart See God Jesus moves deeper into the inner life of His disciples with one of the most breathtaking promises in all of Scripture: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 This Beatitude reaches ...
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    1 ora e 15 min
  • Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Three - The Holy Spirit

    Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Three - The Holy Spirit
    Jan 19 2026
    Sermon Date: 01/18/2026 Bible Verses: Various Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new Introduction: The Most Misunderstood Line in the Creed When we say “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” many people get uncomfortable. Some think of emotional excess. Some think of strange behavior. Some think of vague spiritual feelings. Others quietly think, “I believe in God the Father… I believe in Jesus Christ… but the Spirit feels fuzzy.” But the Holy Spirit is not an optional add-on to Christianity. He is not the background music of faith. He is not a force, a vibe, or a spiritual mood. The Holy Spirit is God present with and within His people. Christianity does not function without the Spirit. Without Him, we have information but no transformation, belief without power, obedience without strength. That’s why the Creed insists we say it out loud: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” Point One: The Holy Spirit Is God With Us — and In Us Jesus promised the Spirit before the cross: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper… the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15–17) Jesus calls Him Helper—not a substitute Savior, but God’s own presence continuing Christ’s work in us. The Spirit is not less God than the Father or the Son. He is fully God—personal, active, and intentional. Paul presses this truth home: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) That means God no longer dwells in buildings made by hands. He dwells in His people. Christian belief says: God walked among us in ChristGod now lives within us by the Spirit You are not spiritually alone. You are not abandoned. You are not expected to follow Jesus by sheer willpower. ✦ The Christian life is not lived for God—it is lived with God. Point Two: The Holy Spirit Helps Us When We Are Weak One of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture is this: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:26) Notice what that assumes: we are weak. The Holy Spirit is not given because we are strong—but because we are not. When we don’t know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us. When we don’t have the words, the Spirit carries our groans to the Father. When faith feels thin, the Spirit sustains it. The Spirit is not disappointed by your weakness. He was sent because of it. ✦ Grace does not eliminate weakness—it meets us inside it. Point Three: The Holy Spirit Empowers the Church for Witness Jesus was clear: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) The Spirit does not exist to make Christians strange. He exists to make Christ known. Power in Scripture is not about control or spectacle—it is about faithful witness. The Holy Spirit: Gives courage where there is fearGives clarity where there is confusionGives boldness where there is hesitation The early church did not grow because it was impressive. It grew because the Spirit made ordinary people faithful. ✦ The Spirit’s power is not about drawing attention to us—but to Jesus. Point Four: The Holy Spirit Produces Obedience from Love, Not Fear Jesus said: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) And then immediately promised the Spirit. Why? Because obedience without the Spirit becomes legalism. And love without obedience becomes sentimentality. The Holy Spirit bridges the gap. Paul says: “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:5) The Spirit does not just tell us what God wants—He reshapes our desires so we begin to want what God wants. Obedience becomes response, not pressure. Holiness becomes joy, not burden. ✦ The Spirit changes us from the inside out. Point Five: The Holy Spirit Makes Faith Personal and Present Jesus said the world cannot receive the Spirit—but believers can: “He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) That means Christianity is not merely historical—it is present tense. The Spirit convictsThe Spirit comfortsThe Spirit teachesThe Spirit remindsThe Spirit sanctifies The Holy Spirit is the reason belief doesn’t stay theoretical. He is the reason the Creed moves from words to life. ✦ What Christ accomplished, the Spirit applies. Conclusion: Belief That Breathes To say “I believe in the Holy Spirit” is to confess that God has not left us to figure this out alone. The Father planned salvation. The Son accomplished salvation. The Spirit applies salvation—daily, personally, powerfully. Belief in the Spirit means: You are not alone in your obedienceYou are not abandoned in your sufferingYou are not powerless in your witness The Christian life is not self-improvement. It is Spirit-dependence.
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    26 min
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 80: Study Two: The Eight Beatitudes (Part One)

    The Weekly Show - Episode 80: Study Two: The Eight Beatitudes (Part One)
    Jan 15 2026
    Join Tim and John as they study the first Four Beatitudes. Introduction As Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount, He doesn’t begin with commands, warnings, or theological arguments. He begins with blessing. Before He tells His disciples how to live, He tells them who they already are in His kingdom. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) form the doorway into the entire sermon. They are not random sayings or poetic lines—they are the foundation stones of kingdom identity. Jesus is painting a picture of the kind of people who flourish under His reign. And, as we discovered in Study One, flourishing in God’s kingdom often looks nothing like flourishing in the world. Where the world celebrates strength, Jesus blesses poverty of spirit. Where the world avoids sorrow, Jesus blesses those who mourn. Where the world rewards pride, Jesus blesses the meek. Where the world hungers for power, Jesus blesses those who hunger for righteousness. It’s an upside-down kingdom that is—if we’re honest—the right way up. Each Beatitude contains two powerful parts: A description of the kind of person God blesses A promise of the blessing God gives These descriptions are not entry requirements for salvation. They are the evidence that someone belongs to Jesus and is being reshaped by His grace. In this study, we will take each Beatitude one at a time and look carefully at what it means—and why Jesus calls these people “blessed.” We’ll see that: The poor in spirit are given the kingdom. The mourners receive comfort. The meek inherit the earth. The hungry for righteousness are satisfied. The merciful receive mercy. The pure in heart see God. The peacemakers are called God’s children. The persecuted gain eternal reward. These aren’t personality traits. They’re kingdom traits—the character Jesus forms in those who follow Him. And as we unpack each one, we will see something incredibly hopeful: Jesus blesses people the world overlooks, and He transforms people the world underestimates. The Beatitudes invite us to examine our hearts, embrace the grace of Jesus, and grow into the flourishing life God designed for us. Now let’s step inside this kingdom doorway and explore each Beatitude in detail. 1. The Poor in Spirit Are Given the Kingdom Jesus begins His list of blessings with a statement that instantly cuts against the grain of every culture, ancient or modern: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:3 What Does It Mean to Be “Poor in Spirit”? Jesus is not talking about financial poverty, personality weakness, or lack of confidence. He’s talking about spiritual poverty—a deep awareness that: We bring nothing to God that can earn His acceptance. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot impress God with our goodness. We are spiritually bankrupt apart from His grace. To be “poor in spirit” means standing before God and saying: “I’ve got nothing. You have everything. I need You.” This is humility at the deepest level. Not self-hatred. Not insecurity. But honest dependence. Why Is This the First Beatitude? Because this is where life in God’s kingdom begins. You cannot receive the kingdom while your hands are full of pride. You cannot follow Jesus if you still think you’re your own savior. Jesus starts here because: Grace begins where self-sufficiency ends. Salvation begins where spiritual pride dies. Transformation begins where humility takes root. The whole Sermon on the Mount is built on this foundation. The Paradox of the Kingdom Here’s the wild part: The ones who admit they have nothing… are the ones who are given everything. Jesus promises that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. Not “will belong.” Not “might belong.” Not “someday after judgment.” It is theirs—right now. What Does It Mean to “Have the Kingdom”? It means: You belong to Jesus. You are a citizen of His kingdom. You live under His rule and blessing. You have access to His presence, power, and promises. You are adopted into God’s family. You are part of God’s work on earth. This is the greatest reversal in Scripture: Those who have nothing to offer receive everything God offers. Practical Application Being poor in spirit shows up in everyday life: You pray with dependence instead of self-confidence. You confess sin quickly instead of hiding it. You give God credit instead of stealing the spotlight. You approach others with humility instead of superiority. You seek God daily because you know you need Him constantly. Poverty of spirit is not a moment—it’s a lifestyle. Why This Is Good News If Jesus had said, “Blessed are the impressive… the strong… the morally flawless,” most of us would pack up our Bibles and go home discouraged. But Jesus begins with blessing for those who know they fall short. He says, “Come empty, and I’ll fill you. Come broken, and I’ll restore you. Come poor, and I’ll give you My kingdom....
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    1 ora e 9 min
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