Podcasts about Bereans

In recent years, the rise of celebrity culture within the church has become increasingly troubling. Christian leaders are often elevated to near-idol status--celebrated not for their Christlike humility, but for their charisma and communication skills. This trend poses real spiritual dangers, both to the church at large and to individual souls. Scripture offers no support for elevating men to such heights; rather, it warns against boasting in man and reminds us that all the glory belongs to God alone: "So then, no more boasting about men." (1 Corinthians 3:21) The first danger is that Christian celebrity culture subtly undermines the supremacy of Christ. When believers flock to conferences to hear a man, rather than to meet with God; when they rally around personalities, instead of truth--then Christ is robbed of His rightful place as Head of the church. The apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their party spirit: "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos"--insisting instead that it is "God who makes things grow" (1 Corinthians 3:4–7). No man, regardless of gifts or influence, should be allowed to eclipse the glory of Christ. Secondly, celebrity culture creates an unhealthy dependence on personalities rather than on the Word of God. Many Christians do not know their Bibles well, because they are content to have others think for them. But God's Word commands believers to "test everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and to be like the Bereans, who "examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). We must never replace Spirit-taught discernment, with passive admiration of gifted men. Furthermore, celebrity status can be spiritually destructive t

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 17 Paul continues his second missionary journey with stops in Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens. In Thessalonica, Paul reasons with the Jews in the synagogue, explaining that Jesus is the Messiah who fulfilled the scriptures. While some believe, others incite a riot, forcing Paul and Silas to flee to Berea. The Bereans are praised for their eagerness to examine the scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings. Many believe, but opposition arises again, prompting Paul to leave. In Athens, Paul is stirred by the city's idolatry and engages with philosophers in the Areopagus. He proclaims the one true God, emphasizing His power to create all things and His call for everyone to repent of their sins. He informs them that God will judge the world, providing proof by raising Jesus from the dead. The centerpiece of the gospel is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Nearly every sermon in Acts highlights the evidence for and significance of this momentous event. In Thessalonica, Paul uses the resurrection to demonstrate that Jesus is the Christ. In Athens, the philosophers are challenged by Paul, who is “preaching Jesus and the resurrection.” Paul concludes his sermon to the Athenians by declaring Jesus as the final Judge, a truth established by God raising Him from the dead. God created us to seek Him, and He offered and raised His Son so that we can find Him. Some sneer at this, while others delay their response. However, true believers in the resurrection accept it and join the cause.  Dear Father, thank You for raising Your crucified Son from the dead. Thank You for the evidence of His resurrection and for the incredible, eternal assurances that accompany His victory over sin and death. Lord God, we believe. We believe You made all things and created us to seek and find You. We also believe that Your Son's death and resurrection are the only path to reach You, forgiven by His blood and granted the promise of eternal life in His name. We know Jesus will judge the world. Lead us to repent and prepare for our Savior's return.   Thought Questions: -       Why do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? Are you prepared to elaborate in order to teach others about Jesus? -       The Berean listeners are commended for examining scripture to confirm Paul's words. Why should you do that when you hear teaching? -       Do you believe that God created you and that in Him you “live and move and exist”? How does this belief shape your daily life and choices?

A. What is this passage about? This devotional centers on discerning between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. It explains that Christians must not believe every spiritual claim but must test the spirits to determine whether they are from God. A key marker is whether the spirit confesses that Jesus came in the flesh. False teachers and the spirit of the Antichrist deny this truth. The devotional emphasizes relying on Scripture, listening to apostolic teaching, and being confident in God's power within believers. B. What is the best verse to summarize this passage? "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." – 1 John 4:1 C. What are we called to do? Test all teachings by comparing them with biblical truth. Confess and believe that Jesus truly came in the flesh. Stand firm in faith, knowing that God's Spirit in us is greater than the enemy. Reject false doctrines, especially those that deny Christ's incarnation. Be like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures to confirm truth.

Following our 3-part "parenthetical" on idolatry, we return to our primary series on the Hebrew word, malaki (in distinction from the book that bears this name). In episode 1 we encountered the very first instance of Malaki, My Angel, in the Bible. It was on Mount Sinai after God had delivered the law, proclaimed and ratified the covenant with Israel. He then promised to send His Angel with them to the promised land, where He would drive out the inhabitants before them if they would simply listen to His voice and obey. It was clear that this angel is the preincarnate Lord Jesus, and that this was his formal introduction to the people. In episode 2 we approached the second appearance of Malaki in scripture, and in this episode we confront it. Like so much of the history of God's chosen people, it is a tragic story of failure with hope attached to it. The failure to listen to and obey the Word of God has the inevitable consequences of separation from God. We explore that theme in this episode. The Bible is every Christian's primary source material. Like the Bereans, we must make it our priority, our authority, our delight in learning from God directly from His own voice. And this includes podcasts, like ours. If we can help you know God and His word, fantastic! It is our job to work ourselves out of a job! "Return to ME and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 3:7. We really want YOU to study God's word, to listen to His voice and obey. Either God is God, or ... He is not With our Transcendent GOD – Being, Truth and Value – there can be NO COMPROMISE We are the "neo-Fundies," unashamed and proudly proclaiming God's Word as Truth, Life and Light! 'For we are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes' If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist   Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6dyPLOr6Zb6x0KfOBmd22ntBsnSgqwzL&si=g21wNaUM5EAoeZco   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron #williamlanecraig #seanmcdowell #adam #adamandeve #eve #genesis

On this episode of Rightly Dividing, the book of Acts, or The Acts of the Apostles, shows us the life and ministry of the apostles of Jesus Christ from the gospels, including one who is “born out of due time”, the apostle Paul. But before he was an apostle of the Lord, Saul was a fearsome type of Antichrist, and we will look at that as well. Think you're called to the ministry? You better think again, the book of Acts shows you what the ministry is, and you may not like it much. Join us as we study the entire book of the Acts of the Apostles, verse by verse and chapter by chapter.TONIGHT'S STUDY: Tonight we look at Paul and Silas singing hymns in prison, and the beautiful picture of the simplicity of Church Age salvation in the account of the Philippian jailor. We will also watch as Paul visits the noble Bereans who study the scriptures like a workman.

Pastor Jeff Johnson encourages us to open the Word, search the Scriptures and put it to the test. That's what the Bereans did, and because of the Word they were strong over-comers. We can be too, as we're students of the Word, receiving the Sound Doctrine it contains! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29

Studies show people often don't know how or why they believe what they do, and distractions can lead to accepting falsehoods. Belief begins with automatic acceptance before being evaluated against known truth, often without conscious awareness. This underscores the importance of staying grounded in Scripture, like the Bereans who tested all teachings against God's Word. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29

In Acts 17 Paul meets the Bereans who eagerly 'examine Scripture' to know Jesus. How might we gain a fresh openness to Christ through an encounter with Him in Holy Scripture?

Scripture tells us to 'be like the Bereans'. So who WERE the Bereans, and why should we be like them? Ken Legg sheds some light on this often mis-quoted verse, today on Set Free.Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We pause our series on "malaki" to present the important context of Israel's idolatry at the foot of Sinai in the incident of the golden calf. As Jenny and I studied this issue over the past several months we began to understand something important that has ramifications for both the Old and New Testament scripture, and all of Christian history and practice ever since. While in this episode we point to a form of human idolatry in its grosser aspects, we fear that the same sort of idolatry pervades today's evangelical churches in a more subtle manner. It seems to Jenny and I that instead of studying the Bible ourselves, many evangelicals become involved in religious fads that promote evangelical "superstars," teachers whose books become all the rage. Then, instead of studying the Bible, we study their books on the Bible. As an academic, this is the distinguishing between primary material - the Bible, and secondary material - books about the Bible. We should be doing much less of the latter, and much more of the former. The Bible is every Christian's primary source material. Like the Bereans, we must make it our priority, our authority, our delight in learning from God directly from His own voice. And this includes podcasts, like ours. If we can help you know God and His word, fantastic! It is our job to work ourselves out of a job! "Return to ME and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 3:7. We really want YOU to study God's word, to listen to His voice and obey. This week we end our parenthetical study on idolatry, looking at idolatry of objects, places and processes. I can't wait to get back to God's messenger! Either God is God, or ... He is not With our Transcendent GOD – Being, Truth and Value – there can be NO COMPROMISE We are the "neo-Fundies," unashamed and proudly proclaiming God's Word as Truth, Life and Light! 'For we are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes' If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist   Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6dyPLOr6Zb6x0KfOBmd22ntBsnSgqwzL&si=g21wNaUM5EAoeZco   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron #williamlanecraig #seanmcdowell #adam #adamandeve #eve #genesis

Everyone worships someone or something. As worshipers of the one true God, we are called to be like the Bereans in studying His Word, to embrace the place where God has put us, and to master the art of asking questions. The post The Church in Acts, Part 15: The Second Missionary Journey appeared first on Reston Bible Church.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.—Titus 1:9This is part three in our series of articles on being a Berean. Tom McMahon wrote “Being a Berean,” an article that laid out who we are as a ministry. Tom and Dave started The Berean Call to help get God's message out through newsletters written by Dave Hunt (and later by Tom, too). In part two, Dave wrote a newsletter entitled, “More on Being a Berean” that continued the theme of what our ministry stands for with examples of error being taught in our Lord's name. This newsletter will continue on those themes and our desire to do God's will out of love for Him.We start with the very first commandment, which Jesus said is “…thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30). “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19), which the Lord demonstrated because “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), “…was buried, and…rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).God saved us from an eternal punishment that we fully deserve, but He didn't stop there. He has given us His Word, which He magnifies above His name (Psalm 138:2). In addition, Jesus promised that He would send from the Father (John 15:26) the Spirit of truth, who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). With God's Word and His indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), He “…hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).1 Bob Jones III, BJU Tape God's Barriers Between Men, January 15, 1982.2 Bob Jones III, BJU Tape God's Barriers Between Men, January 15, 1982.3 At the turn of the century, BJU removed their ban on interracial relationships.4 Dave Hunt, “Am I A Fundamentalist?”, TBC Newsletter August 1998.5 Galatians 3:16, English Standard Version.6 The latest revision of the NIV has moved up the text and has the bracket section stating [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.].7 John MacArthur, ed, The MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition, English Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2021), 1366.

The best academic writers are those who are able to back up their words with reputable sources. They include footnotes to direct you to where that person pulled their information from. And Pastor Bill teaches you today that the Bereans did the same thing to the Apostle Paul! When Paul and Silas were sharing the Gospel with them, the Bereans went back to the Old Testament to see if their claims lined up with God's Word. Just like those Bereans, you should verify every teaching you hear against Scripture.

The best academic writers are those who are able to back up their words with reputable sources. They include footnotes to direct you to where that person pulled their information from. And Pastor Bill teaches you today that the Bereans did the same thing to the Apostle Paul! When Paul and Silas were sharing the Gospel with them, the Bereans went back to the Old Testament to see if their claims lined up with God's Word. Just like those Bereans, you should verify every teaching you hear against Scripture.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.—Titus 1:9This is part three in our series of articles on being a Berean. Tom McMahon wrote “Being a Berean,” an article that laid out who we are as a ministry. Tom and Dave started The Berean Call to help get God's message out through newsletters written by Dave Hunt (and later by Tom, too). In part two, Dave wrote a newsletter entitled, “More on Being a Berean” that continued the theme of what our ministry stands for with examples of error being taught in our Lord's name. This newsletter will continue on those themes and our desire to do God's will out of love for Him.We start with the very first commandment, which Jesus said is “…thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30). “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19), which the Lord demonstrated because “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), “…was buried, and…rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4).God saved us from an eternal punishment that we fully deserve, but He didn't stop there. He has given us His Word, which He magnifies above His name (Psalm 138:2). In addition, Jesus promised that He would send from the Father (John 15:26) the Spirit of truth, who will guide us into all truth (John 16:13). With God's Word and His indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), He “…hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).1 Bob Jones III, BJU Tape God's Barriers Between Men, January 15, 1982.2 Bob Jones III, BJU Tape God's Barriers Between Men, January 15, 1982.3 At the turn of the century, BJU removed their ban on interracial relationships.4 Dave Hunt, “Am I A Fundamentalist?”, TBC Newsletter August 1998.5 Galatians 3:16, English Standard Version.6 The latest revision of the NIV has moved up the text and has the bracket section stating [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.].7 John MacArthur, ed, The MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition, English Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2021), 1366.

A look at the Bereans to see why Paul called them, "noble", and a passionate appeal to all to "test everything" and not remain comfortable in untruth

In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul told Timothy, his son in the faith, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” During this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd shares the significance of Paul's last recorded words from the place it is believed he was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ, at the Abbey of the Three Fountains in Rome, Italy. Dr. Dodd also provides an update concerning Iran's nuclear program and the need to pray for Israel.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, Mars Hill, Acropolis, Bereans, Berea, Veria, Greece, Rapture, Return of Jesus Christ, Paphos, Cyprus, Paul's First Missionary Journey, Rome, Italy, Abbey of the Three Fountains

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In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas embarked on their first missionary journey after the Holy Spirit revealed He had set them apart for such a work. They traveled to the island of Cyprus, the birthplace of Barnabas, and went from synagogue to synagogue proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When they arrived in Paphos, they encountered a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus. Bar-Jesus appears to have provided counsel to the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word of God from Paul and Barnabas but Bar-Jesus opposed them and sought to “turn the proconsul away from the faith.” In many ways, what is recorded next in Acts 13, encapsulates the rest of Paul's ministry.During this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd visits Pafos, Cyprus and shares insights about the Apostle Paul's confrontation with Bar-Jesus and the impact it had on Sergius Paulus. He also provides updates concerning Iran's nuclear program and Israel's war against Hamas.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, Mars Hill, Acropolis, Bereans, Berea, Veria, Greece, Rapture, Return of Jesus Christ, Paphos, Cyprus, Paul's First Missionary Journey, Barnabas, Sergius Paulus, Bar-Jesus, Acts 13, Elymas

Acts 17:10-12 reveals that when the Apostle Paul came to Berea, he discovered the Bereans were “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica” because “they received the word with great eagerness” and were “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether” the things Paul was teaching were true. During this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd shares highlights from his visit to Berea, now called Veria, Greece, along with insights from God's Word regarding the Bereans and how they processed Paul's teachings. In addition, Dr. Dodd will provide a brief update concerning Israel. Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, Mars Hill, Acropolis, Bereans, Berea, Veria, Greece

Acts 17:10-12 reveals that when the Apostle Paul came to Berea, he discovered the Bereans were “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica” because “they received the word with great eagerness” and were “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether” the things Paul was teaching were true. During this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd shares highlights from his visit to Berea, now called Veria, Greece, along with insights from God's Word regarding the Bereans and how they processed Paul's teachings. In addition, Dr. Dodd will provide a brief update concerning Israel. Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, Mars Hill, Acropolis, Bereans, Berea, Veria, Greece

Keywords: Acts,Book of Acts,Revival, Character Of God,Free Sermons, Video Sermons, Jesus Christ, What Is The Gospel, Sermon Index, What Is The Truth, kjv bible, Audio Bible, Bible, God, God's Love, Scriptures, Holy Bible, Prophets, Apostles, KJV, Jesus,Christ, audiobook, book, holy life, love, bible verses, king james bible audio, audio bible KJV, king james bible online audio, bible audio, online bible kjv, audio bible kjv, daily bible verse, bible verse of the day, KJV audio, Remastered, Best Version, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, The Chosen, Salvation, Saved, Christian, Suffering Servant, Arm of the Lord, Plants Roots, Despised Rejected, Sorrows, Peace War, Crucifixtion, The Cross, Violence, Judgement, Master Servant, Life Death, Old Testament, Exposed, Music, Education, Great Tribulation, Endtimes, Top Bible Verses, Bible Topic Prayer, Evangelicalism, bible study, Word of God, scripture, scriptures, Matthew Henry's biblical commentary, bible commentary, Matthew Henry commentary, God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers❓️ How does this chapter apply to you?

We pause our series on "malaki" to present the important context of Israel's idolatry at the foot of Sinai in the incident of the golden calf. As Jenny and I studied this issue over the past several months we began to understand something important that has ramifications for both the Old and New Testament scripture, and all of Christian history and practice ever since. While in this episode we point to a form of human idolatry in its grosser aspects, we fear that the same sort of idolatry pervades today's evangelical churches in a more subtle manner. It seems to Jenny and I that instead of studying the Bible ourselves, many evangelicals become involved in religious fads that promote evangelical "superstars," teachers whose books become all the rage. Then, instead of studying the Bible, we study their books on the Bible. As an academic, this is the distinguishing between primary material - the Bible, and secondary material - books about the Bible. We should be doing much less of the latter, and much more of the former. The Bible is every Christian's primary source material. Like the Bereans, we must make it our priority, our authority, our delight in learning from God directly from His own voice. Either God is God, or ... He is not With our Transcendent GOD – Being, Truth and Value – there can be NO COMPROMISE We are the "neo-Fundies," unashamed and proudly proclaiming God's Word as Truth, Life and Light! 'For we are not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes' If you enjoy our content, consider donating through PayPal via https://ko-fi.com/thechristianatheist   Take a moment to enjoy our weekly Photos of the Day videos here - short slideshows with relaxing music ...https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6dyPLOr6Zb6x0KfOBmd22ntBsnSgqwzL&si=g21wNaUM5EAoeZco   https://www.youtube.com/c/TheChristianAtheist/featured https://www.facebook.com/JnJWiseWords https://wisewordsforyouroccasion.wordpress.com   #thechristianatheist #drjohndwise #drjohnwise #johnwise #christian #atheist #christianity #atheism #jesus #jesuschrist #god #bible #oldtestament #newtestament #nocompromise #rationality #faith #philosophy #philosopher #culture #society #hegelism #hegelianism #hegel #reason #incarnation #history#psychology #theology #literature #humanities #hardquestions #postmodernism #woke #wisdom #ethics #science #poetry #paradox #oxymoron #williamlanecraig #seanmcdowell #adam #adamandeve #eve #genesis

March 16, 2025 - Sunday AM Bible Class   Welcome to our Bible study hour, where we gather to explore the divine teachings and guidance offered through the Scriptures. Our session today emphasizes the enduring power of the Gospel and its crucial role in our spiritual journey. We begin with a prayer, remembering those suffering from global calamities and seeking comfort in God's unwavering presence. We delve into the discussion of how dependable and perfect the Gospel is, highlighting its unmatched ability to save souls. Embracing this power demands our active engagement and commitment to living according to the divine truths outlined in the Scriptures. This study also explores the significance of being fair-minded and noble, as exemplified by the Bereans, and stresses the importance of continuously searching and adhering to the Holy Word. In stark contrast to false doctrines that have emerged over time, the Scripture remains complete and instructive for maintaining a righteous relationship with God and humanity. Looking ahead, we explore the enduring nature of the Gospel, a steadfast source that will last until eternity, allowing us to navigate life's trials and stand firm in judgment. Through passages from Acts, Peter, and the Gospel of John, we reaffirm our commitment to the Word, entrusted to guide our steps toward eternal salvation. As we conclude, let us reflect on the compassion and moral lessons from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in anticipation of our next session.   Duration 44:29

Our reading opens with Paul preaching to the Jews on the Sabbath over the course of three weeks in the town Thessalonica. After a bit of unrest, the travel to the town of Berea by night. The Bereans are noted as being of more noble character than the Thessalonians, receiving the word with eagerness and examining the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul was saying was true. The Thessalonians catch wind of Paul's location and come to town to start trouble again. He moves on to Athens, where he gives his famous sermon at the Areopagus, a place where the Athenian people discussed new teachings and new ideas. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Too Many Voices, Not Enough Truth: Why Many Christians Are Stuck, Confused, and Unstable   Website: www.PastorTodd.org To Give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give    Too Many Voices, Not Enough Truth: Why Many Christians Are Stuck, Confused, and Unstable We live in a time where advice is everywhere. Social media, YouTube, podcasts, self-help books, and even well-meaning friends and mentors are constantly offering their opinions on life, faith, relationships, and purpose. As Christians, we're told to seek wise counsel—and that's a good thing. But what happens when we're listening to so many different voices that we lose sight of the only voice that truly matters? For many believers, this is exactly what has happened. They're bouncing from one spiritual leader to another, taking bits and pieces of advice from different sources, and as a result, they've become spiritually unstable, confused, and double-minded. Too Many Voices = Spiritual Confusion There's a reason James 1:8 says:  “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8 NKJV) Double-mindedness happens when we don't have a firm foundation. One day we're convinced God is calling us to something, and the next day, after hearing a different perspective, we start doubting everything. We shift from one teaching to another, from one prophetic word to the next, from one pastor's message to another YouTube preacher's opinion—all while neglecting the one place that should be anchoring us: God's Word and a strong, biblical community. When we're constantly looking for fresh revelation from multiple sources instead of being planted where God has called us, we end up more confused than we were before. The Danger of Unfiltered Influences Not every voice speaking into your life is from God. Some are mixed with personal opinions, cultural influence, or even deception. The Bible warns us:  “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV) Yet many believers have invited confusion into their lives by exposing themselves to teachers, influencers, and “spiritual guides” who may sound good but are not actually speaking truth. Some Christians run from conference to conference, church to church, mentor to mentor, never truly rooting themselves in one place. They're spiritually spread thin, and it's keeping them from growing. Being Planted vs. Being Scattered The Bible makes it clear that stability comes from being planted.  “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” (Psalm 92:13 NKJV) When you plant something, it stays in one place long enough to grow roots. It doesn't uproot itself every time the wind blows or a new gardener comes along with a different watering technique. But many believers today are spiritually uprooted—always looking for the next exciting revelation, the next big teacher, or the next prophetic word that will finally make everything clear. This constant uprooting leads to: ✅Spiritual instability – Never feeling settled, always questioning.  ✅Confusion – Not knowing whose voice to trust.  ✅Lack of direction – Feeling like you're in a cycle of waiting but never moving forward.  ✅Discontentment – Feeling stuck and unsatisfied in your current season. What's the Solution?  1. Stop Chasing Every New Voice & Anchor Yourself in the Word  • There's nothing wrong with listening to sermons and podcasts, but your main source should be the Bible.  • If a teaching contradicts Scripture, it's not from God—period.  • Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11—test everything against God's Word.  2. Get Planted in a Biblically Sound Church or ministry.   • If you're constantly hopping between churches and ministries, ask yourself: Why am I avoiding commitment?  3. Be Discerning About Who You Listen To  • Just because someone has a platform doesn't mean they're speaking truth.  • Ask: Does this teaching align with Scripture? Is this pointing me to Jesus or just exciting my emotions?  4. Pray for Clarity & Obedience  • Sometimes confusion comes because we're hearing what we want to hear instead of what God is actually saying.  • Pray for wisdom and the courage to obey what God has already spoken to you. Final Thought: It's Time to Get Rooted If you feel stuck, frustrated, or spiritually unstable, ask yourself: Am I listening to too many voices? Am I truly planted where God has called me, or am I constantly uprooting myself? God doesn't want His people confused or double-minded. He wants us rooted, growing, and bearing fruit. It's time to stop chasing every new word and start trusting the One who never changes.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV) It's time to get planted. It's time to stop running. It's time to trust Him.

March 2025 NewsletterOriginally published January 1, 1994And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.—Acts 17:10-11As we approach the end of our second year as a ministry, we think it worthwhile to review two basic questions people often ask regarding the work of The Berean Call: “What exactly is a Berean?” and “What does TBC do?”Although we've covered many aspects of those questions in various issues of our newsletter (and, in general, The Berean Call is an ongoing reflection of our work), we thought it might be helpful to our readers if we addressed “what we're about” in some depth.Luke writes in Acts 17:10-11 that the Apostle Paul, having left Thessalonica and recently arrived in the city of Berea, preached in the synagogue of the Berean Jews. Paul's encouraging experience with the Bereans caused Luke to commend them. He wrote that they were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica because they received the Word of God from Paul “with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily” to know whether or not what he had to say was true.The purpose of this ministry is to call believers in Jesus Christ to be like the Bereans. They not only had a heart to hear the things of God but, more importantly, were able to discern what was truly of Him because they regarded the Scriptures as the authority in ascertaining the truth of what they were hearing. The Bereans practiced what Isaiah preached: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).TBC's chief concern is the spiritual welfare of the body of Christ, and in particular, the encouragement of biblical discernment. We believe the times reflect the necessity of our calling. Even a cursory review of what has taken place in the church during the last 25 years will reveal a fierce undermining of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). You might even say that the Bereans of Paul's day “had it easy” compared to this generation. In those days the opposition to truth was in the secular world around them—it had not yet infiltrated the church under the guise of a more enlightened or advanced Christianity. While there were pressing pagan influences as well as some heretical teachings and practices here and there, they weren't subjected to anything like the flood of false beliefs, teachings, and practices surging in on the tidal wave of today's Christian media.

Former Protestant pastors Ken Hensley and Kenny Burchard continue their series looking at how they began to rethink their commitment to the Bible alone as the sole and sufficient rule for faith and practice. The two passages of Scripture most often cited in defense of sola Scriptura are the account of the "noble Bereans" in Acts 17, and Paul referring to Scripture as "God-breathed" in 2 Timothy 3:16. But do these passages truly teach sola Scriptura, or are there better ways to understand them? More episodes: https://chnetwork.org/on-the-journey-show/ Our Online Community: https://www.chnetwork.org/community Support our work: https://www.chnetwork.org/compass

Is your faith built on secondhand stories, or have you investigated it for yourself? In this episode, we dive into Luke 1:1-4, where Luke sets the foundation for a faith that is examined, tested, and verified. Christianity isn't about blind belief—it's about truth that stands up to scrutiny.Luke wasn't an eyewitness to Jesus' ministry, yet he wrote 27% of the New Testament by carefully investigating every claim. Why does this matter today? Because we live in a world filled with misinformation, historical revisionism, and counterfeit truths. It's time to fact-check your faith and stand on unshakable truth!

Acts Series

The Greatest Lie Ever Told? A Deep Dive Into Scriptural Secrets In this daring and thought-provoking episode, the host ventures into a realm of bold biblical exploration that challenges deeply held beliefs and traditional interpretations. He candidly shares the inspiration behind the episode, originating from a re-evaluation of the story of the golden calf in the Bible. Despite the potential backlash, he presents a theory that he believes could revolutionize the understanding of Judeo-Christian beliefs. The episode delves into the controversial notion that Jesus was not a Jew, a theory supported by a selective interpretation of key biblical scriptures. Throughout the episode, the host emphasizes his meticulous study, despite acknowledging his own limitations as a non-scholar of the Bible. He calls for listeners to engage with this theory with an open mind, urging them to conduct their own research and delve into over 3,000 scriptures for context. Engaging with canonical texts like Galatians, Genesis, Deuteronomy, and more, the host builds a case for distinguishing between Jews and Israelites, questioning longstanding assumptions about religious lineage and identity. He invites listeners to become Bereans, diligently seeking the truth by examining scriptures themselves rather than accepting this theory at face value. This episode promises to spark conversation and debate, encouraging a fresh examination of historical and spiritual narratives. Will this revelation ignite change, or will it be dismissed as heretical? Join the discussion and explore the profound implications of this audacious biblical theory. Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith  

     The New Testament references the gift of teaching in several passages (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:28). This gift involves the ability to clearly communicate biblical truths so that others can understand and apply them. A teacher, in the biblical sense, is responsible for expositional teaching and instructing others in the doctrines of the faith, helping believers grow in their knowledge of God and in their walk with Him. This gift requires a high level of dedication to study and a deep understanding of Scripture, as the teacher's role is to communicate biblical truths with accuracy and authority. The ideal form of teaching is expository teaching—explaining Scripture verse by verse. It is from exegetical study and expositional teaching that Christian doctrines are formulated. This gift is vital for the building up of the church, as it equips believers to live out their faith more fully (Eph 4:12-13). And each teacher will be held accountable for what he teaches, as James wrote, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (Jam 3:1).       Christians have the individual responsibility of studying God's Word directly as well as through gifted teachers. This will help advance their spiritual life so they can grow to maturity (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; Heb 5:12-14; 6:1; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). They are personally accountable to God for what they learn and how they live. If Christians can find a good Bible teacher and learn from him, they are blessed. However, no Bible teacher is perfect in his teaching, so Christians must be like the Bereans, “examining the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) to verify the teaching is biblical. Furthermore, spiritual growth is a gradual process that requires discipline, perseverance, and a commitment to moving beyond the basics of the faith. The goal is to reach spiritual maturity, reflecting the fullness of Christ, which prepares believers for effective service and eternal rewards. The Word of God Leads to Sanctification      A psalmist wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word…Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psa 119:9, 11). God's Word is absolutely central to our experiential sanctification, which is the process of being set apart for God's purpose, growing to spiritual maturity, and living a life that glorifies Him. Our experiential sanctification is directly linked to our consistent intake and application of Bible teaching. Jesus prayed to the Father, saying, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17). This verse encapsulates the idea that it is through the truth of God's Word that we are progressively sanctified. Paul wrote of Christ cleansing the church “by the washing of water with the Word” (Eph 5:26), which illustrates how the Word of God purifies and sets us apart in our daily lives.      Without the daily intake of Bible teaching, the believer will remain spiritually stagnant, unable to grow in holiness or effectively live out the Christian life. Thieme states, “Experiential sanctification is commanded but not guaranteed. While God in grace provides the resources, opportunities, instructions, and encouragement, the believer himself chooses whether to execute the spiritual life.”[1] If we fail to advance to spiritual maturity, this does not nullify God's faithfulness to keep us saved eternally, for “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim 2:13; cf., Rom 8:1, 33-39). The objective of our experiential sanctification is to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). In this way, the advancing Christian will “be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21). Bible Knowledge Should Produce Stable Thinking      God wants us to have stable thinking and not be doubleminded. Emotions, like circumstances, rise and fall, they come and go. But God and His Word are stable and eternal. They never change. God Himself tells us, “I, the LORD, do not change” (Mal 3:6), which means He remains constant in character and conduct. Isaiah tells us, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isa 40:8). And Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Matt 24:35).      As humans, it's natural to look at our circumstances and pay close attention to our experiences and feelings from moment to moment. We're happy when our circumstances are to our liking, as our experiences and feelings enjoy this. However, because we live in a fallen world with fallen people (including ourselves), circumstances inevitably produce unhappy experiences and feelings. If we don't have something greater than our experiences and feelings to stabilize our souls, then we'll always fall victim to circumstances. As we advance in our walk with the Lord, faith in God and His Word dominates our souls more and more. Biblical thinking replaces human viewpoint. We are governed by biblical wisdom rather than experiences or feelings. The daily insertion of Scripture into our thinking, and our willful meditation on it, causes a paradigm shift in how we perceive the world, ourselves, and our experiences. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Sanctification”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 233.

Send us a textFor an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessSubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comWelcomeWelcome to today's episode where we look at the importance of biblical literacy within our churches. Today, we will explore Acts 18:18-28 and discuss how different people in various contexts require diverse forms of spiritual instruction. We'll look at the travels of Paul and the story of Apollos in Ephesus to understand how ongoing guidance and correction are vital for spiritual growth. Whether you're in the pews, on the streets, or standing in the pulpit, there's always room for deeper understanding and closer walk with the Lord.Episode Notes: The Church's Need for Biblical LiteracyScripture Reference: Acts 18:18-28Key Points:Introduction to Biblical Literacy:Examples of common misconceptions about biblical knowledge.Highlighting the need for basic biblical instruction within the church.Paul's Travels and Instruction:Paul's departure from Corinth and his travels to Ephesus, Jerusalem, and Antioch.Emphasis on Paul's commitment to teaching and strengthening the disciples in various regions.The Story of Apollos:Introduction of Apollos, a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures but limited understanding of the full gospel.Priscilla and Aquila's role in guiding Apollos more accurately in the way of the Lord.Importance of Ongoing Instruction:Spiritual growth as an ongoing process requiring continuous learning and correction.Paul's method of reasoning in synagogues and the importance of teaching even those familiar with the Scriptures.Lessons from Church History:Examples of religious figures who underwent significant spiritual transformations, such as Martin Luther and John Wesley.The importance of understanding the true gospel beyond mere religious practices.Application for Today:Encouragement for believers to seek deeper understanding and maturity in their faith.The role of love and humility in true spiritual maturity.The need for discernment and personal engagement with Scripture, following the example of the Bereans.Conclusion:A call to embrace ongoing spiritual instruction and growth, just as Apollos did.The importance of balancing knowledge with grace and living out the truths of Scripture in daily life.Join me again next time as we continue to unpack these themes and reflect on how we can all grow in our biblical literacy and spirituaKINGDOM COME WITH ANDREW NKOYOYOLearn how to experience Holy Spirit's power, healing, miracles. Subscribe/follow now belowListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Episode OverviewThis week, we kick off our series, PURPOSE, by diving into one of life's biggest questions: Why am I here? In this sermon, we explore how we were created to connect with a very real and personal God, and how that connection begins by repenting and believing in Jesus Christ. Drawing from Acts 17, we examine the spiritual hunger of humanity and the incomparable fulfillment found in Jesus.Key Scripture ReferencesActs 17:22-23 – Paul addresses the Athenians' religious practices and introduces the "Unknown God."Acts 17:24-28 – God is revealed as Creator and sustainer, inviting us into relationship with Him.Acts 17:29-30 – A call to repentance and turning away from idols.Acts 17:11-12 – The Bereans' noble character in studying God's Word leads to belief.Major PointsHumanity's Search for MeaningAcross philosophical, scientific, and spiritual realms, people seek purpose.We all tether ourselves to something, whether tangible (careers, relationships) or intangible (belief systems, idols).The Unknown GodPaul observed the Athenians' worship and challenged them to know the true God.Modern parallels: idols of materialism, technology, and personal gratification.The God Who Made UsGod, the Creator of all, desires relationship with us."In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).Repentance and FaithTrue purpose begins with repentance and belief in Jesus Christ.Jesus embodies unconditional love and fulfills our deepest desires for connection.The Berean ExampleOur greatest connection to God is through His Word.A life built on Scripture leads to purpose and fulfillment.Reflection QuestionsWhat "unknown gods" have you allowed to take priority in your life?How does knowing you were created for connection with God change your perspective on purpose?What steps can you take to build a foundation on God's Word this week?Practical ApplicationSpend time daily in Scripture, asking God to reveal Himself to you.Identify one area of your life where you need to repent and invite Jesus in.Reflect on Acts 17:27—how can you "reach out for Him and find Him" this week?ClosingAction Step: Embrace your purpose by connecting with Jesus personally.Call to Action: Join us next week as we continue the PURPOSE series, exploring how to connect with your story.

Send us a textFor an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessSubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comWelcome:Today, we're diving into a crucial topic that each one of us faces: "What is Your Response to the Bible?" We'll explore Acts 17:1-15 and see how different people responded to Paul's preaching. These responses are as relevant today as they were then. Let's delve into the decisions people made and how those decisions can impact our lives and faith journey.Episode Notes: Key Points:Decisions and Responses:Everyone makes a decision when they hear the message of the Bible. Some are persuaded, and some are not, but everyone decides.Paul's approach in Thessalonica involved reasoning, explaining, and proving from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.The responses were mixed: some believed and joined Paul and Silas, while others opposed and caused trouble.Thessalonica:Paul reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue, explaining and proving the necessity of the Messiah's suffering and resurrection.The reactions varied: some Jews and many Greeks believed, while others were envious and incited a mob.Berea:The Bereans were more open-minded, eagerly receiving the message and examining the Scriptures daily to verify Paul's teachings.Many believed, including prominent Greek women and men, showing the importance of verifying teachings against the Scriptures.Handling Opposition:Those not persuaded in Thessalonica caused a riot, showing that rejection can sometimes lead to active opposition.Despite opposition, Paul and his companions continued their mission, moving to new places to preach the gospel.The Roman Road to Salvation:Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 5:8: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."Reflection Questions:What decision have you made regarding the message of the Bible?How can you ensure your beliefs align with Scripture?Are you open-minded like the Bereans, eager to verify and understand the truth?How can you share the message of Jesus with others?Thank you for joining us today. I hope this episode challenges you to consider your response to the Bible and encourages you to share the good news with those around you. Remember, every decision matters, and your response can impact your life and eternity.Support the showJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Today on Karl and Crew the team talks about how the Bereans are heroes of the faith, and the power of praise. They also talk with Robert Lewis, founder of Men's Fraternity, and Sam Storms of Enjoying God Ministries.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deception is simply taking a piece of the truth, and twisting it. That's what makes it so convincing. It sounds right... sort of. Almost. I believe I first read in one of C.S. Lewis's books, probably in several of them, that evil defines itself by the absence of God, just as darkness defines itself as the absence of light. Satan cannot create anything; all he can do is pervert something that God made, and intended for good.   The introduction of Jonathan Cahn's most recent book, "The Dragon Prophecy," puts this extremely well, so I'm going to just quote him. He writes, "If God is good, then how could there be evil? And if God is evil, then how could God be good? But if God did not create evil, then how could evil exist? Or how could God be God?... If evil was created, it would not be a problem, nor would it be evil. Evil is a problem for the very reason that it was not created. It should not exist, because it was not created, and yet it does. The existence of evil defies the created order. It is not of the creation and thus exists in opposition to the created order. Evil exists in defiance of existence... evil is not simply a force, like that of an earthquake, a hurricane, or a fire. All these bring calamity and destruction. But none would constitute true evil. Serial killers are. Why? The hurricane is an impersonal force. It acts without consciousness, will, choice, volition, or intent. But the serial killer commits his acts with conscious intent, will, an volition--and so is evil. And so evil is not an impersonal force--but a personal one, requiring consciousness, volition, will, and intent. Thus in our search for an answer to evil, we are led to personhood... Evil is an inversion--an inversion of truth, of reality, of existence. Evil is, by nature, inverted and, by nature, inverts. It twists, bends, and turns existence in upon itself. It exists as anti-existence. Its being is anti-being, and its nature, anti-nature. It is a negation and therefore seeks to negate, a nullification that exists to nullify. It has no true, ultimate, or absolute existence and therefore acts to bring that which exists into non-existence... Possessing no absolute or true existence of its own, evil is, as well, by nature, parasitic... Evil must use the good. And so though good can exist without evil, evil cannot exist without good. Truth can exist without falsehood, but falsehood cannot exist without truth. Laws can exist without crimes, marriage without adultery, and life without murder. But crimes cannot exist without laws, adultery without marriage, nor murder exist without life. Destruction requires structure, immorality requires morality, and sin requires the holy. The good is primary. Evil is the parasitic inversion of the good. And so the existence of evil inadvertently testifies not against the existence of the good--but for it. It bears witness, unwillingly, to the existence of the good--the existence of God" (9-10). So if evil itself is an inversion of something created to be good, then nearly everything God created for our pleasure and enjoyment can also become evil... but because it contains the seeds of something that was originally good, Satan can also use that kernel of goodness, or truth, to convince us that the twisted version is actually good and true, too... and if we don't know the truth well enough to tell the difference, we'll fall for it.  The Syncretism Trend According to Dr George Barna's research with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, the dominant worldview of Americans (92%) now is syncretism (https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CRC-Release-AWVI-2-April-23-2024.pdf): that is, an amalgamation of disparate and contradictory beliefs, pulled from multiple religious or philosophical ideologies, according to an individual's personal inclinations and emotions. Syncretism is therefore not a single worldview, but a mishmash of beliefs--hence the common phrase, "your truth" and "my truth." The implication is that these can be mutually exclusive, without any logical contradiction. This strategy of Satan's is nothing new. He is a liar and the father of lies by nature (John 8:44). He sticks with this approach because it works.  Syncretism in the Old Testament Syncretism has  been around since the days of the Old Testament, and was the main reason why the Israelites couldn't seem to stay on the "blessing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Literally the first of the Ten Commandments was "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex 20:3)--and al, the Hebrew word translated "before", also means "by" or "beside." So God wasn't saying they simply had to worship Him the most, but it was okay if they occasionally sacrificed to Baal or Molech or Asherah--so long as He was the most important. No; they were to have no other gods besides Him. Period. The entire Old Testament history is a cycle of the Israelites' disobedience of this one commandment. The first example after the Ten Commandments were given is the golden calf that Aaron made with the spoils from Egypt while Moses was up on the mountain receiving God's law (Ex 32). These Israelites had spent their entire lives in Egypt, where a pantheon of gods were worshipped (many of whom God specifically humiliated by the plagues chosen to eventually force Pharaoh to let them go). When they made the golden calf, the Israelites declared that this was God--the One who had delivered them from Egypt (Ex 32:4). So they weren't exactly abandoning Yahweh for some other god; rather, they were mixing Him with the gods they had grown up with. Then, the Israelites tended to mix worship of Yahweh with worship of the gods of neighboring nations, even before they ever got to the Promised Land. Israel's enemies feared God, and one of them (King Balak of Moab) sent for Balaam, a local seer, to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). God wouldn't allow Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam wanted Balak's money... so instead, he told Balak how to get the Israelites to curse themselves, by placing themselves on the "cursing" side of God's covenant (Deuteronomy 28). Numbers 25 shows the result: the Moabite harlots used sex to entice the men of Israel into idolatry. The issue in this case wasn't so much the sex, as it was that sex was used in worship of false gods.  The cycle repeats throughout the Old Testament: Israel falls into idolatry, they fall under the 'cursing' side of God's covenant as a result (bringing themselves out from under His protection, and subject to Satan's machinations), they get oppressed by their enemies, they cry out to God, and God delivers them. They renew their vows to and worship of the One True God in varying degrees, but then they forget again, fall into idolatry, and the cycle repeats. God had laid out very clearly that they would be blessed if they followed His laws, and cursed if they didn't (Deut 28), and the very first commandment was no gods before Him. It was the first for a reason: God knows that we were made to worship something, and we treasure what we worship. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt 6:21), and our hearts guide the course of our lives (Prov 4:23).  Eventually Israel split into two kingdoms (Northern and Southern, or Israel and Judah) over this very issue. Most of the subsequent kings of both nations perpetuated idolatry, though a few tried to purge the nation of idolatry to varying degrees, and enjoyed the 'blessing' side of the covenant for a time as a result (Deut 28). But God sent prophet after prophet to the Northern and Southern nations (writers of most of the major and minor prophetic books of the Old Testament), warning them of impending destruction if they did not repent of their idolatry. They ignored the warning, and eventually both nations were taken into captivity because of their idolatry: Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon. (Though of course, God was not done with Israel, and His promises to them still stand--Ezekiel 37 prophesied their restoration to their own land as a resurrection of dry bones, which miraculously took place on May 14, 1948. And the nation of Israel takes center stage throughout most of the book of Revelation, from chapter 5 on.)  Syncretism in the New Testament  Syncretism was around during the time of the early church, too, particularly in Paul's ministry. God sent him as the apostle to the Gentiles, who practiced varying forms of pagan beliefs already. They attempted to mix Jesus with these beliefs, until Paul's preaching convicted them to follow Jesus only, burning their books of magic arts and getting rid of their idols of Greek and Roman gods (Acts 19:11-20--which turned into a big riot in the city, v 21-41). Paul described the end times as being a time of "unrighteous deception among those who perish" (2 Thess 2:10), so we can expect that as we approach that day, this will only increase. Jesus told us that in the last days, "if possible, even the elect" would be deceived (Matt 24:24). The Greek work for deception in these verses is planao, and it means "to lead away from the truth, to lead into error." This inherently means that there is such a thing as truth. If you believe something contradictory to that truth, that is deception. We're living in an age that largely borrows from postmodernism as part of the syncretic worldview. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, "Postmodernists deny that there are aspects of reality that are objective; that there are statements about reality that are objectively true or false; that it is possible to have knowledge of such statements (objective knowledge); that it is possible for human beings to know some things with certainty; and that there are objective, or absolute, moral values." Holders of this worldview are therefore confused about even observable or mathematical truths, let alone those that are not observable (such as whether or not there is a God, and if there is, how many, and which one, how do we get to Him, etc). So before we even approach the topic of how to avoid being deceived, we have to establish that there is such a thing as objective truth. If there isn't, then there is no such thing as deception, either, since deception derives its definition from truth (just as darkness derives its definition from light, by the absence of it). What Is Truth (i.e. Is There Such A Thing As Objective Reality?) The best argument I've heard on the topic of whether or not there is an objective reality comes from Dr Jason Lisle's "The Ultimate Proof of Creation" (which is a book, but here is his lecture on the argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ_UxcV-xcM). While there is an abundance of apologetic evidence for the scientific and historical accuracy of scripture (here's the first in an apologetics series I did on the subject, https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/), Lisle points out that none of these arguments can be definitive, because someone who holds a different worldview can simply invoke a "rescuing device" to explain away any evidence that seems to contradict his own position. We all do this, and it's not necessarily a bad thing--for example, if someone points out an apparent contradiction in scripture, my first reaction isn't, "Oh, I guess the Bible is wrong!" Rather, I assume there's additional information I don't happen to know about yet, which resolves the apparent contradiction, and then I go look for it. Even if I can't find it at the time, I am still certain it exists, and someone will find it eventually. That's a rescuing device, to preserve an otherwise deeply held worldview without logical contradiction. The real key to establishing which worldview is correct lies in that last statement: "without logical contradiction." There are laws that govern the way the world and the universe works--laws that we all have to believe in and abide by in order to know anything at all. C.S. Lewis expounded on this concept in "Mere Christianity" (https://www.authorcagray.com/posts/mere-christianity/) with respect to morality, in particular--the idea that we all know that there are universal laws of decency and conduct, and we further know that we don't live up to them. But, that being the case, who made those laws? Where did they come from? He argues that their very existence necessitates a lawgiver. Lisle takes this argument further--the existence of non-moral rules that govern how the material world works, such as the laws of logic, and principles of math and science, are the presuppositions upon which all knowledge is based. Everyone has to abide by these, no matter what their worldview is, or it would be impossible to know anything at all. But who made those rules? Where did they come from? Why does math work? Why do we all assume the laws of logic in order to have a coherent conversation? This, too, necessitates a creator. Many who abide by laws of math, science, and logic (and morality, for that matter) don't happen to have a theistic worldview, but that in and of itself is a logical inconsistency; they can't account for those rules in their worldviews at all. They have to borrow from the theistic worldview in order to make any of their other arguments.  This is the very place where postmodernism diverges, though. If there is no objective reality, then knowledge of any kind doesn't exist. Most of those who hold this worldview at least believe in morality of some kind. Lewis's argument might be most relevant here--you'll never get someone persuaded by postmodernism and religious syncretism to argue that murder, or genocide, or racism are fine, for example. They know these are wrong because they "feel" them to be wrong--and they're not just wrong for them, they're wrong for everyone. Now we have at least one absolute... which necessitates a lawgiver not only for morality, but also for at least one logical law: that of non-contradiction. This already establishes the existence of an objective reality. If there is an objective reality, then necessarily, some statements about it must be true while others must be false. The world is round and not flat, for example. If a world exists at all, both things cannot be true about it at the same time and in the same way, simultaneously--that would be a logical contradiction. Which Objective Reality Is It? (Can Anybody Know?) If some objective reality does in fact exist, how do we know which one it is? How do we know that our senses are reliable, first of all, and that we're not living in a simulation a la "The Matrix," for instance--one in which the laws of morality, logic, math, and science are simply foundational to the code? This argument goes back to Descartes, who concluded that at the very least, he must exist after some fashion, because his consciousness told him he must. C.S. Lewis in "Mere Christianity" used a similar line of reasoning, arguing that if there were a deeper reality, one that created this reality, we couldn't possibly find out anything about it through our five senses. Of course we couldn't; those senses are of the physical world, and can thus only give us information about the physical world. Our consciousness, however, has no identifiable physical reality. (To this day, science cannot explain what consciousness actually is - https://www.drlaurendeville.com/electromagnetism-vital-force/.) So Lewis argues that, if there were anything knowable about the world beyond our own, the only place where we might possibly expect to find clues about it would be in our own consciousness. And there, in fact, we do find such clues: specifically, we all have a sense of right and wrong. While we might quibble about the details therein--someone might say that under such and such a condition, killing someone is not murder, for example--no one will seriously argue that murder is morally fine. One might have different rules surrounding the morals of sex, but nobody is going to say you can just have any person you like anytime you like. This establishes several things, according to his argument: the existence of a moral law outside of our reality, of how we ought to behave (even though we know we don't, or at least not always, and certainly not perfectly), which necessitates the implied existence of a law-giver. The very fact that we do not keep the law (even though we know we should) is the whole point of the law of the Old Testament, too (Romans 7)--but even those who didn't know the Old Testament were aware of the moral law to this extent, so that no one is without excuse (Romans 1:18-2:16). Once we know that there is a moral law, and that we're incapable of keeping it on our own, that narrows down the possible religions considerably. We must choose one that hinges on the concept of grace, not works. There is literally only one of those. (More on that in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/relational-apologetics/). That's why we call Christianity the gospel, which means good news: the good news is that, while you can't make yourself righteous no matter how hard you try, you don't have to make yourself righteous because Jesus did it for you. All you have to do is accept what He did on your behalf. Once you've gotten to this place, now all the scientific apologetics (start here: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/anthropic-fine-tuning/) can fall into their proper place: as corroborating evidence for the Bible. But the Bible has to be philosophically established as authoritative first. Once we've established that the Bible is truth (John 17:17, Psa 25:5, Psa 91:4, Psa 96:13, 100:5, 117:2, 119:142, 151, 160; 138:2, Prov 3:3, Col 1:5), we've got to learn what it says--well enough that Satan can't take it out of context and feed it back to us, or add a tiny bit to it to change the meaning. That's exactly how he works, though. He even tried that with Jesus (Luke 4:1-13). Fortunately Jesus was the Word made flesh (John 1:14), so He didn't fall for it... but the less we actually know the scripture, the more vulnerable we'll be to this strategy. Knowing the Truth Well Jesus warned us that as the last days approach, Satan will double down on this strategy: that false prophets will rise up and deceive many (Matt 24:11), claiming to be Jesus returned (Mark 13:6), some with signs and wonders. At the same time, Revelation suggests that in the last days, the church will become apathetic, so prosperous materially that we will be unaware of our spiritual emptiness (Rev 3:14-22). (This sounds a lot like the seeds choked by thorns in Jesus' parable of the sower: the seed is choked by "the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and he becomes unfruitful", Matt 13:22). Peter tells us that "scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Paul tells us that the last days will be accompanied by a great "falling away" (2 Thess 2:3). Deception comes in many forms, but one thing they all have in common is that they act almost like a vaccine against the truth. There's just enough truth to them, mixed with a lot of untruth, that it's hard to tease apart the good from the bad. In that way, they can deceive "even the elect, if possible" (Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22). We protect against this, in a nutshell, by knowing the truth really, really well. This is the way bankers are trained to recognize counterfeit money: they don't study every possible counterfeit (there will always be a new one). Rather, they learn what the real thing looks like so well that they'll know when something seems off, even if they can't articulate what it is. In the same way, we're to renew our minds with the Word (Romans 12:2); that's how we will recognize truth from lies. Otherwise, it's all too easy for Satan to take a sliver of truth, mix it with a lie, and so deceive us. An Old Testament example of this is found in 2 Kings 18. The back story: in Numbers 21:6-9, the people had sinned, had come out from under the protection of God's covenant, and were dying from bites from poisonous snakes. God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole, and told the people that if they would only look at the serpent, they would be healed. We know with hindsight that this was a type and shadow of Jesus, who was made sin for us, and became our substitutionary sacrifice ("by His stripes, we are healed," Isaiah 53:5). But the Jews didn't realize that; all they knew was that God ordained healing through looking at the pole, so the pole became a symbol of deliverance. But over the centuries, they made looking at the pole into a formula: the shadow without the substance of Jesus behind it. It became an idol, which they called Nehushtan. Back to 2 Kings 18, centuries later: verse 4 tells us that King Hezekiah had torn down the high places and broke Nehushtan in pieces. Later in the chapter, Judah is threatened with destruction by a messenger from the King of Assyria, Rabshakeh. This would have been especially terrifying, since Israel (by this point they has become two nations, Israel and Judah) had already been carried into captivity by Assyria, in punishment for the fact that the people kept falling into idolatry and had forsaken God. So when Rabshakeh threatened the people with destruction, he said, "You broke down God's symbols of worship! Why would He come through for you?" (2 Kings 18:22). The people of Judah had to know God and His word well enough to know that what Hezekiah did was actually right in God's eyes (2 Kings 18:5-7). God had originally ordained the serpent on the pole, yes, but the people had made it into an idol, which broke the first of the Ten Commandments. Hezekiah's actions had placed the Jews on the right side of God's covenant (Deut 28), so they, unlike their sister nation of Israel, could trust that God would come through for them. But if the people had not understood all the back story, they might easily have believed Rabshakeh's taunts. They could have lost faith that God would come through for them, convinced that they would go the way of Israel before them, and turned against Hezekiah, thinking he'd brought them out from under God's protection. This is how the enemy works. The serpent is subtle and cunning (Gen 3:1, 2 Cor 11:3-4). Satan tried to deceive Jesus not even by misquoting scripture, just by quoting it out of context (Matt 4:6). This happens to us today all the time. One common example is the teaching that God causes or (directly) allows sickness in order to discipline us, or to teach us something, or for the "greater good". This sounds so spiritual, and a host of out of context scriptures even seem to back it up--yet Deut 28 makes it clear that sickness is always considered a curse. Jesus became a curse for us and redeemed us from the curse (Gal 3:13-14), and even before that, He healed all who came to Him (Matt 15:30, Matt 4:23-24, Matt 8:16, Matt 9:35, Matt 10:1, Matt 12:15, Matt 15:30, Luke 4:40, Luke 10:9). Jesus He was a perfect representation of the Father (John 5:19, 5:30, 8:28, 12:49). So this cannot be right. He may take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good (Gen 50:20), but that doesn't mean He caused the evil in the first place. Not even close. (For more on this, see https://www.drlaurendeville.com/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective/). Truth is the foundation of the spiritual armor (Eph 6:14)--it must go on first, before anything else. The Bible can testify to us that not only is the Word truth, but God is the God of truth (Isa 65:16), that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Only knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32). If we focus on knowing the truth, we will recognize deception. It's important to also rely upon the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 John 5:6), to guide us, rather than on our own understanding (Prov 3:5-6), or the wisdom of the world (1 Cor 1:20-2:7), or any other spirit besides the Holy Spirit. The world is confused about what truth is (John 18:37-38) because they don't hear His voice--but we do. This shouldn't be a problem for us.  Cross-Reference What You Hear Along those lines, just because we hear a doctrine preached from the pulpit doesn't mean it's so. It's our responsibility to be like the Bereans in Acts 17--when Paul and Silas preached the word to them there, Luke writes of them, "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed" (Acts 17:11). They didn't just take Paul and Silas's word for it; they went straight to the source text to confirm it. Paul later wrote to the Galatians, "even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). He repeats himself, because this is so important. Forget him--even if an angel preaches it, let him be accursed! We are not to blindly follow any person simply because of his or her authority. (We're to respect authority of all kinds, Romans 13:1-7--that's a different issue. But when what someone in authority says comes in conflict with God's word, we obviously go with God's word, Acts 4:19). There are plenty of warnings about false teachers in scripture (though one important note here--there's a difference between a false teacher, and a good person doing his or her best who is simply flawed. None of us is going to get everything right. This is the reason why James says that not many should become teachers, as they will "receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things," James 3:1-2.)  A false teacher, though, is one who will distort the truth (Acts 20:29-30, 2 Peter 3:16), by mixing it with myths/fables (Titus 1:14) or "merely human commands" (Matthew 16:1-12) or the traditions of men (such as forbidding to marry, abstaining from certain foods, 1 Tim 4:3), according to the principles of the world (Col 2:4-8). They will pretend to be godly or moral, though (2 Cor 11:13-15, 2 Tim 6:5)--so we must use discernment. There are a few criteria we're given to distinguish a false teacher from just a flawed human being, in process like the rest of us: Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a false teacher (1 John 2:22-23, 4:2-3) Some may lie intentionally for their own gain (Deut 18:20, Ezekiel 13:9, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:16, Titus 1:10-11) or in hypocrisy (1 Tim 4:2-5), using "godliness" as a means of their own selfish gain. Others may be so blind that they truly believe they are doing God a favor in persecuting His true followers (John 16:2). Romans 16:18: Paul said in this verse that these individuals use good words and fair speeches and deceive the hearts of the simple. This means that they flatter people (2 Timothy 4:3) and appeal to the same selfish desires that they themselves have, to draw people after themselves (Acts 20:30). We can't judge another person's motives (Matthew 7:1-3), but we can, and should, judge the fruit of their lives and ministries (Matthew 7:15-20, 1 John 3:7-9). There are many who claim to be believers but aren't (Matthew 7:21-23) and they'll be among us until the end of the age, when God will finally separate them out (Matthew 13:24-30). Truth, "Signs," and Our Emotions We are the gatekeepers of our hearts (Prov 4:23), and have to guard its boundaries, careful of what we allow in. I always thought the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) only referred to evil people sown amongst the good people of the church. But what if it also means good and bad ideas from good and bad spirits within a given individual-- in other words, we can bear good fruit and bad fruit from different 'trees' even within our own hearts? This might be why Jesus could tell Peter "get behind me Satan" (Matt 16:23) and James and John, "you don't know what spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55), but the men themselves were still His. This also probably goes along with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-15)... the 'tares' we allow into our own hearts are part of what can choke the word and render it unfruitful. Truth of course must correspond to an accurate description of reality (Gen 42:16)--which should negate any postmodernist philosophy, or syncretism, blending contradictory descriptions of reality. Once we know the truth, we are to continue in what we were taught (Col 2:6-7, 1 John 2:24), not mix a little Christianity with a little of some other contrary message. Paul rails against this practice in many of his letters. In 2 Cor 11:3-4, Paul is angry that the Corinthians' minds may be corrupted so that they receive the one preaching a different Jesus or gospel from the one he preached. In Galatians 1:6-9, as mentioned earlier, the Galatians are falling prey to a perverted gospel, and Paul curses those who preach such a gospel. In Eph 4:14, he writes that only "children" in Christ are tossed about by every wind and wave of doctrine, taken in by trickery and craftiness and deceit. We're supposed to guard against not just what we hear from other humans, but to test what the spirits say too--hence Paul's angel comment (Gal 1:8-9). John also tells us, "do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1). In a lot of denominational churches that don't believe in the supernatural gifts of the spirit (1 Cor 12), this may not come up much. But in those that do, or for individuals who might ascribe to varieties of syncretism (believing in "signs from the universe" if they seem especially coincidental, perhaps), this will become important. Just because a prophet seems to be speaking from a supernatural source doesn't mean what they're saying is from God. It might be, but we have to test it. Just because an idea out of left field pops into our minds doesn't mean it was the Holy Spirit who put it there. Just because a black crow perches on a tree doesn't mean it's an omen foreshadowing our future. Just because we see the same state license plate on every car doesn't mean God is telling us to move there, etc. Solomon writes, “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps” (Prov 14:15). Elsewhere "simple" is used as a synonym for "fool" (Prov 7:7, 8:5, 9:13). We have to remember that the physical world is a battleground. Until the earth lease is up, Satan is still technically the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). So God can send us signs in the physical realm, yes--but so can Satan. God can whisper thoughts to our minds--but so can Satan (in fact, this is his primary tactic, 2 Cor 10:3-6). Peter writes that the scriptures are a "more sure word of prophecy" even than hearing an audible voice from heaven (2 Peter 1:19-21), probably for this exact reason: anything using the physical realm has the potential to be counterfeited. That doesn't mean God can't use physical means to communicate with us, but it's clear that the primary means He uses for His own are the scriptures, and the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, 26), who also often speaks to us by bringing the scriptures we know to our remembrance. He also will speak through the prophets (1 Cor 12:1-11), dreams and visions (Acts 2:17-18), but we have to check all of this against the Word. Scripture will divide between soul and spirit (what originates with us vs Him, Hebrews 4:12), as well as what might originate with a malevolent spirit sent to lead us astray. David tells us it's the scriptures that make the simple wise: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7). What if an idea comes to us as an idea, a dream, a vision, a prophecy, or a "synchronicity" moment that seems supernatural, and it's something that isn't addressed in scripture at all, though? How do we know if it's from God, from us, or from the enemy then? The first thing to check there is whether or not the message is consistent with God's character. Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and He will give it to us (John 14:14). What's in God's name (https://www.drlaurendeville.com/names-of-lord-psalm-9-9-10-meditation/)? He is Jehovah Nissi (the Lord my Banner), Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (the Lord that Heals), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (the Lord our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (the Lord who Sanctifies You), Jehovah Jireh (the Lord who Provides), Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts).  The next thing to check is the fruit that message produces (Gal 5:19-23, Romans 8:6-8). God won't lead us into anything producing negative fruit--if the fruit is bad, it's from the flesh or the enemy, and not the Spirit. If it passes those tests, though, then as we continue to pray about the message (dream, vision, prophecy, idea, etc) then it's also biblical for us to ask for additional confirmations of the message--Paul says in 2 Cor 13:1 that every word should be established by two or three witnesses. If the message is from God, He'll make sure you know it. His Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). And as you continue to seek Him and pray about it, peace (a fruit of the Spirit) should grow, confirming that the message comes from God (Col 3:15). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Christians today live in an era of great division. In some respects, that is good. The Church is being sifted. That which is false is being shaken free from the firm. But in some cases, division is simply destructive. In our spiritual war, our enemy exaggerates disputes to inflame infighting amongst brothers. We must be on guard against this. Andy delves into this important topic, noting that a strengthened Church will not be riddled with orchestrated division. If we find ourselves turning suddenly on brothers and sisters who were by our sides just minutes ago, perhaps we should hit pause. How can Christians discern whether they are being baited or Bereans? On this episode of the Christian Emergency Podcast, Andy draws on his experience in missions and in helping persecuted Christians overseas to answer this question.   If you find this episode helpful, please give us a positive rating and review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Also share this episode with a friend so they too can be blessed by these insights. To learn more about resources mentioned in this episode, see the following. Christian Emergency Alliance (Website) Christian Emergency Alliance (Twitter / X): @ChristianEmerg1 Christian Emergency Alliance (Facebook): @ChristianEmergency Christian Emergency Alliance (Instagram) The Christian Emergency Podcast is a production of the Christian Emergency Alliance. Soli Deo Gloria

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: This Bible based address shows us how important it is to study the Bible for ourselves, not depending on other people's interpretations. This is the main reason why there are so many denominations. # Summary This presentation discusses the reasons behind the division and differences in beliefs among various Christian churches. It highlights the importance of relying on the Bible as the sole authoritative source of truth, rather than following human leaders or personal experiences. The presentation emphasizes the need to carefully examine the Scriptures and ensure that the teachings we receive are in line with the original gospel message.There are over 40,000 different Christian denominations who all have varying beliefs. How has this happened? Does it really matter which one I belong to?There are over 40,000 different Christian denominations who all have varying beliefs. How has this happened? Does it really matter which one I belong to? # Highlights

Send us a textIn a day and age where you can't seem to trust anyone, Cody Carnes and Benjamin William Hastings sing an anthem that resonates with me. "Take You At Your Word" caused me to explore why we can take God at His Word and how to do it.Let's take our cue from a group of people in Acts and examine the Scriptures together.In this episode, I discuss the following:Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Making observationsConsider the oppositeRead in contextUse section headings to get your bearingsEpisode GuideTo take someone at their word is to believe exactly what they sayBeing a little gun-shy in our culture today to take others at their wordFollowing the pattern of the Bereans to receive God's Word from others, but test it against the standard of Scripture for ourselves - Acts 17:1-11Giving authority to Scripture because Jesus didAuthority of Scripture as an underlying theme of my debut novel, A Seat at the Table - Learn MoreJesus' direct statements about the divine origin and permanent validity of Scripture Matthew 5:17-18John 10:35Examining the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 3 as an example of using Scripture to guide our livesAs we look to Jesus as our example of handling Scripture, we cannot possibly have a lower view of Scripture than our Teacher.If you claim to follow Christ, you are His disciple. Jesus defines a disciple as one who abides in His Word - John 8:31Recognizing the use of Scripture does not make it a good use of Scripture. Satan uses Scripture in Matthew 4:5-6, but Jesus' response with alternate Scriptures reveals God's true heart.Additional ResourcesLyrics - New Release Today Link"The Authority of the Bible" pamphlet by John Stott - Amazon Paid LinkLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeRecognize that we can take God at His Word because Jesus did. As disciples of Christ, we are to follow His instruction to abide in His Word and His example. Consider the example of the Bereans in Acts 17. Meditate on the example of Christ in Matthew 4. Bring all of the voices in your life under the standard and authority of Scripture.Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today!

Everyone needs examples. The Thessalonian believers were able to look at Paul, Silas and Timothy and then through difficulty, repentance, patience and God's word they became the models for the entire region.

My guest is author Paul Wilkinson, and we are about - critiquing a radio interview that the Bible Answer Man (according to many [who] refer to him as that) Hank Hanegraaff is interviewing Dr. Gary Burge, a professor at Wheaton College, and we are just being Bereans. We're listening to the programs – you can listen with us – and we are… Nothing out of context here. We're trying to play as much as we can, and we're evaluating it biblically. We're checking it out to see how what they're saying holds up to the Word of God.

As a church planter, Paul was always on the lookout for “foxes” that can ruin the good soil of the Kingdom — things like cynicism, gossip, and bitterness. But when he meets the Thessalonians and the Bereans, he encounters something different. Rather than brushing him off or blindly accepting his message, the Bereans model healthy skepticism. They are students of God's Word who orient their lives around His truth. Similarly, the church in Thessalonica is later commended by Paul because of their response to the gospel. Rather than simply believing the right things, they commit to living the right way. Today, we can learn from both the Bereans and the Thessalonians. Being students of God's Word means we have the right theology and the right practice. By reorienting our daily lives in response to the gospel, we too can become a model healthy church free of evil “foxes.”

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 8. Gary discusses the idea put forth by nearly all modern pop prophecy writers that Israel becoming a nation again in 1948 is a "major prophetic sign" of the "end times." There is no verse for this supposed hermeneutical key, but this doesn't stop authors and preachers from continually repeating it. Let's be Bereans and "see if this is so."

My guest is Paul Wilkinson, and if you've been tracking with us, we have been going through a series of critiquing, evaluating a program by Hank Hanegraaff in which he interviews Dr. Gary Burge, a professor at Wheaton College. And I guess we could say that their perspective, their position, is that they are in support of what's called Christian Palestinianism, much to, in my view, the denigration – actually, it's far worse than that – the denigration of Israel and the distortion of the Scriptures. But that's our perspective. You as listeners, you need to be Bereans. We're going to play again the dialogue between Hanegraaff and Burge, and you decide. You be a Berean and you check these things out.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Right on Radio! This Sunday, join us for an in-depth Bible study where we delve into the transformative power of God's Word. Our focus today is on Galatians Chapter 3, a chapter that promises freedom and clarity for all believers. The episode begins with a heartfelt prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us as we explore the Scriptures. We then dive into the book of Galatians, where Paul addresses the early Christians in Galatia who had been misled by false teachings. Paul's words resonate with us today, reminding us that righteousness comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law. We examine the significance of Abraham's covenant with God, understanding that it was based on faith and not on works. This covenant is extended to all who believe, making us heirs to the promise. Paul's message is clear: living by faith breaks the curse of the law and brings us into the blessing of Abraham. Throughout the episode, we tackle contemporary issues within the Christian community, such as the dangers of false teachings and the importance of discerning truth from deception. We also discuss the expectancy of God's presence and miracles, drawing lessons from both charismatic and non-charismatic traditions. As we navigate through Galatians Chapter 3, key points are highlighted, including: The bewitching of the Galatians and how believers can fall under similar spells today. The role of the law and its purpose in revealing our need for Christ. The simplicity of breaking curses through faith and living in the freedom Christ offers. The inclusivity of God's promise to all nations and believers. We encourage listeners to actively engage with the Scriptures and to be like the Bereans, examining the Word for themselves. This episode is not just a study; it's a call to live out our faith boldly and to embrace the freedom and blessings that come with being a child of God. Join us on this journey of faith and discovery, and let the Word of God come alive in your life. Remember, you are beloved, you are blessed, and by simply believing, you break every curse and walk in the fullness of God's promises. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes and join our community for weekly prayer and fellowship. God bless you! Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith

My guest for this series (we'll probably do a number of programs) is Paul Wilkinson, and we are critiquing together a program which Hank Hanegraaff did with Dr. Gary Burge, a professor at Wheaton College. Dr. Burge champions Christian Palestinianism, and Hank is a big supporter of that. So what we're trying to do is encourage our listeners to, first of all, listen to what Hank and Gary are talking about, and then be Bereans. "Search the scriptures to see if these things are so." So we're going to pick up with a clip from the last few minutes of our program last week, just...you listen to it, and then Paul and I will bring in our evaluation, our critique.

Send me a one-way text about this episode! I'll give you a shout out or answer your question on a future episode.Today's episode is a companion to our recent deep dive on the informed homemaker which is all about making sense of what is happening in the world and our culture with eyes of faith through a Biblical worldview lens. Of course going right to the source and studying scripture itself is the best policy, but what about companion resources such as devotionals, Bible focused podcasts, Bible study books, online sermons, other Christian publications, YouTube channels, etc? How to we know who to trust? Is there a way to tell whether or not a preacher or publication is biblically sound? That is what we are discussing today as we look at the example of a group of believers from the New Testament called the Bereans. EPISODE LINKS & NOTESCompanion ResourcesHomemaking Deep Dive | The Informed Homemaker with Isa RyanScripture ReferencesThe Bereans: Acts 17:10-12The Holy Spirit dwells in believers: John 14:26 & 17, John 16:13Works CitedSadler, Kevin, 2023, What is a Berean?, Berean Bible SocietyHOMEMAKING RESOURCESFree Weekly Newsletter, Homemaker Happy MailPrivate Facebook Group, Homemaker ForumNewsletter ArchiveJR Miller's Homemaking Study GuideAudio Newsletter available to Titus 2 Woman monthly supportersSUPPORT & CONNECT Review | Love The Podcast Contact  | Voicemail |Instagram | Facebook  |  Website | Email  Follow | Follow The PodcastSupport | theartofhomepodcast.com/supportSupport the show

How do we "test all things" as the Bereans did in the Book of Acts? Join us as we apply the whole Truth of the whole Gospel to the whole world around us. Discover how God's word truly is "a lamp to our feet and a light to our path".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.