How Do We Keep Hope Alive?

Christian Questions Bible Podcast

#Religion #Christianity #Rick And Jonathan

40:50

“That's taxpayer’s money that is going to support research and development and pilot projects to develop a food system that is based on environmental destruction and greed and disregard for animals, fish, and any of the other marine mammals that might be around it.” - Andrianna Natsoulas Andrianna Natsoulas is the campaign director for Don't Cage Our Oceans, an organization that exists to keep our oceans free from industrial fish farms. Offshore finfish farming is the mass cultivation of finfish in marine waters, in underwater or floating net pens, pods, and cages. Offshore finfish farms are factory farms that harm public health, the environment, and local communities and economies that rely on the ocean and its resources. Don’t Cage Our Oceans are a coalition of diverse organizations working together to stop the development of offshore finfish farming in the United States through federal law, policies, and coalition building. And, although it is not yet happening, right now the US Administration and Congress are promoting this kind of farming, which would be nothing short of disastrous for the oceans, the planet and the people and animals who live here. dontcageouroceans.org…

3 роки тому 1:01:01

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Hope is a critical part of the human experience. Without it, our lives would be overrun with despair, doubt and difficulty. It's intertwined in every part of any experience that contains even the smallest measure of doubt. Without it, we would end up meeting the uncertainties of each day with our own internal and unanswerable uncertainties. The results would be disastrous! The fact is there are different interpretations of what this kind of optimism really is. If we place our expectations in seriously questionable ideas, circumstances or people, we will undoubtedly end up with high levels of disappointment. So, how do we keep true hope alive? For Christians, it all begins with striving to understand what biblical hope really is. Once we grasp this, we begin to see that hope in its most complete form is absolutely transformational. First and foremost, let’s establish the difference between a true hope and a wish. When we wish for something, we have an emotional attachment to whatever that thing or circumstance is to be a reality. I can be having a bad day and wish it would end. I can be short and wish I was tall. I can apply for a job that I am underqualified for and wish I would get it. None of these wishes have a direct link to the reality of my life. Developing and banking on wishes generally brings us disappointing results. Genuine hope is different The New Testament word for hope means "expectation." Hope from a biblical standpoint, then, has its basis in truth and not in any emotional desire for something to be real. Biblical hope is based on things that are outside of ourselves. It is based on principles of righteousness and godliness. And it is based on the fact that God does have a plan. Biblical hope is something to aspire to because it works. It requires effort and constancy on our part, which is a far cry from the emotionalism of a wish. With such a stark difference between hopes and wishes, you’d think we would avoid the entire wish thing and hold onto the solid expectations that hope brings. Theoretically this is doable, but practically this is challenging. It is far too easy to dilute true biblical hope with generous portions of my own desires and perspective. It's just too convenient to take sound scriptural principles and prophecies and customize them to fit my personal viewpoint. Check out our March 21, 2022 podcast, “How Do We Keep Hope Alive?” for more. We lay out the awe-inspiring scriptures that reveal how God shows Himself to be the fundamental basis of all biblical hope. We look at the several steps needed to not only lock on to truth-based biblical hope, but also how to apply it along the way. Finally, we look at the hopelessness of our world and uncover how to be filled with hope in spite of the mess we are in. Join us! Genuine hope is something you don’t want to live without!

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How Do We Keep Hope Alive?

Christian Questions Bible Podcast

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published 3 роки тому

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270 епізодів

#Religion #Christianity #Rick And Jonathan

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Are “Soul Ties” Biblical? 30:16

4 дні тому30:16

30:16

Human beings are different from all the rest of God’s creation. Of all the creatures on this earth, we were the only ones created “in God’s image.” God was intentional with this, as the human race was meant to be an extension of God’s family here on this planet. He created us as social and relationship-oriented beings. We were created to be connected – not just with our Creator, but with each other. In many spiritually based groups, this connectivity is defined by the phrase “soul ties.” These are often described as the most intense connections people can have between them. They are credited with having their basis on a mystical level. The question is, do these soul ties accurately represent what God intended humanity’s connections to look like, or are they way off base?…

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Will God Forgive Me? 55:03

11 днів тому55:03

55:03

The biblical definition for sin is “to miss the mark.” To illustrate the point, let’s think about shooting an arrow at a target. As you aim for the bullseye, you shoot. You hit the target but missed the bullseye. Because your shot did not hit the mark, it fits the definition of sin. You can say, “But wait a minute! I hit the target,” and you did, but you were aiming for the bullseye. Seeing sin through this “all or nothing” lens can be frustrating and even scary. What does God do with all of our “just missed” sins? How about those bigger sins, where at times we may not even aim the arrow? Are we simply lost causes? Fortunately, the Bible explains all of this to us in great detail. The conclusions the Scriptures draw us to are both dramatic and inspiring! Forgiveness #1 and Forgiveness #2 There are actually two kinds of forgiveness that God can give us. The biggest and most comprehensive forgiveness has to do with sin’s earthly origin. We know Adam’s original sin led to all of humanity to be born with that defect. This means we are all destined for death, as that was the consequence for his disobedience. When Jesus died on the cros s, he canceled out Adam’s sin by sacrificing his own perfect human life in place of Adam’s. This brings salvation from the death sentence to all of humanity either now (for Jesus’ faithful followers) or in the future (for the “everybody else”). There’s good news! There can be no greater news to anyone than the opportunity to have Adam’s death sentence removed at God’s appointed time. As good as this is, we still have a problem… we still sin ! We still do and say things that are just not right. That’s okay, because there is more good news: God can and will forgive those sins as well, however, here it’s a little different. Because these sins happen as a result of our own choices, we do have a responsibility to bring them before God and seek His forgiveness. Okay, that sounds easy enough. I sin, I feel bad, I ask God for his forgiveness – and then I’m good! Right? Not quite, but we’re on the right track. Check out our February 24, 2025 podcast, “Will God Forgive Me?” for details. First, we clarify the differences between these two types of forgiveness. We then explore how forgiveness for our present-day sins works. This process really does begin with us, as we need to want God’s forgiveness. We begin with the role regret plays in the forgiveness process. What we find is that regret, while important, is only a beginning step. The next step of repentance is where being forgiven really has traction. Join us as we take what looks like a lot of confusing details and put them together into straightforward and understandable steps. To live a forgiven life is fundamental for any Christian! Doesn’t it make sense to be clear on what it means and how we can get there?…

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What Is True Friendship According to the Bible? 47:42

18 днів тому47:42

47:42

In the book of Proverbs, it says a friend loves at all times. So, what does that really mean? Jesus called his followers “friends.” This should give us a sense of its importance. Marriage can and should be between friends. Brotherhood in Christ should be fertile ground for forging deep and powerful friendships. It turns out, there is a lot to this friendship thing. Fortunately, we have many biblical examples of what true friendship looks like and what principles need to be present to build a friendship that will not only flourish but become a vital contributor to faithfully following Jesus. As we will see, God created the concept of friendship for our happiness, wellbeing and fulfillment! God and Abraham One of the most significant friendships in all of the Bible was also the most unique as well. Abraham, known as the father of the faithful , was referred to as a “friend” of God. How could this be? How could the God who is ruler over all of the vastness of time and space be a friend to this one teeny, tiny human being who was born into the broken world that Adam’s sin unleashed? The answer not only shows God’s greatness but also exemplifies the fundamentals of friendship. It is all about mutual respect. God saw and respected Abraham’s love and loyalty to Him, and He chose to work with Abraham in the development of His eternal plan for humanity. This unique friendship had love and loyalty working both ways for the good of all. John the Baptist and Jesus Another not often talked about friendship in the Bible was between John the Baptis t and Jesus. When John’s influence with the people was beginning to wane, he explained to some of his concerned followers that he saw himself as a bridegroom’s friend. He knew Jesus as the bridegroom was destined to receive the bride as his own. John expressed his great joy that his friend would be the one to be so honored. John was happy to decrease as Jesus would increase. Again, we have the deep loyalty of true friendship expressed in a truly powerful and proactive relationship. Check out our February 17, 2025 podcast, “What Is True Friendship According to the Bible?” for more. We look at many of the building blocks true friendship needs to thrive. Then we address the perils of deep friendships that can destroy our lives instead of enhancing them. We also delve into the way Jesus described friendship. Interestingly, he did not address his disciples as “friends” until the end of his ministry. When he did, he lifted the meaning of friendship up to a whole new level. While we all have friends, we likely don’t have many friendships that live up to what Jesus taught. Join us as we learn how the give and take of true friendship really works so we can ultimately be better friends!…

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Does God Punish Us When We Break a Promise? 31:55

25 днів тому31:55

31:55

What is the status of promises these days? Has the making of a promise become a simple figure of speech? When we say, “I promise,” are we really saying, “I’m going to try,” or “I really do intend to accomplish what I said I would do”? Have we lost our connection between our promises and our integrity? It seems as though the power of a promise has gone from being a guarantee of what will happen to a way of showing effort in getting things done. So, what does God see in us when we make a half-hearted promise to someone else? Does this kindle His wrath, or does it just disappoint Him? What should we know and do when it comes to making and keeping our promises? God’s promises If we want to truly understand what keeping promises is really supposed to be all about, we need look no further than to God himself. When we begin to get to know who He is by understanding the Bible, a few things become plain. First and foremost, God’s word is truth. This means that whenever He says anything regarding the future, He is stating a future fact that has simply not yet been revealed. Second, God is the very definition of integrity. All of His actions and plans fit together in a completely harmonious fashion. God’s promises will always be just, loving and merciful realities . He does not break a promise. Human promises With such a lofty standard for promises in place, we now need to look into the role our human promises play. What may come as a surprise is that the New Testament says very little to encourage us to make promises, with two main exceptions. First, there is the godly promise of forsaking all to become a disciple of Jesus . This promise is made to God and absolutely needs to be kept. Second is the promise of marriage. This solemn promise is made during a wedding ceremony with God as a witness and also requires lifelong fidelity. Outside of these two promises, Jesus himself had very little to say regarding promise making and promise keeping. Now the big question is why. Why aren’t we encouraged to be people whose promises are widely heralded as sound and dependable? The answer is simple. God designed Christian integrity to work in a very different way. Check out our February 10, 2025 podcast, “Does God Punish Us When We Break a Promise?” for more. We break down the biblical approach for living a Christian life according to Scripture. We address what the consequences might look like for those Christians whose promises are questionable. Most importantly, we follow the powerful guidelines Jesus gave us regarding living a reverent and promise- keeping life. Join us as we uncover many surprising and revealing aspects of being human and making promises. There is so much to learn!…

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Will There Ever Be Peace on Earth?

5 weeks тому

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In our last episode about God’s vengeance bringing the end of the world as we know it, we examined several Old Testament prophecies that pointed to how God’s vengeance works in the dismantling of all vestiges of our present and sin-ridden world. When these dramatic prophecies are focused on without the context of the rest of God’s character, they are often understood to paint a bleak and harsh picture of who God is. In this episode, we will again focus on Old Testament prophecies. However, this time we will be looking at what happens AFTER the vengeance of God is exercised. What we will find is a breathtaking view of not only who God is, but what His plan REALLY has in store for ALL of humanity. If you truly want to know who God is, then follow along as we unfold the rest of the story! OT and NT It’s easy for Christians to forget or discount the Old Testament . Afterall, it’s all about the Law, the Jewish nation, and all of their history and experiences. What can we possibly gain from all of that except learning what not to do? Unfortunately, when we take this approach, we set ourselves up to miss some of the most spectacular parts of the whole Bible. Ignoring the Old Testament means we miss its prophecies. When we miss God speaking to us through those ancient prophets, we miss His detailed explanations of what the future will bring, including, yes, peace on earth. What about end time prophecies? There are two major things that Old Testament prophecies reveal regarding the end times . First, they explain the “time of trouble” and God’s wrath. Of all the Old Testament prophecies, these matters gather the most attention. as they can be dramatic and scary. It is here that the missed opportunity begins for so many Christians. They settle into the trouble and for some reason don’t search out the MANY prophecies that lay out what happens on planet Earth after all of that is over. Not only do these prophecies reveal what follows, they also give amazing amounts of detail in the process. It’s one thing to have a single prophecy that shows you the amazing condition the earth will be in after all of the unrest and trouble. It’s another thing altogether to have several prophecies from different prophets all repeat similar aspects of these same post-end times descriptions. Check out our February 3, 2025 podcast, “Will There Ever Be Peace on Earth?” for details. We pick up the prophetic process as the trouble and destruction of the end times finishes. What lies before us are many vivid and descriptive prophecies that actually detail what will happen to the physical world. Still other prophecies detail what will happen to the billions of people who did not go to heaven . What do they say about these people? Let’s just say that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth for a reason. Join us for this thrilling look into God’s word and the future!…

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Will God’s Vengeance Bring the End of the World?

6 weeks тому

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If we take a look around us, what we see can be confusing. On the one hand, we live in a time where science, technology and medicine are incredibly advanced. Billions of people throughout the world hold the world in their hands with their smart phones. That’s amazing! We are creating artificial intelligence that can solve problems and do research. That’s unbelievable! A doctor in one location can do surgery on a patient in another location through technology. That’s breathtaking! On the other hand, we have depths of unrest, partisanship, dissatisfaction and egotism that are striking and disturbing. We have so much, and yet we wallow in our discontentment. All in all, what’s lacking is a foundational respect for and loyalty to our Creator. God is the one who gave us minds capable of such amazing things, and yet we disdain His presence in our society. No wonder He is unhappy! There are several Old Testament prophecies that talk about the wrath and vengeance of God, and to be honest, they aren’t pretty. We have prophecies that talk about mountains quaking and falling into the sea. We have prophecies about hills melting like wax and the fire of God’s anger consuming the earth. Then there are the problems of the sea drying up, the kingdoms of man tottering and there being nothing left but desolation. What does all of this really mean? Is God so mad at us that there will be nothing left of the earth but burnt and desolate ruins? Is it the end of the world? The answer to this is a resounding NO! It’s easy to say “God is love” and it will all work out in the end, but how do we explain all of the death and destruction in those prophecies? Understanding can only come if we are willing to back away from our preconceived conclusions and view the big picture. The fact is, God is bigger than the ruthless, thoughtless and furious vengeance that some attribute to him. Putting these numerous prophecies into their proper context by applying biblical symbolism to them helps us see more clearly. What was I thinking? Imagine you need major surgery because you live with severe daily pain and suffering. You consent to the surgery and your doctor assures you all will be well. The problem is, recovery can be lengthy, painful, discouraging and draining. As you go through the recovery, you scream to yourself, “What was I thinking?” Eventually the horror ends, and you have a new and full life. Think of God’s vengeance as this harsh process of surgery and rehabilitation. It is there to bring something better! Check out our January 27, 2025 podcast, “Will God’s Vengeance Bring the End of the World?” for details. Join us as we look deeply into several harsh biblical prophecies about the end times and piece together their meaning and their ultimate purpose. These lessons help us to clearly see who God is and grasp the importance of His anger. The end result is better than most can imagine!…

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What Really Happened on the Mount of Transfiguration? 48:48

7 weeks тому48:48

48:48

The vision on the Mount of Transfiguration was one of those magnificent events in the life of Jesus that gives us some insight into just how remarkable his earthly ministry was. This vision had everything – it had Jesus’ very appearance changed to one of brightness and glory. It had the appearance of two Old Testament powerhouses who were talking with this glorious version of Jesus. It had the booming voice of God from heaven. And then it had the sudden removal of all these amazing elements and the world suddenly became normal again. In the midst of all of the glory and splendor shown here, we need to ask some simple questions. First, why did this happen? Second, what can we take away from this for our own benefit and understanding? The vision Peter, James and John were given a unique privilege when Jesus invited them to go with him when he went up to a mountain to pray. He must have been praying for a long time because the account tells us that they fell asleep. Upon awakening, they saw a vision – a bright, glorious and shocking vision. There before them was Jesus, only he did not look like the man they knew. In this vision, his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were bright and white beyond anything they had ever seen. To add to this sensational spectacle, they saw Mose s and Elijah standing there talking to Jesus about his coming crucifixion. This certainly was not what they expected when Jesus had invited them to join him on this mountain! The vision accelerated, as it next included being engulfed in a bright cloud and hearing the booming voice of God proclaiming Jesus as His beloved son. This part terrified them. The next thing they knew, it was all over. There are so many questions that need answering. First, what are Moses and Elijah doing here? We know they weren’t really there, as the resurrection had obviously not yet begun. Jesus had previously told us that no man had yet ascended up to the Father. Their appearance in this vision had to symbolize something significant, but what was it? Why were they talking to Jesus about his crucifixion ? And what about the booming voice from heaven? What was the reason for all of this incredible drama? Check out our January 20, 2025 podcast, “What Really Happened on the Mount of Transfiguration?” for answers. We put what the apostles were told a week before the event into perspective to help us understand what they were supposed to learn. Next, we consider what Moses and Elijah represented and why their specific likenesses were used in this message. We also explore the connection between this event and only other time in the Bible that Jesus, Moses and Elijah are linked. And then, of course, there was the voice from heaven. Join us as we walk through this fascinating event and find the inspiring answers to our questions!…

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Was Philip Miraculously Transported by the Spirit? 29:45

8 weeks тому29:45

29:45

There are several scriptures in the Bible that really capture our imaginations. The account of Jonah and the great fish is one, Elijah being taken up in a whirlwind is another. One more of these is the account of the disciple Philip when he was instructed by God to find an Ethiopian man on a deserted road and witness the gospel to him. After this amazing and well-known encounter, the Scriptures say Philip was snatched away by God’s spirit. What does that mean? Many believe it was a miracle, and that Philip was supernaturally transported away from that place in an instant. Others believe he was simply and powerfully compelled to leave. Which perspective is true? Let’s unfold the events that lead to this detail and see what we can learn from the Scriptures! There was no shortage of miracles in the New Testament. When we look at this particular experience with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, it is easy – almost natural – to assume it was just another miraculous event. Now, while the possibility exists that this was in fact a miraculous transportation, we want to be careful to think first. There are many questions that simply need to be asked. Was a miracle necessary? Did this commonly happen with disciples of Jesus? Was there something special about Philip that would have made this a logical sequence? Philip was one of the seven deacons chosen in Acts chapter 6 to help the apostles with the care of many Christians who were in need. These brothers were chosen for their spiritualty, integrity and wisdom. He is the second named choice, behind Stephen who would soon become the first Christian martyr . After Stephen was brutally stoned to death at the bidding of Saul of Tarsus, Philip went to Samaria to preach. After his overwhelming preaching success, an angel told him to go down a desert road. It was there that he met the Ethiopian eunuch. The story is really quite simple. Philip was guided by God’s spirit to witness the gospel to this individual who, though a foreigner, was reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip uses the very scriptures this man was reading to show him the height, depth and breadth of the life of Jesus and God’s plan. The response of this man was to seek immediate baptism and Philip complied. It is at this point that questions begin to swirl, because the Scriptures say God’s spirit “snatched” Philip away from the eunuch. Check out our January 13, 2025 podcast, “Was Philip Miraculously Transported by the Spirit?” for more. We walk through the details of all that the Bible tells us about Philip and this event. What we find is a treasure trove of insight and understanding into who Philip was. This leads us to better grasp what actually happened when God’s spirit “snatched” him away. Join us for this fascinating exploration of how God’s spirit worked in Philip’s life. Inspiration awaits!!!…

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What Happens When We Wrestle With God? 53:27

9 weeks тому53:27

53:27

Many know the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel. When we just drop in on the account and read what happened, there are many unanswered questions. Why would you pick a fight with an angel anyway? Why would an angel even let you fight? Couldn’t the angel have overwhelmingly defeated Jacob even before the altercation began? What could possibly be gained by such a confrontation? Once we begin to understand who Jacob was and the experiences of his life that led up to this confrontation, it all begins to fall into place. What we will find is that Jacob lived a life filled with experiences of great faith, as well as experiences of great deception and rivalry. God allowing him to wrestle with the angel gives us a clue as to how God knows us and meets us where we are. For us, wrestling with God really doesn’t sound even remotely reasonable. However, once we understand what wrestling with God can really mean, all of that can change. Examining the life story of Jacob is a great way to make all of this clear. His wrestling with an angel is the scriptural basis for this thought. Looking at his life helps us to see our own life struggles more clearly. Jacob was a twin. He was the second born, right behind his brother Esau . You might say his wrestling experiences began even before he was born, based on a message from God to his mother, Rebekah. God essentially told her she would have twin sons, and the older would serve the younger. Back in those days, the first born received the greatest blessings and a double portion of paternal inheritance. This message from God was in direct conflict with all expectations. Later in their lives, it would cause great frustration and rivalry. This was only the beginning. For most of his adult life, Jacob found himself in circumstances that provoked confrontation. His dysfunctional experiences regarding his brother Esau led him to leave his home for about 20 years. Interestingly, Jacob was not the one doing the provoking through all of his unrest. He was also on the receiving end as well. All of these interactions led him to eventually make his way back home, even though he had no idea if he would be welcomed back. Check out our January 6, 2025 podcast, “What Happens When We Wrestle with God?” for details. We investigate many of the dramatics of Jacob’s life that led him to that incredible wrestling match with God’s angel. We put the profound reasons for his tenacious wrestling in line with God’s responses. The results are inspiring. Jacob wrestled because he could not go on without God’s blessing. Our lives are the same. Join us as we learn how wrestling with God in the right ways is not only a productive practice but also encouraged as well. These are lessons that can bring clarity and direction to our daily lives!…

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How Will I Choose to Live the Life That’s Ahead of Me? 51:56

10 weeks тому51:56

51:56

We have all heard the saying, “Life is what you make it!” It is usually at the approach of a new year or a birthday or some landmark life event when we turn our focus inward. We think about changes we would like to make. Normally, these changes are aimed at finding a greater measure of happiness, health or fulfillment in our daily lives. So, what should we decide needs changing? Even more importantly, how will we decide to implement those changes? On the surface this may sound easy, but for the vast majority of us, it is not. Life tends to get in the way, along with old habits and second thoughts. Then there is our old friend, our comfort zone! Why would we want to leave that, as it is so, well…comfortable? What can we learn from the Scriptures to help us actually implement God-honoring life changes? WHY? The first big question to ask about making life changes is why. Why do I think I want to take this or that part of my life and alter it to fit some other mold or objective? What do I see as the real benefit? Answering this question honestly will give us insight as to what level of value the proposed changes truly hold for our future. Think about it. As a professed Christian, our whole lives are supposed to be about serving God, about doing His will . If the changes I seek are primarily focused on me and not Christlikeness, then what am I really pursuing? Is it what I look like or what I really am? There’s a big difference between trying to make myself look better compared to others and trying to live up to my calling in Christ. Obviously, one way brings me into the center of everyone’s thinking and perception. Do I want to be more acceptable, more respected or more admired in relation to those around me? Or do I want others to more fully notice Christ in me ? While this may seem like an odd way to look at making significant life changes, it certainly is a credible approach. Even if the life changes we seek are focused on our physical wellbeing or rethinking old habits, our motivation should always gravitate toward letting Christ shine through us. Ok, so we may need to do some rethinking when it comes to our motivation. As we work on this reexamination, we also need to consider our comfort zones of old habits. Wait a minute – does changing for the sake of Christ mean that all of my comfort zones are now obsolete? Check out our December 30, 2024 podcast, “How Will I Choose to Live the Life That is Ahead of Me?” for answers. We look at the dynamics of making life changes as well as how to leave old comfort zones and find new ones. All of this brings us to being positioned to make truly valuable God-honoring life changes. Walk this path with us; it is well worth the effort!…

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Why Did the Angel Say “Fear Not”? 52:10

11 weeks тому52:10

52:10

When Jesus came to earth 2,000 years ago, he came to pay the price for Adam’s sin by willingly offering himself as a just and equal ransom price to redeem Adam - and therefore the entire human race - from sin and death. To prepare for his coming as a man, God sent the angel Gabriel to deliver preparatory messages to John the Baptist’s father Zacharias, and to Jesus’ mother Mary. Joseph would be guided by spiritually driven dreams. When Jesus was born, a whole host of angels made the announcement to some lowly shepherds who were in the fields with their flocks. When this angelic announcement came, it was prefaced with some beautiful words of assurance, "Fear not!" This reassuring “fear not” sentiment would echo repeatedly throughout Jesus’ entire ministry! What comfort! To be able to tell someone who is afraid to “fear not” and actually have a reassuring effect on them is powerful. Think about the strength those two words can have when someone is in a situation that for whatever reason, has overwhelmed them. To say “fear not” is to say that whatever is scaring you doesn’t have to. It is to say that you can be equipped to handle whatever it is that is coming your way. It is to replace fear with peace and assurance. It's eye-opening to think about how often the words “fear not” were proclaimed before, during and after Jesus’ ministry. What is even more impressive is who uttered these words and the authority with which they were spoken. Angels spoke these words several times before Jesus was born. Because these angels were sent from God, their messages were delivered with divine authority. When angels told Zacharias, Mary and a group of shepherds to “fear not,” they were relaying God’s personal assurances. When God says, “fear not,” well, you simply don’t need to be afraid! Looking into the ministry of Jesus, we see this pattern of assurance continue. There were several instances where Jesus told his followers to “fear not.” When we begin looking into these varied accounts several significant observations begin to emerge. First of all, the life Jesus brought to his followers was like nothing they had ever previously seen or experienced. The magnitude of wisdom, miracles, teaching and challenges to their normal lives proved to be beyond their expectations. “Fear not” would not only become a common phrase they would hear from Jesus, but it would also be a necessary one as well. Check out our December 23, 2024 podcast, “Why Did the Angel Say “Fear Not”? for more. We touch on the angel’s messages of assurance that prepared the key players and the world for the birth of Jesus. Then we focus one at a time on the several “fear not” messages Jesus spoke. We find a thrilling pattern of care and guidance for his followers at every level of their newfound discipleship. Join us and see how the lessons of their “fear not” experiences can bring us strength and comfort as we walk with Jesus today.…

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Is the Gospel a Success or a Failure?

12 weeks тому

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Jesus was here 2,000 years ago. His message was clear, as he had come to pay the price for Adam’s sin. He preached, he healed, he called some to follow him, and he gave people hope. Jesus called himself “the way, the truth and the life” and announced that the “kingdom of God was at hand.” Fast forward 2,000 years, and we have to ask, where are we? It’s plainly obvious that the world has not come around to follow Jesus. And to be blunt, it is also obvious that much of the history of Christianity does not reflect well on the principles Jesus lived by and taught. So, what conclusions should we draw from all of this? Has the gospel message failed? Has the redemption Jesus promised the world just gone by the wayside, or is the gospel message doing precisely what God had always intended it to do? Let’s face it, God is pretty smart. When He has a plan, it is a sure thing that His plan will not only work, but it will work flawlessly, gloriously and comprehensively. After all, He IS the all-powerful and all-wise Creator of all things! With these observations in mind, let’s consider the whole idea of the gospel. The word for "gospel" in the New Testament means “a good message.” When we look at how the Bible is laid out, the New Testament begins with four books we call the Gospels. Because these books are about the life of Jesus, it is easy to conclude that his life IS the good news. His life IS the essence of the gospel. For ALL people It’s logical to focus on the life of Jesus, as his mission was the good news. Now let’s go further. When Jesus was born there was an angelic announcement to shepherds, and it was very specific. The message - the proclamation of good news - stated in Luke 2:10 (KJV) said, "…behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." So, what do we know so far? We know Jesus IS the "good news." We also know this good news would be for ALL people. All people. Not just believers, and not just special people. The angel said "ALL," and that angel had been sent by God to deliver that specific message. The conclusion is undeniable All will receive the good news, this gospel of Jesus. But how is this possible as so many have never even heard of him? Check out our December 16, 2024 podcast, “Is the Gospel as Success or a Failure?” for more. We dig into scriptures that give clear and abundant proof of how God’s plan does in fact include every man woman and child ever born. Even more thrilling is the fact that the message of the gospel being for all is all over the Bible! Join us for this incredible journey down the road of biblical truth and hope. It really is good news!…

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How Do You Know If God Is Calling You? 51:49

13 weeks тому51:49

51:49

How does someone become a follower of Christ? Does it begin by becoming curious about this Jesus person and all of the world-changing influence he has? Perhaps we are living in fear and are searching for a kind of security that is different and higher than anything else we know. Maybe we’re overwhelmed with despair in our lives, and we’re searching for powerful hope and encouragement. Or maybe we've been awakened to the realization that there is more to life than what this world has to offer - much more. While any and all of these things can play a role in coming to Christ, the one common factor in all cases of true discipleship is beyond us. It is God drawing us to Him through Jesus. So, how does that work? How can we identify the drawing of God and differentiate it from our own emotions? By invitation only During his ministry on earth, Jesus plainly stated that no one comes to him unless God has drawn them. The context of this statement was Jesus talking about what it takes to become a true disciple of his. He was indicating to those listening that there was more to becoming one of his followers than they may have thought. True discipleship would always begin with God’s providence in someone’s life. An individual’s decision to truly follow would be an outgrowth of that invitation. So, what does that drawing from God actually look like? The answer to this is best understood by looking at actual biblical examples of some who were called to follow Jesus from widely diverse backgrounds. Observing someone’s actual life circumstances coupled with what we are told was their heart attitude helps us see the process of how God calls. Take Cornelius the Roman Centurion for example Cornelius loved God, even though his life was far outside of God’s favor as a Roman Gentile. In spite of that lack of favor, he remained devoted to honoring what he knew of God’s ways. When God’s timing arrived, the Apostle Peter was sent to him to witness about Jesus. Cornelius was ready, and the despair of his previous lack of favor was transformed into fulfilled contentment as a follower of Jesus. This is just one example of how God may call us. Check out our December 9, 2024 podcast, “How Do You Know If God Is Calling You?” for more. We also dig into the lives of the Apostle Paul before his conversion, Zaccheus the tax collector, and the Apostle Peter at the time he was drawn by God to Jesus. All four examples show us differing life circumstances through which God would draw individuals to Him as they came to Jesus. The lessons here are eye-opening as we learn how varied and unique God calling people can be. Join us as we walk through the lives of these faithful disciples of Jesus and appreciate their responses to God’s drawing.…

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Why the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge? 29:28

14 weeks тому29:28

29:28

This may sound like an oversimplification, but we’re going to say it anyway: God is intentional. He always knows what He is doing and what it will eventually lead to. While this knowledge should serve as a great comfort to us, it can, because of our limited and imperfect minds, have the exact opposite effect. We may see things in the Bible that on the surface just don’t seem to click. We start wondering, why would God do it THAT way? That doesn’t make any sense! Take the two trees mentioned in the creation account. Both the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil were placed in close proximity to each other. They were both in the center of the Garden of Eden. Why two trees? Why have one for eating and the other just to avoid? The Planet Earth project Understanding the role the Tree of Life played in the Garden of Eden is relatively simple. God’s creation of Adam and Eve was the absolute high point of His whole Planet Earth project. They were created in His image, which meant they were created to be reasoning beings who would have authority over earth. Along with these wonderful gifts also came the ability to live eternally on earth. God made this ability real by giving them the Tree of Life, which had been placed in the middle of the garden. Eating the fruit of this tree regularly would apparently keep their physical health at the perfect level God had originally given them. Eat from one but not from the other - why? Comprehending the role the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil played is a bit harder to grasp. This tree was also placed in the middle of the garden with strict instructions to NOT partake of its fruit. The uniqueness of this command made this tree stand out from the rest of the entire garden environment. Everything else in that garden, including the animals, was there as perfect contributors to a perfectly designed ecosystem. So, how then did this Tree of Knowledge fit in? It too would be part of the ecosystem, but on a very different level. In God’s wisdom, He specifically placed this Tree of Knowledge near the Tree of Life as a teaching tool. After all, to live for eternity would require wisdom, experience and maturity, all of which needed to be learned. We all know what happened, as Adam and Eve disobeyed God. The result was they lost their right to eternal life. At face value, this Tree of Knowledge experience can easily look like a complete failure. However, the exact opposite is true. Check out our December 2, 2024 podcast, “Why the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge?” for more. We dig below the surface and discover many lessons from both these trees not only for Adam and Eve, but for us as well. There is much more to learn here than meets the eye!…

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How Generous Should We Be? 50:24

15 weeks тому50:24