The PACT Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Jason, Tim and Adam think out loud for the benefit and growth of the local church member on the go, discussing ethics, apologetics, theology and how to apply God's Word to our everyday lives.
What is the doctrine of mortification? Why is phrase be killing sin instead of something “lighter?” What does it mean that sin could be killing us as a christian if we’re not killing it? What does it look like to be killing sin? What are the tools to do that? What happens if we pray for God to take away our sin and he doesn’t?
The Mortification of Sin - John Owens: https://a.co/d/6zolQi4
Is suicide a sin? Why is it a sin if it is? Is suicide selfish? Is there any legitimate justification for someone taking their own life? Can suffering serve a purpose? Is it possible for a Christian to commit suicide? How do we show the love of Christ to those who might be struggling with depression and/or suicide? Can taking medication be a good idea? How does the gospel speak to suicide?
Is there is a significance in the different names of hell, hades, Sheol, etc. Is hell eternal? Do people in hell have a repentant heart? Are there different levels of punishment in hell? what is hell like? How bad is hell? Will people in hell remember life on earth? Can Adam pronounce annihilationism correctly?
Will we know each other in heaven? Are you married in heaven? Will there be food in heaven? Is there a difference between heaven now and heaven in the future? Is the whole earth going to burn and cease to exist or is just going to be burned in a purifying fire as we continue to walk this earth? Are heaven and earth different at the end of the world? What will be doing with our time in heaven? Does worship in heaven mean a never ending Sunday morning worship service? Will we remember our sin in heaven?
Pact Pick: What Happens When We Die by Chris Morphew - https://a.co/d/8yL72en
What does my education have to do with my faith? How is it that we become educated? What is the right way to think about education? Is it useless to study calculus if you never use it? Is the devil in the details or is it God that is in the details? How do we love The Lord with our minds? What does Pastor Tim have a minor in? How do we utilize our mind to love God? When does our education end?
The end for which God created the world: https://a.co/d/4m1qbnO
Think: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1433520710/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1691691678&sr=8-1
What is the unforgivable sin and where is it found in scripture? (Spoiler: if you have repentance and turn to faith in Christ you have not committed the unforgivable sin) What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? What prompted Jesus to say this in the context that he did? Should I be worried that I’ve committed the unforgivable sin and is there any comfort if I am worried about it?
What is the problem of evil? Why is this evil happening to me? Can God really be good if he had the power and knowledge to stop evil and chooses not to? What are some ways people have solved this problem? What is the greater glory argument? How will the evil the we experience in our lives be used?
How does the sovereignty of God and the free will of man play into salvation? Where does the debate come from to begin with? What scriptures are used to support the Calvinist and Arminian perspectives on this issue? Is there an error in taking either perspective too far? Can someone be elect and not ever know it or bear fruit? Does this topic have to be a divisive issue? How much of our viewpoint is based on scripture itself or philosophical reasoning?
What do we mean by divine sovereignty? How much choice do people have over their own lives? What is man’s responsibility? Are we robots? What do people mean when they say “free will” and is that term in the Bible? Where do we see examples in scripture of man’s responsibility and choices in God’s story? How does Gods sovereignty free us to make decisions between two options?
What is the purpose of a sabbatical and what do people do on them? Is it different from vacation time? Why might a sabbatical be needed? How often do pastors consider quitting? How can you be praying for your pastors?
What is AI? What is some of the good and some of the bad that can come from AI? Is AI even really what it claims to be when it comes to “intelligence”? How should we view our own intelligence vs artificial intelligence in light or being an image bearer of God?
Why is it important to think about tools and strategies that we can use to disciple our children? What are some things that are helpful for being able to talk to your kids about the gospel? Is it the responsibility of the parents or the church to disciple children? What is the proper “balance” in the relationship between the parent’s and the church’s responsibility in discipleship of children? What should parents do if they have an older kid that wants nothing to do with being intentionally discipled?
What does the Bible say about discipline in general and how that relates to parenting? What is God’s goal in disciplining us and how should that change how we discipline out children? What does age appropriate discipline look like? Should discipline be something that the mother or the father should primarily be leading or taking care of? How should we think about success and failure when it comes to discipline? What questions should we ask ourselves before disciplining our children?
How should we approach technology as Christian parents? What are some of the positives and some of the negatives? How does technology impact the creativity that God had given us and our children? What are some potential concerns that parents should have in regards to their children and technology? Do parents always need to practice what they’re preaching to their kids in regards to technology? What are some practical boundaries that parents can set in regards to technology? How do we be proactive instead of just reactive? Should we explain the “why” when we do have to say no?
What are the things that scripture teaches us that we need to know before coming to faith? How can we explain what “faith” means? What kind of strategies and tools can we use to begin conversations in the home? What questions should you be asking your child? How should we approach conversations differently with a kid than we do with an adult?
How are individual moments important to change? How does seasonal change impact our lives as Christians?
What are denominations? Why are there so many different denominations? What issues are really at the heart of one denomination being different from another? Which denomination is right? In what ways can we cooperate with people of other denominations that we differ with? How do we help a non-believer understand why there are so many denominations? Are denominations a good thing or a bad thing? How can we find the right denomination?
Where is our presence the most important? Are there places that our presence is not important? What is the difference in western vs eastern ways of thinking about presence? What is the difference between physically being somewhere and really being there? What does the bible have to say about how we pay attention? If we aren’t fully engaged is it better to be or to no be somewhere? How big of an indicator of priority is our presence?
Was competition a part of God’s original design? If it was then what is different about it post-fall? What does it look like to be a good loser or a good winner? If competition is indeed a result of the fall should Christians avoid competition completely? As Christians, why do we compete? Can competition be redeemed?
Why do we care so much about winning? Why does competition exist in the human experience? Is competition itself a good thing or a bad thing? Why does losing exist? What is life about? Does God care who won/wins the Super Bowl?
Why is learning considered a spiritual discipline? What is the difference between intentional and unintentional learning? How do we learn? What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? What areas should we work on learning an growing in the knowledge of God? Are there specific things that we’re supposed to learn about as believers that bring God glory?
- What do we mean when we talk about the spiritual discipline of journaling? Why should we journal How can we get started with journaling? What should we write about? How often should we journal?
What is the spiritual discipline of silence What do we mean when we say the discipline of solitude? Why are we trying to be silent and alone? What are some of the challenges of silence and solitude Why is it so difficult for us to be silent?
What is fasting? How are we to approach fasting? What is the goal of fasting? Am I breaking Matthew 6 if I tell other people that I’m fasting? Does fasting from other things besides food count as fasting? How are supposed to fast?
What is stewardship and how does it apply to our life as believers What are we stewarding? Is time something we should think about stewarding in addition to money Why do we need to think about stewardship as a spiritual discipline? What is the purpose of stewardship? How can we get better at stewardship? And is there any cookie-cutter advice for us to give to someone looking to get better? Does stewardship just mean giving a tenth of your money to the church? Should we automate our giving?
What are we talking about when we me say service and what kind of service do we mean? In what ways should our service looks like Jesus’s service? Would should the intention behind our service be? What are some of the things that we should consider when it comes to serving others?What are some things that motivate us to continue in service when it gets hard? Is there a time for a particular service of ours to come to an end and how do we know if it's time? How do we create a bridge from our service to a gospel conversation? I want to serve - what do I do?
What is evangelism? What is the gospel? Why is it hard to evangelize? What are some strategies for evangelism? Is “preach the gospel and if necessary use words” a good position to hold? (Spoiler alert: it’s not). What happens if we make a mistake when sharing the gospel? Who should we share the gospel with in our life? How do we “bridge” a normal conversation into a gospel conversation? How do prayer and evangelism go together? Is it necessary that a believer share their faith or can we opt in/out or leave it to the super spiritual believers?
We are made for worship but how do we do that? What is worship? Is worship just in the heart or does it involve actions? Can you worship even if your heart isn’t engaged? Is an outward expression necessary for it to be worship? Should we outwardly express worship even if we’re not feeling like it inwardly? How do we worship? How should we approach corporate and private worship? Can we worship God in everyday life? How can we live all of our life to the glory of God? How do we worship in spirit and in truth as Christ commands?
What is prayer? How does it relate to the other spiritual disciplines? What is the purpose of prayer? What are the different kinds of prayer and how do we begin them? What is the goal of prayer? How do we align ourselves with the will of God and scripture when we pray and what should we actually pray about? How can we pray more like Paul did for the gospel to go forward, the saints spiritual eyes to be opened more to the glory of God, and for unity with one another. How do we know what to say and how can we avoid saying the same things every time? What does it look like to pray through the scriptures? How can we come to God in spite of our guilt and shame we might feel?
Join us for part two of our discussion on spiritual disciplines. What does scripture intake look like and how should we do that? Why is scripture intake considered a discipline? How should we approach spending time in the word? Should we approach all parts of scripture the same way? How can we be better at spending time in the word? Is it necessary for us to read the word daily? How should we begin our time in the word? What are some tools to use alongside scripture?
Join us for this two part discussion: What are spiritual disciplines? Why is the word discipline important in this discussion? Are they just extra or nice things for us to do? Why are they hard and how can we make them less hard? What are some of the obstacles we face and how can we overcome them? What is the goal/direction that we are working towards with these disciplines? How can we find joy in this discipline?
After considering Baptism in our episode a few weeks ago, we decided it might be helpful to consider some of the more difficult questions surrounding the ordinance, such as, "Should there be a waiting period after a profession of faith before someone is baptized?" and "Who should administer the Baptism?"
After considering the Lord's Supper in our last episode, we decided it might be helpful to consider some of the more difficult questions surrounding the ordinance, such as, "What does Paul mean by his warning not to partake in an unworthy manner?" and "Can the Lord's Supper be taken outside the context of the local church?"
In the last episode we discussed the importance of Baptism. We thought it would also be a good idea to take some time to talk about the Lord's Supper. First, we ask, "What is it?" Then, we consider questions such as, "Who should partake?" and "How often should a church practice the Lord's Supper?"
Baptism is central to the Christian faith, but there are many traditions with many different points of view on how to understand it. Today we talk about what the Bible says about Baptism and why it is important for every believer in Jesus.
Maybe the first question should be, how do christians relate to the ten commandments? Jesus said he came to fulfill and not abolish the law, so what does that really mean? Today we're taking a deep dive into the different perspectives and the mindset we should all have as we observe sabbath rest.
Why do we write new songs? There are so many songs out there, so why bother with writing new ones? And then, why do we choose some songs and not others to sing in worship? Why isn't the most popular KLove song sung every week by the congregation? We explore all of these questions, discussing both the musical and pastoral elements that go into each.
Today we're discussing the different approaches we three take in our sermon preparations. We talk through things to avoid and the areas we're looking to grow. We hope anyone who is working to craft lesson plans or getting ready to preach a sermon will find encouragement in our discussion today.
We're continuing our discussion on adoption this week by interviewing Wendy Wilson who is a mom of four and one of the founders of Hope that Binds, a grant program for adoptive families.
She takes us through the importance of community and the unique struggles/joys of adoptive parenting.
Resources:
https://www.hopethatbinds.org/
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/adoption-the-heart-of-the-gospel
Adoption is a beautiful picture of the Gospel, because it is quite literally each Christian's story in relation to God. Today we look at passages in Ephesians 1, Galatians 4:4-6 and Romans 8 to see how we are adopted into the family of God and the implications that has on how we view ourselves and God Himself.
PACT Pick: J. I. Packer, Knowing God
Discovering and understanding context isn't always the popular path. And because of this, it can be difficult when you read different passages of scripture that sound contradictory. We wrestle with one such passage today between James and Paul's writings. Sometimes we want to pick sides because one sounds better to us than another. But, we need to first remember that the Bible is all truth. There's not one truth that is any more true than another. That leaves us then with the question we have to come to the table with: "how can both be right?"
We were all surprised after the overturning of Roe v. Wade last week. Though in one hand we celebrate this, we also know there are many hurting, worried and angered by it. Today we're discussing the Supreme Court's action and then what actions we can take to continue loving mothers, fathers and children in the days ahead. What does it look like to love in action as the world is divided on this issue?
Discipleship is an ongoing process that never truly sees an end to the need for it. It's always an important facet of the Christian walk. The question then becomes: am I being discipled and how am I a part of the process of discipling another?
We need to start examining our relationships and our conversations. Are we showing up with intention? Are we having conversations for the purpose of growing our faith and encouraging another in Christ?
Let's chat with guest host Kody Hopwood of Buelah Baptist to see what the Gospel and our own experiences have taught us.
Today we have a special guest, Bogdan Zubtsov, from Ukraine. Bogdan shares his amazing testimony of how Jesus saved him. He also shares about his current ministry and how Christians in the United States can pray for and support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
Can we appreciate the distinctions between our local churches? Can we work together? As Ian Carrico helps remind us, we have to keep the mission first in our minds. Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples. We have to be careful not to overthink what God said in His word. Will we love people and tell them about Jesus? Or will we not?
With a seemingly endless supply of Christian books, videos, podcasts, and music at our fingertips, how can followers of Jesus be confident that we are reading, watching, and listening to that which is most biblical and most helpful? Today we discuss having biblical discernment when choosing resources.
Today we're taking a closer look at stewardship and investing and what the Bible has to say about both. If we invest for the future, are we not trusting God with our future? If we don't invest, are we not being wise? More questions like this, so let's get started!
It can sometimes be harder to have a Gospel conversation with those in our region because of the cultural christianity that so many believe in. We talk through conversation starters and questions to ask as we all learn how to bring Jesus into our workplaces and friendships.
Maybe family worship is a new concept for you. Maybe you've been wanting to incorporate more prayer or scripture reading in your family dynamic, but you've been unsure how. Or, maybe you're just convinced the rest of the family will be against it or that your kids are too wild to ever sit still for a Bible lesson and song. Wherever you are today, know that there's still a way for you to begin inviting God into your home and life. We talk about our own family worship times and the challenges, mistakes and rewarding moments we've experienced.
Parenting is just hard. But there are things that makes Christian parenting uniquely challenging. You want your kids to understand the gospel. You love them so very much and you want to protect them from sin and heartache. But, sometimes, if we aren't careful, we can frustrate them because we want them to be where WE are in our sanctification journey. It's difficult at times to be patient with our kids in their own faith journey. The remedy to this? Listen and we'll explore it.
Yes, you read that title right. We're talking about the implications of the Bible in the question of if aliens do or could exist. It's an interesting discussion. Sit in on our thought process as we look at this question.
Is there a reason to pray if God already knows everything about the future? First, let's examine our attitude toward prayer. Are we seeing prayer as just a place to petition God? Or, are we seeking a relationship with our Father? Today, we look at the purpose for prayer and the encouragement we've received by the prayer life of others.
Arguments and disagreements come up, no matter how close your family or coworkers are. So, how do you handle them with grace and charity? We talk about moments where we didn't quite show up that way in our own life and how scripture points us to a better way.
It's a question that different denominations answer when it comes to children and faith in Jesus Christ. At what age do they become accountable for putting their own faith in Jesus? We tackle the question and the different perspectives you might hear.
Hedonism isn't exactly a positive term. But, when you think of it with a little bit of a different lens, it can turn into something quite beautiful. John Piper talks about Christian hedonism being where we find our ultimate satisfaction in Christ through a personal relationship with Him. It's a good and right thing for us to find our joy and satisfaction in Jesus alone. Every person, Christian and non, is seeking happiness. The question we need to answer is this: What are we pursuing that happiness in?
What do you think of when you hear the word "Tradition"? Is this a positive or a negative thing? Today, we consider some church traditions and try to consider the good and the bad.
Dr. Ian Carrico is back with us today! We hear what God is doing in his family's life and hear his challenge for us all as we think through the value of our time in relation to God and the local church.
Have you ever said or heard your kid say "The devil made me do it!"? Let's explore how Jesus himself faced temptations, how we should approach sin and the mindset that leads to confession and repentance.
We've all witnessed history and recent events where religious liberties for Christians and non-Christians are called into question. But, how should we view our own religious liberty and that of those with different beliefs than ourselves? Also, how does our response to other religions impact our Gospel witness?
Last week we left off on this question so we encourage you to start listening to last week's podcast first if you can. We talk through some reasons why Jesus is the only way, looking at different religions and theological understandings.
There's no bigger question in life than "Who is Jesus?". If Jesus is not the treasure of our hearts, then we have Him in name only and really nothing else. There's an eternity of things to consider surrounding who Jesus is and what His birth, death, burial and resurrection means to our life. Just as the disciples had to answer, so too do we have to answer Jesus when He asks, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13-16)
Are you experiencing burnout in your job, ministry or just in everyday tasks you used to enjoy? Today we're discussing how to live what some call a grace-paced life. We explore the fuel behind our ministries and our work, and discuss this important question: Why do I do what I do?
Spend this time with us and reflect on your own life's focus/priorities. How are the truths found in scripture molding your own view of work and rest?
We see angels present throughout scripture, but there are a lot of questions surrounding them. Do we become angels when we die? Are any of the images we see in culture accurate? When were they created? Are they like us? We explore what scripture teaches us about angels throughout the new and old testament.
Today we're talking about our God who creates. And not only does He create, but in Genesis we learn that He created through speech. If God is powerful enough to create all things with a word....then we begin to learn just how much confidence we can have in the promises of scripture, His written word.
Sunday, Bethlehem Baptist is beginning a new series through the entire book of Genesis. So, we decided to take a week to talk through the beginning. The very beginning. There are many creation theories that scientists and Christians alike have for the creation of the world. We test these theories against scripture and talk through the deeper implications of each theory.
What does Christian unity look like? How do we reconcile differences inside the church and show Christ's love? This is a big topic that we'll continually be talking about throughout our time in ministry probably, but unity is one of the last things Jesus prayed for (read in John 17). So, let's at least get the conversation started.
Do you understand your own worldview?
If we continue trying on other people's worldviews we will stumble around in life. But, if we look to Scripture and see the lens God wants us to use, we'll begin to live with consistency.
What is our attitude toward food and fasting? Is our heart so satisfied with the world that our heart isn't broken enough for the things it should be? Do we fully acknowledge and recognize the dependency we have on God? Today, we're discussing the purpose of fasting and the way we should approach it.
The Pact Pick of the day is: A Hunger for God by John Piper
After a long day of work, we're exhausted. Many of us go home, scroll through social media or turn on the TV for a while to relax. But, are we actually resting in those moments? Today we're exploring what it means to redeem the time and approach our days with wisdom, starting with a look at Ephesians 5:16.
Our challenge of the day: sit for 5 minutes in prayer/silence/rest and when your mind wanders (because it will), pray "Lord, help me be with you."
As we prepare for July 4th weekend, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about patriotism and the Christian faith. History is a great teacher so we dig into a short history lesson of past nationalism paired with Christianity. As we approached the 4th, we encourage you to consider your own past experiences with worship on July 4th Sunday and think about whether it was Biblical or not. Also, have conversations with people, in person, not on Facebook, about your beliefs and experiences. It's a great time to learn from one another and learn more about one another.
Brandon Sickling is the new associate pastor of worship at Bethlehem Baptist Church, so we decided to pick his brain a little on how he views worship. We talk through what it means for worship to be seen as a celebration and we get a glimpse into the process Brandon uses in picking out songs for the congregation each week.
"Is this a song that I would want a member of my church to be singing on their deathbed?" Is a question Brandon asks of himself each week. He explains how we internalize a lot of theology through our singing and he wants us to be able to remember these truths not just throughout the week but for years to come.
Let's worship God and encourage one another through the truth sung together each Sunday morning.
Questions, doubts, and burn out aren't something to fear or ignore in the Christian faith. Today we hear the testimony of our new co-host, Jason Burnett, pastor of Bardwell Baptist Church. His salvation story in his mid-twenties, through a period of questioning and doubt in his 30s, up through today where he incorporates apologetics into his ministry work.
Well, today is bitter sweet as we host our last podcast with Dr. Ian Carrico! He's moving on to become a church evangelism associate with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Dr. Ian walks us through his decision making process until it became clearer what he believes God is calling them to do. As Dr. Ian said, "It's easier said than done -- decisions & transitions. It's easier to preach until you're called to it."
Are we getting sick because of sin or the sins of others? We explore what scripture says about the sickness we face in life. God intends for our sufferings and sickness to be redeemed, but it takes faith to see He will be glorified even in the midst of our sickness.
What is Theological Triage? Think of it as tiers of theology where issues may still bring unity under Christ (first tier) but cause some believers to not be able to worship in the same congregation (second tier). The main thing to ask about your church experience is this: is the truth of Jesus, His work on the cross and His bodily resurrection being taught as you worship alongside fellow believers?
We are discussing the theology of work. How do our chosen vocations bring glory to God? How should we view work in our homes, churches and in the world? We dig into these questions and more.
As pastors we get a lot of questions from parents about education. Is home school best? Is public school? Is private school? Today we're not arguing the different options. But we are discussing how we can make informed decisions as parents and how we can best partner with our educators so we stay involved. One thing to note: there's not a school choice that removes your child from the effects of the fall.
Why do we die? Does it serve any good purpose? Is it all bad? There are so many questions and thoughts that revolve around death. The two most common things in history are also the most surprising: birth and death. We're never truly prepared for either. But, as Christians, we can be the most realistic and hopeful in the face of death.
You may have heard your pastor talk about "The Gospel to Every Home" on Sundays. Today we're giving a clearer view of what this initiative looks like and how you can be involved.
The Trinity has massive implications on not only who God is, but who we are and why we matter to Him. Obviously we can't fully understand The Trinity in a 20 minute podcast, but it's a start of the conversation. This would be a great topic of discussion for your next PACT group get together.
The last year we've all had a lot of different fears pop up about our health, our jobs, our kids, etc. But what do we do with fear as Christians? Isaiah 41:10 tells us "fear not". Other scriptures help us see God's provision and love, so how do we respond to fear? Ian, Adam and Tim discuss a holy fear of the Lord and the implications that has on the fears we face in our life.
We best see ourselves rightly when we see God rightly. But you aren't seeing God rightly if you're not beginning and ending with His Holiness. For the Gospel to mean anything, to anybody, it starts with recognizing that God is a holy God. In that, we we can begin to understand our own sinfulness and his mercy and love through the cross toward our sin. What is holiness? Are we holy or are we becoming holy? Let's dig in.
For some of us, it's just hard to find joy in reading anything, much less the Bible. But, the Bible is God breathed; it's written to encourage and instruct. It's written to show us truth about God and about life. Why wouldn't we yearn for that? Because we're human, that's why. Today, we're discussing how you can make the Bible more accessible for yourself and your family, to begin that discipline of reading His word and allowing it to impact your daily life.
Ian, Adam and Tim discuss a few different views and understandings of Hebrews chapter 6 on perseverance of the faith. If you haven't already, we do recommend starting with last week's podcast that discusses whether or not we can lose our salvation. Then, dig into Hebrews with us.
All Christians at some point in their walk with Christ struggle with doubt. But, can you lose your salvation? Is "Once saved, always saved" an accurate statement? We're glad you're joining us for this conversation today. Ultimately, we always encourage you to look to Jesus. It's not about your works, it's ALL about His work.
There are a few places that spiritual gifts are listed in the Bible, but is this an exhaustive list or are they just examples? Plus, how do you know what your spiritual gift is? Today we're discussing spiritual gifts in the church and their purpose in the body of Christ.
The culture is loud right now. Cancel culture is happening in both the Christian church and also online around the world. So, how should we respond to sin of another? How do we respond if sin is brought to light of a Christian leader of the past or the present? Tim, Ian and Adam dig into many questions about truth, sin, grace, redemption and repentance. It really comes down to this: If we're Gospel people then we're about grace. You cannot participate in cancel culture and be about grace.
Why do we have different translations of the Bible? How did we even get the Bible? Can we really trust it? We dive into the history of the Scriptures and start to tackle these questions.
Conspiracy theories are the proof positive of humanity's need for truth. Every human is designed for big truths, but we can spend more time seeking out cultural truths than we do God's truth.
Credibility is a very important thing for believers. We are the vehicles for the most important truth that has ever been given. We need to be careful not to blur our good truth with error. Ask yourself: Am I putting as much energy into allowing my mind to be renewed by the Word as I am taking in information from other sources that can be very misleading?
We need to stick with the most important truth. Everything about who we are as people, even our emotions, should be wrapped up in the truth of the Gospel. We need to focus on real truth, Jesus, instead of being more emotionally attached to what we're seeing on Twitter, Facebook or what's going on in the world.
Let's dig in a little more to what is truth, why our minds love conspiracy and how to stay focused on Jesus in this world full of misleading truths.
Did you know the word tithe literally means "a tenth"? Today we're discussing the discipline and the joy of giving to the church. So, are we required to tithe? Why should we tithe? Let's dig into these questions and more.
Hobbies and recreation are a means for us to worship God by enjoying His creation. It's a happy exercise for the Christian to think about how our enjoyment in the creative order of the world glorifies God. Work is labor and is tiring, we need that opportunity to sit back and rest. Ian, Adam and Tim explore their own hobbies and how they wrestle with finding time and peace to rest and enjoy the hobbies they love.
This Sunday is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday so today we are discussing what gives life meaning. Christians stand strongly for honoring and protecting life of all stages, but why? We walk through a few different scriptures we lean on to help us navigate this topic that is highly debated in today's culture.
Music as an apologetic. Might sound like a strange statement, but Bro. Tim explains music's role in helping the world see God as real. Thanks for joining us as we begin a new year of The PACT Podcast.
Happy New Year! As we celebrate the ending of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, we wanted to look at the purpose of resolutions in the Christian walk. Plus, we explore how making the PACT with other believers can encourage your resolve to not only persevere in the faith but hold you accountable in goals you've set for the new year.
Merry Christmas! Do you have peace today or do you feel a restlessness in your soul? When we think of peace, many times we think of the quiet time after the kids go to bed or a quiet moment with our coffee in the morning. But what is the peace of Christ? We explore the topic in our final week of Advent.
Joy isn't the prize, it's the effect of receiving the prize, that is Jesus. His ultimate treasure was in glorifying God and the way that happens is by redeeming His people who are also His treasure. Where is your joy, your treasure, your focus this Christmas season?
God is love. God is just. As we explore Advent and His love for us in the first coming, we start by better understanding God's just character. Tim, Ian and Adam warn against any idea, book or teaching that diminishes the justice of God which also diminishes the love of God. The cross doesn't increase the expectation for us to love God, it enables us to love Him. This demonstration of love cannot be repaid. We love because He first loved us. Praise the Lord.
Thinking through the anticipation of the appearing of Christ, both his first and second coming. As we're nearing Christmas, we celebrate the Advent of Christ. Today we discuss more specifically hope and some ways we can celebrate Advent as a family as we get closer to Christmas.
Happy Thanksgiving! This podcast is for all of our turkey hunters, fishermen, and also for those who would never, ever go hunting. We look at the old testament sacrificial laws, the creation story and also share our own stories of loving and struggling with hunting.
In today's polarized world, we can quickly find ourselves portraying a rebellious spirit. At times, we all disagree with how government is being run, but God calls us to submit to them anyway. So, what does this look like and are there any exceptions? We explore passages from Romans 13 and look at a few issues from modern day.
What happens when God is absent from our decision making? We turn to the default way of making decisions where the ends justify the means. When we think it through, this way of thinking is really just another way of displaying selfishness and sin. Adam, Ian and Tim discuss different areas of life where we might be tempted to lean into this way of thinking.
Humanity, at every stage of life and from all ethnicities, has dignity and should be protected. Why? Because we are all created in the image of God. Today we explore where our value and worth is rooted as humans.
Focus scripture: "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:9-10
Trick or treating unto the Lord...? Yep, we're discussing Halloween in the church. What's appropriate for those whose Gospel is life during this holiday surrounding death? We're encouraging you to talk about it and settle in your own mind what is right for you and your family.
We all experience various forms of suffering in this life due to injustices. Sometimes these life experiences even lead us to question whether God is in fact just. Ian, Adam and Tim, explore what justice is and what the cross of Jesus means for each and every one of us.
We don't tell you who to vote for or even hint at it. But, here's what we lay out today: some guiding principles of how we, as Christians, should put on our scriptural lenses in how we think about politics and approach conversations about politics. Remember, our citizenship is ultimately in heaven.
It's only when Jesus is the prize that sanctification is happening. As a Christian you are counted as righteous because of Christ, not of anything you've done right or wrong in this life. But now begins a different work, that of sanctification. What does this mean and what does it look like in our life? Let's explore it today!
Scripture Referenced: Hebrews 12 and Psalm 19:12-13
The PACT Pick is "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney.
Today we're exploring the difference between these terms: ambition, contentment and apathy. As Christians we can struggle with having ungodly ambitions and looking for contentment in things other than Christ. Or, we can just not care, walk into our everyday life with apathetic views toward everyone we encounter. Let's talk about how to cure apathy in our life and begin living an ambitious life for Christ.
We define the packed word that is "sin". It's often a word associated with bondage, but we explore the attitude followers of Christ should have regarding sin. It might not be what you would expect. Let's talk about it!
Come to church with expectation and anticipation. Don't fret over distractions or noisy kids. Prepare, be present and worship. Today we're talking about how to approach Sunday mornings with your family.
You have the Bible, so where do you begin? Why is it important to read it? How often should we study? We delve into these questions and more.
Let's first understand that the Bible is food. If you want to have a healthy diet, you don't want to starve yourself.
It's the same with Scripture.
You study the Bible to know God. Together, let's get to know Him a little better today.
Is it normal for Christians to doubt? Is it okay for a Christian to doubt? We talk about the many types of doubt in the Christian life and look at what Matthew 9:23-25 has to teach us about it.
Last week we discussed what biblical forgiveness looks like. Today, we go even deeper, exploring the relationship between forgiveness and restoration. Is restoration a necessity to the process of forgiveness? Are there levels of restoration after you've forgiven the one who wronged you in some way? Let's talk about it.
Forgive and forget. Is that biblical? Is it even possible? Let's explore it from a practical and biblical perspective.
Addiction is seen from many different perspectives. Some see it as a purely moral issue. Others see it as a disease where no choice is involved. We talk with Dr. Larry Purcell who has counseled many over the years struggling with different forms of addiction. Listen in for a new definition and perspective of addiction and how the church family can respond.
We are image bearers of God, but quickly confuse who we are with what we do. Today, we talk through where we find our identity. The question to think through today is: "Whose glory am I concerned with?" We reference the creation story and also the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19. The PACT Pick of the week is: Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ.
The last four weeks we broke down the PACT acronym, diving into the meaning behind each word. Today, we give a little preview into some of the subjects we'll be tackling together over the coming weeks. We hope each week we are welcomed back into your headphones or car sound system as we learn more about how to disciple and be discipled.
Today we're discussing the last part of our PACT accronym: Truth. We hear a lot these days the phrase, "my truth." But, in making a pact with other believers it's important to let God's truth lead, not our own. Let's unpack what that means for our relationships, confrontations with others and our walk with Christ.
Taking the PACT with a group of brothers or sisters in Christ hinges on having confidence and trust within the group. Ian, Tim and Adam dig into what this looks like and even ask the question, "What do you do if you're betrayed?"
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What does accountability look like in the church? What's the difference between being judgmental and holding one another accountable? We dig into each of these questions this week. Don't forget to hit subscribe!
Today we focus on two main questions related to prayer:
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How do we balance discipline and delight in prayer?
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What should be our focus in prayer?
Let's dig in!