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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 Spirituality True Crime
Episodes
  • Sermon: Beware False Doctrine

    Sermon: Beware False Doctrine
    Feb 16 2026
    Sermon Date: 02/15/2026 Bible Verses: 1 Timothy 4 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new Introduction: Jesus Didn’t Say “Be Curious”—He Said “Beware” Jesus did not spend His ministry warning His disciples about Rome. He did not primarily warn them about persecution. He warned them—again and again—about false teaching. “Beware of false prophets…” “Watch out…” “See that no one leads you astray…” Those are not suggestions. They are commands. False doctrine is dangerous not because it is loud—but because it is convincing. It does not usually announce itself as false. It comes wrapped in spiritual language, religious authority, and half-truths that sound almost right. The greatest threat to the Church has never been pressure from outside. It has always been corruption from within. Point One: False Doctrine Is a Predicted Reality 1 Timothy 4 Paul does not say false teaching might happen. He says it will. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) That phrase “later times” does not mean some distant future only. In the New Testament, it refers to the entire period between Christ’s ascension and His return—which means now. False doctrine: Causes people to depart from the faithDoes not come from ignorance aloneIs energized by spiritual deception Paul continues: “Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.” (v. 2) That’s chilling. Some false teachers are not confused—they are calloused. They can speak religious words without conviction, truth without submission, Scripture without obedience. False doctrine is not always born from error. Sometimes it is born from pride. Point Two: False Teachers Often Look Legitimate 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 Paul pulls back the curtain: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” Notice the disguise. They don’t oppose Christ openly. They imitate Him. Paul goes further: “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” False doctrine rarely looks dark. It looks enlightened. It sounds compassionate. It feels inclusive. It appeals to what we already want to believe. And that’s the danger. ✦ Error doesn’t succeed because it is obvious—it succeeds because it is attractive. If Satan came looking evil, no one would listen. So he comes looking spiritual. Point Three: False Doctrine Appeals to Desire, Not Truth 2 Timothy 4:1–5 Paul’s final charge to Timothy is urgent because the danger is personal: “The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching…” Why? “…but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.” False doctrine survives because people want it. It promises: Comfort without repentanceBlessing without obedienceSalvation without submissionA Jesus who never confronts sin Paul warns that people will: “Turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” False doctrine does not always deny Jesus. It redefines Him. That’s why Paul tells Timothy: “Be sober-minded… endure suffering… fulfill your ministry.” Truth will cost you something. False doctrine always offers a discount. Point Four: Jesus Himself Repeatedly Warned Us Jesus warned more about false teaching than almost any other danger. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing.”“Many will come in My name and lead many astray.”“If possible, even the elect would be deceived.” Jesus never said deception would be rare. He said it would be persistent. And He never told His disciples to out-argue false teachers. He told them to know the truth. ✦ The best defense against counterfeit truth is familiarity with the real thing. Point Five: How the Church Guards Against False Doctrine Scripture does not leave us helpless. Paul tells Timothy: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:16) False doctrine is resisted by: Sound teachingScripture-shaped discernmentPastors who preach the Word, not trendsChurches that value truth over popularity And believers who: Read ScriptureTest what they hearRefuse to trade truth for comfort ✦ Discernment is not suspicion—it is spiritual maturity. Conclusion: Beware—Because Truth Matters False doctrine is not harmless. It does not merely confuse. It leads people away from Christ. That’s why Jesus said beware. That’s why Paul warned the Church. That’s why Scripture calls us to be watchful. The goal is not fear. The goal is faithfulness. We do not guard doctrine to win arguments. We guard doctrine to protect souls. “Hold fast the word of life.” Because truth saves. Truth sanctifies. Truth sets free.
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    29 mins
  • The Weekly Show - Episode 84: Study Six: Purity & the Heart (Lust)

    The Weekly Show - Episode 84: Study Six: Purity & the Heart (Lust)
    Feb 12 2026
    Join Tim and John as they study Lust, Adultery and Divorce. 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 In the last study, Jesus showed us that true righteousness isn’t just about what we do—it’s about who we are on the inside. He taught that anger and hatred don’t begin with violent actions; they begin in the heart, long before anything happens on the outside. Now Jesus takes that same heart-level teaching and applies it to another deeply important area: purity. Just like with anger: sin doesn’t start with your hands, and it doesn’t even start with your eyes. Sin starts in the heart. Before a person ever acts on temptation… before they send the message… before they take the second look… before the thoughts turn into choices… The battle is already being won or lost inside. Jesus wants His followers to understand that purity is not just about avoiding certain actions—it’s about cultivating a heart that loves what God loves, desires what God desires, and rejects anything that leads toward sin. In a world filled with temptation and constant pressure, Jesus calls His disciples to a different way of living: a life of internal purity that overflows into external faithfulness. This study will help us see: why purity matters to God, how lust begins in the heart, how Jesus calls us to fight it, and how the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in real, lasting freedom. Purity is a heart issue—and Jesus begins His teaching right where the real battle happens: within us. 1. Honoring Marriage Long before Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, God had already made His expectations for purity clear. One of the Ten Commandments says: “You shall not commit adultery.” — Exodus 20:14 This command wasn’t just for married people—it was for everyone. It teaches that faithfulness matters: before marriage during marriage and throughout your entire life God designed marriage to be a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. It is meant to reflect His faithfulness, His love, and His commitment to His people. Because marriage is so important to God, purity before and after the wedding matters deeply. Jesus Goes Deeper Than the Commandment Just as He did with anger, Jesus goes to the heart of the issue. The Pharisees focused on the action of adultery— “as long as you don’t physically betray your spouse, you’re fine.” But Jesus says that adultery doesn’t begin with a physical act. It begins: with the mind, with the imagination, with the desire, with the look, with the thought, with what the heart wants. Jesus teaches: If you look at someone with lust, you have already committed adultery in your heart. — Matthew 5:28 (paraphrased) He isn’t exaggerating. He’s revealing the truth: purity is a heart issue long before it’s a physical issue. Why Does This Matter? Because God cares not only about what we do, but why we do it and what we desire on the inside. He knows that: lust destroys trust lust corrupts the imagination lust weakens self-control lust can harm future marriages lust objectifies people made in God’s image lust pulls the heart away from God’s design Even if no one else sees what’s happening inside, God sees the heart—and He cares about it. God Calls Us to Faithful Hearts Honoring marriage isn’t just about saying “I do” on a wedding day. It means developing a heart that values purity and faithfulness now, no matter your age or season of life. That means: guarding your eyes guarding your imagination refusing to fantasize about what God forbids choosing purity in your thoughts respecting other people as brothers and sisters—not objects asking God to shape your desires to match His Jesus isn’t trying to shame us with an impossibly high standard. He is rescuing us by showing where sin really begins. Purity protects you. Purity honors others. Purity honors your future spouse. Purity honors God. And purity begins in the heart. 2. Adultery: Adults Only? When people hear the word adultery, they often think, “That’s a sin for married grown-ups. It doesn’t apply to me yet.” But Jesus makes it clear: purity is not just an adult issue. It’s a heart issue—so it matters for everyone, at every age, and in every season of life. Temptation Is Everywhere Today In Jesus’ day, people did not live surrounded by screens, images, videos, and constant advertisements. Our world is filled with temptation in ways that no generation before us has faced. Now more than ever, it is difficult to obey Jesus’ teaching because: impurity is easy to find culture constantly promotes it peer pressure encourages it social media normalizes it curiosity grows quickly “just looking” feels harmless But Jesus wants us to understand something important: Sinful lust always hurts people. Lust is never harmless. It damages: your future ...
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Five - I Believe in Forgiveness of Sins, Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting

    Sermon: Apostle’s Creed Week Five - I Believe in Forgiveness of Sins, Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting
    Feb 9 2026
    Sermon Date: 02/08/2026 Bible Verses: Various Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new Introduction: Belief That Carries Us All the Way The Apostles’ Creed ends the way it does on purpose. It does not finish with the Church. It does not finish with duty. It does not finish with effort. It finishes with hope. Scripture reminds us why: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) The Creed walks us from who God is, to what Christ has done, to where history is going—and then it says one final word: Amen. Which means: This is true. This is sure. This is what we stand on. Point One: I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins This is where belief gets honest. Scripture does not deny sin—it exposes it: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Christianity is the only faith that does not pretend we are fine. It begins with a confession: we are sinners. But it does not leave us there. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” (Ephesians 1:7) “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.” (1 Peter 2:24) To say “I believe in the forgiveness of sins” is to confess two things at once: I am guilty.God is merciful. Forgiveness is not denial. It is not minimizing sin. It is not pretending the past didn’t happen. Forgiveness is sin taken seriously—and dealt with completely. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1) Jesus did not forgive sins by ignoring them. He forgave them by bearing them. The cross tells us this: Sin matters.Justice matters.Grace is costly. And forgiveness is not partial. It is not temporary. It is not probationary. In Christ: Sin is canceled, not covered.Guilt is removed, not managed.Shame is broken, not recycled. To believe in forgiveness is to stop trying to outrun your past—and to stop letting it define your future. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) ✦ Forgiveness is not earned by remorse—it is received by faith. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9) ✦ The gospel does not say “do better.” It says “it is finished.” Point Two: I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body The Creed now lifts our eyes beyond forgiveness into restoration. Notice what it does not say: Not “the survival of the soul”Not “a spiritual continuation”But “the resurrection of the body” Christian hope is not escape from creation—it is the renewal of creation. “The dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) Jesus Himself promises: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25) Jesus did not rise as a ghost. He rose in a body. Scarred, recognizable, glorified. This resurrection is bodily, not symbolic: “He will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:21) And Scripture insists that what happened to Him will happen to us. Creation itself is waiting for this moment: “The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” (Romans 8:21) Resurrection means: Death is not the end.Bodies matter.Creation will be healed, not discarded. This corrects two lies: That our bodies are meaningless shellsThat death is a natural or final answer Death is an intruder. Resurrection is God’s answer. ✦ What Christ redeemed, He will raise. Christian belief does not say, “This life is all there is.” It says, “This life is not all there is—and it matters forever.” What Christ redeemed, He will raise. “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19) Point Three: I Believe in the Life Everlasting The Creed now reaches its horizon. Not just survival. Not just continuation. Life everlasting. This is not endless time. This is endless life with God. Life everlasting is not boredom in the clouds. It is not floating existence. It is not abstraction. Jesus defines eternal life this way: “This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) It is: God with His peopleSin finally goneDeath finally defeatedJoy finally unhindered Eternal life is not earned. It is given. And it begins now—not later. Scripture promises its certainty: “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life.” (John 5:24) And its joy: “In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) It is not fragile or temporary: “An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” (1 Peter 1:4) And it is secure: “They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28) Those who belong to Christ already possess eternal life in promise, and one day will possess it in ...
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    30 mins
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