JED BREAKS BREAD

I'm back! I'm sharing with you today some lessons I've learned about myself, and also some tips to help you refine your productivity in life. 

The title says it all! 

A short devotional on thanksgiving. May your time with family and friends this holiday week be a blessing and may you give glory to God for His bountiful provision to you!

Don't you love your spouse? My wife is great; she asks me hard questions that makes me think, and I'm so grateful to God for her. The subject of today's episode is a question she asked a few weeks ago, and it is this: "Are Christian's sinning if they don't vote?" I unpack an answer to this question and come to a firm conclusion - check it out!    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk):https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

A well known pastor recently disqualified him by bring reproach upon the name of Christ. I have tried to filter my thoughts through a Biblical lens and I'm sharing them with you in this episode. 

In this episode, I define the philosophy of postmodernism. I identify the historical roots of the movement and what postmodernism is a reaction against (rationalism/modernism). Finally, I provide some tips for interacting with people who think in a postmodern way so that you can effectively witness to them. 

There are many aspects of spiritual warfare that we must be engaged in as Christians; the warfare has become more open in recent years due to our society's rejection of God's truth. One area where we must engage in battle is the war over children: Satan wants them to adopt an anti-Biblical, anti-God worldview and we must be aware of his schemes and methods. Fathers ought to be at the forefront of this battle, but many are too immersed in their own pursuits.    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk):https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

Do you feel discouraged right now? What are you doing about it? Have you felt discouraged before? What got you out of it?  Whether you are currently facing discouragement or have already gone through something, or maybe you're not sure how to deal with discouragement when it comes, this episode provides Biblical insight into the types of discouragement that we face as well as Biblical advice on how to overcome discouragement.  You may not change the circumstances of discouragement, but you can change your outlook!    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

Have you ever struggled to place an event or Bible character in the proper place of Biblical history? It's something that we all struggle with...my dad came up with this timeline of Bible history and taught it to me as a child and it has been one of the most valuable resources I ever learned from him. Today I'm sharing it with you so that you can benefit from it as well!    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

This episode is the story of how I came to know Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord.        Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

How do we handle adversity and affliction? Our natural instinct is run from it and to try to avoid it at all costs; however, our God uses it to transform us into the image of His Son.    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. I have named this song "Little City Big Sound."  Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions.

This week's episode examines the common arguments that are used in favor of affirming Biblical support for LGBTQ "Christians". There are five common lines of argumentation which have been used to alter the Church's historical position regarding sex and sexuality. I explain each tactic and why it is not a valid argument.  The main problem with accepting an LGBTQ "Christian" is that sin has been redefined. It's impossible to become a true Christian without repentance; therefore, we must accept God's definition of sin and submit to Jesus's call to repent. If we do, then we can be saved from any sin - no matter how great or small! 

What is the Gospel of Affirmation? This is a phrase I coined to describe the willingness of certain so-called Christians to re-define the true Gospel in order to be more "inclusive" of the LGBTQ+ community. The Gospel of Affirmation allows so-called "Christians" to maintain a sexual identity or practice which is contrary to God's created order.  Listen to the full episode for details on how this Gospel came about, what the false premises are, and how it deceives well-intentioned people and could possibly condemn them for all eternity. 

Often Same Sex Attraction (S.S.A.) is a struggle that Christians face alone. The "church" has often done a poor job of helping believers think through this particular issue and how or when it crosses the line to become sin. Some Christians are afraid of talking about their struggles with it because "LGBTQ" sin has been ostracized as the "worst" kind of sin a person could commit. Of course, this isn't true, but for many, their perception has become reality (and sadly, some churches have indeed treated it as such).  In this episode, I define S.S.A. and provide Biblical insight as to how it ought to be categorized in the different "types" of sin a person might commit, and how victory over it can be achieved. 

One of the great spiritual disciplines that has been used by God's people all throughout history is the practice of fasting. However, when one examines the evangelical church in America over the last 40-50 years, one would have a hard time discerning if fasting is even relevant anymore. Think about it: When is the last time you heard a sermon or Sunday school lesson on fasting? When is the last you time yourself fasted, or even heard of someone fasting?  This episode seeks to define fasting and understand the spiritual benefits and blessings of this important practice.    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. I have named this song "Little City Big Sound."  Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions. 

In this episode, I provide a brief overview of the practice and process of church discipline. The relevant Biblical texts are Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, and 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 (the restoration of a brother who was excommunicated) There are, of course, many more details to cover and if you have a specific question regarding church discipline, please leave a comment or email me and I will answer it in a future episode.    Intro music is by AudioCoffee(Denys Kyshchuk): https://www.audiocoffee.net/. I have named this song "Small Town Big Sound."  Outro music is "My Town Yo Town" by Doug Maxwell/Media Right Productions.  Both songs are used under a Creative Commons license. 

As a pastor, I have been asked this question or a version of it many times throughout my ministry. In this episode, I attempt to answer this question from a Biblical baseline (what does God require?) and also add some pastoral opinions which may help guide you in a more specific manner as you seek to honor God with your life.

Marriage is work...we all know that! But there are habits that you can develop in marriage to make it work easier.  In this episode, I invite my beautiful bride Meredith to join me and we together, we share four habits that will help you make your marriage work easier.  Not married? If you're engaged, dating, or even single, these habits are some that you should talk about developing with your significant other or even conversation starters as you seek to begin a new relationship. 

While this podcast isn't based upon the "reaction and critique" kind of content, an event occurred recently in the conservative evangelical sphere of Christianity which requires comment and clarity. In late January, Pastor Alistair Begg was recorded on a radio program offering advice to a woman who wanted to attend her grandchild's LGBTQ "wedding" ceremony. In his response to her, he suggested she go; his advice caused a great deal of controversy in conservative circles.  After having listened to the original interview and follow up sermon, this episode is my attempt to offer some brotherly pastoral counsel to Pastor Begg (whom I greatly respect) and some clarity for Christians who may be considering this question from a practical standpoint.  I attempt to answer the question specifically asked in the title, while also broadening it to other kinds of marriages, to give Christians a framework to think through these matters. Please leave any comments or questions that you have; I'm happy to answer!

As a follow up to episode 125 on "How Many Kids Should I Have?", this episode seeks to answer the question of what methods are morally acceptable for Christians to use in family planning.  I interview my friend and elder-in-training Andrew Winters to get perspective from a Christian who is well-studied in biology. 

It is good to examine your roots - especially your theological roots. Often, we find that the messages and sermons preached in days gone by are as relevant and needed today as they were when first delivered.  Today, I recorded a sermon first delivered by the Original Jonathan Edwards, on December 29, 1734. This was his New Year's message to the congregation. We would all do well to heed the exhortation found in this message.    Note: this isn't a word-for-word reading of the sermon; some words/portions were altered to communicate more clearly to a 21st century audience. 

From a pastor's perspective, here are the seven most spiritually significant events of this year. These are events where theology and culture, or the church and the culture, have collided and they represent the main points of the spiritual battle we face. 

In case you haven't noticed, since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the pro-life movement has suffered a number of defeats at the state level. I live in Ohio, a state which recently passed Issue 1, which enshrines abortion and abortion access into the constitution of our state.  This episode details three reasons why Pro-Lifers keep losing; there are certainly more reasons than these, however, the three detailed in this episode are true cornerstone issues that I identified from a pastoral perspective.  The bottom line: if pastors are truly pro-life, then they need to ensure their church goers understand this is firstly a moral issue, not a political issue. Pastors need to step up and lead in this issue, and (as a collective) they're not.   

What Biblical principles guide the thinking of Christian couples (or soon to be couples) as they consider family planning? Is it even right to consider family planning, or should you just have "as many kids as God allows"?  In this episode, I provide two Biblical commands that give direction for Christian couples seeking to honor the Lord, as well as a number of factors that should be taken into consideration which would provide an answer to "How many kids should we have?" 

The final installment in this series!  In this episode, I define "culture" from a Biblical perspective and I establish some of the tensions that have existed between the church and the culture. Finally, I provide some historical examples of how Christians have tried to "engage" culture and a challenge on how a Christian can engage culture in the present day. 

In this episode, I share with you the Biblical history and origins of the conflict. I also provide five points for Christians to consider as they think about this conflict.    The views presented are my own, and are subject to change as I think and study more on the topic, and as new information comes to light. They are not representative of the church's position on this matter.

Continuing to define the issue, this episode examines how one's theological perspective on the end times affects one's understanding of the Christian's relationship to culture.  In this episode, the four main end times views are defined and I attempt to explain how this affects their perspective on the Christian and culture:  1. Historical Premillennialism 2. Dispensational Premillennialism 3. Postmillennialism 4. Amillennialism    Finally, it concludes with the challenge that one of my fellow pastors gave to me and how that challenge led to this particular study/theme. 

This is the first in a series of episodes that will examine how Christians relate to culture and how we think about engaging the culture with Biblical truth and principles.  In episode 1, I provide a brief history of different historical perspectives on how Christian's have related to the culture, as well as an appeal to carefully consider one's own thoughts about this issue and how the Bible has shaped your thinking and actions. 

Back from August break! Today we examine who the "sons of God" are in Genesis 6. There are four prominent views:  1) Fallen Angels view 2) Fallen Angels Overtook Men view 3) Sethite View 4) Godly Men View   Positives and negatives of each view discussed, as well as what is the "main point" that Moses was really trying to communicate. 

Questions answered in this mailbag:  1) How do I worship when I don't "feel like it" or if my "heart's not in it?" 2) How should Christians think about and discuss various legends and conspiracy theories? Also, what should Christians say when they hear reports of people seeings angels, ghosts, etc.? 

It has been a little over one year since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade with their ruling in the Dobbs case.  Despite this monumental victory, there is a lot of work still to do in order to protect innocent life.  This episode will explore some statistics that reveal the weight of this victory, as well as describe how far we still have to go. Additionally, this episode examines the religious motivations behind the PRO-CHOICE movement and the PRO-LIFE movement, and offers a suggestion for how Christians continue to address this issue. 

So what happened during the 2023 Edition of PRIDE Month?  It appears that the devil was out waging spiritual warfare, but that the saints were fighting back in some powerful ways.  This episode covers three observations of PRIDE Month and then offers some suggestions for how to continue fighting the enemy in this spiritual battle. 

With Father's Day nearly upon us, I wanted to address a topic that will separate Christian fathers from others - the importance of leading your family through careful, measured, Biblical discipline. I'm not talking about the discipline of training, but rather, the discipline to correct your child(ten) when they sin by violating God's commands. By leading in this area, and being consistent, we model our Heavenly Father's actions and treatment toward us. Key passage: Hebrews 12:6-11

Today I answer listener questions:  1) Why is fasting rarely discussed or practiced amongst Evangelical Christians?  2) Can Satan and his demons influence our thought life? Can they read our minds?  3) As a Christian, how should I response to Gay Pride Month?

What lies has Satan told? The question should be, "What lies has Satan NOT told?" According to Jesus, Satan is a liar and the father of all lies.  Though Satan has lied in many ways throughout history, none have been more effective as promoting human destruction than the three lies that he has convinced the world of in the last 150 years or so.  1. That we all evolved from one species to another by random chance 2. That a baby in the womb is just a clump of cells and the mother can decide what happens to the baby 3. That the very biology of the individual is irrelevant when it comes to gender identification.  Today's episode will focus on lie #3, the lie of transgenderism. 

I don't normally do movie reviews, but the movie "Nefarious" was too good to NOT review! This review explains the purpose of the movie and then answers whether the movie accomplished the purpose or not. Additionally, this review will provide theological insight as to the main premise of the movie and explains why every Christian should see it.  If you'd like more information on the movie, check out the IMDB page here: Nefarious (2023) - IMDb. You can also find user and critic reviews of the movie on Rotten Tomatoes. 

How should Christians think about the "He Gets Us" campaign? Is this something that churches should partner with or participate in? At least one local church in my area is advertising with a "He Gets Us" banner - how should we think about this?  This episode offers three major critiques of the "He Gets Us" campaign and a bonus critique if you make it to the end! Please practice discernment when considering whether to support or be involved with this or other similar movements. 

In conjunction with the recent sermon series that we've been preaching through 2 Peter at the Grace Brethren Chapel, I wanted to present some of the additional research I've done that will warn true believers about false doctrine.  There are four main categories to be on guard against:  1. Anyone promoting works-based salvation 2. The Word of Faith movement 3. The "God is Love, Not Judge-y" movement 4. The _________ Identity Christian

What characteristics and qualities should a young woman seek to develop as she prepares for marriage? And what qualities should a young man look to see in a woman?  This episode will give 4 different areas for young women to consider as they pursue Christlikeness and a spouse. 

As a single man, what should you be doing to "attract" a spouse? Considering that February is the month of romance, this episode will provide three areas for young (or older!) men to grow in so that they can be the kind of godly candidate who is marriage-able. 

This episode explains the human condition known as sin and the effects of sin in everyday life. 

As the calendar year changes, many people have the tradition of making resolutions. Unfortunately, a high percentage of people fail at their resolution and wind up discouraged and in the end, nothing changes in their life.  This episode will provide three steps or considerations for helping you bring your resolutions to reality, so that you can grow in sanctification and Christ-likeness. 

How should we interpret the results of the 2022 elections from a Christian perspective?  In this episode, I describe two truths from Scripture that we can apply to this election cycle. 

After finishing the book of 1 Peter and being reminded that we should rejoice when suffering, along comes a real life example for Christians to witness.  Candace Cameron Bure is an unapologetic Christian; one who has, over the years, promoted faith in Christ and pure doctrine. She recently made a very positive statement about marriage that was interpreted as a slam against the LGBTQIA+ community; this couldn't be further from the truth.  The criticisms that she has received are an example of what will happen if you are a Christian and you stand firmly on God's revealed Word. Are you prepared to stand as she has stood? 

Today I examine the Biblical perspective on whether believers should be buried or cremated after they die.  What Biblical principles inform this decision? Does the Bible say specifically what believers should do? Answers to these questions and more are answered in the episode. 

As the United States prepares to go to the polls to elect a new group of leaders, what should Christians consider as they vote for various candidates? Should Christians even vote at all? Listen for some intriguing answers!

What does the creation ordinance of rest look like in the church age? How does it apply differently to the church than to the Nation of Israel?  This episode explores the answers to those questions along with challenging the listener to rethink how we view "Sunday rest" in light of certain obstacles faced by modern day culture and society. 

What is the relationship of the Sabbath to the creation ordinance of rest? Is the Sabbath for Christians today?  In this episode, I argue that the Sabbath is specifically for the nation of Israel and that, though it is based upon the day of rest, it is not commanded for the church. 

What is the ordinance of rest? Why did God need to rest - and what did He do during his rest?  The "rest day" is an important part of the natural cycle of life that God established for mankind.  The rest day has been both blessed and sanctified by God - what does this mean?  Do you practice a rest day? 

Finally, after 2 long months, part 2 on the creation ordinance of labor!  This episode examines the morality of labor, the benefits of labor, and some of the consequences of NOT performing labor. Enjoy!

Back to the creation ordinances!  Today's episode examines the ordinance of "labor" or "work" found in Genesis 1 and 2.