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This sermon examines the divine authority, purpose, and humility required of church officers, drawing from Acts 8, 1 Peter 5, and the Belgic Confession. It argues that the offices of minister, elder, and deacon are not man-made social structures but God-ordained roles essential for the preservation of true religion and the propagation of the gospel. The central message emphasizes that these leaders are called to shepherd the flock with humility, avoiding the simony and self-promotion exemplified by Simon Magus. Congregants are urged to submit to this spiritual authority and hold their leaders in high esteem, recognizing that such order reflects God's design for the church's unity and mission.
On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (09/17/26), Hank answers the following questions:Does the Church of Christ have sound doctrine? David - Oklahoma City, OK (0:48)Is Acts 19:5 a good verse for supporting Trinitarian baptism? Mike - Newberry, SC (2:22)Can you still be saved if you are living in sin during the week but go to church on Sunday? Randy - Wichita, KS (7:16)What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol, and is it a sin? Daniel - Tulsa, OK (15:11)Does the Bible address global warming? Randy - Greensboro, NC (16:56)Were the lost books of the Bible inspired by God? Monica - St. Louis, MO (18:12)What happens to us when we die? Michelle - Chariton, IA (22:06)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsVtk1LLunY&t=2237
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6rwOMtQiLM&t=1042
Erin and Evan are answering your questions about all things denominations! In this Ask-A-Bible Scholar episode, they unpack listener questions about topics such as the history of non-denominational churches and whether Episcopalians are just liberal Catholics. Evan goes a little off the rails as he assigns various Disney and MCU characters to denominations, and Erin provides a full Church of Christ origin story! MENTIONSFrom the Archive: The Favored or Forsaken Episode Bundle Want even more denomination content? Listen to the spicy version on PatreonNon-Denominational Deep-Dive: Wikipedia | Interesting Master's Thesis on Non-Denom Churches | Helpful Christianity Today Article | Restoration Movement | Differences from other Denominations | Megachurch Deep Dive Are you in a cult? BITE CultWorldwide Denominations: Info from Pew Research The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon. Erin Moon: I've Got Questions | Substack | Instagram | WebsiteEvan Dodson: Instagram | TikTok | SubstackJamie Golden: Instagram | The Popcast with Knox and JamieSubscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith AdjacentFaith Adjacent Merch: Shop HereShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacentFollow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, we look at the 8,000+ Christian denominations and ask whether all that division is evidence of a broken church — or branches growing off one vine. We'll walk through where the major denominations came from, why gathering with a local body isn't optional for a Christian, and how to actually choose a church without waiting for a perfect one.In this episode, we examine:- what the word "church" has meant since the assembly of Israel, and why a cookout with Christian friends isn't it- why John 15's vine and branches is spoken to a gathered community, not to you alone in your living room- the grace evangelicals are cutting themselves off from when church becomes optional- a fast tour of church history: the Jerusalem church, the 1054 schism, the Reformation, and the origins of Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anabaptist, Congregational, Baptist, Church of Christ, and Pentecostal traditions- the difference between denominations that split over doctrinal orthodoxy, over practice, and over mere preference- what each tradition does well, and what they need to learn from one another- four things to look for when choosing a church: doctrinal truth, social change, maturing community, and holding your preferences looselyIf you've been church hunting for years without finding the right fit, or you've wondered whether denominations are a problem to be solved, this episode is for you.Shop our verse-by-verse studies, books, and family discipleship resources ⦿ Every Woman a Theologian Shop:https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/shopSubscribe to Verity Podcast:https://apple.co/veritypodcastVerity Podcast is an Every Woman a Theologian company. We believe every woman should be a theologian—every woman a student of the heart of God.Order Every Woman a Theologian:https://tsfqr.com/EWATbookFollow along:Substack: https://phyliciamasonheimer.substack.comInstagram: / phyliciamasonheimer EWAT Instagram: / everywomanatheologian Subscribe for weekly biblical theology, spiritual warfare teaching, and practical guidance for growing in discernment and confidence in Christ. #VerityPodcast #EveryWomanATheologian #FaithBuilding #ChristianWomen #PrayerLife #FaithLife #BibleStudy
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Phil Hancock
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Phil Hancock
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Phil Hancock
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB_nK1blDAg&t=1918
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QSvDY-951w&t=1126
The sermon emphasizes the critical need for believers to diligently discern between the true and false churches using Scripture as the ultimate standard. Drawing from Matthew 7 and Article 29 of the Belgic Confession, it outlines three primary marks of the true church: the pure preaching of the gospel, the correct administration of sacraments, and the practice of church discipline. Conversely, the false church is identified by its elevation of tradition over God's Word, the corruption of sacraments, and the persecution of those who uphold biblical holiness. The preacher warns against relying on cultural relevance or personal preference, urging the congregation to test all teachings against the whole counsel of God. This discernment ensures that believers join a community centered on Christ rather than falling for deceptive appearances.
Most men are living off a definition of themselves that someone else handed them — and they've never stopped to ask where it came from. In this episode, Bill and Travis sit down with Bill Spencer, founder of Narrow Gate Ministries, for a raw and unfiltered conversation about identity, grace, and what happens when a man finally stops trying to earn what's already his. Bill Spencer shares his story — from a childhood shaped by poverty and instability, to years chasing legalism in a high-control religious group, to getting "tricked" into a church service that cracked him wide open. What follows is one of the most honest conversations we've had about the difference between working for God's approval and resting in what Christ has already done. You'll walk away from this one asking a different question about your own life: Who told you who you are — and is it actually true? In this episode: * Why so many churches quietly turn grace into a performance system * The strange (and hilarious) illustration that reframes how you see other people * What Genesis 3 reveals about the first lie ever told to a man * Why rules were never meant to be the point of your faith * How to stop striving to live for Christ — and start letting Christ live through you Connect with Bill Spencer & Narrow Gate:https://narrowgate.org/ Connect with Known Legacy: info@knownlegacy.org Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube ️ Join our Thursday morning men's group, "The Adrenaline Shot" — 6:45 AM https://soldiersforfaith.com/bible_study/soldiers-adrenaline-shot/ Download the free Wake Up Guide & 7-Day Reset - https://mailchi.mp/knownlegacy/the-wake-up-guide Grab the book "More Than You" — free 10-session study guide available www.morethanyoubook.com Join the Brotherhood on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EZL78qtya/ If this episode challenged you, share it with a man who needs to hear it. And if you don't have someone walking alongside you in this journey — an Armorbearer — this is your sign to go find one. Wake Up. Gear Up. Come Alive. Chapters (00:00:00) - Known Legacy Podcast(00:02:05) - Question of the Day(00:06:02) - A Moment That Changed My Life(00:06:55) - Bill Spencer on The Narrow Gate(00:10:14) - Nergate on The Coloring Pencil Drawing(00:11:06) - Share Your Story(00:12:13) - Carlton Brooks came from a Midwest, poverty stricken family(00:16:33) - Rebuilding the Church of Christ(00:18:29) - What I Learned From Being Tricked Into Going To Church(00:21:54) - Desecration at the Divine Conspiracy(00:24:36) - Why Works Are So intoxicating in the Church(00:25:44) - Jesus' Words for Little Children(00:29:02) - 11 Things You Have to Do to Win the Love of God(00:31:10) - He's Christ in Me(00:32:15) - Adam Thinking He Is Sarah(00:35:01) - What if the Ten Commandments Are Just a List of Rules?(00:37:00) - Call to Action for Young Manhood(00:40:01) - Known Legacy Podcast
Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you!California is now my second-favorite state. And as a birthday present to myself, we're going to spend the whole month of September there. Here to help are Shawn Highfill from the Miller Avenue church of Christ in San Jose and his neighbor Mike Wilson from the church of Christ in Santa Clara. We start with the reason California was so low on my list for so long – stereotyping. I asked whether they had experienced stereotyping as Californians, and if so what should be done to set the record straight.Check out Hal on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@halhammons9705Hal Hammons serves as preacher and shepherd for the Lakewoods Drive church of Christ in Georgetown, Texas. He is the host of the Citizen of Heaven podcast. You are encouraged to seek him and the Lakewoods Drive church through Facebook and other social media. Lakewoods Drive is an autonomous group of Christians dedicated to praising God, teaching the gospel to all who will hear, training Christians in righteousness, and serving our God and one another faithfully. We believe the Bible is God's word, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that heaven is our home, and that we have work to do here while we wait. Regular topics of discussion and conversation include: Christians, Jesus, obedience, faith, grace, baptism, New Testament, Old Testament, authority, gospel, fellowship, justice, mercy, faithfulness, forgiveness, Twenty Pages a Week, Bible reading, heaven, hell, virtues, character, denominations, submission, service, character, COVID-19, assembly, Lord's Supper, online, social media, YouTube, Facebook.
In this episode, Mark and Cindy explore Paul's powerful picture of building the Kingdom of God on the only foundation strong enough to endure: Jesus Christ and His inspired words communicated through the Holy Spirit within the sacred writings of the New Testament. When the fires of testing come, everything false will be exposed and consumed, leaving only what is rooted in God's truth. Thus, this powerful section of Scripture is a call to use only the flawless word of God rather than the fragile materials of human wisdom and worldly thinking to grow the church of Christ.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Bride of Jesus by Oried E Graves https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FXNFR5LQ Christredeemsme.com Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and becomes part of the body and Church of Christ. The Church is the bride of Jesus on earth, and Jesus is her Bridegroom. He died to redeem her from sin and death, and He rose again to prepare a place for her in heaven where she becomes His wife. Jesus made His Church His bride on earth and His wife in heaven because she kept His Word and abided in His love, just as He kept His Father’s Word and abided in His love (John 15:10). Before the Church could become the wife of Christ, she first had to be redeemed into the spiritual image and likeness of God. Only Christ could redeem His Church, for she was created in His image and likeness as His closest relative. Jesus did not redeem her merely to marry her He redeemed her because He was already united with her from creation, and He came to save her from sin and the lake of fire. Do you believe this truth? You should want to if you don’t. For this is the greatest life mankind can live on earth or in heaven (Matthew 11:11).
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Pastor Charlene teaches on how we are to conduct ourselves within the church of Christ.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Because the LDS Church claims to be led by divine revelation, major changes in doctrine are startling. If LDS prophets are led by God, one might expect current prophets to agree with previous ones. But the LDS principle of continuing revelation allows new “truths” to supersede past ones. Yet changes in LDS teachings raise the question of whether past prophets were wrong. And what will be said in 50 years about the prophets Mormons revere and obey today? With this in mind, consider some major changes in Mormon doctrine over the years.Polygamy The Book of Mormon expressly prohibits polygamy, Jacob 2:27-30: “There shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.” The 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 101) agrees: Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. Yet in the 1830s, Joseph Smith began exploring the possibility of polygamy. He formally (but secretly) introduced plural marriage in 1843. The doctrine was not embraced openly until 1852, when the Mormons were safely established in Utah. For the next 40 years, polygamy was taught as a requirement for the highest levels of heaven. By the 1880s, an estimated 20-30% of Mormon families practiced polygamy.Yet polygamy was strongly rejected by the American public as a barbaric practice. The United States government applied increasingly stern measures against it. In 1887, the Edmunds-Tucker Act made polygamy a federal offense and authorized the seizure of LDS Church assets. Polygamous men were imprisoned. Families moved to Mexico and Canada, or went underground. Under pressure to preserve the Church from destruction at the hands of the United States government, LDS President Wilford Woodruff released a statement in 1890 - called “The Manifesto” - declaring his intention to submit to the laws of the land, and advising members of the Church to refrain from entering any illegal marriage. Even so, plural marriages continued to be performed in secret, until polygamy was completed forbidden by the LDS Church in 1904.Many people, out of faithfulness to Joseph Smith, continued to practice polygamy outside the official LDS Church. Known as “fundamentalists”, several close-knit polygamous communities survive across the western United States to this day. They believe that the mainstream LDS Church is apostate, while they represent original Mormonism..While plural marriage is now strictly forbidden in the LDS Church, it was never renounced as an eternal principle. The Church permits men to be married in LDS temples “for eternity” to more than one wife. In fact, the current LDS prophet, Russell M. Nelson, is eternally sealed to two women.After being a mainstay of Mormonism for 50 years, polygamy was shelved so that the LDS Church could survive. But marriage laws in the United States have changed considerably since 1890. Polygamy is no longer prosecuted as a crime. Will LDS prophets reveal that faithful Mormons should practice plural marriage again?The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essays:Plural Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Manifesto and the End of Plural MarriageRacismFor decades, men of black African descent could not hold the LDS priesthood. (In Mormonism, priesthood is the authority to administer key ordinances in God's name. No women have ever been allowed to hold this priesthood.)In the 1800s, Mormonism, like most American religions, had a mixed report card on racism. Some early Mormons were pro-slavery, some anti-slavery, and some neutral. During Joseph Smith's time, two black men were ordained to the LDS priesthood, although this privilege was later revoked. The Book of Mormon reflects the view that dark skin is a curse from God in response to spiritual depravity. In the Utah period, Mormonism was marked by a demeaning attitude toward blacks. It was commonly taught, well into the 2oth century, that black skin was God's curse on Cain (Genesis 4:11-15). In LDS thought, a great war in heaven divided God's spirit children in the premortal existence. Those born black in this life were said to have been less valiant in that heavenly war. Brigham Young, the 2nd LDS Church President and Prophet, had a low view of blacks:You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. (Journal of Discourses: 7:290-291).This is why interracial marriage was not allowed and social interaction between the races was officially discouraged well into the 1960s and 1970s. It is also the rationale for denying blacks the priesthood and not allowing them to receive temple ordinances.Latter-day Saints will argue that the LDS position on blacks and the priesthood was not doctrine, but a matter of policy. Yet in 1949, the Church's highest leaders spoke clearly against this view:The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the Priesthood at the present time. (Statement of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, August 17, 1949, Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.)This changed in 1978, when LDS Prophet Spencer W. Kimball announced a revelation that allowed black men to receive the priesthood. Since then, the LDS Church has made several statements condemning racism. They have increased their missionary efforts in Africa and in black communities elsewhere. We can rejoice that the LDS Church has officially turned away from the evil of racism. But were the LDS prophets in the 1850s right or wrong? Was the First Presidency in 1949 telling the truth? It's good for any church to change policies that are wrong. But what does it say about a church that claims to be led by divine revelation?The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essay: Race and the PriesthoodTrinityThe historic position of Christianity, based on the Bible, is that there is only one God, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Latter-day Saints deny this idea of God. They envision a “Godhead” of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who are not one God in three persons, but separate beings who are one in spirit, purpose, and glory. But their view of God has changed over the years.The way God is depicted in the Book of Mormon is much closer to biblical Trinitarianism. Here is a sampling of just a few examples:And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. (2 Nephi 31:21)And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. (3 Nephi 11:27)Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. (Ether 3:14)Modern Latter-day Saints interpret statements about “one God” and Jesus being “the Father and the Son” in support of current LDS doctrine, but on the face of it, the language itself suggests otherwise.In the decade after the Book of Mormon was published, the LDS idea of God continued to develop. The Lectures on Faith - published in 1835 as part of LDS scripture - asserted:That the Godhead consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Lecture 5, Paragraph 1)That there are two "personages", the Father and the Son, that constitute the "supreme power over all things" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)That the Father is a "personage of spirit, glory, and power" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)That the Son is a "personage of tabernacle" who "possess[es] the same mind with the Father; which Mind is the Holy Spirit" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)Over time, the current LDS view of God emerged. Most modern Latter Day Saints would never accept the idea of a two "personage" Godhead, with the Father as a spirit and the Holy Spirit as the shared "mind" of the Father and the Son.SummaryBiblical Christianity has certainly changed in its practices over the years. But the core doctrines that define the Christian faith are rooted in the stability of the unchanging Bible. Different interpretations of the Bible come and go in different eras, but the Bible is always the definitive standard against which any interpretation is measured. God continues to speak to his people today, not through the changing ideas of mortal prophets, but through his timeless word, the Bible.--The Unveiling...
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Bobby, DE (2:01) - Where does the idea that not tithing is a sin come from in the Bible? Nina, MA (6:10) - Is it okay to have cut off my marriage after my fiancé pressed me for certain things meant to happen only after marriage? Lisa, NY (11:02) - How can I convince my son that Jesus is God? He married a Jehovah's Witness. Cindy, NJ (16:45) - Where did the Gentiles go that died before Jesus died on the cross? Iris, Facebook (23:49) - Are the promises in the Bible for me? E.T., email (26:00) - My wife has taken off her ring after finding out about my sins. What should I do? Nina, MA (33:37) - Is it true that once you are engaged, you are married? Carrie, YouTube (35:52) - Does Isaiah 24 speak about Jesus's second coming? Kat, YouTube (39:47) - How do I talk to my brother, who is part of the Church of Christ, about the truth? Ed, VA (41:58) - Is the word "Jehovah" in the Bible? Where do the Jehovah's Witnesses come from? Why do we call them a cult? Henriquez, HI (45:01) - Can man change God's commandments? whassupwu, YouTube (46:56) - How close do you think our society is to Sodom and Gomorrah? Wild, YouTube (49:06) - Why do Christians say "Jehovah Jirah?" Bob, email (50:55) - How do you know the difference between instincts and when God is guiding you? What is the difference between coincidence and God's answer to prayer? Ask Your Questions: Call: 888-712-7434 Email: Answers@bbtlive.org
BEST OF: It goes without saying that War is Peace, especially when the President of Peace continually threatens war or supports the same indirectly: from Gaza to Venezuela and now Nigeria. The President posted this threat to Nigeria over the Halloween weekend: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities. I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!” Notice that he is not talking about protecting American citizens, but a random diverse group of Christians. In response, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded: “Yes sir… The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria — and anywhere — must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/01/politics/trump-pentagon-nigeria-actionAside from this grandiose posturing on social media the entire production is grotesquely hypocritical for several reasons. Just a few weeks ago, a gunman in north-west Nigeria stormed a Mosque and shot 17 worshipers. Muazu, Katsina state's commissioner for internal security, said the attack occurred during morning prayers and that the gunmen shot "sporadically". Muazu said the local government "reaffirms its unwavering support for community-based security initiatives.”https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crkz8345jl0o.ampA 2017 story from Amnesty International recounted how “The Nigerian authorities must ensure justice, truth and reparation over the military's unlawful killing of more than 350 Shi'a Muslims in the northern city of Zaria in December 2015… Between 12 and 14 December 2015, Nigerian security forces killed hundreds of civilians, some of them supporters of the IMN – including men, women and children – and arrested more than 200 following a Shi'a Muslim protest.”https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2017/12/nigeria-families-of-hundreds-of-shia-muslims-killed-in-zaria-still-await-justice/In other words, Muslims are being killed too. Let's take an even deeper look at Nigeria.According to a 2024 report from “The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa,” there have been 11,000 incidents of extreme violence from October 2019 through September of 2023. The violence left 55,910 people dead in 9,970 deadly attacks — as well as 21,621 people abducted in 2,705 attacks. The total number includes civilian deaths, terror group deaths, and Nigerian Armed Forces deaths. Of the total deaths, 30,880 were civilians. Of the civilians, at least 16,769 Christians were killed, 6,235 Muslims were killed and 154 adherents of traditional African religions were killed. The religions of 7,722 victims are unknown.The report says further: “The ratio of Christians to Muslims killed rises significantly when the religious composition of the states is taken into consideration. Looking at the overall numbers, the ratio of Christians to Muslims killed was 2.7:1; the ratio of Christians to Muslims abducted was 1.4:1. However, when taking into account the relative sizes of the Christian and Muslim populations within the different states, the ratio of Christians to Muslims killed increases to 6.5:1, and the ratio of Christians to Muslims abducted to 5.1:1.”“Fulani Ethnic Militia are targeting Christian populations, while Muslims also suffer severely at their hands,” the Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, another analyst for The Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa, said in a statement.https://ewtn.co.uk/article-56000-killed-in-nigerias-ethnic-and-religious-violence-christians-disproportionately-affected/https://orfa.africa/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/26082024-ORFA-4-YEARS-REPORT.pdfSure, Christians are being targeted, but so are Muslims. But in both cases, religion is not the driving factor behind the attacks and killings in Nigeria. According to the French Institute for Research in Africa, Nigeria:“The notion that religious violence in Nigeria is always characterized by conflicts between religions (Muslims versus Christians) is too simplistic. This study shows that between June 2006 and May 2014 the frequency of violent death incidents involving Islamic groups against Islamic groups is 60, a figure higher than 57, which is the frequency of violent death incidents involving Islamic groups against Christian groups or churches within the same period. A second major point in this paper is that violence involving religious groups is not always caused by religious issues. This explains why the frequency of violent death incidents involving Islamic groups against Christian groups or churches due to non-religious issues is as high as 42 between June 2006 and May 2014. Thirdly, it remains inconclusive whether or not more Muslims than Christians (or vice versa) are killed because of violence in general in Nigeria. Finally, the Western media frames violence in Nigeria as being mainly inter-religious, while lethal incidents involving Islamic groups against Islamic groups are largely under-reported.”https://books.openedition.org/ifra/1935?lang=enSaying that only Christians are being targeted is ignorant and or disingenuous and dangerous. It's like Democrats saying that a black man being arrested for robbing a store is only being arrested because of the color of his skin. Maybe he's been arrested because he committed a crime. Saying that Christians are being targeted because of their religion neglects to mention the context that thousands of others are also being killed, and that the violence is primarily a byproduct of a broken system and war. A US State Department report from 2023, “Report on International Religious Freedom: Nigeria” noted “the killings were not related to religion but were the activities of ‘uninformed people'.” The same report also found and stated explicitly:“According to government security services, NGOs, media, academic, and other observers, the level of violence driven by rising criminality again continued to worsen during the year. Because issues of religion, ethnicity, land and resource competition, and criminality are often closely linked, it was difficult to categorize many incidents as being solely, or even primarily, based on religious identity.”https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/nigeria/Now let's take a deeper look at Israel's actions.Just as many Christians are killed in Nigeria over farmland, Israeli settler have been slaughtering Palestinian farmers, with no mention of their religion made in the news, for over half a century. A recent AP article confirmed with video evidence that Israeli terrorists beat farmers during the recent olive harvest in the West Bank. https://apnews.com/article/israel-settlers-west-bank-attack-annexation-1e9cbd6af6ea502fbfca5d9ffe949b0bFather Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of the Church of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, told ACI MENA: “The town, which the Gospel of John (11:54) refers to as ‘Ephraim' — the place Jesus withdrew to before his passion — is no longer safe for its people today… We do not live in peace but in daily fear and siege.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/265035/priest-warns-christian-town-of-taybe-in-holy-land-no-longer-safe-amid-settler-attacksIn July 2025 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition" hit Gaza's only Catholic Church. A few weeks before Israeli forces assaulted Christians in Jerusalem on holy Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8ge7vllw9o.amphttps://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-forces-assault-christians-jerusalem-holy-saturdayIn 2024, Israel bombed a Catholic Church in Lebanon, Saint George's, destroying the offices of the parish and the residence of the local priest. They even slaughtered the rescue team.https://zenit.org/2024/10/11/israel-bombs-catholic-church-in-lebanon-and-attacks-un-blue-helmets/#google_vignetteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.Thank you for supporting independent, unbiased inquiry into the mysteries of our world.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
What if one of the most important events in early Mormon history never actually accomplished what it set out to do? In 1834, Joseph Smith organized nearly 200 armed men and led them almost 900 miles across the American frontier with one stated objective: redeem Zion and restore the Saints to their lands in Jackson County, Missouri. They marched. They trained. They carried muskets and swords. They expected confrontation. But they never fought a battle. Instead, they encountered political resistance, internal dissent, a violent storm many viewed as miraculous, a devastating cholera outbreak that claimed fifteen lives, and a revelation that abruptly ended the expedition. So what happened? More importantly… how did what appeared to be a failed mission become one of the greatest success stories in Mormon history? In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon take a deep dive into the complete story of Zion’s Camp—from the revelations that launched it to the theological reinterpretation that followed its collapse. Along the way we examine:• The promise to redeem Zion in D&C 103• Why hundreds of Saints believed they were going to reclaim Jackson County• Joseph Smith as “Commander in Chief of the Armies of Israel”• Governor Daniel Dunklin and the political realities of Missouri• The famous Fishing River storm—miracle or coincidence?• The deadly cholera outbreak that followed D&C 105• Why the mission was suddenly called off• The psychological and theological shift from “the prophecy failed” to “the people weren’t ready”• How Zion’s Camp became the proving ground for the future Twelve Apostles and Seventy This episode also explores a broader question that reaches far beyond Mormonism: How do religious movements reinterpret unmet expectations while preserving confidence in prophetic leadership? Whether you’re a believing Latter-day Saint, a former member, a student of history, or simply interested in the psychology of belief, Zion’s Camp offers one of the most fascinating case studies in early American religious history. Primary sources used include: Joseph Smith Papers Project Doctrine & Covenants 101, 103, and 105 John Whitmer’s History John Corrill’s A Brief History of the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints Contemporary journals, letters, meeting minutes, and financial records from 1833–1835 #Mormonism #LDSHistory #JosephSmith #ZionsCamp #MormonismLive #ChurchHistory #ReligiousHistory #FaithCrisis #MormonStudies #DoctrineAndCovenants #ExMormon #Religion
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
13 And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is?Venit autem Jesus in partes Caesareae Philippi : et interrogabat discipulos suos, dicens : Quem dicunt homines esse Filium hominis? 14 But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets.At illi dixerunt : Alii Joannem Baptistam, alii autem Eliam, alii vero Jeremiam, aut unum ex prophetis. 15 Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?Dicit illis Jesus : Vos autem, quem me esse dicitis? 16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.Respondens Simon Petrus dixit : Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi. 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei : Beatus es Simon Bar Jona : quia caro et sanguis non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus, qui in caelis est. 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.Et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum. Et quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in caelis : et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in caelis.[18] "Thou art Peter": As St. Peter, by divine revelation, here made a solemn profession of his faith of the divinity of Christ; so in recompense of this faith and profession, our Lord here declares to him the dignity to which he is pleased to raise him: viz., that he to whom he had already given the name of Peter, signifying a rock, St. John 1. 42, should be a rock indeed, of invincible strength, for the support of the building of the church; in which building he should be, next to Christ himself, the chief foundation stone, in quality of chief pastor, ruler, and governor; and should have accordingly all fulness of ecclesiastical power, signified by the keys of the kingdom of heaven.[18] "Upon this rock": The words of Christ to Peter, spoken in the vulgar language of the Jews which our Lord made use of, were the same as if he had said in English, Thou art a Rock, and upon this rock I will build my church. So that, by the plain course of the words, Peter is here declared to be the rock, upon which the church was to be built: Christ himself being both the principal foundation and founder of the same. Where also note, that Christ, by building his house, that is, his church, upon a rock, has thereby secured it against all storms and floods, like the wise builder, [Matt 7:24-25].[18] "The gates of hell": That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself, or his agents. For as the church is here likened to a house, or fortress, built on a rock; so the adverse powers are likened to a contrary house or fortress, the gates of which, that is, the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.[19] "Loose upon earth": The loosing the bands of temporal punishments due to sins, is called an indulgence; the power of which is here granted.The Church venerates on this day in the basilica of St Peter "ad vincula" on Mount Esquiline at Rome, the chains with which the prince of the apostles was fettered.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
In this episode, Derek and Lindsay evaluate the theology of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Christ of Latter-day Saints. What do they believe, and why is it so dangerous?
Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 07/27/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Where Do People Go When They Die?/ Are The New Testament Documents Reliable?/ Is The Christian Bible Translated Correctly?/ Church of Christ and Baptism For Salvation/ A Request for an Analysis of a Logic Syllogism/ July 27, 2026
In this episode Trent chats with Church of Christ minister Marco Arroyo about his visit to Trent's parish and their recent jiu-jitsu match. To support this channel: https://www.patreon.com/counseloftrent [NEW] Counsel of Trent merch: https://shop.catholic.com/apologists-alley/trent-horn-resources/ Be sure to keep up with our socials! https://www.tiktok.com/@counseloftrent https://www.twitter.com/counseloftrent https://www.instagram.com/counseloftrentpodcast
The spirit moves us..all around the globe! This week's Guide to the Unknown is full of as many hauntings as humanly possible. More of them involve the bathroom than you might expect! Jackpot! [YouTube Version] [Sources & links] [More HAUNTED PLACES ROULETTE] Sources: https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/smoot-theater/ https://hauntedparkersburg.blogspot.com/2011/06/spooks-at-smoot-theater.html https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/mount-baker-theatre/ https://seattleterrors.com/mount-baker-theatre/ https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2020/3/25/the-history-of-the-ghost-light https://www.reddit.com/r/Bellingham/comments/11jghbj/any_good_haunted_spots_local_legend_type_stories/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/lady-of-the-stairs-first-church-of-christ-scientist/ https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueChristian/comments/1kqqbx/eli5_church_of_christian_science/ https://hauntedkentuckyroadtrip.com/2022/09/06/the-lady-of-the-stairs/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/van-wickle-house/ https://www.newjerseyhauntedhouses.com/real-haunt/van-wickle-house.html https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/epstein-theater/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/mirkwood-cafe/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/figueroa-hotel/ https://observer.com/list/california-most-historic-haunted-hotels/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/loon-lake-cemetery/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/golden-north-hotel/ https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/dimond-center/ https://www.valerievalise.com/haunted-places-in-anchorage/ Get episodes AD-FREE on Patreon, along with our exclusive podcast The Netherworld Dispatch!Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Watch on YouTube.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky.For more, cruise through our LINKS Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.