One Single Story

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. I'm Pastor Stephen Mizell, joined today by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Each weekday we bring you a focused lesson from the One Year Bible reading plan, and today we are in Luke 7:36-8:3. In this passage, a sinful woman crashes a dinner at a Pharisee's house to anoint Jesus' feet, and Jesus uses the moment to reveal a powerful truth: the depth of our love for Christ is directly connected to our awareness of how much we have been forgiven. We dig into why the Pharisees, despite being in the same room as Jesus, remained completely unmoved, and how self-righteousness blinds us to our own need for grace. We also look at the women of Luke 8 who supported Jesus' ministry out of their own resources, and what their generosity reveals about a life truly transformed by encounter with Christ. As one of our hosts puts it: "True gratitude moves obedience from something that you have to do to something that you want to do." Find us at onesinglestory.com and visitopendoor.com. Subscribe so you never miss a daily lesson, and join us again tomorrow for the next edition of One Single Story. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Forgiveness #Luke #Faith

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski as they dig into Luke 7:11-35, the raising of the widow's son at Nain, and what it reveals about compassion, grace, and repentance. Scripture Focus: Luke 7:11-35 - Jesus raises a widow's son and John the Baptist questions from prison whether Jesus is truly the one. In This Episode: How Jesus saw the widow's need and acted before she ever asked Why pride is the greatest barrier to receiving grace What true repentance looks like and how it opens the heart to transformation Key Quote: "Repentance removes all of the trash for you to deal with the issue. It prepares our hearts to allow God to deal with the things that need to be dealt with." One Single Story is a daily Bible study podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking through the One Year Bible every weekday. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Luke #Grace #Repentance #Faith

Join Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for today's edition of One Single Story, your weekday guide through the One Year Bible. In this episode, Jesus closes his sermon with a sharp warning against hypocrisy, and then turns around and praises the most unlikely person in the crowd - a Roman centurion whose humility and faith stopped Jesus in his tracks. We dig into what spiritual fruit actually reveals about what is going on inside us, why wearing a mask - whether in religion or on social media - is nothing new, and how this Gentile soldier's love for the Jewish people and his posture before Jesus set the stage for one of the most remarkable miracles in Luke's Gospel. The centurion did not come demanding. He came expectant and humble, saying in effect: I know who you are, and I know you don't even have to show up. Just say the word. That kind of faith, rooted in a genuine understanding of authority and an honest view of himself, is exactly what Jesus praised. As Pastor Mizell puts it: humility is the preparation of the soul for miracles. New episodes every weekday at onesinglestory.com and visitopendoor.com. Don't just listen to the truth - live it. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Luke #Faith #Humility #Scripture

Welcome to One Single Story, your weekday companion through the One Year Bible. Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a conversation on Luke chapter six, covering prayerful leadership, the Beatitudes, and what it truly means to love your enemies. Scripture Focus: Luke 6:12-38 - Jesus prays through the night, chooses the twelve apostles, and delivers the Sermon on the Plain, calling his followers to a kingdom-centered way of living. In This Episode: Why Jesus prayed all night before selecting the twelve, including the intentional choice of Judas Iscariot How the Beatitudes redefine blessing from outward prosperity to inward spiritual posture The difference between being nice to someone and genuinely loving your enemy Key Quote: "We don't have to love our enemies to become God's children. We love them because we are his children." One Single Story is a daily Bible discussion podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking through the One Year Bible each weekday. New episodes every morning. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Luke #Beatitudes #LoveYourEnemies #Faith

Welcome to One Single Story, your daily Bible study companion. Join host Pastor Stephen Mizell and co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski as they dig into Luke 5:29-6:11, where Jesus eats with sinners, heals on the Sabbath, and declares himself Lord of the Sabbath, shifting the religious conversation from external ritual to internal restoration. In this episode the team explores how legalism distorts God's intention by turning relationship into performance, what first-century table fellowship reveals about Jesus's heart for the lost, and what it truly means for Jesus to be Lord of the Sabbath, including the Hebrew concept of wholeness and rest that points us back to him. "Legalism values the rule. Mercy values the person as the purpose for the rule." One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Find us at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and join us each weekday for a fresh lesson from the One Year Bible. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #GospelOfLuke #Mercy #Sabbath #Faith          

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5! Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for the March 20th edition. Today the team is in Numbers 30:1–31:54, unpacking what God's regulations on vows reveal about the weight He places on our words, our integrity, and our accountability to one another. Scripture Focus: Numbers 30:1–31:54 - God establishes rules for vows, showing how seriously He regards the promises His people make. In This Episode: Why God takes our vows and commitments so seriously - and what that means for everyday life How accountability protects our faith by preventing drift before problems take root What integrity truly requires: truthfulness, consistency, humility, and repentance Key Quote: "Accountability is a gift. If people care enough - God certainly cares enough to speak into our life through the Word. And if we have those people that can, and will, and do that in relationship, that is a gift." One Single Story is a weekday podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking through the One Year Bible reading plan one conversation at a time. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #BookOfNumbers #Integrity #Accountability

Welcome to One Single Story, the daily devotional podcast where each weekday Pastor Stephen Mizell and co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Sheryl Daughety walk through the One Year Bible reading together. In today's episode, we are in Numbers 28:16–29:40, exploring God's appointed festivals and why intentional spiritual rhythms are essential to a life of faith. Scripture Focus: Numbers 28:16–29:40 - God prescribes Israel's sacred calendar, commanding festivals including Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, setting aside these days as holy and free from ordinary work. In This Episode: Why God deliberately scheduled sacred celebrations and what that reveals about His character How repeated spiritual rhythms become the habits that sustain our faith and focus Why celebration is itself an act of worship and obedience The ongoing challenge of the Sabbath and the freedom found in genuine rest How generosity functions as a spiritual discipline that opens the door to breakthrough Key Quote: "Rhythms - those things that we repeat become habits. They become a part of who we are and help us keep our priorities where they need to be." One Single Story is produced by Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. New episodes every weekday following the One Year Bible. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and visit us at visitopendoor.com or onesinglestory.com. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #Scripture #Faith #Numbers #SpiritualRhythms #Sabbath #Worship

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. Host Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for today's discussion drawn from Numbers 26-28, where God assigns the land inheritance, reaffirms the required offerings, and commissions Joshua as Moses' successor - a powerful reminder that worship and obedience must continue even in seasons of transition. In this episode, the team explores Moses' selfless response upon learning he would not enter the Promised Land, what consistent worship does to shape our character over time, and why rhythms of rest are essential to sustaining long-term devotion. As one host put it: "Faithful, regular, consistent worship is so important because it becomes who we are, not just what we do." One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, offering brief weekday lessons from the One Year Bible. New episodes every weekday at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com. Subscribe, share with a friend, and join us tomorrow as we continue through the book of Numbers. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BookOfNumbers #Faith #Scripture

Welcome to One Single Story, the daily podcast where we walk through the One Year Bible one passage at a time. Today, Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a conversation around Numbers 26. What looks like a routine census opens into a powerful discussion about remembering past failures, receiving God's fresh starts, and leaving a spiritual legacy that outlasts us. Scripture Focus: Numbers 26 - God orders a new census as a fresh generation prepares to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. In This Episode: Why remembering failure builds wisdom and discernment rather than regret How God provides fresh starts through salvation, repentance, and new relationships Why spiritual legacy is more caught than taught Key Quote: "You are leaving a legacy. You just get to determine what it is. Things are more caught than they are taught." One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. New episodes every weekday. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com Subscribe so you never miss a lesson. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BookOfNumbers #SpiritualLegacy #Faith

Welcome to One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and guest Pastor Sheryl Daughety for a look at one of Scripture's most striking contrasts: the leap from prophetic blessing to moral failure in Numbers 24 and 25. Balaam blesses Israel and even predicts a coming messianic ruler — then the very next chapter records Israel's sexual immorality and idolatry. The fall happens fast. Scripture Focus: Numbers 24:1–25:18 — From Balaam's blessing and messianic prophecy to Israel's unfaithfulness with the Moabites. In This Episode: Why spiritual victory so often opens the door to vulnerability and temptation How compromise works gradually — little by little — until sin becomes normalized The dangers of pride and complacency after seasons of success Practical safeguards: accountability, God's Word, confession, and pre-decided boundaries Key Quote: "Guard your heart most carefully after your greatest victories. That's when you're the most vulnerable." — Pastor Stephen Mizell One Single Story is a weekday podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, offering brief, conversational lessons from the One Year Bible to help you understand Scripture in context and grow in your daily walk with Christ. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com | Subscribe so you never miss an episode. This week we are in the Book of Numbers. Join us each day as we work through Israel's wilderness journey — covering blessing, obedience, rebellion, and God's faithfulness through it all. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #BookOfNumbers

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Alyssa Bream for the March 13th edition. Today the team explores Psalm 56, unpacking what it looks like to trust God when your circumstances feel dangerous and overwhelming. Scripture Focus: Psalm 56:1-13 - Written by David while seized by the Philistines in Gath, this psalm gives one of Scripture's most honest and practical portraits of courage in the face of real fear. In This Episode: Why David's honesty about fear is a model for believers, not a sign of weak faith How faith reframes fear rather than eliminating it The power of remembering God's past faithfulness to fuel present courage The arc of Psalm 56, from despair in verse one to praise by the close Key Quote: "Fear may visit, but trust must stay." One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, offering a brief weekday lesson from the One Year Bible. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #FaithOverFear #Psalms #TrustGod #ChristianLife #Faith

Welcome to One Single Story, where each weekday we offer a brief lesson from the daily reading in the One Year Bible. Host Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Alyssa Bream as they dig into Psalm 55 and what David teaches us about processing betrayal, letting go, and casting our burdens on God. Scripture Focus: Psalm 55 - David's raw, honest cry to God in the middle of betrayal, most likely written during Absalom's rebellion when his trusted advisor turned against him. In This Episode: David's radical transparency with God in the middle of pain Why betrayal must be grieved, then released, before it becomes your identity How unprocessed pain spills out onto the people around you Why forgiveness and trust in God are daily decisions, not one-time events Key Quote: "Carrying things we weren't meant to carry keeps us from being able to do things we were intended to do." One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Subscribe wherever you listen, and join us every weekday through the One Year Bible. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Psalms #Forgiveness #TrustingGod #Faith

Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Alyssa Bream dig into Psalm 54 - David's raw, honest cry to God written when the Ziphites betrayed him to King Saul. It is a psalm of lament, bold prayer, and hard-won trust, and it has a lot to say about how we handle conflict today. Scripture Focus: Psalm 54:1-7 - David's plea for God's attention and deliverance amid betrayal (1 Samuel 23) In This Episode: * The two types of prayers David prays - urgent personal appeal and bold request for justice against his enemies * Whether David's enemies were also God's enemies, and what that means for how we pray * Why our culture has lost the art of lament and why David's psalms model a healthier way to process pain * What actually anchors faith in hard times - and why it starts with the habits you build before trouble arrives Key Quote: "The habits and relationships that you build when life is good are what can sustain you when life gets tough." One Single Story is a weekday devotional podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking through the One Year Bible one passage at a time. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalms #BookOfPsalms #Lament #PrayerLife

Welcome to One Single Story. Pastor Stephen Mizell, joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Alyssa Bream. Today we are in Psalm 53, verses one through six, a meditation from David written during the moral decay of Israel, where he diagnoses the spiritual condition of a people who have turned their backs on God. Scripture Focus: Psalm 53:1-6 - David's diagnosis of spiritual disease in Israel, and a parallel to Psalm 14, pointing toward the only true source of restoration. In This Episode: What Scripture actually means by "fool" - not intellectual weakness, but moral corruption and willful spiritual resistance Why unbelief is ultimately an act of pride and self-reliance, choosing the moment over eternity How God's perspective differs from ours - he sees the heart, the motive, and a timeline that stretches far beyond our own Why dark times were never meant to be walked through alone, and how community sustains righteousness when faith feels thin Key Quote: "As believers, our best days are always ahead of us. If I am in relationship with him, irregardless of what happens, it is well in the end. And that is real hope." New episodes every weekday at onesinglestory.com. Open Door Church, Edenton, North Carolina - visitopendoor.com. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Psalms #HopeInGod #ChristianCommunity            

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5! Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Alyssa Bream for today's reading from the One Year Bible. In this episode, the hosts dig into Psalm 52 and explore what it means to trust God over personal influence and what it looks like to be an olive tree planted in the house of God. Scripture Focus: Psalm 52:1-9 - Written after Doeg the Edomite betrayed David and massacred the priests of Nob, this psalm confronts the temptation to boast in human power and points us back to the steadfast faithfulness of God. In This Episode: * Why the Hebrew root of "boast" is the same word used in "hallelujah" - and where we direct our praise * How wickedness can produce short-term gains, but justice and truth always prevail * Trusting God over influence, titles, and charisma * The rich symbolism of the olive tree - rooted, fruit-bearing, and dependent on a source beyond itself Key Quote: "Choose faithfulness over fame, because God wants to grow olive trees." One Single Story is a weekday podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking listeners through the One Year Bible one passage at a time. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #Faith #Psalms #TrustGod

Welcome to the March 6th edition of One Single Story, Season 5. Pastor Stephen Mizell is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski for a focused conversation on Proverbs 10:27-28 — exploring what it means to truly fear the Lord, why hope is so much more than wishful thinking, and how spiritual endurance is built through the trials we face. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 10:27-28 - "The fear of the Lord lengthens one's life. The hopes of the godly result in happiness." A two-verse contrast between a life rooted in reverence for God and one lived without it. In This Episode: * What reverence for God really looks like and how it shapes your daily decisions * Why hope is a stabilizing anchor rooted in God's character, not circumstance * How spiritual endurance is built through testing, consistency, and community Key Quote: "Hope is not wishful thinking. It is being planted in security, in knowing what you can expect because you know God and you know his character." One Single Story is a daily devotional podcast from the pastoral team at Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking listeners through the One Year Bible each weekday. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com Subscribe and join us every weekday for a brief, grounding conversation around the Word of God. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Proverbs #SpiritualEndurance

Welcome to One Single Story, the daily Bible podcast with Pastor Stephen Mizell, Pastor Jay Rivenbark, and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski. Today we are in Proverbs 10:26, where Solomon compares a lazy person to vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes — a vivid picture of just how disruptive unreliability can be to everyone around us. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 10:26 - Solomon uses sharp imagery to capture the frustration and irritation a lazy person causes those who depend on them. In This Episode: Why laziness reveals character and affects far more people than just yourself How diligence reflects God's own nature and becomes an act of worship Practical habits that build faithfulness, including punctuality, follow-through, planning, and accountability Key Quote: "How you work reveals who you worship." - Pastor Stephen Mizell One Single Story is a daily Bible podcast from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina, walking through the One Year Bible one passage at a time. visitopendoor.com | onesinglestory.com Subscribe and join us tomorrow for the next edition of One Single Story. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Proverbs #WorkAsWorship #Faith

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5! Host Pastor Stephen Mizell and co-hosts Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski dig into Proverbs 10:24-25, exploring what it means to have a lasting foundation when life's storms arrive. This conversation unpacks how character and faith determine not just whether we survive the storm -- but who we become on the other side. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 10:24-25 - Solomon contrasts the wicked, whose fears will be fulfilled, with the godly, whose hopes will be granted -- pointing to an enduring foundation as the difference-maker. In This Episode: * Why storms are inevitable and what they reveal about our character and foundation * How faith functions like an anchor -- often unappreciated until a storm forces us to deploy it * The danger of spiritual drift and why gradual, unnoticed movement away from God can be just as threatening as a crisis * Why talent and character are not the same, and why character is what keeps doors open Key Quote: "Talent opens doors, giftings open doors. Character keeps the door open." New episodes every weekday from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Find more at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com. Build on God now so you can stand later. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #BiblicalEncouragement #ChristianLife #Scripture #Faith #Proverbs #FaithAndCharacter #BiblicalFoundation

Welcome to One Single Story, Season 5. I'm Pastor Stephen Mizell, joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. Each weekday we pull one lesson from the One Year Bible reading plan and have an honest conversation around God's Word. Today we are in Proverbs 10:23 - "Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible." In this episode we unpack how your daily habits expose what you are truly made of, why righteousness produces a deep joy that careless pleasure never can, and how small, consistent choices shape your spiritual direction far more than any single big decision ever will. As one of our hosts put it: "We overestimate the power of big decisions and underestimate the power of small, daily, disciplined ones. Wisdom is the ability to make small choices day after day, week after week, that give you the opportunity to make the big ones." New episodes every weekday at onesinglestory.com. If this encouraged you, subscribe and share it with someone walking through the One Year Bible. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Proverbs #BiblicalWisdom #Faith  

Welcome to One Single Story! Pastor Stephen Mizell, is joined by Pastor Jay Rivenbark and Pastor Wendy Korbusieski from Open Door Church in Edenton, North Carolina. This week we are in the book of Proverbs, and today we are sitting with one verse -- Proverbs 10:22 -- that has the power to completely reshape how you think about success. "The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." That word blessing does not simply mean money or status. In the original language it carries the idea of divine favor, empowerment, God's presence in your work. And that word sorrow? It includes anxiety, regret, and grief. The text is telling us that what God gives does not come with hidden emotional debt. That stands in direct contrast to how our culture defines success -- busy calendars, fast accumulation, pressure-driven ambition. The hosts unpacked a convicting truth in this episode: the over-pursuit of things often costs us the very peace and contentment we were chasing in the first place. As one of them put it, success without God is expensive -- and the price is rarely financial. It shows up in family unrest, broken relationships, and lost health. True success, this proverb argues, is not a list of achievements. It is a state of being. It is alignment with God rather than accumulation for self. It is the kind of contentment Paul described in Philippians -- not something that comes naturally, but something that is learned, practiced, and trusted into over time. The conversation closes with a simple but challenging word: chase God first, and let success follow. Find us at visitopendoor.com and onesinglestory.com. Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode of One Single Story. #OneYearBible #ChristianPodcast #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #OpenDoorChurch #Proverbs #Contentment #Faith