Podcasts about restoring all things

I. Good News Offered. II. Good News Rejected. III. Good News Defended

Here at MinistryWatch we are energized by the pro-life issue. I've been writing about the pro-life issue myself for more than 40 years, and John Stonestreet and I included a chapter on the life issue in our book Restoring All Things. The MinistryWatch 1000 database includes a category for pro-life organizations, and I would personally encourage all of our listeners to get active in local pro-life organizations. I would also encourage you to make the life issue a part of your giving priorities. That said, I've also noticed that all is not well in the pro-life ecosystem. There is much infighting and disagreement over priorities. Those who have placed their trust in politics have had to contend with the reality that the number of abortions in America have actually gone up since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. On the other hand, those who have ignored politics have had no part in the pro-life victories that we have seen in at least 14 states. On today's program I unpack some of these issues with someone who calls himself an “abortion abolitionist.” Bradley Pierce is a constitutional attorney who has drafted legislation in more than 30 states supporting self-defense and parental rights, as well as civil liberties and the right to life. He leads the Foundation to Abolish Abortion and is the executive producer of the video series “Abortion Free,” which you can find on YouTube. He spoke to me via zoom from his office near Austin, Texas. Thanks for joining us today. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

A new MP3 sermon from Westminster Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Glory of Christ in Restoring All Things Subtitle: 2024 Lenten Series: The Glory Speaker: Dr. Chris Walker Broadcaster: Westminster Presbyterian Church Event: Midweek Service Date: 3/28/2024 Bible: Colossians 1:15-22 Length: 33 min.

Holy Thursday 2024

On today's program, a Methodist nonprofit in New Jersey is embroiled in a religious liberty battle with local government over beach access. We'll have details. Also, an Assemblies of God pastor speaks out against Chi Alpha, the denomination's college campus ministry that's currently knee deep in a sexual abuse scandal. And, a new study shows that Southern Baptist churches are growing in the Northeast…but does it tell the whole story? We begin today with positive news — 11 evangelical colleges across the country have announced record enrollment this fall. Most of you will be listening to this on Friday or Saturday, which means we are at the very end of the month of September, and that means you have only hours left to get a copy of my book “Restoring All Things,” which we're sending to everyone who makes a gift to MinistryWatch during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you'll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Clemente Lisi, Dale Chamberlain, Kathryn Post, Yonat Shimron, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to Religion UnPlugged, ChurchLeaders, and Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, new conflicts between Liberty University and Jerry Falwell, Jr. Now his brother Jonathan Falwell is in the mix. Andy Stanley, the pastor of Northpoint Church in Atlanta, is facing criticism for hosting a conference that many observers say affirms homosexuality. Plus, the Episcopal Church continues its decades-long decline, we'll have facts and numbers. And the Southern Baptist's leaders met last week in Nashville, and – well – things are still a mess. We'll have a report. We begin today with news that Sen. Chuck Grassley wants to investigate the Christian ministry World Vision. FINAL THOUGHTS: It's a new month, and we have a new gift for donors. This month, we'll be sending a copy of my book “Restoring All Things” to you if you make a gift of any size during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you'll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. And THANKS to all of you who attended our webinar this week. How to Find and Read A Form 990. It was a lively discussion, and we'll do it again soon. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Steve Rabey, Yonat Shimron, Daniel Ritchie, Jeffrey Walton, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to the Institute for Religion & Democracy for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, a former executive at the American Family Association is suing for alleged sexual harassment. We'll have details. Also, an annual conference founded by the hymn-writing duo Keith and Kristyn Getty pushes back on the spread of megachurch music. We'll take a look. And tips for Christians wanting to give to disaster relief ministries providing aid in Morocco following a devastating earthquake last week. We include a list of ministries with high ratings in the MinistryWatch database. FINAL THOUGHTS: It's a new month, and we have a new gift for donors. This month, we'll be sending a copy of my book “Restoring All Things” to you if you make a gift of any size during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you'll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. And we'll be doing another webinar on Sept. 20. How to Find and Read A Form 990. It's absolutely free, but you do need to sign up.  Watch your in-box for a sign-up link. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Yonat Shimron, Bob Smietana, Steve Rabey, Chris Moon, and Rod Pitzer. A special thanks to the Christian Standard and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, Tim Tebow's foundation is fighting human trafficking, and the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is responding to allegations that he has not done enough to deal with sexual abuse claims. And the Southern Baptists of Florida have released a report explaining how $700-thousand was stolen. The report finds no wrongdoing on the part of the staff, but recommends safeguards that all Christian ministries should pay attention to. We begin today with news that Sarah Young, the controversial author of the publishing phenomenon “Jesus Calling,” has died at age 77. “Jesus Calling” has sold more than 40 million copies. It's author diedThursday (Aug. 31) after struggling for years with chronic illness and Lyme Disease. News of the Nashville native's death, first reported by Christianity Today, came a day after Publisher's Weekly reported that the author's health was “rapidly failing.” FINAL THOUGHTS:  It's a new month, and we have a new gift for donors. This month, we'll be sending a copy of my book “Restoring All Things” to you if you make a gift of any size during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you'll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just hit the donate button at the top of the page. And we'll be doing another webinar on Sept. 20. How to Find and Read A Form 990. It's absolutely free, but you do need to sign up.  Watch your in-box for a sign-up link. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Steve Rabey, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Christina Darnell, and Rod Pitzer. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, a closer look at a Christian college offering courses to prisoners raises more questions than answers. Plus, a new LifeWay study suggests that prosperity gospel beliefs are on the rise among churchgoers. We'll have those details later in the program. And thieves swipe a massive air conditioner unit of an Atlanta church…in the sweltering heat of summer. We begin today with news that Virginia Beach Pastor John Blanchard has had his criminal record expunged after he was arrested a couple years back in an underage prostitution sting. Blanchard is the lead pastor of Rock Church International in Virginia Beach, and he was one of 17 men arrested in October 2021. Each of the men corresponded with undercover detectives posing as minors and set up a time and place to meet for sex. They were all arrested on site at those meeting places, including Blanchard.  Just two days after his arrest, Blanchard led worship at his church. It wasn't until his arrest became public that he stepped away from church duties temporarily. FINAL THOUGHTS: It's a new month, and we have a new gift for donors. This month, we'll be sending a copy of my book “Restoring All Things” to you if you make a gift of any size during the month of September. I wrote this book with my friend and former Colson Center colleague John Stonestreet, and I think you'll find it to be a blessing. It highlights how God is using ministries and individuals to make a positive difference in the world. Just go to the MinistryWatch website and hit the donate button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Cheryl Mann Bacon, Daniel Ritchie, Kim Roberts, and Marissa Postell Sullivan. A special thanks to The NonProfit Times, The Christian Chronicle, ChurchLeaders, and LifeWay Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Homily for Sunday, October 30, 2022 - Christ the King Sunday (Traditional Latin Mass).

On today's program, the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP) is set to roll out an accreditation program designed to train and certify ministry executives in skills to prevent sexual abuse.  And we note two notable passings this week:  Open Doors founder Brother Andrew, and the long-time president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Dan Busby.  We begin today with the controversial decision by Christian musician Chris Tomlin to tour with the scandal ridden Hillsong United this fall. Before we go… I'll be hosting a lunch for MinistryWatch friends in Charlotte in October, and I'll be in Newport Beach, California, on November 15.  If you live in those cities, you should be getting an email from me with more information, but if you want to make sure that you get an invitation, please email me and I'll make sure you get the details.  All of these lunches are FREE.  They're just our way of saying THANK YOU for being a part of our work.  I also want to remind you that if you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of September, we'll send you a copy of “Restoring All Things” as our thank you gift.  This book is one that I wrote with the Colson Center's John Stonestreet, and it features stories of great ministries doing great work all around the country.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, Shannon Cuthrell, Jessica Eturralde, and Anne Stych. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, it's been a year since Glenn Beck's The Nazarene Fund raised $35-million for Afghan relief.  We'll have an update on where the money went.  We also look at Charlie Kirk's organization Turning Point USA.  The group now has a subsidiary called Turning Point Faith, aimed at pastors and church leaders.  We begin today with news that the Southern Baptist Conventions' top administrative body voted to cut ties with two congregations on Tuesday. If you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of September, we'll send you a copy of “Restoring All Things” as our thank you gift.  This book is one that I wrote with the Colson Center's John Stonestreet, and it features stories of great ministries doing great work all around the country.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, Steve Rabey, Jesse T. Jackson, Jessica Eturralde, Anne Stych, Peter Smith, and Christina Darnell. Special thanks to ChurchLeaders.com and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today's program, we take a look at the Bible translation industry.  We ask the question:  How much does it really cost to translate the Bible.  We also look at a milestone for the Christian ministry Samaritan's Purse.  It will hit $1-billion in revenue this year.  And one of evangelicalism's flagship seminaries, Fuller Seminary, has the first African American president in its history.  We'll have details.  We begin today with news that 2,000 churches and Christian ministries have asked the U.S. Senate to oppose the “Respect For Marriage Act.”  A Reminder:  if you make a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of September, we'll send you a copy of “Restoring All Things” as our thank you gift.  This book is one that I wrote with the Colson Center's John Stonestreet, and it features stories of great ministries doing great work all around the country.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Emily McFarlan Miller, Stephanie Martin, Alejandra Molina, Bob Smietana, Yonat Shimron, Jessica Eturralde, Tom Campisi, Kim Roberts—and you, Warren. Special thanks to ChurchLeaders.com for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Lead Pastor, Travis Simone, gives a message from Ezekiel 37:1-14 and Acts 3:18-21 as he kicks off our new Annual Focus titled, "Restoration."

On today's program, one of evangelicalism's most prominent leaders, Ted Haggard, his hit new lows.  We'll have the latest.  And the American Bible Society latest president lasted less than 90 days.  The organization has had five presidents in the past 10 years.  We've got news of the latest changes at this two-century old ministry.  We begin today with the latest chapter in the story of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.  Last week, Lighten Group, announced it was shutting down.  Lighten Group is a new ministry started by Sarah Davis, former CEO of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and daughter of late Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias.  Lighten Group, whose team is comprised of former RZIM employees, was founded in the fall of 2021 and was supported by RZIM funding.  It is not clear what has happened to the millions of dollars in assets owned by RZIM when the organization imploded in the aftermath of a sex abuse scandal. Before we go, a reminder:  if you made a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of September, we'll send you a copy of my book “Restoring All Things.”  It's a book that I co-wrote with The Colson Center's John Stonestreet.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Emily Miller, Todd Nettleton, Anne Stych, Audrey Jackson, Alejandra Molina, Bob Smietana, Jesse T. Jackson, Jessica Etturalde, and Steve Rabey.  Special thanks to The Christian Chronicle and ChurchLeaders.com for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.  

On today's program, one of evangelicalism's most prominent leaders, Ted Haggard, his hit new lows.  We'll have the latest.  And the American Bible Society latest president lasted less than 90 days.  The organization has had five presidents in the past 10 years.  We've got news of the latest changes at this two-century old ministry.  We begin today with the latest chapter in the story of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.  Last week, Lighten Group, announced it was shutting down.  Lighten Group is a new ministry started by Sarah Davis, former CEO of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and daughter of late Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias.  Lighten Group, whose team is comprised of former RZIM employees, was founded in the fall of 2021 and was supported by RZIM funding.  It is not clear what has happened to the millions of dollars in assets owned by RZIM when the organization imploded in the aftermath of a sex abuse scandal. Before we go, a reminder:  if you made a donation to MinistryWatch during the month of September, we'll send you a copy of my book “Restoring All Things.”  It's a book that I co-wrote with The Colson Center's John Stonestreet.  Just go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the DONATE button at the top of the page. The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Emily Miller, Todd Nettleton, Anne Stych, Audrey Jackson, Alejandra Molina, Bob Smietana, Jesse T. Jackson, Jessica Etturalde, and Steve Rabey.  Special thanks to The Christian Chronicle and ChurchLeaders.com for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.  

An important part of what we do here at MinistryWatch – especially with these “Extra” episodes -- is to bring to you important thought leaders who have important things to say both to donors and to ministry leaders.  That's why I'm pleased to have back on the program Phil Cooke. Phil got his start in media working on the television program of Oral Roberts, while he was still a student at Oral Roberts University.  Over the years Cooke has become one of the nation's experts on the use of media in a Christian context.  He has also been outspoken on the need for men and women of integrity in Christian ministries.  Though he got his start working for one of the most famous televangelists in history, he has also been a thoughtful critic of televangelists.  And even though he is a media and marketing expert, he says that evangelical Christianity doesn't have a marketing problem.  It has a character problem. Phil Cooke is a working producer in Hollywood who also has a Ph. D. in theology.  He's the author of a half-dozen books on media and marketing and has been a contributor to Fast Company, Forbes, and The Huffington Post.  He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as the Producer's Guild of America. Phil spoke to me from his studio in California. You can find the article we discussed today, The Loyalty Obsession – Why It's Harming Churches and Ministries – by going to the MinistryWatch website. Before we go, I'd like to remind you that MinistryWatch is donor supported.  We take no money from ministries.  All of our content is free.  No paywall.  That means we couldn't do what we do without faithful donors.  You guys are the real heroes of this enterprise.  So if you'd like to join that heroic group by pitching in to make sure that MinistryWatch remains a viable endeavor, you can go to MinistryWatch.com and hit the “donate” button at the top of the page. And if you give during the month of September we'll send you a copy of a book I co-wrote with The Colson Center's John Stonestreet.  That book is:  “Restoring All Things:  God's Audacious Plan to Change The World Through Everyday People.” The producers for today's program are Rich Roszel and Jeff McIntosh.   We get database, technical, and editorial support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, Christina Darnell, Emily Kern, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. I'm Warren Smith, and you've been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

At Abundant Life, we're passionate about equipping students to believe that they were made for more - that their identity changes everything - the way they live, the choices they make, and how they live into relationships. That they were made for more. Recently, an article was published by Caleb Morell critiquing how Christians often talk about identity, under the provocative title, “Stop Finding Your Identity in Christ.” Here's what we cover in this episode:1. Is “finding your identity in Christ" unbiblical? 2. How do we rightfully connect our identity with the identity of creation - in other words, how do we rightfully connect our identity with the Creator, without turning into a postmodern attempt at self-discovery?3. How should our realization of our identity in Christ change our relationships with other people?Some key takeaways from our conversation:We need to teach the creation story as if it is definitive about what it is to be human.WHAT DOES THE IMAGE OF GOD MEAN IN LIGHT OF THE LARGER STORY? That is the question we have to hone in on. For many, the "image of God" is a piece of trivia and not a deep reflection of Scriptural truth. John Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview - the Colson Center exists to help you understand your place in God's story and serve God with clarity, confidence, and courage. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored four books: A Practical Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).Here are some things we mentioned during this episode: The Colson Center Strange New World   by Carl R. TruemanJohn's response to Morell's articleBe sure to stay up to date with Abundant Life: You Were Made for More by visiting our blog - and if you're loving the podcast, send guest recommendations to us or leave us a star-rating/review on your favorite listening platform to spread the word about the you were made for more message.You Were Made for More Social Media: FacebookTwitterInstagram

The central question of this cultural moment, the one behind the most difficult issues we face as a society, is what does it mean to be human. Who are we? What is our value? What is our responsibility to one another? The vision of humanity at the heart of the Christian story is true and good, the most compelling account of who we are, and the best opportunity for Christians to offer life and hope to individuals, communities, and cultures. John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center. He's a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint,the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of The Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics, and cultural issues. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored five books: A Practical Guide to Culture, A Student's Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).Support the show (http://www.faithandlaw.org/donate)

Pastor Chris Oliver continues his series on the restoration of God. Stay connected with us! Visit resurgentatl.com or our Facebook and Instagram pages: @resurgentatl.

Pastor Chris Oliver begins his series on the restoration of God. Stay connected with us! Visit resurgentatl.com or our Facebook and Instagram pages: @resurgentatl.

The greatest commandment, Jesus said, is to love. In light of that, our conversations about discipling the next generation have to take love into account. So, what is love and why does it matter?  This week on the podcast Jonathan sits down with our friend Dr. Stonestreet to discuss the importance of defining and ordering loves. Join us this week as we discuss the importance of defining our terms, why love is more than just feelings and sentimentality, properly ordering the things we love, helping Gen Z to love well, and a lot more! John Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on  the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored four books: A Practical Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).This episode of the podcast is part of a companion series with our new book, Know. Be. Live. : a 360˚ Approach to Discipleship in a Post-Christian Era. The book is out now wherever books are sold. Order today! 

Dennis R Wiles FBC Arlington September 12, 2021 2021 A JOURNEY OF FAITH Celebrating 150 Years of Ministry: Appreciating Our Past Anticipating Our Future FALL 2021 What Do You Believe? September 5 – November 6, 2021 What Do You Believe About Truth? John 8:31-32 Fall 2021: What Do You Believe? www.sacramentaljourney.org John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” A worldview, defined in simple terms, is a concept which includes all dimensions of reality, from the existing individual to the universe itself. The worldview of a person or a group is that which brings integration—a comprehensive interpretation—to life. Worldview includes a sense of meaning and value and principles of action. It is much more than merely an “outlook” or an “attitude.” -John Newport, Life's Ultimate Questions What is truth? -Pontius Pilate Source of Truth: Reason or Revelation? As Christians, we believe the ultimate source of truth is in the Revelation of an Almighty, Personal, and Purposeful God! The material world is neither divine nor uncreated. God exists. He is a Free Agent. God is both great and good! God is in control of His creation. God has uniquely designed human beings to live purposefully in His creation. God communicates personally with human beings in ways that are comprehensible and coherent with His intentions. God has responded to humanity's plight redemptively. God has revealed Himself through His World, His Spirit, His Word, and The Word. Believing and trusting Him leads to freedom! The Bible is both the story of God and the true story of the world . . . So the Bible is not, or merely, a book about how to have a better life or how to handle life's problems. It is a book that explains the universe and how God is in the process of redeeming and restoring it to its original good, true, and beautiful state. -Warren Cole Smith and John Stonestreet, Restoring All Things

Today, it is easy to find the bad news. It blasts across our screens with a steady message of doom and gloom. As we raise the next generation, what hope do we have? Well, are you ready for some good news? John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and the daily voice of BreakPoint, reminds us of what to hope in today. He keeps his finger on the pulse of the culture, helping us understand the times we live and seeing the opportunities for us to be truly hopeful. John is a true fan of classical Christian education, seeing the many benefits lived out well in our ever-changing modern world.BIOGRAPHYJohn Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education, and apologetics. John is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics, and cultural issues. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John has co-authored four books: A Practical Guide to Culture, Restoring All Things, Same-Sex Marriage, and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO. Connect with John at BreakPoint.org, or follow him on Twitter (@jbstonestreet).

On today’s program, more media outlets are converting to non-profit status.  Will that change how news is reported?  Also on today’s program, conservative Anglicans win a major lawsuit against Episcopalians in Texas.  And a well-known ministry leader, Bryan Loritts, is facing tough questions over his academic credentials.  Up first:  The men’s ministry Promise Keepers has canceled its planned rally this summer, another casualty of the COVID-19 Crisis. A quick MinistryWatch update:  Beginning last week we started posting Bobby Ross’s “Weekend Plug-In” on our website on Saturday.  We’ve been a five-day-a-week content producer up until now, but we’re excited to offer Bobby’s column each Saturday.  It’s essentially a digest of news and links to stories on what he calls “The God Beat,” religion and ethics.  Bobby’s a seasoned journalist, and I’m excited about having his by-line on the MinistryWatch website. If you’d like to read more about the stories we discussed on today’s program, just go to www.MinistryWatch.com  and you’ll find them right on the front page.  If you’d like to dig into the MinistryWatch archives of hundreds of articles and other great resources, use the search engine – also on the front page -- to find what you’re looking for. Also, I want to thank those of you who made a recent gift to MinistryWatch.  If you make a gift of any size to MinistryWatch between now and the end of May, which is just a few days away, we’ll send you a free copy of a book I wrote with John Stonestreet.  It’s called “Restoring All Things:  God’s Audacious Plan to Change The World Through Everyday People.”  It’s full of great stories of God’s people doing God’s work, in a beautiful but broken world.  To donate, go to www.MinistryWatch.com/donate And this podcast continues to grow, too.  If you are one of our new listeners.  Welcome!  If you like what you’ve heard, I hope you’ll be with us each and every week, and I hope you’ll tell a friend.  And don’t forget to rate us using your podcast app.  It’s absolutely free, doesn’t take but a few seconds, and it really helps us a lot. Each week, Warren Smith and Natasha Smith bring you news about Christian ministries, as well as the latest in charity and philanthropy, all designed to help us become better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Steve Gandy.   We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, and Casey Sudduth.  Writers who contributed to today’s program include Steve Rabey and Warren Smith.  Thanks to our friends at The Non-Profit Times for contributing material to this week’s program. May God bless you.

On today’s program, Norma McCorvey, the Roe of Roe v. Wade, is the subject of a new documentary that has pro-life groups up in arms.  Also on today’s program, GOD-TV is generating controversy because of its programming in Israel.  And Planned Parenthood mistakenly got $80-million in COVID relief funding.  But will they give it back?  Up first is news that famed apologist Ravi Zacharias has died, following a short battle with aggressive cancer.  He was 74 years old. If you’d like to read more about the stories we discussed on today’s program, just go to www.MinistryWatch.com and you’ll find them right on the front page.  If you’d like to dig into the MinistryWatch archives of hundreds of articles and other great resources, use the search engine – also on the front page -- to find what you’re looking for. If you make a gift of any size to MinistryWatch between now and the end of May, we’ll send you a free copy of a book I wrote with John Stonestreet.  It’s called “Restoring All Things:  God’s Audacious Plan to Change The World Through Everyday People.”  It’s full of great stories of God’s people doing God’s work, in a beautiful but broken world.  You can donate here:  www.MinistryWatch.com/donate If you are one of our new listeners.  Welcome!  If you like what you’ve heard, I hope you’ll be with us each and every week, and I hope you’ll tell a friend.  And don’t forget to rate us using your podcast app.  It’s absolutely free, doesn’t take but a few seconds, and it really helps us a lot. Each week, Warren Smith and Natasha Smith (no relation!) bring you news about Christian ministries, as well as the latest in charity and philanthropy, all designed to help us become better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Steve Gandy.  We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, and Casey Sudduth.  Writers who contributed to today’s program include Christina Darnell, Anne Stych, Shawn Hendricks, and Warren Smith. May God bless you.

On today’s program, our ongoing investigation of the Bible translation organization Wycliffe Associates continues. Also on today’s program, Liberty University makes significant cuts to its philosophy department. Is it a sign of things to come? Plus, the people who give out journalism’s top award, the Pulitzer Prize, has recognized religion coverage. We begin today with the story of the death of yet another megachurch pastor by his own hand. Darrin Patrick, a megachurch pastor, author, and speaker, has died.  Patrick was a teaching pastor at Seacoast Church, a multi-site megachurch based in Mount Pleasant, SC, and the founding pastor of the Journey Church in St. Louis, where he lived. If you’d like to read more about the stories we discussed on today’s program, just go to MinistryWatch.com and you’ll find them right on the front page.  If you’d like to dig into the MinistryWatch archives of hundreds of articles and other great resources, use the search engine – also on the front page -- to find what you’re looking for. Also, before we go, I want to thank those of you who made a gift to MinistryWatch on Giving Tuesday Now this week.  And I have a special announcement to make.  If you make a gift of any size to MinistryWatch between now and the end of May, we’ll send you a free copy of a book I wrote with John Stonestreet.  It’s called “Restoring All Things:  God’s Audacious Plan to Change The World Through Everyday People.”  It’s full of great stories like the one we just highlighted, on Mission Eurasia, of God’s people doing God’s work, in a beautiful but broken world.  Go to www.MinistryWatch.com/donate And this podcast continues to grow, too.  If you are one of our new listeners.  Welcome!  If you like what you’ve heard, I hope you’ll be with us each and every week, and I hope you’ll tell a friend.  And don’t forget to rate us using your podcast app.  It’s absolutely free, doesn’t take but a few seconds, and it really helps us a lot. Each week, Warren Smith and Natasha Smith bring you news about Christian ministries, as well as the latest in charity and philanthropy, all designed to help us become better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us. The producers for today’s program are Rich Roszel and Steve Gandy.   We get database and other technical support from Cathy Goddard, Stephen DuBarry, and Casey Sudduth.  Writers who contributed to today’s program include Christina Darnell, Anne Stych, Shawn Hendricks, and Warren Smith.

In this sermon, we tackle some hard to understand scripture. Remember, Paul started by stating that they couldn't handle solid food so he had to give them spiritual milk. The only way they could get their systems to digest solid food was to give them solid food. Paul gets into some solid food through Chapter 9. He writes to them about sanctification, so we are going to look at it as our once for all sanctification by the blood of Christ, as well as the continual sanctification in our own lives. However, there is more to it than that, when we do God's work on anything, we begin to sanctify it, setting it apart for the original purpose God intended.

Restoring All Things Robert Frazier

Last year President Trump signed a proclamation declaring April to be “Second Chance Month.” In the declaration, he said “We celebrate those who have exited the prison system and successfully re-entered society.” Then he added, “We encourage expanded opportunities for those who have worked to overcome bad decisions earlier in life and emphasize our belief in second chances for all who are willing to work hard to turn their lives around.” If you're thinking that this idea sounds, well, Christian, though recognizing a “Second Chance Month” is a recent phenomenon, the two ideas that it is based on come directly from the Christian vision of life and the world: redemption and restoration. Second Chance Month is, in the words of Prison Fellowship, a “bipartisan national movement” to address what it calls the “second prison.” “Second prison” refers to the hopelessness that often afflicts someone after being released from prison. For the sixty-five million Americans with some kind of criminal record, access to the kinds of things the rest of us take for granted can be a struggle. There are by some estimates more than “48,000 collateral sanctions . . . not counting local laws enacted by municipalities,” that are applied to those who have served time. Collateral sanctions are sort of add-on punishments that put housing, employment, education, and “other things necessary for a full and productive life,” out of reach. This is not only unjust—after all, these people have served their sentence—it's counter-productive. As a Manhattan Institute study revealed, employment reduces the risk of recidivism among ex-prisoners. That's not only good for ex-prisoners, it's good for society. That's why Prison Fellowship helped create a bi-partisan and unlikely alliance that includes such disparate parties as the ACLU and the Heritage Foundation, in order to “reduce barriers [that keep] formerly incarcerated Americans from successfully rejoining society,” as well as to “rais(e) awareness of the importance of second chances.” Churches can host “‘Second Chance Sunday' events, as well as coordinated petition and social media campaigns.” Some groups even host a “Second Chance 5K” run. These efforts are a very fitting tribute to Chuck Colson. Upon his release, Chuck not only had a new-found faith, he also had something else many others don't when they leave prison: a network of support and friends who believed that he was a new creation. Without that sort of network, it's unlikely that he ever would have founded Prison Fellowship, which has become an incredible force to mobilize churches to bring the good news to men and women inside prison, and to prepare churches to welcome them once they're released. Chuck understood that if Christians don't lead the way in making restoration a reality for the formerly incarcerated, no one would. This is why we think “Second Chance Month” should be a big deal for followers of Christ. April is half over, but Prison Fellowship's Second Chance Month events calendar shows there are many opportunities to be involved—especially through social media. To find out how you or your church can participate in Second Chance Month, come to BreakPoint.org and click on this commentary. We'll link you to all the information you need to jump in. While you're there at BreakPoint.org, I'll link you to a great article by Warren Smith on Second Chance Month. It's part of his “Restoring All Things” series. As well as a BreakPoint Podcast interview that Warren did with Heather Rice-Minus, Prison Fellowship's Vice-President of Government Affairs. Heather is one of our commissioned Colson Fellows, and she offers an update on the recently passed First Step Act, which is a major, bipartisan criminal justice reform effort. Again, all of that can be found at BreakPoint.org.

We are a part of a bigger picture than just everyday life. In this week’s episode Danny Silk talks about how the Lord is consistently working things together towards restoration and our enemy has a scheme to lead people to deception. We are called to bring our strength to this time and stand firm in the armor of God. “You are in a war, baby. Get dressed today.”

You've heard it before: Leaders are readers. (Thank you, President Truman!) Whether you are leading in your family, your church, or your workplace, filling your mind with good ideas and stories will enhance your life and your leadership skills. This year we've shared experiences with Steven Curtis Chapman, missionaries, and pastors. We've thought through current culture issues with some of the best Christian leaders of our time. And we've enjoyed taking a step back from our regular lives to read stories that give a chance to rest and be renewed. All because we read some great books this year! Today we're sharing some of our favorite books of the year. We hope you take the time to read and learn from some of these books. We all agree, our favorite book of the year was Between Heaven and the Real World by Steven Curtis Chapman. We've all been fans of his music for many years. We appreciated his honesty about his marriage and his struggles through losing a child. We experienced new layers of meaning to many of his songs after learning about the circumstances in his life when he was writing the music. Mark and Shawn recommend The Insanity of God by Nik Ripkin. It's the stories of a missionary family that served in Somalia and other places where the church is persecuted. It's a powerful look at some of the toughest places on earth and how the gospel is working in the lives of people there. Shawn recommends This is Our Time, a book about how we can be faithful Christians in our time in history. The first chapter alone (about smartphones) is worth the cost of the book. This is a great gift book for young people! For those that might be tired of hearing about all of these cultural issues in the church, Micah recommends Restoring All Things. It's not just talking about people helping with issues in theory (abortion, racial reconciliation, trafficking, etc.) because they include stories of people doing meaningful work to make a difference in all of these areas. We think it's important to include some fiction reading in our book lists each year. Mark recommends Daniel Silva novels and Shawn enjoys reading Charles Dickens books. Some other books we highlight are Essentialism, The Vanishing American Adult, Martin Luther, and Gods at War. Tell us about your favorite books of the year! We'd love to hear about them! And just a reminder...we'll be taking a couple of weeks of from recording new podcast episodes for a couple weeks to enjoy Christmas festivities with our families. We'll be back with new episodes in January!    

www.RedLetterMin.com

Should Christians be fearful about engaging culture? Is all hope lost? How can everyday Christians engage and influence culture right where they are at? What are our cultural blind spots? What areas of culture should Christians be aiming at? In this episode of the Impact 360 Institute podcast Jonathan Morrow interviews John Stonestreet about his new book Restoring All Things to explore these important questions.

Warren Smith sits down with Aaron Atwood to talk about Restoring All Things, a new book co-authored by Warren and John Stonestreet. Restoring All Things is a chronicle of how God is working to redeem, renew, and restore the world through the faithful acts of everyday people. In this interview, Warren discusses the ideas behind Restoring All Things, explains the importance of storytelling, and shares his favorite story from the book. Win a FREE copy of Warren Smith's book Restoring All Things! Visit Summit's Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/summitministries) and comment/like the podcast episode post for a chance to win a signed copy of Warren Smith & John Stonestreet's Restoring All Things: God's Audacious Plan to Change the World Through Everyday People. Like the post for one entry and comment on the post for a second entry. Contest ends at 5 p.m. (MTN), Thursday, June 18. Valid only for U.S. residents. The winner will be randomly selected. Warren Smith is the vice-president of World News Group, the publisher of World Magazine. He's a Summit faculty member and co-author of Restoring All Things with John Stonestreet. Buy Restoring All Things at the Summit Bookstore and get 25% off market price. Smith has also written A Lover's Quarrel with the Evangelical Church and co-authored Prodigal Press with Marvin Olasky. Visit summit.org/podcast to sign up for Summit email and receive unflinching worldview analysis of current news and events.