Thinking Out Loud with Walt McFadden

The Reality of Abortion

In this Thinking Out Loud episode, Larry Kutzler talks with Liz, a woman who had an abortion 10 years ago. Liz gives her testimony about her abortion experience. Larry asks Liz if having an abortion was the right decision for her. Liz tells us her decision to have an abortion was not the right decision … absolutely not. Liz shares that she knew in her heart it was not the right decision, but she surrounded herself with people who supported her decision, who helped her feel her decision was right. Liz shares that the root of her decision was complete selfishness on her part and she didn’t want to deal with the ramifications of pregnancy. Now, 10 years later, she feels moved by God to share her powerful and moving story for her own heart healing and to help others with their own heart healing from knowing they did not make the right decision. Visit Walt McFadden at Cityview Church [https://www.cvcmpls.org/]

Who Is the Holy Spirit? Part 3

What does it mean to walk in the Spirit in the Christian life? Pastor Walt McFadden explains that many people live primarily by emotions, circumstances, and natural desires, but spiritual maturity comes from living according to God’s Word … rather than feelings. Walking in the Spirit is not about outward religious performance or strange behavior; it is a daily lifestyle of trusting and obeying God in every area of life. Walking in the Spirit means allowing the Holy Spirit to influence every part of life … including relationships, decisions, behavior, and even finances. It is the opposite of living according to the flesh, which Pastor Walt describes as humanity’s sinful appetites and old identity apart from God. What is the difference between legalism and true holiness? Holiness is not simply following external rules or trying to appear religious; it is becoming more like Christ. The goal of the Holy Spirit is transformation into Christ’s image, not self-improvement for human recognition. Pastor Walt emphasizes that Christians are already declared righteous and holy through Christ (justification), while also continually being transformed (sanctification). Believers are described as new creations whose old selves have been crucified with Christ. Pastor Walt explains that many Christians struggle because they still identify with past sins and failures instead of embracing their new identity empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, believers are no longer slaves to sin but are empowered to live with love, peace, joy, and self-control. The Holy Spirit is active and personal. Rather than merely convicting people of sin, the Spirit actively works within believers to strengthen, guide, and transform them. Pastor Walt describes the Holy Spirit as an agency carrying out God’s work in believers’ lives … helping them in weakness, shaping their desires, and drawing them closer to Christ. God remains in control despite life’s struggles. Christians are urged to trust God, rely on the Holy Spirit daily, and focus on growing in Christlikeness rather than being trapped in guilt, fear, or religious legalism Visit Walt McFadden at Cityview Church [https://www.cvcmpls.org/]

Who Is the Holy Spirit? Part 2

Pastor Walt continues Thinking Out Loud about the Holy Spirit, and tells us that the Holy Spirit was active throughout both the Old and New Testaments, not just after Pentecost. Pastor Walt explains that the Holy Spirit’s work can be seen in four main areas: regeneration, indwelling/filling, restraint of evil, and empowerment for service. He points to Old Testament figures such as Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Samson, and David as examples of people who had deep, personal relationships with God through the Spirit. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit was present at creation, inspired the writing of Scripture, and actively worked through God’s people long before the New Testament era. While the New Covenant brought a new dimension of the Spirit dwelling within believers, Pastor Walt argues that the Spirit’s presence and activity were always central to God’s relationship with humanity. The early Church is presented as the clearest example of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost fulfilled God’s plan to restore humanity’s relationship with Him, beginning the “already/not yet” reality of eternal life. Christians are called to walk daily in the Spirit, experiencing joy, victory, holiness, and close fellowship with God. Pastor Walt also addresses spiritual gifts. He rejects the idea that gifts such as healing, prophecy, tongues, and miracles ended with the Apostles. He argues that Church history shows these gifts continued after the New Testament period and the modern Church should combine strong Biblical teaching with openness to the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work. Pastor Walt encourages believers to view the Holy Spirit not as distant or occasional, but as actively involved in creation, Scripture, the Church, and everyday Christian life Visit Walt McFadden at Cityview Church [https://www.cvcmpls.org/]

Who Is the Holy Spirit? Part 1

Pastor Walt Thinks Out Loud and tells us that despite his years in ministry, he recently gained a deeper, more personal understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role. He explains his journey began while studying 1 Corinthians, especially teachings about Spiritual Gifts and Walking in the Spirit, which led him to see the Holy Spirit not as abstract, but as an active agent working in believers’ lives. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity … fully God, personal, and active since creation … not just a vague force. He empowers believers, brings conviction of sin, guides daily life, and fosters intimacy with God. Rather than being distant, He can be related to personally, similar to one’s relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps believers move beyond legalism into genuine transformation by writing God’s truth on their hearts and guiding their behavior from within. Visit Walt McFadden at Cityview Church [https://www.cvcmpls.org/]

Institutional Evil

In this Thinking Out Loud episode, Pastor Walt talks about the evil in our institutions. Evil has strong power and influence over earthly governments. In America, we are moving from a Christian nation to a pagan nation. The church doesn’t talk about this, but it's Biblical that we are in a battle and a war. We war against principalities and powers. We face an enemy and that enemy is infiltrating our governments. The writing is on the wall for America in a culture that's trying to squeeze out the Gospel. Visit Walt McFadden at Cityview Church [https://www.cvcmpls.org/]