Podcasts about pursuegod

Note: Much of the content in this podcast can be found in show participant Ross Anderson's book Understanding the Book of MormonThe Book of Mormon claims to be an ancient scripture that tells the story of God's people in the American continent.LDS challenge: “Either the Book of Mormon is what the Prophet Joseph said it is, or this Church and its founder are false, a deception from the first instance onward…Joseph must be accepted either as a prophet of God or else as a charlatan of the first order…” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Christ and the New Covenant,” quoted in Ensign, September 2002, 14)To accept BoM is to accept JS as a prophet, and everything that he stands for.The Book of Mormon claims can be / should be tested. 1 Thess 5:21 “Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.”ArchaeologyBoM claims to be an ancient record of American continentFeaturing great cities, people at warArchaeology has failed to unearth any concrete evidence for BoMInscriptional evidence → names carved into stone monumentsExample: Sennacherib / Assyrians = names of Israel's kingsNo BoM name every foundMaterial remains → walls / foundations of ancient citiesPlenty of ancient cities in America, but none that can be linked to BoMExample: BoM describes its people using gold, silver, iron, brass, copperThe mining, smelting, and casting of metal ores requires special tools / complex processes which leave traces in the archaeological recordScholars generally agree: metallurgy not introduced into America until several centuries after the BoM story endsAnimals → BoM mentions many different kinds of animals: cattle, sheep, goats, horsesNone have been found in any archaeological setting dating to BoM timesUnlike deer, jaguar, peccary, tapir, other native speciesThe horse have never been found depicted in any of 1000s of sample of artNew world archaeology is still a young sciencePerhaps some day some artifact or inscription will be found to validate the BoMBut so far, best LDS apologists can do = create aura of plausibility based on vague similaritiesBy contrast, archaeology has repeatedly demonstrated the reliability of Bible: historically / geographicallyUse of metals as describe in Bible can be verified at many sitesA person can visit the actual cities where Bible describes Jesus or Paul travellingBritish Museum (London)Massive stone panels from ancient Ninevah → cities in Bible are recorded thereEvidence for the reliability of the Bible: “Three Reasons to Trust the Bible”DNATraditional LDS understanding - based on BoM story → native Americans are descended from ancient Jews who left Jerusalem for America around 600 BCThis is what JS taught → the most straightforward way to read the BoM textMainstream science → all native Americans are of Asian originSupported by extensive DNA sampling of American Indian populationsMany current LDS scholars claim that most NA's are of Asian descentWhile a small subset are of Semitic origin, descended from LehiIdea is = Nephite & Lamanite civilizations described in BoM made up a very small % of total population of New World during BoM timesLDS Church has acknowledged the challenges1981 BoM: identifies Lamanites as “the principle ancestors of the American Indians”2006 BoM: Lamanites “are among the ancestors of the American Indians”If BoM peoples were not alone in the Americas, it's very surprising that BoM never mentions these large populations of other peopleIn fact, no references to other peoples or nations, no accounts of Nephites evangelizing pagans, no polemics vs polytheism, idolatry, etc.LDS Church Gospel Topics Essay: Book of Mormon and DNA StudiesBible PlagiarismBoM contains extensive material in common with the BibleFirst type of shared content = simple repetition or direct quotationIncluding frequent phrases such as “it came to pass” and “verily, verily I say unto you”Second type = interpretive changes to a biblical text2 Nephi 2:18 expands on the biblical account of Eve's temptation (Gen 3:4-5)Third type = structural parallels to the BibleIncludes literary forms, common motifs, character types, etcConversion of Alma (Mos 27) has many features in common with Paul's conversion (Acts 9)Point: in many cases, Nephite writers mimic wording from the NTA doc to which they would have had no access.All of this shared content raises the Q: does common material come from independent sources?Or did JS simply copy from the Bible?Case 1 = the Sermon on the MountJesus appears in BoM - apparently in 40 days after resurrection prior to ascensionHis public address in 3 Nephi 12-14 contains much in common with Matt 5-7Case 2 = BoM contains more than 19 complete chapters in common w/IsaiahLehi's people carried a copy of OT scriptures with them → source of quoted materialSeveral lines of evidence suggest JS derived the Isaiah passages directly from KJV rather than an ancient sourceExample: biblical scholarship has advanced since KJV translationMany passages that were obscure in KJV in JS time are now more clearBut some of the misunderstandings found in the KJV are also found in BoMSuggests a direct relationship between KJV / BoMWould not have been present in BoM's quotes of Isaiah if the Isaiah text had originated in Lehi's time, as the story claimsHow would translation problems from KJV find their way into BoM?The extensive content shared between KJV & BoM - and the nature of the parallels - creates strong impression that BoM was produced AFTER the KJVOf course, LDS apologists have answers for all of these objectionsThe question is whether their answers are credibleFor loyal Mormons, the answers are convincing because they already have an existing commitment to the BoMOthers, without that grid, are not convinced that BoM passes the test--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

Before we can pursue the God of the Bible, we need to examine the Bible itself. How do we know that we can trust what it says? Why should we listen to its truth claims? That's what pastors Bryan, Ross and John cover in this episode. --The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and it's unlike any other book written in history. It has changed individual lives and shaped entire cultures. It's an ancient text that claims to have been written by God himself, and the proof of its reliability is surprisingly strong. Here are three reasons we can trust what it teaches:Historical Evidence Ancient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, long before printing presses and modern technology. Manuscript fragments of the biblical text have endured wars and weather throughout the ages, and the scraps that remain represent just a fraction of the originals. Are those remnants enough to provide a reliable testimony for modern-day readers? And how can we be sure that the message hasn't been corrupted over the millennia? The good news is that the God who inspired the scriptures was also powerful enough to preserve those writings through the ages. Consider the manuscript evidence. Manuscript copies in the ancient world were painstakingly hand-written, and not all of them survived the ravages of time. Reliability of ancient writings is determined by the number of copies (or partial copies) of the work in existence. So how does the Bible stack up? See for yourself:Today we have only 49 copies of Aristotle's writings.Homer's “The Iliad” does a little better, with 643 copies in existence.The New Testament wins by a landslide, with almost 5700 Greek copies and over 19,000 copies in other languages!The New Testament clearly has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. But how do we know that those manuscript copies are faithful to the originals? What if human authors changed the message, intentionally or otherwise? Modern archeology helps us answer this question, thanks to the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy discovered some ancient scrolls hidden away in remote caves in the Middle East. This led to even more discoveries in the area, and in the end almost 1000 manuscripts were recovered. Parts of almost every book of the Old Testament were found, and some of those fragments proved to be almost 1000 years older than the oldest manuscripts known at the time. This offers a perfect test for the reliability of our modern translations. The book of Isaiah provides the most compelling example, since the Dead Sea Scrolls contained a complete copy of the prophet's writings. When compared to the Masoretic Text (the oldest copy previously known, dating back to about 800 AD), the Isaiah manuscript from the Dead Sea Scrolls was 95% identical! And the only differences were minor, often just variations in spelling.So the historical evidence stacks up in favor of the reliability of the Bible. But there's more:Textual Evidence The Bible is the most impressive writing project in the history of the world. It contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story. Think about it: Moses, a Jewish slave raised in the house of a Pharaoh, wrote the first five books. John, a fisherman-turned-revolutionary, wrote the last four books. In between were books and letters written by shepherds, kings, prophets, tax collectors, doctors, and more. And the most prolific author in the New Testament was Paul – a religious Pharisee who zealously persecuted the Jesus followers before joining them. Most of these authors never met each other, and many of them were unaware of the other books and letters that would eventually be included in the Bible. Their writings spanned different cultures and languages over the course of 15 centuries, and yet the Bible amazingly reads as one story. From beginning to end it's about Jesus, and the fulfilled prophecy is the glue that holds it together. Let's take just a few examples: Of the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah was surprisingly predicted to be the one through which Jesus would come – which is exactly what happened. Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:1-3It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and that's how it happened – even though his mother didn't even live there. Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1,4Prophets wrote with shocking accuracy about the torture and death of Jesus hundreds of years before it happened – exactly as predicted. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53It was because of these kinds of prophecies that Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of his day:John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!The Bible amazingly tells one story, centered on Jesus, because it was ultimately inspired by the God of human history.Personal Evidence The Bible is ultimately about Jesus, and the changed lives of his followers is the most compelling proof of its message. Let's just take three examples from the New Testament, starting with Peter. When Jesus was on trial before his crucifixion, a servant girl noticed Peter and accused him of being a follower of Jesus. Peter denied it three times, walking away with an incredible sense of guilt and shame (Luke 22:56-59). But that's not the end of his story, because days later the resurrected Jesus sat down to breakfast with Peter and reinstated him – three times (John 21:15-19). Peter went on to be a pillar of the Christian church, eventually giving up his life for Jesus. Or consider “doubting” Thomas. He missed out on meeting the resurrected Jesus with the other disciples and expressed his doubt that they really saw the risen Christ. But soon enough he met Jesus for himself and professed his faith in him (John 20:25-28). Thomas, too, ended up dying for his faith. And then there's Paul, a self-righteous Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) whose life mission was to persecute the followers of Jesus. Then he met Jesus and joined that very group of misfit disciples. Paul made it his life's mission to spread the Good News about Jesus and he, too, died a martyr's death. There's no way to explain away these changed lives except to conclude that the message about Jesus, along with every word in the Bible, truly is inspired by God.But no amount of evidence can overcome an unbelieving attitude. At the end of the day, trusting the reliability of the Bible comes down to your willingness to believe in the God behind the Bible. Jesus made this point one day as he taught in the Temple courts:John 7:16-17 My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.If you're unwilling to submit to God's will, your pursuit is over before it has even started. But if you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you'll discover the truth. The teachings of Jesus, and indeed all of the teachings in the Bible, are from God, not man. And so we can trust the Bible in our pursuit of God.

Latter-day Saints revere Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. His role is absolutely central to the claims of Mormonism. LDS Church President Joseph Fielding Smith highlighted this important role:“Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 1:188. Italics in original)In light of this, it makes sense to examine the story of Joseph Smith to evaluate what we should think of him. Consider five elements of his story that bear upon this question.Occult Treasure Hunting Money digging was a fairly common practice in frontier America in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It involved certain rituals or ceremonies performed to obtain buried treasure. The treasure was thought to be guarded by evil spirits. Joseph Smith as a young man offered his services for hire as a money digger. Smith's entire family practiced various folk-magic practices, including visions, dreams and occult rituals.Joseph's method in finding lost treasure involved the use of a seer stone, which he discovered in 1822 while digging a well for a neighbor. He would place this small rock in his hat and pull his hat up over his face to block out the light. He claimed that he could see supernaturally through the stone to help locate the place where the treasure was buried.The Vagrant Act, a New York law at the time, defined a disorderly person to include one who pretended to have skill in palm reading, telling fortunes, or discovering where lost goods could be found. In 1826 - during the period while Joseph was supposedly being prepared by God to receive the gold plates containing the Book of Mormon - he was arrested, brought before a judge, and charged with being a “glass-looker” and a disorderly person. The judge determined that Joseph was guilty, though no penalty was administered.Shortly after this, Joseph stopped money digging but kept the seer stone. It was with this stone that he claimed to find the gold plates and to later produce the Book of Mormon. Historians have documented many points of connection between Joseph's early occult practices and the origins of the Book of Mormon.The First Vision Joseph Smith's “First Vision” is a key part of the LDS story and establishes several unique LDS beliefs. The official account of this vision describes how the 14-year-old Smith, eager to learn the truth about which of the competing Christian churches was true, went to a secluded grove to ask God. There God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him not to join any of them, for all of them were apostate. That event launched the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith to restore Jesus' original church to the earth. The official account, now included in LDS scriptures, was written by Joseph Smith in 1838, 18 years after the events it recounts. Yet historical research in recent years has uncovered eight other accounts of the First Vision. Some were written by Smith himself, or were recorded by others who heard Smith tell about it. Most of these accounts are earlier than the official version. It appears that over time, the story changed and grew into its final form. In some versions, two personages appear to Smith. In another, only “the Lord” appears. In others, the glorious personage is an angel. In the official version, the personages tell Smith that all churches are corrupt. In another version, this message comes from an angel. In other versions, this message is missing. In some versions, In one version, Smith reports that he was told, “Your sins are forgiven.” But this is absent in other versions. The official account says that Joseph was 14 when he had the vision. Another version, in Smith's own handwriting, says that he was 15. Others give his age as 17. The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essay: First Vision AccountsThe Kirtland Banking ScandalThe LDS Church was officially founded in 1830 in New York, near Joseph Smith's home town. By the early 1830s Smith and his followers moved to Kirtland Ohio, where a number of converts had joined the church. New converts from other areas converged on Kirtland to be part of the LDS community. But the church's presence in Ohio didn't last long.There was friction with the locals on a number of points, which led to persecution. But one significant issue emerged when Joseph Smith and other LDS leaders organized an illegal bank in 1836, called the Kirtland Safety Society. Smith not only broke the law to form the bank; he had no expertise in financial matters and hid behind his prophetic mantle to convince others to fund the bank, claiming that the audible voice of God instructed him to establish it. He prophesied that the bank would grow and flourish, surviving when others failed. Yet this bank failed in 1837, releasing a hornet's nest of creditors who demanded payment, leading to numerous lawsuits and threats of violence. Many in the LDS church at that time lost faith in Smith's prophetic leadership. Others were convinced that Smith intended to defraud investors from the beginning. Joseph left Kirtland in January 1838 under cover of darkness, never to return again. FreemasonryFreemasonry was prevalent in the areas where Joseph Smith grew up. In fact, Joseph's brother Hyrum became a Mason while the family was still living in Palmyra, New York. Some years later, in Nauvoo, Illinois, when the LDS church was at its height, many prominent Latter-day Saints were Masons. Joseph became a Mason in March 1842. Less than two months later, he introduced the core ritual of the LDS temple, the endowment ceremony. Numerous scholars have pointed out the many parallels between the Masonic ritual and the LDS temple ritual, such as: the language of the ritual; the handshakes and other physical signs; the oaths and promises made; the vows of secrecy; the clothing involved in the ceremonies; the presentation of the ritual through drama, and more. Masonic themes and symbols are also reflected in the architecture of the Nauvoo temple, such as the beehive; the sun, moon and stars; the square; and the all-seeing eye. The LDS temple ritual, said by Mormons to have been given by divine revelation, is actually based on Masonic rituals.PolygamyPlural marriage in Mormonism began with Joseph Smith. He was toying with the principle of polygamy as early as 1831, and began introducing the doctrine shortly thereafter, but the revelation outlining the practice was not written down until 1843. Around 1834, Smith had a sexual relationship with Fanny Alger, a teenager living in his home. Faithful LDS scholars view this as the first of his plural marriages, but early LDS leader Oliver Cowdery described it as a “dirty, nasty, filthy affair.” By 1842, Joseph had married 10 women. That summer, he married six additional women, along with 17 others in 1843. Two of these were only 14 years old. While Mormons have denied it for years, the LDS Church has acknowledged that many of these marriages were physically consummated.The revelation authorizing plural marriage is found in Doctrine and Covenants 132. There, Joseph's wife Emma is threatened with destruction if she does not go along with Joseph's polygamy. (Today, most people would view that as spiritual abuse.) Section 132 also requires plural wives to be virgins. Yet Joseph married a number of women who were already married to other men. The revelation required a man taking plural wives to obtain the permission of his first wife. Yet Joseph married many women without Emma's knowledge. The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essay: Plural Marriage in Kirtland and NauvooAgain, Latter-day Saint leaders have challenged us to consider Joseph Smith's story, to discern whether he was a prophet of God. These five elements of Joseph's history give evidence that he was not.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--Notes

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In this opening episode of a 12-week series on The Pursuit, Pastor Bryan Dwyer, Pastor Ross Anderson, and Tracy Dwyer introduce the fundamental truths of embarking on a journey with God. Designed for both seasoned believers looking to disciple others and seekers exploring Christianity for the first time, the hosts address common misconceptions about God's character and religious expectations. The conversation centers on a pivotal core truth: God is actively for you, not against you, regardless of your past, mistakes, or perceived distance from Him. Drawing from the story of Jesus healing the leper in Matthew 8, the episode illustrates Christ's willingness to draw near to and transform those who feel isolated or unworthy. We introduce the concept of a "full-circle faith"—a dynamic process that begins by trusting Jesus for salvation and naturally progresses into living a life that honors Him and culminates in making disciples.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--Timestamps & Key Topics00:03 - Introduction to "The Pursuit" Series Pastor Brian, Pastor Ross, and Tracy introduce the 12-week series designed to equip Christians to make disciples while offering seekers a clear, biblical picture of God.01:31 - Reframing the Image of God Addressing common cultural and religious baggage, the hosts discuss shifting from a rule-based view of faith to understanding God's heart and intentions toward individuals.04:50 - Evaluating Your Standing with God A prompt encouraging listeners to reflect on where they fall on the continuum of feeling far from vs. close to God.07:10 - Truth #1: God is For You, Not Against You Unpacking the assurance that God is not intimidated by anyone's past or sin, and exploring how Jesus actively pursued the broken rather than avoiding them.08:33 - The Story of the Leper (Matthew 8) An analysis of Jesus reaching out to touch and heal a leper, highlighting Christ's compassion, power, and willingness to restore those who feel rejected.14:43 - The Pitfall of Self-Righteousness & Religious Systems Examining Mark 2:17 and why trying to earn God's favor through moral effort or rule-keeping keeps people from experiencing genuine grace.18:00 - Truth #2: A Pursuit of God Changes Everything Discussing John 10:10 ("life to the full") and how whole-life Christianity impacts eternity as well as daily relational, emotional, and practical living.20:55 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Trusting Jesus Understanding the first arrow of the full-circle model: starting a relationship with God strictly through faith in Jesus Christ rather than self-improvement or good works (Romans 3:22).28:53 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Living to Honor God Exploring how genuine faith shifts internal desires, leading believers to align their choices, habits, and allegiance with God out of gratitude rather than obligation.Key TakeawaysGod Is Willing and Good: Jesus's interaction with the leper demonstrates that God possesses both the power to transform lives and the desire to draw near to those who feel defiled or far away.Salvation Is a Gift, Not an Achievement: Relationship with God begins solely by placing faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). It cannot be bought, earned, or supplemented by human effort.Faith Is a Journey, Not Just a Destination: Following Christ offers "life to the full" (John 10:10), impacting every area of daily living—relationships, habits, and internal peace—rather than just securing a future outcome.Grace Drives Obedience: Good works do not earn salvation; rather, experiencing God's free gift creates a natural desire to live a life that honors Him out of gratitude and love.

In this opening episode of a 12-week series on The Pursuit, Pastor Bryan Dwyer, Pastor Ross Anderson, and Tracy Dwyer introduce the fundamental truths of embarking on a journey with God. Designed for both seasoned believers looking to disciple others and seekers exploring Christianity for the first time, the hosts address common misconceptions about God's character and religious expectations. The conversation centers on a pivotal core truth: God is actively for you, not against you, regardless of your past, mistakes, or perceived distance from Him. Drawing from the story of Jesus healing the leper in Matthew 8, the episode illustrates Christ's willingness to draw near to and transform those who feel isolated or unworthy. We introduce the concept of a "full-circle faith"—a dynamic process that begins by trusting Jesus for salvation and naturally progresses into living a life that honors Him and culminates in making disciples.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--Timestamps & Key Topics00:03 - Introduction to "The Pursuit" Series Pastor Brian, Pastor Ross, and Tracy introduce the 12-week series designed to equip Christians to make disciples while offering seekers a clear, biblical picture of God.01:31 - Reframing the Image of God Addressing common cultural and religious baggage, the hosts discuss shifting from a rule-based view of faith to understanding God's heart and intentions toward individuals.04:50 - Evaluating Your Standing with God A prompt encouraging listeners to reflect on where they fall on the continuum of feeling far from vs. close to God.07:10 - Truth #1: God is For You, Not Against You Unpacking the assurance that God is not intimidated by anyone's past or sin, and exploring how Jesus actively pursued the broken rather than avoiding them.08:33 - The Story of the Leper (Matthew 8) An analysis of Jesus reaching out to touch and heal a leper, highlighting Christ's compassion, power, and willingness to restore those who feel rejected.14:43 - The Pitfall of Self-Righteousness & Religious Systems Examining Mark 2:17 and why trying to earn God's favor through moral effort or rule-keeping keeps people from experiencing genuine grace.18:00 - Truth #2: A Pursuit of God Changes Everything Discussing John 10:10 ("life to the full") and how whole-life Christianity impacts eternity as well as daily relational, emotional, and practical living.20:55 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Trusting Jesus Understanding the first arrow of the full-circle model: starting a relationship with God strictly through faith in Jesus Christ rather than self-improvement or good works (Romans 3:22).28:53 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Living to Honor God Exploring how genuine faith shifts internal desires, leading believers to align their choices, habits, and allegiance with God out of gratitude rather than obligation.Key TakeawaysGod Is Willing and Good: Jesus's interaction with the leper demonstrates that God possesses both the power to transform lives and the desire to draw near to those who feel defiled or far away.Salvation Is a Gift, Not an Achievement: Relationship with God begins solely by placing faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). It cannot be bought, earned, or supplemented by human effort.Faith Is a Journey, Not Just a Destination: Following Christ offers "life to the full" (John 10:10), impacting every area of daily living—relationships, habits, and internal peace—rather than just securing a future outcome.Grace Drives Obedience: Good works do not earn salvation; rather, experiencing God's free gift creates a natural desire to live a life that honors Him out of gratitude and love.

After spending more than 50 years trying to earn God's approval, Leanne began the difficult journey of leaving Mormonism and learning to trust Jesus instead of religious leaders. She shares how studying church history, reading the Bible for the first time, and stepping into a Christian church transformed her understanding of grace. Her story reaches a powerful turning point when Jesus shows her that she can stop running—because He already finished the race for her.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

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While modern business gurus like Steven Bartlett and Elon Musk emphasize extending time horizons from 5 to 50 years to build durable, multi-generational companies, they are still only scratching the surface. In this episode, we explore how the principles of long-term thinking, foundational architecture, and building "durable moats" in business directly parallel the teachings of Jesus and the Scriptures. If extending your time horizon changes the way you construct a business, extending it to eternity should fundamentally transform how you structure your entire life. Discover why worldly success without an eternal foundation is an unstable build, and how you can stop, reset, and anchor your soul on bedrock.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--To entrepreneurs today, Jesus would say that true success requires extending your time horizon beyond temporal wealth to eternity by building your life on the solid foundation of His teachings. While modern business strategy emphasizes long-term planning to create lasting value, Jesus challenges business leaders to consider the state of their eternal souls. Real security comes from trusting in God rather than unreliable riches, storing up heavenly treasure, and living with an eternal perspective.The Problem with Short-Term ThinkingModern business culture preaches the power of long-term vision. Consultants and top executives encourage founders to look past five-year exit strategies and plan for fifty-year horizons to build durable companies. Extended timeframes naturally demand stronger foundational decisions. Yet, from a biblical standpoint, even a fifty-year business strategy remains dangerously short-sighted.Jesus addressed the trap of temporal focus when He posed a fundamental question to His followers.Mark 8:36-37 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?Many driven professionals achieve massive financial success while inadvertently sacrificing their marriages, families, and spiritual well-being. They focus entirely on temporal outcomes while ignoring eternal realities. The Bible teaches that every human being will live forever somewhere. Consequently, evaluating life solely through the lens of earthly achievements ignores our ultimate destiny. God calls us to expand our planning far beyond a decade or a career.Riches Are Unreliable FoundationsBuilding a life on wealth creates a fragile structure that cannot withstand the storms of life or the reality of eternity. Money itself is not evil, but placing your trust in it creates a dangerous spiritual trap. Wealth offers a false sense of security that quickly evaporates when facing loss, tragedy, or death.The apostle Paul provided clear instructions for those who experience financial success, highlighting where true confidence belongs.1 Timothy 6:17-19 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this, they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.Paul does not condemn money; rather, he warns against trusting in its stability. When business leaders redirect their resources toward generosity and good works, they shift their investments into an infrastructure that lasts. True life is found not in accumulating capital, but in knowing and serving the God who generously provides.The Danger of Storing Up Earthly WealthJesus frequently warned His listeners about the spiritual blindness caused by materialism. In a culture driven by net worth and asset accumulation, His warnings hit home for high achievers. He told a parable about a successful farmer who produced a bumper crop and decided to tear down his barns to build bigger ones so he could relax for decades.Luke 12:20-21 But God said to him, "You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?" Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.Jesus called this successful manager a fool not because he was good at business, but because he was completely unprepared for eternity. He planned for early retirement while neglecting his relationship with God. When we invest all our energy, time, and talent into temporary ventures, our hearts naturally follow those investments.Matthew 6:19-21 Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.Aligning your desires with God's kingdom protects you from placing supreme value on things that will eventually decay.Rebuilding on the Ultimate RockBuilding a high-rise building requires digging a deep foundation. If you try to add extra floors to a building constructed on a weak base, the entire structure eventually collapses under stress. Many professionals reach a plateau or experience a crisis because they attempted to build a massive life on a weak base.Jesus concluded His Sermon on the Mount by contrasting two types of builders.Matthew 7:24-27 Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rains come in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it's built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.The storms of life test every life and career. When difficulty strikes, only a life built on obedience to Christ stands firm. Rebuilding your life on Jesus requires taking a step back, repenting of self-reliance, and allowing Him to transform your priorities from the ground up.The apostle Paul reinforced this truth when evaluating our lifelong work.1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.Every achievement, business venture, and earthly status symbol will one day pass through the testing fire of God's judgment. Works driven by pride and temporal greed will burn away, but efforts built on faith, obedience, and love for Christ will yield eternal rewards.The TakeawayTo entrepreneurs today, Jesus offers a loving warning and a call to true wisdom. Achieving market success means very little if you lose your eternal soul in the process. While business strategies require vision, your ultimate focus belongs on eternity. Reevaluate your priorities today, ensure your confidence rests in Christ rather than your wealth, and rebuild your life on the rock of His Word.

What happens when trying to be worthy becomes an exhausting race you can never finish? After more than 50 years in Mormonism, Leanne shares how religious scrupulosity, fear, and relentless rule-keeping left her anxious and caused Jesus to feel less and less important. In this episode, she opens up about the experiences that shaped her faith, the moment her testimony began to collapse, and how Jesus emerged from the rubble.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

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What happens when you achieve the ultimate "world's version" of success—building websites with 15 million monthly views—but you're still miserable inside? In this transparent interview, Vic (the entrepreneur behind Screen Rant and Game Rant) shares his 15-year journey of tracking 34,000 food entries, surviving 11 surgeries, enduring a divorce, and ultimately finding true redemption through faith in Jesus. Vic discusses his new book, "The Last 10 Pounds," and breaks down why so many men chase the wrong idols (like money and body image) before realizing what truly matters. Whether you need to fix your physical fitness or your spiritual foundation, this episode will show you how to start your own "redeemed second half."--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

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If you sat down with nothing but a Bible, would you ever actually come up with your current belief system? In this episode, Bryan reacts to a classic sermon clip from Francis Chan detailing his front-door encounter with LDS missionaries. But stick around for the twist at the end—because Francis doesn't just challenge LDS theology; he turns the mirror directly on modern evangelical church culture.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--What happens when one of the most famous modern preachers gets a knock on his door from LDS missionaries?In this episode of Unveiling Mormonism, Pastor Bryan reacts to a powerful sermon clip from Francis Chan. We dive into Chan's incredibly gracious, question-based approach to Mormon theology, compare "traditional" LDS doctrines (like eternal progression and the pre-existence) with modern LDS branding, and tackle a massive challenge that every evangelical Christian needs to hear.Key TakeawaysThe Power of Asking Questions: Why Francis Chan's gentle, curious approach to LDS missionaries is far more effective than getting "fired up" or preachy.The "Two Mormonisms": The difference between the front-page, Jesus-centric marketing of modern Mormonism and the actual, traditional doctrines of eternal progression and grandfather gods.A High View of Scripture: Why starting and ending with the Bible changes the entire conversation—and why we must encourage our LDS friends to read it without any external "filters."The Twist Challenge for Christians: If you only read the Bible from cover to cover, would you actually come up with the consumer-driven, mega-church programs we see today?

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In this episode, we look at John Lennox's conversation with Stephen Bartlett to learn how Christians can share the gospel with skeptics, agnostics, and curious seekers. Lennox models a thoughtful but personal approach, moving beyond debate to the deeper questions of truth, grace, forgiveness, and a real relationship with Jesus. --The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

What Can Christians Learn from the Mormon Church?It might seem strange to ask this on a podcast usually dedicated to exposing the doctrinal and historical flaws of Mormonism. But while we remain uncompromising on biblical truth, we have to ask: Are there things the LDS Church simply does better than many Christian churches?Drawing from 27 years of ministry in Utah, pastor and host Bryan breaks down 4 powerful principles that ministry leaders and churchgoers can glean from their Mormon neighbors. From creating a "high bar" culture to relentlessly prioritizing the family, we explore how to elevate our commitment to Christ without falling into the trap of legalism.In this episode, we discuss:The High Bar Culture: Why lowering the bar makes it too easy for people to walk away from the church.Prioritizing the Family: Shifting the spiritual burden from church programs back to the home.Proactive Community Support: Building a structural safety net so no one falls through the cracks.Shared Identity: Overcoming Christian infighting to build a unified front for the gospel.Read the full article and get the group discussion guide at pursueGOD.org: What Can Christians Learn from the Mormon Church?--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

This episode explores the difference between toxic Christian nationalism, progressive Christianity, and faithful biblical truth. At the center is one key question: are we letting Scripture define Jesus, or are we reshaping Him to fit our politics and culture?--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

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Are Mormons Christians? In a recent viral interview, Christian and cultural commentator Allie Beth Stuckey sat down with Latter-day Saint (LDS) apologist Jacob Hansen to answer that exact question. While the conversation used a lot of shared vocabulary, a deeper dive reveals that historic biblical Christianity and Mormon theology are built on completely different foundations. In this episode, Bryan breaks down the interview, defines the terms, and untangles the crucial, unbridgeable gaps between the LDS worldview and the biblical gospel. Whether you are a Christian wanting to understand your faith better or a Mormon evaluating your own traditions, this episode will help you look past the vocabulary to see the actual theology. --The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--ARE MORMONS CHRISTIANS? In a recent viral episode, cultural commentator Allie Beth Stuckey hosted Jacob Hansen, a prominent Latter-day Saint (LDS) apologist, to tackle a question that has long puzzled many believers and observers alike: Are Mormons Christians? While the conversational surface appeared agreeable, a deeper exploration reveals that beneath shared terminology lies a radically different foundation.For listeners on Spotify or viewers over on our YouTube channel, this breakdown is designed to untangle the terminology and clarify the crucial, unbridgeable gaps between biblical, classical Christianity and Mormon theology.1. The Context of Wisdom: Joseph Smith and James 1:5The foundational story of the LDS movement begins in 1820 with a 14-year-old Joseph Smith who, confused by denominational infighting, read James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..." Smith went into a grove of trees to pray, leading to what Mormons call the "First Vision," where he claimed God the Father and Jesus Christ told him all existing churches were corrupt and lacked ecclesiastical authority.However, extracting James 1:5 to validate a brand-new revelation takes the text entirely out of context. James was writing to persecuted Jewish Christians scattered abroad, encouraging them to seek God's wisdom to endure trials—not establishing a formula to discover a new gospel. Furthermore, if we look just two chapters later, James 3:13 tells us that true godly wisdom is proven by "living an honorable life."When examining the life of Joseph Smith, the historical reality is deeply troubling. The LDS church has openly admitted over the last decade that Smith practiced polygamy, marrying multiple women, including a 14-year-old girl. From a biblical perspective, this lifestyle fundamentally contradicts the honorable fruit of divine wisdom described by James.2. The Ontological Gap: Same Species or Creator and Creation?During the interview, Hansen noted that while Mormons consider themselves Christians, they are not "creedal Christians." Creedal Christians adhere to historical, biblical summaries like the Nicene Creed, which outline the biblical nature of God.While the official LDS website uses deeply Christian-sounding language—stating that Jesus is our Savior and God loves us—digging deeper reveals a completely different ontology (the study of being):Biblical Christianity teaches an infinite, unbridgeable gap between God and humanity. God is the eternal, uncreated Creator; we are His finite creation.Mormon Theology teaches that God and men are the same species. They believe God the Father was once a man who progressed to Godhood, and that human beings can undergo "eternal progression" to eventually become gods themselves.To call this a minor difference is to miss the entire point of biblical revelation. This is not a secondary issue; it is a fundamentally different view of who God is.3. The Gospel: Simple Grace vs. Priesthood KeysOn paper, an LDS person might agree with a basic definition of the gospel: that Jesus died for our sins to rescue us. But the deception lies in how terms are defined.In biblical Christianity, salvation is a straight line: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is a free gift, entirely independent of institutional alignment.In Mormonism, a distinction is made between "general salvation" (resurrection) and exaltation (reaching the highest level of heaven to become a god). To get the "fullness" of relationship with God and achieve exaltation, Hansen explained that an individual must participate in specific ordinances (like temple marriages and secret rituals) that can only be performed by someone holding the "priesthood keys" of the LDS church.When you tell people that Jesus's sacrifice isn't enough on its own, and that they must add a checklist of institutional works and ordinances to be fully reconciled to God, you are no longer preaching the biblical gospel. As Paul strictly warned in Galatians 1:8, anyone preaching a altered, different gospel is under a divine curse.4. Universalism vs. The Reality of JudgmentFinally, the interview exposed a strong current of modern universalism within modern LDS thinking. Hansen argued that the traditional Christian view of a binary Heaven and Hell is too rigid, preferring a "spectrum" of three celestial kingdoms where almost everyone ends up happy. He downplayed the concept of "Outer Darkness" (the LDS version of Hell), claiming it's tough to know who actually goes there.Yet, historical Mormonism is quite clear. Second LDS President Brigham Young explicitly stated in the Journal of Discourses that apostate Mormons—those who leave the LDS faith—are the ones destined for Outer Darkness.More importantly, Jesus Himself repeatedly warned of a definitive, binary reality regarding eternity: those who are in Christ inherit eternal life, and those who reject Him face eternal separation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). True love doesn't rewrite the blueprint of eternity to sound pleasant; it tells the truth about the cancer of sin and points faithfully to the only True Doctor, Jesus Christ.

Some people look at the New Testament and wonder if Jesus and the Apostle Paul were actually preaching two different religions. But when you look at the raw biblical text, you find perfect harmony. Was Jesus' gospel different than Paul's gospel? No, both taught the exact same message: humanity is trapped in sin, the law shows our need for a Savior, salvation comes only through Jesus, and we must confess our faith openly.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--

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Rinsley grew up with deep roots in Mormonism—even tracing her family line back to Hyrum Smith and Brigham Young's brother. But despite her devotion, she was overwhelmed by anxiety, guilt, and the crushing pressure of trying to be good enough for God. After becoming involved in a Mormon splinter movement that promised greater truth and spiritual experiences, she eventually discovered that no amount of effort, rituals, or religious devotion could bring the peace she was searching for. In this powerful episode, Rinsley shares how she found true freedom, not through works, but through the grace of Jesus Christ. --The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now--