Podcasts about what christians

What does it mean to follow Jesus when governments demand your allegiance, your silence, or your fear? In this episode of The Bad Roman Project, Craig sits down with Ara Torosian, an Iranian-born Armenian pastor who grew up under the Islamic Republic of Iran, served in the underground church, and now pastors Iranian Christians in Los Angeles. Ara shares his journey from reading the Bible in Farsi as a teenager to smuggling Bibles, enduring house arrest, and witnessing the explosive growth of Christianity in Iran. He explains why many Western Christians misunderstand both Iran and the Iranian people, and why the underground church continues to thrive despite decades of persecution. The conversation also turns to the present. Ara discusses Iranian Christian asylum seekers detained by ICE, the challenges facing refugees fleeing persecution, and the responsibility Christians have to speak for those who have no voice. Along the way, Craig and Ara wrestle with difficult questions about war, government power, national loyalty, and what it means to follow Jesus when political solutions seem inadequate. At the heart of the discussion is a reminder that the Christian's ultimate citizenship is not found in America, Iran, or any earthly nation, but in the Kingdom of God. “I'm proud US citizen, but most important, I'm a heaven citizen.” — Ara Torosian Whether discussing persecution abroad or immigration policy at home, this episode calls listeners back to a simple but challenging truth: Jesus is King. Highlights & Takeaways The underground church in Iran continues to grow despite severe persecution. Iranian people should not be confused with the Iranian regime. Following Jesus often comes with a cost that Western Christians rarely consider. Christians are called to show mercy before choosing political sides. The church must resist the temptation to place political leaders above Christ. Refugees and asylum seekers are people, not political talking points. The Kingdom of God transcends every earthly nation and political movement. No King but Christ.

2 Peter 1:1-11 - What Christians are called to, warned from, and can expect about the future by MERCYhouse

Theological convictions cannot and should not be held in isolation. What Christians believe about church governance ties directly to what they believe about Scripture's authority and the gospel itself. Through a comparison between Eastern Orthodoxy and Biblical Christianity, this sermon explores how theological truth is a package deal, and what a person believes about the Church, Scripture, and the gospel will spill over into every aspect of their spiritual life.

Does God want your business to succeed? Does He care about your dream, calling, idea, finances, or the work you've put your hand to? In this video, Travis Peters shares a powerful biblical teaching for Christian entrepreneurs, business owners, creators, and believers who are trying to build something with God at the center. You'll learn why God is not leading you into failure, why He wants to teach you to profit, how to consult Him in your business decisions, and why success often comes when you obey the instructions He has already given you. This teaching is based on biblical principles from scriptures like 2 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 15:57, Psalm 32:8, Isaiah 48:17, Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17, James 1:5, 1 Peter 5:7, and John 15. If you're a Christian in business, building a dream, stepping into your calling, launching a ministry, starting a side hustle, or trying to move forward financially, this message will help you stop carrying the pressure and start partnering with God. God has wisdom for your next step. He has strategies for your business. He can lead you into the right channels, the right people, the right ideas, and the right opportunities. But you have to consult Him, obey Him, and move on the instructions He gives you. In this video, you'll learn: • Why God wants you to succeed in what He has called you to do • How to make God the leader of your business • Why Christians should ask God for wisdom in business • How to stop carrying financial pressure • Why obedience matters more than just praying for blessing • How God leads you into ideas, strategies, connections, and provision • What it means to cast your cares on the Lord as a steward • How to take your next step with faith and confidence If this helped you, subscribe for more Bible-based teaching on faith, finances, purpose, business, and living the increased life God has for you. Join Increase Academy here: [insert Increase Academy link] Chapters Use chapters. They help viewers scan the video, and they also put keyword-rich phrases into the description. Chapters: 0:00 God wants to help you succeed 1:05 What Christians need to know about business 2:11 God is interested in your success 3:15 God always leads us into triumph 4:24 Consult God in every business decision 5:32 God can run your business better than you can 6:20 What prosperity really means 7:24 God changes you so you can succeed 8:30 Ask God, "How can I?" 9:41 Partnership with God is indispensable 10:32 Stewards don't carry financial pressure 11:28 Cast your cares and ask for wisdom 12:35 Prayer for your business and next step 13:44 How Increase Academy can help you grow

What did Jesus actually teach about His return… and why are there so many views on the end times?Today, Pastor Carl Nichols dives into Matthew 24, the meaning of Parousia, the debate around the rapture, and where some modern end-times beliefs came from. Was Christ's return meant to be understood as a secret disappearance… or the public arrival of a King?We explore:What Christians historically agree on about the return of ChristWhy end-times confusion existsDispensational vs Early Church views explainedThe meaning of Parousia, Harpazō, and ApantēsisThe origins of modern rapture theologyWhy readiness matters more than date-settingThis conversation may challenge what you've heard—and deepen your hope in the return of Jesus.“We're not caught up to disappear… we're caught up to welcome a returning King.”

What did Jesus actually teach about His return… and why are there so many views on the end times?Today, Pastor Carl Nichols dives into Matthew 24, the meaning of Parousia, the debate around the rapture, and where some modern end-times beliefs came from. Was Christ's return meant to be understood as a secret disappearance… or the public arrival of a King?We explore:What Christians historically agree on about the return of ChristWhy end-times confusion existsDispensational vs Early Church views explainedThe meaning of Parousia, Harpazō, and ApantēsisThe origins of modern rapture theologyWhy readiness matters more than date-settingThis conversation may challenge what you've heard—and deepen your hope in the return of Jesus.“We're not caught up to disappear… we're caught up to welcome a returning King.”

God's Word is packed full of power … power unlimited … to transform your life. But one of the biggest problems people have with the Bible is understanding it. Making sense of it. Knowing where it comes from, and where what they're reading today fits into the big picture. Well, I think it's time we did something about that.   About the Bible – Old and New We've all heard of those word association tests that psychologists use. You know, they say 'black', you say 'white'; they say 'rabbit' and you say 'carrot'; day/night; God/mmm love; devil/mmm evil; Bible/hmm … Bible? How do you respond to that? Stuffy, old, irrelevant? Well, different people will have some different views but actually in Australia where I live, the Bible is one of the least trusted of all historical documents. Over the last week and a bit on the program we've been talking about the incredible power that we unlock, when we read the Bible. But this thing that we call "the Bible", it's a big book, it's massive and it can be daunting. So today I thought it might be useful just to have a look to see what this Bible is exactly. I want to share with you a secret, it's sad but true. I never read a book cover to cover until I was in my early twenties. I managed to get through school and university and did pretty well I might add, without ever reading a book from beginning to end. I remember at university, in first year English, we studied the book Wuthering Heights which absolutely bored me to tears, I'm sorry and I never opened the book once. There are companies that publish crib notes, you know the summary of the book and a summary of what's in it and a summary of what some of the critics say, so I just quickly read those, crib notes, wrote essays and did, by and large, reasonably well. And I never, ever liked libraries either. You know how libraries have this kind of dusty, dank smell; all of them are the same. Every library on the planet has the same smell. I thought about it for a while, I thought 'Berni, why don't you like libraries? Why did it take you so long to read books?' The answer I guess has two parts. Firstly, libraries for me always felt really big and inaccessible. They have tens of thousands of books and in the old days when I was at university, they had card systems for accessing, for finding things, I mean these days they have computers. The old card systems had what they call the Dewey Classification system and finding anything just took so incredibly long. And secondly, when you did find the stuff, there was always so much of it, there was so much time involved to, I don't know, look through all those books and research them. I mean, some people are natural book worms, well I'm not. I still frankly don't like libraries. I'm sorry if you're a librarian, I just don't like libraries. I haven't darkened the doorstep of one since I finished my last degree quite a few years ago now. You know something; I think for a lot of people the Bible is exactly like that. It feels big and inaccessible. There are many, many people who wouldn't mind having a read but, for goodness sakes, where do you start? Well today let's break it down a bit, let's make it a bit more accessible. I remember when I started Bible College only a few months after becoming a Christian, everyone took for granted that we knew about the Bible. The reality was, I didn't and my hunch is, I wasn't alone. Let's unpack it a bit, let's demystify it a bit. All of a sudden you know it becomes a whole bunch more accessible. The thing that we call the Bible is made up of 66 different books written by different people over somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 years. That's the kind of period over which the Bible was written. And it wasn't just written by different people but at different times and the last book was written, well almost 2,000 years ago. There are essentially two parts to the Bible, this was complete news to me when I first opened it, the Old Testament and the New Testament, and when I started at Bible College I didn't know which one was which. The Old Testament, well the Old Testament is God's story and the story of how He interacted with and engaged with His chosen people, the Israelites. The Old Testament is written completely B.C., before Christ, before Jesus came to be on earth with us here. What Christians call the Old Testament is in fact exactly the same as the Jewish Hebrew scriptures, Jews still use those same scriptures today, Christians call it the Old Testament. It's written mostly in the original language of Hebrew, the language of the Jews. Now there's small parts of books like Daniel which is written in a language called Aramaic which is the language that Jesus actually spoke but by and large, the Old Testament was originally written in the language of Hebrew. And what we have today, the thing that we call the Old Testament is an English translation of that. Now there are lots of funny name books, Deuteronomy and Judges and Chronicles and there's Ezekiel, there are 39 separate books and there are kind of 4 main parts of the Old Testament. The first 5 books, Genesis to Deuteronomy, are the Jewish or Hebrew Law, the Torah. And then you go Joshua through Ezra and Nehemiah and that's kind of the history of what God did and how His people responded. And then after that are the wisdom books, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Lamentations. And the rest of the books in the Old Testament are written by men called Prophets. Men whom God called to call His people back to Him. That's the Old Testament, it's a story of God engaging with Gods people. And the New Testament is 27 books. Now, it was mostly written in the language of Greek. The first 4 books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are gospel accounts, they're the historical account of Jesus' life and His ministry. And the next book, the book of Acts is the story of the first 20 or so years of the Church after Jesus rose again to be with His Father. Then there's a whole bunch of letters called Epistles from people like Peter and John and Paul, written to Churches that they were involved in or in some cases, to individuals. This may be old hat to some, but I know to many, just a simple understanding of the basic structure of the Bible is going to be a real help. I know that when I was a new Christian, no one ever bothered to explain it to me – I wish they had. Now some people might be saying to themselves, that's all well and good, but how accurate is the Bible. Because before the printing press was ever invented by Gutenberg in 1450, the Bible – there's this massive thing, the Old Testament and New Testament – was transcribed over and over by hand by people called Scribes who copied them by hand. It's hard to imagine. But these days, there's a science called Textual Criticism. It studies whether any errors crept into the Bible as it was copied through all these generations manuscripts. And what it tells us, is that having studied thousands of manuscripts, the levels of accuracy are remarkable. I mean it's a science, people have done it. There are very, very few words or sentences where there is any doubt what was originally written. And blessedly these days, this thing called the Bible has been translated into easy to read, contemporary versions. No more thee's and thou's – great, modern day, accurate, easy to understand translations. And did you know that in the Bible, over half of the 66 books, over half, you can read in half and hour or less. Now look, in a few minutes we can't hope to do anything but scrape the surface. Today we've just talked about some basic factual stuff. No-one really taught me this stuff. I remember becoming a Christian and going and sitting in a Church and people just teach from the Bible which is wonderful but no-one ever explained to me that it was 66 books written by a whole bunch of people over different periods of time. That some of it was stories and history and some of it was letters and some of it was poetry. But when you simplify and demystify all that stuff, it turns out that it's just a wonderful book. And with the many contemporary translations, it's much, much easier to read than I ever thought. As I started to read the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament, I was completely blown away by this amazing Jesus. Who would have thought … the Bible.   Getting Practical – Useful Resources I have to tell you, that thing they call the Bible was a real problem for me. I mean, first coming to grips with the fact that it is what it says that it is, the Word of God but then, just getting into it. It's made up of 66 separate books written over about 1,500 years in different times, in different places and different cultures. So there are words and names and places and concepts and ways of thinking … well, we're not always familiar with them. We're continuing in our series 'Power Unlimited' – because that's what Go's Word brings into our lives so today, we're going to get down and really practical on just how to get into the Bible because unless we do, we're going to miss out on much of the power that God wants to pour into our lives. Over the years I've discovered a few very simple helps or resources that have made such a difference in making sense of God's Word. You see, it turns out there's a whole bunch of people much smarter than me who have done some great research and put the information together in such easy usable ways and all their work makes getting into God's Word, the Bible, so much easier for the likes of you and me. Today I just want to share some of those resources with you. I remember twenty or so years ago, just after I became a Christian, I started attending a tiny little Baptist Church in the southern suburbs of Sydney. A little place called Oyster Bay. Our pastor, Phil, was a passionate and gifted Bible teacher and that man has had a huge impact on my life. Now as well as Sunday services, the Church used to have these little home Bible studies and we'd meet one night a week in someone's house. In our small group, five of us would gather together. And at the time, the particular little home fellowship that I'd joined, was studying the Old Testament book of Hosea. So we'd lob in there each Wednesday evening, we'd have a cup of tea and some fellowship and then we'd sit down and do a Bible study together. And right through that book, over and over and over again, Hosea talks about Ephraim – that word is mentioned 29 times by Hosea. So I remember asking these people, most of them had been Christians for a good many years, "Okay, who or what is this Ephraim thing?" I mean, Hosea kept talking about it and so it seemed to be quite central to what he was saying. But you know something, no-one could tell me who or what Ephraim was. Now it turns out the Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons and there's a whole history around this tribe and how they rebelled against God, but we didn't know that in that Bible study so a lot of what God was saying to us, through this amazing, powerful book of Hosea, well it was frankly lost on us. And that sort of thing happens a lot more than you might think. Consider the story of the Good Samaritan. It loses its whole meaning if we don't understand the Samaritans and who they were and what the Jews thought of them. Now when Jesus told that story to the assembled masses they all knew the Samaritan story but we don't, it's not natural to us. And there are names and places and concepts and ways of thinking in the Bible that are foreign to us, because we're separated from them by time and culture. It might have made sense to the people back then but not to us now. And unless we understand those things, we miss out on the richness, on the gravity, on the power of what God is trying to say to us. I remember coming to grips with the Jewish system of blood sacrifice in the Old Testament. Now I kind of think about blood sacrifice and it's pretty ghastly to me here and now, but it's something I really had to understand to understand what Jesus did for me on the Cross. So I decided I was going to find out, not just skim the surface, not read through a story and have them talk about Ephraim or Samaria or all these other things I didn't know about and miss out on what God was trying to say to me through the story. Now these accounts were written such a long time ago and God has preserved them and kept them accurate for us here and now but there is indeed a gap of culture and time in history that we have to bridge to understand completely what's happening in what's been written. I mean after all if the Bible is God's Word and if God is speaking to us through it, I decided I needed to know what He was saying. And surprisingly, that's not as difficult as I thought it would be. Right now, I'm going to talk about a handful of really simple resources that made absolutely the world of difference. The first one was my Bible, a simple English translation, not the King James with the 'thees' and 'thou arts', there are so many good contemporary language translations available to you and me today. The New International Version or the NIV as it's called, is really popular. I happen to use the New Revised Standard Version (the NRSV). There's a translation called The Message which is really in here and now language. The Contemporary English Version (CEV). The New English Translation (NET). Which one is the best one? The one you're going to read. You can get a thing called A Study Bible, it's got not just the words of the Bible, but it's also got a huge amount of resources packed into it. It explains the meanings of different words, there are notes and maps and cross references. They're really good, they don't cost a whole bunch more than a Bible with just the Bible words. So if you want to do more than just skim across the surface, it's really good to have one of those – a Study Bible. Check them out. One of the most helpful features in a Study Bible is a summary of each book: who wrote it, when, to whom and why because context is so important isn't it? Before I read Ephesians I read four or five paragraphs in my Study Bible which explain the context and all of a sudden the book of Ephesians made a whole bunch more sense to me. A Study Bible is a really worthwhile investment and it's not much more than an ordinary Bible. You can get one from a Christian bookshop or you can buy one online. I happen to have an electronic one these days on my tablet device. The second resource is my Bible dictionary. Now I happen to purchase a Bible dictionary called the Holman Bible Dictionary, years ago – it's just one, single volume. You can get Bible dictionaries that are 25 volumes, mine is just one volume and it has pictures. So when I was reading and it talked about the Temple in the Bible, I could go to my Bible dictionary and look at it and see a picture and plans and explaining the different parts. So I'm able to read a few paragraphs in just a few minutes, and I'm there, I understand what the writers saying about the Temple, about the Holy of Holies, wow! When the Bible talks about Ephraim I look it up, half a column, three minutes, I know who or what Ephraim is. The story of the Good Samaritan; who were the Samaritans? What was their relationship to the Jews? Ah! That's what Jesus meant by the story of the Good Samaritan. And lastly, the third resource was a Bible timeline. It's one of these things you can fold out and it's about four pages wide that show the chronology of the Bible. You read about King David, when was he king? Who was King before him? Who was King after him? What else was going on? Which prophets were writing when David was alive? And all of a sudden you put the whole Bible thing in time sequence, that's huge. And just to top things off, let me tell you about two stunning websites. The first is biblegateway.com where you can compare different Bible translations. The second is studylight.org, it has Bible dictionaries online, the meanings of Greek and Hebrew words, and so many more great resources. All free. So let me ask you? Do you take Jesus seriously? If you do then we need to take the Bible seriously. And for just a small investment on your part in just a few simple resources, they pay such huge dividends in hearing and understanding what God is saying to us today through His Word.   Listen and Learn If you spend anytime with me here on the program one of the things you will know is that I'm really passionate about God and what He has to say. Not in a religious sort of a way but in a Jesus sort of way. The thing that really strikes me about Jesus when you read about Him, is how plain and matter of fact He was about sharing with people who God is and what His plans are. Over these last couple of weeks on the program we've been looking at what it means to lay hold of God's power unlimited, God's resurrection power that's available to you, as you open His Word the Bible and listen to what He has to say. The Bible is God speaking to us and He means to challenge us and stretch us and encourage us and bless us through His Word. One of the ways that many people get God's Word into them is by listening to people speak. Radio programs like this or on television and of course, if you attend a Church. But how can preaching and teaching be a part of really getting God's Word into us? Over these last twenty years or so, the time that I've been a Christian, I've seen two things. On the one hand I have been so blessed by some really good teaching and on the other hand I've seen some pretty bad stuff too. In my very first Church, a little Baptist Church, our pastor's name was Phil Littlejohn. Now Phil was a gifted teacher, he just had this ability to open God's Word and speak God stuff into my heart. I learned later this is a real gifting, different people have different gifts and abilities given to them by God and teaching is one of them. Jesus had that, I mean time and time again when He opened His mouth people were amazed because He spoke with a plainness and a power and an authority that they hadn't heard before. And you know something, He didn't always tell them things they wanted to hear. "Love your enemy." "Take up your cross and follow me." "Lose your life for my sake and you'll gain your life." It's not exactly good marketing, I mean the spin merchants would not have let Him get up and speak like that today. I've spent quite a bit of time looking at how Jesus preached. It's real, it's powerful. It's balanced on the one hand and radical on the other and it sort of, well, it cuts through all the selfish rubbish we go on with, right to the heart of what God wants to talk about. And my prayer is that when I discharge my gifting to teach in my own way, I'll always try to teach like He did. But you know I've also sat in Churches over the years and listened to preachers drone on with dry and theoretical, completely cerebral stuff, that's not relevant to my life. On more than one occasion I've walked out after church and two hours later I ask myself "Do I remember what he talked about?" And the answer is, "No, not really." Or you listen to other speakers and there are lots of words and they're very entertaining and they make people laugh and they tickle their ears with great stories and things they want to hear and they yell and people slap them on the back afterwards, 'praise the Lord' but I've been to some of those too and well, I felt like I'd been at the Lord's table to be fed but I left hungry and empty. The flip side of that is that with some other preachers, I can remember years later what they were talking about, years later in difficult circumstances God seems to bring into my heart the words they spoke to me. Preaching and teaching is one of the ways that God gets His Word into us. You see it right through the Bible; He uses men and women to speak to others, to teach them. I mean the Samaritan woman at the well; she went and told people about Jesus. Paul and Peter and all the other guys that went out preaching. The question is, how do you get the most out of that? How does preaching and teaching play a part in us reading our Bible and unlocking the power unlimited that God has for us? Well, here are just some of my observations. I see people come into a Church on a Sunday and listen to the preacher and they don't take any notes and they don't bring their Bible and they don't follow what the preacher's saying in their Bible. I take my Bible with me, I open my Bible and I read what the preacher is talking about. People can speak all the words that they like, everything that they say, they can crack jokes and have great stories – the most important thing is God's Word, the most important thing is what God is saying. And secondly I take some notes. I mean you can't even get through kindergarten on a half an hour a week without taking notes. You know, if we take God seriously, if we want to follow Jesus and really take that seriously, you know something, we've got to take learning seriously. Do you know what a disciple is? A disciple is literally "a learner", that's what the word disciple means, to be a learner. And thirdly, the thing I do when I've listened to some really good preaching, is I spend some time afterwards in God's Word reading it for myself. Sometimes it's not until you get home and you pray it through and you spend some time in that passage and maybe looking at some other related ones, that God really drops it into your spirit. I mean, years ago I heard a preacher teaching on a profound passage: 1 Peter 5:6,7: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. Now I've learnt so much from what God taught me through that preacher in this passage but I've learned just as much and maybe even more from pondering and praying over this scripture and looking at other related passages. Learning in my heart – that's when I humble myself, when I get off my little tin pot throne and just walk each day faithfully with God. He's the one who later opens the doors; He's the one that's got an eternity ready for me. I've looked at this whole thing of preaching, and listened to some incredibly sermons and some dreadful ones too, I've come to the conclusion that there are two types of preaching; dead and alive. Dead preaching is full of words, it's boring and dry or maybe it's hyped up and frothy and bubbly but at the end of the day, there's no eternal food there because God's Word is not being preached in the power of the Holy Spirit. It's only God's Word by the power of the Spirit that can change us. I can't change you, I can't say things in my own strength that will change your life, but if I'm speaking God's stuff, if the Holy Spirit somehow takes God's stuff and puts it into your heart, that's when change happens and only God can do that. This is how the Apostle Paul put it: 1 Cor 2:1-5: When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God Can I encourage you to be discerning as to what you listen to? Go and listen to the preachers who are proclaiming God's Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.. Go and have a read about how Jesus preached in the Gospels Matthew or Mark or Luke or John, the first four books of the New Testament. It's edgy and profound and real and dealing with the hard issues, and find yourself some preachers like that. Not ones that just entertain and tickle your ears with things you want to hear. The ones that open up God's Word and say, 'Well, what's God saying to us today?' and then take what they said home, open your Bible there where they left off and go and lay hold of God's power unlimited for you, for your life.

Sabatina James was raised in rural Pakistan as a devout Muslim, reading and studying the Quran. However, she quickly saw the devastating consequences of taking it seriously, which landed her in a Muslim prison and an arranged marriage. Everything changed one day when she cried out to God to reveal Himself. Now, she's fighting to warn the West about the realities of Muhammad, and the necessity of Jesus. Buy Sabatina's Book:Kindle: https://amzn.to/4tigBQLHard Copy Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q9LXunFrom Sophia Institute Press: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-price-of-love/?srsltid=AfmBOorNnVbH5wXITRxObh5PU58b-ityWeRECmavx4N7MXN7Hul8vtI3Check out our Merch store! https://shop.lilaroseshow.com/Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Patriot Mobile: Get 1 month of free service at https://patriotmobile.com/lila or call 972-PATRIOT w/ code LILA -Cozy Earth: Better Sleep, Brighter Days - Get the highest quality sleep essentials for 20% OFF at https://cozyearth.com/lila!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee and Save up to 25% with promo code 'LILA' & get a free gift: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com-We Heart Nutrition: https://www.weheartnutrition.com/ Get high quality vitamin supplements for 20% off using the code LILA. 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:31 - Pakistan upbringing00:04:55 - Women are routinely beaten00:11:26 - Desperately Trying to Please Allah00:17:06 - “Mistake of being born as a girl”00:26:31 - Being sent to Muslim Prison (Madrasa)00:32:46 - Meeting the Evangelical Christian in Austria00:33:40 - Finding Jesus00:39:44 - Homeless for Jesus…00:45:03 - The Power and Pain of Christianity00:54:35 - Wild Statement from Iran's Ayotollah00:57:43 - Antisemitism01:05:26 - Family Betrayal01:08:32 - Islam's Problem is Muhammad01:10:26 - Taqiyya and Taking over the west01:14:39 - Sabatina Breaking Free01:23:46 - God calling her back to Pakistan01:28:56 - Following God's will01:32:15 - What Christians can learn from Muslims01:43:24 - Warning for western parents01:46:36 - “Is this actually the Gospel of Jesus christ?”01:49:34 - Christian culture needs to improve:01:51:39 - Message to Christian Mothers01:58:43 - Becoming Catholic02:01:53 - Ex-Muslim's message to all Christians02:03:46 - Warning to West

Do Christians really have free will when it comes to faith? In this episode of 2414, “Talking About Your Faith: Free Will,” warm humor and playful banter give way to a thoughtful, honest conversation about one of Christianity's most challenging and often misunderstood questions.The episode begins lightheartedly with highs and lows, family stories, and a spirited round of Outburst, before turning toward a deeper theological discussion rooted in Scripture and Lutheran teaching. From hiking mishaps and board game disasters to adoption analogies and the “house of salvation,” Pastor Dan and Shane explore what the Bible says about human will, sin, and grace.Framed by Luther's teaching on the bondage of the will, the conversation carefully distinguishes between everyday choices and humanity's spiritual inability before God. Rather than centering salvation on human decision-making, this episode points listeners toward repentance, trust, and the comfort that salvation is God's work from beginning to end.In this episode, we discuss:What Christians mean by “free will”The difference between earthly freedom and spiritual inabilityWhy defining theological terms mattersLuther's Bondage of the Will and the Formula of ConcordWhy decision-centered faith leads to pride or despairHow law and gospel shape our understanding of salvationWhy this doctrine, though uncomfortable, brings real comfortWho this episode is for:✔ Christians wrestling with questions about choice and belief✔ Listeners curious about Lutheran theology✔ Those seeking deeper, honest faith conversations✔ Anyone wanting to understand grace more clearlyThis episode doesn't offer easy answers—but it does offer clarity, humility, and hope, pointing listeners back to Christ and the grace that saves sinners.Don't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!Support the show

What Christians are called to do, with Adrian Bonin.

What happens when your marriage feels impossible to sustain—but you believe God still has a plan? In this powerful episode, we sit down with author and speaker Laurie Krieg, who shares her story of navigating a mixed-orientation marriage, wrestling with faith, desire, trauma, and the transformation that followed. In this episode, we cover: Laurie's honest story of same-sex attraction and her decision to marry a man What it means to trust God when your marriage feels “impossible” Trauma, Jesus, and the healing process Practical ways to love your spouse through pain What Christians can do better to love and support LGBTQ+ individuals and families This episode will stretch your compassion, deepen your faith, and remind you that every marriage—no matter the struggle—can be a place of redemption and growth.   Resources:

In this special episode of The Chorus in the Chaos, Jack, Grayson, and Blake reflect on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it means for Kirk's legacy and Christians today. We discuss: Charlie Kirk's life, faith, and legacy as the founder of Turning Point  Why his murder feels like a pivotal cultural and spiritual moment. The clash of worldviews is revealed in the nation's response. How Kirk's bold witness to the gospel challenges us to live faithfully. What Christians should do now—locally, politically, and spiritually. This is more than politics. It's about worldview, courage, and the cost of discipleship. Listen in for biblical reflection, cultural analysis, and a call to bold gospel proclamation in a time of growing hostility.   The Chorus in the Chaos Info: Website & Blog: www.chorusinthechaos.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chorusinthec... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chorus_in_the_chaos/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chorusnthechaos Intro/Outro Music (by our good friend Nick Illes): https://open.spotify.com/artist/7tnsQ... Email: chorusinthechaos@email.com    

In this special episode of Calibrate Conversations, Brady unpacks the heartbreaking Minneapolis school shooting — and the hidden cult-like lies that fueled it. While the media downplays the truth, we expose the deeper issues of transgender ideology, spiritual warfare, and the assault on children's minds. But this isn't just about tragedy — it's about hope. Discover the biblical response that brings clarity, healing, and the only true solution: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Timestamps00:00 – Why this tragedy can't be ignored00:52 – What really happened at Annunciation Catholic School02:05 – Evil at work: the spiritual backdrop of shootings03:14 – The transgender issue the media won't touch04:54 – A disturbing manifesto: Satan in the mirror06:09 – Why the trans cult increasingly targets Christians07:54 – “Armed and fabulous”: glamorizing violence09:19 – The fear narrative driving trans ideology12:39 – Why autistic kids are more susceptible15:13 – Transgenderism as spiritual warfare19:53 – Patterns that reveal the truth23:04 – Parents on their knees: navigating heartbreak27:43 – Broken homes & fatherlessness as a theme30:21 – Why parents feel forced into affirming transitions33:26 – What Christians must do: Pray & proclaim hope34:54 – The only name that saves: Jesus ChristJoin us weekly as we strive help people embrace God's standard for sexuality! Other ways to listen:https://linktr.ee/calibrateconversations#Minneapolis #Transgender #School

Israel is exhausted.  The war has stretched on for 15 months.  The weight of it - physically, emotionally, spiritually - is crushing. And yet, as the world watches, the narratives surrounding Israel are being twisted beyond recognition.  Lies, conspiracies, and political maneuvers flood the headlines, and the church is left asking:  What is actually happening? In this episode, we sit down with Moshe Sigulim - an Israeli with deep personal ties to the military, the land, and the people of Israel.  He's lived through war.  He's lost friends.  He's seen firsthand what's at stake.  And he's here to cut through the noise. We're talking about the spiritual and political storm surrounding Israel, the unsettling rise of global anti-Semitism, and why the world is obsessed with placing Israel at the center of every conflict.  But more than that, we're wrestling with prophecy, the longing for peace, and the hard truth that Israel is searching for a savior - just not the Savior. If you care about Israel, if you want to see through the media fog, if you want to understand what the Bible actually says about the days we're living in - this episode is a must-listen. Because what's happening in Israel isn't just political.  It's spiritual.  And it's unfolding right before our eyes. Key Takeaways The real situation on the ground in Israel - and why the media gets it wrong. Why Israel is desperate for peace, and how that desperation sets the stage for dangerous compromises. The disturbing global shift toward anti-Zionism and why it matters to the church. How Israel's spiritual hunger is growing - but not yet for Yeshua. The role of prophecy in today's events and how the Bible has already laid this out. What Christians must understand about standing with Israel in these days. Chapter Markers 00:00 | Welcome & Moshe's background 01:45 | The media war against Israel 02:45 | Israel's desperation for peace - why it matters 07:27 | What Trump's statements on Gaza really mean 09:26 | The injustice of the hostage situation 14:27 | The spiritual side of this war - what prophecy says 18:26 | The financial battle behind global politics 26:00 | Israel's place in the coming global conflict 28:38 | What Christians don't understand about Israel   The world is shifting fast, and Israel is at the center of it all. If you want to stay informed with truth - not media bias - follow Moshe on Instagram at @mo_shigo for real-time updates from the ground. For more deep-dive conversations about Israel, the Bible, and the Jewish roots of our faith, visit TheJewishRoad.com and subscribe to The Jewish Road Podcast. Because understanding Israel means understanding the heartbeat of God's story. Listen now. Because the more you understand, the more you can stand.  

On today's Equipping You in Grace show, Dave gives examples of the Word of Faith teaching on various subjects, how the Word of Faith promotes biblical and theological illiteracy, the marks of the Word of Faith movement, why the Word of Faith theology is so dangerous, among other topics.What you'll hear in this episodeHow the Word of Faith movement promotes biblical and theological illiteracy.What Christians can do about biblical and theological literacy.Examples of the Word of Faith teaching on various subjects.The marks of the Word of Faith movement.The history of the Word of the Faith movement.Why the Word of Faith teachings are so dangerous.Other Resources Mentioned in this episode:The Dangers of Decreeing and Declaring: Spotting Its Impact on SufferingSubscribing, sharing, and your feedbackYou can subscribe to Equipping You in Grace via iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast catcher. If you like what you've heard, please consider leaving a rating and share it with your friends (it takes only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show). You can also connect with me on Twitter at @davejjenkins, on Facebook, or via email to share your feedback.Thank you for listening to this episode of Equipping You in Grace.

Send us a textHave you ever wondered if the Christmas tree is actually pagan? Whether Santa is real or not? What Christians should do with Christmas in general? Join Erin, Ethan, and Tucker as they talk about these questions and more!Find us on Instagram @theway_iabc

If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: The Good word about Mercy “Mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13) I once had a parishioner of mine who lived under the watchful eye of a condemning aunt. Whenever he stepped out of line, or caused some mishap, the aunt would glare in his direction and say, “God will get you for that.”  It didn't matter about the severity of action, or the intent (or non-intent) of the accident. Suffice it to say, this man grew up with deep-seeded picture of God as an angry enforcer.  God was that being in the sky who longed to catch him his spiritual infractions. Thus, despite all the verses pertaining to God's love, he could not shake the belief that God was out to get him. He lived with the agonizing thought that it was just a matter of time before he would be crushed under some act of divine judgement. Do you ever feel like God is angry with you? Do you struggle with the assumption that, while God works in love and grace to everyone else, you receive nothing but wrath and vengeance? Why do you think that way? Many of us find ourselves continually gripped with such a fear. We fear that God's mercy will not be directed to us, and so we put upon ourselves the demands of ‘be better' do more' or ‘work harder' in a vain attempt to placate an angry God. After all, this ethic of earning undergirds the world around us. The more we work the more we earn, the world tells us.  But this locks us into and endless cycle of condemnation. What we do is always (or earn) is always betrayed by what we do not, and no matter how hard we try, we can always judge ourselves insufficient by the metric of our neighbors.  Yes, God is just and righteous, and scripture holds true that there will be a day where God will call all evil to account.  A God who is not just is one who is not good. And yet, throughout the gamut of scripture, we also hear the truth of mercy. God continually speaks words of comfort and peace to each of us.  In James 2, we read that mercy triumphs over judgement. This good news hearkens back to the promise God makes in Exodus 20, to show mercy to a thousand generations to those who love him. The truth is the Lord's declaration of mercy speaks louder than any voice within us that speaks a word of judgement.  In the battle of judgment versus mercy, mercy always wins. Mercy beats in the heart of God.  God is abundant in mercy and endless in love. In Christ, and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can be assured of this reality for our lives.  John writes that whenever our hearts condemn us, we can be assured that God is bigger than our hearts.  When we struggle to hold faithfully to the promises of mercy, Jesus lovingly reaches out for us. And the Holy Spirit in our lives is an ongoing testimony of his loving hold over us.  Because mercy triumphs over judgement, we live in the assurance of everlasting favor.  Intersecting faith and life. Let me ask you again, do you feel that God is angry with you? Is there a voice that speaks condemnation over you?  What might it look like for you to listen, instead, to the voice of Jesus. Can you dare to believe the promise that mercy triumphs over judgement, and hear that as a declaration about your life?  It does not matter what is in our past, what defines our present, or what mistakes we will inevitably make in the future, we can trust that the Lord's presence over us is both merciful and loving.  This blessed assurance is whispered into our hearts whenever we draw nearer in faith. This is the divine promise so eloquently displayed in the cross. Just think of it, as Jesus hung on the cross, he could have easily released a deluge of divine retribution upon those who crucified him.  But instead, he chose to speak words of forgiveness and mercy. The cross beckons us to receive the divine love that overtakes all sin and shame.  If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy. For Further Reading: 2nd Peter 3:9 What Christians need to understand about Mercy on Crosswalk.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Gary delves into the remarkable reelection of Donald Trump. What Christians should learn from it and what it could mean for the future of America.

Gary delves into the remarkable reelection of Donald Trump. What Christians should learn from it and what it could mean for the future of America.

Synopsis: Paul begins to wrap his letter up with his central command, “rejoice in the Lord.” To give them reason to rejoice, he juxtaposes faithful Christians who are the circumcision with their opponents, who are dogs and whose cherished worldly “glory” is but rubbish. What Christians have is the Righteousness of God by faith, by which they are becoming like Jesus in his death and by which they attain the resurrection of the dead. Sermon Text: Philippians 3:1-11

Synopsis: Paul begins to wrap his letter up with his central command, “rejoice in the Lord.” To give them reason to rejoice, he juxtaposes faithful Christians who are the circumcision with their opponents, who are dogs and whose cherished worldly “glory” is but rubbish. What Christians have is the Righteousness of God by faith, by which they are becoming like Jesus in his death and by which they attain the resurrection of the dead. Sermon Text: Philippians 3:1-11

On today's Equipping You in Grace show Dave talks with David de Bruyn about the state of worship in the Church and what Christians can do about it, along with his new book, Strange Lyre: The Pentecostalization of Evangelical Worship (G3 Press, 2024).What you'll hear in this episodeConcerns about modern day worship from labels like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation.Research on the influence of labels like Bethel, Hillsong, and Elevation and why that is concerning about the state of biblical worship in the Church.What Christians can do about the state of modern worship.How Jonathan Edwards Religious Affections can help us to speak out against modern day worship.Why we should be concerned equally about worship and preaching in our churches.Why biblical worship helps Christians to deal with their emotions in a God-honoring way.How biblical worship helps us to prepare for and face suffering.'What pastors can do to make sure the worship music is biblically grounded and shaped and theologically solid in our churches.Recommended hymnals individual and churches can use.About Today's GuestDavid de Bruyn was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he now pastors New Covenant Baptist Church and resides with his wife and three children. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th.). David hosts a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of central South Africa, serves as a frequent conference speaker, and is a lecturer at Shepherds Seminary Africa.Subscribing, sharing, and your feedbackYou can subscribe to Equipping You in Grace via iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast catcher. If you like what you've heard, please consider leaving a rating and share it with your friends (it takes only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show). You can also connect with me on Twitter at @davejjenkins, on Facebook, or via email to share your feedback.Thanks for listening to this episode of Equipping You in Grace!

Gay Pride Month is upon us.  Here's a question you've probably never been asked: What did the Apostle Paul and gay activists know that most of us don't? What can Christians learn from Gay Pride?  Join me for this fascinating discussion. #faith #worldview Brightmedia.org twitter.com/GodIsTheIssue GOD, Who Are You Anyway?  by Bill Bright, with Brad Bright brightmedia.org/resources Time Stamps:   02:05 – 03:02  Why is Jesus controversial? 03:05 – 04:05 – What Christians can learn from Gay PRIDE   12:07 – 13:00 – “Love your neighbor” does not mean this!   13:01 – 13:48 – Gay activists can teach Christians this…  15:47 – 16:43 – Is God an enabler or a coach?

2 Corinthians 5: 9 - 15 What motivates us to do the things we do? In Corinthians 5, Paul highlights that his motivation for doing good, sharing the gospel, and working for God's kingdom is that he will be rewarded by Christ after death. There is an underrated theme of divine reciprocity in the Bible. What Christians do with their lives to honor God is accounted for by God and will reap a reward. This is in the context of paradoxes. Because Christ died for our sins, we must die to ourselves; Christians no longer live for themselves but for Christ's motives, and living for Christ alone is rewarded. Listen to one of our elders Mark Skilllin as he unpacks these multi-faceted themes in 2 Corinthians 5: 9 - 15.

Easter 2024What Christians believe about the cross is considered absurd to those who are lost, but to those of us who are being saved, it is the power and the wisdom of God.1. The Folly of the Cross2. The Wisdom of the Cross3. The Power of the Cross

Easter 2024What Christians believe about the cross is considered absurd to those who are lost, but to those of us who are being saved, it is the power and the wisdom of God.1. The Folly of the Cross2. The Wisdom of the Cross3. The Power of the Cross

Genesis 1:1 | Ben Potloff | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1 ESV). What Christians believe to be true comes from what the Bible teaches the most and the clearest (Gavin Ortlund, Finding the Right Hills to Die On). From the very first verse of our Bible, God clearly and epically reveals one of the most important and foundational truths about himself: Before anything was made, there was God, and God made everything.MAIN IDEAGod made everything.OUTLINEI. There is a God who has always been.II. There is a God who created all there is.

What Christians believe... We pray together and when Christians pray together, from different nations, different churches and different denominations - that reveals Church unity! Come! Let us pray and profess together our Christian faith! Apostles Creed I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead: I believe in the Holy Ghost: I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints: The forgiveness of sins: The resurrection of the body: And the life everlasting. Amen.   Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a mp4 video.

What Christians expect abd what God expects in return

The Holy Spirit has been called “the forgotten God.” But He's also, according to Scripture, at the heart of the Christian life.  “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” says the Nicene Creed, “the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is both worshiped and glorified, who has spoken to us through the prophets.”  Now, there's a longstanding debate between Eastern and Western churches about whether the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from the Son as well.  What Christians agree on, however, is that the Spirit is God. He's a Person, not a force. He inspired the Scriptures. He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. He is the Comforter sent by Jesus, the One who gives us ears to hear the Gospel, and who intercedes for us when we pray, indwelling us to this day.  We are His temples, and He is the Pledge of our inheritance and the guarantee that the faith we now confess in the Triune God will one day be sight.  This Point was originally published on December 29, 2017.

Series: A living Hope in a dying worldTitle: We love because we liveScripture: 1 Peter 1:22-2:3Bottom line: We love God & people because we live forever.SERMON OUTLINENOTESDISCUSSION QUESTIONSOUTLINESMAIN REFERENCES USEDSERMON OUTLINEIntroduction“He Loves Because He Lives” by David HelmsThe Vietnam War was mercifully drawing to a close during my middle-school years. And that meant that young men who had been sent over to fight were now returning to the States. Each one needed a fresh start on life. For one man that meant enrolling at Judson College. I never knew the man by name, but I regularly saw him from a distance of a hundred yards.Judson College is on the Fox River in Illinois; my dad's office in the Athletic Department was a wedge shot from its banks. I could see the river from the gym. During the frigid winter months the man stood alone along the river's frozen edge, tending a covey of ducks. He fed them. He cut through the ice to open up an area of water for them. In short, he met their every need during the cold season. Every day.I asked my dad why the man cared so much about the ducks. I will never forget the story he told: "He has just returned from the war in Vietnam. The story is that ducks saved his life. His unit had been ambushed. Many of his friends had been killed, and while he hadn't been shot, he lay down to look like he had. He hoped they would go away.But they didn't. The enemy kept coming. Through the fields they came. They'd put one more shot in every fallen man to ensure that he was dead.But suddenly a covey of ducks flew overhead, and the attention of the soldiers was diverted. In their excitement they began running after the ducks to shoot at them instead. In the end, they stopped checking the field for men and left. That's how the man down by the river escaped. And now he has a special love for ducks. He loves because he lives." The call of our text conveys something similar. —David Helms, p. 65“A sincere and earnest love, a life given over to the genuine care of others, is the natural result of being born again. To highlight the command in the text simply notice the phrase, ‘love one another earnestly.' To see why we love simply note, ‘since you have been born again.' To put the force of Peter's thought as clearly as possible: when you get a fresh start on life (see 1:3 and its connection to 1:23), love should happen (1:22-2:3).” -Helms, p. 66OutlineI. The Logic of Love 1:22-23“The mark of the Christian life is love.” -Helms, p. 66Sincere, earnest, deep = genuine (not fake)Love resulting from being born again is like when someone gets a fresh start on life, love happens. Peter's Logic of Love:Love one another deeply, from the heart…For you have been born againThrough the living and enduring word of GodJust ask Chris and Amy Karpus. His love is greater than ever because God gave him new life miraculously after cardiac arrest and being brain dead for 40+ minutes. Yet he lives. So he loves. Full testimony a little later with details:https://youtu.be/7wHiUm_sAWs?si=En53b5WdW43D0ZNtPeter essentially says, we love because we live. We live by the grace and mercy of God so we love. He first loved us so we “love others deeply, from the heart.”Peter is preaching to Christians who are a minority within a minority (Christians>Jews>Romans) who are being persecuted for it. They need encouragement and reminders of who they are and why they persevere and how they love.Have been purified (v. 22) by obeying the truth. We're cleansed/purified/forgiven by obeying God's word. That can be heard in 2 opposing ways:If you obey God's words, he will forgive you. If you obey God's words SO THAT he will forgive you, that's not a biblical way to understand salvation. If you obey God's words, he will forgive you. If you obey God's words BECAUSE he forgave you already (because you believe and trust him), that a biblical understanding of salvation.We don't have a works-salvation. A salvation that we can earn by doing good things. We have a salvation that works. A salvation that leads us to want to do good works out of gratitude for our forgiveness.Why did God do this? For many reasons. Here are 2 in our text:First, “So that you have sincere love for each other.” God's plan is for the world to see a diversity of Christ-followers love one another deeply despite their differences. “They will know you are Christians by our love.” (V. 22)Second, “For you have been born again.” (V. 23)What is “born again?”Born from above. Second birth after our physical birth. Born of the Spirit of the living God.It's the only way to enter the kingdom of God. (Cf. John 3)This birth isn't temporary (perishable seed) like physical birth.This birth is eternal (imperishable seed), the second birth.Are you born again?Peter refers to “truth,” “the word that was preached to you,” and “spiritual milk” all referring to God's word to us. His word that lasts forever.“Therefore” - whenever you see the word “therefore” you always ask the question, “What's the ‘therefore' there for?”“Therefore” is there for us to look back and remember what was just said/written. That context matters a lot.That context is summarized in v. 21 where it says, “Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” Also, v. 3 where he tells us we have a “living hope.”Since this living hope is eternal and not temporary, we're to respond to this gracious and merciful gift by living and loving others well. (Like the man and the ducks)Therefore, we “Rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” These are not loving.In addition, we crave the word of God (truth) “Like newborn babies crave pure” milk. “Pure spiritual milk” = word of God.Milk is a rich source of several valuable nutrients, including:1. Calcium: Essential for strong bones and teeth.2. Vitamin D: Helps the body absorb and use calcium.3. Protein: Important for muscle growth and repair.4. Vitamin B12: Necessary for nerve function and the production of red blood cells.5. Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): Aids in energy metabolism.6. Phosphorus: Contributes to bone and teeth health.7. Potassium: Regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.8. Vitamin A: Important for vision and immune function.9. Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function.10. Zinc: Necessary for immune system health.Milk is a well-rounded source of these nutrients, making it a valuable part of a balanced diet.This causes us to grow in maturity even in the midst of trials and tribulations like these Christians were going through. Having “tasted” of the Lord's goodness and truth, we should remember the blessings that flow from growing by grace through faith in the word of God even in the midst of trials.ConclusionWe love because we live. Therefore,Go love deeply, from the heart,Get rid of your dirty ways, and Grow in your desire to know, trust and obey the word of God.Have you been born again?Have you tasted that the Lord is good?Do you crave his pure spiritual milk like a newborn baby?Do you need to repent of your sins?Then pray right now and ask him to forgive you for your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)Pray for him to give you a hunger and thirst for him and his words so that you can obey them out of gratitude for what he's already done for you. He's done the work for salvation. Now we get to do the work of gratitude that flows from our salvation. GoGet rid ofGrowPrayNOTESAcorns and gospel conversations about Jesus.Peter's aim in 1 Peter 1 so far is holy living in the midst of trials by these Christians.Holy living flows from being born again by the living and enduring word of God.Holy living flows to being holy by loving one another deeply, from the heart.Love like this comes from a pure heart. A heart purified by believing the good news preached to you. How are we purified?By obeying the truth. Does that mean that we obey the law so that we're purified? We obey the word trying harder and pushing out sin from our lives? No. That's the work of the flesh or “perishable seed.”Perishable seed = seed of Adam through the flesh which includes our sin nature (which is why we sin)Imperishable seed = the word of God, which is living and enduring and eternal. It's alive!Like an acorn caries within its dead shell potential life, the seed of the gospel carries with it the potential for life as well. But instead of trying to obey God's laws in our own strength (flesh), we lay down our lives and trust him by obeying his words because that trust (faith, hope) leads to life abundant and eternal.This is good news!Gospel = good news = truth = word that was preached to youWe don't obey our way into purity unless by obey you mean we obey the command of scripture to trust and follow Jesus. (John 3:16, Matthew 16:24)The way of the flesh is dead and fleeting.The way of the word is living and enduring. Arguments forBecause in v. 22 love is the overflow of this obedience to the truth. (1 John 1:9; Gal 5:6; 1 Tim 1:5)“For you have been born again” also results in obedience to the truth. (1:23-25)“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬“So your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying…” v. 21-222:1-3Piper, Pt. 1 “Spiritual growth is not optional”“Therefore” - because of what he just wrote (that we're born again), through the living and enduring word of God (good news), we are a new person!Therefore, we get rid of all that isn't good in our attitudes, feelings, thoughts and actions.Action and effort are required! New born infants are not just new Christians. We're all made new forever!We are all new people, andCrave/Desire (taste) pure spiritual milk (word) like a baby desires/craves physical milkTaste (Ps 34:8)Anyone can read the word. But when you taste the goodness or kindness of God when in the word, that's evidence that you are born again.Drinking this milk causes us to grow up spiritually. I.e. sanctificationPeter thinks of salvation as future a lot in this letter. (I.e. hope to be fulfilled)It's a process: We are born again (passive; it's by God)We eat/drink the word (active) tasting his goodnessWe grow/mature spirituallyWe arrive (eventually) at full salvationEating/drinking and growing are not optional—they are evidences that you're the real dealGod keeps his own and evidence is seen in your maturingBorn again: What effect does it have on our lives?Loving one anotherGetting rid of that which hurts other peopleDrinking spiritual milk is a strategy for loving and getting rid of evilMalice (feeling) — desire to hurt people; mean-spiritedDeceit (feeling) — leading people to believe what's not true about usHypocrisy (feeling) — feeling about me; play-acting instead of being who I really amEnvy (feeling) — feelings about you and your successes; we want it but we don't want you to have itSlander (action) — frustrations are about us and you. Lack of contentment in God that leads us to say things about you that tear you down and hurt you and are untrue.Helms' notes“We love because of the imperishable nature of God's word…How exactly is sincere love the natural consequence of the living and abiding word of God?”The Logic of Love ExploredSeeds possess the power to bring new lifeSeeds possess within themselves the power to bring forth life. For ex.A perishable seed of an oak tree (an acorn), after falling to the ground and dying as a result, possesses the power to bring forth new life.The sapling emerges because all of the necessary life-giving properties were present in the seed from the beginning. So it is with God's word. Like a seed, the Bible is alive. It contains within itself everything necessary for life. Dr. Lanier at SEBTS.edu used to tell his students every semester how he came to know Christ by just reading the New Testament. The word is alive! The word brings forth life!The word of God contains within itself all the properties necessary for life. And that ought to revolutionize our understanding about the power of God's word to bring forth life.Seeds come with fullness of purposeLife isn't the only natural result of God's word. Love is as well. How is it that the gospel brings forth both life and love?Isaiah 55:10-11 It is God's purpose that when it goes out it accomplishes all that God purposes it to.And what's his purpose? That God would be known in all his fullness.God is love.Therefore, God's word gives us life and love.Therefore, within God's word, we gain Jesus Christ who is—life and love.Therefore, the logic of love rests in this: God is life, and God is love. Thus, if God sent his Word in to our hearts to give us life, then we have tasted of his fullness nad will make manifest the fruit of his character. It is for this reason Peter says:Love one another earnestly/deeplySince you have been born againThrough the living and enduring word of God.II. The Brevity of LifeIII. The Look of LoveCross references““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬Outline Bible (1 PETER 2)Peter speaks of renouncing, relationships, respect, and a role model.I. THE RENOUNCING (2:1-3, 11)A. What we are to renounce (2:1, 11b): We are to rid ourselves of deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander, and worldliness.B. What we are to receive (2:2-3): We are to crave pure spiritual milk.II. THE RELATIONSHIPS (2:4-12)dedratitresA. What Christians are (2:5, 9a, 10-11a)1. We are living stones (2:5a).2. We are royal priests (2:5b).3. We are a chosen people (2:9a, 10).4. We are strangers on earth (2:11a).B. What Christ is (2:4, 6-8, 9b, 12)1. He is the living foundation (2:4a).a. He is a precious foundation for believers (2:4, 7a).b. He is a stumbling block for unbelievers (2:8).2. He is the cornerstone (2:6, 7b).3. He is the chosen one (2:4c).4. He is the judge (2:12).5. He is the light (2:9b).III. THE RESPECT (2:13-20): For the Lord's sake, we are to show respect(and submission) to the following parties:A. Civil authorities (2:13-16)B. Employers (2:18-20)C. Everyone (2:17)IV. THE ROLE MODEL (2:21-25)A. Who he is (2:21-22): He is our sinless Savior, Jesus Christ.B. What he did (2:23-24a): He died on Calvary's cross.C. Why he did it (2:24b-25)1. That his wounds might heal ours (2:24b)2. That we might turn to the Shepherd (2:25)DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process:Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really God's word, what changes would I have to make in my life?Who am I going to tell about this?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastQ. What do I want them to know?A. We love one another deeply because we live by his mercy and grace.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. It leads us to actually love each other deeply, from the heart.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Love one another deeply from the heart, rid ourselves of the evil that we're still wearing, and grow in Christ together.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because it's life-giving and leads to blessing.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Repent. Believe. Love. Live.OUTLINESThe Visual Word - 1 Peter“Paradoxes fill 1 Peter. It is a letter written to encourage a slandered and marginalized minority living in the midst of the Roman Empire. They live in the world but are not of the world. They dwell in the cities, but as sojourners. They look, speak, and dress like everyone, but they pass their days on earth as exiles waiting for their inheritance.” (See the Epistle to Diognetus 5)Peter seeks to encourage believers in Asia Minor in the midst of suffering to stand firm as they consider the blessings of being in Christ, who is the primary example of one who suffered well and now has received glory and honor. If they also continue in their good conduct, become the true household of God, and don't revert to their old idolatrous practices, they too will receive the crown of life. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10), live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11), and stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11). Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side. (P. Schreiner)Hope as Exiles 1-2Elect Exiles 1:1-2New future 1:3-12New family 1:13-2:10Exile Identity 2-4Submit 2:11-3:7Suffer well 3:8-4:11Stand Firm 4-5Suffer joyfully 4:12-19Resist the devil 5:1-11In Babylon 5:12-14I. They need to have hope as exiles (1:3-2:10)II. They need to live faithfully as exiles in the world (2:11-4:11)III. They need to stand firm until the end (4:12-5:11)“Their ultimate enemy, that roaring lion, stands ready to devour them, but they have the conquering, suffering Shepherd at their side.” - P SchreinerHope as Exiles - The church has hope amidst trials because of their new future and new family. (1-2)Elect exiles (1:1-2)New future - Their new birth grants them an inheritance that can never be taken away. (1:3-12)New family (and new calling) - Their new birth grants them the rights and responsibilities of God's people. (1:13-2:10)Exile Identity - In the midst of the world, they are to live as chosen exiles. (2-4)Submit - They are to submit to authority figures because this is how Christ acted. (2:11-3:7)Suffer well - Like Christ, they are to suffer for good because suffering leads to life. (3:8-4:11)Stand Firm - To keep their exile identity, they must stand firm to the end. (4-5)Suffer joyfully - They are to entrust themselves to God while doing good. (4:12-4:19)Resist the devil - The elders should shepherd the people, recognizing the danger they are in. (5:1-11)In Babylon (5:12-24)Elect Exiles (1:1-2)“Peter presents the paradox in the first two verses. The God, those in Asia Minor are chosen, but to the world, they are exiles and sojourners. This becomes the theme of the letter (1:17; 2:11; 5:13). It also ties their story to Abraham, who was chosen but also a sojourner on the earth (Gen. 15:13), and Israel, who were God's wandering people. These elect exiles are dispersed across Asia Minor and living in societies not friendly to the new Christian faith. They are elect exiles according to God's foreknowledge, but His sanctifying works, and chosen for obedience. This is God's wonderful plan for their lives.”Hope as Exiles (1-2)“After labeling them as elect exiles, Peter's first section bolsters their hope by praising God for their new future, new family and new calling. Those scattered have been born again and promised a new land. But this new hope cannot be taken away from them because it resides in heaven. Though they suffer now, they a re being guarded for this future (1:3-12). Not only do they have a new future but a new family and calling (1:3-2:10). They are the new exodus people, the new covenant people, and the new temple people. In all of these they have not only a new identity but a new vocation.”According to the New Testament of the Bible, what is the difference between faith and hope?“In the New Testament of the Bible, faith and hope are distinct but interconnected concepts. Faith is often described as a firm belief or trust in something, particularly in God or His promises. It involves having confidence in what is unseen or yet to be fulfilled. Hope, on the other hand, is the optimistic expectation or anticipation of something good. It involves looking forward to future blessings, both in this life and the next. While faith is focused on belief and trust, hope is centered around expectation and anticipation. Faith provides the foundation for a relationship with God and is essential for salvation, while hope sustains believers through trials and challenges, keeping their focus on the promises of God. Both faith and hope are important aspects of the Christian life, working together to inspire and strengthen believers in their journey of following Christ.” -ChatGPT SUMMARY SO FAR1 Peter, “Live Such Good Lives”Let's live such good lives in this world today that, though they think we're wrong, they'll see how we live and follow Jesus anyway because…They'll see who we are and that's we're different. A new identity: As chosen exiles scattered around the world until Jesus returns+ (1:13-2:10)ChosenExiles/Holy people in the wildernessNew people New covenant with GodNew temple/a peopleKingdom of priestsWhat else?They'll see us living for what matters even though it costs us. Suffering as a witness to Jesus multiplying and magnifying his kingdom (2:11-4:11)They'll see us willingly suffer because of our living hope in the future. Suffering in light of an unshakable hope in the future. (4:12-5:9)From Schreiner:“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ.”“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our “Unshakable hope in Christ, Of the grace poured out on his people, and Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance” “They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:the authority of RomeUnbelieving and cruel mastersUnbelieving husbandsFrom Helms:“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life's difficulties.God's plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”Peter's inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live as God's chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)Questions answered by Peter:How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ's glory?How are we to live in the wilderness world?Peter's answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it's various forms.THE BIBLE PROJECTI. Greeting (1:1-2)II. Song of praise (1:3-12)III. A New Family Identity (1:13-2:10)IV. Suffering as a Witness to Jesus (2:11-4:11)V. Suffering & Future Hope (4:12-5:9)We have a new family identity that propels us to bear witness to a living hope that leads us to live such good lives that we willingly suffer for his glory in light of our glorious future.We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live such a good life that it demands a gospel explanation.We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live like no one else because we will live like no one else in the future We have a new family identity & future hope that compels us to live a life that includes suffering but that leads to glory—for God and us.HELMSLife is hard even for Christians.3 biblical correctives for why and how to respond to life's difficulties.God's plan for his followers: “We are (therefore, live as) the elect (chosen) exiles of the dispersion (scattering).”So, Peter calls these scattered Christians to live as God's chosen exiles/strangers/foreigners/sojourners with unshakable hope because of you great salvation through Jesus Christ. (My summary)Peter's inversion theme: “the way up comes by going down.”Suffering always proceeds glory. Christ exemplified this.“Peter begins his letter with these 2 seemingly incompatible truths:Our status in Christ ANDOur sufferings on earth.”Questions answered by Peter:How are Christians supposed to bear witness to Christ's glory?How are we to live in the wilderness world?Peter's answers to these questions center on the word “conduct” or “live” and it's various forms.Be holy (1:15)live out (1:17)Way of life (1:18)Live such good lives (2:12)Behavior (3:1)Your lives (3:2)Behavior (3:16)“Theme of Christian identity and conduct in light of a settled hope.”Turning point 2:11-12Peter continues to encourage through examples and exhortation.He appeals specifically to elders before the community.“God has Established our salvation,Given us our identity,Conformed our present-day calling,Secured our future inheritance by means of an inverted irony—namely, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Therefore, just as the exaltation of Jesus followed a season of humiliation, so too our share in his eternal glory will appear after we have learned to follow in his true and gracious ways.”Subtitle? How to live as God's fireproof children in this dumpster fire world.“We are the elect exiles of the dispersion.”As God's chosen, I am encouraged and reminded of his great love for me. And I need this as I live in this broken world.Elect = chosen, those whom God lovesIsrael was sent into exile by God because of their presumptuous sin. Exiles of a different sort? Peter doesn't mean it wrt Israel's ancient sin—or their own—for they were living faithful and fruitful lives at this time. Peter means this is simply “the normative state of any follower of Jesus, so long as he or she remains in this world.”CS Lewis quote, p. 26SchreinerOUTLINE OF 1 PETER1 Opening (1:1-2)2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)1 Opening (1:1-2)2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)3 Living as Exiles to Bring Glory to God in a Hostile World (2:11-4:11)3.1 The Christian Life as a Battle and Witness (2:11-12)3.2 Testifying to the Gospel in the Social Order (2:13-3:12)3.3 Responding in a Godly Way to Suffering (3:13-4:11)4 Persevering as Exiles in Suffering (4:12-5:11)4.1 Suffer Joyfully in Accord with God's Will (4:12-19)4.2 Exhortations to Elders and the Community (5:1-11)5 Concluding Words (5:12-14)SECTION OUTLINE2 Called to Salvation as Exiles (1:3-2:10)2.1 Praise for Salvation (1:3-12)2.1.1 A Promised Inheritance (1:3-5)2.1.2 Result: Joy in Suffering (1:6-9)2.1.3 The Privilege of Revelation (1:10-12)2.2 The Future Inheritance as an Incentive to Holiness (1:13-21)2.2.1 Setting One's Hope on the Inheritance (1:13-16)2.2.2 A Call to Fear (1:17-21)2.3 Living as the New People of God (1:22-2:10)2.3.1 A Call to Love (1:22-25)2.3.2 Longing for the Pure Milk (2:1-3)2.3.3 The Living Stone and Living Stones (2:4-10)Schreiner is thankful to God who has reminded him through 1, 2 Peter, & Jude of our “Unshakable hope in Christ, Of the grace poured out on his people, and Of the call to live holy and beautiful lives for the glory of his name.”1 Peter “sets forth what it means to be Christians in a hostile world, in a world where Christians were persecuted for their faith…”Though “spiritual exiles” “recipients of a great salvation” “gave them a future hope and inheritance” “They were homeless spiritually, but they were also bound for a home and an inheritance from which they would never be displaced.”“As believers, most lived on the underside of society—under:the authority of RomeUnbelieving and cruel mastersUnbelieving husbandsThey suffered both in:Every day lifeFrom imperial authority”IDENTITY“People of God” “The Lord's new temple” “priests”“They are exhorted not to live in fear of human beings but in fear of the Lord, and such fear, paradoxically, would give them confidence and hope.”“Called to suffer (like Jesus) but suffering characterized by hope.”“Obedient children”“Their lives would demonstrate that they belonged to another king and another kingdom.”“God's chose race” “royal priesthood” “holy nation”PURPOSE“To encourage believers to persevere in their suffering as exiles and strangers because of their future eternal reward in Christ. They demonstrate their hope in this future by standing firm despite injustice and persecution by living holy, blameless lives submitting to their authorities with patient endurance. This shows their belief that this is temporary and that they are citizens of another kingdom and see Jesus as their Lord and king.MAIN REFERENCES USED“1 - 2 Peter and Jude,” by David Helm, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes“1 & 2 Peter ” by RC Sproul“1 & 2 Peter and Jude” by Thomas Schreiner“The Message of 1 Peter” by Edmund Clowney“Look at the Book” by John Piper, https://www.desiringgod.org/labs/we-cannot-love-without-hope “The Visual Word,” Patrick Schreiner“1 Peter: A living hope in Christ”, Jen Wilkin Bible study“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Outline Bible, D Willmington NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org“The Bible in One Year 2023 with Nicky Gumbel” bible reading plan on YouVersion appChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

Christian Life Resources recently hosted our 40th anniversary National Convention. Today on the podcast, Christa sits down with three of the speakers: Dr. Caitlyn Trader, Director of Bioethics at Wisconsin Right to Life; Gracie Skogman, Legislative and PAC Director of Wisconsin Right to Life; and Tracy Scheffler, Founder of 5-Stones Dodge County. Join them as they discuss their personal stories and their vital roles in the pro-life movement.“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14In this episode, you will learn:What Christians can do to help cultivate a culture of life.How to equip women who are being targeted when they are most vulnerable.Ways to get involved with protecting ALL life.Show  notes: Wisconsin Right to Life: wrtl.org5 Stones: 5-stones.orgSupport the show

JESUS PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENCE MAKERSThe Jesus People – Part 4Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartOctober 15, 2023#realspringcreekchurch #thejesuspeople #jesuspeoplearedifferencemakers #jesuspeopleareopposed #jesuspeoplearefilled #jesuspeopleareempowered #jesus #father #god #holyspirit #spirit #spiritfilled #presence #church #wearethechurch #opposed #armorofgod #war #battle #victory #jesuspeople #differencemakers #saltoftheearth #salt #salty Jesus once gave a simple but powerful illustration of the difference His followers would make in the world. He said, “You are the salt of the Earth.” This weekend, discover how “salty” believers have changed and are changing the world.SERIES: The Jesus PeopleIn the late 60s and early 70s, a counter-cultural Christian movement began in California among young people called the Jesus People. It happened at the height of the sexual revolution and drug culture of the time, young people sincerely hungered for the supernatural and were finding it in Jesus even when they couldn't find it in the institutional church. In this series, we want to ask the question, "What does it mean to be the Jesus People today in a world where people seem to have lost their way and find the institutional church irrelevant?"DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Everyone at some point in their life wants to make a difference. In what ways do you hope your life has made a difference? Why do some people give up on this dream? What would you say to someone who is discouraged or feels like they have nothing to contribute? 2. Pastor Keith talked about three qualities of salt; it preserves, it purifies and it seasons. Likely, Jesus had all three ideas in mind when comparing His followers to salt. How do believers best influence the brokenness of our world today? What really works? What repels people? What Christians have you known who are great examples of “salty” believers – who embody and live out a compelling, life-giving alternative to the systems of this world? 3. Pastor Keith gave several examples of “salty” difference makers who were all Christ followers. What stood out most to you in these stories? How is your life like them or unlike them? In what ways might God use your own story, struggles, and life learnings to be a blessing to others? 4. The Bystander Effect is a very real social phenomenon that occurs when people are in a group and something happens that requires action. Most people assume others will respond to the call for help, action, or decision. This happens in church all the time. Because there are so many who hear the same message, we assume others will step up and volunteer, others will sacrifice and help with a financial need, or others will do something about a challenging message – but we never think of someone as ourselves. Unless and until we understand the bystander effect, we will effectively tune out challenges intended for us personally by deflecting responsibility onto others. Has this ever happened to you? What can you do to safeguard against it? How will you apply this message today?

How can church leaders help their churches respond to the terror attacks in Israel? How can Christians stand with the Jewish community in response? In this episode of In:Dependence, Phil Topham (FIEC Executive Director), Adrian Reynolds (FIEC Head of National Ministries), and John Stevens (FIEC National Director) discuss some of the stories in the news over the past fortnight. 00:00 - Terror attacks in Israel 04:17 - Standing with the Jewish community 10:05 - Responding at church on Sunday 18:27 - Prayer for peace and justice 23:30 - Preaching and singing appropriately 25:16 - UCCF investigation 27:10 - FIEC activities in Scotland and with EA Show notes Israel-Hamas war: 500 children among dead in Gaza - as US says Hamas attack was like 'ten 9/11s' (news.sky.com) David Baddiel: Jews Don't Count (channel4.com) Israel's 9/11: The Need for Moral Clarity (thegospelcoalition.org) What Christians need to know about antisemitism in Britain (premierchristianity.com) Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (cmj.org.uk) Statement from the Trustees of UCCF (uccf.org.uk) You can watch a video of this episode and get more resources for church leaders on the FIEC website. About In:Dependence: In:Dependence is FIEC's official podcast, where you'll hear teaching and resources for church leaders from the FIEC Ministry Team and guests from FIEC churches and partners. You can access video podcasts by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the FIEC YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. About FIEC: We are ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠a fellowship of Independent churches⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with members of the family across England, Scotland and Wales. Our mission is to see those Independent churches working together with a big vision: to reach Britain for Christ. Being part of FIEC links you to a growing number of Independent evangelical churches and there are now more than 50,000 people who are part of churches affiliated to FIEC. Follow FIEC on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

On today's Equipping You in Grace show, Dave talks with Joey Tomlinson about Jonathan Edwards's resolutions what they are and how they can help Christians today, and how Edwards' work can help the Church face the challenges of Bethel and an entertainment-based church culture, along with his new book, Serious Joy: Reflections and Devotions on Jonathan Edwards' Seventy Resolutions (Founders Press, 2023)What you'll hear in this episodeWhat Edwards resolutions aimed to do.How Edwards resolutions can help Christians today.How Edwards was not only a brilliant theologian, but a great pastor.What Christians can learn from Edwards commitment to Scripture.The relationship between a growing knowledge of Scripture and humility.How our understanding of Scripture should also affect the experience of our lives.How Edwards' understanding of religious affections can help the Church to face the challenges of Bethel and an entertainment church-based culture.How Edwards can help Christians to deal with their emotions.About the GuestJoey Tomlinson (DMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a husband, father, and pastor at a local church in Newport News, Virginia. He blogs regularly on broadoakpiety.org and hosts a weekly podcast called The Broad Oak Piety Podcast with another local pastor in the community.Subscribing, sharing, and your feedbackYou can subscribe to Equipping You in Grace via iTunes, Google Play, or your favorite podcast catcher. If you like what you've heard, please consider leaving a rating and share it with your friends (it takes only takes a second and will go a long way to helping other people find the show). You can also connect with me on Twitter at @davejjenkins, on Facebook, or via email to share your feedback.Thank you for listening to this episode of Equipping You in Grace.

What Christians see as a miracle god I see as an evil god. They would be so much better off by never mentioning miracles again.

What Christians are to believe and how those beliefs translate into actions have been the source of personal anxiety at a minimum and social conflict at its worst. The human desire for structure and clarity has led many Christians to develop theologies that fear difficult questions and demand blind assent. However, a mature theology should dare to raise questions on our quest for a deeper understanding of the Divine. www.TheLoftLA.org

(sponsored content) Find out  more about the Colson Fellows program that Michael mentions on this episode by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/ColsonFellows2023  Have you found yourself wondering what on earth has happened to western culture? How did it become such a crazy, immoral society? But more importantly, have you wondered what (if anything) individual Christ-followers like yourself can DO to stem the tide of the rising evil that we see all around us? As a Morning Mindset listener, I suspect you have asked that last question and for that reason, I'm excited to present an educational opportunity to you that I know you'll appreciate and am confident will equip you to BE a difference maker for the Kingdom of God. This BONUS EPISODE features Michael Craven, Vice President, Equipping & Mobilization at Colson Center for Christian Worldview. As you'll hear in our conversation, Michael's passion is to equip people like you and me to effectively and powerfully answer the culture's many objections to the Christian faith and not only win arguments, but win the culture. Michael's hope and optimism resonated with me deeply and I'm sure it will for you as well. What you'll hear in this conversation [2:06] What's happened in our culture and the Church's painful response. [9:59] How Jesus drew Michael Craven to Himself. [16:38] Why Christians should be the most outrageous and happy people in the world. [20:00] How loving your neighbor has been redefined, for their harm. [26:28] What Christians should do if they are overwhelmed by the culture's craziness. [30:29] Why Micheal is super optimistic about the church in America. [32:06] How the Colson Fellows program can fill in the gaps for the average Christian. [41:40] How you can participate in the Colson Fellows program. [43:34] Stories of how the Colson Fellowship has impacted the lives of participants. [46:36] Why we might be living in the most exciting times in the history of the church. Find out  more about the Colson Fellows program that Michael mentions on this episode by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/ColsonFellows2023   

Today we are sitting down with Carlos Whittaker and discussing everything from how he has used Instagram to give away over $2 mil to random people, to how social media algorithms are tearing us apart, to his brand new book called How to Human. Carlos is a great writer, storyteller, and communicator and this book is more important than ever as we live in such a divided society. This book shows how to do it right, so grab a copy here: https://amzn.to/3XVCOot. And while you are at it, follow Carlos on Instagram: @loswhit You can watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel   These are a few of the topics we cover: What social media sites are you following? Who are you listening to? How screen time affects your brain How can we be healthy when it comes to technology Are you generous? How do you define generosity? Can you be addicted to giving? What Christians should be doing that the government is currently doing How to know where you should give Jesus was always gave like this You don't have to wait to have a lot of money to give People are desperate to be seen… by us! Giving is not only biblical, but spiritual   If you haven't checked out our best-selling book Simple Money, Rich Life we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 300 5-star reviews on Amazon and is best described as “a money book for people who don't read money books.” You can take it for a test drive for FREE at SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.  

Narration from Life Application Study Bible. NLT. Tyndale. Christ is Supreme. Freedom from Rules and New Life in Christ. What Christians should do- Living the New Life. Instructions for Christian Households. An encouragement for Prayer.

Ordained minister, Dennis Hall, and his guest Justin Bohner, Assistant Pastor, First Baptist Church, Highlands, North Carolina discuss the challenges of sharing the Christian faith with Generation Z, those under 30 years old. They begin by acknowledging that in the last election cycle there was a large turnout of young voters with the majority supporting candidates with pro-abortion, pro-transgenderism, pro – LGBTQ, pro–critical race theory, and socialism views. They discussed the characteristics of today's society that has led to a culture where anything goes, and the moral compass does not exist for many. What Christians think is true and reasonable appears to be sheer madness to increasing numbers of our population. They point out that Generation Z struggles with these questions: Why am I here? Why does mathematics work? What is the meaning of life? If the universe had a beginning, who created it? Why are the physical constraints in the universe so finely tuned to allow the possibility of complex life forms? Why do humans have a moral sense? What happens when we die? They conclude with the admonition that God exists and is a personal infinite God. You should know who you are and know that a personal God is there for you. You are not surrounded by mere mass and energy particles. When you accept Christ as your Savior, even though it will not be perfect In this life, your moment-by-moment personal relationship with Jesus will gradually transform you.

Mark 15. We talk about WHAT Christians should do a lot. We should love God, love others like we love ourselves, generously give, graciously forgive, consistently pursue holiness and always remain humble. But WHY? WHY should we live that way? The Gospel is why. In this message we look at what Jesus went through for our sake and why it makes Him worthy of our worship.For upcoming events and important announcements at Skyline, visit our Facebook page for the latest details!If you'd like to check out more resources, get to know Skyline Church, or donate to our ministry and missions please visit skyline.church. Don't forget to leave us a review and subscribe to have our Sunday message downloaded straight to your phone each week!

Rob and Vinnie interview two notable NT scholars: Gary Burge and Darrell Bock. And discuss Rom 9-11 and what Paul has to say about the Jewish people. Do the Jews still have a role in God's plan? Does the New Covenant mean that everything is fulfilled by Jesus including the promise of Land?  For more insights into this text and what the Bible says about Israel and the land see: (Remember that we encourage everyone to use Hearts and Minds Bookstore to purchase your books)  Rob's book: These Brothers of Mine: a biblical theology of Land and Family and a response to Christian Zionism Gary Burge's book: Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians are not being told about Israel and the Palestinians Darrell's book: The People, the Land, and the Future of Israel: Israel and the Jewish People in the Plan of God  To see all of Gary's books follow this link To see all of Darrell's books follow this link Please "follow" this podcast and give a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your review will go a long way towards helping others find this podcast. Then share it with others so that we can get the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom to more people! We just want to say thank you for listening in and supporting the work of determinetruth. If you have any questions that you would like us to address, we would love to hear them. Use the contact page on Determinetruth.com  If you have been blessed by these episodes, we want to encourage you to make sure you follow this podcast, and share it with others, and post a review. By posting a review you make it easier for others find the podcast on google searches.    NB: our goal is to keep these episodes free of charge. I do not intend to ever hide them behind a paywall. I can only do this if those of you who have been blessed by them and can afford to give ($5, $10, $25, or more/month) do so. You can give a tax-deductible contribution by following this link.

What Christians are you close to that you are not close to?  Christ ties us from a distance.  Subscribe to the Christ for Disciplers Podcast to learn more...

Suffering is an indelible mark of Christianity. It is the path that leads to future glory. But that does not mean it is easy to endure suffering. What Christians need in this world is hope, which comes from fixing their eyes on the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will right every wrong and execute perfect justice and righteousness.

Konrad catches up with longtime friend of the show Peter Rollins in his home town of Belfast Northern Ireland after Pete's yearly event called 'Wake'. - The God you REALLY believe in - Christians don't take the death of God seriously - Religion of instagram - How to be happy - What is 'sin' - What is 'grace' - The problem with Hillsong - Why we are all religion - What Christians really believe - What is Pyro Theology Connect with Peter https://peterrollins.com Support the show get access to bonus content https://ideasdigest.supercast.com/ Connect with us Tune in to our live podcast recordings on instagram https://www.instagram.com/ideasdigest/ https://twitter.com/ideas_digest Email: Ideasdigest@gmail.com Music: Lawson Hull https://www.instagram.com/lawsonhull/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/218354K2Ph7ewCzbVvGe0K

The Deep End S5E30 | Pride parade not safe. What Christians should do and untold facts from a doctor by Tim Hatch

On June 25, 1967 the Beatles sang “All You Need is Love” in front of a worldwide audience. This broadcast was, in fact, the first worldwide satellite broadcast. With a multitude of nations singing along and a lengthy list of celebrities joining in, John Lennon and the Beatles desired to spread a very specific message.…… Continue reading Romans 13:8-14 – What Christians ‘Owe’ Society

So today's passage, which you just heard read — Galatians Chapter 5, verses 16–26 — includes some amazing facts about the Holy Spirit, and my goal in this sermon is to tell you seven of them. I wanna tell you seven facts about the Holy Spirit so that you might have more of his power in your life, and so that we might have more of his power in our church. And if you just heard me say that I have a seven-point sermon, you heard me right. We should get started. Let's pray:Father, this morning I want to preach about your Holy Spirit, and I want us to hear about your Holy Spirit, in the power of your Holy Spirit. We ask for his power in Jesus's name, amen. Okay, for point #1, I want to start with caveat. It's simply that: 1. The Spirit-filled life is the Christian life. And the reason I want to start here is because I don't want to give the impression that anything we're talking about today is some kind of far-fetched, super-spiritual, unrealistic ideal. It's not. There are four verbs in this passage related to the Holy Spirit:Paul commands us to “walk by the Spirit” (verse 16)He says we are “led by the Spirit” (verse 18);He says we “live by the Spirit” (verse 25)Hey says we “keep in step with the Spirit” (also verse 25)And this walking and living and being led by the Spirit, and this keeping in step with the Spirit, all of that is what makes a life that is filled by the Spirit. What Paul describes here could be summed up as the Spirit-filled life. And we shouldn't think of the Spirit-filled life as something way out there that we hope to reach one day if we just work hard enough! But actually the Spirit-filled life is the life that is yours by faith in Jesus Christ right now. To be a Christian is to have the Holy Spirit; and to live the Christian life is to live by the Spirit. So I want to be clear that this passage is for every single one of us in here who trust in Jesus, no matter where you are in your faith. This is about the Christian life. #1: The Spirit-filled life is the Christian life.2. The Holy Spirit empowers the church to walk the road of love. I want you to see the connection between verse 16 and the verses that come before it, which we looked at last week. Last week we talked about the dichotomy that emerges in Chapter 5. It's like there are two different roads — the road of strife and the road of love — and we, as the church, must choose the road of love. We walk down the road of love. We, through love, serve one another. But HOW do we do that? How actually do we love others? The answer is the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 16:Verse 16 starts with the little phrase “But I say,” and when Paul uses this phrase it carries the idea of more like “This is what I'm saying!” Paul uses this phrase to emphasize something he's about to say in relation to what he's said before it. So think back to last week. I want you to hear how this is all connected. Last week, to paraphrase Paul, he says, Don't walk down the road of strife, but walk down the road of love —What I'm saying is this: walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Did you hear that? Verse 16 explains what came before it. How we walk down the road of love is to walk by the Spirit. Our passage this week continues the dichotomy that emerged last week, except now we're not looking at two roads, but two ways: the flesh or the Spirit. The road of strife and dissension and conflict is traveled by the flesh; but if we're going to walk down the road of love, it's going to be by the Spirit … who produces the fruit we see in verse 22. But for now I just want you to see the connection between this week and last week. All that we talked about last week concerning the road of love — not indulging the flesh, through love serving others, embracing the depths of love — all of that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers the church to walk the road of love. 3. The Holy Spirit empowers individuals for the corporate good. Now, I'm basically gonna skip this point for the sake of time and because I wrote a letter to you about this on Friday, in the email. (So far less than 45% of you have read it, so go check that out.) But in short, we need to know that when Paul talks about the struggle between the Spirit and the flesh, he's talking about a struggle in the individual members of the whole church. We each as individuals must battle our flesh and fight our sin, and when we do that effects good for the whole church. The Holy Spirit empowers individual members for the good of the corporate body.4. The Holy Spirit makes evident in us a deep, historical struggle.Verse 17:For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep YOU from doing the things YOU want to do.So there's a struggle here between the Spirit and the flesh, and before we keep going let me explain a little bit more about what the word “flesh” means. I realize the word “flesh” is kinda like Christian jargon. If a small group of us as Christians got together today and someone said, “I'm really battling my flesh,” we'd all get what that person means; but if you say that same sentence tomorrow in a work-meeting, people will probably recommend you see a dermatologist. What Christians shaped by the Bible mean by “flesh” is not what most people mean, so then what do we mean? When Paul uses the word “flesh,” what's he saying?Well, ultimately the context has to determine the meaning. … And sometimes the word “flesh” can just refer to physical existence in this life. This is how Paul used the word in Galatians 2:20. He says: “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God…” Paul is talking about his physical life in this world; “flesh” means his bodily life here. But then there are other times when Paul uses the word “flesh” to mean our sinful, fallen nature — that's what he means in Galatians 5, and that's how we use the word “flesh” most of the time. Our flesh is our sinful nature, and this is actually part of a central theme in all of Paul's letters.This is a super dense topic; there are several big books written about this, but I'm gonna try to explain it to you in about five minutes, okay?So I need you to track with me here … or bear with me here.Central to Paul's TheologyIt's important that we understand that “the flesh as sinful nature” — and the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh — that is fundamentally a historical conflict.The Bible teaches us that this world, because of Adam's sin, is fallen. The world is broken and under a curse, and we as humans are also broken and under a curse. We are sinners. We are part of this fallen world, under Adam. Well, when Jesus came to save us, he came into this world as the true and better Adam. Jesus came to create a new humanity for a new world — and that new world is his kingdom that will ultimately be experienced in the new creation to come. So:in Adam you have fallen humanity in the order of the old world. then in Jesus you have new humanity in the order of the new world. The old world is current, the new world is future … Except that when Jesus was crucified and then raised from the dead, that's when the power of the old world was broken, and the power and life of the new world invaded this old world. Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended, and he sent his Holy Spirit to fill his people. And the Holy Spirit is the power and life of the new creation at work in this old creation. The Holy Spirit is the resurrection power of Jesus here now — and WHERE IS HE here now? IN YOU.The Holy Spirit is in you who trust in Jesus. So the new world, the new creation, has overlapped into this current world, and the overlap is happening in us. The Holy Spirit makes us new creatures in Christ so that we are no longer under the old humanity that's of the old world; but now we are under the new humanity that's of the new world.That's what Paul is saying in verse 18 when he says, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” The law was part of the old age. It was part of the order of the old world. Same thing in verse 24. Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit and then he says “against such things there is no law.” He means in our new humanity, under the order of this new world, we're not governed by the law and its demands, but we are led by the Spirit.Now we belong to Jesus. Through faith in Jesus we are declared righteous by God; we are saved from the wrath to come; we have a bright and glorious future.Not Yet PerfectedBut here's the thing: we still live in this old world for now, in these old bodies. We have our flesh — our sinful, fallen nature.We are spiritually resurrected and made new, but we are not yet perfected — because our full, consummated redemption will be the redemption of our bodies at the end-time resurrection when Jesus returns and makes all things new.Until then, there's the overlap. There's a struggle. The struggle, fundamentally, is historical. It's a struggle between the new creation and the old creation — there are two worlds, two humanities, in conflict; the old is passing away, the new is taking over — and that struggle gets played out mainly in us.The struggle in you — the struggle in us — between the Spirit and the flesh is actually the frontlines of a deep, historical, cosmic struggle between the new creation and the old. And I just think that's something we should know. Because we've all felt the conflict here. Now you know where it's coming from. This is central to Paul's theology: The Holy Spirit makes evident in us a deep, historical struggle.5. The Holy Spirit is our answer to the flesh. So there is a deep, historical struggle going on here, but where the rubber meets the road for us, personally, is that we still have the capacity to sin, and we still do sin. Although we are new creatures in Christ, although we are part of a new humanity in Christ, there are still are times when we we THINK and/or THINK and/or DO things that are sinful. Sometimes we think or speak or do wrong.Anybody have any idea what I'm talking about? We all get this. There's a conflict in here:The desires of the sinful nature in me, verse 17, are against the desires of the Holy Spirit in me;and the desires of the Holy Spirit in me are against the desires of the sinful nature in me;— because they are opposed to each other. The Holy Spirit and my flesh are each trying to hinder the other.That's the struggle, and put this way, it might sound like the Spirit and the flesh are just trading punches. We might think that the Spirit and flesh just go back and forth with even hits.But that's not actually what Paul says. Look at verse 16. Now verse 17 is describing the struggle, but it's actually verse 16 that tells us the answer to the struggle. Because of this struggle in verse 17 — because this struggle exists — Paul says before it in verse 16: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will by no means gratify the desires of the flesh.”The answer to this struggle — the way that we're not just stuck in a back and forth battle — is that we can actually walk by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit can lead us. Paul says “Walk by the Spirit” and then that comes with the promise: “and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”These words are important: Notice that Paul doesn't say the sinful flesh will disappear. The flesh is still there, and it still has its desires, but if you walk by the Spirit you will not gratify those desires. You will not give in, as it were. And Paul means that in the strongest possible terms. This is an emphatic negation. In the original, it's like Paul is saying you most certainly, absolutely will not!Paul says, Hey, look, there's a struggle in each of us. And it's the struggle of two worlds colliding. It's a deep, historical struggle. But, it's not an even match. If you walk by the Holy Spirit, you will absolutely not gratify the desires of your sinful flesh. Yes, there's a struggle, but the Holy Spirit is the answer to the struggle!What this means for us as Christians, practically, is that when it comes to our struggle against the flesh, it's not like the outcome is still undecided on who wins. It's not like we need something else, or we're waiting for something else. We have the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the answer to the flesh. And #6 …6. The Holy Spirit produces in us a new character.So the Holy Spirit is not just holding back our flesh, but actually, the Holy Spirit is applying his new creation power in our lives. He is effecting new qualities to emerge in our character, called the fruit of the Spirit. Paul names: love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.And while it's true that there are certain personalities that might correlate with certain of these fruit, it's important that we know the fruit of the Spirit are not personality traits. These are not natural behaviors. That list of natural behaviors in verses 19–21. Paul calls that list the works of the flesh, and it's really just a sampling of the kinds of sins in the world. We know it's not an exhaustive list because at the end of the list in verse 21 Paul says “and things like these.” So there's a lot of sin in the world, from sexual immorality to jealousy, from sorcery to division, from orgies to envy and more — and any one of these sins, Paul warns us, will condemn you to hell.But the fruit of the Spirit, that's something very different. The Spirit's activity and power in our lives actually changes our character, like, verse 22:Love, joy, and peace — There's the new capacity to truly love. At the foundation it's always love for God because he first loved us, and then it's to love others, and loving others is what Paul has in mind here. And he mentions love first, I think, because it's the source for all the other fruit. Love is the true non-negotiable.And then we have this joy that anchors us. Joy doesn't mean that everything is pie-in-the-sky, but it means that we have a glad contentment that knows, no matter what, God is for me.And peace — that's like the melody of our souls, because we're not hustling anymore. We're not starving for something out there, because we know in Christ we're whole.In verse 22 there's also patience, kindness, and goodness — Patience includes forbearance and long-suffering, but I think's more than that. Patience doesn't just mean that we put up with stuff, but it means we have such a confidence in God that we don't try to do God's work for him. We know how to wait.Kindness — do you say hey to people when you pass them? Do you smile at other human beings? Kindness means you have a friendly heart. And no, again, this is not a personality trait; it's the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Holy Spirit produces in us a disposition that is warm toward other people.Goodness — the word goodness here is the idea of generosity. It means you give. It means your first impulse is not to grip down and say “Mine” but it's to say, “There.”There's also in verses 22 and 23 faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — Faithfulness means you are reliable and consistent, not just in your discipleship, but in your relationships;Gentleness is humility. It means you're not rushing into the room swinging your elbows, but you're attuned to the people who are around you and to the moments you encounter.Self-control is last, I think, because it's like the command center for all the other fruit. Self-control is how you wisely harvest and manifest the different fruit at the time that matters. That's important, right?Don't think of the fruit of the Spirit as character that's random and unpredictable — we don't sit back and think: I really hope I get a patience apple today! That's not how it works. We don't just passively wait for the fruit to show up, but we want it and we're praying for it. We are passive in the sense that the Spirit produces the fruit, but we're also active in that we harvest the fruit and use it and show it. As the fruit grows in us, we grow in the fruit. And that brings us to verses 24–25, and to the seventh and final point.7. The Holy Spirit applies to us the power of the cross.Verse 24:And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.Have y'all ever heard people talk about “life verses” before? The idea is that there's a verse or a statement in the Bible that's so clear and helpful about God or the Christian life that you take the verse, memorize it, and come back to again and again; it becomes kind of like a banner over your life. The Book of Galatians has several verses that could be that. We looked at Galatians 2:20 several weeks ago. Paul says:I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life that I now life in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Think about that for the next 50 years! There's also Galatians 6:14, which we're gonna look at on Easter Sunday. This book has several great, potential “life verses,” and I think Galatians 5:24–25 could be one.What Paul says here in these two verses basically encapsulates the effect of the gospel in our lives. Look at this:Your Life-Change MomentFirst, notice how verses 24–25 are connected to the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22–23. Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit, and when he says: “against such things there is no law.” Remember he's saying that the fruit of the Spirit are part of a different kind of living. Like we've talked about, they're part of a new world, not the old world. And then verse 24 comes next as an explanation. It's like Paul is saying:Hey, the fruit of the Spirit is not part of the old way of life (they're not of the flesh) but they're part of the new way of life (they're of the Spirit) — what I mean is that those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh …Paul is saying, the reason, Christian, you bear the fruit of the Spirit and not the works of the flesh, is because the flesh has been crucified. The way verses 22–23 are possible is because verse 24 has happened. Paul means here precisely what he said in Galatians 2:20. The flesh, the “old you,” was crucified with Christ. Because by faith you are united to Jesus, when he died on the cross your old self died with him. And that is actually what changed your life. Behold the CrossI love to hear the stories of God's work in people's lives. I love testimonies. Because everybody who trusts in Jesus has some story of how it happened. Somehow, there was a conversion, whether it was gradual or dramatic. At some point every Christian went from not believing to believing, and with that, oftentimes, there's life-change. We were doing this thing or operating that way, but now, because of Jesus, we have changed. That's why it's called conversion, because there's a change. And I love those stories.Well this morning, I wanna suggest to you that the real life-change moment for you, Christian — though you come to experience it today — the real life-change moment happened to you two-thousand years ago on a Roman cross when Jesus died in your place. That is what makes the difference in your life. See, your conversion, your trusting in Jesus, your being united to Jesus by faith, what's happening there is that Holy Spirit is opening your eyes and giving you new life to embrace what Jesus has already done for you! Our old self was crucified at the cross of Christ, and now we live by the Spirit who makes us understand the cross of Christ! Galatians 5:24–25 is repeating Galatians 2:20 but from the perspective of the Holy Spirit's work.The main work of the Holy Spirit in your life is to make you see the glory of Jesus. The Holy Spirit makes you look at the cross and see there the wisdom of God and the power of God and love of God. The Holy Spirit makes you look at the cross and say, “Because of that, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” And Christ lives in me — Christ lives in you — by the Holy Spirit who makes the cross of Christ wonderful to us. That's what living in the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit is about. The Holy Spirit applies to us the power of the cross — which is where, Christian, your life was changed. The cross is your new-life origin story. Which means this: the Spirit-filled life is the cross-centered life. Which means: the Spirit-filled life is the cross-centered life is the Christian life.Church, I want you to know that the cross of Jesus Christ is your everything. Jesus died for you. He died for your sins. He took God's wrath in your place. The old you is no more. The Holy Spirit tells us the cross is where your new life begins.That's what we remember here at the Table.The TableAll that we've been talking about really does lead to this moment.Because this morning as we receive the bread and cup, I want to invite you to glory in the cross of Christ. We're gonna sing the song “There Is a Fountain,” which is a song that was written 250 years ago to help us revel in the cross. And if you do, if the cross is your hope, if you trust in Jesus, this bread and cup is for you. Take and eat and drink, and, by the Holy Spirit, behold the wonder of the cross.

In his book, “The Triumph of Christianity,” (which, by the way was one of Chuck Colson's favorite books) historian Rodney Stark describes the Roman world of that first Christmas Eve. The gods, Stark writes, “were everywhere and thought to be undependable.” Apart from “some magical powers” and “perhaps the gift of immortality,” there was little to distinguish them from their human worshippers: “they ate, drank, loved, envied, fornicated, cheated, lied and otherwise set morally ‘unedifying examples.'” And, not surprisingly, they didn't care one bit about those who worshipped them. All they wanted was to be propitiated. In other words, Christ entered into a culture in which the gods of the age were not worthy of worship. And Roman society was just as oppressive and undependable as its gods. For most people, life in the empire's cities could be fairly described, to borrow a phrase from philosopher Thomas Hobbes, as “nasty, poor, solitary, brutish, and short.” This was world into which Christianity was born. And still Christianity triumphed, not least of which because it offered an alternative to the oppression of Roman society.  It offered another way than the dead-end of paganism, a way so compelling that it outweighed the obvious social disadvantages of being identified as a Christian. As Stark writes, “in the midst of the squalor, misery, illness, and anonymity of ancient cities, Christianity offered an island of mercy and security.” I hope that when you hear Stark's words, you realize that we also have something far more compelling to offer our contemporaries as well. Many of our contemporaries also worship deities that are undependable and scarcely distinguishable from their worshippers. The Oxford English Dictionary defines “worship” as “the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity.” Worship transforms the worshipper. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “the Gods we worship write their names on our faces; be sure of that . . . thus, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping we are becoming.” Emerson wrote that without even foreseeing the age of “social media,” in which we increasingly worship what we've become or at least what we imagine ourselves to be. Many pages on Facebook and Instagram can, with almost no exaggeration, be called “shrines.” Our deities are as much of a dead end as the pagan gods of Rome. And like all idol worship, self-worship can be a lonely activity. Just like the Greek gods, who didn't play well together, today's pagans are far from anonymous, but just as isolated as their ancient predecessors. A 2011 Cornell study found that the average American has only two “good friends.” What Christians today have to offer is remarkably similar to what the early Christians had to offer: what Stark called an “intense community,” a place where, instead of being surrounded by strangers, they are surrounded by “brothers and sisters in Christ.” A place that when the hard times come, as inevitably they will, “there [are] people who care -- there are people who have the distinct responsibility to care.” Stated succinctly, what Christians have to offer is a better way of being human than anything currently offered in contemporary society. That's why, despite the often-distressing state of our culture, I remain hopeful. The Christian alternative is just as desperately needed today as when the early Church offered it to the Romans. Like them, we must proclaim and embody that alternative. And if we do, it could be another Christmas Eve all over again. And friends, as we prepare to gather with our own friends and family to exchange gifts and celebrate the light of Christ coming into this world, I would ask you remember BreakPoint and the Colson Center in your year-end giving. Thank you so much. And have a very merry Christmas.