The Shield ONLINE
Teachings, messages, vital life learning, irrelevances, and other musings about the Bible from The Salvation Army's Captain Roger McCort. Life has few guarantees, but here's one: You will find something new or interesting in every message or you can reach out to me and I will provide you with additional new and interesting facts, free of charge. Guaranteed.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 32 minutes
- Episodes
- 356
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Taken Away (Leave me Behind!)
That well-known 80's philosopher Blondie once described the Rapture by saying about a man from Mars:
Now he's gone back up to space
Where he won't have a hassle with the human race
When Jesus teaches a…
Apocalypse Braxton Hicks
Jesus said to get out.
They did.
Why?
Because they trusted his warning.
And the greatest slaughter in history got to happen without them.
Matthew 24 included a prophecy for the people of that time. What, …
Religion Drags You to Hell
You remember that time when Jesus told people that religion was dragging them into hell?
Funny how that doesn't get preached on much, isn't it?
Or maybe it isn't so funny.
I wonder why religious leaders…
Q and A with Jesus
It's time to play everyone's favorite game: Q&A with Jesus!
Today we will see three challengers take on the champion, trying to stump him with their questions and so avoid having to respond to his. Wi…
Jesus Warning
There's something weird about the confrontation between Jesus and the chief priests in the Temple.
The stories he tells are an indictment of the way they have been leading, but when you read them all …
The King Begins to Reign
In his first three days in Jerusalem, Jesus acted out three living parables - three prophetic actions which point to the reign of God overcoming the rebellion of the world.
Here's the thing: In spite …
Becoming a Client of the King
Ignorance seeks leadership, power, and glory, says a modern commentator. A couple centuries back, Matthew Henry wrote that we are idiots when we ask for the glory of wearing a crown instead of for gr…
Kingdom Keys
Divorce and its aftermath? The place of children? What's in it for you? How do we measure our value?
Sometimes we talk about our "worldview" and how that determines our actions.
Sometimes Jesus told pe…
When NOT to Forgive
At what point is it okay to just tell someone to go to hell? You know, that point at which we decide that the things they have done or are doing are unforgivable. When we are ready to let them be cas…
A Waste of Skin
Who is the most valuable and who can we discount as unimportant?
Who is loved by God and who is it okay for us to hate?
That guy over there has always been a jerk to me, so it's okay for me to look do…
Faith in a Fish
Once upon a time there was a man who was interested in taxes. Then Jesus did this thing that resonated with him and he realized that he never needed to pay taxes again and that he could choose to pay…
Faithless Followers
Jesus left for a night and his disciples fell apart.
We've all been there, right? Someone leaves you in charge of something and suddenly you feel lost, cast adrift, unable to remember or trust the thi…
Get in Line!
Remember that time when Jesus told Peter that he needed to get in line or get out? You don't? Perhaps you missed the real story of what was happening in Matthew 16 and 17. Don't feel too bad. You kno…
The Gates of Hell and the Kingdom of God
In today's passage, Jesus takes his followers into the very mouth of Hell to show them that there is no power which can keep chained those who God sets free. It's both a lesson and a command.
You don'…
Gentile Dogs
Who is in your tribe?
Who is it right to feed and who should you turn away?
Who do you wish would just go away because they are annoying you?
I hope the answer to that last one isn't me! But even if it …
Offending Pharisees
We don't give Pharisees enough credit. The hearts of most of them were really in the right place as they tried to bring people closer to God through holy living.
BUT...
When your focus gets locked on …
Jesus Says You Can
You've heard this story a thousand times, but the way you've heard it is wrong. What you need to understand is that you can be everything God says you can - which is so much more than you are willing…
Jesus and the Giant Burrito
There was a time when Jesus fed thousands of people and yet, somehow, that was the least important part of what was going on at that time.
How weird is that?
Comments or questions are always invited. P…
The People Want to be Non-Prophet
Jesus goes home to visit. Herod's step-daughter gets a head. We learn about the obstacles of pride.
Take your fingers out of your ears and remove the blinders you put over your eyes and pay attention …
Jesus, Storyteller
Jesus used storytelling as one of his most common teaching tools. Today Matthew is going to walk us through some of those stories as he works to help us understand what Jesus wanted us all to know. E…