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Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove

By: Tim Shapley and John Howell
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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. Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Sermon: Homecoming - Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, and Trusting God for the Future

    Sermon: Homecoming - Remembering the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, and Trusting God for the Future
    25 Oct 2026
    Homecoming Sunday Message | Walnut Grove Southern Methodist Church 10/25/26 Main Scripture: Joshua 4:1–9, 19–24 (KJV) Supporting Scriptures: Psalm 100:1–5; Hebrews 10:23–25; Philippians 1:3–6; Hebrews 12:1–2 Central Message: Homecoming is more than a celebration of a church's history. It is an opportunity to remember God's faithfulness, rejoice in the fellowship we share today, and renew our commitment to serving Him in the days ahead. Introduction: There's Something Special About Coming Home There's something special about coming home. It doesn't matter how long you've been away. There is something about returning to a familiar place that brings back memories. Maybe it's the sight of an old house, the sound of a familiar voice, or the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. Sometimes all it takes is walking through a doorway to bring back memories you haven't thought about in years. And when we think about homecoming at church, many of those same feelings come to mind. We remember the people who sat in certain pews. We remember the Sunday School teachers who patiently taught us the Word of God. We remember the songs we sang, the meals we shared, the prayers that were lifted, and the friendships that were formed. We remember the men and women who faithfully served this church, some of whom are no longer with us. And perhaps we remember times when God worked in our lives in ways we will never forget. That's what makes Homecoming Sunday such a special occasion. It's an opportunity to come together, renew old friendships, remember those who came before us, and celebrate everything God has done. But I believe Homecoming should be more than simply looking backward. Because while our memories are important, our mission is not finished. God has been faithful in the past. God is working in the present. And God still has a purpose for His church in the future. In Joshua chapter 4, we find the children of Israel experiencing an important moment in their history. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, they had finally crossed the Jordan River and entered the land God had promised them. And before they went any farther, God commanded them to do something unusual. He told them to gather twelve stones from the Jordan River and build a memorial. Why? Because God wanted His people to remember what He had done. And as we celebrate Homecoming today, I believe there are four lessons we can learn from this passage. Point 1: Remember What God Has Done (Joshua 4:1–7) "And these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever." — Joshua 4:7 When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God performed a miracle. The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water, and the river stopped flowing, allowing the people to cross on dry ground. This was not an ordinary crossing. It was a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness. After the people crossed, God instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel. Each man was to take a stone from the riverbed and carry it to the place where they would camp. These stones would become a memorial. God wanted His people to remember His faithfulness. God knew that as time passed, people might forget what He had done. They would settle into their new homes. They would build cities, plant crops, raise families, and establish their lives in the Promised Land. And as life became comfortable, there was a danger that they would forget the God who had brought them there. So God gave them a physical reminder. Every time they saw those stones, they would remember how God had brought them through the Jordan River. And when their children asked what the stones meant, they would have an opportunity to tell the story. The same principle applies to us today. As we look back over the history of our church, we can see reminders of God's faithfulness. Think about the generations of believers who worshiped here before us. Think about the people who gave their time, their resources, and their energy to establish and maintain this church. Think about the prayers that have been offered within these walls. Think about the people who have come to know Jesus Christ through the ministry of this congregation. Every one of those memories reminds us that God has been at work. Remembering the past should strengthen our faith. Psalm 77:11 says: "I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." When we remember how God has worked in the past, it strengthens our confidence in Him today. Maybe there have been times when this church faced difficulties. Maybe there were seasons when resources were limited, attendance was low, or the future seemed uncertain. Yet here we are. Still gathering. Still worshiping. Still proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not because we have always been perfect. Not because we have always made the right decisions. But because God has been faithful. Application: Homecoming...
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    36 min
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 120: The Dead Walk: The Bible’s Strangest Resurrections

    The Weekly Show - Episode 120: The Dead Walk: The Bible’s Strangest Resurrections
    29 Oct 2026
    Join Tim and John for this week's episode, as they talk about The Bible’s Strangest Resurrections. Key Scripture: Matthew 27:50–53 Theme: People Who Died...and Then Got Back Up Big Idea: For the Christian, death doesn’t get the final word. “The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised...” — Matthew 27:52 Introduction October is the time of year when skeletons start appearing in front yards, graveyards become decorations, and stories about the dead walking suddenly become seasonal entertainment. But there are actually stories in the Bible where the dead do walk again. And some of them are downright strange. We know the famous ones. Jesus raises Lazarus. Jairus’s daughter is restored to life. But those aren’t the only resurrection stories in Scripture. Elijah stretches himself over a dead child and cries out to God. Elisha raises another child under unusual circumstances. A dead man is thrown into Elisha’s grave, touches the prophet’s bones, and immediately stands back up. And then we get to Matthew 27. Jesus dies. An earthquake strikes. Tombs open. And dead saints are raised and later walk into Jerusalem. That’s one of those passages where you can read the Bible for years and suddenly stop and say: “Wait. What did that just say?” Today we’re looking at some of the Bible’s strangest resurrection accounts. But this isn’t really an episode about biblical zombies. In fact, these stories are something very different. They’re signs pointing us toward one of the greatest truths of Christianity: Death is powerful, but God is more powerful. And ultimately, all these smaller resurrection stories point toward the resurrection that changes everything: Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Because He lives, death doesn’t get the final word. Elijah and the Widow’s Son One of the earliest resurrection accounts in Scripture appears in 1 Kings 17. God sends Elijah to stay with a widow in Zarephath during a severe drought. She and her son are nearly out of food when Elijah arrives. God miraculously provides for them so that their flour and oil do not run out. Then something devastating happens. The widow’s son becomes sick. His illness grows worse until: “...there was no breath left in him.” — 1 Kings 17:17 The boy dies. The widow is heartbroken. Elijah takes the child upstairs, lays him on his bed, and cries out to God. Then Elijah stretches himself over the child three times and prays: “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” And God answers. The boy lives. Elijah carries him downstairs and tells his mother: “See, your son lives.” What Does This Story Show Us? There’s something important about this first resurrection account. Elijah doesn't have power over death in himself. He prays. God raises the child. The miracle points beyond Elijah to the God Elijah serves. The widow responds: “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” The resurrection confirms God’s power and the truth of His Word. And it establishes a pattern we’ll see again. Death appears to have ended the story. Then God intervenes. Elisha and the Shunammite Woman’s Son A similar story appears in 2 Kings 4. A woman from Shunem regularly provides hospitality for the prophet Elisha. She and her husband even prepare a small room for him. The woman has no son, and her husband is old. Elisha tells her that she will have a child. And she does. Years later, the boy goes out to his father in the fields and suddenly cries: “Oh, my head, my head!” He is carried back to his mother. She holds him until noon. Then he dies. Imagine the heartbreak. This is the child she had never expected to have. The child God had given her. And now he's gone. The woman immediately goes looking for Elisha. Elisha Raises the Boy Elisha eventually comes to the house. He enters the room where the boy is lying and shuts the door. Then: He prays. Like Elijah before him, Elisha stretches himself over the child. The boy’s body becomes warm. Elisha walks around the house and then returns. He stretches himself over the child again. And suddenly: The boy sneezes seven times. Then he opens his eyes. Of all the ways Scripture could describe somebody returning from the dead, this may be one of the most memorable. Seven sneezes. Eyes open. Alive. Elisha calls the boy’s mother and says: “Pick up your son.” Again, the prophet isn't the source of life. God is. The Dead Man and Elisha’s Bones And then we arrive at one of the strangest stories in the entire Old Testament. It only takes two verses. 2 Kings 13:20–21. Elisha dies and is buried. Later, some Israelites are burying another man. While they're doing this, they see a band of Moabite raiders approaching. Apparently they need to leave quickly. So they throw the dead man into Elisha’s grave. And then: “...as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he ...
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    58 min
  • Sermon: Spiritual Freedom

    Sermon: Spiritual Freedom
    5 Jul 2026
    Sermon Date: 06/28/2026 Bible Verses: Romans 8 Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new Introduction Everyone wants freedom. Nations fight for it. People seek it. Songs are written about it. But the world's definition of freedom is often very different from God's. The world says freedom means: No restrictionsNo authorityNo accountabilityDoing whatever feels right But Scripture teaches something different. Many people who claim to be free are actually slaves. Slaves to sin. Slaves to fear. Slaves to guilt. Slaves to addiction. Slaves to pride. Slaves to the approval of others. The Bible teaches that true freedom is found only in Jesus Christ. Romans 8 is one of the greatest chapters in all of Scripture because it describes what life looks like when a person has been set free by God. Freedom from Condemnation Romans 8:1 says: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What an incredible promise. Before Christ, every one of us stood guilty before God. Not accused falsely. Guilty. Romans 3 tells us: “All have sinned.” We broke God's law. We deserved judgment. But through Christ, condemnation has been removed. Not postponed. Not reduced. Removed. The believer still struggles with sin. But the believer is no longer condemned by sin. The verdict has changed. Because Jesus took our condemnation on the cross. John 8:36 says: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” That freedom begins with forgiveness. Freedom from the Power of Sin Romans 8:2 says: “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Notice what Paul says. Not merely that we will be free someday. We have been set free. Before Christ, sin was our master. We obeyed sinful desires. We followed the flesh. We lived according to our fallen nature. But now the Holy Spirit lives within us. The power of sin has been broken. This does not mean Christians never struggle. It means sin is no longer king. The chains have been broken. We now have the power to say no to sin and yes to God. That is freedom. Freedom Through the Holy Spirit Romans 8 repeatedly emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides us. Strengthens us. Convicts us. Transforms us. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Freedom is not found in independence from God. Freedom is found in surrender to God. The closer we walk with the Spirit, the freer we become. The farther we drift from God, the more enslaved we become. The Spirit produces: Peace instead of anxiety. Hope instead of despair. Obedience instead of rebellion. Life instead of death. Freedom from Fear Romans 8:15 says: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.” Fear enslaves people. Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of the future. Fear of not being enough. But Christians have received something greater. We have received: “the Spirit of adoption as sons.” Through Christ, we are children of God. Not strangers. Not servants merely. Children. And because we belong to God, we can cry: “Abba! Father!” Freedom means we no longer live in terror before God. We live in relationship with Him. Freedom to Live for God Galatians 5:1 says: “For freedom Christ has set us free.” But then Paul gives a warning. Galatians 5:13: “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” Christian freedom is not permission to sin. It is freedom from sin. Some people think freedom means: "I can do whatever I want." Biblically, freedom means: "I can finally do what is right." A fish is free in water. A train is free on tracks. A Christian is most free when living according to God's design. Freedom is not the absence of boundaries. Freedom is living as God intended. Freedom Gives Us Hope Romans 8 ends with one of the most encouraging promises in Scripture. Paul speaks about suffering. Trials. Hardship. Persecution. Yet he declares: “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Then he says: “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That is freedom. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from sin's domination. Freedom from fear. Freedom from hopelessness. Freedom to know that no matter what happens, we belong to Christ. Application Ask yourself: What is trying to enslave me? Fear?Anger?Bitterness?Addiction?Guilt?Pride? Jesus came to set captives free. Am I living in the freedom Christ purchased? Many Christians have been freed but continue living as though they are chained. The prison door is open. Walk out. Believe God's promises. Trust His Spirit. Live as His child. Am I using freedom to serve God? Freedom is not self-centered. Freedom is God-centered. The truly free person delights in obeying Christ. Conclusion The world promises freedom but often delivers bondage. Jesus promises freedom and ...
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    31 min
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