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On this show, Mr&Mrs Your Calvinist answer questions about scripture, ministry and family in a fun conversational show. QUESTIONS AND TIMESTAMPS: Is NCT a knee jerk reaction to covenant theology? 11:40Should a Church Have 2 (or even 3) Services? 16:50Should I Get Re-Baptized? 23:40Two Divorced People in the Same Church? 27:09Help! I'm a Cage Stage Calvinist 34:09Help! There's a Trans Person in my Gym 41:50Exegesis Questions: Deuteronomy 21:22-23 55:20Romans 3:30 59:30Zechariah 14:9 1:02:52Does Believing in Imputed Righteousness Mean Denying Infused Righteousness? 1:72:10Do Bible Translators Hide the Contributions of Women? 1:20:20Can You Recommend Study Resources (concordance, atlas, encyclopedia, etc)? 1:26:55----Support the Show: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/YourcalvinistLove Coffee? Want the Best? Get a free bag of Squirrelly Joe's Coffee by clicking on this link: https://www.Squirrellyjoes.com/yourcalvinistor use coupon code "Keith" for 20% off anything in the storeDominion Wealth Strategies Visit them at https://www.dominionwealthstrategists.comhttp://www.Reformed.Moneyand let them know we sent you! https://www.TinyBibles.comYou can get the smallest Bible available on the market, which can be used for all kinds of purposes, by visiting TinyBibles.com and when you buy, use the coupon code KEITH for a discount. Private Family BankingSend an email inquiry to banking@privatefamilybanking.comReceive a FREE e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown", by going to https://www.protectyourmoneynow.net Set up a FREE Private Family Banking Discovery call using this link: https://calendly.com/familybankingnowGet the Book "What Do We Believe" from Striving for Eternity Ministrieshttp://www.whatdowebelievebook.com/Be sure to use the coupon code: Keithhttps://www.HighCallingFitness.comHealth, training, and nutrition coaching all delivered to you online by confessionally reformed bodybuilders and strength athletes.The official cigar of Your Calvinist Podcast:https://www.1689cigars.com Buy our podcast shirts and hats: https://yourcalvinist.creator-spring.comVisit us at https://www.KeithFoskey.comIf you need a great website, check out https://www.fellowshipstudios.com
Does the church have a future? Ministry must be oriented with a greater sense of the priesthood of all believers rather than pastor or denominational-centered. The post Episode 193 Does the Church Have a Future? with Pablo Deiros first appeared on Lanier Theological Library and Learning Center.
Does the church have a future? Ministry must be oriented with a greater sense of the priesthood of all believers rather than pastor or denominational-centered. The post Episode 193 Does the Church Have a Future? with Pablo Deiros first appeared on Lanier Theological Library.
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org. Join David and Tyson for a conversation on what a Jesus centred Church looks like. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join David and Christen for a conversation on the Lord's Prayer. This week they give discuss, "thine is the Kingdom and the glory and the honour forever amen." Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Tory Hovdestad and Tyson McCombs for a conversation on the Lord's Prayer. This week they give discuss, " lead us not into temptation and deliver us form evil." Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join David Harvey and Christin Woods for a conversation on the Lord's Prayer. This week they give discuss, "forgive us our sins s as we forgive those who sin against us and lead us not into temptation." Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Tory Hovdestad and Christin Woods for a conversation on the Lord's Prayer. This week they give discuss, "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread." Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join David Harvey and Christin Woods for a conversation on the Lord's Prayer giving a quick intro. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Brian Pickering and Christin Woods for a conversation on grief part 6. Brian and Christen explore the basic understandings of grief, grief processes, shared language, and the intersection of faith and grief. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
"The fairytale has to end for intimacy to begin!" In this episode, clinical psychologist, Dr. Juli Slattery shares about marriage from the newest edition of her book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Revisited: Embracing Your Power in Marriage. Many women begin their marriages with great expectations but struggle to know how to build the kind of relationship they long to have with their husbands. As her own marriage has grown so has Juli's passion for teaching God's design for marriage, intimacy and sexuality. She addresses difficult and rarely discussed topics like disappointment in marriage, biblical submission and sexual intimacy. When we give God access to our hearts, ambitions and expectations, He gives us the ability to build our marriages and use our power wisely. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share } Important Takeaways from Show We fight against our husband's growth when we try to force him to be who we think he needs to be By nature, women want their husbands to be their hero and men want to be the hero "Marriage is a romance in which the hero dies in the first chapter" - anonymous Disappointment is a natural part of a marriage story God gives both men and women power in the relationship and calls them both to use it wisely Common Challenge - "I want my husband to lead but I want him to lead the way I tell him to" Common Dilemma - "I want my husband to step up but I can't get out of my own way" Fear can drive us to use our power negatively Love is a choice; true love perseveres even when it is not felt Marriages are designed to represent the relationship between Christ and the Church Have empathy for your husband Remember you're on the same team God purposefully created our husbands differently than us and our children are better off because of those differences Trust is a growing and changing component in a marriage Forgiveness and grace are key to building intimacy God can reclaim and redeem what has been broken and lost in our hearts The most powerful wife on earth is the one who chooses to yield her power to build intimacy and grow her husband's confidence Submission is not the absence of power; it is the wise application of power A husband's great power is meant to be used to sacrificially love his wife like Jesus loves the Church 2 Needs Husbands Have that Give their Wives Power in the Marriage Respect - When it comes to your husband's confidence, your words hold the power of life and death. Your husband is asking questions like "Am I enough?" "Do you believe in me"? and "Am I your hero?" Help - As their Helper we are called to address sin and issues with love as a sister in Christ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:35 Links from Show Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Revisited: Embracing Your Power in Marriage Java with Juli Podcast Website for Christian Leaders on Navigating Sexual Issues [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Dr. Juli Slattery Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below. The Bible reading journal features: Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2022 Thru the Word" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Brian Pickering and Christin Woods for a conversation on grief part 5. Brian and Christen explore the basic understandings of grief and grief processes, shared language, the intersection of faith and grief. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Today on the podcast Christin is joined by our friend Gerri Fitch, who is a registered psychologist, as well, a marriage and family therapist. They discuss healthy ways to navigate COVID with regards to our mental health and how to help those we love with their mental health. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Brian Pickering and Christin Woods for a conversation on grief part 3. Brian and Christen explore the basic understandings of grief and grief processes, shared language, the intersection of faith and grief. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Brian Pickering and Christin Woods for a conversation on grief part 3. Brian and Christen explore the basic understandings of grief and grief processes, shared language, the intersection of faith and grief. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Join Brian Pickering and Christin Woods for a conversation on grief part 2. Brian and Chrsitin explore the basic understandings of grief and grief processes, shared language, the intersection of faith and grief. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org David and Tyson continue our conversation for the summer in line with N.T. Wright's Broken Signposts. Join them as they discuss what is love? How do we understand it biblically in a world of transactions? What does it look like for us to become love to the world around us? Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Stu and Joel are back into it with Season 3, kicking off a discussion about engaging young people in the church by asking the question: Does the Church Have an Image Problem? 02:18 The Chats - Pub Feed06:45 Does the church have an image problem?11:06 Where does the problem originate from?28:46 Cultural changes in 1990s and 2000s39:04 Avoid creating an echo chamber of adults41:58 What the reinvention looks likeWatch this episode on YouTube-----------------------------------------------------------DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODEPub Feed by The Chats Mark Sayers 1971: The Year That Music Changed EverythingDouble or Bust: The Church needs radical change to engage young people againChip Lunch podcast-----------------------------------------------------------CONTACT USEmail: joel@shockabsorber.com.auDiscord: https://discord.gg/Vb6g4JzD
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org David and Tyson continue our conversation for the summer in line with N.T. Wright's Broken Signposts. Join them as they discuss what is Christian justice? Can you do justice, but still be wrong? How do we actually have an impact? Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org David and Tyson kick off a new conversation for the summer in line with N.T. Wright's Broken Signposts. Join them as they introduce the book, and talk about the importance of having the right lens as we view the world and how John's gospel is going to retell stories about the world. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Tyson gets the privilege to have a conversation with his tattoo artist Tyler Hochalter around his church experience growing up and what led him to walking away from church. This conversation is incredibly insightful and brings something to reflect on, both for those in a church setting, or those who have walked away. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc Want a tattoo? Check out Tyler's work: https://www.mammothtattoo.ca/tyler-hochhalter-originals
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org We had the privilege of going through Rich's book "The Deeply Formed Life" as a community this past year. This week David focused on Racial Reconciliation. We had the privilege of having Holly Fortier join for the conversation who is a major advocate and voice in working towards reconciliation among Indigenous communities. Join David and Holly for this incredible conversation. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc Holly's Resources from this interview: One Church, Many Tribes - Richard Twiss: https://www.amazon.com/Church-Many-Tribes-Richard-Twiss/dp/0800797256/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Indigenous Writes - Chelse Vowel: https://www.amazon.ca/Indigenous-Writes-Nations-issues-Canada/dp/1553796802/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=indigenous+writes&qid=1610733162&s=books&sr=1-1 21 Things you may not know about the Indian Act - Bob Joseph: https://www.amazon.ca/Things-Know-About-Indian-Reconciliation/dp/0995266522/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L209WQIHPVDG&dchild=1&keywords=21+things+you+may+not+know+about+the+indian+act&qid=1610733325&s=books&sprefix=21+things%2Cstripbooks%2C222&sr=1-1 A Mother's Voice (Holly's Documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip3yGEKGCX4&t=13s&ab_channel=STORYHIVE
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org We had the privilege of going through Rich's book "The Deeply Formed Life" as a community this past year. Rich was then generous enough to give us some time to talk further about why he wrote the book and his heart behind why he believes this is such an important topic. Join David and Tyson as they interview Rich. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org We have recently started a teaching series in our Sunday services around how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and the world around us, which leads to a big question. Who is the Holy Spirit? How does He work? Is the Holy Spirit still active today? Or, was it just for Jesus's time? What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? How do they work? Join David and Tyson as they wrestle through the scriptures to help us understand "What are the gifts of the Spirt?" and "What are they for?" Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org We have recently started a teaching series in our Sunday services around how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and the world around us, which leads to a big question. Who is the Holy Spirit? How does He work? Is the Holy Spirit still active today? Or, was it just for Jesus's time? What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? How do they work? Join David and Tyson as they wrestle through the scriptures to help us understand "What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit" Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org We have recently started a teaching series in our Sunday services around how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and the world around us, which leads to a big question. Who is the Holy Spirit? How does He work? Is the Holy Spirit still active today? Or, was it just for Jesus's time? Join David and Tyson as they wrestle through the scriptures to help us understand "Who is the Holy Spirit?" Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Have you ever wondered where the rapture is found in scripture? Is it a real idea we should take seriously? What about books and movies like "Left Behind" and "Thief in the Night" that have shaped this idea? Join David and Tyson as they wrestle through the misunderstandings when it comes to this idea of "Rapture". Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc/
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about hell? Is it a real place? Do people really go there forever? Is it a big "lake of fire"? These questions and more are wrestled through in today's podcast Join David and Tyson as the wrestle through what does the Bible say about hell? Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc/
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to podcast@wkc.org Have you ever wondered about the historical evidence and accuracy of the Resurrection? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Wouldn't science suggest that people don't come back to life? Join David and Tyson as the wrestle through the historical evidence surrounding the resurrection. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc/
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to info@wkc.org Have you ever wondered how the cross works? How did Jesus dying actually change things? What about different views like Penal Substitution or Christus Victor? Which is the right view? Is one view the only way to understand the cross? The theology of the cross is one that people have wrestled with hundreds of years. Join David and Tyson as they take a deep dive into the mystery of the cross and what we can learn from it. Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc/
My guest is Pastor Mike Mather. He is a leader in equipping the church to engage in community development. The author of Having Nothing, Possessing Everything, Mike shares inspirational stories about nudging a faith community to positively impact the neighborhood where they reside. Mike is ordained in the United Methodist Church currently serving as the Senior Pastor at First UMC in Boulder, CO, and a faculty member of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute. Key Topics and Tips Discussed 5 minutes - Making the Mindset Shift from programming to collaboration 12 minutes - Theology of Abundance - “I realized, all the practices in the church around this are built around scarcity, not around God's abundance. And so the only things I knew how to do were to try to fill empty spaces, rather than to recognize that those spaces I thought of as empty were actually full of something else.” 13 minutes - Pay Attention to, “How [can] we see God's abundance, where everybody else sees nothing?” 14 min - We discuss why 'Teach a Man to Fish' is still misplaced, and how it keeps us from the gifts of people in the community. 15 min - What Advantage Does the Church Have? - more discussion on theological framing of God's abundance 17 min - Acting into new ways of Thinking (including the act of asking questions) 18 min - How poor are you is the wrong question? So what is the correct one? 19 min - Hire a Connector 25 min - What Questions to Ask - John McKnight - 'The Future of Low Income Neighborhoods and the People that Reside There', 10 page survey 26 min - Discovering Gifts 31 min - Strategic Clever Introductions - introducing the congregation to community residents/citizens/collaborators/partners We had some static on the line. Apologies for that. You can learn more about Mike and his work at https://fumcboulder.org/meet-rev-mike-mather-our-new-pastor/ https://resources.depaul.edu/abcd-institute/faculty/Pages/mike-mather.aspx Visit Vile Methods online at vilemethods.com, on social media @vilemethods or @vilemethodist, and check us out at Facebook.com/VileMethods Subscribe Now so you won't miss a single nugget of wisdom, fantastic tale, or moment of laughter. Intro and Outro Music are by royalty free artist Joakim Karud, subscribe and patron him on Patreon to get access to great music. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/freeseminary/message
Welcome to Westside King's Church Have other questions you would like to see addressed in the podcast? You can email your questions to info@wkc.org What is Tithing? Does the Bible affirm it? What does Jesus have to say about it? The theology of grace and what is known as "Tithing" are not what Jesus had in mind. Discover in this episode of "Did Jesus Really Mean That" what Jesus means when he reminds us that "this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Questions about who we are and how to get connected? Head to wkc.org or email us at info@wkc.org Follow WKC on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westsideyyc/
Turns out, the majority of American Christians may not actually be Christians. They like their religion with a strong dose of personal opinion, politics, and a heaping helping of heresy. Lloyd and Pastor Bennett discuss the vexing question of why American Christian churches get involved in social justice issues like gun control by reviewing the results of the 2020 State of Theology Survey by Ligonier Ministries. Timestamps [0:00] - Blooper [0:34] - Welcome and Introduction [2:14] - Thanks to our Patrons [3:33] - Does the Church Have a Duty to Speak On Social Issues? [5:28] - Why Does the Church Involve Itself in the Gun Debate? [7:42] - Breaking down the State of Theology Survey for 2020 [34:58] - How do we Change things? [40:51] - Wrap-Up [41:52] - Show close Links of Interest 2020 State of Theology Survey - https://www.ligonier.org/blog/state-theology-survey-2020-results The New Armed Lutheran Book "Duty to Defend" is now available! In Paperback: http://www.armedlutheran.us/duty/ For Kindle: http://www.armedlutheran.us/kindle Prayer of the Week O God, because You know that we dare not put our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Use these Links to Support Armed Lutheran Radio Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, or shopping at your favorite online stores using the links below. Join the Reformation Gun Club! - http://gunclub.armedlutheran.us Check out the other Great Armed Lutheran Books - http://www.ArmedLutheran.us/Books Shop at Amazon* - http://www.armedlutheran.us/amazon Shop at GunMagWarehouse* - http://www.armedlutheran.us/mags Get Regular Refills Coffee Subscriptions at Dunkin' Donuts* - www.ArmedLutheran.us/Coffee Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network - https://www.armedcitizensnetwork.org Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - http://www.armedlutheran.us/feedback Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - http://www.armedlutheran.us/facebook Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - http://www.armedlutheran.us/youtube Follow us on Twitter - http://www.armedlutheran.us/twitter And search for us on Instagram - http://www.armedlutheran.us/instagram Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Disclaimer The links above which are indicated with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these items, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you. Keep Shooting, Keep Praying, We'll Talk to you Next time!
Is it just me, or does it seem the majority of people have a hearing problem? More to the point, does the Church have a hearing problem? All of us have heard stories of husbands or wives who have selective hearing. You know, the man who is listening without hearing, until his wife says she is going to buy that $100.00 outfit she saw at Macy’s the other day. It is the child who hears the parent telling them it is time to clean up their mess and get ready for bed. They don’t hear until the parent, with a red face, yells their first, middle, and last name; then they pick up and get dressed for bed. Maybe it is not selective hearing but distorted hearing. The sounds do not come through clearly. Certain tones, letters or syllables are not heard clearly, distorting the communication. It results in misunderstanding and sometimes wrong steps are taken all because the instructions were not clear and what came through was completely different from what the speaker was saying. Many times a person cannot hear because their hearing is blocked by something in the ear canal or there is damage to parts of the ear. In this case, the sound of the person speaking is muffled or cannot be heard at all. Does the Church Have a Hearing Problem? God has been speaking to His church. He has sent prophets and messengers but she has been like the child at play waiting for the parent’s voice to reach a certain pitch before they respond. Some have heard the portions they wanted to hear and ignored that which is not pleasing or unimportant to them. Others have demonic hands covering their spiritual ears. Still others have placed their own hands over the ears, they just do not want to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Yes, there are those who have allowed the Holy Spirit to develop their spiritual ears. They are listening carefully to what the Spirit is saying and seeking to obey. They want to hear the voice of the Great Shepherd and will follow Him wherever He leads. Jesus spoke well of this generation. We are not unlike Israel when the prophet Isaiah saw the glory of God fill the temple and God spoke to him, “Go and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; keep on seeing but do not perceive” (Isaiah 6:9 NKJV). Seven hundred years later, Jesus was speaking to the crowds in parables. The twelve disciples and others who were following Jesus regularly did not understand the message He was sharing. When they were alone with Him, they asked why He was teaching the people in parables. The answer He gave is powerful and extremely relevant to the time and season in which we are living. “To you is given the secret of the kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, everything is said in parables, so that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand’ lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them’” (Mark 4:10-12 MEV). The Lord went on to say that understanding this particular parable was critical to understanding all of His teachings. The parable began, “A sower went out to sow…” Jesus explained the seed to which He was referring is the Word of God (Mark 4:3, 14). However, there were problems with the manner in which the seed was being received. Some of the seed fell on blocked ears and the enemy stole the seed so it would not bring forth life. Other seed was received by selective ears and though it sprang to life quickly it soon withered and died from lack of a root system. Still other seed fell on distorted ears and though it brought forth life it eventually withered and died because it was choked by the weeds that grew around it. The seed that fell on open and healthy spiritual ears brought forth abundant life. The significance of this lesson cannot be over stated. The Lord Jesus, Himself, said, “Take heed what you hear. The measure you give will be measured for you, and to you who hear will more be given. For to him who has will more be given. And from him who has not will be taken, even what he has” (Mark 4:24-25 MEV). There is great danger for those who have selective, blocked, and distorted hearing. It may not seem so in the beginning. Blessing and fruitful life may be experienced at the first. It will not endure the tests of life and struggle of this world. The greatest danger is not the loss of the initial that came from the initial hearing. It is the loss of the truth they had previously received. The validity of this truth is painfully visible in the Evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Congregations that were vibrant life-giving ministries in the Jesus People and Charismatic movement have become empty shells today. Many those pulpits who once boldly proclaimed the power of the Holy Spirit to bring life transformation and deliverance from sin and the forces of darkness resound with motivational talks and give pop-psychology instead of Pentecostal power. With compromise of the truth has come the embracing of political correctness and cultural tolerance. Those behaviors once known clearly to be sin and abomination to God are accepted and openly practiced in the lives of the members and in many cases the pastoral staff. It is the direct fulfillment of Jesus’ teaching. How vastly different for those who choose to have ears to hear and hearts to obey what the Spirit is speaking to the church. They humbly hear and receive the truth, even if it means being political incorrect and intolerant of the sinful practices of a culture whose only thoughts and desires are evil continually. Jesus promised the blessings would be bountiful and overflowing. Did you catch His deeper promise? “To you is given the secret of the kingdom… To you who hear more will be given. For to him who has more will be given.” Jesus promised it would not be just the natural outflow that comes from the seed that is received by ears ready to hear and a heart willing to obey. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit will bring insight and revelation to the mysteries of the Kingdom that are hidden deeply in His Word. This is not mysticism or Gnosticism that leads to an out of balance life. They are the secrets of abundant life that God desires every believer to learn. These mysteries are hidden to those eyes and ears that are distorted by disobedience and will remain hidden from those who stubbornly refuse to humble themselves and receive truth. Not so for the child of God who humbly approaches the Word of God with eyes ready to see, ears open to hear, and a heart ready to obey. They have the wonderful privilege of receiving even more and learning the secret of the kingdom of God. More Content Like This
Hospitality, inviting others in your home, and serving people with your home and heart is a powerful way we can serve in many different seasons. But hospitality can also be awkward and nerve-racking if we are not used to it. Today's episode comes from a girl who wants to know how we can go deeper with hospitality. "Questions: How do you go deeper, what questions do you ask? How do conversations differ between believers and non-believers?" Questions for Deeper Hospitality: I think the biggest thing is just having that intention that you want to go deeper. The thing is, if you leave it at surface level topics the entire time, it will remain at surface level topics the whole time. It's easy to talk about the weather, or your local sports team, or your kids soccer game. Obviously, it's okay to start with small talk, but the sooner you can get to more personal topics the better. The way I see it, there are two main purposes of hospitality: Get to know someone/a family better so you know how to love and serve them Share the Gospel and let Jesus shine through you So when we are extending hospitality, love should be the first thing on our mind. Love for our neighbor, learning their story, finding out how we can love and serve them. And love for God, showing Christ to our neighbor, letting the Gospel reflect in our life. So when you really think about these goals of hospitality, it gets easier when you think about where to steer the conversation. My favorite thing to do is think about how you can get to more personal topics naturally. So asking things like "So how long have you been going to this Church?" "Oh where did you go before that" "Where did you two meet?" "Where you a Christian in college?" etc can start to open up deeper conversations! Questions to ask Christians: How did you come to know Christ? What have you been reading in the Bible recently? Has there been a sermon or message that has impacted you recently? What was it and why? Questions to ask Non-Christians: Do you have any sort of spiritual beliefs? What do you think about Church? Have you ever gone before? Do you believe in a god? If so, which god?
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Pro-choice, pro-abortion, pro-life: what does it all mean? Why should the Church get a say when it comes to a woman's pregnancy? The post A Woman’s Choice: Should the Church Have a Say on Abortion? appeared first on Cradio.