Sunday Renewal | Christian Podcast, Biblical Encouragement, Spiritual Growth

Ernest H. Benjamin
  • 4.9 (19)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

Welcome to Sunday Renewal — a weekly podcast for anyone who feels spiritually tired, distracted, or distant from God.  Hosted by Ernest Benjamin — a preacher, entrepreneur, husband, and father with nearly two decades in ministry — each episode brings you back to what matters: Scripture, stillness, and the presence of God.  No hype. No performance pressure. Just honest teaching that helps you reconnect with the One who renews you.  Every Sunday, you'll find clarity when life feels chaotic, hope when faith feels fragile, and rest when your soul is weary.  If you're ready to stop running on empty and start walking with God again, hit subscribe.  Follow us: @sundayrenewal  Contact: support@sundayrenewal.com 

  1. 3d ago

    98 | Why You Must Hold Fast to the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1–2)

    Send us Fan Mail Can you be a Christian for years and slowly lose sight of the very gospel that saved you? We often think of the gospel as the message that brings us to Christ. We hear that Jesus died for our sins and rose again; we respond in faith, and then we move on to the deeper things of Christianity. But what if the gospel isn't something we're supposed to move beyond? In this episode of Sunday Renewal, Ernest Benjamin opens 1 Corinthians 15:1–2 to explore why the gospel remains essential throughout the Christian life, not just at the beginning. Writing to believers who had already heard and received the gospel, the apostle Paul reminds them that it is the message in which they stand, through which they are being saved, and to which they must continue holding fast. You may move deeper into the gospel, but you never move beyond the gospel. In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ Why the gospel is good news to receive, not a message we get to reinvent✅ The difference between knowing about Jesus and genuinely receiving the gospel✅ Why spiritual maturity never means becoming less dependent on Christ✅ Why holding fast to the gospel matters when doubts, trials, and cultural pressures arise✅ How subtle spiritual drift can move Christ from the center of our faithMaybe you've followed Jesus for decades. Maybe you're still growing in your understanding of Scripture. Or perhaps you're going through a season when your faith feels weak, and your spiritual life isn't what you hoped it would be. Here's the encouragement of this passage: Your hope isn't grounded in how spiritually impressive you feel. It's grounded in what Jesus Christ has accomplished. Christ died for our sins. Christ was raised from the dead. And through this gospel, God is bringing His people toward the day when death itself will be swallowed up in victory. The gospel is not merely yesterday's good news. It's the truth you need today and the hope that carries you toward eternity. Receive it. Stand in it. Hold fast to it. RESOURCES  📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    98 | Why You Must Hold Fast to the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1–2)

  2. Oct 25

    97 | Lessons From A Man Who Knew Better with Hiram Kemp

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever known exactly what God wanted you to do—but kept looking for a different answer? Maybe you prayed about something Scripture had already made clear. Maybe you sought another opinion, hoping someone would tell you what you wanted to hear. Sometimes our greatest spiritual danger isn't that we don't know God's will. It's that we know it and still want our own way. In this episode of Sunday Renewal, Ernest Benjamin welcomes back his good friend and frequent guest, Hiram Kemp, for a powerful Bible lesson titled Lessons from a Man Who Knew Better. Together, we explore the fascinating account of Balaam in Numbers 22–25, a prophet who heard directly from God, encountered a talking donkey, and repeatedly declared God's truth, yet ultimately pursued a path of disobedience. His story raises an uncomfortable question: Could we be defending God's Word in public while making excuses for disobeying it in private? In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ Why knowing God's Word doesn't automatically mean we're obeying it✅ What Balaam's talking donkey teaches us about recognizing truth, regardless of who speaks it✅ How spiritual blindness can keep us from seeing what God has made clear✅ Why following God is never a loss, even when obedience costs us something✅ Why God's Word cannot be changed to accommodate our preferences✅ How we can be doctrinally sound yet spiritually compromised in our conduct✅ Why God's faithfulness gives His children confidence, even when their feelings tell them otherwiseBalaam's story is more than an ancient warning about greed, compromise, and disobedience. It's a reminder that God's Word is trustworthy, His promises are sure, and His truth doesn't change simply because we wish it would. And while Balaam rode a donkey in pursuit of personal gain, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey to give His life and bring salvation. Are you asking God to show you His will or hoping He'll approve yours? 🎧 Listen to Episode 97 and discover six important lessons from a man who knew better. RESOURCES  📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    97 | Lessons From A Man Who Knew Better with Hiram Kemp

  3. Oct 18

    96 | Love Won't Let Me Wait: Overcoming Fear to Share the Gospel

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wanted to talk to someone about Jesus, but talked yourself out of it? What if they reject me? What if I don't know what to say? What if sharing my faith damages our relationship? Sometimes our greatest obstacle to sharing the gospel isn't a lack of knowledge. It's the fear that keeps us waiting. Recent conversations in Bible classes have brought this subject back to the forefront, so this week on Sunday Renewal, we're revisiting a message I originally preached to a congregation in 2021. You'll notice a different recording format and a more traditional sermon setting, but the question at the heart of this message remains just as relevant today: If we truly love God and the people around us, what keeps us from sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ Why every soul is worth more than the entire world✅ How fear, rejection, and uncertainty can keep us silent about Jesus✅ Why God's love for us should motivate our love for others✅ What the Great Commission teaches about our responsibility to share the gospel✅ Why fear should not have the final word in our obedienceYou don't have to be the most confident speaker or know the answer to every question to begin sharing your faith. But you do need to remember why the message matters and why the people around you matter. 🎧 Listen to Episode 96 and consider who in your life needs to hear about Jesus. RESOURCES  📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    96 | Love Won't Let Me Wait: Overcoming Fear to Share the Gospel

  4. Oct 11

    95 | How To Live Your Life Wisely with Hiram Kemp

    Send us Fan Mail You can know what the Bible says and still make decisions you regret. You can know God should come first and still give Him whatever time is left over. You can know you need to apologize and keep waiting for the other person to make the first move. Knowing what is wise and actually living wisely are two different things. In this episode of Sunday Renewal, Ernest Benjamin welcomes back Hiram Kemp for a practical, Scripture-filled message on how to live your life wisely, drawn from the book of Proverbs. And one of the most important lessons may surprise you: Something doesn't have to be sinful to distract you from what matters most. In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ Why the fear of the Lord is the foundation of biblical wisdom✅ How to put God first instead of giving Him your leftovers✅ Why wise living sometimes means saying no to good things✅ How to recognize, confess, and forsake sin before it destroys you✅ Why a sincere apology takes courage and can begin restoring relationships✅ How to learn from mistakes instead of repeating them✅ What Proverbs teaches about guarding your heart and finding peace✅ How to trust God when you cannot control what happens nextWisdom isn't simply knowing more Bible verses. It's learning to live skillfully in God's world, with your priorities, decisions, relationships, and heart shaped by His truth. And ultimately, biblical wisdom points us to Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Where is God calling you to live differently, and what would it look like to begin today? 🎧 Listen to Episode 95 and discover how God's wisdom can transform the way you live. RESOURCES  📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    95 | How To Live Your Life Wisely with Hiram Kemp

  5. Oct 4

    94 | What Does John 3:16 Really Mean? (John 3:16–21)

    Send us Fan Mail You probably know the words: “For God so loved the world…” Maybe you memorized John 3:16 as a child.  You’ve heard it preached, seen it on signs, and quoted it yourself. But familiarity can make us miss just how astonishing these words really are. Because Jesus doesn’t simply tell us that God loves. He tells us what God’s love did. He tells us what kind of world God loved. And then He brings the question directly to us: What will you do with the Son God has given? In John 3:16–21, we discover a love far greater than sentimental affection. God loved a world that Jesus describes as loving darkness rather than light, and His love moved Him to give His Son to save. In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ What “God so loved the world” really means✅ Why the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love✅ What kind of “world” God loved✅ Why believing in Jesus means more than knowing facts about Him✅ What it means to put the weight of your hope on Christ✅ Why Jesus says humanity loves darkness rather than light✅ What happens when Christ’s light exposes what we would rather hide✅ Why your darkness is not greater than the Savior God providedGod loved. God gave. God sent. And now the question becomes personal. Are you relying on the Son God gave? You don’t have to clean yourself up in the darkness before coming to the light. The One shining the light is the very Savior God sent to save. Listen now to Episode 94: What Does John 3:16 Really Mean? | John 3:16–21 RESOURCES 📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    94 | What Does John 3:16 Really Mean? (John 3:16–21)

  6. Sep 27

    93 | What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? (John 3:1–15)

    Send us Fan Mail You can know Bible stories. You can attend church for years. You can believe true things about Jesus, sincerely respect Him, and try to live a good life. But is knowing about Jesus the same thing as having the life Jesus came to give? Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a respected religious leader, and a teacher of Israel. He knew the Scriptures. He took God seriously. He even recognized that Jesus had come from God. Yet Jesus looked at this deeply religious man and said: “You must be born again.” Why? Because Nicodemus needed something his religious background, biblical knowledge, morality, and effort could never produce. He needed life from God.  transcript-93-what-does-it-mean… In This Episode, We'll Discuss: ✅ What Jesus means when He says, “You must be born again”✅ Why being religious is not the same as receiving new life from God✅ How Ezekiel 36 helps us understand being born of “water and the Spirit”✅ What the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 teaches us about grace and faith✅ Why responding to God’s grace is not the same as earning it✅ How Jesus’ death makes eternal life possibleJesus did not tell Nicodemus to make his old life more respectable. He told him he needed life from above. And when Nicodemus asked how this could happen, Jesus didn't point him back to himself. He pointed him to the Son who would be lifted up. The life you need is not something you manufacture. It is found in Christ. Listen now to Episode 93: What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? | John 3:1–15 RESOURCES 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. You’ll also receive a printable + fillable companion workbook with reflection questions and prayer prompts to guide you along the way. Start Your Free Journey Today → 📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    93 | What Does It Mean to Be Born Again? (John 3:1–15)

  7. Sep 20

    92 | How Can I Be Made Right With God? (Romans 3:21–26)

    Send us Fan Mail If being a good person can’t make you right with God, what can? Maybe you look at your life and think, Surely I’ve done enough good for God to accept me. Or maybe you look at your past and wonder, After everything I’ve done, could God possibly accept someone like me? One person is proud of the record. Another is crushed by it. But both are looking in the wrong place. In Romans 3:21–26, Paul turns our eyes away from ourselves and toward Jesus Christ. After showing us that we cannot make ourselves right with God, Paul gives us two words filled with hope: “But now…” God has acted. The righteousness we could never produce, God provides. The guilt we could never erase, Christ deals with through His death. The salvation we could never earn, grace gives. And what God provides, faith receives.  In This Episode, We'll Discuss:  ✅ Why your moral or religious record cannot make you right with God  ✅ What it means to be justified by grace  ✅ Why salvation is a gift you receive, not a reward you earn  ✅ What redemption and Christ’s blood reveal about the cost of grace  ✅ Why the cross shows both the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God’s grace  ✅ What it means to receive God’s saving work by faith  ✅ How God can forgive guilty sinners while remaining perfectly just The gospel does not ask you to pretend your sin is smaller than it is. It asks you to believe that Christ is greater than your guilt. Whether you’re proud of your record or crushed by it, stop looking to yourself for what only Christ can provide. 🎧 Listen now to Episode 92: How Can I Be Made Right With God? (Romans 3:21–26) RESOURCES 📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    92 | How Can I Be Made Right With God? (Romans 3:21–26)

  8. Sep 13

    91 | Why Do “I” Need to Be Saved? (Romans 3:9–20)

    Send us Fan Mail Maybe you know you’re not perfect. You’ve made mistakes. Said things you regret. Made decisions you wish you could change. There are parts of your life you know could be better. But needing to improve and needing to be saved are two very different things. If your biggest problem is that you need to become a better person, then perhaps more discipline, better habits, and greater effort could fix it. But what if the problem goes deeper? In Romans 3:9–20, Paul brings us face-to-face with a difficult truth: we cannot make ourselves right with God. In This Episode, We'll Discuss:  ✅ Why being better than someone else cannot make you righteous before God  ✅ What Paul means when he says we are all “under sin”  ✅ Why sin is more serious than mistakes, flaws, or bad habits  ✅ How our words and relationships reveal sin’s deeper reach  ✅ Why good works cannot erase our guilt before God  ✅ What it means for “every mouth” to be stopped before Him  ✅ Why admitting you cannot save yourself is not the same as having no hope Paul doesn’t prove that you cannot be saved. He proves that you cannot save yourself.  And once we understand that, we’re finally ready to hear the good news of what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. 🎧 Listen now to Episode 91: Why Do I Need to Be Saved? RESOURCES 📖 FREE 5-Day Audio Devotional: Renaming Your Story Struggling with identity or feeling stuck? Move from pain to purpose to legacy—15 minutes a day. https://sundayrenewal.podia.com/renaming-your-story-devo⁠ ✨ For Families: The Devo Kids Short devotionals, songs, and prayers that help children fall in love with God's Word. Watch on YouTube | Free printable journal pages at thedevokids.com 🎧 When God Feels Distant — Free 5-Day Audio Journey  Do you still love God but don’t feel as close to Him lately? When God Feels Distant is a free 5-day audio journey designed to help you recognize spiritual drift and take honest, biblical steps toward reconnecting with God. Start Your Free Journey Today → Support the show Support the Show: Want to help us reach more people with God’s Word? Consider supporting the podcast with a donation. Your generosity fuels this ministry and helps us create even more resources for you. Click here to learn more: One-Time Donation (Paypal) $3+ Monthly Subscription

    91 | Why Do “I” Need to Be Saved? (Romans 3:9–20)
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About

Welcome to Sunday Renewal — a weekly podcast for anyone who feels spiritually tired, distracted, or distant from God.  Hosted by Ernest Benjamin — a preacher, entrepreneur, husband, and father with nearly two decades in ministry — each episode brings you back to what matters: Scripture, stillness, and the presence of God.  No hype. No performance pressure. Just honest teaching that helps you reconnect with the One who renews you.  Every Sunday, you'll find clarity when life feels chaotic, hope when faith feels fragile, and rest when your soul is weary.  If you're ready to stop running on empty and start walking with God again, hit subscribe.  Follow us: @sundayrenewal  Contact: support@sundayrenewal.com 

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