Excel Still More

Latest Episodes:

Luke 14 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.com

Luke 14

Jesus dines with a leading Pharisee and sees a lame man there. Jesus heals him on the Sabbath, instructing the Pharisees to be humble and merciful. To help them, Jesus tells the story of a man who takes the best seat at a wedding feast and is asked to move down. Yet, the one at the foot of the table is moved up. Humility will be exalted. Jesus tells His host he should be inviting the poor and lame to his table. Such will be repaid in the resurrection. Jesus tells another story about people making excuses not to come to dinner, prompting the master to reject them. Christ’s kingdom demands selflessness, service, love, and extreme cost. Jesus challenges them to calculate that cost, lest they fall short of His kingdom.

The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely in hopes of finding fault in Him. They failed to see His love and compassion for the hurting. They failed to see the value of taking the lower seat and serving others. Therefore, they did not invite the poor and lame to their tables. They, and others, made endless excuses and asked for endless signs instead of submitting to Jesus as their King. The Kingdom demands all of a person, their heart, mind, and soul. It means loving Christ and the ministry more than anything and anyone. We need to hear this clearly and calculate the cost. Many fall away because they were never totally committed. Discipleship to Christ is all or nothing.

Merciful God, please help us grow in compassion for others. Place people in our paths who are poor or lame or hurting. Lead us to develop selfless spirits that will be more like Jesus and help people who are in need. We will open our hearts, lives, and homes to be of service to others. Father, discipleship is a life-long challenge. Please forgive our failings and help us grow. May we never make excuses and always be willing to do better. Father, we have calculated the cost; we choose Jesus over all others, and we give our lives to You.

- Has pride ever affected the way you see Jesus and His teachings? How do you reestablish humility and selfless love for others?

- Why is it more Christ-like to invite the poor and hurting to your home over people with means or people who can also serve you?

- What is the cost of discipleship in your life? What sacrifices are being made? Who must take a backseat so you can honor Jesus?

Luke 13 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 13

Jesus uses two tragic stories of death to present His universal point: unless you repent of your sins, you too will likewise perish. Jesus tells a parable of a fig tree that would only remain if it began to bear fruit. Repentance is a turn from fruitlessness to bring about produce for the Lord. Shortly after, Jesus heals a woman, and the Pharisees complain because He did so on the Sabbath. They still are not ready to repent and turn to Him. But their attacks would not stop Christ’s kingdom. It would start small and grow like a mustard seed or like leaven in flour. As Jesus heads to Jerusalem for the last time, He notes that few will be saved in His kingdom, though He desires to save everyone.

To repent is to be sorrowful for sin, to turn away from sin, and to run to God in trust and obedience. This is a fundamental attribute of kingdom citizens. God does not demand perfection, but His mercy is tied to our repentance. The kingdom, which started small, has grown all over the world as people turn from pride and self-reliance and to live for God. So many will be lost in the final judgment, living for themselves, and failing to prepare. But we must keep humble hearts until the end. Jesus faced death courageously because He believed in sharing the kingdom’s message. We must praise Him for His sacrifice and share His message of repentance with all who will listen.

Loving Father, thank You for revealing Your plan to save us in the kingdom of Your beloved Son. Help us to see what is required of us in that plan: to believe and repent of our sins and live obedient lives. Give us the wisdom to do this faithfully. Show us how to live this faith sincerely, always ready for Your Son’s return, and direct us to not be distracted with arguments and bitterness, as seen with the Pharisees. Eternal death awaits those who are unprepared. Keep us among Your people and help us reconcile others to You.

- What does repentance look like in your life? Is it found in your prayers? Does it often produce change that is seen by others?

- The kingdom grew as the Pharisee’s influence diminished. Why is that? Why will genuine love and faith always prevail over hypocrisy?

- Jesus wanted to save everyone but had to pronounce righteous judgment. Is there a time when we must do so with others for their good?

Our Elder Brother - How your relationship with Jesus flourishes when enjoyed as a family connection. Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Don't look past the Ruler to get to the rules. If we don't find Jesus, we haven't found anything. Once we find Him, and see Him, and know and love and understand Him, we are equipped to learn the facts and figures of Scripture. At times, bible study can be about finding what we always find, seeing what we always see, and focusing mostly on DO's and DON'Ts - and there is room for that. But first, find Him. He desires a relationship with you. He is your Elder Brother, and that is a special designation in a special family: the family of God.

If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the link below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Feel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.com
Sponsors:
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website: www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com
Phone: 205-326-7364
Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Luke 12 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 12

As the Pharisees become more aggressive, Jesus openly warns others about them. While some fear them, Jesus teaches that the only One worthy of fear is God, and they must show this by speaking up for Jesus in the face of opposition. Disciples must also defend the Holy Spirit’s integrity against all who blaspheme. As Jesus is speaking, a man interrupts and asks for part of his family’s inheritance. This displeases Jesus and leads Him to adjust His sermon topic. He addresses the sin of monetary greed. He speaks of putting trust in God and even selling possessions to help others. The most important thing is to be ready for Christ’s return. These truths must be settled in their hearts because times of great persecution and temptation are coming.

Religious movements and groups can have a heavy hand of influence on believers. The only one we fear and answer to is God, and we must defend the Father, Son, and Spirit, no matter who speaks against them. This demands a sense of spiritual priority. It is so easy to get caught up in greed, too much focus on money, and a sense of dependency on things that are not of God. So many will not be ready when Jesus returns. We need to trust God, use our goods to help others, and always be ready to answer to our Lord. In the meantime, true faith can be divisive, and great trials may be in the near future. Get prepared today.

Powerful God, we fear You and offer worship and praise to You alone. Please help us to carry that same boldness into every conversation and every part of our lives. We get so distracted with worry and money and the judgment of others. Great God, help us to lean fully upon You, and to find rest in Your Son’s kingdom. Please present us with opportunities to be givers and servants. All that matters is to be faithful to You at Your Son’s return. Please help us keep that fresh in our minds as we face unbelievers and temptations in this life.

- The Pharisees were wrong, and their hypocrisy was dangerous. How does fearing God sometimes mean opposing religious people?

- Greed is also very dangerous. How do you guard against it? What keeps you charitable and spiritual in this material world?

- Are you ready for the Lord to return? How does the way you handle difficult people and temptation today help answer that question?

Luke 11 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 11

Jesus gives beautiful instructions on prayer. He teaches how to approach God, the importance of being persistent in prayer, and the crucial need for faith that God will answer. He proclaims that God sends His Spirit and that His answers are always good. Jesus follows this by casting a demon out of a mute man. At this point, the Pharisees come on the scene accusing Jesus of working with the devil! They ask Jesus for more signs to prove His relationship with God. Jesus strongly rebukes them and speaks of how Nineveh repented at the call of Jonah, and Israel does not repent at the call of God’s Son! Following more accusations against Him, Jesus strongly condemns the Pharisees as hypocrites and as people guilty of leading others away from God.

Jesus demonstrates the most committed and accomplished prayer life of all time. When He speaks of how to address God, or how often to address God, or with what confidence we should address God, we would do well to listen. There will always be accusers like the Pharisees, and hypocrisy around us, but our connection with God is the power we must have to stand against them. This requires consistent, spiritual, and hopeful prayer. Sadly, unbelievers may never see enough to follow Jesus, and they may attack all they are shown. This manifests darkness, selfish pride, and brokenness in their hearts. Like Jesus, we must keep shining, patiently teaching, and warning others of the consequences of hardness toward God and others.

Precious Lord, we are grateful to be able to come to You in prayer. Thank You for hearing us, for desiring this time with us, and for Your promise to respond according to Your divine will. We pray in Jesus’ name. His authority and presence in prayer give us great courage. So many reject His Lordship. Some accuse Him, some question Him, while others will see His majesty and believe. Father, help us to always have believing, hopeful hearts. Please give us the wisdom to speak His name into the lives of those who are lost and confused.

- How will Christ’s teaching on prayer affect the way you talk to God today? Will You follow His direction, be frequent, and believe?

- The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who seek guidance (vs. 13). What does that mean to you, and how are you comforted by this?

- Hypocrisy is ugly. Jesus always sees right through it. Is there some area of hypocrisy in your life where you need to be honest with Him?

Luke 10 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 10

Jesus selects seventy disciples and sends them out to work miracles and proclaim the kingdom of God. He instructs them to bless those who listen and move on from those who do not. Judgment is reserved for those who refuse to repent. As joyous as their works are, the greater blessing is having their names recorded in heaven. A lawyer then tests Jesus by asking Him what he must do to be saved. Jesus answers by quoting Moses concerning loving God and loving your neighbor. To illustrate, Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan, who serves someone in need, even at a significant personal cost. The chapter concludes with Martha being busy and worried about so many things, while Mary chooses the better part: to sit and listen to Jesus.

Jesus often does His work through His people. We are His disciples, and sharing His love and power is our primary work. It can be discouraging when people do not listen. But that is not our focus. We, like the seventy, seek to teach all and pray the gospel falls on soft hearts. Success in ministry is exciting, but our work is never as great as our names being recorded in heaven! Our primary objective is to love God fully and to always love our neighbor. Like the good Samaritan, we show Christ in how we love those who may not love us. To help develop this service, we need as much time at Jesus’ feet as we can get.

Benevolent Father, thank You for initiating a kingdom and a mission that invites us to participate. We praise You for sending Jesus to show us the way. And we praise You for calling us to be like Him. Give us opportunities to share the gospel. Keep us encouraged along the way. Help us deepen our love for you and others and demonstrate that in worshiping you and serving anyone in need. Father, like Martha, we can get distracted. While that may not be evil, it is dangerous. Show us how to fix our eyes on Jesus and listen to Him.

- If Jesus called you with 69 others and sent you out to work on His behalf, would you go? How can you demonstrate that now?

- Why is it so easy to pass people by who are in need? Is there a risk of becoming like the priest and the Levite who walked right by?

- Martha was a faithful servant. But she lost sight of what mattered most. Do you ever get that way, and how do you regain your focus on Jesus?

Luke 9 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 9

This chapter features interactions between Jesus and His disciples. He sends out the twelve to work miracles and proclaim the kingdom. He later challenges them to feed the multitude before doing so Himself. He asks them who they believe He is. They call Him “the Christ of God.” They understand this, but they struggle to see that His mission demands His suffering and death. All who belong to Him must be willing to make sacrifices. Along the way, Jesus is transfigured on the mountain as His Father speaks from heaven! But His disciples still have much to learn. At times they lack faith to cast out demons and get distracted in arguments about who is the greatest. Jesus teaches them that full submission is required to be mighty in His kingdom.

Jesus’ followers are a lot like us: they have their ups and downs. They can go from casting out demons to being unsure how to feed hungry people. They can be taught that the kingdom is a place of self-sacrifice, and then continue their argument about who is the greatest. Peter sees Jesus shine on the mountain, and he follows that with comments that suggest he understands very little. They can preach the all over to save Jews, and then they ask Christ if they should destroy a village of Samaritans who disregarded Him. They are like us, and we can take comfort in that. Jesus was so patient with them, as He is with all of us.

Gracious Lord, we thank You today for the incredible patience Jesus has with His people. We, like the first-century followers, engage in the work, deny ourselves, and listen to Your Son with all our heart. And like them, we sometimes lack courage, get distracted by pride, and overreact to situations in a way that shows immaturity. He was so patient. And we praise You in gratitude that He continues to be patient. We know He will not tolerate excuses and split devotion. Please forgive our moments of weakness and help us firm up our resolve to serve Your beloved Son.

- The 12 apostles worked miracles but later had issues with pride. What does that say about our need to grow, no matter who we are?

- The Son of Man would have to die to save others. Is it unreasonable for Him to demand sacrifice on our part to carry out His work?

- God said, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” For you, today, how will you honor this command of the Father?

Luke 8 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 8

This is my favorite chapter in all the Gospels! Jesus tells His iconic parable of the Sower and the seed. The road, the rocky soil, the thorns, and the good soil represent four different states of the human heart. Only the fourth soil is fit for His kingdom, which represents a soft heart that is not distracted by temptation, worries, or wealth. What follows are four miracles that demonstrate the scope of Jesus’ authority. He calms the sea, showing His power over the natural world. He drives out the demons, revealing He controls the spiritual world. He heals a woman who suffered for twelve years, showing He can heal the human body. And he raises a girl from the dead, exerting His control over the eternal spirit!

The main point of the parable of the Sower is to “take care how you listen.” If we fail to listen, nothing changes. The message will get lost even as we listen if we also hear the noise of temptation, worry, or the love of money. Jesus is worthy to be heard and followed completely, above all else. And He has proven exactly why we should be fully committed to Him. He controls nature, and questions why disciples fear the wind and waves. He controls the spiritual world, and demons cower to His will. He can heal our bodies, and He will raise us from the dead and direct our souls to heaven if we live with full faith in Him.

Benevolent Father, thank you for the Sower and the seed. Thank You for sending Jesus and for the life-changing gospel that has been shared with the world. We pray to hear Him and to let the gospel saturate our hearts and be central to our lives. And we pray for the boldness to share it with others. He is glorious. He controls the physical world, the spiritual world, our bodies, and our souls. There is no escape from His rule and will. We pray that we never attempt to flee Him but live always at peace in His arms.

- How do you regularly evaluate which type of heart you are developing? How do you strengthen your faith over fear, temptation, and worry?

- Jesus expected His disciples to trust Him in the storm. This is easier said than done, but how do you do that when times are tough?

- Jesus raised children from the dead in consecutive chapters. How does His power to resurrect impact the way you live each day?

Aging With Style - The key to happiness in later years starts with great priorities today! Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Today, we discuss short interviews conducted with two older men, ages 89 and 82. They have common approaches to life and aging, and they are reaping the benefits. You, too, can make simple decisions today to make the twilight years bright, joyful, and strong. It will take costs today, but those will pay off exponentially in years to come. Invest in your body, in your relationships, and in being a person of honesty and integrity. May God bless you with many years in those endeavors.

If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:
Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)
Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)
Youtube Video Introducing the Content
Feel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.com
Sponsors:
Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial Group
Website: www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com
Phone: 205-326-7364
Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide Mortgage
Websites: https://statewidemortgage.com/
https://tylercain.floify.com/
Phone: 813-380-8487

Luke 7 - Daily Bible Devotional Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!

Luke 7

A Gentile centurion sends for Jesus to come to heal a highly regarded slave. He notes that Jesus has the power to heal without being present. Jesus marvels at the Gentile’s faith and heals his servant. Jesus later sees a funeral procession and feels compassion for a widow who lost her son. Jesus raises the young man from the dead and the people marvel! John the Baptist sends his followers to investigate these things. It was time for Jesus to increase while John decreased. Even so, Jesus speaks highly of John and his work. The chapter concludes with Jesus at a Pharisee’s house. A woman comes and tearfully wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair. Her humility outshines the Pharisee’s pride, and Jesus forgives her sins because of her faith.

The characters in this chapter demonstrate the power of humility to access the blessings of Christ. The centurion sent for Jesus and considered himself unworthy for Jesus to come to his house. The Lord marveled at his faith and blessed him. John the Baptist is decreasing, even as he sends disciples toward Jesus. He knew his role and gave his life for the work. Meanwhile, the Jewish leaders keep accusing Jesus and judging others. Our identity comes down to two life pathways: the Pharisee, who invited Jesus in but showed Him no respect; or the sinful woman who cried for mercy at Jesus’ feet. We can sit in pride and be lost, or we can bow in humility and receive mercy.

All powerful Father, we give all praise to You for Your glory and might. Lord God, help us to take all limitations off our belief. Like the centurion, help us to believe in the limitless scope of Christ’s authority. When we hurt like the widow who lost her son, or the woman at Jesus’ feet, lead us always to Him for help. We know we cannot be humble with others until we first are humble before our King. Father, challenge us directly to become more lowly before Him. Give us grace to live every day in peace with Jesus Christ.

- Jesus marveled at the centurion’s great faith. How can you have faith like this man in your life? Is it possible for Jesus to marvel at you?

- The Pharisees deflected from their weaknesses by judging others. Do you ever do that? How do you prevent that behavior?

- Jesus said those who are forgiven much, love much. Have you been forgiven much? According to Jesus, what should that mean?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected