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Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove

Von: 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. Christentum Spiritualität True Crime
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  • Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Four - I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of Saints

    Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Four - I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of Saints
    Feb 1 2026

    Sermon Date: 02/01/2026

    Bible Verses:

    • Various

    Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

    Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new

    Introduction: Belief Is Never Private

    Modern faith loves the phrase “It’s just between me and God.” The Apostles’ Creed politely—and firmly—disagrees.

    The moment the Creed moves past “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” it moves straight into community.

    Because the Spirit never creates isolated Christians.

    Christian belief is personal—but it is never private.

    Point One: I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church (The Universal Church)

    That word “catholic” often trips people up, so let’s be clear from the start.

    “Catholic” does not mean Roman Catholic. It means universal—the whole Church, across time, cultures, nations, and denominations.

    Jesus Himself declared the Church’s origin:

    “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

    Notice who builds the Church. Not pastors. Not programs. Not institutions.

    Christ builds the Church.

    And His mission is global:

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20)

    The Church is not a building. It is not a brand. It is not a weekly event.

    Paul defines it this way:

    “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens… members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19–22)

    Peter goes even further:

    “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” (1 Peter 2:9)

    The Church is:

    • Holy — set apart by God
    • Universal — spanning the globe and the centuries
    • Alive — built on Christ Himself

    And Christ is not just associated with the Church—He is its authority:

    “He is the head of the body, the church.” (Colossians 1:18)

    To believe in Christ is to believe in His Church—not as an optional accessory, but as His chosen instrument in the world.

    ✦ You cannot love the Head and despise the Body.

    Point Two: The Communion of Saints (Fellowship)

    The Creed now deepens the idea of the Church—not just as an institution, but as a family.

    “The communion of saints.”

    This does not mean we pray to saints. It means we belong with saints.

    The Church is not just the living—it includes all who belong to Christ, past and present.

    Hebrews reminds us:

    “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” (Hebrews 12:1–2)

    We are not alone in our faith. We are joined to believers who have endured, suffered, obeyed, and finished the race.

    “Remember your leaders… imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

    The communion of saints is both vertical and horizontal:

    • Unity with believers who have gone before
    • Fellowship with believers walking beside us now

    Jesus prayed for this unity Himself:

    “That they may all be one… so that the world may believe.” (John 17:20–21)

    Christian fellowship is not optional. It is part of our witness.

    When we gather, Christ is present:

    “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I.” (Matthew 18:20)

    And because we belong to God, we belong to one another:

    “See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.” (1 John 3:1)

    That shared identity creates shared responsibility:

    “Encourage one another and build one another up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

    The communion of saints means:

    • We carry each other’s burdens
    • We speak truth in love
    • We worship together
    • We suffer together
    • We persevere together

    ✦ Christian faith grows best in community, not isolation.

    Conclusion: Belief That Belongs

    To say “I believe in the holy catholic Church” is to confess that Christ has a people.

    To say “I believe in the communion of saints” is to confess that we are part of them.

    Belief joins us:

    • To Christ our Head
    • To the Church His Body
    • To the saints our family

    Faith is not a solo journey. It is a shared pilgrimage.

    And the same Christ who saves us individually binds us together corporately—so that the world might see not just what we believe, but who we belong to.
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    30 Min.
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 82: Study Four: Salt and Light

    The Weekly Show - Episode 82: Study Four: Salt and Light
    Jan 29 2026
    Join Tim and John as they study Salt and Light. 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 Right after describing the blessed life of His followers, Jesus uses two simple, everyday pictures that everyone understood: salt and light. “You are the salt of the earth…” “You are the light of the world…” — Matthew 5:13–16 These aren’t suggestions. They aren’t goals for “extra-spiritual” people. Jesus says: “You are.” If you belong to Him, you already are salt and light. What Does That Mean? In Jesus’ day: Salt preserved food, purified it, and added flavor. Light revealed truth, guided travelers, and pushed back darkness. Jesus chose these images because they describe what His followers are meant to be in the world: People who help slow the moral and spiritual decay around them People who show God’s truth and goodness People whose lives bring grace, compassion, and hope People whose actions help others see God clearly Jesus is saying: “You represent Me in this world. Your life makes My kingdom visible.” Why Here, Why Now? Jesus puts this teaching right after the Beatitudes on purpose. The Beatitudes show what kind of people His followers are becoming. Salt and Light show how those people influence the world. The world needs: humility mercy purity courage peace The world doesn’t need more darkness. It needs more light. Jesus and the Law Right after calling His followers salt and light, Jesus explains His relationship to the Old Testament: “I didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them.” “The Law and the Prophets” was the Jewish way of saying “the Bible”—what we call the Old Testament. Jesus didn’t come to throw it away. He came to complete it, show its true meaning, and live it out perfectly. Then He adds something surprising: “Unless your righteousness goes beyond the Pharisees, you won’t enter the kingdom.” The Pharisees were known for strict outward obedience. But Jesus wants something deeper—a righteousness that comes from a changed heart, not just external rule-keeping. The Purpose Jesus finishes by explaining why we shine as salt and light: “…so that people may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Not to make ourselves look good, but to lead others to see how good God is. The Salt of the Earth Immediately after describing the character of His kingdom people, Jesus uses a simple household image to explain their influence: “You are the salt of the earth.” — Matthew 5:13 Everyone in Jesus’ day knew exactly how valuable salt was. It wasn’t a seasoning you sprinkled casually—it was essential for survival. When Jesus called His disciples “salt,” He was giving them a profound and world-shaping identity. 1. Salt Preserves In the ancient world, refrigeration didn’t exist. Salt was the most common way to preserve meat and keep it from rotting. Jesus is saying: “My followers slow the decay of the world.” How? by living holy lives in an unholy culture by standing for righteousness when others compromise by protecting the vulnerable by seeking justice and doing good by living in such a way that pushes back corruption Where believers live out the Beatitudes, society is preserved from moral and spiritual decay. 2. Salt Adds Flavor Salt makes food taste like what it was created to taste like. Christians bring: joy to despairing places grace to hardened hearts compassion to the ignored truth to confusion hope to hopelessness the “flavor” of God’s goodness into everyday life A Christian who reflects Christ makes the world more livable, more beautiful, and more meaningful. You don’t have to preach a sermon— your life carries the flavor of the kingdom. 3. Salt Purifies Salt was also used as a cleansing agent. Christians purify the world by: confessing sin honestly living with integrity refusing corruption speaking truth in love living in holiness pointing people to Christ, the true purifier Where Christians live the gospel, purity spreads. 4. A Follower of Jesus Who Blends In Is a Contradiction Salt is only useful when it’s distinctly salty. Jesus warns that salt can lose its taste— not chemically, but practically, when it becomes mixed with dirt or impurities. Likewise: A believer who hides their faith is not salty. A believer who blends into the world’s darkness is not salty. A believer who compromises biblical convictions becomes spiritually ineffective. This is not about perfection—it’s about distinction. If your life looks no different from the world, you’re not seasoning anything. The world desperately needs the flavor, purity, and preserving power of Christians who live boldly and humbly for Christ. 5. “Of the Earth” — A Global Mission Jesus didn’t say: “You are the salt of your neighborhood.” “You are the salt of...
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    1 Std. und 10 Min.
  • Message: trusting God When You Don’t Understand

    Message: trusting God When You Don’t Understand
    Jan 25 2026

    Sermon Date: 01/25/2026

    Bible Verses:

    • Various

    Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

    Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new

    Introduction: We Want Control, God Wants Trust

    We live in an age of planning, predicting, and protecting ourselves.

    We track. We insure. We analyze. We worry.

    And when life still goes sideways, we ask the same question in different forms: “Why didn’t this work?” “What did I miss?” “How do I fix this?”

    Scripture doesn’t shame those questions—but it does redirect them.

    God does not promise us full explanations. He promises His faithfulness.

    And the call of Scripture is not: figure everything out— It is: trust Me.

    Point One: Trust the Lord — Not Yourself

    Proverbs 3:5–6

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

    This passage does not say understanding is bad. It says understanding is limited.

    The problem isn’t that we think—it’s that we lean.

    To lean is to put your weight on something. To depend on it to hold you up.

    And Scripture is blunt: Your understanding cannot carry the weight of your life.

    God does not ask for partial trust. Not 80%. Not trust-until-it-hurts. Not trust-until-it-costs.

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”

    That includes:

    • The unanswered prayer
    • The confusing diagnosis
    • The broken relationship
    • The closed door you were sure God would open

    And notice the promise:

    “He will make straight your paths.”

    Not easy paths. Not pain-free paths. But directed paths.

    Trust does not eliminate uncertainty. It anchors you inside it.

    ✦ Faith is not knowing where God is taking you—it’s knowing who is taking you.

    Point Two: Perfect Peace Comes From a Fixed Mind

    Isaiah 26:3

    “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

    Perfect peace does not come from perfect circumstances.

    It comes from a focused mind.

    The Hebrew phrase here is literally “peace, peace”—complete, settled, guarded peace.

    But notice the condition:

    “Whose mind is stayed on You.”

    Stayed means:

    • Anchored
    • Held
    • Fixed
    • Refusing to wander

    An anxious mind rehearses fear. A trusting mind rehearses truth.

    Peace is not pretending things aren’t hard. Peace is choosing where your thoughts live.

    This verse does not say:

    • God keeps everyone in peace
    • God keeps the distracted in peace
    • God keeps the panicked in peace

    It says He keeps the trusting in peace.

    ✦ Peace is not the absence of trouble—it is the presence of trust.

    Point Three: Cast Your Cares — Don’t Carry What God Invites You to Release

    1 Peter 5:7

    “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

    This verse assumes something important:

    You have anxieties.

    God is not surprised by them. He is not disappointed by them. He invites you to throw them on Him.

    Casting is not gently setting down. It’s not managing stress. It’s not spiritual stoicism.

    Casting is forceful release.

    Why?

    Because you were never meant to carry what only God can handle.

    And here’s the reason—simple, profound, and deeply personal:

    “Because He cares for you.”

    Not vaguely. Not theoretically. Not generally.

    You.

    Your worries matter because you matter to God.

    ✦ God does not ask you to trust Him blindly—He asks you to trust Him relationally.

    Putting It All Together

    Proverbs tells us where to place our trust. Isaiah tells us what trust produces. Peter tells us how trust is practiced.

    • Trust the Lord fully
    • Fix your mind on Him continually
    • Cast your cares on Him honestly

    This is not a one-time decision. It is a daily posture.

    Sometimes hourly. Sometimes moment by moment.

    Trust is not passive—it is practiced.

    Conclusion: Let God Carry What You Cannot

    You don’t have to understand everything. You don’t have to control everything. You don’t have to carry everything.

    God is not asking you to figure life out. He is asking you to trust Him with it.

    ✦ What you release to God is not lost—it is secured.
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    26 Min.
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