The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast

The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast

In these tough times, could you use a word of encouragement? From Max Lucado, a pastor for over 40 years and bestselling author whose books have sold more than 145 million copies in over 50 languages, The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast is all about the greatest story ever told—the living Savior who brings you a lifetime of hope. With rich biblical insight, heartwarming storytelling, and Max’s comforting tone, you’ll be empowered to place your faith in a loving God who is always near you, always for you, and always in you. For more encouragement from Max Lucado, visit www.maxlucado.com.

Episodes

May 19, 2025 27 mins

Hi, friend. I hope you’re well today.
Today we’re talking about tests. What do you do when you face a test? How do you respond? If you’re struggling to see the value in your struggle, try this: Don’t look at your test as an interruption to life, but as training for life. No one ever said the road would be easy or painless, but God will use this mess for good.



Purchase Never Give Up here.

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Hello, friend. I hope you’re having a good day.

Some of the most difficult challenges in life come our way thanks to bad luck, bad timing, or bad actors. And when we’re dealt a bad hand, it’s easy to justify our choices. To be tempted by shortcuts or quick fixes. When you find yourself in such a situation, be encouraged by the example of Joseph in Genesis 39 – do what pleases God.



Purchase Never Give Up here.

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Hi, friend. Welcome back to the Encouraging Word Podcast.

Today’s episode is for anyone who knows what it’s like to lose everything, who knows what it’s like to feel far from God. Listen to this promise found in Psalm 139: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” God is not far from you, my friend. He is with you.

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Hello, friend. Thanks for joining me.

Today’s episode finds us in the pit with Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own brothers and sent to Egypt with nothing. Nothing except a dream given to him by God. No matter how dire his circumstances, nothing could take away the call of God on his life. And nothing can take away the call of God on yours, my friend.



Purchase Never Give Up here.

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April 21, 2025 22 mins
Hello, my friend. I hope you’re doing well today. For the next few episodes, we’ll be looking at the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. He didn’t have it easy—abandoned, abused, wrongfully imprisoned. Perhaps you can relate to some of what Joseph faced. If so, I’m going to give you a sneak peek at the big promise of his story: with God’s help, you will get through this.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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April 18, 2025 25 mins
Hello Friend! I'm coming to you with a special bonus episode on this Good Friday. I pray you have a blessed Easter weekend. He is risen, indeed.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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April 14, 2025 26 mins

We’ve arrived at Holy Week. This is the most significant week in the Christian calendar. In the coming days, someone will attend a church service for the first time. Someone will hear the gospel for the first time and choose to follow Jesus. And the celebration in heaven will be jubilant.

We’ve spent the last few episodes discussing the promises of John 3:16. As we wrap up this series ahead of Easter Sunday, I want to talk to you a...

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April 7, 2025 21 mins

Hi, friend. I sure hope you’re doing well.

Today’s episode zeroes in on one of my favorite words in John 3:16: “whoever.” Whoever believes in him. Such a wonderful promise. The gift of salvation and the hope of heaven is available to whoever believes. And who isn’t a “whoever”?



Purchase Never Give Up here.

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March 31, 2025 25 mins

Hello, friend. I hope you’re well today.

No one is immune to the anxiety in our world. Global concerns—wars, catastrophic weather events, a worldwide pandemic still fresh in our memories. Personal concerns—mental health issues, relationship challenges, financial concerns.

The bottom line is this: it’s not a good time to be at odds with God. A heart right with God can survive in a world gone wrong. But when the heart is alienated fr...

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March 24, 2025 27 mins

Hi, my friend. I hope you’re doing well today. For the next few weeks on the podcast, leading up to Easter, I’ll be sharing from one of my favorite verses.

I’ve been asked what I would choose if I could only preach one topic or one passage for the rest of my life. I think this is it—John 3:16. The Hope Diamond of the Bible. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish ...

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March 17, 2025 23 mins
This week on the podcast we're looking at what is, for many people, the challenge of life. Forgiving people who have hurt us. Forgiveness is not easy but, I believe with the Lord's help, the grace we have received from God can overflow into the lives of others.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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March 10, 2025 26 mins

Our topic for this episode is God's greatest gift to us, grace. I've preached a lot of sermons on grace, I've written a few books on grace, but I never get tired of talking about this gift of being made right with God through his grace. As perfectly summarized in 1 Corinthians 5:18-21, "All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can ha...

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March 3, 2025 22 mins

This week on the podcast we’re turning our attention to a favorite passage of mine found in Matthew chapter 6: “Give us this day our daily bread.” No prayer better summarizes our relationship with God than this expression of trust. God’s treatment of fear has always been trust. These are fear-filled days, aren’t they? We see it in newscasts and on our neighbors’ faces. We’re anxious. So, I can’t think of a more appropriate phrase t...

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February 24, 2025 22 mins
What happens when we believed we are loved by God? What do we do? How do we act? Might I suggest that the primary purpose of the Christian is this: to worship. When we worship God for who he is and all he has done for us, it reinforces what we know to be true of God’s character, enables us to receive his love, and changes how we see the world as people made in his image.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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February 17, 2025 24 mins
Our theme for today’s episode is faithfulness, and to help us understand the concept of faithfulness we’re looking at the life of Joseph. Joseph’s story reminds us that when we trust God and respond with faith, He can bring triumph from tragedy.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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February 10, 2025 25 mins
This week is Valentine’s Day, so it feels appropriate to bring you an episode about love. February 14th may prompt us to show extra affection to those dearest to us, but what do we do when people are hard to love? May these words from the apostle John serve as an encouraging reminder: “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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February 3, 2025 27 mins
Thank you for joining me this week on The Encouraging Word podcast. The last few episodes we’ve been talking about the fruits of the spirit, and our topic today is kindness. In this episode I share a story from the Bible about two figures you likely know and one you may not. I can think of no better story to illustrate the lasting impact of the kindness of a friend.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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January 27, 2025 28 mins
Hello friend. Thanks for joining me on the Encouraging Word Podcast. This week we're discussing the importance of patience. The reality is we are all "works in progress" until the return of Christ.

Purchase Never Give Up here.

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January 20, 2025 31 mins

Hello, my friend. What do you do when an unexpected storm blows into your life and disrupts everything? Where do you find strength to battle anxiety and fear? The Bible offers an answer in Philippians chapter 4. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your m...

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January 13, 2025 27 mins
Hello there my friend. Thank you so very much for joining me today. We're beginning the year with some episodes looking at the big ideas of the Bible. We started last week by talking about the purpose of the Bible, why it matters and why it's important to study it. This week we're moving on to some concepts found in scripture that you might know as the fruit of the Spirit. Today's episode is about joy. Not the kind of joy that depe...

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