Podcast appearances and mentions of Henry Blackaby

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Best podcasts about Henry Blackaby

Latest podcast episodes about Henry Blackaby

The Savvy Sauce
Generational Blessing, Stories, and Rhythms: Experiencing God in Everyday Life with Brothers, Mike Blackaby and Daniel Blackaby (Episode 298)

The Savvy Sauce

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2026 65:16


Lamentations 3:25 NLT “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.”   *Transcription Below*   Mike Blackaby serves as a church planter in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, where he lives with his wife, Sarah, and their four children. He holds a PhD in Worldview and Apologetics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books and Bible studies including God, Heroes, and Everyday Dragons, Experiencing God in Everyday Life and Straight to the Heart: Communicating the Gospel in an Emotionally Driven Culture. Listen to his sermons.   Daniel Blackaby is the author and co-author of nine books, including Experiencing God in Everyday Life, 7 Steps for Knowing, Doing, and Experiencing the Will of God and God, Heroes, and Everyday Dragons, as well as the imaginative fiction trilogy The Lost City Chronicles. Daniel holds a PhD in Christianity and the Arts and a ThM in Philosophy, Apologetics & Worldview from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He speaks on cultural engagement, Christianity and the arts, apologetics and reaching the next generation for Christ. He is the founder of The Collision (thecollision.org), a multimedia ministry designed to help Christians thoughtfully and biblically engage with culture and the arts. Daniel is married to Sarah, and they are the parents of twin boys.    Blackaby Website   Thank you to our sponsor: Sam Leman Eureka   Questions and Topics We Cover: How has faith been strategically passed along in your family to the next generation (and how can we do the same?!) How do your families personally preserve these stories of the generations of faith? Can you tell us more about Spiritual Markers and share how we can use this practice in our family to disciple our children?    Related Savvy Sauce Episodes: Brain Science and Spiritual Abundance with Ken Baugh Theology and Discipleship with Ken Baugh Gospel Truth for Salvation and Sanctification with Hunter Beless   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 1:45) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today, over 55 years later, at Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka. Owned and operated by the Bertschi family, Sam Leman and Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at lemangm.com.   Mike and Daniel Blackaby are my guests for today. They come from a long line of incredible generational faith, and so they're going to share some stories about how they've inherited this rich legacy, and then also inspire us to do the same in our families. They also are authors of this recent resource, Experiencing God in Everyday Life.   Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Mike and Daniel. Glad to have both of you joining and would you first mind both introducing yourself and share your connection to Dr. Henry Blackaby, and maybe tell a few stories about his life to illustrate how his legacy has helped shape the heart behind this recent study.   Mike Blackaby: (1:46 - 5:00) Sure. My name is Mike Blackaby. I'm the oldest grandson of Henry, so I'm not gonna say that he loved me the most, but he loved me the longest of all of his grandkids, and I remember we lived close to him for a while, and then far, and then close again, so it was interesting being around him when we were teenagers, and then being around him later on as our own children were being born, sort of two significant times in our lives where we lived close, and I just remember when I was a teenager chatting with him about, what am I gonna do with my life?   What am I gonna do after high school? You know, like what everybody tries to figure out, and his advice was really just, if you follow God one day at a time, then you'll be exactly where you need to be in 10 years. You don't necessarily have to plan out your whole life. God has a plan, and you trust him today, and you'll end up where you need to be tomorrow, and so I've really taken that advice ever since then, and so I was grateful for that, especially at the time when I was trying to figure out, what am I gonna do with my life after high school graduation?   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I'm Daniel Blackaby, his second oldest grandchild. He would have probably said his favorite. Yes, second oldest, first favorite, and I live down here in Atlanta, Georgia, actually in the same neighborhood that he lived in. I came on to work for the family ministry, so kind of got to overlap with him the last couple years of his life, which was just a blessing to see him up close. Obviously, we grew up around him at various stages, but just kind of see him finish well, and to have both Mike and I have kids.   Our oldest kids are around the same age, and I think one of the memories, I was gonna share the one that Mike just shared, but I think one of the memories that, I don't know, was meaningful for me came near the end, and I actually wasn't even there personally, but the last picture, actually, that was taken of my grandfather before he passed away was actually him with my two, I have twin boys, and my father was gonna be on the road traveling, and he had stopped by, and I was busy doing something, but he took my kids, and they got to spend a bit of time with him, and there's a picture with them kind of by his chair, smiling, and I just sort of had that last moment. I think that's, and then he passed away, I think just a couple days after that, but the last time any of the family got to see him, and for me, it's just such a testimony of his faithfulness. He has his great-grandchildren around him, and being able to be blessed by him, even at the end of his life.   He had the opportunity to travel the world, do amazing things, but I think his, for me, his lasting legacy is just the way that he inspired his family, that he lived in such a way that even his great-grandchildren are inspired by his faith, and want to hear more about his story. So even though I wasn't there, that picture of my two kids sort of representing my family has just been a really meaningful one for me.   Laura Dugger: (5:01 - 5:12) Such a life well-lived, and I'm so curious, how has faith strategically been passed along in your family from one generation to the next?   Mike Blackaby: (5:14 - 10:41) Well, the funny thing is, I don't know that it's always been super strategic. In some ways, I think it's been organic. We didn't always maybe do all the things that you would expect a family to do. We didn't sit down at dinner time and have family devotions and stuff. I think we tried it for a while, and it never really took, but for us, when we watched our parents, both our mom and our dad, and aunts and uncles and grandfather, so many people live out their faith, it was just very real for them. There was never this sense of, I'm just doing this, or that they were different behind the scenes than they were when they were in ministry.   We got to see them on stage preaching, but then in the car on a road trip when they're frustrated with us annoying kids in the back, and there was no hypocrisy. It was the same thing, and I think something that's always stood out for me is, so much of our family was in ministry, so not just even in the faith, but in active Christian ministry, and we just never really heard our parents bad talk the church. There was lots of issues. There's always issues, and there's always things that happen, and it didn't mean that they wouldn't call out sin when there was sin, and not that, but this sense of, they always talked positively about God's church and about ministry, and I don't know, I think the more people I talk to, I think maybe that's not super common.   I think sometimes people, maybe especially pastor's kids, get turned off of it all because they see behind the scenes how, oh man, this is not good, and my dad, he served these people, but he kind of hated these people or whatever, and we just never really got that sense. It was very personal. It was very consistent. It was very authentic, and it was very positive, even though our dad and mom dealt with issues in ministry, and people are messy, right? You're gonna deal with that anywhere, but they're like, the church is God's plan A, and there is no plan B, and so my whole life, I've tried to be very, very slow to criticize the church in general.   A lot of people love to do that. I'm very slow to criticize something that God loves and Christ died for. It's not perfect, and there's issues that need to be pointed out for sure, but we just had a very positive example, I think, growing up, and so for myself at least, I was fearful of stepping into ministry because I was like, I can't preach. I can't get up in front of people, that sort of thing, but I also saw it as a great privilege. I didn't want to do it, but it wasn't because it was a bad thing to do. It was almost because it was such a good thing to do, and I didn't feel like I could or I was worthy of it or whatever, but just a very positive example, and the more people I talked to, the more rare that seems to be the case of people growing up in ministry families.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think too, like Mike said, it wasn't necessarily always strategic as far as super scheduled, or we do this at this day, but I do think strategic is to build on what Mike said as far as just the mindset. Like our family was always very intentional, not just about not bad talking and being negative, but to celebrate where God has done things, like very much a value on just telling the stories of what God has done, either currently of just, hey, this happened today, or else just sharing stories of, hey, have I ever told you the story about your grandpa when he did this, or what God has done in the past, to the point that even like my kids who were, wouldn't have been born until decades and decades after those stories, and never even probably heard them firsthand from my grandfather, or even the generations before their great-great grandfather, know a lot of these stories because they were just, we would tell them, we would share them, we'd celebrate the things that God has done in the past, the things God has done in the present, so I think maybe not strategic as far as, okay, this is our Bible time now, from whatever, 10 to 10:30, but I think very strategic as far as just, we are going to celebrate what God has done, and sort of cultivate a posture of always looking for God's activity, and then not taking it for granted that everyone just sort of knows that, like making sure our whole family knows, this is a God thing, let's talk about it, and so in some ways, I think we probably had more spiritual conversations than we would have, had we sort of been more structured in our Bible study time, because it was very natural to say, when God does something, let's talk about it, and I think for both Mike and I, that's something we've tried to do with our own kids now as they're getting older, is just make sure you, to seize those opportunities to just celebrate when God does, you know, is faithful in our life, and not take it for granted that, you know, ourselves or our kids or families are just going to naturally sort of recognize that as God's faithfulness.   Laura Dugger: (10:43 - 11:34) Okay, that's huge, what you both are saying, because that is very biblical to pass along to the next generation through our words, through sharing the stories of God's goodness, I don't know how many verses there are that encourage us to do that, and it helps us remember, I think, reading and writing and even conversation that can all go together, so I was struck with all the stories that were included, that you recounted so well in this Bible study, so two parts, do you write these down like in a journal as they happen, and also it's so interesting to see the two of you being related, and even your background right now, full of books, and so I'm wondering if that was a value in your family, and just how that ties in the love of story and reading.   Mike Blackaby: (11:34 - 19:55) Yeah, at least I preached a lot of those, because anytime there's a good story, it usually ends up in a sermon, and that's something we both sort of drew from our dad, he's a great storyteller, but just coming out of even what we were just talking about, you know, there's always stories to tell, I don't keep all the details, which is why usually I don't have a ton of the details in the story, it's sort of more the gist, my wife's the detail person, and we joke that she'll tell a story, and it'll take like 10 minutes, because she'll know every, and she loves all the details, and I'll tell the same story in like two minutes, because it's just like, you know, just hit the main points here, but I keep a little, I call it an illustration file, because I use them for preaching, but I think it's good to keep some sort of record, even if it's not all the details, but just the gist.   When we moved to Victoria, I live on Vancouver Island, we planted a church here in Victoria, the west coast of Canada, and it's a hard place to plant a church, and I have a file on my computer that's God's stories from Oak Bay, and it's just whenever we see God do something, I mean God's always at work, but whenever we see something, you know, that really stands out, I'll write that down, and I'm like, I don't want to forget these things, like I want to be able to pass on these stories, and I know I will forget them if I don't write them down, so there's the record of the stories, and then, you know, when we put them in a book, we try to make it interesting, and you know, we try to write it in a compelling way, but we do, at least I do, keep a record of those things, because I don't want to forget those stories. Those are worth passing down, and then when we get an opportunity to write something like this book, it's great because you can draw on these things, and you can say, whenever God does a work in my life, it's never just for me, like it's always part of something bigger, a bigger story of what God's doing, and so I want to pass those along, and if those stories can be encouraging for others, then great.   And one of the differences, I would just add, and then let Daniel go, but one of the differences between this book and the original Experiencing God is that the original Experiencing God has a lot of big God moment stories where you read, you're like, whoa, that's amazing, you're like, these miracle stories, but sometimes we can expect that that's the only way that God ever works, is the burning bush, or the fire from heaven, or these sort of big miracles we see in the Bible, or we read about in grandpa's life, and in this other book, we were very intentional to try and not just put the wow stories in there, there are those, those do happen, but we wanted to put some stories of just, hey, here's how this plays out, and it's not a huge earth-shattering miracle, it's just sometimes just regular life stuff, and most of life is in those moments, and God is in those moments, as well as the big moments, and so a lot of the stories we put in this book were, we actually edited out some of the ones that were a bit more like, whoa, that's cool, because we want people to see that God is in the ordinary stuff as well, and so sometimes those are a bit harder to think of, because the big moments stick in your mind pretty good, but when you're thinking about, what does this look like though in just the day-to-day, you're like, that's not as interesting, but we think hopefully it's even more powerful for people, because they can come to realize, wow, God is at work all around me, even in the ways where I didn't expect to see him, he's in those places too.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, well, and I'd quickly just say too that, you know, Mike's better at keeping track of stories, my wife and I were just talking the other day, how we regret that we weren't better like when our kids were growing up, and some of those funny things that they did, but I think in some ways that is also the value of just being very intentional about constantly sharing stories, is sort of the old oral tradition of just, you know, you may not remember, but you've told the story, and other people remember, because the funny thing with these books is you'd probably assume that, you know, if it's a personal story from me or Mike, that we were the one that put that story in, that we added, that was our idea, but a lot of times it would actually be, you know, like Mike might, he might not, I might still write the story, but he might add, hey, remember when this happened, and this would be a great illustration of this, and I'll be, oh, I forgot that happened, you know, like, oh yeah, now that I think of it, like, you know, or we'd tell our dad, like, hey, we heard you tell this story, like, why don't you add that here, and so it's sort of that collective memory of, you know, we may, it may jolt our memories, you know, and we learn some new ones.   Like, we wrote a youth version of this book, too, that comes out in the fall that parallels it, but we swapped out a lot of the stories for a bit more youth, youthy, kind of humorous ones, and I learned some stories about Daniel that I actually didn't know, that, like, one story that might be one of the funniest things that I've, like, ever heard is in that book, and so, yeah, it is fun to sort of go back into the archives and even learn some new ones. So, yeah, it is fun to sort of collectively and reminisce, even as we were writing them, but I'll say to you, because you asked us about the storytelling, like, the books, and that that very much is, I think, an application of what we were trying to get at in this book, of just, that was something we saw, like, our dad has a big library, we constantly would come into his office, see him reading a book. I think back, even our mom, when we were quite young, kind of had two rules that, I don't know if you even remember these, Maggie, one was we can always have an apple. At any time of the day, we can, we're always allowed to have an apple, and the second one was that she'll always buy us a book, if we read a book that she bought us, she'll always buy us a new book, so that we can keep reading, which she made that promise before we got quite as, as hooked. She had to sort of back down, when she couldn't keep up with, you know, the credit card couldn't handle. I had a huge stack of Goosebumps books. I think she was, like, hoping to steer us a little bit, like, well, I guess not just any book.   But that was just always a value to them. I mean, I mean, apple, and be healthy, make healthy choices, but the reading of just constantly be stretching yourself, you know, whether that's fiction, and as we got older, more non-fiction as well, mixed in there, different types of literature, but, you know, just any way that, as a family, we can encourage thinking, and storytelling, and, you know, whether, even if they weren't necessarily, you know, faith, Christian books, just stories, learning the power of stories, and a well-told story, and I don't know if you've done that, Mike, that's one of the, we've adopted those rules for my kids, of just, you know, if you're going to read a book, I'll buy you a new book. I want you guys to, and just, I want you guys to see me reading in my library, and just the power of books, and literature, and thinking, hopefully, some of that rubs off.   Mike Blackaby: Our kids love apples so much, though, that we can't really do the apple rule, because then we would just never have any apples. We just wouldn't have them for lunches. Well, and even today, we're all in a book club together, so with our dad, and with our sister, and our brother-in-law, and our cousin, and so we'll all choose a book that sort of stretches our thinking, and then we'll, they all, most of them all live right by each other, so they'll all meet together, eat Chinese food, and then a couple of us outsiders will zoom in, but that's even still a practice that we have in adulthood, is we'll do a book club together, and we'll read a book, and we'll discuss it, and big, big fans of reading old school books. Daniel's maybe more of a Kindle guy nowadays, too, but, and anything, same with our kids, just, hey, you guys just read anything. It's just good for you.   Laura Dugger: (19:57 - 20:13) It is so helpful in, I think, cultivating faith. That's fascinating to hear how different families do it in different ways, and I know that we can't share all of the stories, but now, Mike, you kind of left us hanging. Do you want to share that one story about Daniel that they may find in the youth resource?   Mike Blackaby: (20:15 - 21:52) Yeah, it might be a little, a little bit PG, Daniel, you may have to correct me, but you were, like, brand new to a school, too, like, your high school. He was a new student at his school, and they all went, they all went out on a lake, going, like, being pulled on a tube behind, behind, like, a speedboat, and so, of course, you're trying to make a good impression. You're, you're brand new. You don't have any friends yet, and so you're trying to, you're trying to break into this crowd, so Daniel goes on that tube, and, of course, you're trying to get you to fall off, and so they're taking these huge corners, and, and they, they wipe Daniel off of the back of that tube so hard that he loses his swim trunks, and he's floating there, and the boat's got to, like, make the big wide turn, and come back, and pick him up, and he looks, and his shorts are, like, you know, he's lost them way out in the lake, and so he's frantically swimming, trying to, trying to get to his shorts before, before the boat comes back, and so, for those of you who are, who are audio listeners only, you'll be thankful for that, I guess. Sorry, I apologize to the listeners, but I forget what point we're making. So, not, not the age you want to be to, to humiliate yourself.   Daniel Blackaby: I did find, I did swim fast enough, just to tie a bow on that. I was able to be covered. Somehow, I had never known that story, and I've laughed for, I mean, months now, I guess, whenever, whenever you wrote that. I'm still laughing about that.   Laura Dugger: (21:53 - 23:29) And now, a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet Eureka has been owned and operated by the Bertschi family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago. If you visit their dealership today, though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership, like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. This is why they do everything they can to make the car buying process as easy and hassle-free as possible.   They are thankful for the many lasting friendships that began with a simple welcome to Sam Leman's. Their customers keep coming back because they experience something different. I've known Sam and Stephen and their wives my entire life, and I can vouch for their character and integrity, which makes it easy to highly recommend you check them out today. Your car buying process doesn't have to be something you dread, so come see for yourself at Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka. Sam and Stephen would love to see you, and they appreciate your business.   Learn more at their website, LemanEureka.com, or visit them on Facebook by searching for Sam Leman Eureka. You can also call them at 309-467-2351. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Kind of getting back to some of the thoughts of your study, why is it that you think so many Christians struggle to meet God just in the ordinary moments of life?   Mike Blackaby: (23:31 - 29:40) I think one reason might just be that our ordinary time is so full of distractions now, just so much more than it ever used to be, and everybody knows this, like with phones and just ads coming at you all the time, and constant noise, constant stimulus, and just being as busy. Technology has also allowed us to be very productive, which doesn't mean that we rest more. It means that we attempt to do more because we can do more, and so our lives are just full and busy, and I would say that probably one of the biggest reasons why we don't see God in the everyday is because our every day is so full of distractions, and if we're not intentional, just there's a million things that will come and take our attention and fill our time, and so that would be, I think that would be a big reason is life's just too crazy, and unless you push back against that intentionally, there's just so much that you'll miss out on.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think too, just expectations. I think it's easier, maybe it's more flashy to see God in like a burning bush type moment of, oh that must be God, because that's a miracle that never happens, as opposed to just in the daily grind of life, and I think we're just we're sort of stuck in a worldly perspective. I know like our grandfather in the first Experiencing God book talked about God's activity is always God-sized, which is true, there always is that God eternal dimension, but I think even as we've, you know, the decades since that book and being able to go through that study with people, and we're so conditioned I think to think, well God's size must be big, you know, God's big, so whatever he does must be big and spectacular, which is not what our grandfather meant, you know, God's size just means God is in it, and the significance comes because God's in it, not because it's flashy, or it was in front of a lot of people, or you know, it was some miraculous story, and I think a lot of times we just miss the ordinary, because we're not looking for it, we're kind of looking, we may even get discouraged that God's not doing anything in my life right now, because there hasn't been a big moment, and if our spiritual eyes were open to just, well God was all around you in your family today, God is all around you at work today, or you know, that conversation you had at the grocery store, this, you know, that sense of peace you had when, you know, your schedule went crazy, and it was a chaotic day, but somehow you had this, those are all God moments, that's God's presence too, but we don't always recognize that, just because we're not looking for it, we don't, that's almost too small for God in our eyes, which I think says more about us than it does about God.   I know even just in the process of writing this book, it was sort of the act of trying to apply it into my own life, of you know, just being more intentional about, you know, if I'm just like in the living room with my kids, or doing, you know, whatever I'm doing at work or something, and just sort of sitting back a bit and being, this is a good moment, like this is a God moment, like this is, you know, my kids are laughing, this happened, there was a breakthrough at work, you know, some small comment that maybe I would brush off, that no, that actually is a sign of God's activity, and I think once you get in the habit of that, once that becomes sort of, you know, not that you're trying to like, where's Waldo, and force it if it's not there, and make everything a God moment, but if you just sort of get in the habit of keeping your eyes open and recognizing it, I don't know, it's sort of contagious, if you start noticing more and more, and you get in, you sort of, that becomes more of your default, and the more you do that, the more you realize, so God's been doing a lot of stuff that I've been missing, just because my own expectations are, I want God to do something that, in my eyes, seems more miraculous and spectacular, when maybe God wants to do something just as important, but way more intimate, or personal, or sort of, you know, behind the scenes.   Mike Blackaby: And something that's come up a couple times in our conversation is just the consistency and the practice of something, like Daniel said, if you put that into practice, it may not feel natural at first, but if you put that into practice, Daniel just said like, that'll become more your default, and even the language we use in the book, and other people use as well, is just the rhythm of your life. What is your life rhythm? What is those defaults that you fall into, either unintentionally or intentionally?   And if you, you have to create the rhythm of looking for God's activity, and I think that's one thing the original Experiencing God did, is it opened people's eyes to, God is at work all around me, and if I'm gonna see that, if I'm gonna recognize that, then I need to be looking for that. It's not that it starts happening because I start looking, but I start seeing it because I start looking. It's always been there. And so just building that consistency, and those rhythms, and one of the things we really hit on in the book is, you are shaped by what you do consistently over time. And it's interesting, because the big moments maybe inspire you, but they don't necessarily shape you into who you are. It's the erosion of rock. It's the consistent small things that build up over time that really shape your character and shape your faith. And so, the big moments play a part in that, but just like anything else, if you want seeing God's activity to become the default rhythm of your life, it's one of those things that you have to put into practice, because it's not going to be naturally what you do, just right off the bat. It's one of those things that has to be learned and practiced. But as you do, it slowly does become second-rate, and it does become more of the default. And you are just aware of looking around for where God is at work and recognizing it, but it's not going to just happen by accident, because very rarely do good, healthy things happen just unintentionally and by accident. Absolutely.   Laura Dugger: (29:42 - 30:22) And there's this verse that's been meaningful all year, but it's one that I was, again, reflecting on today from Lamentations 3:25, and it kind of ties into what you're talking about. It says, "The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him." And I think you're talking about cultivating those small incremental steps of spiritual growth by even just searching for Him and being on the lookout and expectantly awaiting for Him to do something. So, would you build on that and share a few more practical habits that we can cultivate to experience progressive sanctification?   Daniel Blackaby: (30:25 - 37:43) Yeah, well, I know, because in the book, each unit, we give different suggested habits that contribute to that rhythm of intentionality. And obviously, we start the book with sort of the standard, you know, read your Bible, pray, things that every Christian should, that should just be a part of your rhythm at any stage of life. But I think a lot of times when we think of habits and things, I think people get intimidated because we're busy, and obviously, it's a matter of priority. We make time for the things that we love and prioritize. So, most of the time, busyness is an excuse to prioritize, you know, watching Netflix or going to bed early or whatever it is instead of God things.   But I think one of the things we try to do in the book, too, is just redeeming the time of, you know, that they're not necessarily that you need to, okay, well, I have a busy life, and I got to add 10 new habits into my life, and slot them into whatever remaining, you know, openings I have in my busy schedule, but just kind of reclaiming some of these times or, you know, and a lot of the habits, too, they're not necessarily just, you know, go spend two hours fasting and prayer before work every day, things that are that are daunting. I think a lot of them can be small, just mindset things. I know one of our habits is just gratitude, where we encourage people, like if you're standing there by the coffee maker half asleep, you know, in the morning before you're going to go to work or school or whatever you're doing, like if you're just standing there waiting for your coffee, you got whatever, two minutes, you know, use that moment to voice a prayer to God and just thank Him. Find one thing that you can thank Him for that day, and that's not adding, you know, that's not adding a lot of commitment, but it's starting your day, you know, one of the first things you do is, before you even had coffee, is thanking God for something, and you do that every day, every day, you start every day thanking God for something, then that begins to shape your rhythm, to grow you into being a more thankful person.   Rather than, you know, spending that time to think about how much you don't want to go back to work this morning, or you're too tired, or you know, regretting that you stayed up too late, or, you know, you feel sore from how you slept on your pillow, like things that could sort of shape our day, and I mean, the book has a lot of those sort of things, even just commutes, you know, we encourage people, pick one day, just, you know, one day, if you're going to work or picking up your kids from school, or whatever your regular commute is, and just turn off the radio, turn off the audiobook, just, you know, you can pray in that time, or you can just look and, you know, appreciate the sky, or you can just have some silence to kind of clear your mind from all the stimuli that you get, you know, so much throughout the day, and so I think, for me, those are the ones that have been the most impactful for me. Obviously, if you're not reading your Bible, or praying, some of those things work to include those, but I think a lot of the habits, especially when it comes to noticing God, and joining God in the small things, can be small habits of just shaping, how can I become a more gratitude, or grateful person, or generous, or encouraging person, you know, encourage one person at work each day, there's different things like that, but I think over time, those do contribute to sort of these bigger rhythms of aligning yourself more with kind of God's presence.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, one that I like, that has challenged me and stuck with me is the water basin. It says he went over to this water basin, and he used that to wash his disciples' feet, and of course, the practice would have been for a servant to have done that when they all got there, and maybe a servant already did that, it would seem odd if a certain servant had already done that, and then Jesus repeats it, maybe that's how it happened, but I get a sense that they went in, and nobody had done that, sort of the custom got missed, and they're all sitting there with dirty and disgusting feet, and Jesus is the one that takes the initiative, doesn't just wait for somebody else to do it, we don't hear of any of the other disciples saying, oh, well, somebody's got to do this, sort of like someone's got to do the dishes, I guess I'll go do it, like it's Jesus that does it, there's the sense that the water basin was there the whole time, but Jesus is the only one who took the initiative to use it, and so I would say everything that we want to develop in our character towards Christlikeness is going to come out of the foundation of humility, a posture of humility is where all of that is built on, and so the act of serving others, what it does is it slowly makes us humble, it's the action of putting someone else before myself, if I do that over and over again, eventually that starts to wear down my pride, that actively pushes back against my pride by putting somebody else in front of me, and that's good, if I can work my way down to a place of humility, then that's a great starting place for everything else that God wants to develop in my character, and so one of the practices would be everywhere you go look for the water basin, like every room you walk into, everywhere you go there's going to be an opportunity to serve others, most people are going to ignore it, most people are going to let that water basin sit there and wait for somebody else to do it, cultivate the habit of being that person, of saying everywhere I go I'm going to be the one who starts stacking chairs, I'm going to be the one who starts collecting everyone's dirty dishes, I'm going to be the one who asks if anybody could use a top-up on their water or their coffee, I'm going to be that person, and when I'm at home, it's like where are those moments, if I see that my wife needs something, am I going to wait for her to ask, or am I going to see that as a water basin moment, and I'm going to jump on it, and that's hard for me, that's not natural for me, and so that is something I'm actively for years now just trying to do that, but every time I see a water basin and use it to serve somebody else, I'm pushing back against my natural tendency towards pride, and I'm setting myself up to receive whatever else the Holy Spirit wants to, whatever fruit of the Spirit that needs to be developed in me, comes out of the foundation of humility, and so something like that, it's not a scheduled thing, but it's a mindset, it's a habit of saying, okay, everywhere I go, there's going to be a water basin, and so every room I walk into, I can ask where is that, and then take that opportunity to serve, and over time, that should start to develop humility in you, and that's a great place to be for everything else that God wants to do in your life.   Laura Dugger: (37:43 - 39:07) I love that picture of the water basin, and I was telling my husband last night, he does this so well to jump to serve others, and it's a quiet form of leadership, but that is one way that he spiritually leads our family, and I was hoping to encourage him last night, I saw it in one of our daughters then as well, and I know that it sadly didn't come from me, but from her witnessing him and just that eagerness to serve, so I think it's contagious as well, these even practices, and the spirit lights the flame, but to fan the flame, you guys talk about some other ideas, I'll just mention a couple more. I love how you said activate the other side, so maybe learn from podcasts or from reading, and that's more of our thinking brain, so to activate the emotional brain, you're talking about listening to worship songs, or vice versa, if you're always going to music, activate the other side, and another personal favorite was reflective journaling, and you just elaborate on all of these practical ideas, and I think it was really helpful, but you also sprinkle in insightful questions and tips throughout the whole study to inspire us to deeper levels of connection with God, so do you mind just sharing a handful of those?   Daniel Blackaby: (39:09 - 48:32) Yeah, I think just trying to think of it in that terms of all, where, you know, where has God brought me, where do I have to go, and then I'm curious, because we repeat that activity at the end to see if throughout the study, people maybe evaluate themselves differently than they did at the start, but even just questions like, which I believe Mike actually added these ones in the book, but just, you know, list the places that you go to, kind of your weekly schedule, and then how many, what percentage of the people there are believers or not believers, you know, as far as just joining God on mission in your everyday life, I don't think we're always aware of those things, that we assume we believe in missions, we want, we're joining God's activity, but if we actually stop to reflect, is what, you know, I may go, other than maybe like the dentist or something, I may go or the grocery store, and I'll talk to these people, like I could go days without even coming in contact with someone that doesn't share the faith that I do, I mean, Mike is in a more secular surrounding, like I'm down here in the Bible Belt, so it's, you even have to be more intentional to, even like the restaurants, and my dentist is already a Christian, you know, they're playing, I was there yesterday, they were playing worship music, so I get, you do sort of need to be, you know, more, maybe more intentional with that, but I think it starts with just being honest and sort of reflecting on where has God placed me, and how am I, you know, am I joining Him the way that He has called me to, am I around Christians all the time, am I around non-Christians, am I, you know, my community, am I actually being a blessing to my community, am I involved in my community throughout my everyday, you know, weekly schedule, so I think a lot of the activities are just kind of guidance to reflect on sort of where we are in that process, and maybe where God could have us if we were to step out a bit more with faithfulness.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, I like that. Some of the questions we asked are, they're not necessarily super profound, but there may be questions that aren't intentionally asked all that often, even something like, how would you define spiritual maturity? You ask somebody, “Do you want to grow in your faith?” They're like, yes, I do. Okay, so what are you growing towards? Like, what's the end goal? And most people will probably say, well, I want to be like Jesus. Well, what do you mean by that? Like, you want to go around casting out demons and, you know, feeding 5,000 people through miracles? Well, I don't know, I mean, I want to reflect his character. Okay, so in what way? What character trait of Jesus do you think? Like, narrow it down. Don't just say, I just want to be like Jesus. Well, like, here's Jesus, and we're all way down here, so that's just like, it's like climbing Everest. It's like, well, yeah, I want to get up there. Okay, so what's your map to get there? I don't know. I don't have one.   And so, this idea of just making it, just zeroing in, okay, the fruit of the Spirit, start there. What's one fruit? Pick one thing. You spend the rest of your life working on that one thing, but it's like, okay, what stands out right away to you? Patience. Yeah, for me, it's patience with my kids and with, you know, everything, traffic. It's just like, okay, man, I need this fruit in my life. Okay, so start there. Don't try to just become like Jesus. Say, here's one thing about Jesus that I need to cultivate in me. And if I become a more patient person, then I'm actually becoming a more spiritually mature person, because there's a certain part of my life that is aligning more with the character and the person of who Christ is, who is our model. That is the blueprint of who we desire to be like.   And so sometimes the questions we ask, they're not necessarily super deep or profound, but maybe they're just hopefully helping people to focus it a little bit and to say, okay, we all want to be spiritually mature, but none of us really have a plan to get there. We just sort of hope it happens, like Daniel said, over time. If I'm a Christian long enough, or if I just also, if I fill my life with enough Christian activities, if I just read enough Christian books, if I go to enough Christian Bible studies, that will just make me into a mature Christian. And there is some truth to that. That stuff does shape you. But I heard a pastor one time say, experience doesn't make you wiser, it makes you older. Evaluated experience makes you wiser. And so just putting in time doing Christian activities without reflecting on them or being intentional about it doesn't necessarily make you a more mature person. It just makes you somebody who's been to a lot of Bible studies.   And in one sense, it can almost be immature to say, okay, I don't actually know how to disciple myself. And so, I show up every time the church offers me something to sign up for, but if they don't offer me something to sign up for, then I actually don't know how to take control of my own discipleship. I don't know what to do. And so, in one sense, ironically, the end goal of this book is to help wean people off of needing these types of books all the time. It's sort of counterproductive. Like, hey, the best thing is less and less people need to buy this book. But this idea of build rhythms into your life, take control of your discipleship. A mature Christian shouldn't be needing to be spoon fed or bottle fed 20 years into their Christian walk by saying, okay, what's the next thing that I need to read? After 20 years, Jesus had his disciples for three years, and then he made them the leaders of the church. It's like after three years, he thrusts them into leadership. And we go for 20 years. And if somebody's not telling us what Bible study to take, we don't know what to do.   There's a sense of, God, would you make me a mature believer, that I can then begin to pass this on to someone else, to a believer that's coming behind me. And slowly, as we progress down this road, we're passing it on to the others coming behind us. And we never stop growing. But there is a sense of, am I still doing the same things 20 years down my Christian road that I did when I started? Or have I grown at all? And what's the evidence? How do you measure spiritual growth to even know that? And so those types of questions, they're not necessarily super deep or profound, but they're questions that we may not ask in our normal everyday lives. And so, I think that's a good starting place just to get people thinking, if I want to grow, what am I growing towards? And then how do I get there? So that's some of the heart behind it.   Laura Dugger: (48:32 - 50:04) I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Heinrichson from episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities. And we are thrilled with the final product.   So, I hope you check it out. There, you're going to find all of our podcasts now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living. You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax deductible so that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com.   One other tip that we can hit on is another personal favorite, something that you call spiritual markers. So, can you tell us more about this idea of spiritual markers and how can we incorporate these into our own walk with the Lord and discipling our children?   Daniel Blackaby: (50:07 - 54:54) Yeah, well, I think in some ways this sort of brings us full circle to where we started with as far as just, you know, as you recognize the moments that that you have, you know, very clearly heard from God or experienced God or joined in God's activity and just allowing those, you know, like through the Bible there's, especially in the Old Testament, people are constantly making altars and, you know, God doesn't think we'll stack a bunch of rocks here so when we see the rocks we remember and we can tell our kids about it and this sense that let's do things that remind us of what God has done in the past, not just so that we can sort of, you know, be nostalgic and reminiscent about the good old days, but that as we face challenges today, we can, you know, hey, God was faithful there.   Every time I see, like I know I have a part of my testimony involved, kind of pretty miraculously receiving a letter, a handwritten letter from a friend that God used to answer prayer, and as we're recording this podcast, I can look and like I have that framed, you know, in my office, like every day I see, you know, at my lowest moment, God was there for me and I have physical evidence that God was there for me, that as, you know, as I face new challenges decades and decades later, that, you know, may look nothing like those challenges. I know it's the same God that guided me, that was provided for me, was faithful then. He's still the same God that I can trust today.   So in many ways, I mean, that can be stories, that can be, you know, I'm a big proponent of just getting physical objects or reminders or things that, whether that's like a picture or just, you know, like I have another, when I was working on my dissertation for my PhD and under a lot of stress, my kids were very young, you know, they were born my first semester, so I was very stressed, and I had one of my kids came up one day when I was just really under a lot of pressure and gave me a picture. It's just a bunch of scribbles and some random, like, animal stickers and stamps, and it's just very abstract, modern, impressionist art, but he gave me that and just sort of, you know, on his own initiative and, you know, just to let me know that he, you know, he loved me, and that's so meaningful. I have that also framed, you know, he's embarrassed now, he's 11, and you say, oh man, that's awful, but I keep that in a very prominent place in my, you know, that's not necessarily God's provision, but I think it is God working through my son to remind, just remind me that, you know, God is at work in my family and using my family and my children, and so I have sort of all around me even now, like, there's just things that I've put around me to remind myself that, you know, when I face a challenge today, trust to what God's done in the past, you know, trust those moments that, you know, that I can move forward with that confidence, that I can still trust him today.   Mike Blackaby: I think that all of that is dead on. I'm a fan of the physical reminders too, like, have, like, that's what they did in the Old Testament, they would, they'd pile rocks together and that would spur on conversations specifically with the next generation, and so, yeah, I think tell the stories to everybody, but be even more intentional to tell the stories to the generation coming behind you, and if you need reminders of those things, then, yeah, fill your home, don't just clutter up your home, but fill your life with reminders of God's goodness, because no matter how good he's been in the past, it's easy to forget that when you're right in the storm today, and so sometimes you just need that reminder, say, okay, like, I remember feeling this way before, and yet God got me through it that time, and I believe he'll get me through it this time too, and not even just the hard times, but recognize and be quick to give God credit for the good things, and just, you know, remember those, we're in a good, we're in a good season in our church right now after some difficult, just hard work, and we're seeing some harvest, and we're seeing some good things, and I know there's ups and downs in ministry, and so I've been telling people I'm just enjoying the up right now, you know, and probably should memorialize it in some way to also look back and say, hey, when things get rough, it doesn't usually stay there forever, and things are good, it doesn't always stay there forever either, you know, growth happens through struggle and tension and those types of things, not ease, and so, yeah, the physical reminders are good.   Laura Dugger: (54:56 - 55:12) And we didn't even get to touch on something, you're bringing out the seasons of life and how God brings the harvest and those winter seasons and how it's cyclical, so if all of this message is resonating with someone, where can we go after this chat to learn more from the two of you?   Mike Blackaby: (55:14 - 57:32) Most of, I'm not super active on social media anymore, I probably should be, but I would say most of anything worth hearing that I have to say, I put in my sermons, and so if anybody ever wants to just tune in, we've got a live stream at our church where whatever God is currently teaching me usually ends up in my teaching just week to week on Sundays, and so I would say commit to your own church, let your pastor be your pastor, but if you're ever interested in maybe gaining some other perspective or, you know, looking for something to listen to on the way to work, our church has a live stream that you can go to, Canvas Oak Bay is what our church is called, so anything profound that I have to say will at some point end up in there.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, I think you can, for me, you can, I mean, blackaby.org, I work for the ministry, and a lot of the stuff that, I mean, Mike or I, or our father, or other relatives, or things related to this book, I gather resources, and you can find a lot of information and resources on the website, and one of the things I personally do is I run a kind of a culture engagement ministry, The Collision, if anyone wants to check out TheCollision.org, do a lot of, in some ways, applying the message of this book, just in the field of kind of the arts and pop culture, you know, in movies, you know, finding where's God at work, or what's the conversations happening in culture through, you know, the trends, and the stories, and things that are happening, and just trying to guide people to join those conversations, so if that sounds like something, or if you have kids, and you want to help, you know, guide them through some of those conversations, love to have you guys check out our website there, too.   Mike Blackaby: Yeah, I also recommend TheCollision.org, it's good, I love reading Daniel's movie reviews, and it's unlike other things that are out there, what he sees in culture is really good, helping people navigate as a Christian exile, navigating through this world, it's really good, and so I encourage people to check that out, too.   Laura Dugger: (57:33 - 57:54) Thank you for those wonderful recommendations, we'll add links to all of that in the show notes for today's episode, and the two of you may already be familiar, we're called The Savvy Sauce, because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge, and so as my final question for both of you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Mike Blackaby: (57:57 - 1:00:59) Do or do not, there is no try. I would say, this is, I heard somebody say this years ago, and I've always loved it, they said, nothing good happens after 11 p.m., so put away your phone, turn off the TV, you're not going to do anything typically that grows your faith, or encourages your soul, after 11 o'clock, just go to bed, I mean, not much of good typically ever happens late at night, and so, I mean, I know someone will say, well, no, at midnight, this great thing happened to me, like, yeah, I know, it's not a, it's more of a proverb than anything, it's a, typically, this is what, typically, good things don't happen after 11 o'clock, and so, build the habit of putting your phone away, and getting off screen time, getting off your computer, any of that sort of stuff, don't go late into the night on any of that stuff, because typically, healthy things don't happen.   Daniel Blackaby: Yeah, but my two kids had their first sleepover last night at our house, and so I think they learned firsthand that staying up super late, I don't know, there's a lot of chaos, I don't know what was good that came out of that, but I think, maybe for me, kind of a motto, and I've sort of phrased it different ways over the years, but something that I've really tried to use when faced with decisions, is just to, like, choose what I want most, instead of what I want now, and I feel like most healthy decisions can be summed up in this, what I want now is to eat this, you know, donut that was left on the counter, or eat, you know, potato chips for breakfast, or whatever, like, what I want most, though, is to be a healthy example for my kids, or to feel good, or, you know, what I want now might be to just veg on the couch on my phone, and just do nothing, like, what I want most is to, you know, be well-read, or to be, you know, in good shape, so I should go for a run, or whatever it is, like, just, and I'm not, I don't always make the right choice in that, but that, for me, that's just been a helpful of, you know, most decisions come down to, like, this is what I want, but what I want most, and what would be the decision that gets me closer to that, rather than just sort of feeding my kind of carnal impulses, which usually are very rarely edifying, or healthy to the spirit, or body, or mind, or anything, so I've put that on, you know, like, if I make a running schedule, or different things, I've sort of put that, some version of that slogan, just to remind myself, like, even this, you know, I once printed off a sign, I put it on our pantry, of just remembering, what do you want most, what do you want now, like, because don't, you know, don't go for that snack shelf now, but so, for me, that's just been one of those things that I've tried to, I'm constantly telling myself, just, you know, choose what I want most, not just what I want now. That's good.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:00 - 1:01:30) I love it. You both have just shared profound wisdom and insight today. I'm so grateful for your generosity of time, and just inspiring all of us, even giving hope, and all of that through this uplifting conversation, where we're getting to see the thousand generations blessed through the faithfulness, even of those who have gone before you, and you two also carrying the torch on. So, thank you so much for everything you shared today, and thank you, Daniel and Mike, for being my guests today.   Mike Blackaby and Daniel Blackaby: (1:01:31 - 1:01:32) Thanks so much for having us.   Laura Dugger: (1:01:33 - 1:05:16) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Morning Conversation: MyBridge Radio
165 - Dr. Richard Blackaby: God Is Speaking More Than We Are Hearing

Morning Conversation: MyBridge Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 34:45


Have you ever wondered if you're missing what God is doing right in front of you? In this conversation, author and pastor Dr. Richard Blackaby shares insights from his new study, Experiencing God in Everyday Life: A Journey Toward Spiritual Maturity. Building on the timeless message of Experiencing God, Richard explains why spiritual maturity isn't reserved for mountaintop moments, mission trips, or church retreats. Instead, it's cultivated as we learn to recognize God's presence and activity in the ordinary moments that fill our days.Along the way, Richard shares personal stories about his father, Dr. Henry Blackaby, practical habits that help us hear God's voice, and encouraging reminders that God is often speaking more than we realize. Whether you're longing to grow deeper in your faith, hoping to become more spiritually attentive, or simply wondering what the next step looks like in your walk with Christ, this conversation offers biblical wisdom and practical encouragement to help you experience God—not just occasionally, but every day.

Revitalize and Replant
The 5 Arenas of Church Renewal Every Pastor Needs to Understand

Revitalize and Replant

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 28:41


Church revitalization isn't simply about launching a new program or implementing a fresh strategy. Healthy church renewal begins much deeper. In this episode of Revitalize & Replant, Mark Clifton and Mark Hallock unpack five essential arenas of renewal that every church must address in order to move from decline to health and from maintenance to mission. Whether you're leading a struggling church, pursuing revitalization, or simply seeking ongoing renewal in a healthy congregation, these five areas provide a practical framework for lasting change. In This Episode Why every church needs continual renewal—not just declining churches The difference between renewal, revitalization, and replanting Why spiritual renewal must precede organizational change How relational health impacts church growth and outreach What it looks like to cultivate a genuine missional culture Why programs should serve the mission rather than become the mission How church structures can either accelerate or hinder ministry effectiveness The Five Arenas of Renewal 1. Spiritual Renewal — where everything begins 2. Relational Renewal —love restored among God's people 3. Missional Renewal — rediscovering why the church exists 4. Programmatic Renewal — aligning what we do with what God wants 5. Structural Renewal — building systems that support ongoing congregational health   Resources Mentioned Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King Falling in Love with Jesus (Again) by David Jackson and Claude King The 2026 Replant Summit Connect With Us Revitalize & Replant is brought to you by the North American Mission Board to equip pastors and church leaders to lead healthy churches for the glory of God and the good of their communities. Learn more about church revitalization resources, training opportunities, and replanting initiatives at ChurchReplanters.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Biblical Restoration Ministries Video
God Pursues A Love Relationship - Henry Blackaby

Biblical Restoration Ministries Video

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 69:50


God is pursuing a love relationship with you. In John 10 we read about the shepherd seeking his sheep. Allow yourself to be humbled and loved by God. This is what changes your life and the lives of others.

Biblical Restoration Ministries
God Pursues A Love Relationship - Henry Blackaby

Biblical Restoration Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 69:50


God is pursuing a love relationship with you. In John 10 we read about the shepherd seeking his sheep. Allow yourself to be humbled and loved by God. This is what changes your life and the lives of others.

Embracing Brokenness Ministries

Richard Blackaby joins Steve Adams for a powerful conversation about spiritual maturity, daily rhythms with God, and what it really means to experience God in everyday life—not just in the extraordinary moments.Drawing from the legacy of the bestselling study Experiencing God and the new release Experiencing God in Everyday Life, Richard shares deeply personal stories about his father, Henry Blackaby, spiritual formation, abiding in Christ, and how ordinary believers can learn to recognize God's presence in the middle of everyday life.Together, Steve and Richard discuss:Why many Christians feel disconnected from God in daily lifeThe danger of reducing faith to activity instead of relationshipThe role of spiritual rhythms and habits in transformationThe importance of spiritual companionshipHow suffering and disruption shape maturityThe next generation's hunger for authentic faithWhy most of life is lived in the “valleys,” not the mountaintopsThis conversation is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone longing to walk more closely with Jesus in the ordinary rhythms of life.

Upon Further Review
Ep 9|Experiencing God: Learning to Recognize God at Work

Upon Further Review

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 29:11


What does it mean to truly experience God in everyday life? In this episode of Upon Further Review, Cody and Dr. John Hall discuss Field Street Baptist Church's upcoming church-wide study through Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby and why they believe this emphasis could deeply impact the life of the church.The conversation explores the heart behind the study: knowing God more deeply, learning to recognize where He is already at work, and adjusting our lives to join Him in what He is doing. Along the way, they discuss worship, obedience, prayer, spiritual maturity, and how God speaks to His people through Scripture, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the church, and wise counsel.They also explain how the study will function through Bible Fellowship classes this summer and why daily engagement with God's Word is essential for spiritual growth. Whether you're participating in the study at Field Street or simply curious about what it means to follow God faithfully, this episode offers a helpful introduction to the themes and goals behind Experiencing God.[3:18] Knowing God deeply and learning to join Him where He is already at work[7:56] Why the study requires discipline, daily engagement, and a God-centered perspective[12:00] Worship, obedience, and the “crisis of belief”[13:18] How Bible Fellowship classes will guide and reinforce the study together[18:58] The prayer for deeper spiritual maturity, unity, and devotion to prayer[25:21] Learning how God speaks through Scripture, prayer, the church, the Holy Spirit, and wise counsel

Journey of Hope
What is Stewardship? With John Frick.

Journey of Hope

Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2026 20:16


In this episode of Journey of Hope, host Elio Constantine sits down with Heart for Lebanon's newest team member, John Frick, Senior Director of Development, for a thoughtful conversation on stewardship through the lens of Scripture and mission.What begins as a discussion about giving quickly expands into a deeper exploration of what it truly means to live as stewards of everything God has entrusted to us—time, resources, influence, and life itself. Drawing from Jesus' teaching on loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength, John unpacks how stewardship is not limited to finances, but is instead a full-life posture of surrender and obedience.He reflects on the biblical foundation of stewardship beginning in creation, where humanity was entrusted with the care of God's world, and how that calling continues today. From there, the conversation turns to how Western Christianity often narrows stewardship into a financial concept, while Scripture presents something far more holistic and transformative.John also shares his perspective on Heart for Lebanon, highlighting how the ministry uniquely integrates both Gospel proclamation and practical care—feeding the hungry while also making disciples, in the spirit of both Matthew 25 and Matthew 28. He describes this as a “holistic Kingdom approach,” one that reflects the way Jesus Himself ministered.Having known Heart for Lebanon's founder Camille Melki for over a decade, John speaks to the ministry's impact in Lebanon and why he felt called to join the team. He emphasizes that what is happening through Heart for Lebanon is far beyond human explanation—evidence of God's hand at work as grassroots leaders are equipped, disciples are made, and communities are transformed.The episode closes with a challenge to listeners: to step into where God is already at work. As John echoes Henry Blackaby's well-known principle, stewardship ultimately becomes about joining God in His mission and faithfully offering Him all that we have.Show NotesWhat is Biblical Stewardship?Stewardship includes far more than moneyRooted in Jesus' command to love God fully (heart, soul, strength)Everything we have belongs to GodDiscipleship is lived through obedience, not partial surrenderA Whole-Life Understanding of StewardshipTime, talent, influence, and resources all belong to GodTithing is not the limit of obedience—it is the beginning of surrenderTrue stewardship flows from recognizing God as the owner of all thingsBiblical FoundationsCreation mandate: humanity called to steward God's worldGenesis shows stewardship continues even after the FallJesus' teaching: “Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?”Heart for Lebanon's Model of MinistryIntegrates physical care and Gospel proclamationReflects both Matthew 25 (compassion) and Matthew 28 (disciple-making)Built on a holistic Kingdom vision, not separated ministriesKingdom Impact in LebanonGod is raising up grassroots leadersDiscipleship happens in homes and communitiesGrowth is described as beyond human explanation—“punching above its weight”A Call to ParticipationFind where God is already at workJoin Him rather than trying to lead independentlyStewardship is ultimately about obedience and participation in God's missionKey TakeawayStewardship is not about managing a portion of what we own—it is about surrendering all of who we are and joining God in what He is already doing.Connect & Pray With Us

Messages - Brookhaven Church

In this first episode of the Advancing the Kingdom podcast, Brett and Glenn Meredith kick off a five-week series on one of the most foundational skills in the Christian life — learning to hear from God. Glenn shares how a week with Dr. Henry Blackaby at Criswell College transformed his understanding of the Holy Spirit, and Brett reflects on recognizing God's voice even as a young child. Together they walk through three practical keys: coming to God with a surrendered will, eliminating distractions to get alone and quiet, and actively expecting God to speak. A great starting point for anyone who wants a closer, more conversational relationship with Jesus.Next week: How does God speak — and what are the different ways we can recognize His voice?

Starting Right
Strength, Courage, Passion

Starting Right

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 5:54 Transcription Available


What if courage doesn't sound like a battle cry, but like a steady whisper in a quiet room? We open with Gideon—named a “mighty man of valor” while hiding—and explore how real might begins long before the spotlight, in the daily work of becoming rooted, brave, and focused.We walk through three pillars that shape a life of impact. First, strength that grows from consistent, relational faith—habits that form spiritual resilience when pressure rises. Second, courage that shows up offstage: staying faithful when no one is looking, enduring pain without applause, and choosing integrity when it costs. Third, passion that aligns desire with purpose, channeling energy toward what God is building rather than scattering it across distractions. Along the way, we share quotes from Billy Graham, Chuck Swindoll, and Henry Blackaby that give language to growth, grit, and obedience.To ground these ideas in public life, we revisit Pastor Joe Wright's 1996 invocation at the Kansas State Legislature, a stark and confessional prayer that rattled the room. Whether you agree with every line or not, the moment illustrates how private formation fuels public conviction. It challenges us to examine our values, name what is broken, and ask for wisdom with humility and clarity. The question lingers: what would that kind of prayer stir today, and what would it look like to carry truth with grace in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and civic spaces?If you're ready for a five‑minute reset that blends Scripture, practical formation, and a nudge toward bold, compassionate action, this one's for you. Listen, share with a friend who could use courage for the week ahead, and subscribe so you never miss our weekday boost. Then tell us: which pillar—strength, courage, or passion—do you need most right now?We would love to hear your comments. Send us a Text MessageSupport the show

Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent
Episode 360: Doomed to Repeat It!!!

Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 25:30


Episode 360: Doomed to Repeat It!!   Here are some questions for you to consider ( some questions adapted from Henry Blackaby's book Flickering Lamps)   1. How was your church started - was it started from a split from another church? Or was it an intentional plant from another church?   2. What did the founders intend when they started your church? Was there a specific group they were trying to reach? Was the church to have a unique focus?   3. How is the church different from when it was established? Is that good?   4. How does your church glorify God? What are some aspects in which it does not glorify God as it should?   5. In what ways is your church making disciples?  In what ways is it failing to make disciples? Is your congregation focused at all on making disciples "of all nations"?   6. What are you doing currently to impact the nations for Christ?  What has your church done in the past? How long ago was that?   7. How is your church's presence currently making a positive impact on your community?  When it began, was it seen as a positive force? Would people miss your church if it were gone?   8. What are some sins for which your church needs to repent?  What is your plan for getting your church to do so? When and how?

Morning Conversation: MyBridge Radio
142 - Dr. Richard Blackaby | Come and See: An Invitation to Experience God

Morning Conversation: MyBridge Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 32:27


Richard Blackaby grew up in an “ordinary” home where his parents talked about God as if He was truly real—and where prayer wasn't a religious habit, but an ongoing relationship. In this conversation, the son of Dr. Henry Blackaby shares what it looked like to live with an expectancy that God is active and speaking, and why so many of us struggle to discern His voice—not because God is silent, but because we haven't learned to recognize Him. Along the way, Richard offers a simple but challenging reframe: we often describe our problems in terms of our limitations, when God invites us to see our circumstances through the bigger reality of who He is and what He can do.In this practical and deeply encouraging conversation, learn what it means to face a “crisis of belief,” why following Jesus often requires getting out of the boat, and how God's invitations are frequently found in everyday places—neighbors, conversations, ordinary faithfulness. And, hear the surprising story of how Experiencing God nearly never became a book. If you're a believer who wants to walk with God more attentively, this conversation will help you lift your eyes, get your heart ready, and take the next faithful step.

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries
1 Timothy 4:7-9 - Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 5:21


 Thatis what we have been emphasizing over the past few days: the importance ofliving this kind of life and the necessity of having a daily quiettime—spending time with God. It is God who works in you both to will and to doof His good pleasure as you make yourself available to Him. You put yourself inthe pathway of grace by practicing certain spiritual disciplines, such asreading your Bible and spending time in prayer. Thereis another discipline I began early as a brand-new believer, now some 54 yearsago—and that is memorizing Scripture. Take at least one verse a week. Memorizethat verse throughout the week. That's 52 verses a year. I did much more thanthat over the years, but I want to tell you something: if there is one regret Ihave, it is that I did not memorize even more Scripture. Youcan never memorize too much of God's Word. You may say, “I can't remember thoseverses later.” That doesn't matter. They are inside of you. The Holy Spiritwill bring to your remembrance what you have hidden in your heart. It's there,even if you don't consciously recall it at the moment. God will use it. Anotherdiscipline I have practiced over many years is reading good devotional books.At the top of my list, of course, is Oswald Chambers, ‘My Utmost for HisHighest'. He has several other excellent devotionals, such as ‘Daily Thoughtsfor Disciples'. Over the years, I have probably read 20 or 30 different devotionalbooks, by different authors, sometimes reading several each day for months at atime, simply to ensure that I was walking with wise men. Scripturetells us, “He that walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion offools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). I thought to myself, who can Iwalk with that is wise? Many of those people don't have time for mepersonally—but I can walk with them through their writings. They left theirlife and wisdom in their books.  Thereare wise men and women such as Oswald Chambers, A. W. Tozer, E. M. Bounds,Andrew Murray, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and Mrs. Charles Cowman, whose book, “Streamsin the Desert' has been a great blessing. I can spend a few minutes with eachof these authors—people who knew God, walked with God, and had God-given wisdomconcerning spiritual life and the world around us. Iwant to make special mention of Henry Blackaby's ‘Experiencing God Day by Day'.I post that devotional on my website, (https://www.pmiministries.org/), and onFacebook every day. Another one I post daily is Dr. Elmer Towns, ‘365 Ways toKnow God'. I strongly encourage you to read it. I wish I had started reading ityears ago. Dr. Towns was my theology professor for four years at LibertyUniversity, back when it was Lynchburg Baptist College. I can tell you, youwill learn about God and come to know Him in a more intimate way. Then you canpractice what you are learning about God. Dr. Towns used to say, “Theology thatdoesn't teach you how to daily live for God is not good theology.” I have neverforgotten that. Ialso recommend Andrew Murray's ‘God's Best Secrets', a book God has usedgreatly in my life, along with works associated with Watchman Nee, such as ‘TheJoyful Heart' and ‘Table in the Wilderness'. E. M. Bounds also has a one-minutedevotional, ‘The Power of Prayer', that is excellent for daily reading—I stilluse it today. Inaddition, I take time to read Robert J. Morgan's ‘On This Day'. It highlightssomething that happened on that particular day in history—often involving agiant of the faith, someone God used mightily, or someone who even gave theirlife as a martyr for Christ. Reading their stories encourages me andstrengthens my faith. Myfriend, we need all the help we can get in a world that is constantlybombarding us with lies. We need the truth. We need time with wise men andwomen—and we can do that through the books they have left behind. They havepoured their lives, their faith, and their thoughts into those pages for us.

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries
Ephesians 4:25 - Preparing For A New Year

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2025 5:17


Thefirst of the five sins Paul tells us to put off is lying. We must always beaware of the danger of lying. Lying is rooted in the deceitful nature of Satanhimself. He uses lies to lead us astray, to make us believe that the wrong pathis the right path. Jesus warned us that “broad is the way that leads todestruction, and many go in by it.” My friend, the devil is a liar. Jesussaid in John 8:44 that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. He also said inJohn 10 that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy—and the primary way thedevil does this is through lies. He lies by placing deceptive thoughts into ourminds. I am convinced that the fiery darts of the devil mentioned in Ephesians6 are his lies. That is why we are told to take up the shield of faith, whichof course, is the Word of God that we have in our hearts and can quote back to thedevil's lies like Jesus did in Matthew 4 when He was tempted. Inthe end times, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, tells us that the Antichrist will comewith lying wonders, deceiving those who reject the truth because they takepleasure in unrighteousness. They will believe the lie. My friend, we arealready seeing how lies work all around us—how they deceive people and leadthem into destructive paths. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “the thief (thedevil) has come to steal, to kill and to destroy”. That is why we see suchviolence, chaos, and brokenness in our world today. People are believing thelie when what they desperately need is the truth. Thisis it is so important to Speak the Truth! It is no accident that Paul lists lying first. Lyingdestroys. Truth builds up. If we want to live a life that honors God, we mustlearn how to build truth into our lives. Weonly have a few days left before we begin a new year. This is often the timewhen people make New Year's resolutions. But instead of resolutions, I want toencourage you to make a commitment—a complete surrender to the will of God tobe the person He wants you to be. How do you do that? We all desperately dailyneed God's grace to do what we ought to do. The best way I know receive God'sgrace is to put yourself in the path of God's grace by getting into God's Word andHis Truth that sets us free on a daily basis. The truth is Jesus. The Truth isfound in His Word. Living in the Truth means abiding in Christ (John 15). Thelie of the devil is that you don't have time for God's Word—that you are toobusy, that other things are more urgent. My friend, that is the tyranny of theurgent, where immediate demands crowd out the most important thing: time alonewith the Lord in His Word and prayer. And we must discipline ourselves spirituallyto do that! Years ago, by the grace of God, I made a determination todiscipline myself for godliness, as Paul instructed Timothy (1 Timothy 4:7-9).The only way to do that is to commit to a daily quiet time with the Lord. Thedevil will whisper his lies into your ears and mind: “You don't need to pray. Youdon't need to read through the Bible. You don't need every Word of God.” Theseare his lies! That is why I do everything I can through this Pastor's Chat andthrough my website to encourage believers to stay in the Word. I post dailydevotionals such as Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, ExperiencingGod by Henry Blackaby, and Dr. Elmer Towns' 365 Ways to Know God. I personally alsoread other devotionals by Andrew Murray and others. These help me focus eachday on God's truth instead of Satan's lies. Forover 50 years now I have read five Psalms a day, and I post them on my websiteso you can read or listen along if you wish. We also provide Bible readingschedules—two different plans—to help you stay disciplined in God's Word. Todaywill you make the decision by God's grace to say: “I am not going to try. I amgoing to do this.” My friend, if you will do this, you will find that next yearwill be a completely different year.

Revive Our Hearts
Beyond Quiet Time, with Dr. Henry Blackaby

Revive Our Hearts

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2025


Does your quiet time feel like just another box to check? In a classic conversation, Dr. Henry Blackaby wants you to know your devotions are more than a mundane task. They are your life. Soak up his advice for daily prayer and Bible study.

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast
Henry Blackaby - The Highway of Holiness

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 76:27


As we celebrate 20 years of ministry we are taking the month of August to hear sermons from Henry Blackaby, our founder. In this week's episode we share Henry's sermon entitled, The Highway of Holiness. DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here. RESOURCES: Mark you calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God – Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here. Use code, ‘PODCAST' for FREE access to the Intro to Spiritual Leadership Coaching Online Class. CONNECT: Follow Richard on X. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.  

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast
Henry Blackaby - Reaching the 9 to 5 Window

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 38:27


As we celebrate 20 years of ministry we are taking the month of August to hear sermons from Henry Blackaby, our founder. In this week's episode we share Henry's sermon entitled, Reaching the 9 to 5 Window: The Church at Work. DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here. RESOURCES: Mark you calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God - Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here. Use code, 'PODCAST' for FREE access to the Intro to Spiritual Leadership Coaching Online Class. CONNECT: Follow Richard on X. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast
Henry Blackaby: God's Presence in the Workplace

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 50:28


As we celebrate 20 years of ministry we are taking the month of August to hear sermons from Henry Blackaby, our founder. In this week's episode we share Henry's sermon entitled, God's Presence in the Workplace. DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here. RESOURCES: Mark you calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God - Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here. Use code, 'PODCAST' for FREE access to the Intro to Spiritual Leadership Coaching Online Class. CONNECT: Follow Richard on X. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.

WHTT Podcasts
Jesus: The Prince of Peace or Author of Just Wars?

WHTT Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2025 32:58


Millions of American Evangelical Christians have believed that it's their patriotic duty to support the wars the US has been waging in the Middle East since 1991. They lean on the notion of "Just War" theory and that Jesus would approve of these beliefs. These "rationales for war based on Christian ethics can be found in the writings of theologians, such as St. Augustine (354–430) and St. Thomas Aquinas (1224/25–1274), whose Summa Theologiae (1265/66–1273) outlined the justifications for war and discussed the acts it is permissible to commit in wartime. In this compelling podcast, Chuck Carlson, Tom Compton and Craig Hanson of We Hold These Truths delve into various aspects of "just war" based on a perverted Christianity promoted by many prominent evangelical Christian leaders like Henry Blackaby, Chuck Colson (deceased), Bill Bright (deceased) of Campus Crusade, D. James Kennedy (decesead), Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Conference, Ted Haggard, John McArthur (deceased), Dr. Wayne Grudem (author of "Politics According to the Bible") and John Hagee among others. Their interpretations allow them to bless these "just wars". WHTT's founder, Chuck Carlson, warned his fellow Baptists in 1990 about not going to war against Iraq ("Iraq: Americans Prepped For 'War'." Also, before the 2003 Gulf War on Iraq, WHTT opposed going to war again (see here). An excellent article from 2004 in antiwar.com exposes evangelical Christians who support unjust wars:  Pro-War Christians Should Come Clean. 

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast
Henry Blackaby on The Power of God

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 40:02


As we celebrate 20 years of ministry we are taking the month of August to hear sermons from Henry Blackaby, our founder. In this week's episode we share Henry's sermon entitled, The Power of God. DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support our ministry into the next 20 years, click here. RESOURCES: Mark you calendars for May 18-20, 2026 when Richard will be presenting Experiencing God - Part 2 at the Cove in Asheville, NC. More info to come. Join Blackaby Ministries' next Spiritual Leadership Coaching Workshop here. Use code, 'PODCAST' for FREE access to the Intro to Spiritual Leadership Coaching Online Class. CONNECT: Follow Richard on X. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.

Faith Covenant Church- Sumner, WA
Mission Possible #4

Faith Covenant Church- Sumner, WA

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2025 35:26


Pastor Emeritus, Steve Starr, shares his personal testimony of responding to God's call with a willing heart, saying, "Here I am." Reflecting on Isaiah, Jonah, and a devotion from the devotional, Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry Blackaby, he challenges us to surrender fully and trust the One who sends.

MoneyWise on Oneplace.com
Crafting a Faithful Legacy for Future Generations with Jeanne McMains

MoneyWise on Oneplace.com

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 24:57


“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children…” - Proverbs 13:22That verse teaches that a life of faithful stewardship will enable you to leave something of great value to your heirs. How you do it can impact future generations. Jeanne McMains joins us today to talk about “intentional inheritance.” Jeanne McMains has been a practicing attorney in estate planning, business succession, and non-profits since 1995. She currently serves as the Vice President of Gift Planning with The National Christian Foundation (NCF), where she assists families nationwide with achieving their charitable gift-planning goals.What Is an Intentional Inheritance?An intentional inheritance is more than the distribution of wealth. It's a prayerful, purposeful plan for shaping the lives of those who will receive what we leave behind. Inheritance is one of the most significant stewardship decisions we make. It's not just about how much but how—and why—we give.This perspective calls for a deep shift. Before passing on wealth, we must first pass on wisdom. Otherwise, unmanaged or misunderstood wealth can do more harm than good.Start with Prayerful IntrospectionAsk yourself: What role does wealth play in my life? Reframe your mindset around money—not as a measure of success or security but as a tool for Kingdom work. Wealth is an entrustment from God, not an end in itself. That means laying it down at the cross daily, asking the Lord to help us steward it with humility and grace.Three Types of InheritanceTo simplify this big task, here are three kinds of inheritance every Christian family should consider:1. Inheritance to SpendThis is the traditional kind of inheritance—resources intended to provide opportunities, experiences, and essentials. Think of it as financial fuel to help your heirs live productive, content lives. But maturity matters. Consider using this inheritance to fund training, travel, or education before a large transfer, especially if the heir is still developing financial literacy or spiritual maturity.2. Inheritance to ShapeThis is where legacy comes to life. Instead of simply giving money, consider shaping character through shared experiences—like mission trips, retreats, or projects that reflect your family's values.3. Inheritance to ShareWe're blessed to be a blessing. Set aside a portion of your estate to fuel generosity in the next generation. This might include donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, or other giving vehicles your heirs can use to support ministries or causes close to their hearts. This is how we teach our children to reflect God's love through giving.Practical Steps to Craft an Intentional InheritanceHere are four foundational steps to take:1. Engage in Open DialogueTalk with your heirs about the purpose behind the inheritance. Focus less on how much and more on why. Share your values, your heart for the Kingdom, and how you hope the inheritance will be used to bless others. This conversation builds trust, understanding, and spiritual alignment.It's not about dollars and zeros; it's about attitude, opportunity, and calling.2. Work with Faith-Aligned AdvisorsChoose financial and legal professionals who share your biblical worldview. Whether you're working with an estate attorney or a financial planner, the right team will help ensure your legacy is stewarded with wisdom and integrity. That's why we recommend connecting with a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA). To find one near you, visit FaithFi.com and click “Find a Professional.”3. Prepare Your HeirsDon't wait until the inheritance is distributed. Teach your heirs financial literacy and spiritual stewardship now. Let them stumble, learn, and grow while you're still here to mentor and encourage them.4. Use Strategic ToolsLeverage estate planning vehicles like wills, trusts, donor-advised funds, and charitable gift plans. These tools help ensure your assets are distributed in a way that promotes ongoing generosity and reflects your commitment to faithful living.Even well-meaning inheritances can lead to confusion, entitlement, or spiritual drift without intentional planning. But with prayer, purpose, and preparation, your legacy can be a launching pad for generations of Kingdom impact.Want to learn more?Explore practical tools and gospel-centered resources at NCFgiving.com to help you build a legacy of generosity and faith. To read Jeanne's full article, “Intentional Inheritance: Crafting a Faithful Legacy for Future Generations,” become a FaithFi Partner with a monthly gift of $35 or an annual gift of $400 at FaithFi.com/give.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm nervous about retiring in the next year and a half. I have a 457 retirement account with the state of Ohio, and I'm worried about the current economy. Should I move all my investments into stable value to protect what I've got while the economy is in flux?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineNational Christian Foundation (NCF)Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, and Claude V. KingWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look 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.

More Than Bread
Lent Series #23 -- Exodus 3, 32-33 -- Are you God's friend?

More Than Bread

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 25:28


Send me a Text Message!Henry Blackaby said that "A love relationship with God is more important than any other single factor in your life." Did you live your day or your week as though your relationship with God was the single most important factor in your life? Listen, the witness of the church is so intimately related to the manifest presence of God, that without it, the peoples of the world cannot and will not, believe. And that's what we have...the presence of God. Moses was a man who had experienced the power of God in ways most of us could only dream about.  But he was also a man who knew His God; they talked together face to face as a man would with a friend. And when the time came for Moses to choose between the presence of God and the power of God, it was no contest. So the question is...do I value His presence over His power. Am I God's friend?

Integrity Moments
Speaking for God

Integrity Moments

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 1:00


As someone who has hired hundreds of speakers, I take seriously the responsibility of hiring someone to speak God's truths to our network. I've experienced the awe of watching Henry Blackaby speak a powerful message from God during the 2008 stock market collapse.   But I've also experienced the horror of a speaker offending our audience ... The post Speaking for God appeared first on Unconventional Business Network.

More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music

Send us a textI don't know if you've ever lifted a desperate prayer that asked, "Lord, why are you keeping me here?" but that line in Samantha Ebert's song "Flowers" gets me every time. That one that acknowledges the valley I'm in but reminds me that God has something beautiful in mind that will bloom from the soil of suffering.Scripture details what good comes from suffering. Join me as we explore part of a letter from Paul to the Romans together.In this episode, I discuss:Episode Guide Available – Download your free Episode Guide at michellenezat.com/511download to help you interact with Scripture.Personal Connection to the Song – I share how Flowers ministered to me during my waiting season.Mountaintop vs. Valley Perspective – Drawing from personal experiences hiking in the Smoky Mountains and biblical wisdom from Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God, I discuss how our circumstances can cloud our view of God, but seeking His perspective brings clarity.Romans 5:3–5 Breakdown – Exploring how suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope—the flowers that grow in the valley.Cross-References & Biblical Themes: Psalm 126:5–6 – Sowing in tears, reaping in joy.James 1:2–4 – Trials produce steadfastness, leading to spiritual maturity.2 Corinthians 2:9-10 – Proven character results in obedience and forgiveness.Romans 4:18-25 – Abraham's unwavering hope in God's promises.BITE (Bible Interaction Tool Exercises) Used:Following cross-referencesStudying words in original Greek (hypomone – endurance, dokime – character, elpis – hope)Reading in context (Romans 4–6)Making lists (evidence of faith and hope in Scripture)Comparing and contrasting passagesTakeaways:God is growing something beautiful even in your suffering.Biblical hope is not wishful thinking—it's a well-grounded expectation in God's faithfulness.Viewing your circumstances through God's perspective changes everything.Additional ResourcesLyrics - New Release TodayExperiencing God by Henry Blackaby - Amazon Paid LinkBibleHub.com for cross-referencesLearn more about my favorite Bible Study Software with a 30-day free trial and links to my all-time favorite Bible resources - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeRead Romans 4-6 before focusing in on Romans 5:3-4. Look for the flowers that grow in the valley of our suffering. Make lists, define words, and complete word studies. Follow the cross-references and take time to meditate on what you are reading and studying. Use the Episode Guide to help.Purchase your copy of A Seat at the Table today! Change your music. Change your life. Join my free 30-Day Music Challenge. CLICK HERE.

Leadership Lessons with Dr. Todd Gray
Experience God in Everyday Life with Henry Blackaby - 194

Leadership Lessons with Dr. Todd Gray

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 33:33


In this episode, Richard Blackaby with Blackaby Ministries International discusses how to experience God in everyday life.

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries
Luke 9:49-56 - "The Greatest of These is Love"

Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 5:09


Friends, I need to ask for special prayer today before we look at Luke 9. This morning, I will be driving to Roanoke to meet my daughter Kimberly and my grandson Luke. Then early Sunday morning we will be driving to Boston Massachusetts for an appointment early Monday morning with a doctor at the Boston Children's Hospital, who is a leading specialist in the world on the condition that Luke has with his brain.   This appointment and the insurance approval are both wonderful miracles. The hand of God's divine providence is so obvious in every aspect of this consultation visit. Please pray for traveling mercies for us, and wisdom for the doctor and his staff as they examine Luke, look at his x-rays and medical records, and make possible recommendations for future treatment.   We can't thank you enough for your prayers over the past several years for Luke. I'm convinced that it is only because of your prayers and God's grace that Luke is still with us today and making such great progress! We truly appreciate you and can't say it enough: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!   During this time, I will attempt to continue to post the devotionals by Oswald Chambers, Henry Blackaby, Dr. Elmer Towns, and the daily Psalms reading video to social media. I hope to be back in my home office here in Sneads Ferry, NC on Wednesday morning to continue our study through the Gospel of Luke! Thank you for both your patience and your prayers!   In Luke 9, Jesus is training and preparing His twelve disciples for the time He will be gone to heaven, and they will be left to fulfilled His Great Commission by sharing God's love and the Gospel message with the whole world! We have said it often, but it bears repeating, “We can minister to the multitudes as Jesus did, but we can only disciple a few”. To personally be a disciple is not an easy road to go down. Jesus promised us trials and tribulations (John 16:33). But our main task as a disciple of Jesus Christ, according to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, is to disciple others. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”   But it can be very discouraging and disappointing when you have spent years discipling and pouring your life into some followers of Jesus, and then you find them without the power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit, expressing jealousy and envy, arguing with one another, and generally lacking love for the people they have been called to reach and serve. That is what Jesus is experiencing in this passage.   In this chapter, not only have the disciples of Jesus expressed lack of love for the hungry multitudes (“send them away” v. 12), for one another (vv. 46-48), they also showed a lack of love for believers outside their own group (Luke 9:49-50). We should be very careful not to be critical of other believers and ministries that don't believe exactly like us, or do ministry a “different way” (see Romans 14:1-13).  Believers who think that their group is the only group God recognizes and blesses are in for a shock when they get to heaven.   We should never forget that our zeal to fulfill the “Great Commission” is not a substitute for neglecting the “Great Commandment”, which is to both love God and our neighbor! (see Romans 13:8-10). The gifts of the Spirit without the fruit of Spirit profits nothing as far as the Lord is concerned (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).   The first fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). We might have great faith and hope, but the greatest witness of the presence and power of Jesus in our lives, is expressing His love to others! (1 Corinthians 13:13). In John 13:35 Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."   How is your love for Jesus and others today?   God bless!

Family Talk on Oneplace.com
Finding New Intimacy in Prayer - I

Family Talk on Oneplace.com

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 25:55


Prayer is essential to any believer's walk, but some Christians need to be more purposeful in their quiet times with God. On today's edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson speaks with Dr. Henry Blackaby and his son, Dr. Norman Blackaby, to discuss the significance of prayer. They talk with Dr. Dobson about their family's dedication to prayer, and give advice to people wanting to deepen their relationship with the Lord. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/707/29

Everyday Discernment
Mike and Daniel Blackaby- Communicating the Gospel in an Emotionally Driven Culture

Everyday Discernment

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 51:21


In episode 79 of the 'Eyes on Jesus' podcast, hosts Drew and Tim are joined by Mike and Daniel Blackaby, grandsons of Henry Blackaby, founder of Blackaby Ministries International. Mike and Daniel discuss their new book, 'Straight to the Heart,' which focuses on five ways to communicate the gospel through passions and emotions that drive our culture. They emphasize the need to balance head and heart in gospel communication, share their personal experiences growing up with their influential grandfather, and highlight the importance of recognizing God's work in everyday life. Additionally, they explore the role of community and the power of storytelling and beauty in deepening faith and reaching the younger generation. How can we, as believers, effectively connect with today's culture by understanding and addressing these emotional aspects? Listen to find out! Connect with the Blackabys and get their new book at https://blackaby.org/ Get the most comfortable shirts we've ever worn with powerful Christian messages! And support the show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kingdomandwill.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code: EYESONJESUS for 15% off Get all our links in one easy place! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/eyesonjesuspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our Group on Facebook- Eyes on Jesus podcast community ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/eyesonjesuspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email feedback, questions or show topic ideas to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠eyesonjesuspodcast@outlook.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on Drew Barker: Follow Drew on ⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/pastordrewbarker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drew's church's website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://yes.online/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more information on Tim Ferrara: ⁠ ⁠ Get all his links in one place- to his social media, all 3 of his books, and more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/discerning_dad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: God's Work in Our Lives 00:41 Welcome to the Eyes on Jesus Podcast 01:15 Meet the Blackaby Brothers 02:45 Growing Up with Henry Blackaby 05:22 The Inspiration Behind 'Straight to the Heart' 08:00 Balancing Emotions and Logic in Faith 12:06 Engaging Culture Through Heart and Mind 19:50 The Role of Beauty and Art in Faith 24:53 The Love Problem in Modern Christianity 26:25 The Power of Stories in Shaping Beliefs 27:47 Recognizing God's Work in Everyday Life 30:37 Desire and the Gospel Message 32:08 Addressing Identity and Purpose in Today's Culture 36:32 The Importance of Listening in Ministry 42:10 Building Authentic Community in the Church 48:51 Conclusion and Resources

Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent
Episode 293: 6 Leadership Postures for Pastoral Leadership

Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 28:24


Episode 293: 6 Leadership Postures for Pastoral Leadership   Shepherd servant leadership Kenneth Gangel Feeeding and Leading, Team Leadership, Henry Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership Visionary visionary leadership John Maxwell Coach transformational leadership Leighton Ford - Transforming Leadership Keith Webb- The COACH Model for Christian Leadership Clinician authentic leadership - Aubrey Malphurs - anything, he's so good! - Jim Wilder - Rare Leadership - Scazzero - The Emotionally Healthy Leader health of self and others proponent of health Strategist adaptive leadership change Tod Bolsinger - Canoeing the Mountains and more Lame Duck succession planning William Vanderbloemen

The Disciple Maker's Podcast
On Mission WITH Jesus: Listening Prayer & Spiritual Warfare in Disciple Making (feat. Marcus Warner, Dawn Whitestone, and Duane Sherman)

The Disciple Maker's Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 63:26


Click here to view DeeperWalk: https://deeperwalk.com/  Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr   Mission with Jesus: Listening Prayer & Spiritual Warfare Basics In this fourth session of the 'Deeper Walk International' series, the focus is on the practice and principles of listening prayer and spiritual warfare basics. The session starts with an introduction from the vice president of strategic partnerships, followed by insights into the development of a new community center, the Joy Center. Dawn, the resident expert on listening prayer, leads the session with personal stories and practical applications, emphasizing the importance of hearing God's voice and recognizing spiritual warfare. The session includes interactive components like Q&A and a guided exercise on listening prayer through scripture. The session concludes with teachings on the significance of spiritual warfare, daily disciplines, and how to identify and address demonic influences and mental health challenges. Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/  Check out Discipleship.org Audio Books: https://discipleship.org/resources/ebooks/  Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction to Session Four: Mission with Jesus 01:36 Opening Prayer and Setting the Tone 03:11 Discerning God's Leading Through Listening Prayer 04:17 Personal Journey and Experiences with Listening Prayer 21:04 Levels of Prayer: Developing a Deeper Connection 27:07 Introduction to Spiritual Warfare Basics 32:08 Understanding Authority in Spiritual Warfare 33:00 Recognizing Permissions and Removing Them 35:53 The Four C's Method for Spiritual Warfare 37:53 Levels of Spiritual Warfare and Preparation 41:40 Real Prayer: A Model for Listening to God 45:45 Daily Spiritual Practices and Emotional Resilience 53:29 Team Approach and Differentiating Spiritual Warfare from Mental Disorders Resources on Disciple Making Culture  Disciple Making Culture Visual Introduction Cultivating a Disciple-Making Culture at Your Church Disciple-Making Culture In this episode of The Disciple Makers Podcast the host welcomes the audience to the fourth session, "Mission with Jesus," focusing on listening prayer and spiritual warfare. The session includes practical exercises and a Q&A segment. Key speakers Dawn and Dwayne, recognized for their expertise, are introduced, with Dawn being highlighted as an expert in listening prayer. The agenda covers discerning God's guidance, understanding spiritual warfare basics, and troubleshooting disciple-making challenges. Dawn starts with a prayer for divine guidance and introduces the session's trail map. She shares her journey from a cessationist background to embracing listening prayer, influenced by the book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. Dawn explains the different levels of prayer engagement: Level One (Rote Prayers): Simple, memorized prayers. Level Two: Personal requests and talking to God. Level Three (Conversational Prayer): Engaging in dialogue with God. Level Four: Listening to God for others. Level Five: Intercessory prayer for broader needs. Dawn recounts how listening prayer transformed her life, leading to significant personal and professional changes. On spiritual warfare, Dawn discusses the misunderstood aspects and introduces the "Steps to Freedom in Christ" for addressing spiritual strongholds. She explains the SOUL framework (Sin, Occult involvement, Unforgiveness, Lies, Lineage) and the Four Cs method (Confess, Cancel, Command, Commit) for counteracting spiritual attacks. The session ends with a Q&A where participants ask about combining spiritual disciplines with listening prayer, maintaining daily spiritual protection, and differentiating between mental health issues and spiritual warfare. Marcus Warner provides practical insights on balanced emotional and spiritual health. Overall, "Deeper Walk 4" offers a guide to listening prayer, spiritual warfare, and resilience through spiritual disciplines, emphasizing prayer as a conversation, dismantling spiritual strongholds, and following God's guidance.   Follow us at Discipleship.org!

More Than Medicine
From Despair to Redemption: Bruce Plummer's Journey of Faith and Transformation (Part Two)

More Than Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 26:55 Transcription Available


Send us a Text Message.Can someone's darkest moments truly be a path to light? Bruce Plummer returns to our podcast to share a riveting account of how he found salvation amidst despair. From wrestling with anger and homelessness to a failed suicide attempt, Bruce's story is nothing short of transformative. Discover how a chance encounter with Pastor Gibb and the powerful message of John 3:16 illuminated his path to redemption, setting the stage for a profound inner change. Bruce candidly discusses how acknowledging his sins and seeking forgiveness altered the course of his life, offering a profound lesson on the transformative power of faith.Witness a life changed by faith as Bruce recounts his spiritual awakening and miraculous cure from alcoholism. His new journey led him to Oklahoma Baptist University and the First Indian Baptist Church, paving the way for a devoted ministry. Inspired by Henry Blackaby, Bruce eventually returned to his home reservation, dedicating over 22 years to spreading the gospel through Fry Bread Fellowship Ministries. Through heartfelt personal stories, he shares the impactful spiritual work accomplished among America's indigenous people, offering a moving testament to God's boundless love and grace. Tune in to hear how Bruce's unwavering faith continues to inspire and transform lives.https://www.montanaindianministries.org/https://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

Solomons Porch Valdosta
Experiecing God Week 1

Solomons Porch Valdosta

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 37:44


This Week, we kick off a transformative new series, "Experiencing God - God's Will & Your Life." We dive into the Gospel of John, exploring how true knowledge of God comes through experience, not just intellectual understanding. Drawing from the impactful study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, we discuss the importance of aligning our lives with God's will, just as Jesus did. We also share the exciting ways our entire church is coming together to explore and experience God over the coming weeks. Join us as we begin this journey of knowing and doing God's will, and learn how to see where God is at work and how to join Him. Whether you're new to the faith or have been walking with Christ for years, this series is designed to deepen your relationship with God.

More Than Medicine
Bruce Plummer's Journey: From Addiction and Anger to Faith and Hope (Part One)

More Than Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 35:06 Transcription Available


Send us a Text Message.How does one turn historical grievances and personal struggles into a story of hope and transformation? Join us on More Than Medicine as Bruce Plummer, a dedicated missionary from the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, shares his extraordinary journey. From dealing with the painful legacy of broken treaties and family hardships to finding solace and purpose through faith, Bruce's story is a compelling testament to the transformative power of compassion and understanding.You'll hear Bruce recount his tumultuous early life, the impact of being a non-citizen in his own land, and his internal struggle with addiction and anger. But it all changes with a transformative experience at a conference led by Dr. Henry Blackaby. Bruce opens up about how this pivotal moment led him to embrace Christianity and create "fry bread fellowships," culturally resonant gatherings that bring hope and spiritual nourishment to his community.Bruce's path to faith wasn't easy, marked by skepticism and a profound personal battle with the Christian concept of the Trinity. Despite these challenges, his moment of seeking forgiveness and acceptance in the midst of despair illuminates the enduring power of salvation. Through our candid conversation, listeners are invited to reflect on their own potential for divine intervention and the possibility of redemption. This episode of More Than Medicine is a poignant narrative of resilience, faith, and the quest for a brighter future for the Fort Belknap Reservation. Don't miss this inspiring testimony from Bruce Plummer, brought to you by Dr. Robert Jackson and the More Than Medicine team.https://www.montanaindianministries.org/https://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

Rolling Hills Community Church Sermon Series
Masterclass: The Life of David // David and Israel

Rolling Hills Community Church Sermon Series

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 38:44


God calls and conditions us to lead with leadership rooted in spiritual influence. Henry Blackaby describes spiritual leaders as those who guide others toward where God wants them to be, starting with their own relationship with Him. Each generation is given the opportunity to raise new leaders who, like David, defeat new giants through deep faith and trust in God. David's leadership was marked by his faith in God's past faithfulness, humility, servant leadership, and willingness to own up to his mistakes. His faith was contagious, empowering those around him to become leaders and giant killers. The question is: What does this look like for us? 

Rolling Hills Community Church - Nolensville Campus
Masterclass: The Life of David // David and Israel

Rolling Hills Community Church - Nolensville Campus

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 37:01


God calls and conditions us to lead with leadership rooted in spiritual influence. Henry Blackaby describes spiritual leaders as those who guide others toward where God wants them to be, starting with their own relationship with Him. Each generation is given the opportunity to raise new leaders who, like David, defeat new giants through deep faith and trust in God. David's leadership was marked by his faith in God's past faithfulness, humility, servant leadership, and willingness to own up to his mistakes. His faith was contagious, empowering those around him to become leaders and giant killers. The question is: What does this look like for us? 

Rolling Hills Community Church - Nashville Campus
Masterclass: The Life of David // David and Israel

Rolling Hills Community Church - Nashville Campus

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2024 38:52


God calls and conditions us to lead with leadership rooted in spiritual influence. Henry Blackaby describes spiritual leaders as those who guide others toward where God wants them to be, starting with their own relationship with Him. Each generation is given the opportunity to raise new leaders who, like David, defeat new giants through deep faith and trust in God. David's leadership was marked by his faith in God's past faithfulness, humility, servant leadership, and willingness to own up to his mistakes. His faith was contagious, empowering those around him to become leaders and giant killers. The question is: What does this look like for us? 

First Baptist Church Clinton, MS
Summer Wednesdays - Week 2

First Baptist Church Clinton, MS

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024


Week 2 of Summer Wednesdays 2024 What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby

First Baptist Church Clinton, MS
Summer Wednesdays - Week 1

First Baptist Church Clinton, MS

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024


Week 1 of Summer Wednesdays 2024 What the Spirit Is Saying to the Churches by Henry Blackaby

GPS: God. People. Stories.
‘”Experiencing God” Almost Never Happened': The Blackabys' Story

GPS: God. People. Stories.

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 20:32


Millions of people around the world are familiar with the book “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” but they probably don't know that its author, Henry Blackaby, never intended to write it.On this Father's Day episode of GPS: God. People. Stories., Henry's son, Richard, shares memories of his father and the story behind the global best-seller. You can connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Billy Graham Radio on Facebook. 

Visionlife365
Ink and Influence - The Authors Who Shaped Gary and Jason's Ministries

Visionlife365

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 27:44


In this enriching episode, we delve into the literary influences that have shaped the ministries of Gary and Jason. Both of them agree with the adage that "leaders are readers." Numerous authors have profoundly impacted their approach to ministry, with a special focus on the late Henry Blackaby, whose works have left an indelible mark on their spiritual leadership.They explore how reading offers new perspectives and challenges and stretches one's faith and leadership abilities. The recent passing of Henry Blackaby serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting impact that thoughtful, biblically grounded authors can have on individual lives and broader ministry practices.This episode is both a tribute to the transformative power of such writers and a call to action for listeners to engage more deeply with books that advocate solid biblical principles. Join us as Gary and Jason discuss how they have translated these teachings into practical actions within their ministries and how listeners can do the same to broaden their impact. It's a celebration of legacy and a motivational push toward personal and spiritual growth through the disciplined pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

The Stories Collective
Episode 115: The ministry of adoption; a mother-son testimony with Janna + Luke Montgomery

The Stories Collective

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 54:33


Today on The Stories Collective we are so excited to be sharing an interview with our first mother-son duo Janna and Luke Montgomery! This story starts in China with Luke's earliest memories being in an orphanage. He has no memory of his birth mother and describes what life was like in the orphanage. Unfortunately, it was a rough and dingy environment with very little adult supervision or even care. Luke also shares about an older boy who was an abuser to not only himself but some other younger kids. He didn't know what life would look like outside of the orphanage, but he knew that he wanted out. Meanwhile in the U.S. Janna and her husband Jeff were living life as a young married couple with Jeff being in the Air Force. They desired to have children but sadly struggled with infertility. While being stationed in Korea their eyes began to be opened to the possibility of adoption. They quickly ended up adopting a little two-year-old girl from Mississippi named Grace. Jeff and Janna now found themselves with a heart and passion for adoption. They started the process to adopt a child from Russia, but Janna kept coming across this little albino boy in an orphanage in China. God was leading the Montgomerys to this boy. This story is one that is hard to summarize in the show notes! Listen in to hear about how Luke became a part of the Montgomery family, what it looked like to go through adoption while being active military, how Luke began to heal from his trauma and got to have an actual childhood, the Lord's hand and really so much more! Your heart will be touched as Janna describes all of this as the ministry of adoption - in total they have adopted 8 children from across the world. The Montgomery family is moving to Alabama later this month and we will certainly miss them!Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby - https://www.amazon.com/Experiencing-God-2021-Knowing-Doing/dp/1087753678/ref=sr_1_4?crid=JJ002FJ7WXOL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LGPFfpkHEVJqc_Lw7EHl7B11ukW-nwlsUiBjZKL7hTZP2Ltws_pjSkluqpBLJwq-ptP4pfpg0QWaw9L4MKlhbK4oSt8akjZFZNpU3Oc9lIkuL3SY5zaZdBdwmBFZjOVZ74z7KvGUnbiBfAfYuHUSlZEblY1DR1cMOW6_6S3KIf9OrGG_JjZI_7h_rxYqYy0s49yZU-mmMwvYsQMmGsPIzZQTnnVFyBjUibvqJFrWeDk.xovXyQHlvWg_XxjDUamgkb4ku5enL7lj7Z3rhwKOgEU&dib_tag=se&keywords=experiencing+god+by+henry+blackaby&qid=1715109816&sprefix=henry+blac%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-4Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We'd love it if you'd share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Wednesday to hear another story of God's faithfulness!

Replant Bootcamp
EP 234 – Remembering Henry Blackaby with Special Guest Richard Blackaby

Replant Bootcamp

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 33:43


Henry Blackaby was a servant of God. Henry Blackaby was an ordinary man whom God used in extraordinary ways. Henry recently passed away from this earth and is now basking in the glory of God and walking with Jesus. In this episode, we’re back at the Replant Bootcamp Podcast with a heartwarming and insightful conversation […]

First Person with Wayne Shepherd

From the archive:  We replay a conversation between Wayne Shepherd and the late Dr. Henry Blackaby, who died on February 10, 2024, on the topic of experiencing prayer. Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

In this episode Richard reflects on the life and legacy of his father, Henry Blackaby. DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support what we do, click here. RESOURCES: Find out more and register for ‘The Ways of God' Conference with Richard at The Cove May 15-17, 2024 here. CONNECT: Follow Richard on Twitter. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast
Why Revival Tarries by Henry Blackaby

The Richard Blackaby Leadership Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 52:26


In this episode we honor the legacy of Richard's father, Henry Blackaby. The sermon played on today's episode is called "Why Revival Tarries." If you'd like to read a collection of Henry's sermons check out The Solomon Promise.  Henry Blackaby's funeral will be at 3:00pm Feb. 25 at First Baptist Church Jonesboro, GA. Viewing from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 24 at Ford-Stewart Funeral Home (2047 Highway 138 S.E. Jonesboro, GA), also at church before the service, from 1:30-3:00. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Blackaby Ministries International as it carries on Henry's work, or to the Blackaby Chair of Spiritual Leadership at the Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College. Donations can be made Online at https://gift.idonate.com/georgia-baptist-foundation/blackaby or by check to: P.O. Box 1035, Jonesboro, GA. 30237. Live stream can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/event/4086348/6b6c7ab42b DONATE: If you have enjoyed this podcast and want to support what we do, click here. RESOURCES: Find out more and register for ‘The Ways of God' Conference with Richard at The Cove May 15-17, 2024 here. CONNECT: Follow Richard on Twitter. Follow Richard on Facebook. Read Richard's latest blog here.

REimagine
Episode #203 Joining God at Work: Thank you Henry Blackaby

REimagine

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 33:20


This week on the show we talk about what it looks like to join God where God is already working....while remembering the life of Henry Blackaby and the Experiencing God course.

SBC This Week
IMB appoints 62 new missionaries; Henry Blackaby dies

SBC This Week

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 30:25


IMB held a commissioning service in Phoenix and sent 62 new missionaries to the nations. Also, Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, went to be with the Lord.

Revive Our Hearts Weekend
How to Nurture Your Passion for Christ

Revive Our Hearts Weekend

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2023


Is God a part of your life, or is He your life?Discover from Nancy, Dr. Henry Blackaby, and Leslie Bennett what it means to live fervently for the Lord.

[MARKED]
MARKED | Behind-the-Scenes of Working on a Christian Magazine

[MARKED]

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 30:05


Today we're going behind-the-scenes at Lifeway and learning all about the process of putting together a Christian magazine. Is working on a magazine as glamorous as the movies make it out to be? HomeLife editor David Bennett shares what it's like to work on a monthly magazine, as well as what what the mission of HomeLife is and what some of his favorite monthly columns are. RESOURCES: HomeLife Magazine Lifeway Women Facebook Lifeway Women Instagram Lifeway Kids Open Windows Magazine MARKED is a podcast from Lifeway Women: https://women.lifeway.com/blog/podcasts/. Hosted by Kelly King and Elizabeth Hyndman. RECOMMENDED: Have you ever wondered what the writing process looks like between an author and her editor? Check out this episode where we talked with Bible study author Jennifer Rothschild and her longtime editor, Mike Wakefield, to learn about their unique writing process and why that relationship is so important. ABOUT DAVID BENNETT David Bennett is managing editor of HomeLife and Open Windows. Prior to this, David was responsible for the ideation, design, and production of student ministry resources and programs. He is author of Critical Decisions: Clarity in the Journey, coauthor of Share Jesus Without Fear Student Edition, and for several years was been a contributor for FCA'S The Athlete's Bible. He edited the first Beth Moore student resource, cohosted the Experiencing God Youth Video Series with Henry Blackaby, and coordinated the First Place youth health program. David has also served as camp pastor for CentriKid Camps, taught creative dramatics, Bible, and mixed woodwinds. He has served church staffs in Tennessee and South Carolina and has directed regional and national youth events. He attended Clemson University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He will never forget meeting his wife, Kimberly, at 2:10 p.m. CT on his fifth day in Nashville. He and his wife have three daughters: Mary Claire, Caroline, and Sarah Kate.