Podcasts about enjoy god

This week at our Jackson Campus, Campus Pastor Mitch Johnson begins a new series, Life in the Household of God, walking through the book of 1 Timothy.We pray this message is a blessing to you.Learn more about The Point Church at www.tothepoint.church.Takeaway: Guard the Doctrine of the Church and Enjoy God Forever

Introduction: Genesis 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Enjoying Your Gift from God. (1 Corinthians 7:1-7) Married? Enjoy God's Gift for MARRIAGE. (1 Cor 7:3-5) 3 Laws of Marital Intimacy: The Law of DEBT. (1 Cor 7:3) The Law of OWNERSHIP. (1 Cor 7:4) The Law of HIATUS. (1 Cor 7:5) Single? Enjoy God's Gift of SINGLENESS. (1 Cor 7:6-7) Matthew 19:10-12 – The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! AUDIO TRANSCRIPT 00:36-00:41Open up those Bibles to 1 Corinthians 7.00:43-00:51And as we said last week, it's going to continue for the next few weeks because we go where the text goes.00:54-01:00And today we're going to be talking about the relationship between a man and his wife.01:03-01:44discretion advised. We are going to be direct, but you know some pastors want to be like edgy by kind of pushing the envelope there and that's I don't think that's cool, but I do think we need to teach the Bible straightforwardly. So we are going to be direct but not explicit, okay? So whether you're sitting here or streaming this from home, parents you decide. If you saw last week's message that would be a good gauge as to whether or not your kids should hear this one.01:44-02:01But again I'll remind you that somebody's talking to your kids about this. I think you should really consider you know whether it's time for them to hear this from God, what He says about these matters.02:02-02:17Alright, so with that said, let's just bow our heads. I'm going to ask that you would please take a moment and pray for me to be faithful to clearly communicate what God said and I will pray for you to receive what it is that this passage teaches today. Let's pray.02:23-02:28Father in heaven, we are once again turning to Your Word for wisdom.02:33-02:38And we're dealing with what is going to be for many here a sensitive subject.02:38-03:05And I pray, Father, against distractions, and I also pray that our hearts and minds are open to what You actually say in Your Word. Not our opinion or not what we think your word might say about these matters, but to examine what it is that you have said, and that we would be faithful to apply.03:08-03:53Come meet us now, Lord, through the proclamation of your word, we pray in Jesus' name, and all of God's people said, "Amen." Amen. Many years ago, I was leading Bible study the prison, and one man raised his hand. He said, "I have a question. I have a question about what happens when we die." Well, I was ready for this. You should have heard. You should have heard the sermon. It's probably the best sermon I ever gave. It was just both barrels, and I explained to him, "Okay, first of all, let me explain how death came into the world. We went through Genesis chapter 3. Death We need Jesus Christ.03:54-03:56Jesus died on the cross to take our sin away.03:56-03:59He rose from the dead to give us eternal life.03:59-04:00We all need the gospel.04:00-04:05And if you've received Christ, when you die, the Bible says you are in the presence of the Lord.04:05-04:10Okay, and someday he is going to come and he's going to take his people to be with him.04:10-04:12John chapter 14, we talked about the rapture.04:13-04:17But if you have not received Christ, I talked about the tribulation that's coming after the rapture.04:18-04:21There's seven years of just hell on earth.04:21-04:26and then Christ returns, and I talked about all the millennial kingdom, right?04:26-04:41And then after the kingdom, there's the great white throne judgment, and at that point, you know, if you die and you're not in Christ, you do go to a place of suffering, Luke 16, but then you're thrown into the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment, and you should have heard it.04:41-04:44It was comprehensive.04:47-04:49So I got done, it was about 20 minutes.04:50-04:57I got done and I said, "So, does that answer your question?" He stared at me blankly.04:59-05:01And he goes, "No."05:02-05:03(congregation laughing)05:04-05:25I said, "Why not?" He goes, "I just wanted to know "if we become angels when we die." And I said, "No." He goes, "Okay, thanks." And I learned that day to answer the question that's being asked.05:27-05:30Well, the Corinthians, they had a lot of questions.05:31-05:35They had a lot of questions about marriage, about idols, about women in church, about the Lord's Supper.05:36-05:38Look at chapter 7 verse 1.05:39-05:45Paul says, "Now concerning the matters about which you wrote," stop there, we're entering a new section, okay?05:45-05:49He talked about the church unified, chapters 1-4.05:50-05:55He talked about the church purified, chapters 5-6.05:56-05:58And now you can see there's a shift.05:59-06:06He says, "You sent me questions and I'm going to give you answers now to the questions that you sent me." Do you see that?06:07-06:09And first up, marriage.06:12-06:13You're going to be shocked.06:13-06:14I'm glad you're sitting down.06:15-06:17But the Corinthians had a lot of problems when it came to marriage.06:20-06:28But you know, the problems that we bring into marriage are our own doing, because the Bible was clear on marriage.06:30-06:34Genesis 2.24, this is the most important verse in the Bible about marriage.06:34-06:38I know this because when asked, this is the verse that Jesus quoted.06:39-06:42When writing about marriage, this was the verse that Paul kept quoting.06:42-06:55The most important verse in the Bible about marriage says, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." It's clear.06:55-07:00You leave, you join to your wife, and then the two become one.07:02-07:10Jesus was asked about marriage, divorce, all these matters, Matthew 19, we're going to talk about this later, but Jesus made, it was very clear.07:11-07:15Jesus said marriage is between a man and a woman.07:15-07:19Jesus said in a marriage, it's two people that are brought together by God.07:19-07:24Jesus said it's two becoming one, and He said it's meant to be unbroken.07:24-07:25That's God's design.07:28-07:32Bible's clear about marriage.07:32-07:38But in Paul's day, the Corinthian culture, there were basically four different ways to get married.07:38-07:51I'm just gonna, I don't usually like to preach my homework, But this might be helpful to give us some context as we go through this section, because there are a lot of ways that people got married in that day, all right?07:52-07:54So one way was for slaves.07:54-07:56Slaves weren't considered people, they were considered property.07:57-08:02So for slaves, the owner had the right to just pronounce them married.08:02-08:08If there were two slaves that wanted to get married, it's like, okay, you two are married, so you go stay over there or whatever.08:09-08:09And that was it.08:11-08:14There was also, in that day, common law marriage.08:14-08:20People that were living together unmarried for a year were considered married at that point.08:21-08:23A third way is a father selling his daughter.08:26-08:30And then the fourth way was the sort of the official Roman way.08:32-08:37Interestingly, it's through the Roman customs where we get our customs for marriage.08:37-08:38Did you know that?08:39-08:44from veil to flowers to vows to ring to cake, all came from the Roman culture.08:47-08:49So here's the point of all that.08:50-08:57In this section, Paul is teaching the sacredness of marriage no matter how you got there.08:57-09:07Okay, because there's going to be a lot of people that could raise objections, "But I was married this way, but I..." Paul's like, "However you got there, we're dealing with from here forward.09:08-09:10Let's talk about the sacredness of marriage.09:12-09:14They were a culture that had a high divorce rate.09:16-09:28They were a culture that had homosexuality, a culture of affairs, a culture of, believe it or not, feminists, and a culture of - we talked about this recently - prostitution.09:30-09:32So it's a culture a lot like ours.09:32-10:03There's nothing really new here as far as the kind of sin that they had to deal with with the same stuff. So the question is, "Well, what about sex and marriage?" Well, again, you're going to be shocked, and I'm glad you're sitting down, but the Corinthians had something else that they were divisive over, and that is this. Should you get married, or should you be single?10:06-10:08Which is the godly path?10:09-10:10That's the issue on the table here.10:11-10:13Which is the godly path, married or single?10:14-10:20Because some people said that righteousness is everybody must get married.10:21-10:22That was the Jewish mindset, by the way.10:23-10:24Everybody must get married.10:24-10:27You're not really fully righteous unless you're married.10:27-10:30In fact, you couldn't be a member of the Sanhedrin unless you were married.10:31-10:38So the Jews especially said, "Look, what's right is everybody has to get married." But then there's the other camp.10:40-10:42And the other camp said, "No, no, no, no.10:42-10:43No one should get married.10:43-10:45I mean, have you been paying attention?10:46-10:48Sexual sin is completely out of control.10:49-10:50Marriage is hard.10:50-10:57So being single and never touching a woman, that's the godly way.10:57-11:00In fact, you want to be godly.11:00-11:03If you're married and you want this godly path, you're just going to have to get out of your marriage.11:04-11:05Both of you be single.11:06-11:07That is more spiritual.11:08-11:09That is more devoted to God.11:09-11:13If you're single, you are more devoted to God.11:13-11:17And you know, there's people today that still hold that mindset, like in the Catholic church.11:17-11:18All right?11:18-11:19Priests don't get married.11:19-11:20Nuns don't get married.11:20-11:20Why?11:20-11:24Because you're devoted to God, and you can't really be devoted to God if you're married.11:27-11:30Well, what does the Bible say about that?11:31-11:35Well, let's see how Paul answers this under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.11:35-11:36Look at verse 1 again.11:36-11:48"Now, concerning the matters about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." Okay, stop there.11:48-11:50He goes, okay, first of all, it's good.11:51-11:53He didn't say it's the only good.11:54-11:54Okay?11:55-11:59Paul's not saying singleness is better than marriage.11:59-12:01He's not saying it's worse than marriage.12:01-12:09All he's saying in verse 1 is, "It's not wrong to be single." It is a fine option if you're single.12:11-12:12But there's another option.12:13-12:13Look at verse 2.12:14-12:36He says, "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband." So Paul says, "The other option, which is marriage, is good too." I mean we saw this, right?12:36-12:42Chapters 5 and 6, there was so much sexual immorality in the church.12:42-12:44They tolerated sexual sin.12:44-12:46They excused sexual sin.12:46-12:48There was no sacredness for marriage.12:48-12:49Huge problem.12:49-12:56So you see, in Corinth and here, it is hard to be pure because of temptation.12:57-12:58That's what Paul is teaching here.12:59-13:04Because there are so many ways to sin sexually.13:08-13:14So Paul here says, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, get a spouse.13:16-13:28Notice he says, "Get your own spouse." design. It's one man for one woman and that one woman for that one man. That is how God designed it. Get your own.13:30-14:11So Paul is saying physical desires are natural and should be enjoyed the way God designed them to be enjoyed. All right? So we're gonna play a quick game here. We're gonna play a game called "Which is Good?" I'm gonna give you a list of two options and you're gonna shout out which is good. You ready for this? You ready? Come on, don't lay an egg here. I need you. I need you. I'll start over. I mean I'll start way over at the beginning. We'll bring the worship team up. We'll start the whole thing over. All right, so you You ready to shout it out?14:11-14:13Which is good, country music or rock music?14:13-14:14Rock.14:16-14:18The answer is both.14:20-14:21All right, which is good?14:22-14:22You ready?14:22-14:23Try again.14:23-14:24I'm gonna give you another chance.14:25-14:26Which is good, pancakes or waffles?14:27-14:28Both.14:28-14:31Both are good, okay?14:32-14:35All right, I think some of you are getting the hang of it.14:35-14:36Let's try one more.14:37-14:39Which is good, baseball or football?14:41-14:42(congregation exclaims)14:49-14:50I'm sorry, the answer is both.14:52-14:53All right, one more, you ready?14:55-14:57Which is good, being single or being married?14:58-14:58Both.14:59-14:59Both.15:02-15:02Both.15:04-15:05The answer's both.15:08-15:12Paul says here - look, if you don't get that, you're going to miss the whole sermon, so you've got to get this.15:12-15:17Paul says here in this passage, look, what you have, church, you have two good options.15:19-15:22Okay? You have two good gifts from God.15:22-15:24You can't have them both at the same time, by the way.15:24-15:26I think I don't have to explain that.15:27-15:29But you have two good options, two good gifts of God.15:30-15:31Single is good.15:32-15:34And married is good.15:35-15:37That's Paul's point here in these first two verses.15:37-16:13expounds on each. So on your outline, draw some things down here. Enjoying your gift from God. Number one, married. Are you married? Are you married? Well, enjoy God's gift for marriage. Okay, now Paul here starts with marriage because it's the norm. Most people are married. Again, one's not better or worse. Most people are married, so that's where he And again in Corinth, many thought you had greater devotion to God if you avoided physical relations.16:14-16:14But there's a problem.16:15-16:22There are some people that thought you have greater devotion to God by avoiding physical relations even if you're married.16:25-16:37And all the men said, "What?" And it's good to not touch a woman even if you're married, and especially if she's not a believer, or vice versa.16:37-16:47If your husband's not a believer, they believe that, look, if you're married to a non-believer, you definitely should not be engaging in any kind of relationship that way.16:48-16:50That was what the people thought.16:51-16:53So here in these verses, Paul's saying, look, are you married?16:53-16:58Then you should enjoy regular times of intimacy.17:01-17:04You should enjoy regular times of intimacy.17:05-17:20And you're like, "Oh, isn't that obvious?" And the answer is it must not be because God spent some time here in His Word explaining some things.17:21-17:22So I don't think it is so obvious.17:24-17:35So what we have here are three laws, three principles for married couples regarding God's design for healthy marital relations, okay?17:37-17:42So we're just gonna break these down by calling them the three laws of marital intimacy.17:43-17:45The three laws of marital intimacy.17:48-17:51First of all, letter A, let's talk about the law of debt.17:52-18:00If you're married, if you're married, You should be enjoying your spouse physically.18:01-18:03And here's the three guidelines, three laws for that.18:03-18:05The first one, the law of debt.18:05-18:06Look at verse three.18:07-18:22He says, "The husband should give to his wife "her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband." Stop there, that's the law of debt.18:22-18:23You're like, why do you say debt?18:23-18:26Because do you know in the Greek, it's literally the debt.18:26-18:30literally in the Greek, it says the husband should give the wife the debt.18:31-18:34And the wife should give her husband the debt.18:34-18:36That's what it says.18:37-18:47Also in the Greek, it's a continuous verb, meaning, Paul's saying husbands and wives, you should continuously be paying a debt to one another physically.18:50-18:57Now listen, the physical part of your marriage is not the most important part of your marriage.19:00-19:06But, it is a very important part of your marriage.19:08-19:09Okay, I'm gonna say that again.19:09-19:13I don't know if I've ever been so careful about the way I worded things in a sermon.19:15-19:20Because I don't want anybody to misunderstand, and I know there's a lot of things that can be easily misunderstood here, so I'm gonna say that again.19:21-19:27The physical part of your marriage is not the most important thing, but it is a very important thing.19:28-19:42And Paul here says, "You owe it to your spouse to allow your spouse to enjoy this." Listen, this is a very sensitive subject.19:42-19:43I know that.19:43-19:46Because there are people that have endured abuse.19:47-19:50There are people who are emotionally scarred.19:50-19:52There are people that have health issues.19:52-20:01And these things make regular, normal relations more difficult.20:06-20:08It might require extra work.20:08-20:12It might require coming to see one of our pastors for counseling.20:12-20:14We can help you with that.20:14-20:17If this is an issue in your marriage, we can help you.20:22-20:24But the principle here is very clear.20:26-20:29If you're married, you are expected to go after this.20:32-20:39God's design is that husbands and wives enjoy meeting each other's needs.20:44-20:59There's a book in the Bible all about that, by the way, right? Song of Solomon. That's what And I know there's some scholars that are like, "The Song of Solomon, you know what the Song of Solomon is about, Pastor Taylor?20:59-21:00You know what it's about.21:00-21:08The Song of Solomon is about the love relationship between Jesus and the church." Spoken like someone who never read the Song of Solomon.21:09-21:10It's not about that.21:12-22:19It is about a couple enjoying the physical aspect of their relationship, their love for another and all its expressions of that love, that's what it's about. God wants you to enjoy each other. I've heard stories of couples that only come together for a physical relationship when it's time to procreate, almost like it's some business exchange. And look, if that happens. If that happens, awesome, awesome. We'll always make room in the nursery. But to reduce the purpose of that just for procreation is still missing the point. The purpose of sex in marriage is intimacy. That's the purpose. It's not just a physical act. It's an act that strengthens love and is an act that sustains love.22:21-22:30But I know, listen, somebody can read this verse, "The husband should give to his wife the debt." Likewise, the wife give to her husband the debt.22:30-22:34Somebody can look at this verse and say, "That sounds so violating.22:36-22:38You mean to tell me…." Is that what you're saying?22:39-22:47I can't… What a patriarchal, male chauvinist church this is, that you're telling me that I can be forced to pay the debt.22:48-22:48Right?22:48-22:49Is that what you're saying?22:50-22:51Not even close.22:53-22:58And I would say that if that's your takeaway, then all due respect, you are completely reading the verse wrong.23:02-23:02Listen closely.23:03-23:10He's not saying that we go into our marriage relationship saying, "You owe me!" No, no, no, no.23:12-23:13Not lording it over.23:14-23:20It's not "You owe me!" It's the mindset of "I owe you." It's submission.23:23-23:26Notice he says to give the debt.23:26-23:27He doesn't say take the debt.23:27-23:28Do you notice that?23:29-23:32He doesn't say, "Husbands, go take what she owes you.23:32-23:35Wives, go take what he owes you." He doesn't say that.23:36-23:43He says in mutual submission, you have to give what you owe your spouse.23:45-23:46That's what he says.23:47-23:52A healthy marriage always focuses on the other person's needs.23:55-23:59And that applies also specifically here to intimacy.24:01-24:02That's what we're saying.24:05-24:09Give your wife, give to her what you owe her.24:10-24:12Wives, give to husbands what you owe him.24:12-24:13It's mutual submission.24:16-24:16All right?24:16-24:17So that's the law of debt.24:18-24:20Secondly, we have letter B, the law of ownership.24:22-24:23Law of ownership, look at verse 4.24:24-24:32And he goes on, "For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does.24:32-24:40Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." Stop there.24:40-24:43Again, please do not read it wrongly.24:43-24:48Don't go through this and totally miss what he's saying because it would be easy to do.24:48-24:52This is not a pass for abuse.24:54-25:05This is, listen, this verse is not allowing for any kind of situation where someone is being forced into something in any way.25:06-25:08It is not saying that whatsoever.25:08-25:19You're like, "Well, what is it saying then?" In marriage, listen, when you make the decision to marry someone, you have released the authority of your body to your spouse.25:20-25:22And again, in the Greek, that's continual.25:23-25:26What you have in marriage is an exclusive claim.25:27-25:34It's saying no one else owns my body the way that my spouse does, and that includes me.25:36-25:37That's what he's saying.25:38-25:43He's speaking again of a mutual love and selflessness.25:44-25:45That's what he's talking about.25:47-25:55He's talking about a mentality of a husband going before his wife and saying, "Hey, hey, this is all yours.25:57-26:04This is all yours." And then the wife in turn turns to her husband and says, "Yeah, and you know what, baby?26:05-26:06This is all yours.26:11-26:14So have fun." That's what he's saying.26:18-26:20There's the law of death, there's the law of ownership.26:21-26:23Letter C, there's the law of hiatus.26:24-26:25The law of hiatus.26:26-26:27Look at verse 5.26:30-26:55He says, "Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time that that you may devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control." The law of hiatus.26:57-26:59Again, he goes, "Stop depriving.26:59-27:07Stop depriving." Again, the Corinthian culture, "Oh, it's holy to deprive my spouse." No, he goes, "It's not holy.27:08-27:08It's just not.27:09-27:14Do not deprive each other, husbands and wives, do not deprive each other.27:15-27:16He says there is an exception.27:18-27:19There are rules for hiatus.27:22-27:23There are rules for hiatus, right?27:24-27:28First part of the rule, number one, is agree, right?27:29-27:30Agree.27:32-27:33That means consent.27:33-27:38That means it's not just one person making the decision.27:41-27:43It's not the wife saying, "You know what, honey?27:43-27:50I've really been thinking about this, and I decided we're taking a hiatus." And the husband's like, "Wait, what?27:51-27:52That's not how it works.27:52-28:00There has to be an agreement on that, all right?" And also number two, it says for a limited time.28:02-28:29a limited time. It's temporary. Again, that time should be agreed upon. You're like, "All right, well, why are we taking a break?" Well, he says very specifically, "If you two decide to take a break for a time from having normal relations, it should be for prayer." And he's not talking about prayer in general. I think he's talking about praying for something specific.28:31-28:43Maybe there's something in your life that is so burdening, so distracting, that you probably can't even enjoy intimacy in that season.28:43-28:45Do you know what I'm talking about?28:46-28:58Maybe you have a child that is really sick and in the hospital and like, "I can't." Obviously neither of us are in the mood for this right now.28:58-28:58We need to pray.29:01-29:33there's the looming threat of a job loss and the stress that comes with, you know, what am I going to do to provide for my family? And you know what, sweetheart, I think we should take a break from this for a season and focus on praying for God's provision in this way. But you agree upon it and you set the boundary of time, but when you're like, man, I just can't get into it as I should, then you take a hiatus, you agree to pray.29:33-29:53But Paul says, "Then, then you have to come together again," he says, "so that you don't get tempted." But the first part of that verse says, "Do not deprive each other.29:55-29:57Stop depriving each other.30:03-30:08Husbands and wives, you cannot use sex to manipulate.30:11-30:19Or more accurately, you can't withhold sex to coerce or punish the other person.30:21-30:35Listen, when you do that, when you use that as coercion or punishment, what you're doing ultimately is only hurting your marriage.30:36-30:37That's what you're doing.30:39-30:42Notice he says, "Come together again." Why?30:42-30:43Why should we come together again?30:44-31:12may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. In other words, closing the kitchen makes you a partner of Satan. All right? Because the urge is still there, and now all of a sudden the person who is supposed to satisfy me absolutely refuses to do that.31:13-31:15And then what happens?31:21-31:23Bitterness is resentment.31:25-31:27Then the evil thoughts start to creep in, right?31:29-31:32I'm so sick of not having my needs met.31:32-31:35I'm so sick of the bedroom being so cold.31:37-31:39And eventually that leads to adultery.31:42-31:55to physical, you find somebody that's scratching the itch that you have, whether it is that emotional itch for affection, whether it's a physical itch.31:58-32:20And then it's justified because, and I've heard it hundreds of times over my ministry, justified because I'm in a loveless marriage." You know, marriages struggle and ultimately individuals walks with Christ struggle because they're so frustrated physically.32:21-32:29It's like I have this appetite and it's just not being met and nothing good comes from that married people.32:30-32:30Alright?32:33-32:35So this is from the Lord.32:37-32:39Enjoy each other as much as possible.32:40-32:40Okay?32:42-32:43It's fun.32:43-32:50It's God's idea and in this passage he reminds us it is the best help in avoiding temptation.32:55-32:56It's the best help in avoiding temptation.32:57-32:58Think about it this way.32:58-33:00Just imagine this scenario.33:01-33:02Imagine this scenario.33:02-33:09Husband wakes up and he comes downstairs and he sees that his wife is baking chocolate chip cookies.33:11-33:13Seven in the morning she's baking chocolate chip cookies.33:15-33:16What a great wife, right?33:17-33:18Oh, it gets better.33:18-33:47He's baking chocolate chip cookies and he sees on the counter, she's obviously been at it for a while because there's a plate and there's a stack of them. And his wife says, "Honey, have all the cookies that you want." And like the dutiful husband that he is, he sits down and he has one, three, six, ten of them! And you know how you feel after eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies, right?33:49-33:50Just me?33:52-33:52(audience laughing)33:54-33:57You know how you feel after you eat a dozen chocolate chip cookies, right?33:59-33:59Thank you.34:00-34:01Thank you.34:02-34:09Your wife says, "Sweetheart, before you go to work, "I want you to have as many of these cookies as you want, "and I wanna tell you something else, honey.34:10-34:17"When you come home, there's gonna be more." So, you indulge.34:20-34:22Let me ask you something, when you get to work, are you hungry for cookies?34:25-34:25No.34:26-34:27Thank you.34:28-34:29Thank you.34:30-34:33One of you is on board now, the rest of you will catch up.34:34-34:35No.34:35-34:39You get to work, you're not hungry for cookies.34:40-34:46So what happens when the co-worker comes over to you and says, "Blink, blink, blink, blink, blink.34:47-34:48Would you like a cookie?34:50-34:56What do you say?" You're like, "I am full.34:58-35:03You wouldn't believe how many cookies I ate before work today." Well, you probably wouldn't say that.35:08-35:09We need to cut that one.35:10-35:11(audience laughing)35:15-35:19You would say, too much Taylor?35:19-35:20Too, oh, okay.35:20-35:27You would say, if she says blink, blink, blink, would you like a cookie?35:27-35:29You would say, no, thank you.35:31-35:31I'm full.35:34-35:35I have all the cookies that I wanted.35:38-35:45And you know, if you go a long time without cookies, self-control is much harder when someone else offers you one.35:49-35:52So if you're married, enjoy the wedding present that God gave you.35:52-35:52Alright?35:54-35:56Number two, single?35:58-35:59Enjoy God's gift of singleness.36:02-36:04I'm going to touch on this quickly.36:04-36:04Why?36:05-36:08He goes way into more detail later.36:08-36:11But right now, understand the point of what he's saying now.36:11-36:14The point of what he's saying now is two good options, right?36:14-36:14Two good options.36:15-36:16Marriage, good option.36:16-36:20And he's like, let's talk about the other good option, being single.36:20-36:21Look at verse six.36:22-36:35He says, "Now as a concession, not a command, I say this." In other words, he's like, look, I'm not commanding everyone to get married.36:35-36:38I'm just putting this out there because of human needs.36:39-36:39Right?36:39-37:19Verse seven, he says, "I wish that all were as I myself am, but each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another." So Paul says, "I have this gift and I wish everyone had this gift." Paul's like, "You may not have this gift." Bible's clear, God gives different gifts to different people and some people are uniquely gifted by God for singleness.37:20-37:21Some people are.37:21-37:24Like that is from God himself.37:28-37:33Quickly, Jesus, Matthew chapter 19, again, we referenced this earlier.37:33-37:38He was speaking of marriage and divorce and adultery.37:38-37:41Look, Jesus, this is where Paul gets this.37:42-37:45Paul's just repeating what Jesus was saying here about singleness.37:46-38:07Like I said, Jesus just got done talking about marriage and divorce, and the disciples said to him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But Jesus said to them, "Not everyone can receive this saying, but only to those to whom it is given.38:09-38:19For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.38:20-38:24Let the one who is able to receive this, receive it.38:26-38:28Same thing, same point.38:29-38:32Some people have a gift of singleness given by God.38:34-38:41If you're sitting here, you're like, "Man, I couldn't do it." Well, then you don't have the gift.38:43-38:45That's just all there is to it, right?38:47-38:48If you're sitting here and you're like, "You know what?38:48-38:59am single but I really don't want to be, then you don't have the gift. Because it's a gift from God to be single and content.39:02-39:17It's from God to be single and content, not single and consumed by lust. You don't have the gift if that's the case. Not if single and constantly tempted, you don't have the gift.39:17-39:23Not if single and constantly preoccupied by the fact that I am single, you don't have the gift.39:26-39:26Right?39:27-39:32But for some, it is a gift.39:33-39:45And there are definite advantages to this gift that we're going to talk about very shortly down the road, he picks up on that really in verse 32.39:46-39:56So Paul is saying to the Corinthians, "God's Word preserved by His Holy Spirit saying to us same thing." Look, don't judge the single people, right?39:57-39:58Don't judge the single people.39:58-40:04Maybe they have a gift from God to be single and content, to serve Him in a unique way.40:04-40:04Don't judge them.40:05-40:08And on the other hand, don't judge the married people either.40:09-40:24God has given the gift of marriage, and each side here, the single, the married, each has a gift, so enjoy yours how God intended." Our worship team would make their way up.40:25-40:35You know, in talking about this subject, it's hard to not think about how I heard of this subject when I was but a wee lad.40:38-40:46And you know, growing up, I thought, I'm just gonna be honest with you here, I thought sex was a bad, dirty thing.40:50-41:05Growing up, I thought sex was just this really, it was this really secretive, dirty thing that adults kind of whisper about, and you're like, "Why did you think that?" Because that was the only way it was ever presented.41:07-41:27And you know, so much church, so much church is, "Don't do this, don't do that, don't do this." So much church is, "Let me tell you everything that we're against." And too seldom does the church say what we're for.41:29-41:35But listen, sex is not a bad, dirty thing.41:38-41:41You realize God created it.41:43-41:45You realize the whole thing was His idea.41:46-41:52God is 100% for husbands and wives enjoying the heck out of it.41:55-41:56That's what he intended.41:58-42:01Sex to be one of life's greatest pleasures for a married couple.42:03-42:10So it's a gift for the married and the unmarried get the gift of not needing that wedding gift.42:10-42:13So, which is good?42:15-42:17Married or single?42:20-42:21Both are good.42:23-42:23Enjoy.42:24-42:25Let's pray.42:26-42:31Father in heaven, every good and perfect gift comes from above.42:32-42:55And I pray, Father, that you would give us eyes to see the way that you have blessed and gifted us and that we would use the gifts in a way that honors and glorifies you, whether it's single, to serve you in a unique way, whether it's married, to enjoy this picture of Christ and the church to enjoy the intimacy that comes from knowing somebody so deeply.42:57-43:01Whatever it is, God, let us recognize and enjoy.43:02-43:04And thank You and praise You for all of Your gifts.43:05-43:07We praise You in Jesus' name.43:07-43:08Amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 7:1-7What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Explain the “3 Laws of Marital Intimacy” in your own words (1 Cor 7:3-5).What does it mean that “the wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband does, (and vice-versa)”? Is this making allowance for some kind of coercion to intimacy? Why or why not?How would you respond to a single friend who asks, “How do I know if I have the gift of singleness?”BreakoutPray for one another.

February has unlimited blessings packed for you by God. HE has unlimited power and it is abundantly available to you. Enjoy God's presence and impartation in this podcast. Do well to share in your sphere of influence! Music acknowledged Worship medley by Chris Vic Alagbara by Onos Ariyo

February has unlimited blessings packed for you by God. HE has unlimited power and it is abundantly available to you. Enjoy God's presence and impartation in this podcast. Do well to share in your sphere of influence! Music acknowledged Worship medley by Chris Vic Alagbara by Onos Ariyo

Enjoy God's grace, extend God's glory. Pastor Micah preaches at King's Cross Church.

What if the way you've been taught to connect with God isn't the only way—or even the best way for you? In this liberating conversation with Filipe Santos of Echo Church as our host, international speaker and bestselling author Hosanna Wong reveals why your relationship with God doesn't have to look like anyone else's—and why that's actually by design.Hosanna shares insights from her newest book Uncomplicate It: Permission to Enjoy God in Your Unique Way, including findings from 1,000 conversations with people across the world about what stands in the way of connecting with God. Discover the 6 most common roadblocks (busyness, distraction, grief, shame, silence, and expectations), the 7 "praise-onalities" that reveal how you're uniquely wired to connect with God.Key Insights:01:45 - Why Faith Feels Too Complicated03:50 - The 1,000-Person Journey Across the World07:18 - What Pastors Unintentionally Do That Creates Roadblocks10:04 - One Size Fits All Faith Raises Fakers13:47 - The Six Roadblocks to Connecting with God18:23 - Jesus Is the Ultimate Shortcut to God20:01 - The Seven Praise-onalities: How You're Wired to Worship38:26 - Structure Serves the Unholy (Not the Holy)43:39 - For the Curious: How Can This Be Real for Me?49:55 - The Pressure to Be Perfect (and What Jesus Actually Meant)Guest: Hosanna WongWebsite: https://www.hosannawong.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hosanna.wongYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hosannawongHost: Filipe Santos of Echo ChurchWebsite: https://echo.church/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EchoChurchInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/filipesantosFollow Innovative Church Leaders:Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeadersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleadersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleadersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleadersPastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNnSign up for practical tools + spiritual encouragement at innovativechurchleaders.org#ChurchLeadership #PastorLife #SpiritLed #FaithfulPresence #DiscipleMaking #ReachNewPeople #SpiritualFormation #GenerationalMinistry

The great God of heaven invites you into a life of eternal fellowship with him – come let us enjoy him!

You know that great feeling you get when you give a gift to someone? In this message, you'll learn from Chip how to keep that feeling going 365 days a year!Fact #1 – God blesses generous people! -Acts 20:35; Lk. 6:38; Pr. 22:9, 19:17, Dt. 24:19; Pr. 3:9-10, 11:24-25Fact #2 – God provides clear criteria for becoming a generous person!Genuine generosity gives the FIRST and the BEST to God. -Pr. 3:9-10Genuine generosity is regular and SYSTEMATIC. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is PROPORTIONAL to our income. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is SACRIFICIAL. -2 Cor 8:1-4Genuine generosity is THOUGHTFUL, voluntary, and WORSHIPFUL. -2 Cor. 9:5-7Fact #3 – is Breakthrough Concept #3: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. (Randy Alcorn - The Treasure Principle)Fact #4 – The key to becoming habitually generous and experience habitual happiness is FAITH!Faith says – Refuse to chase the wind. -Ec. 2:11Faith says – Enjoy God's provision. -1 Tim. 6:19Faith says – God rewards those who step out and TRUST Him. -Heb. 11:6Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

You know that great feeling you get when you give a gift to someone? In this message, you'll learn from Chip how to keep that feeling going 365 days a year!Fact #1 – God blesses generous people! -Acts 20:35; Lk. 6:38; Pr. 22:9, 19:17, Dt. 24:19; Pr. 3:9-10, 11:24-25Fact #2 – God provides clear criteria for becoming a generous person!Genuine generosity gives the FIRST and the BEST to God. -Pr. 3:9-10Genuine generosity is regular and SYSTEMATIC. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is PROPORTIONAL to our income. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is SACRIFICIAL. -2 Cor 8:1-4Genuine generosity is THOUGHTFUL, voluntary, and WORSHIPFUL. -2 Cor. 9:5-7Fact #3 – is Breakthrough Concept #3: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. (Randy Alcorn - The Treasure Principle)Fact #4 – The key to becoming habitually generous and experience habitual happiness is FAITH!Faith says – Refuse to chase the wind. -Ec. 2:11Faith says – Enjoy God's provision. -1 Tim. 6:19Faith says – God rewards those who step out and TRUST Him. -Heb. 11:6Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Is it possible to measure generosity? Chip continues his series “The Genius of Generosity” and reveals how you can actually measure your generosity.Fact #1 – God blesses generous people! -Acts 20:35; Lk. 6:38; Pr. 22:9, 19:17, Dt. 24:19; Pr. 3:9-10, 11:24-25Fact #2 – God provides clear criteria for becoming a generous person!Genuine generosity gives the FIRST and the BEST to God. -Pr. 3:9-10Genuine generosity is regular and SYSTEMATIC. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is PROPORTIONAL to our income. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is SACRIFICIAL. -2 Cor 8:1-4Genuine generosity is THOUGHTFUL, voluntary, and WORSHIPFUL. -2 Cor. 9:5-7Fact #3 – is Breakthrough Concept #3: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. (Randy Alcorn - The Treasure Principle)Fact #4 – The key to becoming habitually generous and experience habitual happiness is FAITH!Faith says – Refuse to chase the wind. -Ec. 2:11Faith says – Enjoy God's provision. -1 Tim. 6:19Faith says – God rewards those who step out and TRUST Him. -Heb. 11:6Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Is it possible to measure generosity? Chip continues his series “The Genius of Generosity” and reveals how you can actually measure your generosity.Fact #1 – God blesses generous people! -Acts 20:35; Lk. 6:38; Pr. 22:9, 19:17, Dt. 24:19; Pr. 3:9-10, 11:24-25Fact #2 – God provides clear criteria for becoming a generous person!Genuine generosity gives the FIRST and the BEST to God. -Pr. 3:9-10Genuine generosity is regular and SYSTEMATIC. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is PROPORTIONAL to our income. -1 Cor. 16:2Genuine generosity is SACRIFICIAL. -2 Cor 8:1-4Genuine generosity is THOUGHTFUL, voluntary, and WORSHIPFUL. -2 Cor. 9:5-7Fact #3 – is Breakthrough Concept #3: God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving. (Randy Alcorn - The Treasure Principle)Fact #4 – The key to becoming habitually generous and experience habitual happiness is FAITH!Faith says – Refuse to chase the wind. -Ec. 2:11Faith says – Enjoy God's provision. -1 Tim. 6:19Faith says – God rewards those who step out and TRUST Him. -Heb. 11:6Broadcast ResourceSeries ResourcesMessage NotesYear End MatchDouble Your Gift TodayMinistry ReportConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookTwitterPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003

Enjoy God's good gifts at Christmas but don't miss his greatest gift of all!

Our heavenly Father sees past our faults and mistakes to the precious child He loves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people today seem to be chasing the "power" of God. What is the power of God? What is the evidence of being saved? How much evidence do we need? Where does fruit bearing fit in? What about "easy believism"? Shouldn't we be concerned about that?

Listen as guest preacher Justin Jackson from Stonegate Church continues our series going through our values as a church, with the topic of the Gospel.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 12-14-2025

Tom Logue - December 7th 2025 The blessing of God flows to the needy, the humble, and the childlike who come to Jesus. This week, Tom continues our King and His Kingdom series in Matthew 19:13–15, where parents bring their children to Jesus for Him to lay His hands on them and pray. Drawing deeply from Scripture, Tom teaches on the biblical pattern of laying on of hands—how throughout the Bible God transfers wisdom, healing, empowerment, spiritual gifts, and the Holy Spirit through ordinary people who make themselves available. He challenges us not to decline the blessing God wants to give because we avoid the means through which He gives it. Tom also unpacks the difference between childishness and childlikeness: childishness is impulsive, self-focused, prideful, and tantrum-prone—while childlikeness is marked by humility, dependence, awe, wonder, trust, and quick forgiveness. Jesus says the kingdom belongs to people like this. We were made for the kingdom the way fish were made for water; when we exit it through pride or self-reliance, we spiritually suffocate under anxiety, fear, bitterness, or despair. But Jesus wants the needy to come to Him—He delights to bless, touch, heal, and restore His children. Tom calls every listener—parent, youth, child, and spiritually suffocating adult—to come back into God's presence, receive blessing, and breathe again. Learn more about our church: https://restoredtemecula.church Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restoredtemecula  and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/restoredtemecula #Matthew19 #ChildlikeFaith #Blessing #LayingOnOfHands #Prayer #KingAndHisKingdom #RestoredTemecula Share this message with someone who needs to hear it. Chapters (00:00:00) - Wonders of Restored Church(00:00:53) - Advent Season 2018(00:03:29) - King and His Kingdom(00:04:13) - Jesus at the Temple(00:06:51) - Lay on of Hands in the Bible(00:10:47) - Paul's Blessing Through the Lay on of Hands(00:15:27) - Jesus' Blessings for You(00:15:59) - Tony Evans: Blessing is the Ability to Enjoy God's Grace(00:21:13) - Bringing Your Kids Into God's Presence(00:25:41) - Pastoral Counsel to Young People(00:31:12) - What Makes Kids So Childlike(00:34:22) - The Child's Love for God(00:38:39) - Needy People in the Kingdom of Heaven(00:42:07) - 7 Reasons You're Not in the Kingdom of God(00:46:36) - Welcome Back, Satan(00:47:07) - Jesus Wants the Needy to Come to Him for Blessing(00:53:03) - The Parents Bringing the Parents to Jesus

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through our values as a church, starting with the topic of Prayer.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 12-07-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through our values as a church, starting with the topic of Community.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 11-30-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through our values as a church, starting with the topic of Family.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 11-23-2025

Transformative Truth: Celebrate and cultivate gospel-centered relationships in the local church. 1. Recognize our connection in Christ. 2. Root your confidence in God. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2 3. Reaffirm our commitment to one another. a. as partners in the gospel b. through prayer for spiritual growth

Listen as Pastor Randy Fuller continues our series going through our values as a church, starting with the topic of Scripture.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 11-16-2025

Revelation 4-5 | Westminster Shorter Q1 | 9 November 2025

Listen as Pastor Randy Fuller begins our series going through our values as a church, starting with the topic of mission.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 11-09-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 10-26-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 11-02-2025

Everything is Meaningless!Welcome to Bentonville Community Church and our second week in the sermon series titled, “Meaningless”, where we have been journeying through the incredible book of Ecclesiastes together. Join us as we continue to find (or not find) the meaning of life under the sun each week found within the pages of Ecclesiastes. If you missed week 1, go back and watch it first then go ahead and push that play button below!Things to consider as you listen:Both knowledge and wisdom are connected with the fear of Yahweh.Wisdom & Knowledge, Madness & Folly can all leave you empty.THE SOLUTIONThe teacher tested pleasure & wealth. (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)The teacher tested wisdom. (Ecclesiastes 2:12-16)This led to despair. (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23)There is a season & a time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)The teacher wonders if it would be better not to be born at all… (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)A little is better with contentment. (Ecclesiastes 4:4-8)Two are better than one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)Better to be poor but wise. (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16)ENJOY God's Gifts! (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 & 3:9-13)

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 10-19-2025

Discover how to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor! In this episode, Alexandra shares how God's natural foods can be rich, satisfying, and full of energy-boosting goodness. Learn biblical principles of nutrition and how to enjoy delicious, faith-based meals that fuel your body and spirit. (Keywords: Christian wellness, biblical nutrition, healthy eating for Christian women, holistic health podcast) Episode Summary If you've ever believed that eating healthy means eating bland, boring, tasteless food — this episode will change your mind! In this uplifting, faith-fueled conversation, Alexandra shares how she went from “junk food queen” to thriving on flavorful, nourishing foods the way God intended. You'll learn how real, natural ingredients can boost your energy, improve your health, and satisfy your taste buds — all while glorifying God through your choices. Who This Episode Is For This episode is for Christian women who want to eat healthy without losing joy or flavor, who are tired of modern diet confusion, and who want to honor God with their health and habits. What You'll Learn How to shift your mindset from “healthy eating = boring” to “God's design = delicious” The real difference between raw dairy and conventional dairy Why cacao is a natural superfood that supports energy and mood How to make an easy, nourishing Chocolate Banana Smoothie that your whole family will love The deeper truth about how health connects to your spiritual life, relationships, and environment Time-Stamped Highlights 00:00 – Breaking the “Healthy = Boring” Myth Alexandra opens up about her past as a self-proclaimed junk food queen and how cultural lies about food shaped her habits. 01:00 – God's Blueprint for Delicious Health Learn how foods raised and grown the way God designed them — free from pesticides, antibiotics, and artificial ingredients — are naturally flavorful and energizing. 01:57 – Chocolate Banana Smoothie Recipe Try this five-ingredient recipe (from Navitas Organics) that's both simple and satisfying: 1 cup almond milk, coconut milk, or raw dairy 1 frozen banana 1 tbsp cacao powder 1½ tbsp almond butter (or peanut butter) A pinch of sea salt Blend and enjoy! 03:15 – Why Raw Dairy Is Different Discover the health benefits of raw dairy and why pasteurized milk just doesn't compare. (Hear more in Episodes 20 and 21 with Alexandra's guest who healed from Crohn's and rheumatoid arthritis!) 04:15 – Ingredient Breakdown: Faith-Fueled Nutrition Coconut Milk: Supports immunity and gut health Almonds: Great for brain, skin, and heart Bananas: Boosts mood and digestion Cacao: Rich in antioxidants and natural energy Himalayan Pink Salt: Balances electrolytes and supports whole-body health 06:00 – Mindset Shift: Food as God Designed It Alexandra encourages listeners to embrace food freedom — not legalism — by focusing on nourishing, natural foods that bring joy and vitality. 06:37 – The Faith and Health Connection True wellness isn't just about food or fitness. It's about your spiritual life, mental health, relationships, and peace — all interconnected through God's design. Key Takeaways Healthy food doesn't have to be boring — it's flavorful when prepared God's way. Real, natural foods nourish your body, mind, and spirit. You can enjoy rich, delicious meals without guilt or restriction. Don't fall for health legalism — focus on balance, gratitude, and honoring God. Your energy, peace, and joy start with aligning your health with biblical wisdom. Try It: Chocolate Banana Smoothie This recipe is a perfect example of simple, faith-fueled eating — it tastes like dessert but fuels your body with real nutrition. Try it for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up! Call to Action: Start Feeling Better Naturally If you're ready to boost your energy, simplify your health habits, and find peace in your body and spirit — grab your free guide:

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 10-12-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 10-05-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 09-28-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 09-21-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 09-14-2025

Segment 1 • Todd reflects on God's kindness in creation, quoting C.S. Lewis on earthly pleasures pointing to greater ones to come. • Ken Ham is a crook? Todd has thoughts. • Cornerstone Conference was a major success—filled with encouragement and fellowship. Segment 2 • Todd and Jimmy compare their conference weekends—Cornerstone and White Harvest. • Scott Klusendorf praised as the best pro-life apologist; Greg Koukl to guest soon. • Darrell Harrison warns against theology that never gets applied; Phil Johnson's return was a blessing. Segment 3 • Parents who feel “ghosted” by their kids are not alone—this is a growing societal trend. • The local church is essential—only place to fully practice the “one anothers.” • Parents can't play Holy Spirit for their kids—must trust God and His means. Segment 4 • The danger of cell phones in shaping kids' views of life and marriage. • OnlyFans reflects a broken sexual culture; many young men still long for marriage. • Practical counsel: start acting like a husband/father now, and look for a biblically grounded wife. ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn't be more thankful for you if we tried!

Listen as Deacon Jason Hinrichs continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 08-31-2025

Listen as Pastor Randy Fuller continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 08-24-2025

Psalm 98:1-9, 2 Chronicles 7:11-9:31, 1 Corinthians 11:2-34. It is out of his love for you that God created you to worship According to the *Westminster Shorter Catechism*, humankind's ‘chief end is to glorify God and to *enjoy* him for ever'

Psalm 98:1-9, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Corinthians 11:11-34. It is out of his love for you that God created you to worship According to the *Westminster Shorter Catechism*, humankind's ‘chief end is to glorify God and to *enjoy* him for ever'

Listen as Pastor Randy Fuller continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 08-17-2025

Psalm 98:1-9, 2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Corinthians 11:11-34. It is out of his love for you that God created you to worship According to the *Westminster Shorter Catechism*, humankind's ‘chief end is to glorify God and to *enjoy* him for ever'

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 08-10-2025

Most Christians know the importance of taking their faith seriously. But getting too serious when it comes to spiritual disciplines or ministry responsibilities can miss God's heart for relationship. Thankfully, our loving and joyful Papa wants to help us move from duty into sharing his delight.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi invite you to glorify God by enjoying the radiance of Jesus all around you! You'll learn to enjoy God through simple practices like sitting and relaxing, appreciating nature, and savoring time with friends. Resources for this Episode:Breath Prayer GuidesAttend a Soul Shepherding RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 08-03-2025

Listen as Pastor Jake Ledet continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 07-27-2025

Associate Pastor Ron King continues our Ecclesiastes series.Have you ever found yourself chasing "just a little bit more" yet always feeling empty? Today, we're diving into wisdom from Solomon, the wealthiest man in history, who still struggled profoundly with satisfaction. In Ecclesiastes 5 and 6, Solomon exposes the truth that money itself never satisfies, we can't take our earthly treasures with us, and failing to find joy in God's gifts isn't just sad — it's spiritually corrosive.But there's hope. God offers a different path where we express deep gratitude for what we have and invest our lives in what truly lasts. If you're ready to break free from the endless hamster wheel of dissatisfaction and step into a life of authentic contentment, God has something powerful for you today.Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 13, 2025, at 10:15am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.Key Moments00:00 Welcome01:06 Message: Finding Joy in What You Already Have05:31 Lesson 1: Money Never Satisfies09:32 Lesson 2: You Can't Take It With You12:34 Lesson 3: Enjoy God's Gifts17:54 Lesson 4: The Evil of Ingratitude22:28 Lesson 5: The Limits of Human Understanding26:15 Closing Remarks

Listen as Pastor Randy Fuller continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 07-13-2025

Listen as Pastor Will Faber continues our series going through the book of Philippians.Northbrook church is a Gospel-Centered Church in North Fort Worth striving to Enjoy God, Make Disciples, & Plant Churches.Sermon Date: 07-06-2025

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and the power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.”  - Ecclesiastes 5:19What if true joy doesn't come from gaining more, but from gratefully receiving what God has already provided? Today, John Cortines joins us to explore what he calls the Cycle of Grateful Living—and how it transforms our approach to money and contentment.John Cortines is the Director of Grantmaking at The Maclellan Foundation. He is the author of our new study on the book of Ecclesiastes, Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money, as well as the co-author of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School and True Riches: What Jesus Really Said About Money and Your Heart.The Heart of Ecclesiastes: Joy as a GiftEcclesiastes 5:18–20 forms the foundation of our new Wisdom Over Wealth study:“It is good and fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil... this is God's gift to man... God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” - Ecclesiastes 5:18–20These verses, nestled within the longest section on money in the book, offer a radical invitation: rather than striving for more, we're called to enjoy what we've already received. Even the ability to enjoy life's blessings is a divine gift.Introducing the Cycle of Grateful Living: E.A.T.To help us live out this vision, here's a simple acronym from Ecclesiastes 5:19: E.A.T.—Enjoy, Accept, Toil.Enjoy God's ProvisionEverything we have—our wealth, relationships, health, and even the capacity to enjoy them—is a gift from God. Acknowledging this turns entitlement into gratitude and replaces striving with trust. Accept Life's BrevityEcclesiastes frequently reflects on death, not to breed fear, but to awaken us to the preciousness of life. Acceptance of our limits and mortality grants deeper purpose and contentment in the present moment. Toil with JoyWork is not something to escape from. Ecclesiastes calls us to rejoice in our toil. True fulfillment isn't found in early retirement or unending leisure, but in the meaningful work God places before us.What Gets in the Way?Gratitude can often feel elusive in the routines of everyday life. Often, we slip into discontent when we:Take God's provision for grantedIgnore life's brevity and live mindlesslyComplain about work instead of finding purpose in itThe world's promises—especially those of financial independence or early retirement (FIRE)—can become mirages. We've probably all been there, dreaming that if we work hard and save enough, we will someday be free. But that vision of life can be so hollow because the human condition is to be oriented to purpose, to work. Even if you're retired, it's not so you can sit on a beach for 20 years.We were made to participate in God's creative, redemptive work. That's why embracing our toil with joy brings far more satisfaction than escaping it.Wealth Without Joy: A Modern ParadoxWhile many of us live more comfortably than royalty of past centuries—with cars, clean water, air conditioning, and vacations—anxiety and discontent remain widespread.Billionaires are often no happier than the rest of us. Without a grateful heart, even abundance can feel empty.The Cycle of Grateful Living isn't just about how much we have—it's about how we relate to what we have. It teaches us to stop chasing wealth and start engaging with it through the lens of joy, acceptance, and purpose.From Ecclesiastes to Jesus: A Unified MessageJesus echoes the wisdom of Ecclesiastes in Luke 12. He reminds us of the birds and flowers—simple creatures that don't worry, yet are lovingly provided for by God.“Consider the lilies, how they grow... If God so clothes the grass... how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” - Luke 12:27–28James 1:10–11 also makes a similar connection where riches are likened to wildflowers—beautiful for a moment, but quickly fading. The message is clear: our time is brief, but God is faithful.So, how should we respond? By living present to God's provision, content in our limitations, and faithful in our work.Ecclesiastes 5:20 offers a powerful conclusion:“He will not much remember the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”What does this look like practically? It's about presence. A life that's not dominated by worry or comparison, but one that's centered on Jesus. It's a heart too full of gratitude to be caught up in regret.Invite Jesus Christ into this moment. Ask for help to enjoy what He's provided, to accept this season, and to do today's work with joy.Every generation has had its turn. Ours is now. The call of Ecclesiastes is to live wisely in the present, not with frantic striving, but with deep joy, humble acceptance, and faithful effort.We're like the birds and flowers. Here for a precious moment, sustained by the generous hand of God. Let's embrace the Cycle of Grateful Living.Want to Go Deeper?If you're ready to experience joy in the everyday and live a grateful life rooted in God's wisdom, check out Wisdom Over Wealth, written by John Cortines. This month, when you give a gift of $35 or more, we'll send you a copy as our way of saying thank you for supporting this ministry. Visit FaithFi.com/wisdom to learn more.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm retired and own my home, but I'm facing some financial trouble. A lien was just placed on my house, and I'm worried I might lose it. I also have more than $3,000 in credit card debt, and I'm unsure of the following steps to take.I was recently at the bank and they offered me a HELOC, even though I don't really need one. They ran a hard credit check, and I noticed the credit score they showed was over 20 points lower than what I had seen on my own report. Why is there such a big difference?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Enjoy God is the most important thing in life.