Podcasts about gospel why

Ask Your Evangelism Question Now!In this special August 2024 episode of Gospel Talks, we tackle a thoughtful question from a listener in Statesville, North Carolina: How do you share the Gospel when someone is fixated on controversial issues like abortion, gender, and sexuality, and refuses to even consider the Christian position? This episode explores how to navigate these challenging conversations without getting sidetracked by heated debates.We dive into key principles:Emphasizing the Gospel: Why it's essential to stay focused on the core message of salvation, which is the primary need everyone has and what the Holy Spirit is actively working to convict hearts about (John 16:7-8).Respecting Different Approaches: God uses each of us uniquely, even when our methods vary. Imperfect presentations can still lead to transformation.Avoiding Unproductive Arguments: How debates often create division instead of understanding, and how to avoid getting caught in fruitless disputes.Instead of getting drawn into emotionally charged controversies, we discuss the importance of recognizing the deeper soul needs in those you're witnessing to and addressing them with gentleness and empathy (2 Timothy 2:24-26). You'll also hear practical tips for briefly and respectfully responding to tough questions by pointing directly to God's Word rather than getting lost in endless arguments.Tune in as we explore how to maintain a spirit of grace and truth while guiding conversations toward the Gospel—the only message that truly changes hearts and lives.Support the showSubscribe to our podcast today! More Tools:

God's design for the church has always been to create a rich community where all believers can mature as they learn to connect with and serve God and each other. However, we know that Satan is relentless in his attempts to destroy the work of the church. One of the Enemy's most effective strategies is spreading misguided theology that emphasizes performance over our universal need for grace. In this episode, I'll share several signs that a community may be fostering shame and hiding rather than promoting honesty and growth. In this episode, you'll learn:  Specific scriptures that describe God's design for the church's design and purpose Why we have to anticipate the impact of our actions inducing shame in others Why grace is so essential to the Gospel Why being judgemental of others is a sign of how harshly we criticize ourselves Clear indicators that a church is spreading misguided theology   Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame Order your eBook or print book on Amazon here. Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.

Bible Study: (2:22) Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62 Father discuses the longest reading of the year Jn 8:1-11 Would Jesus ever condemn anyone?  Sunday's Readings (16:25)Hebrews: Loud Crys and Tears John's Gospel: Why was Jesus so upset? Letters:  (29:09) - Fr.'s show is the highlight of my day (30:26) - New American Standard Bible - Thoughts?  (32:41) - Does modesty vary by culture?  Word of the Day: Susanna (33:01)Callers: (33:28) - Can a baptized Catholic go to confession if they have not received any of the other sacraments? (34:29) - John 12:30 and 33. Does the same Bible verse that pertains to Jesus and his suffering relate to us? (38:06) - Can you recommend a verse in the bible on healing? (41:50) - What do you about a child, born/baptized Catholic, but thinks is not Catholic anymore?   (43:59) - When someone dies. How long should we pray for them? (46:12) - When we do pass away where will we be that same day and if we are in purgatory/heaven will we have a body the right away?

Talk notes: Verse for the Year: Romans 1:16 The Gospel: What it is The Gospel? The Gospel: Why we might be ashamed of it? The Gospel: Why we shouldn't be ashamed of it?

With nearly 80% of the unchurched believing we are in the last days we have to ask ourselves if we're doing all we can to share the Gospel. The world is coming unglued and still, only about 1% of Christians are sharing their faith. What can we do to ensure that more people find their way to Heaven when the trumpet sounds? We need to use the time we have left to tell our unsaved friends about the love of Jesus and do all we can to bring everybody, every day closer to Jesus. Host Barry Meguiar is a car guy and businessman who hosted the popular TV show, Car Crazy, on Discovery Networks for 18 years. He loves cars, but he loves Jesus even more! Learn more about Barry at IgniteAmerica.com. Learn more about:  -       How many Christians are sharing the Gospel-       Why many believe we're living in the last days-       What percentage of churches are preaching the message of salvation-       Who has created a new version of the Ten Commandments-       What a one world government looks like Visit Why Share on IgniteAmerica.com to learn why it is important for every believer to faithfully live God's Great Commandment as a means to help move everyone, every day closer to Jesus. Faith Sharing Stories are video stories of people just like you having fun sharing their faith and helping to provide the spark of revival. Sign up to receive emails that will bring you practical faith-sharing tips and powerful inspiration. 

Why did John write a fourth Gospel-- Why do we constantly review the same material over and over-- Surprisingly, the answer is a matter of life or death-

Why did John write a fourth Gospel-- Why do we constantly review the same material over and over-- Surprisingly, the answer is a matter of life or death-

In this episode John reviews his pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Victor and explains why many refer to the Holy Land as the Fifth Gospel. John and Victor discuss: - Why the Holy Land is referred to as the 5th Gospel - Why everyone needs to visit the Holy Land - Favorite memories with Angela from the trip - Why he travels with Select International - The dual mission of pilgrimage - Some of the places that impacted him the most - The struggles of Christians in the Holy Land #justaguyinthepew #catholic #evangelization #jesus #pilgrimage #holyland #Selectinternationaltravel #ministry #podcast #mensministry BECOME A MONTHLY SUPPORTER www.donorbox.org/pew START A MEN'S GROUP IN YOUR PARISH! www.justaguyinthepew.com DOWNLOADS Get a copy of my new eBook, “12 Ways Guys Can Get Closer to Jesus”! HTTPS://JUSTAGUYINTHEPEW.COM/EBOOK NEW: Shop the store! We have a new Just a Guy in the Pew store where you can stock up on great merch HERE: HTTPS://STORE.JUSTAGUYINTHEPEW.COM/

The Gospel may be the most familiar element of your faith, but have you ever stopped to consider: what kind of Gospel have I heard? As we continue this conversation on the transforming power of the Gospel, Caleb is asking us to think about what expectations or perhaps traditions have we added to the Gospel. Unpacking this concept may give us clues as to why it's harder to trust God in the middle of our pain.  The truth is that we were always designed to live connected to God. In our flesh, we long to make a name for ourselves and add to the work of the Gospel. But there's nothing left to accomplish-it is finished. So come rest in this truth as Caleb and I as we dive into a conversation about the beauty of God's gift to us on the cross.    In this episode you'll learn: Why it can be challenging to trust God without examining your view of the Gospel Why it's important to never become too common or simple for us Questions you can ask God when your heart and pain are exposed How it's easy to miss the Gospel's gift in a culture consumed with establishing a unique identity How a renewed look at the Gospel can impact how we approach Christmas this year It's HERE! Grab your copy of Lifted From Shame Pre-order your eBook or print book on Amazon here. Print and eBook are available now through the publisher here.

It's been a minute since the last episode of the Theology for the People podcast dropped. That's because we're currently in the process of recording episodes for Season 2 which will be released over the next several months. Some of the topics we will be discussing this year include: How Adoption is a Picture of the Gospel Why the Ascension is More Important than You Might Think Did the Reformation Reach the East? Orthodox Churches and the Protestant Reformation The True Story of St. Patrick of Ireland What is Deconstruction, and How Should We Respond? And more! Also, stay tuned for more information about my upcoming book: I Could Never Believe In...: Responding to 9 of the Most Difficult Questions for Christianity. More information about the book and its release coming soon. Thanks for listening, and keep an eye on your podcast app for new episodes coming soon! If you'd like to suggest a topic for the podcast, you can do so here: https://nickcady.org/ask-a-question-or-suggest-a-topic/

The final sermon in our series looking at "Engaging the Gospel - Why the Gospel is still good news" We talk today about how the Gospel really IS Jesus.

This week we arrive at week 8 in our 9 week series looking at Engaging the Gospel - Why the Gospel is still Good News. We talk about Shalom community. What is community, and why would anyone want to join the church community? Historically, the church has been labelled with some unfortunate character traits, we talk today about what those labels are, and then how we go about changing those labels into the community that Jesus modelled for us to be.

This is week 7 in our 9 week series looking at "Engaging the Gospel - Why the Gospel is still Good News" Today we talk about Purpose. Is there a purpose to this life? Does life have purpose? If so, what is it? Why are we here? Have a listen and hear about the Good News of Purposeful Livin

This is week 6 of our series called "Engaging the Gospel - Why the Gospel is Still Good News" and this week we talk about the Good News of Hope even amidst all the evil in the world. Many of us have asked the question "Why did this happen?" in our lives at some point, over a job loss, an illness, a death, and if God is a good God, why does all this happen? Have a listen as we try to unpack some of this today!

Sermon Outline: A church is a holy temple assembled by the Gospel A church is a holy temple built of holy stones Family Discussion Questions: What would make an Old Testament (before Christ) saint want to be in the temple? What made it possible for Israelites to enter the temple without being destroyed? How is the church to be built? What are some common alternative ways of building a church? What is the impact on the makeup of the church which is gathered by other "draws" than the Gospel? Why does Paul warn about a church which is knowingly made up of both Christians and non-Christians? What makes it not only acceptable but important to say that a Christian is a holy part of the temple of God? Can you say, along with David, that it is better to be in the courts of God for one day than anywhere else for 1000 days? What assurance is given to worried believers in the church of Philidelphia about their place in the temple?

Deuteronomy 34.1-12, Psalm 90.1-6, 13-17, 1 Thessalonians 2.1-8, Matthew 22.34-46; What does Hamilton have to do with the Gospel? Why doesn't Moses get to stand in the Promised Land? Should we make more room for lament? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Brian Johnson. Brian serves at Haymarket Church in Haymarket, VA.

Deuteronomy 34.1-12, Psalm 90.1-6, 13-17, 1 Thessalonians 2.1-8, Matthew 22.34-46; What does Hamilton have to do with the Gospel? Why doesn't Moses get to stand in the Promised Land? Should we make more room for lament? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Brian Johnson. Brian serves at Haymarket Church in Haymarket, VA.

Jon had a series of questions this week brought on by a Francis Chan message on why he was leaving the states to enter the mission field. With scripture as a guide we discuss: Is every follower of Jesus meant to leave their home to spread the Gospel? Why not? What does it look like, in a tangible way, for a "normal" Christian to seek first the kingdom of God in their lives? This week is a doozy but it was very helpful for Jon and we believe it will be for you too. Thanks, as always, for listening and have an awesome week!

If it's good news, then why would we be ashamed of it? Because the Gospel offends our intellect, our pride, and our cultural superiority. We zoom in on two key questions from Romans 1: What is the Gospel? Why does Paul say he's not ashamed of the Gospel?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 If your parish suddenly disappeared, would anyone notice? Are we living out the Gospel in our neighborhoods and communities? Because we believe the same things that the first Christians taught. But do we act like them? Last week, we talked about the importance of prayer. But we can't forget almsgiving in our spiritual practice. We've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you work through how you can better love your neighbor. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/be_be_bee_148 Questions you might be struggling with, that we'll touch on in the video: How do we act like Christians? How do I love my neighbor? How to act like a Christian? What is unchristian like behavior? What are Bible rules to live by? What is social justice in Christianity? What does the Bible say about social justice? What is social justice really mean? Social justice and the Gospel? Why do young adults leave the Church? Why do people quit going to Church?

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 If your parish suddenly disappeared, would anyone notice? Are we living out the Gospel in our neighborhoods and communities? Because we believe the same things that the first Christians taught. But do we act like them? Last week, we talked about the importance of prayer. But we can't forget almsgiving in our spiritual practice. We've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you work through how you can better love your neighbor. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/be_be_bee_148 Questions you might be struggling with, that we'll touch on in the video: How do we act like Christians? How do I love my neighbor? How to act like a Christian? What is unchristian like behavior? What are Bible rules to live by? What is social justice in Christianity? What does the Bible say about social justice? What is social justice really mean? Social justice and the Gospel? Why do young adults leave the Church? Why do people quit going to Church?

WINNING WITH THE WORD “Winning with the Word” is a weekly blog that will help you to be a winner in life by applying God’s principles for living the abundant life as found in the Bible, God’s manual for life. AN INVITATION TO YOU: To follow this blog, click here.  If this blog has blessed you, please encourage your family and friends to subscribe as well. Thank you! ______________________________________           Do you prefer listening instead of reading? Then click below to listen to today’s blog post:   https://media.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/content.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/WWW_080320The_Dangers_of_Passivity.mp3 ______________________________________________ Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Monday, August 3, 2020. Today’s Podcast is Episode #31 in Series 2020 and is titled "The Dangers of Passivity." _______________________________________________ God hates passivity.  But the devil loves it. What is passivity? Passivity is the trait of holding back and letting someone else act in a given circumstance. Passive people avoid resistance and confrontation and give in to external influences.  Noted Bible teacher Francis Frangipane calls passivity "Satan's secret weapon," a tool to render Christ-Followers ineffective. As Frangipane further notes, "There is no room for a passive spirit in God's army."  There are times when passivity is warranted among Christ-followers, such as in submitting to God. But there are many more times when passivity is unwarranted and harmful both to the passive Christian and to the Body of Christ.  We are living in times in which passivity on the part of righteous people is causing the destruction of our nation. Demonic forces are taking down our country while far too many Christ-followers are sitting back and just watching.  Jesus warned us of what would happen in the last days. But He also commanded His Church to occupy until He comes. With what are we to occupy ourselves? We are to occupy ourselves with preaching the Gospel. But why is it that so many Christians are failing to preach the Gospel? Why is it that so many Christ-followers are simply allowing the enemy to encroach upon the Church? Why are they being passive? Here are some insights on passivity: 1) Passivity is a learned behavior.  It has psychological roots in rejection, abandonment, and fear.  Passive people are often self-centered rather than other-centered. They are afraid of speaking out because they are afraid of being rejected. Sadly, many Christ-followers fall into this category.  2) Passive people do not see themselves as passive. They will often object to accusations of passivity, replying that they work very hard and make many sacrifices in their families or ministries. While this may be true, it is an out-of-balance perspective.  Provision has many facets to it, and one facet is also bold leadership.  3) Passive people see themselves as victims, not as victors. This is contrary to what God says about us. Scripture tells us that we are more than conquerors through Christ Who loved us. This perspective is not the perspective of a passive person. The opposite of passivity is boldness. While passivity holds back, boldness pushes ahead. While passivity refuses to get involved and take action, boldness jumps at the opportunity to get involved and to take action.  Interestingly, Scripture rarely requires passivity but most often it requires boldness. In order to obey God's commands, we are often required to get out of our comfort zones and to speak out. For example, it is impossible to obey the Great Commission while being passive. In his excellent book, THE SPIRITUAL MAN, Watchman Nee writes this about passivity: "God has not called us to be passive. He has called us to fight. We are engaged in a spiritual battle of intense proportions,

“It’s in the broken pieces that we find the church being reshaped to fit the mission of God in new places, new people and new contexts.” - Brian Sanders The Underground Network is a diverse movement of microchurches living out the mission of God at the edges of society. In this episode, hear founder Brian Sanders share how their model of ministry activates the creativity of the church, and hear medical clinic director Kathryn Eng share how their Underground Clinic is doing exactly that in Tampa, Florida. Listen to Episode 38 to hear Brian and Kathryn share: Why their church hub is a co-working space, not a sanctuary How to use healthcare to show and share the Gospel Why the hierarchy must serve the decentralized in the 21st Century Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists at the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics. Support the show at http://praisehands.com/donate.

In this episode, we seek to examine what holiness looks like in the believer's life. We start with looking at the Holiness of God and thus its implications for us. We answer questions like: Why does God call us to holiness when he has paid our sin debt? What does this look like in our pursuit? How should we utilize social media for good and not let us encourage us in ways contrary to the Gospel? Why do we sometimes find the possibility of holiness so hard to believe? How does the Gospel encourage us to pursue holiness? Why is prayer important in our sanctification? Listen in and join this important conversation.

Why were the men kept from recognizing Jesus? Who’s responsible for sin?This week, Luther House of Study’s Director of Lutheran Theology, Dr. Steven Paulson, joins the podcast to talk about the Road to Emmaus where two men encounter the resurrected Jesus but don’t recognize him. You’ll hear Adam, Kiri, and Mason ask questions like:-Why is the empty tomb not the Gospel?-Why did Jesus appear to them after his resurrection?Support the show (https://www.lutherhouseofstudy.org/donate)

What is the Law and what is the Gospel? Why do we as Lutherans teach that rightly distinguishing the Law and Gospel is so important? Why do we need to teach both? Where do we find these in Scripture? How is all of this relevant to us today? Rev. Mark Nebel, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Red Bud, Illinois, and 1st Vice President of the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, joins host Rev. Sean Smith to discuss the Epitome of the Formula of Concord, Article V: The Law and the Gospel – Status of the Controversy.

What is the Gospel? Why is it good news? We take a look at 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, and the reality that God is God and we are not.God did not need human permission to establish good and evil, holy and profane. Our flesh naturally kicks against this truth. In fact, our first reaction to the Gospel tends to be accusation against God.

Deacon Jared RSS Luke 18:35-43And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God. Today’s Gospel begins with what might truly be called a “Gospel” message. The English word Gospel, a contraction of the phrase “Good Spell” which in Old English meant a “Good Tale,” would be more literally translated today as “Good News.” And that is precisely what today’s story begins with, a bustling crowd entering into Jericho as they discuss the good news of their day. The crowd passes by a blind man begging beside the side of the road, and this man asks the crowd what all the excitement is about. They reply that Jesus of Nazareth is on his way. This would be exciting news to anybody, but to the blind man, it is very good news.As the crowd continues to flow past him, the blind man cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those at the front of the crowd try to turn the blind man away, but he perseveres, repeating again, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This time Jesus hears him and asks for the man to be brought before him. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus inquires. The blind man does not hesitate, but immediately asks that he might receive his sight. Jesus grants this man his sight, saying that it was “his faith” that had made him well. It wasn’t just the blind man’s belief that Jesus was a great healer, or even the action of crying out to Jesus, but it was his faithful perseverance that had saved him.Why does Luke include this story in his Gospel? Why does the Church read it to us today? Is it simply a miracle story, meant as one more proof that Jesus was indeed God and therefore worthy of our worship? Or is there a more practical message to be found in this story? With this story, more than many others, I think the latter is true. As we prepare right now for the coming of the Light into the world at Christmas, the Church is reminding us that we all live in darkness, that each one of us is blind. Not metaphorically blind, but really blind. We are surrounded by a spiritual reality that we in fact cannot see. We cannot see this spiritual reality because our spirit has become darkened, our heart has become blind. For the Eastern Orthodox Church, the promise that “the pure in heart shall see God” is very real, and thus spiritual blindness is a very real malady. In fact, it is one of the more serious maladies faced by humanity.So what is this “Spiritual Blindness” the Church is reminding us of today? In Orthodox teaching, “spiritual blindness” is a malfunctioning of what in Greek is called the nous and is generally translated into English as “the mind” or “the intellect.” It is the nous St. Paul is talking about in Romans when he teaches, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” In modern culture we tend to think of the mind as the source of our person. We say things like, “I think therefore I am.” We think of the mind’s role is to tell our body what to do. But this is not the Orthodox teaching at all. And increasingly, it is not the scientific understanding either.Indeed medical science has become much better in recent decades about understanding the effect of the mind on the body, and the effect of body on the mind. And while science has been a little slower to recognize how spirituality might play into creating a truly healthy person, even here we have had a bit of a renaissance with doctors recommending spiritual practices like meditation or yoga.It is interesting that Christian spirituality almost never enters into the conversation. And this is not science’s fault nearly as much as it is Christianity’s. To a great extent Christianity has offered little to the conversation. Practices such as confession, fasting, prayer, and meditation, once regular practices for Christians, have slowly disappeared from among the faithful. I think this is because the Western Church, along with Western culture, bought into the notion of the human person is a being made up of a body, a mind, and a spirit, three separate parts. And with this in mind, they’ve relegated themselves to saving the spirit and left the body and the mind to the doctors.But for Orthodox Christians, the human person is a unity. The body, mind, and spirit are aspects of the single human person, not parts that can be separated. When God came to save humanity, he came to save us body, mind, and spirit alike. This is why we believe is a bodily resurrection. And just as much as Jesus came to save both the physical and the spiritual, this is also the mission of the Church. We are here to help people both physically and spiritually, and in fact these acts are often deeply connected.So, from the Orthodox perspective, the proper role of the mind is not to direct human action, but rather to function as the gateway or “eye” of the heart. The heart or the soul is where the Orthodox Church seats the person. The Church teaches that a healthy mind both guards what enters into the heart and guides what comes out of the heart. A darkened nous - what the Church describes as “spiritual blindness” – is a nous that accepts evil thoughts and directs us toward evil words and actions.Now most of us think of these evil words and actions as “sins.” But the meaning of the word translated as “sin” would be more properly be translated as something like “missing the mark” or “falling short.” Thus, when these evil words and actions happen, they are not themselves “sin” but rather evidence that sin has corrupted our heart. As Jesus taught, “Every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.” When the Church teaches that humanity has inherited their sin from generation to generation, it is this corruption of the heart she is talking about.Evagrius Ponticus, and St. John Cassian after him, codified a list of eight categories of evil thoughts or logismoi in the fourth and early fifth centuries. These are thoughts which the nous must try to keep from taking root in the heart, thoughts which would work to conform us “to the pattern of this world.” The list includes gluttony, lust, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness, vanity, and pride. You will most likely recognize some of these from the Western list of the “Seven Deadly Sins.” This is because Pope Gregory I adapted his list from that of Sts. Evagrius and John in the sixth century. Now when we hear about the “Seven Deadly Sins,” again, we think of a list of seven “very bad things we must not do.” But this is again to confuse the symptoms with the disease. Listen to how St. John Cassian describes a condition like dejection: “When [dejection] seizes our soul and darkens it completely, it prevents us from praying gladly, from reading Holy Scripture with profit and perseverance, and from being gentle and compassionate with our brethren.” He is clearly describing here a spiritual state of being, not a specific wrongdoing.Sins like anger, greed, gluttony, and vanity are every bit as much symptoms of a spiritual illness, symptoms of a heart corrupted by sin. When we begin to understand this, we can see why Jesus taught that to harbor anger in our heart is the same as to murder; to lust in our heart is the same as to practice infidelity; to hoard our wealth is the same as to steal. Realizing this truth can also help us to have compassion for our neighbors. In a legal system that conceives of behaviors as the problem, it is easy to punish or shun of the offender. But when we realize that many of the most offensive behaviors flow from sick hearts, hearts sick with a disease shared by all of us, this realization can help us find compassion as we strive to show love.So if the problem facing the mind is the onslaught of evil thoughts, is it safe to say that the mind is in some serious danger these days? Modern culture has created so many new and stunning ways to spread thoughts across the globe at a faster and faster rate. Life has become a constant barrage of headlines, tweets, and status updates. Some of the ideas we hear are good, some of them are bad, but when we get so many all at once, the task of discernment becomes difficult. And if our mind becomes overwhelmed, even the good ideas can become bad for us.I ran across a great passage, again by St. John Cassian, describing vanity, and illustrating how even seemingly good ideas can become damaging to the soul. “The vice of vanity is difficult to fight against, because it has many forms and appears in all of our activities – in our way of speaking, in what we say as well as in our silence, at work, in vigils and fasting, in prayer and reading, in stillness and in long-suffering. Through all of these it seeks to strike down the soldier of Christ. When it cannot seduce one with extravagant clothes, it tries to tempt them by means of shabby ones.” Here we see that even a seemingly good act like avoiding fancy clothes can become itself a temptation from the Evil One. And not all of these poisonous ideas, these evil logismoi, originate in our culture. The Church teaches that some logismoi, logismoi that seem to originate within us, are like arrows shot at us by the devil and his demons. These logismoi are often temptations to judge others, elevate ourselves, or to act out in anger. These tests often occur suddenly, and the Church suggests we to swat them away just as swiftly. For it is not when these temptations arise, but when they are allowed to settle into our hearts, that they become our responsibility. As John Climacus writes, “When [the demons] take control of the soul and darken the light of the mind, then there is no longer within our miserable souls either temperance, or discernment, or self-understanding, or humility, but instead there is an apathy, a lack of discernment, and spiritual blindness.”So with so many attacks coming from within and without, how are we expected to keep guard over our hearts? What advice does the Church give us? One thing suggested by the Church, is avoiding undue concern for this world. In the version of Unseen Warfare compiled and edited by Theophan the Recluse we are warned to guard our mind from “too much knowledge and curiosity. For if we fill it up with a quantity of information, ideas, and thoughts, without excluding those that are vain, unsuitable, and harmful…it is no longer able to understand clearly what is useful for our true self-correction and perfection. Let tales of the past and news of the present pass you by, and let all the changes in the world and its kingdoms pass before you as though they did not exist at all.” Living in today’s 24/7 news cycle, it is hard to imagine the strength of will that would be necessary to let “the news of the present pass you by.” But this is the recommendation of the Church.And to be clear, this is not about being uninformed, but rather about avoiding indiscriminate consumption of the news, spending hours consuming what often amounts to little more than gossip. The Church is suggesting that you take control of your news consumption, just as you would your food consumption, including even occasional fasts.Also just like food, it is not simply about consuming less, but we should also look at what we consume and work to consume more of the healthy stuff. We are encouraged to seek out and surround ourselves with the good thoughts, or good news. Our written prayers are bathed in beautiful and poetic thoughts, in true thoughts. We should be consuming these daily. And if words are occasionally hard for us to focus on, our Church is well aware of the power of images. Our Church is filled with them. Fill your house, your car, your desk with them as well.Beyond all of this, beyond guarding against the bad thoughts and seeking out the good thoughts, we are ultimately called to free ourselves from thoughts or logismoi altogether. The Church describes a state of the heart where we may attain a true inner peace. This state is called hesychia, often translated as stillness. This does not mean that we stop thinking, but rather that our heart is no longer besieged by invading thoughts and is therefore free to see and to think clearly. St. Maximus teaches that a purified heart will be “wise, good, powerful, compassionate, merciful, and long-suffering; in short, it includes within itself almost all the divine qualities.” Again we hear an echo of that beatitude, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”The work of acquiring hesychia is where prayer and vigils and fasting can be helpful. St. Thalassios teaches, “Tire your body with fasting and vigils, and you will be able to repulse the lethal thoughts of pleasure.” And this is where our little Church, this little sanctuary in middle of Davenport, can be of great service to the community. This little mission has the power to become an oasis of peace and a place of healing. If people are able to come in and for an hour or two “lay aside all earthly cares” and focus on their Lord and God and Savior, can you imagine a better gift than that. John Climacus taught that, “it is the understanding which is obtained through divine illumination that can brighten the darkness present in others.” We must work to bring that peace and light into our own souls, so that we will be able to share that light with the souls of others.It is not just vigils that assist in the pursuit of hesychia, but this is also where the Jesus Prayer is held in such high esteem by the Eastern Church. She knows it is so difficult for the mind to be silent, so the Church gives us good words to use when we struggle to silence the mind. These words are good for every occasion – “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me.” If repeated in earnest and in faith, Jesus is sure to calm that stormy sea within our heart, just as he once calmed the stormy sea at the cries of his disciples.These words, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” also bring us back to where we began today, for these are the words of the faithful blind man – “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” So I hope you can now see how the story of the blind man is not the story of a single miracle in the past, but rather a story selected to encourage each of us to faithfully seek out that same miracle. Each one of us is the blind man sitting on the side of the road. We must be like the blind man and cry out continually, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me!” Even when we are distracted by the assaults of the Evil One, we must continue to faithfully cry, “Lord have mercy!” And if we do this, we can be assured that our Lord who is always faithful, will call us to himself and say, “Receive your sight. Your faith has made you well.” Amen.

The Gospel is not a "get out of hell" card. The Gospel is the good news of the person and work of Jesus Christ. This sermon will answer the following questions: Why do we need the Gospel? What is the Gospel? Why is the Gospel important to us today?

Christian Romo asks us 3 questions he has been asked once by a friend: Why are you Christian? Why do you preach the Gospel? Why do you make disciples? Let us hear and be encouraged by the word of God through our brother Christian Romo from Chile. Eph 1:3-14 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Verses:Acts 2Discussion QuestionsWhat has been your understanding of & experience with the Holy Spirit?How do we get beyond the controversial & divisive history around the Spirit & experience what God intended?Have you ever been “cut to the heart” by the Gospel? Why or why not? If so, what result did it produce?What does “repentance” mean to you & what does it look like?Have you been baptized? Why or why not?How can Peter’s evangelistic structure (historic perspective, theological implications, call to respond) help us know how to share about Jesus? How important is it to know our context & the people we’re sharing it with?How does the Greenhouse live out the 4 aspects of Acts 2:42 (teaching, fellowship, worship, prayer)? Where are we strong & where are we weak? How do these concepts help you grow as a disciple who loves God, loves people & serves the world?

What is Mid Acts Dispensationalism? What do Mid Acts Dispensationalists believe about the Gospel? Why be concerned? What is wrong with what Mid Acts Dispensationalists believe and teach about the Gospel? Mid Acts are not rightly dividing the Word of God, the Bible, by falsely teaching that Paul and Peter preached different gospels.  Mid Acts Dispensationalism … Continue reading →

Therefore what? What is the point of all of the things we learn in the Gospel? Why do we understand them in our minds and struggle to get them into our hearts? Feel powerless from time to time? Feel accused that you are not doing well enough? Feel like you are never going to measure up? How would you like to feel the opposite of the feelings identified above? How would you Like to feel that you do measure up? How would you like to feel that you are going to make it? How would you like to feel that the Lord is pleased with where you are? Brothers and Sisters the answer to all of those questions came crashing down on Greg and Tyson as they began the journey toward Podcast 8. We feel strongly that if you are prepared to receive answers to all of the questions you have they will come to you as you ponder and pray about the principles of the Gospel laid out here and anywhere that truth is found. God has a work for you and for all of us! www.hissimpletruths.org Mentoring Program: https://hissimpletruths.org/mentoring Donate: https://hissimpletruths.org/donate

From the outside, it may look like Jason Gray has the perfect life. Now in his 10th year as a commercial Christian recording artist with a string of successful collaborations with some of the biggest names in Christian music, number one hit radio songs, touring with the likes of Natalie Grant, Lauren Daigle, and many more, it’d be easy for the casual onlooker to assume that Jason has it all together. But it doesn’t take more than a minute with him to realize that life has been anything but rosy for Jason, despite the popularity of his music and all the commercial success he has gained.   In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, John Chisum gets quickly to the deeper side of Jason Gray. In their thoughtful and transparent discussion, Jason shares candidly about how his broken, abusive home growing up, his speech impediment, his own divorce, and one of the darkest moments in his life in which he could have ended it all has influenced the transparency and depth of his writing. Jason performed three songs during this episode, Death Without a Funeral, With Every Act of Love, and Without Running Away… each a powerfully crafted and emotionally impacting song that reveals the deep well of his heart and the masterful level of wordsmithing and tune crafting Jason has come to be known for in his ministry.   Among the many awesome moments of this discussion, Jason talks about: How the “gift” of his speech impediment has shaped his songs How he creates “points of entry” for his listeners to go deeper in the Gospel Why our brokenness is the very place God meets us and how he captures those places in his songwriting The balance between too much/too little transparency in songwriting and how his mentor, Walter Wangerin, taught him how to “give” to his audience instead of “taking” from them through over-sharing How to redeem your pain properly and how God used him to pray for couples in distress despite his own divorce and pain Three song categories and how to write for each, including the kind that are “unhewn stones” not to be touched by craft and made as a simple offering to God Insightful thoughts on his own song processes and why he chooses to be “invisible” inside his songs How “taking tools off the table” leads to creativity beyond our normal capacities How writers such as Frederick Buechner and N.T. Wright have influenced his lyrics How God spoke to him through an agnostic folk singer named Paul Simon and how God is able to make himself heard with or without our permission What the future may be for his songwriting and ministry   Anyone cynical about contemporary Christian music has yet to discover Jason Gray. This podcast will stir your creativity, challenge your preconceived notions about who God can or cannot use, and will dare you to face your own brokenness and need for Jesus, whether you write songs or just love listening to them.   You can connect with Jason Gray at jasongraymusic.com and follow him on FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram. How to get involved Join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook and continue the discussion! https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuccessfulChristianSongwriters/ Check out all of the resources for you to become the songwriter you were meant to be at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com   If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

What are the basics of the Gospel? Why is the book of Romans so crucial to this? How do I read the book of Romans? In part two of our five-week series entitled 'Set Apart for the Gospel', Dr. John Neufeld uncovers chapters 1-4 in the book of Romans as an introduction to the Gospel. Watch this episode + more, weekly on JoyTV. Check your local listings for times and availability! If you have any comments or insights on today's episode, please feel free to contact us at truthandlifetoday.com/contact or call 1.888.663.2425. You can find TRUTH and LIFE Today here: Facebook Twitter YouTube Additional Bible teaching resources: Back to the Bible Canada Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Apps + Podcasts Back to the Bible Canada is a Canadian Bible teaching Christian radio + multimedia ministry that engages and encourages people in God's Word across Canada and around the world. Back to the Bible Canada is a Gospel-centered ministry. Copyright © 2018, Back to the Bible Canada. All rights reserved.

What are the basics of the Gospel? Why is the book of Romans so crucial to this? How do I read the book of Romans? In part two of our five-week series entitled 'Set Apart for the Gospel', Dr. John Neufeld uncovers chapters 1-4 in the book of Romans as an introduction to the Gospel. Watch this episode + more, weekly on JoyTV. Check your local listings for times and availability! If you have any comments or insights on today's episode, please feel free to contact us at truthandlifetoday.com/contact or call 1.888.663.2425. You can find TRUTH and LIFE Today here: Facebook Twitter YouTube Additional Bible teaching resources: Back to the Bible Canada Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Apps + Podcasts Back to the Bible Canada is a Canadian Bible teaching Christian radio + multimedia ministry that engages and encourages people in God's Word across Canada and around the world. Back to the Bible Canada is a Gospel-centered ministry. Copyright © 2018, Back to the Bible Canada. All rights reserved.

What is “The Gospel”? Why is it important? What don’t you already know about it that you should know?

Now that we know what the Gospel is and how it is received, now what? How should we spread the Gospel? Why should we have hope in the Gospel? Listen in to find out...

From the outside, it may look like Jason Gray has the perfect life. Now in his 10th year as a commercial Christian recording artist with a string of successful collaborations with some of the biggest names in Christian music, number one hit radio songs, touring with the likes of Natalie Grant, Lauren Daigle, and many more, it’d be easy for the casual onlooker to assume that Jason has it all together. But it doesn’t take more than a minute with him to realize that life has been anything but rosy for Jason, despite the popularity of his music and all the commercial success he has gained. In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, John Chisum gets quickly to the deeper side of Jason Gray. In their thoughtful and transparent discussion, Jason shares candidly about how his broken, abusive home growing up, his speech impediment, his own divorce, and one of the darkest moments in his life in which he could have ended it all has influenced the transparency and depth of his writing. Jason performed three songs during this episode, Death Without a Funeral, With Every Act of Love, and Without Running Away… each a powerfully crafted and emotionally impacting song that reveals the deep well of his heart and the masterful level of wordsmithing and tune crafting Jason has come to be known for in his ministry. Among the many awesome moments of this discussion, Jason talks about: How the “gift” of his speech impediment has shaped his songs How he creates “points of entry” for his listeners to go deeper in the Gospel Why our brokenness is the very place God meets us and how he captures those places in his songwriting The balance between too much/too little transparency in songwriting and how his mentor, Walter Wangerin, taught him how to “give” to his audience instead of “taking” from them through over-sharing How to redeem your pain properly and how God used him to pray for couples in distress despite his own divorce and pain Three song categories and how to write for each, including the kind that are “unhewn stones” not to be touched by craft and made as a simple offering to God Insightful thoughts on his own song processes and why he chooses to be “invisible” inside his songs How “taking tools off the table” leads to creativity beyond our normal capacities How writers such as Frederick Buechner and N.T. Wright have influenced his lyrics How God spoke to him through an agnostic folk singer named Paul Simon and how God is able to make himself heard with or without our permission What the future may be for his songwriting and ministry   Anyone cynical about contemporary Christian music has yet to discover Jason Gray. This podcast will stir your creativity, challenge your preconceived notions about who God can or cannot use, and will dare you to face your own brokenness and need for Jesus, whether you write songs or just love listening to them. You can connect with Jason Gray at jasongraymusic.com and follow him on FaceBook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuccessfulChristianSongwriters/?fref=nf

Is it enough to just repent and believe in the Gospel of Christ? What does it imply to hold fast to the Gospel? Why should believers preach the Gospel? How should the believers support the Gospel? This inspiring teaching (final part in a series of 5) aptly provides right answers to these questions and also examines right responses or attitudes to the Gospel of Christ.