Relentless Truth with John Warren: Recent Episodes
John Warren
Looking for a Christian podcast with an informed Biblical worldview? John and his guests discuss the economy, finance, government, theology, and even politics.
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We have reached Revelation 17 and 18 in our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John. This section is particularly significant in eschatology. The characters are the great prostitute, Babylon, the waters, the Beast, the martyrs, seven kings, an angel, ten horns or kings, and The Lamb.
The CharactersThe evil actors in the scene are said to carry out the purpose of God. This can be confusing to us, even today, as we observe God using evil to accomplish His purposes. Economic and political forces are discussed in these two chapters.
Babylon could certainly be the United States. I can’t be dogmatic about this, but I can’t think of another nation that fits this description more specifically in our environment. It is possible that these events occur so far in the future that the environment changes substantially and another nation or nations fit the description of Babylon in this passage. I shudder to think about the similarities between this description of Babylon and the United States, nonetheless.
The instant destruction that is referenced here seems to me to resemble nuclear war. While this destruction of Babylon could come through solely supernatural means, and given the fact that God uses man in executing His purposes, nuclear annihilation could be referenced in these chapters.
The Economic ImplicationsThe economic implications of these events are also clear in this passage. Recall the buying and selling referenced previously and the submission to evil leadership that will be required. This entire system will be eliminated in one day. This economic hub of the world is brought to nothing in an hour. Imagine the intensity of this event if this reference is to a literal hour.
The stage is now set for the New Heaven and the New Earth. We are to love what God loves and hate what He hates. Those of us who have trusted in and are in Jesus Christ can rest in Him. These horrific events do not threaten us, and we are securing in Him. Praise God for His faithfulness!
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“We will discuss Revelation 17 and 18 today. This is a picture of God using evil to accomplish His purposes.”###### John Warren
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We continue to see the word “repent” in our study of Revelation. Even in the face of God’s wrath, those who reject Jesus Christ continue to refuse to repent. This hardness of heart is true of many today who reject Christ entirely and resolutely. In our eschatological section of Revelation, they actually blame God and curse Him. This isn’t passive opposition or apathy. This is aggressive, hardcore opposition to God.
RepentThe plagues that God uses to pour out His wrath on the earth include sores, the ultimate pollution of all water, darkness, an earthquake, and large hailstones. This is the wrath of God demonstrated in ways the earth has never seen.
“It Is Done”After the seven plagues or bowls are poured out, God announces that “it is done.” This war to end all wars seems to end rather quickly. The plagues seem to come quickly – one after another. This period is unimaginable to us. It is filled with horror, and yet, God will protect those who are His.
Praise God for His faithfulness to His nature even in the context of the pouring out of His wrath. God doesn’t suspend His love, mercy, and grace, but He demonstrates His just wrath. It is important for us to think about God rightly even as we consider this prophetical section of Scripture.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“As we continue our study in Revelation, we see the word “repent” repeated. However, even in the face of God’s wrath, those who reject Jesus Christ refuse to repent.”###### John Warren
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Welcome to our fifth “extra” edition of Relentless Truth. The U.S. Economy is adjusting or resetting, and the data can be confusing. We unravel some of the mystery of the economy and talk about where we are headed in this midweek episode.
God is sovereign over all disciplines, including the economy. But we are responsible for prudent planning and stewardship. We look at the primary economic indicators and interpret recent trends in this important episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
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We look at Revelation 14 and 15 in this episode of Relentless Truth. God’s wrath is poured out on the earth, but those who are in Christ prevail in Him. The Gospel is eternal, and this section makes it clear that it endures forever and is unchanged.
The Gospel Endures ForeverWe sometimes think of the study of eschatology as beyond the Gospel. This passage, and countless others, make clear the fact that the Gospel permeates all of time and all of Scripture. If you have heard the term “the Gospel” and don’t know what this references, please listen to this episode. I explain the Gospel clearly near the end of this episode.
The Immensity of God’s WrathRevelation 14 mentions blood flowing from the winepress as high as a horse’s bridle for 1600 stadia. I said early in the episode that I would explain this but failed to circle back to it. This appears to be a metaphorical reference to the earth’s bloody judgment. A stadia is about 600 feet. So, this reference is to blood flowing as high as a horse’s bridle for 184 miles. There has been much speculation about this – whether it references a river or boundary or the distance between two prominent points. But our understanding of this is limited. I believe this reference is designed to communicate the immensity of God’s wrath poured out on the earth. I don’t believe it provides enough detail to fully unpack.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and its simplicity are addressed clearly in the last few minutes of this episode. Please read Paul’s letter to the Romans and John’s Gospel for the biblical basis for my explanation of the Gospel.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“As we look at Revelation 14 and 15, we see God’s wrath poured out on the earth, but those who are in Christ prevail in Him.”###### John Warren
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All of Scripture points to Jesus Christ our Lord. The Law, the Old Testament, and the New Testament point to Christ. Today, we see the parallels between Paul’s instructions in Galatians and Romans 2 regarding our performance. How good is good enough to meet God’s standard? Is meeting God’s standard our objective? Can we reach a level that God finds acceptable with our efforts?
The LawWe are to live by faith. But what does this look like? Paul answers these questions in Galatians 3.
The law is consistent with Jesus Christ’s teachings. The law does not give us life, but Jesus does. In this episode, we discuss the consistency of all of Scripture. The law has justified no one. Scripture is clear on this. We are justified by faith. The law serves a specific purpose, but it does not justify. It reveals God’s character and helps us understand his moral design for the universe.
From Slaves to SonsWe transition from slaves to sons in Christ. This encouraging truth is due to the finished work of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our adoption in Him. This sonship is a game-changer, and it isn’t due to our effort. Praise God, we can celebrate our sonship in Christ as we walk by faith in Him.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“All of Scripture points to Jesus Christ our Lord. Today, we will look at how the law is consistent with Jesus Christ’s teaching, but cannot save. We are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone.”###### John Warren
On Relentless Truth, John addresses an issue that has Christians doing battle over issues where the outcome could have been avoided with reconciliation.
Today on Relentless Truth , John addresses the earth-shattering, counter intuitive Gospel and Paul's admonition to the Galatians regarding self-reliance.
Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses with Dr. Sarah Gothard our culture today, the challenges young people face, the weight of sin, education and worship.
Today on Relentless Truth , John discusses some Scripture that will provide instruction on conflict resolution when working with groups.
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In today’s episode we discuss a topic that has morphed in recent years. Church attendance is in decline for a number of reasons in the U.S. among professing Christians.
ReasonsThe messiness of the church is off-putting to many. Pastors have given us reasons to lose respect through scandals that include sexual sin. Some leaders have even fallen away from the faith. Others are extra-biblical in their governance.
AnswersSo, what are we to do? Is there a reason to physically attend church? Are we commanded to be members of a church? Why are churches so weak? Are churches to be run in a democratic manner? What is the purpose of the local church? We answer these questions and more in this very practical episode of Relentless Truth.
We benefit from fellowship in Christian community, and the local church provides a beautiful setting for the development of this community. The local church isn’t perfect, but a biblically consistent local church can provide a beautiful hub for our worship and growth in Christ.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Church attendance is in decline for a number of reasons in the U.S. among professing Christians. So, what are we to do?”John Warren
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Our episode today focuses on biblical truth that is important for our lives. We sometimes assume that truth and mercy need to be balanced. It’s almost as if we think we can only have a certain amount of each and that they must be balanced. We sometimes think similar thoughts about faith and reason.
The AssumptionsThe challenge with the philosophy of this world we live in is that it often doesn’t define the parameters correctly. When the assumptions are incorrect, then our thinking, our doctrine becomes flawed.
The False NarrativesFalse narratives that seem to push us toward choosing from two mutually exclusive variables are damning to our Christian walk. We explore these and related thoughts in this important and informative episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“We sometimes assume that truth and mercy need to be balanced. The challenge with the philosophy of this world we live in is that it often doesn’t define the parameters correctly.”John Warren
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Today we discuss humor in the life of a Christian. What role does humor play in our lives? What is appropriate humor for us as Christians. How do we develop biblically informed senses of humor?
Christian ComedyI talk about Christian comedy and Tim Hawkins in this episode. I do so from a biblically informed Christian worldview. Tim is funny. He is popular. But he is irreverent.
The Gospel is beautiful and it is central to all of life. Avoiding irreverent babble is commanded in Scripture. I discuss these issues and more in this episode.
Valuable InstructionThis life can be a struggle. We have valuable instructions for guiding us through this struggle in Scripture. Our focus is to be on certain truths. Guarding our hearts, protecting our focus, and developing our attention spans are challenging concepts that are important for us in the culture we live in.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The Gospel is beautiful and it is central to all of life. Avoiding irreverent babble is commanded in Scripture. How do we develop biblically informed senses of humor?”John Warren
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This episode is about Christian relationships. Much has been said and written about relationships among Christians. Christian community is important, but how do we get it right? How do we practice the relationship imperatives in Scripture.
Agape definedMany of us just aren’t good at making small talk. So how do we engage in relationships among Christians? In this episode I discuss our need to make our focus all about the other person. Withholding love is easy to do. Withholding forgiveness makes us worse than many non-Christians. Scripture informs us clearly on what “agape” really is.
It is truly shameful that we don’t focus on loving each other well in Christian community. In particular, loving people who aren’t like us can be challenging.
Forgiveness and RestorationForgiveness and restoration are among the most difficult of the aspects of living in Christian relationship. We explore these and other important truths in this important episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“This episode is about Christian relationships. Christian community is important, but how do we get it right? How do we practice the relationship imperatives in Scripture.”John Warren
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This episode of Relentless Truth is unlike others. I explain some exciting refocusing that I’m doing in my work. I am leaving my teaching and board roles at Circle Christian School, and this allows me to further develop the ministry of Relentless Truth and CFS Financial.
Lasting RelationshipsI address Circle Christian School families, in particular, in this episode. The sweetness of these relationships will continue beyond my transition. I have truly been blessed by the entirety of this experience. God has been faithful through the lives of His people at Circle Christian School. So many parents and students have been a rich blessing over these many years. I could not have asked for more support from the families at Circle over these many years.
The culture at Circle is driven by parents, and those families follow Christ by applying their theology in relationships so well. They have been a blessing and an example of the love of Christ consistently over many years.
TransitionsGod has been faithful. His steadfast love has endured. He alone has blessed in the midst of challenges. I am truly grateful and want to acknowledge His hand in my life and in the lives of others over these years.
I share my observations and the lessons I have learned in this episode of Relentless Truth. The experiential truths here will be a blessing to the broader RT audience!
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“I share my observations and the lessons I have learned in this episode.”John Warren
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We discuss our great Country and the first four months of the Trump administration’s second term in this episode of Relentless Truth. The Trump administration seems to be more adept at governing during this second term, but they still have their challenges.
TariffsWe discuss Trump’s tariff “strategy” or lack thereof, and we talk about his negotiating style. Our relationships with nations that have historically been close are now strained. In this episode, we explain some of the nuance and the risks of the Trump negotiating methodology.
The EconomyWe also provide an update on the economy and the impact the Trump administration appears to be having early in their second term. The two risks of this administration’s style seem to relate to making impulsive decisions and failing to consider the finer points of some of the issues.
God is faithful. He is on the throne. We can rest in Him. We close this episode with a discussion on the significance of love. Love is imperative as we engage with the world in which we live. Please enjoy these helpful perspectives in today’s episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The Trump administration seems to be more adept at governing during this second term, but they still have their challenges.”John Warren
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The way we interface with others as we live this life is important for our enjoyment and function. Scripture gives us instructions on how we are to live in community. And yet it grieves us when professing Christians hurt us.
Christian CommunityHow are we to live humbly in Christian community? What does that look like as we live this life on this fallen earth? What does it mean to love one another the way Scripture commands? We address the answers to these important questions in today’s episode of Relentless Truth.
The cruelty that I see displayed among Christians has no place in Christian community. In this episode, we discuss living humbly in Christian community. If we are working toward esteeming the needs of others ahead of our own, we aren’t likely to engage in cruelty or selfish pursuits.
Humble LivingDeferring to the other person is not intuitive. The notion that the strong should bear with the weak is sadly foreign to many of us. We tend to criticize others for their failings; however, Paul teaches us that we should defer to them – that we should avoid causing them to stumble.
I’m convinced that these are community-changing truths that will revolutionize the way we function. We are to watch out for those who bring errant doctrine into the church. These challenges often come from within the church. We talk about growing in discernment as we proclaim truth in this weighty episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The way we interface with others as we live this life is important for our enjoyment and function.”John Warren
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Worry or stress or anxiety and pride or arrogance have the same source. An elevated view of self and a low view of God cause us to experience anxiety. This counterintuitive truth is a game changer – a life changer.
Mind-Body ConnectionWe don’t talk enough about anxiety in the church. We all experience various levels of anxiety or stress, but we aren’t quite comfortable discussing this openly. In this episode, I talk about the importance of a clear, biblical understanding of these truths.
John Sarno famously researched the physical pain, back pain, that is often caused by anxiety. Scripture gives us the remedy for this anxiety and pain cycle, and I discuss this in today’s episode. The mind – body connection is important to understand as we seek to live fulfilling, productive lives.
The RemedyLearning who Jesus Christ our Lord actually is gives us a set of tools needed to reduce our anxiety and live the lives we are intended to live. Please enjoy this episode and find relief in Him.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“An elevated view of self and a low view of God cause us to experience anxiety.”John Warren
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I often think and sometimes say something like, “families are dysfunctional.” In a recent episode of Relentless Truth, I discussed my dad’s passing and some of the dysfunction that our family has experienced.
God’s DesignPaul describes, in Colossians and elsewhere, the way families are to function. In this episode, I discuss the fact that God is “the head” of Christ, Christ is “the head” of man, and man is “the head” of the woman. While this doctrine is counter to our culture today, it is much needed for our families.
Equal Value, Different FunctionThe point Paul makes in these passages is that husbands and wives, while they are equally valuable before God, have functions that differ. The comparison to the way God and Christ function is a beautiful one that provides much needed clarity. Jesus Christ our Lord and God the Father are of the same essence, the same substance. They are equal in nature and essence, but they function differently.
My hope is that this episode will provide much needed clarity to an issue that the American Church seems to struggle with. Scripture speaks to this issue clearly and logically. The beauty of God’s design is apparent in the family and in the church.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul describes, in Colossians and elsewhere, the way families are to function.”John Warren
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Metaphors in Scripture are helpful to me as I study the important imperatives in the New Testament. Paul uses the language of putting off the old clothing and putting on new clothing. This describes beautifully how we are to live our lives as Christians.
Put OffWe struggle with this notion of continuing to put on the old clothing, or as Paul says in Romans, we live like we are still captive to the sin from which we have been freed. It is as if we go back into the prison, back into a cell, and close the doors on ourselves when we live in captivity to the very sin that Christ died to free us from.
Put OnI hope this episode encourages you to join me on this journey to put off the sins of our flesh, and put on the new clothing provided by the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord. We have been saved by faith. So now, let’s walk by faith.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul uses the language of putting off the old clothing and putting on new clothing. This describes beautifully how we are to live our lives as Christians.”John Warren
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Interestingly, I made it through the first half of my banking career without understanding why I was successful or specifically how I’m “wired.” It wasn’t until my employer sent me for a day of testing that I began to see my capabilities, my preferences, my patterns, and my style. Since that time, I have learned much more as I have grown spiritually.
The HeartPaul has written much on the heart – the center of a human being. And he also wrote a lot about the mind and knowledge of various types. Human volition is important to Paul as is God’s sovereignty. Somehow, those two important truths aren’t contradictory according to Scripture.
The Mind and KnowledgePaul teaches us to long for the things that are above and to set our minds on those things. My mind is often set on sports, money, my feelings, and my family. But I rarely really set my mind on things that are above. Paul understands that if Jesus Christ is preeminent, He should be preeminent in our minds and hearts.
This series is life-changing. The preeminence of Jesus is everything. I’m grateful to be able to share these truths with you in today’s episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul has written much on the heart. He also wrote a lot about the mind and knowledge. Human volition is important to Paul as is God’s sovereignty.”John Warren
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As finite humans, we have limitations and tendencies that cause struggles in living the Christian life. A turning point in my life involved the recognition that my flesh clouds my perspective on important truth.
The Record of DebtIn this week’s episode we discuss the powerful truth that we learn in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church when he says, “having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” This reference and others in Scripture clearly state that those who are in Christ are forgiven for all sins; past, present, and future.
This is a jolting truth that we struggle to believe. Some fear that this could lead to hyper-grace or antinomianism. Scripture teaches us, however, to focus on “the things that are above.” These beautiful truths are evidence of the very nature, the essence of God. All means all. We can rest in our judicial acquittal because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. And that truth prompts us to live lives of obedience to our Lord rather than continuing in the captivity of the sin that we once celebrated.
The Finished Work of Jesus ChristThe result in our lives is humility. We humbly worship the God who saved us and has forgiven us when we grasp these beautiful truths. This is the basis for our living lives that glorify God. This is the basis for our eternal confidence before Him. Jesus Christ is preeminent, and we can rest in Him.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
We discuss the powerful truth that we learn in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church when he says “having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.”John Warren
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This episode addresses a timely topic relative to our economy. The U.S. is in a trade war with China and other nations at present. There is a clear precedent in our history for the impact of the strategy that is currently employed by the Trump administration.
The Great DepressionWe have to go back to the Great Depression era to see the impact of a trade war. Congress passed The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in 1930. I shudder when I hear President Trump’s well-intended aspiration to achieve fairness in our trade relationships. This was the goal of our government in 1930 when this legislation was approved.
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff ActThe result of this action in 1930 was to both worsen and prolong the Great Depression. The fear and uncertainty associated with the Trump Administration’s recent actions could cripple the economy in ways that aren’t yet apparent. Our economy relies on a free market with limited uncertainty. When business leaders feel the economic earth move, they tend to retreat to safety causing the economy to contract.
I describe this environment in this week’s episode. God is sovereign over our lives, our economy, and our government. We can rest in Him while recognizing the risks of this Administration’s policies.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The U.S. is in a trade war with China and other nations. There is a clear precedent in our history for the impact of the strategy that is currently employed by the Trump administration.”John Warren
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Our topic this week involves language that our society today is most accustomed to. Paul talks about the treatment of our sin and its wages or due as debt. Americans set a consumer debt record recently by exceeding one trillion dollars in total credit card debt. Consumer credit is used by a majority of American households to purchase products of various types including homes, cars, durable goods, and consumer goods.
The DebtIt would be rare, in our modern culture, to have a debt we owe to someone cancelled by that person or entity simply because they love us. Paul explains, using language that would picture the satisfaction of a personal debt, that Jesus cancelled our debt for our sin by nailing it to the cross.
This is a beautiful picture of the finished work of Christ and its implications. Debt instruments or promises to repay were often nailed to a wall or door in a public place. This indicates to the watching world that the debt has been extinguished. This is especially important in a culture that allowed slavery for those who didn’t pay their debts. But the liberation from debt Paul is discussing is eternal. Jesus Christ our Lord permanently paid our debt on the cross by conquering our sin and death.
The CancellationPaul says in Romans 8:1 that there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As they hymn writer said, “my sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord oh my soul.”
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“It would be rare, in our modern culture, to have a debt we owe to someone cancelled by that person or entity simply because they love us.”John Warren
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Our series on the preeminence of Jesus Christ continues today. This week, our topic focuses on our sin being nailed to the cross.
Our Promissory NoteIn the first century, it was common for debts to be memorialized in writing. This early form of the promissory note was marked with an X or the word “cancelled” when the debt was paid in full, and the creditor would often nail the debt to a wall in a public place for all to see that the debt was cancelled. This is the imagery of Paul’s statement that our debt is nailed to the cross. Our guilt and debt has been forgiven by God, and Jesus has paid it in full through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
Nailed to the CrossThis episode is about the incredible reality that is ours if we have trusted in Jesus by faith. Please listen and don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like additional information.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Our guilt and debt has been forgiven by God, and Jesus has paid it in full through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension.”John Warren
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We all seem to enjoy reading, watching, and learning about mysteries. Mysteries intrigue us. Unfortunately, many of us obsess over resolving mysteries that aren’t ours to understand. We want to know why God does and doesn’t do certain things.
The ColossiansMystery cults have been popular going all the way back to the first century. Paul writes some of his letter to the churches to deal with these mystery cults. One of them even believed that angels created the earth and that only certain people had the knowledge to act as intermediaries to God. Paul addresses this in Colossians.
The Mystery RevealedThe mystery of Jesus Christ is revealed in Scripture. The prophets were pointing to Him, and this mystery is clearly resolved for us in the New Testament. In this episode, we discuss this very important, revealed mystery. The mystery is resolved and clearly explained for us.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“In this episode we discuss a very important revealed mystery. The mystery of Jesus Christ that is revealed in Scripture.”John Warren
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Today’s episode focuses on one of the most encouraging principles in all of Scripture. We, who have sinned and fled from a holy God, are reconciled to Him. The implications of this should change our lives dramatically.
The ImplicationsThis is a profound, life-changing truth. God sees us through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we are reconciled to Him. We are no longer alienated.
No Longer AlienatedPlease celebrate this truth, and share this episode with others who need to hear this encouraging reality.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“God sees us through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we are reconciled to Him. The implications of this should change our lives dramatically.”John Warren
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Legalism and its derivatives are the sources of more anxiety and doubts and fears than anything else I can think of in the Christian life. The Apostle references our walk or “the worthy walk.” What does this mean?
LegalismIn this episode, we discuss the worthy walk and all of its implications. We are justified by faith, and we continue to walk by faith. The legalist appears to be on solid theological ground. They are the people we like having as neighbors. But they are missing something that the Judaizers who opposed Paul missed. They are missing a clear understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Justification by FaithThe worthy walk isn’t one wherein we earn God’s favor or somehow validate our spiritual condition. This counterintuitive teaching is much clearer than we realize. This is a powerful truth, and we explore it clearly in this episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The Apostle Paul references our walk or “the worthy walk.” What does this mean?John Warren
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Today’s episode is about the family of God and what it means to be part of that family. The Bible uses familial language to describe Christians and our relationships – with God and with each other. The implications of this are important, and clear understanding of these truths is much needed in our evangelical culture today.
Familial LanguageThis episode is another in our ongoing series on the preeminence of Jesus Christ our Lord. This topic isn’t academic. It informs our lives in very tangible ways. Our relationship with Jesus informs our human relationships. In fact, as we grow in Christ, we grow closer to other Christians who are growing in Christ.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The Bible uses familial language to describe Christians and our relationships-with God and with each other.”John Warren
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Our answer to the question, “who is Jesus,” is a differentiator among religions of the world. It has likely occurred to you that Islam, Postmodernism, Secularism and other views of the world answer this question poorly.
His PreeminenceIn the church today, the local church and its denominations, we still struggle to understand Jesus Christ our Lord and His preeminence. We explore this topic in this powerful episode.
The Apostle Paul’s MinistryThe facts we discuss today begin with an understanding of the Apostle Paul’s ministry and its authenticity along with the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. An accurate historical view of the facts gives us confidence in Paul’s authorship of his epistles.
All of Scripture points us to Jesus Christ. Paul in particular explains this in Colossians and elsewhere. He beautifully deals with heresy and explains that a clear understanding of Jesus and His preeminence addresses the foolishness of the Judaistic Gnostics.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Our answer to the question, “who is Jesus,” is a differentiator among religions of the world.”John Warren
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We sometimes struggle to relate to biblical stories. Sometimes the roles of the characters, the historical implications of their actions, or just the way they are referenced can get in our way. Parables are often especially difficult to understand.
The ParableToday, we discuss a topic that can get lost in one of the simplest but most powerful parables of Jesus. This parable is about a Pharisee, who is a legalist, and a tax collector, who is poorly regarded by society. The legalistic arrogance of the Pharisee is clear in this parable and elsewhere in Scripture. But the challenge for us is that we are drawn to this legalism, this self-sufficiency, today.
The GospelThe parable is about a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pharisee says that he is worthy and not inferior like the tax collector. The tax collector begs for mercy and calls himself a sinner.
We tend to obsess over the past, and we struggle to employ the biblical imperative to look forward. My hope is that this episode encourages you in your faith. I pray that it prompts us to humbly see ourselves and our sin clearly as we rest in our Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on our behalf.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The parable is about a response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”John Warren
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Today we are discussing an important parable in Scripture. There are some powerful lessons for us in the parables of Jesus.
JusticeThis parable teaches us about justice and God’s Kingdom. When we look at this parable in context, we see that this parable is preceded by one of the more difficult sections of Scripture. Jesus talks about going away and His Kingdom. We unpack the difficulty and explain it with clarity, but we acknowledge the difficulty.
God’s KingdomThe Pharisees were out to get Jesus – to discredit Him. They asked questions of Him from time to time in an effort to expose Him as inauthentic. This is the background for our parable. It provides us with valuable context. God’s Kingdom, the return of Jesus, and justice are important topics that we explore in today’s episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“God’s kingdom, the return of Jesus, and justice are important topics that we explore in today’s episode.”John Warren
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Former President Donald Trump has taken office after one of the most significant comebacks in political history. We learn in Scripture, in particular in Romans 13, that God has ordained government and we are to submit to its authority. In this episode, we discuss the election results and the implications for our great nation.
Romans 13This episode includes a summary of the election results, President Trump’s legal challenges, and perspective on the election from a historical perspective. There has been much said and printed about the fairness of our elections based on voter turnout and other issues. We offer clear perspective on this issue in this important episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“In this episode, we discuss the election results and the implications for our great nation.”John Warren
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I don’t typically share personal details here since this podcast is intended to discuss biblical truth and truth across several disciplines. My hope is that this very personal episode will be a blessing to you.
The DifficultyThe last few years of my dad’s life were difficult. He broke both hips, had back surgery, and several other health issues. Realizing that many of you have similar experiences, I hope this episode is an encouragement.
The JourneyI discuss my own guilt and my desire to honor my dad. The challenges are real, but there is beauty in the journey. God uses these challenges for our good and His glory. Your thoughts and feedback are welcomed.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“I discuss my own guilt and my desire to honor my dad. The challenges are real, but there is beauty in the journey.”John Warren
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In this informative episode, Pastor Charlie Parish talks about the challenges of being a Pastor. He explains, in very practical terms, ways that a congregation can and should support their Pastor.
PastorsCharlie explains that praying for our Pastors is the most important way we can provide support. He also explains that engagement in the church and deploying our gifts in community are explained clearly in Scripture.
Charlie is candid about the pressures and stresses experienced by Pastors. He allows us to look behind the curtain, and he walks us through some of these stresses and pressures.
Pastor’s WivesWe discuss the role of a Pastor’s wife, and the fact that she experiences many of the challenges and pressures of the Pastor. The Pastor’s wife can be lonely and should also be supported, rather than harshly judged, by the church community.
We also discuss the need for assembled Christian community amidst some of our cultural decline in the U.S. The value of employing our gifts together by engaging in the local church is clear in Scripture.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“Pastor Charlie Parish talks about the challenges of being a Pastor. He explains in practical terms, ways a congregation can and should support their Pastor. “John Warren
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My friend, Pastor Charlie Parish, is back with me this week to talk about “the fruits of salvation.” Charlie graciously answers questions like, “what does the Bible say about salvation?” He explains the dangers of thinking poorly about this topic in this important episode.
Doctrines of Grace in SalvationWe also discuss the nature of man, the nature of God, and doctrines of grace in salvation. We discuss professing Christians who attempt to earn God’s favor with their own righteousness. Charlie explains that this problem, which was explained in 1 Corinthians, is also a problem in our culture today. “If somebody thinks they can merit their own salvation, they don’t understand the doctrines of grace.”
Charlie explains eisegesis and exegesis, and the importance of approaching Scripture in an effort to read out of the text the intended meaning by the author.
Fruits of SalvationCharlie explains assurance of salvation. He discusses Scripture’s blueprint and the importance of resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And he goes on to explain that we can look at our lives over years of growth to see if we are loving Christ more and hating sin more over time. This growth, this hatred of sin that we once reveled in is certainly indicative of the work of God in our hearts.
Charlie discusses our doubts, fears, and guilt. He explained that the Disciples doubted and struggled. He explained that true living faith is clearly communicated in 1 John and James. “The test isn’t whether or not we’re sinless, but whether or not we are grieved by our sin. Are we mortified by our sin? Do we have that kind of heart?” Our sin becomes more apparent, and it saddens us more as we mature.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“If somebody thinks they can merit their own salvation, they don’t understand the doctrines of grace.”Charlie Parish
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My guest this week is Katherine Berger. Katherine and her husband Russel are featured in The American Gospel Films and on AGTV – a streaming service that I recommend to all of you who seek to grow in God’s grace. Their story has been told widely, and I’m grateful that she spent an hour with me to tell the story of God’s faithfulness in her life.
Katherine’s StoryKatherine’s story is remarkable because it includes unimaginable physical suffering through medical challenges that have lingered and grown more severe over many years. In this powerful conversation, Katherine tells the story of God’s faithfulness in her suffering. She describes her desires for her family, the challenges her children have grown up with, and her desires for the future.
Katherine’s story is made more remarkable by her firm grip on biblical truth. She acknowledges that God is good, and she is resting in His love for her and her family.
God’s Faithfulness in SufferingShe shares the good news of some signs of improvement as she describes the fact that she can now cook and drive and experience some of life’s pleasures. But she also describes her prognosis and the serious, life-threatening challenges that she continues to face.
This is a conversation that you will want to share broadly. Katherine’s story is impactful. My prayer is that God will use this conversation for His glory in our lives. Katherine’s grace, wisdom, and patience through suffering can only come from our Lord.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“Katherine’s story is remarkable because it includes unimaginable physical suffering through medical challenges that have lingered and grown more severe over many years.”John Warren
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Charlie Parish is one of those friends I don’t deserve. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational.
He tells his story in this powerful conversation. The story is one that is shared in some respects by many, and it is also unique.
Concerns for the ChurchCharlie explains his concerns for the church and explains what it really means to have a high view of God. The implications of the information he shares in this episode are most important.
Challenging TopicsEWe discuss some challenging topics in this conversation including doctrine, theology, complementarianism, the gospel, and more.
Charlie explains his call to Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He explains the amazing congregation there and their migration to a biblical model of governance. I describe the beauty of our visit to this church almost two years ago at the outset of the pandemic, and we talk about the culture, the love and grace, of Chip Doster and others in this congregation.
You will be blessed by the beautiful truth discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
“Charlie Parish is one of those friends I don’t deserve. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational.”John Warren
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We are not faithful as sinners. Even our churches today are not faithful to Scripture. We don’t connect truth, absolute truth, and faithfulness in our culture today. There is only one who is faithful. We are unfaithful.
God’s FaithfulnessGod’s faithfulness is something we talk about when we have a challenge where we think we have an acute or at least significant need. Isn’t this something we say to each other when we share stories of calamity,” God is faithful” or “God will be faithful.” God is faithful in all things at all times. He is faithful regardless of our circumstances. He is faithful to Himself, to His character, to all of the traits we are studying that comprise His essence. He is faithful to truth. He is faithful to His nature. He is completely reliable 100% of the time. He has never had an unfaithful moment, thought, or action of any sort. When we sing, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, we should shout it. It is greater than we can imagine.
Faithful to HimselfI discuss these truths in today’s episode of Relentless Truth:
-God is trustworthy or faithful to Himself – his essence, attributes; therefore, His promises can be relied upon. He is, therefore, steady and stable.
-God is trustworthy or faithful to truth or reality, and He is immutable as such.
-The word faithful means loyal, steadfast, true to the facts; true to one’s word; constant.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“God is faithful in all things at all times.”John Warren
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We have interesting thoughts on God’s knowledge and knowing Him. We tend to think he thinks like we do or that He has just a bit more knowledge than everyone. We think of God having sort of a supercomputer, but we don’t think of His knowledge as supreme as it is.
God’s KnowledgeIt should give us tremendous comfort to think about God’s knowledge and other attributes correctly. He first loved us. He knows everything about us from eternity past and first loved us. He gave Himself for us while knowing us thoroughly. We see just how absurd it is to think, “how could God love me” when we rightly think about His knowledge, love, mercy, grace, immutability, power, essence, and so on.
Rest in God’s Knowing UsIn this episode, we conclude that we can rest in God’s knowing us, that it gives us comfort as we trust Him, that He knows our plans, that His will is perfect and unchanging, that He knows all of the alternatives, that He knows the answer to everything instantly, that He isn’t surprised by additional knowledge, and that He is far superior in knowledge to anyone or thing that we can imagine.
We explore the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. This is the purpose of this study of God’s attributes. It isn’t just an academic exercise, but the academic exercise is a necessary element toward truly knowing God.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Today we explore the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. He knows everything about us from eternity past and first loved us.”John Warren
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Our topic today is God’s power or omnipotence. Nothing is beyond God’s ability. All power is possessed by Him. This is the greatness of God. No one can exercise power over Him. God possesses all power. The little power that we have is delegated by God.
All PowerGod isn’t just a bit more powerful than others. He has all power. Martin Luther said that the devil is God’s devil to carry out God’s purposes. God and Satan aren’t in a power struggle over who controls the universe. Satan’s power came from God.
Nothing is hard for God. He can do anything as easily as He can do anything else. He doesn’t expend power that has to be replenished. He is truly all powerful.
Nothing is Hard for GodAn example of God’s power is seen clearly in the life of Jesus Christ. Some forty miracles are directly chronicled during His earthly ministry, and many others are referenced in general terms.
God’s power in infinite, invincible, inexhaustible, incomprehensible, and self-consistent. All of God’s attributes are in all of His other attributes, and He is one in essence. So, His power is full of grace, mercy, love, and so on.
The implications of this truth for us is that He can be trusted, relied upon, and is changeless. He keeps his promises with his creatures, and that should reduce our anxiety.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Nothing is beyond God’s ability. All power is possessed by Him. This is the greatness of God.”John Warren
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I discuss the economy in this week’s episode. This episode focuses on issues that are important to individuals and families. This practical discussion reveals patterns in the economy that might not be obvious to you. My hope is that this information will assist you as you think about and prepare for the economic future.
The Diamond-Water ParadoxThe diamond-water paradox is part of my discussion in this episode. This paradox teaches an important lesson on value, and it is an effective tool for understanding the “invisible hand of the market.”
I explain price equilibrium, supply and demand, and other tools that might be constructive toward a clearer understanding of the economy in this important update. I dive into the economic indicator weeds and attempt to provide clarity by explaining the data.
The Impact of DebtI also explain the impact of debt and our current interest rate environment. I review price and wages changes in an effort to explain the reasons we are all feeling like the economy is not as strong as we are being told that it is.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“This discussion reveals patterns in the economy that might not be obvious to you. My hope is that this information will assist you as you think about and prepare for the economic future.”###### John Warren
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God’s Wrath and its AppeasementGod’s wrath and its appeasement by the finished work of Jesus Christ is among the most important doctrines of Scripture. It is incorrect to say that God is not wrathful or even angry. God’s character includes wrath, and I discuss this in this episode. Please enjoy this important episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“God’s wrath and its appeasement by the finished work of Jesus Christ is among the most important doctrines of Scripture.”###### John Warren
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Paul discusses humility and its importance in our lives in Ephesians 4. He also discusses gentleness – an attribute we don’t often think about cultivating. Paul goes on to say that we should bear with each other in love.
Humility and GentlenessThese themes of humility, gentleness, and love are not our culture’s current DEI. Paul explains that unity comes from an understanding that there is one God, but he doesn’t do so harshly. He stands for truth, but he does so gently, with humility and love.
DEIOur culture’s DEI is not Paul’s biblical DEI. Please enjoy this study of Ephesians 4, and don’t hesitate to send an email to the address below.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Ephesians 4. Paul discusses gentleness and humility-attributes we don’t often think about cultivating.”###### John Warren
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The challenges Paul encountered in the church are similar to our problems today. There is much we can learn from his efforts to correct the churches. We have reached chapter three of Paul’s epistle to the church at Ephesus.
Imprisoned Because of the GospelPaul begins with the declaration that he is imprisoned because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He calls himself a steward of God’s grace. He declares that the mystery of the Gospel going to the gentiles has been revealed to him.
Paul declares that God’s grace is a gift given by God. He expresses humility be calling himself the least of all of the saints. This isn’t feigned humility or hyperbole. Paul consistently communicates humility and gentleness even in his writing to correct issues or clarify doctrine in his letters to the churches.
Heading 3 Paul says that we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. He discusses this glorious truth in the context of God’s grace. God’s grace enables us to access Him with confidence.
I’m often amazed that Paul, who is in prison, is writing to free people in the church to encourage them. We don’t operate this way very often. There is no self-pity going on in Paul’s life. He focuses on what we have as believers in Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul is urging his readers to have boldness and confidence even during his imprisonment.
Paul prays for the church that they will be grounded in love and that they will know the love of Christ. He prays that they will be strengthened with power. He prays that they may know God. And he closes with a beautiful doxology declaring that God is able to do far more than we ask or think. I aspire to live in the context of this doxology. Praise God for His faithfulness. May this cause us to have confidence and boldness in Him!
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
” Ephesians 3. The challenges Paul encountered in the church are similar to our problems today.”###### John Warren
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We introduce Paul’s letter to the Ephesians today. Truth and Love are the themes of this beautiful letter. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this epistle along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul’s gentleness while proclaiming truth is apparent in this letter. God’s saving grace is the subject of Ephesians as Paul declares God’s truth with love to the believers in Ephesus.
Truth and LoveTruth and love aren’t at opposite ends of a spectrum as some would think. They work together beautifully. Truth is loving and love is truthful. Our new live in Christ is not just an emotional experience. We can know that we have new life in Christ Jesus.
These foundational truths will appear again and again through our short study of Ephesians. In this episode, we reference the geography, history, sociology, religion, and philosophy that is essential to our understanding of this letter.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“We introduce Paul’s letter to the Ephesians today. Truth and Love are the themes of this beautiful letter.”John Warren
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Economic cycles influence more than just employment, prices, supply, and demand. Certain economic conditions expose the moral challenges that exist in this modern world that we live in.
Economic Warning SignsIn this episode, I discuss the economic warning signs and conditions that I observe today along with a look to the future in economic terms. I compare this period to the Roaring Twenties – the decade of the 1920s.
Economic CyclesStudying economic cycles at a detailed level reveals patterns that we can learn from. I walk through those patters in this important episode or Relentless Truth. God is sovereign and we can rest in Him, and we can also prepare well with vigilance so that we are ready for challenging times ahead.
We are in unprecedented times in a sense. I hope this episode is helpful to you and your families as you make decisions during this challenging season.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Certain economic conditions expose the moral challenges that exist in this modern world that we live in.”John Warren
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Well intended organizations and individuals have supported school choice legislation in recent years. My home state, Florida, and many other states have approved legislation that is apparently intended to make education funding portable on a family by family basis. This year, the Florida Legislature approved a bill that allows even homeschool families to receive funding for their students’ education.
Risks for Christian SchoolsIn this episode, I examine the economy, the funding of education, and the risks that school choice poses for Christian schools in particular. Government funding almost always comes with stipulations, and those include entanglement with government non-discrimination requirements. Much like various government loan programs that now discriminate against organizations with clear Christian values in their corporate articles and by-laws, I am concerned that states will begin discriminating against Christian schools who have biblical standards included in their hiring and admissions processes.
DiscernmentMy hope is that this episode will prompt nuanced thinking on this complex topic. Good intentions only go so far, and this legislation contains elements that are fraught with risk. Private entities should avoid entanglement with government to the extent possible. This topic requires careful consideration with discernment.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“In this episode, I examine the economy, the funding of education, and the risks that school choice poses for Christian schools in particular.”John Warren
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This is our wrap-up episode on Colossians. Paul actually makes an emancipation argument in our text today. Paul wraps up the letter by discussing some instructions for the church. He explains how to give the right answer to people who question us.
Be ThankfulPaul implores the church to continue steadfastly in prayer. He urges vigilance with thanksgiving. Being thankful is required of us. This is an imperative – a command. We often think something like, “I just don’t feel thankful.” Paul is instructing us to be thankful. This is something we decide to do. We often mistake our emotions for clear instructions in Scripture. Our emotions, contrary to the opinions of many in our culture today, do not impact biblical instruction whatsoever.
Instructions on WisdomPaul closes the letter with instructions on wisdom, using time well, communicating well, and developing knowledge of other people. Paul’s closing of the letter is beautifully selfless and gentle. He encourages the church and doesn’t regard his own difficulties. Paul focuses his life on ministering to others. What a beautiful example for us in the church today. Giving the right answer for the hope that lies within us is an important foundational reality for living the Christian life in our culture.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“This episode will conclude our study of Colossians. Paul focuses on being thankful and instructs on wisdom.”###### John Warren
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We have reached the richness of chapter 3 of Colossians. “Seek the things that are above” is a present imperative. This means Paul is telling us to do this now and forever.
Set Our Minds on Things AbovePaul tells us to both seek and set our minds on things that are above. Paul consistently teaches this throughout his epistles. We are to intimately renew our minds in Him.
ForgivenessJesus Christ is all. He is everything. We are to put on the attributes listed here. As He has forgiven us, we are to forgive others. This being in Christ is the key to life. Living life in the context of the finished work of Jesus Christ is the key to life. This is the preaching of the Gospel to ourselves that Scripture demands of us. This is a focus on Jesus Christ our Lord that is uncommon in this world. We are to love, and we are promised peace that will rule in our hearts. A thankful heart follows. We are commanded to be thankful. Paul beautifully builds his argument here. The secret of life, doing everything in the name of Jesus Christ, leads us to having loving, peaceful, thankful hearts.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Seek the things that are above” is a present imperative.John Warren
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What does it really mean to be a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. The purpose of the law is to reveal the character of God. The law is not given to us for crowd control purposes as some would suggest. The law points us to the Gospel.
LegalismWe should absolutely not be comfortable with legalism. Legalists are good neighbors and good for society in a sense, but they are in opposition to Jesus Christ. We look at Matthew 5 in this discussion of our self-reliance as humans.
Scripture teaches us that we are saved by grace and should continue to live our lives by grace. Legalism is strictly prohibited as false virtue in the Bible. No one will be justified by the law, and no one will live by the law. It is Christ who lives in us!
Christ Who Lives in UsPaul lovingly pulls apart the heresy of the legalists and refocuses the Colossians on the Gospel. He also pulls the Gnostics’ argument apart and takes on Asceticism. The centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Paul’s focus, and he overcomes false teaching by correcting this church rather directly. These lessons apply to us and inform our lives today.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. The purpose of the law is to reveal the character of God. The law points us to the Gospel.”John Warren
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Paul reveals his tenderness in this section of his letter to the Colossians. Paul discusses unity and the fact that we all face challenges that can create disunity in our lives. Paul is loving and gracious, but he is correcting the false teaching in this church.
False TeachingThe eloquence of false teaching is deceptive, and their teaching is damning. Protecting the church and the integrity of teaching in the church is a priority for Paul. Further, he teaches us how to stand and how to walk by faith.
Paul is encouraging even as he corrects this church. Paul rejoices in Christ because of the good people in this church who are following Christ. Paul says that we are to walk by faith just as we received Christ by faith.
Walk By FaithThis walk happens first by faith, and this is a walk and not a run. The third feature is that we are rooted in Him. Built up is the fourth feature. Established in the faith is the fifth feature. And abounding is sixth.
Paul aggressively attacks false teachers in much of his writing. He loves this church and is working hard in this letter to correct the false teachers seeking to prey on them. He is reminding them of who they are in Christ so they can stand against false teaching. Paul clings to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ as protection for this church.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The Apostle Paul discusses unity, false teaching and how to walk by faith.”###### John Warren
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We are to imitate Paul as he imitates Christ. Paul wasn’t perfect, and he had regrets. But throughout his ministry, he often did the right thing and didn’t hold back when he ministered to people. We sometimes don’t say that next thing. We often hold back for a variety of reasons. I make excuses ranging from ‘they will think poorly of me’ to ‘that’s not important.’
Ministry to OthersThrough a tragic local death, I’m struck by the fact that we don’t really know what others we encounter are going through. I want my life to be characterized by love and gentleness with others – care for people I encounter. My pride is often the reason I’m not generous with care for others.
In our passage in Colossians this week, we again encounter the word “to know” or “knowledge.” This word is ginosko, and it has the idea of deep understanding and even intimacy. We know first academically, then with understanding, and still further, with depth and intimacy.
Delivery From SinI explain our delivery in this episode. Paul discusses the beauty of our delivery from sin. He explains our redemption – our being purchased like the purchase of a slave’s freedom.
Paul begins to develop his teaching on Christology in this section. He explains that Jesus Christ holds all things together, and He is the head of the body. He is preeminent. He is the fulness of God. He made our peace by the blood of His cross. This violent, horrible death on the cross made peace with God. This is our reconciliation. We can rest and rejoice in Him! We are truly delivered!
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul discusses the beauty of our delivery from sin, our redemption and our purchase from sin by Jesus Christ.”John Warren
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What is completeness in Christ? Humans don’t really complete humans the way Jesus Christ does. If you want to know who Jesus Christ our Lord really is, Colossians is your book.
Completeness in ChristWe tend to substitute idols for Christ’s completeness. I seem to always be a moment away from resting or trusting in myself. What a silly proposition that is. I tend to rely on the guy who has made mistakes, the guy who loathes his previous sins, even his life of sin years ago, instead of Jesus Christ our Lord who loves me and has given Himself for me. We tend to think of the idols during New Testament times as silly, and yet our lives so easily fill with these idols.
In this episode, we jump into the text of Colossians 1. We discuss the fact that He first loved us. He is the uncaused cause. Even Paul’s introduction is packed full of beautiful, rich theology.
Christ Equips UsIn verses 9 through 13 of chapter one, Paul discusses “the worthy walk.” It is our being in Christ that makes us worthy. He alone is our completeness. We must rest in Him if we are to live the worthy walk. In this episode, we discuss the concept of “knowing” once again. This intimacy of knowledge that we have in Christ. This isn’t just academic knowledge. It is relational and close and intimate. It is this intimacy that informs our walk in Him. There is no tension in this truth, although we tend to assign some tension here. We bear fruit because we increase in the “knowledge of God.” This knowledge includes intimacy of relationship. He equips us. Period.
We also discuss the way we treat each other in the church. This completeness informs our conduct. As we trust Him and in His might, we are able to build proper, biblical relationships. However, if we trust in ourselves, we live selfishly and often in conflict. “He has delivered us,” so we should live like delivered people.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“It is our being in Christ that makes us worthy. He alone is our completeness. We must rest in Him if we are to live the worthy walk.”John Warren
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We are confident that the Apostle Paul wrote this beautiful letter. This city was on the trade route to the east. It was an important city at one point, but it declined over the years and today, it lies in ruins. The church here appears to have been founded by people who heard the gospel while Paul was in Ephesus.
ChristologyThis letter is about Christology – the study of Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul’s greeting established the fact that he is credible as an Apostle. He didn’t do this in all of his letters, but he seems to do so when writing to the churches he hadn’t visited. It appears that this church was either started by ordinary people who had heard the gospel elsewhere or by Timothy.
Paul, once again, has to correct false teaching in this church. We saw this in our study of Philippians. It is noteworthy that false teaching comes from inside and outside of the church. This is sadly true today.
False Teaching and LegalismPaul corrects the legalists in this letter. The self sufficiency of man in legalism can feel good to us. Legalists are nice, moral people. But they are sadly misguided in terms of their pursuit of righteousness or right standing before God. Paul also addresses Gnostics in this letter. They thought that knowledge was only understood by them and was the key to salvation. They taught that all matter is evil. They denied the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and they viewed angels incorrectly as creators of the world. This church also had to deal with asceticism. These were people who believed that true worship involved deprivation of basic pleasures or earthly things. Ascetics and legalists appeared and still appear to be spiritual, but they deny God and His beautiful gospel in Jesus Christ.
This letter is about the person and work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ deserves glory, and the theme of this letter is the preeminence of Christ. The church is the body of Christ. Christ is sovereign and is preeminent. Please enjoy this powerful series.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“This letter to the Colossians is about Christology-the study of Jesus Christ our Lord.”John Warren
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Today’s episode is an unusual episode because it is about God’s faithfulness in our personal lives. My hope is that this episode will be encouraging to you. My wife has just had knee replacement surgery after years of struggling with pain and limitations.
God’s Tender MerciesWe saw God’s tender mercies in so many aspects of this surgery. From the surgery experience to the fact that she didn’t experience significant pain of any sort, God was gracious and tender. Her progress through the first few physical therapy appointments has been amazing. God has truly blessed us abundantly throughout every aspect of this process.
My opportunities to serve her have been a blessing as well. I have been richly blessed with the opportunity to serve my wife in ways that I hadn’t thought of as significant before.
The Body of Christ Provides ComfortOther lessons learned include the fact these significant struggles give us opportunities to serve others in ways that are truly impactful. In this episode, I recall several instances wherein friends stepped up and graciously served us and met our needs. I hadn’t ever truly considered the impact of these kind gestures. I’m truly struck by the value of kind gestures during the struggles of life. In this episode, I discuss Romans 12 and our instructions for living in community.
Another valuable lesson I have learned is the difficulty of being a patient who is dealing with major surgery. We too often assume everything is okay when it isn’t. These are difficult situations. Life is sometimes hard, and we have the opportunity to bless people richly during the hard times. We should bless them, even in small ways, in spite of their telling us all is well. Both the caregiver and the patient are likely struggling and exhausted.
The body of Christ provides comfort through the fear and challenges of these weighty life events. I hope this episode prompts all of us to recognize opportunities to serve people who are vulnerable. These opportunities are hidden in plain sight in a sense. If we look around, they are easy to find. These are wonderful opportunities to live impactful lives as we follow Christ and imitate Him.
People are struggling and suffering. We are all in need of love from each other. My prayer is that this personal episode will encourage us to live lives that are gracious, giving, and loving, and that we outdo each other in showing kindness as Paul instructs us in Romans 12.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“This episode is an unusual one because it is about God’s faithfulness in our personal life.”John Warren
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In this episode I discuss the state of our great nation in this election year. How do we find peace when the world around us seems to be falling apart? What is truth, and what are we to do in this environment? How is a competent, caring, thinking Christian to fulfill their responsibilities as stewards?
Stand for TruthIt is time for us to stand for truth across a wide spectrum of issues. I explain many of those issues in this important episode. We sometimes think that current events and our theology are entirely separate disciplines, but they are closely related if we apply our Christian worldview as informed by Scripture.
I address monument defacing, the purpose of government, the focus of liberal interests in our country, property rights, immigration, and other issues in this episode. Our answer to our political environment and the decline of our culture is prayer. We must not underestimate this important means of God’s grace for us. Please join me in prayer for our great nation.
The EconomyI close this episode with a discussion of our economy. There seems to be a decline in economic activity that is not yet reflected in the indicators. Again, our response should be to pray and to trust God.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“How do we find peace when the world around us seems to be falling apart? What is truth, and what are we to do in this environment?”###### John Warren
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We see Paul’s heartfelt love of people in this last section of Philippians. Paul acknowledges God’s provision for himself through the Philippian Church. He expresses gratitude profoundly while acknowledging that God has blessed him and will supply the needs of the church according to His riches in glory.
The Real ThemesThis beautiful letter that we often call a study of the joy of the Lord is actually a study of the solution to the problems in the church. The unity, purity of theological teaching, and the preeminence of Jesus Christ our Lord are the real themes of this epistle.
Coming Up NextWe look forward to our upcoming study on Colossians, but for the next two weeks we will be discussing current topics that you will find informative and inspirational.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“The unity, purity of theological teaching, and the preeminence of Jesus Christ our Lord are the real themes of this epistle.”John Warren
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We intuitively think sometimes that obedience is the opposite of disobedience. In this episode, we explore the importance of knowledge and suffering in our lives.
Obedience and KnowledgeFalse teachers of various types, particularly those Paul encountered throughout his ministry, believed that obedience is the opposite of disobedience. In this episode we explore the importance of knowledge, a thorough understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ, intimate knowledge in relationship, in our walk in Christ Jesus.
Suffering and ObedienceSuffering is similarly used by God as we grow in Jesus Christ our Lord. Obedience is not just moving away from disobedience – it is growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is growing in yieldedness to God, and this often occurs through suffering. Yes, God uses suffering to grow our obedience to Him.
We explore these counterintuitive truths in this powerful episode of Relentless Truth. My hope is that this will prompt a thorough study of Scripture. May God bless you richly as you contemplate these truths.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Obedience is growing in yieldedness to God, and this often occurs through suffering.”John Warren
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One of the primary issues or problems Paul is addressing in Philippians is conflict resolution. Two women, who are otherwise not significant in Scripture, are referenced because of their dispute.
Two WomenPaul urges someone, who is simply called “true companion,” to help them resolve their conflict. Paul goes on to explain the keys to conflict resolution. Paul is very direct but loving and gracious in this section of the letter. We would do well to learn from his instructions to these two women and the church at Philippi.
UnityAmong the problems Paul is addressing in this letter, the need for unity is significant. Isn’t it amazing how cold and even cruel Christians can be to each other. This has no place among believers. So, please enjoy this rich, practical, and weighty episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul addresses one of the main issues in the church at Philippi in this episode, conflict resolution.”Jon Warren
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Paul wisely tells us to forget what is behind and focus on what lies ahead. He has just completed a list of his credentials as a Pharisee. Imagine the guilt he experienced. He had persecuted true believers, and then he became one.
Forget What Lies BehindBeing forward looking is challenging. Paul gives us the roadmap for this and we discuss his instructions in this powerful episode. There is liberation in looking forward
Our burden is light because His was heavier than we can imagine. We are to accept and rely on the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. We explore these beautiful truths in this episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview.
“Paul wisely tells us to forget what is behind and focus on what lies ahead. Being forward looking is challenging.”John Warren
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The Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord is straightforward. We explain this in this important episode. Paul commands us to have joy in the Lord. Then, he goes on to explain that we are to think like he thinks. In this section of Philippians, Paul is persuading the reader to “think this way.” This means that we are to adjust our thinking to Paul’s way of thinking. And Paul’s way of thinking is according to Scripture.
Sanctification“Let those of us who are mature” assumes that some people are not mature. We must protect the essentials of the faith. Paul explains sanctification here. He explains the way Christians are to live.
Discern Truth and ErrorThe apostasy, or errant doctrine, of the Judaizers and others is called out in this section of Philippians. Paul sites himself as an example to follow in the midst of teachers who are enemies of the cross of Christ. It is our responsibility to discern truth and error. Paul goes on to describe false teachers. He describes them as being in ministry for what they can get out of it. Paul makes clear that is not the appropriate motivation for ministry.
Legalism and self-effort tell people how to live on this earth, but these philosophies don’t have an answer for death. Paul explains that our citizenship is in heaven. Paul looks forward to the return of our Savior as his motivation in sanctification.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“We must protect the essentials of the faith. Paul explains sanctification here. He explains the way Christians are to live.”###### John Warren
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Paul wisely tells us to forget what is behind and focus on what lies ahead. He has just completed a list of his credentials as a Pharisee. Imagine the guilt he experienced. He had persecuted true believers, and then he became one.
Regrets and GuiltRegrets and guilt are useful to us as we humbly submit to our Lord Jesus Christ. But they can cause us to struggle with anxiety and despair as we live the Christian life. This is one of my personal struggles. Regrets can deny the providential hand of God and the good he intends to work in our lives.
Regrets in God’s EconomyRegrets paralyze us and often aren’t oriented toward God. They are oriented toward ourselves. There is no place for God in the economy of regret. Regrets can be our mortal fantasy about not needing a savior.
Our burden is light because His was heavier than we can imagine. We are to accept and rely on the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. We explore these beautiful truths in this episode.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“Paul wisely tells us to forget what is behind and focus on what lies ahead.”John Warren
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Paul tells the story of his life in his letters to the churches. He presents a consolidated overview of his life in Philippians 3. We can learn much from Paul’s letters to the churches and others. He teaches theology and doctrine to be certain. But Paul also teaches us how to share our testimony in Christ. He teaches argumentation and apologetics – defending the faith. He teaches us how to correct in love and grace. He demonstrates clearly how to stand in the middle of controversy and suffering. He teaches us perspective on gain and loss, on struggling and abounding in good times and bad.
Defending the FaithWe shouldn’t miss the big picture in Paul’s epistles. We learn about his writing skills as he threads a needle in his argumentation. He provides a deep look at human nature in the context of all biblical truth. When we examine Scripture carefully, we see that it contains the knowledge we need to live this earthly life well.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“In Philippians 3, Paul is teaching theology and doctrine; argumentation and apologetics to be sure. But he also teaches us how to correct in love and grace.”###### John Warren
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses the difference between fleeting moments of happiness and the depths of real joy.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses the letter from Paul to the Philippians. The central theme in this letter is joy in the Lord.
On Relentless Truth, John discusses that our government seems to think it is responsible for all aspects of our lives rather than functioning with our consent.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses how the world, our world today, would change if we all studied sacred Scripture.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses God's wisdom and that His wisdom is the highest end and the best means toward glorifying Him.
On Relentless Truth, John discusses the goodness of God. Anything on this earth that is good, and there are many of them, are good because God made them good.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses consumer debt, our environment compared to the "Roaring Twenties" and the Jimmy Carter presidency.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses God's holiness and majesty, we will see the severity of sin in contrast with the holiness of God.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John looks at both God's divine patience, His slowness to anger and our own patience as we live in Christ by faith.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses the role of God as Judge. God's governance is challenging for us Americans to understand.
On Relentless Truth, John discusses the fact that God is faithful in all things at all times. When we sing "Great is Thy Faithfulness," we should shout it.
On Relentless Truth, John explores the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. God knows everything about us from eternity past and first loved us.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses God's supremacy which includes His power and it includes His authority and even His goodness.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John focuses on God's attribute as discussed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5 and Ephesians 2.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses God's power. Nothing is beyond God's ability. All power is possessed by Him.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses God's grace, mercy, love, and way they work together. This harmony, of God’s attributes is difficult to grasp.
Today, John discusses race in America and asks the question, how do we conservatives conduct ourselves, shape our opinions, in the context of Scripture?
Today, on Relentless Truth, John continues part-two of the key provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John highlights some of the key provisions of Article 1 in a fun and informative way.
On Relentless Truth, John's topic ranges from the health of some members of Congress to the efforts to impeach President Biden to charges of corruption in the President’s family, our nation is in tumultuous waters
Today, on Relentless Truth, John addresses one of the most difficult topics we face-having the discernment to know how to love others well while standing firmly for truth.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses patterns in the economy that might not be obvious to you in the hope that this information will assist you as you prepare for the economic future.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses grace as the sole source from which flow the goodwill, love, and salvation of God to his people.
Subscribe▼ Show NotesGod’s Wrath and its Appeasement
God’s wrath and its appeasement by the finished work of Jesus Christ is among the most important doctrines of Scripture. It is incorrect to say that God is not wrathful or even angry. God’s character includes wrath, and I discuss this in this episode. Please enjoy this important episode of Relentless Truth.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“God’s wrath and its appeasement by the finished work of Jesus Christ is among the most important doctrines of Scripture.”John Warren
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Our topic today goes to the very nature of God. There are three things Scripture tells us about God’s nature. First, God is spirit. John 4:24. The Greek does not include the article “a.” God is not a spirit as some would say. He is spirit in the highest sense. He is ethereal – having no substance. His omnipresence, which we will talk about later in our study, necessitates this. He fills heaven and earth and is not limited to a tangible body.
Secondly, God is light, 1 Jn1:5. This is the opposite of darkness. Darkness typically represents sin in Scripture, or evil and death. Light represents holiness, goodness, and life. The fact that God is light means He is the sum of all excellence.
Thirdly, God is love 1 Jn 4:8. He doesn’t simply love, He is love. Love is not just merely one of His attributes. It is His very nature.
The True Love of GodOur culture mistakes the true love of God for something much weaker – a type of amiable weakness, or good-natured indulgence; sentimentality, patterned after human emotion. This topic, just like everything else, requires our thoughts to be formed and regulated by what is revealed in Scripture. The ignorance and low regard for true spirituality in our modern world is sadly evident everywhere among professing Christians. There is little real love for God. One reason for this is that our hearts are little occupied with His wondrous love for His people. To love Him well, we must be acquainted with His love – its character, fullness, and blessedness.
The Love of God is Uninfluenced The love of God is uninfluenced – that is, there was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it into existence. There is nothing in the creature to attract or prompt such love. The love we humans have for each other is because of something seen in the object, but the love of God is free, spontaneous, and uncaused. God’s love is only found in His sovereign will, Deut. 7:7-8. God has loved His people from eternity past. There is nothing found in us that causes God to love us. He loves from Himself, 2 Tim 1:9.
We love Him because He first loved us, 1 Jn 4:19. God did not love us because we loved Him, but He loved us before we had a particle of love for Him. God’s love would not be His real love, His spontaneous love, if He had loved us in return for our love. He loved us when we were loveless.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview
“To love God well, we must be acquainted with His love-its character, fullness, and blessedness.”###### John Warren
On Relentless Truth, John discusses the immutability of God, one of His divine attributes. It is an attribute upon which we should meditate continually.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses the divine simplicity of God. Divine simplicity is the doctrine that says that God is without parts.
Today on Relentless Truth, John's prayer is that this episode will encourage parents and students as well as school leaders as they go back to school.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses the Duggars and the ministry of Bill Gothard and the issues surrounding them.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John discusses what Coram Deo means and the truth that we should grasp is that we are literally living life aware that we are living it before God.
Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses cognitive dissonance and how we embrace two contradictory beliefs at the same time with regard to God.
Today, on Relentless Truth, John reflects on his daughter's wedding and the evidence of God's faithfulness to all of us if we pay attention.
Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses the FISA court and the USA Patriot Act and the need for us to revisit both of these pieces of legislation to curtail the government overreach that has occurred.
Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses the ideal Presidential candidate and the positions that are critical to our nation.
Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses the sin of self-reliance, God's sovereignty and Romans 8:28. John explains that we can rely on God knowing that all things do work together for good.
Charlie and John discuss transgenderism, rebellion against God's design and repentance and forgiveness today on Relentless Truth.
Today on Relentless Truth, John urges the Board of Trustees at Bob Jones University to demonstrate Christian conflict resolution by negotiating a new contract with Dr. Steve Pettit.
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Lying is not a topic we are comfortable discussing. I ask my students to raise their hands in class if they have ever lied, and year after year, every student raises their hand at that awkward moment. These students understand the implications of the fall of man. They understand that Paul is right when he says that there is none that is righteous. And yet, as adults we don’t talk about lying, and we often live in denial.
Our Culture Embraces UntruthsOur Congress and other politicians don’t seem to understand this, and our culture embraces untruths on every level. It is expected in our society that advertisers, salespeople, politicians and others are lying with impunity. We have elevated “self” to a level that is harmful, and we treat those who don’t embrace this culture with hostility.
Desire to ControlI talk about the sin of self-reliance in this episode. It is at the core of all of our sin. This is a desire to control, and it manifests as resistance to God and a desire to place man over God. Transgenderism and so many of our other challenges are a denial of God at their core.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #ACSI #Christianeducation #CircleChristianSchool
“The sin of self-reliance is at the core of all of our sin.”###### John Warren
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There is a biblical issue that we all must address. We must come to the end of ourselves. The implications of our sin, and God’s wrath, are realities we must come to grips with.
We tend to live a sort of double life. We have lives as Christian, and then we sometimes live a double life of sin. We often seem afraid to acknowledge the implications of the fall.
Lessons Learned From LifeI discuss the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic in this episode. From learning to use Zoom, to toilet paper shortages, and other lifestyle modifications, we were jolted by the pandemic. Our spending patterns seem to have changed, and we seem to have learned to appreciate life a bit more.
For families facing the challenge of taking students to college, I tell the story of dropping off our daughter at Florida State University a few years ago. We tend to give them advice that they already know with increasing intensity because we are fearful that we haven’t prepared them well for this next phase of their lives. They know all of the advice we can give them. They need to hear again and again how much we love them.
I talk about lessons I have learned in the classroom in this episode. There is much to learn from high school 11th and 12th graders. I have learned that “Facebook is for old people.” I have learned that “fly, rad, lit, cool, and dope” do not have the same meaning. I have even learned that I’m a dork, but students tell me that dorks are popular now. Young people in this generation give me hope for our future. They seem to understand the absolute truth of Scripture well. They are serious about living life well and according to Scripture. They care about their worldview and work hard to apply their theology to every discipline they encounter.
How God Relates to ManI discuss who God is, who man is, and how God relates to man. I explain the notion of coming to the end of ourselves in the context of who God is, how He made us, and His purpose for us. This is only possible through the study of Scripture.
I explain how a righteous God, who knows we are unrighteous, declare us to be righteous without compromising His own righteousness. This is the real problem of evil. This is answered in Romans among other places in Scripture.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #ACSI #Christianeducation #CircleChristianSchool
“We must come to the end of ourselves. The implications of our sin, and God’s wrath, are realities we must come to grips with.”###### John Warren
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This special episode of Relentless Truth is a message to Bob Jones University. The Board of Trustees (the board) and Dr. Steve Pettit have engaged in a conflict of sorts that has resulted in Dr. Pettit announcing his resignation effective at the end of this school year. The board has accepted his resignation.
Conflicting VisionsWhile the facts aren’t all clearly known, the acrimony appears to have developed over time. Dr. Pettit and Dr. John Lewis, the former chairman of the board, clashed over issues related to leadership of the University. The fracture seems to reveal conflicting visions for BJU. There appears to be an element that seeks to return the University to the past with strict rules and practices that have been modified under the leadership of Dr. Pettit. The majority of the stakeholders appear to embrace the relaxing of some of the rules and practices at BJU along with other changes to the culture that have been implemented under the leadership of Dr. Pettit. Needless to say, the arguments are much more nuanced than this simple summary.
Positive ChangesDr. Pettit has, over his nine years in his role, given me confidence that I frankly haven’t enjoyed since graduating from BJU in 1981. He returned the tax-exempt status of BJU, achieved accreditation, initiated several intercollegiate sports, introduced more modern (and biblically sound) worship music, and generally updated standards of conduct while focusing the students, faculty, and staff on biblical discipleship. The campus is full of life with energetic students and faculty, and the image of the University in the community is much improved.
Mistakes have been made by the board and Dr. Pettit in recent months. The parties appear to have resigned themselves to the current state of leadership change based on a sense of duty and good intentions. In this episode, I am asking the parties to come to the table one more time to attempt to resolve this conflict.
Yes, there are other leaders who can guide BJU. Yes, the board has concerns about the precedent that might be set if they are seen as capitulating to Dr. Pettit. However, in a culture wherein Christian organizations are not thriving, Dr. Pettit has led BJU to a place of thriving in many respects. He has the overwhelming support of the alumni base – a group that is often ignored. He seems to have student, faculty, staff, and community support as well. Yes, this vision can be continued without him, but Steve Pettit’s resignation could begin a cascading of events that diminish BJU and even threaten its viability. In the battle between good and evil, BJU has an important voice, and it is important for the stakeholders to understand the implications of the decisions that are in play at present.
My years of banking experience and recent years of working with Christian schools inform me on many of the challenges present at BJU. I offer an informed perspective on these weighty matters in this podcast episode.
I believe the current environment affords the BJU Board of Trustees the opportunity to demonstrate restoration, repentance, and loving Christian conflict resolution by negotiating a new contract with Dr. Steve Pettit. I believe the negative publicity around this conflict can be replaced by an impactful, redemptive, biblically sound, accretive story about Christian conflict resolution with love and grace without compromising the board’s fiduciary or stewardship duties whatsoever. I outline thoughts in this episode that are intended to be constructive to that end.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #BJU #Christianworldview
“I believe the current environment affords the BJU Board of Trustees the opportunity to demonstrate restoration, repentance, and loving Christian conflict resolution by negotiating a new contract with Dr. Steve Petite.”###### John Warren
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I discuss current events in this impactful issue of Relentless Truth. The first is the prosecution of former President of the United State, Donald Trump. Our divided Nation sees the appropriate course of action differently. Some say Trump should be held accountable just like any other citizen, and others say he is being targeted by politically motivated prosecutors. We consider the politicization of justice in this episode.
Current EventsI also discuss the war in Ukraine in this episode. Russia’s ruthless aggression in violation of the sovereignty of Ukraine is jolting for all of us to watch. I review the tension caused by the U.S. and China appearing to take opposite sides in this conflict.
A discussion of current issues wouldn’t be complete without addressing the U.S. budget deficit and national debt. We have reached $32 trillion in debt, and we have at least $50 trillion in unfunded commitments. I address our recent efforts to stimulate the economy during the Covid-19 period.
We outsource child labor to China. We look the other way because we like low prices on goods. When we buy Chinese goods, and we do so often, we are blindly supporting human rights abuses that would be unthinkable in the U.S. We also appear to be blindly offering student visas to many Chinese students while their nation limits our access to their country. In short, our relationship with China appears to me to be one-sided and threatening to our economy and security.
We seem today to embrace being “woke” over our safety and security. And we certainly, for reasons that escape me, seem to want to avoid addressing the U.S. budget deficit. I advocate for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution in this episode. As politically challenging as this would be, it has become essential to our fiscal viability.
I also discuss our crime problem in this episode. The depravity of man is clear to all of us. I discuss our criminal justice system and the need to reform it. The either-or debate we seem to have on this issue isn’t nuanced enough. I explain the Bible’s explanation of depravity and government as it relates to our criminal justice system.
Asset RepricingI close with an update on the asset repricing that is going on in our economy. Home and auto sales are beginning to slow due, in some part, to rising interest rates. Our economy is transitioning, and asset values are beginning to adjust to reflect the impact of higher interest rates.
What can we do? Our response to all of this volatility should be to both trust God and get involved. Government functions by the consent of the governed, and it is important for us to engage. Our Country remains the greatest in the world. Our economy is the greatest in the world. But we must hold our elected officials accountable to make good decisions that are in our best interest.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #ACSI #Christianeducation #CircleChristianSchool
“We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”###### Benjamin Franklin
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Today we address the way we are to live in community. What does it mean to love each other? What does Scripture say about how we are to love each other?
I discuss Paul’s admonition in Romans 12 to “outdo one another in showing honor.” I can imagine a beautiful world wherein every human attempts to employ this imperative. The busyness of life and our selfishness can get in the way, but what a world we would live in if we all had a contest to see who can employ unconditional love for others most fully.
“Outdo One Another in Showing Honor”Paul goes on to discuss loving our enemies. This concept is challenging for me. How are we to love our enemies? We discuss this important concept in today’s episode of Relentless Truth. Meeting the physical needs of our enemies is a beautiful, life-changing truth.
Humble, Sensitive LivingContrary to our culture, we are instructed to live a humble, sensitive life. We are to submit to government, to each other, and even to our enemies. This is the good life. It is better than “the American way.” It is better than winning at everything we do. It is better than achievement of our goals. Focusing our lives on humble, sensitive living is a peaceful place of contentment in a world that is hungry for something it struggles to identify.
I discuss our relationship with government in this episode. God ordained government, and we are to come under the authority of all of our governmental entities. The lesson to learn here is humble deference to authority and sensitivity to each other.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #ACSI #Christianeducation #CircleChristianSchool
“What does it mean to love each other? What does Scripture say about how we are to love each other?”John Warren
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In this episode we discuss the current state of Christian education. I tell the story of the creation of my firm, CFS Financial, and the work I do with Christian schools all over the U.S.
This episode begins with the story of Aurora Christian School and my work with that school that began ten years ago. This work led to my introduction to other schools as well as The Association of Christian Schools International. During this period, I learned about the common struggles, financial and otherwise, that impact this industry and became a trusted partner with ACSI.
Common StrugglesI eventually wrote a book called The Financial Rescue Plan for Nonprofits. This book explains the common threads that I have found in many Christian schools. Those threads include real estate financing challenges, governance issues, strategic challenges, and financial management challenges.
Due to the challenges in Christian education that range from our culture’s decline, management challenges, and changes in the banking industry, my work with Christian schools is thriving. I explain the common challenges and describe the state of Christian education in this important episode. The pandemic appears to have caused parents to consider alternative education delivery channels. The information in this episode will be helpful and informative to both parents and educators.
I speak to several current issues in this episode that are critical to efficient and effective delivery of education for our students. Block scheduling allows the efficient use of time in many school cultures. I explain this strategy in this episode of Relentless Truth. I also describe the tension between quality and viability, and I advocate for modification of the course schedule to modernize the delivery of Christian education to meet the needs of parents and their students more effectively. This modification allows Christian schools to appeal to and interface with the growing homeschool community among others.
Value PropositionI explain value proposition as a key concept in this episode. Value proposition is a more modern way to describe the mission of an organization. To understand value proposition clearly, an organization’s leaders must know the internal and external environment, and they must understand why consumers, in this case parents and students, are choosing to spend their time and money with the organization.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #ACSI #Christianeducation #CircleChristianSchool
“I explain the common challenges and describe the state of Christian education in this episode.”###### John Warren
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In this episode we discuss recent bank failures. I explain the causes of these failures, and I provide you with some thoughts to consider in the context of these failures. I discuss some clarifying issues that will reduce tension and allow us to focus on the important facts regarding these failures and our banking system at large.
The History of Silicon Valley BankYou will benefit from the information in this episode as you try to interpret and find order in this environment that we find ourselves in. This doesn’t appear to be the beginning of a catastrophic collapse of any sort, but it is causing some concerns.
I discuss the history of Silicon Valley Bank and explain its financial condition in some detail. The reasons for this epic collapse are relatively easy to understand. The regulatory environment isn’t as complex as one might think.
The Basics of BankingI discuss the basics of banking and give listeners a helpful perspective from an insider in this episode. I even discuss the banking system’s purpose and individual bank objectives to give you an overview that might be constructive. Our media doesn’t always explain these matters clearly, and I hope you find the information here to be helpful as you try to understand the facts.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“You will benefit from the information in this episode as you try to interpret and find order in this environment that we find ourselves in.”###### John Warren
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God’s SovereigntyIn this episode, we discuss God’s sufficiency. There is much debate among Christians about the way God addresses us or relates to us. His character is entirely sufficient without us, and yet, even though we are sinners, He came to earth in the form of Man and died for us to save us. He extended his grace and mercy to us, and he saves us by faith alone in Christ alone.
Old Testament TruthThese beautiful truths can get lost in some of the nuance of Scripture. I explain the link between Old Testament truth and God’s sovereignty as explained in the New Testament in this episode. My encouragement to you is to not be afraid of reading and understanding these passages. We can embrace God’s sovereignty and our volition notwithstanding the fact that we don’t fully understand how to fully resolve some of the apparent contradictions in these truths.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“I explain the link between Old Testament truth and God’s sovereignty as explained in the New Testament.”###### John Warren
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In this episode of Relentless Truth, I discuss this notion of dying daily. Yes, we are dead to sin, but this is due to the finished work of Jesus Christ. While the Apostle Paul says he dies every day because of the challenges he faced, we are to consider or reckon ourselves perpetually dead to sin. But we don’t die daily.
Dead to SinThe notion of sucking it up and conquering our own sin is one that will leave us frustrated. Reckoning or recognizing ourselves dead to sin is the admonition that Paul gives us. We are “in Him” and incorporated with Jesus Christ. The efficacy of the cross is a beautiful truth that frees us to live lives that are dead to sin.
Walk in Newness of LifePaul makes it clear that we aren’t to continue in sin to activate more grace. My argument in this episode isn’t to just continue sinning. We are to walk in newness of life because of the finished work of Christ and enabled by the Holy Spirit. Be encouraged by this beautiful promise!
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“While the Apostle Paul says he dies every day because of the challenges he faced, we are to consider or reckon ourselves perpetually dead to sin.”###### John Warren
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My guest this week is Pastor Charlie Parish. He is the Lead Pastor at Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. Charlie is a good friend, and he has been my guest on many episodes of Relentless Truth offering insights that are pastorally and theologically beautiful.
The Character and Attributes of GodIn this episode, we discuss the character and attributes of God. Charlie explains God’s righteousness, holiness, transcendence, wrath, love, eternality, immanence, grace, and mercy in this important conversation. He explains the importance of Scripture as our foundation for truth, and he says that we can’t really know God unless we get to know Him through reading His Word.
We are honored that you dropped in to listen to this important episode. If we talked about issues that interest you, or if you would like more information on the truths we discussed, please don’t hesitate to send an email to the address below. We would be honored to explain the beauty of God’s character further in a conversation.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredibly important in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“We can’t really know God unless we get to know Him through reading His Word.”###### Charlie Parish
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These WordsIn this episode, we discuss justification, imputation, expiation, faith, reason, and other important biblical concepts. We discuss the righteousness of God along with His transcendence. My encouragement to you is to read the Gospel of John and Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Rome if you would like to learn these important, weighty truths.
God’s Word is AliveGod’s Word is alive, and it is powerful. The beauty of justification by faith is a truth we should think about every day. Our sinful condition is far worse than we like to imagine, and God’s righteousness, grace, and mercy are far more wonderful than we can imagine.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“God’s Word is alive, and it is powerful. The beauty of justification by faith is a truth we should think about every day.”###### John Warren
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My subject this week is the real problem of evil. The issue we talk about most often in this regard is about God being omnipotent and all-loving or omnibenevolent and still allowing evil in the world. The real problem of evil, however, is simply about how God, who is righteous, can declare mankind to be sinful and then justify mankind by faith without compromising His own righteousness. This is quite the concept, and it is important for us to know about who God is and how He works in salvation and the other aspects of life.
Who God IsFinite humans struggle to comprehend God, but He gave us Scripture so that we don’t have to guess about His law or plans for the world. We fail to see God clearly, and we often reduce God to a mere caricature of His real attributes. Developing an appropriately high view of God is only possible as we get to know Him through His Word.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“We fail to see God clearly, and we often reduce God to a mere caricature of His real attributes.”###### John Warren
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I discuss eleven important keys to success in this episode. These are the critical few areas of focus that will transform your life. These eleven items have proven to be keys to “success” to me over many years. I have shared many of the challenges and struggles of this life, and today I focus on a bit of an action plan with keys to success.
Areas of FocusReading God’s Word, praying consistently, caring for our bodies, engaging in creative efforts, loving unconditionally, stop relying on people who aren’t accretive to your goals, focusing on being rather than just doing, knowing your strengths, and studying the habits of successful people are among the keys to success I discuss in this episode. Probably the most important of these is simply, “don’t quit.” Stay at it. Refuse to quit. This is easier said than done because it requires discernment and wisdom. Please enjoy this discussion of keys to success, and don’t hesitate to write to tell me your story.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“I have shared many of the challenges and struggles of this life, and today I focus on a bit of an action plan with keys to success.”###### John Warren
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In this episode of Relentless Truth, I discuss the struggles that we all face. It can seem that the world is a dark place, and it can even appear that the darkness is rapidly increasing. Whether we follow the news, our friend groups, social media, our vocation, and even in our families, we can become inundated with the sense that we are facing opposition on almost every front. This can lead to guilt, fears, regrets, and other incredibly challenging, negative emotions.
Psalms 3, 4, and 51We discuss Psalms 3,4, and 51 in this impactful episode. David faced opposition but relied on God. David faced challenges but trusted God. David faced his own sin but repented and relied on God. We see in Psalm 51 that David knew God. He knew God’s character. So, as he repented, he didn’t half-heartedly apologize. Instead, he acknowledged his sin and who he is before God. And then, he beautifully affirms that God is truthful, wise purifying, joy imparting, cleansing, creating, renewing, near to us, restoring, and sustaining. David affirms that after repenting and acknowledging God’s promises, he can teach transgressors God’s ways, and sinners will return to Him.
God is The Same Yesterday, Today, and ForeverBe encouraged that regardless of your challenges and the negative emotions they bring, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can trust in Him just as David did. He is changeless, and He is entirely sufficient.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“Be encouraged that regardless of your challenges and the negative emotions they bring, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can trust Him just as David did. He is changeless, and He is entirely sufficient.”###### John Warren
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In this episode of Relentless Truth, I discuss changes in the economy that have occurred, are occurring, and are likely to continue to occur. I discuss consumer credit, the challenges with Americans taking on record consumer debt levels, and the challenges of record interest rates on that debt. I explain the inverted yield curve, inflation, GDP, the national debt, and other important issues that impact you and your family.
Preparation for Economic DownturnI discuss the preparation for a continued, even protracted economic downturn that is necessary. My recommendations include saving a year of your household expenses, reducing or eliminating debt, adjusting vocationally, and minimizing lifestyle related expenses among other strategies that might be helpful to you and your family.
Government’s ImpactOur government often, in an attempt to solve an economic challenge, exacerbates the downturn, and I believe that is what they are doing today. I long for a Congress that addresses our budget deficits and national debt in a serious manner. I believe that the “economic stimulus” and “aid packages” approved by our government in recent years are damaging to our economy in the long term, and I believe that we will soon face the consequences of many of those decisions.
I’m grateful that God is on the throne, and I’m thankful that we can pray and trust Him during these challenging times.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com.
“I discuss changes in the economy that have occurred, are occurring, and are likely to occur.”###### John Warren
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In this episode of Relentless Truth, I discuss the challenges of living this life. The implications of the fall, of sin in our world, are all around us all the time. The death of family and friends, medical issues, financial issues, and just the struggles of life can be daunting.
The Fear of Missing OutThe fear of missing out (FOMO) and the fear of making mistakes that have long lasting consequences can be most challenging for all of us…especially our young people. In this episode, I discuss biblical contentment. Contentment is promised and even commanded by Scripture. The formula for accomplishing this involves changing our minds to match priorities that are given to us by God in His Word.
Continue to Parent During the “Adulting” YearsI hope this episode is an encouragement to all of us. It will encourage parents to continue parenting during the “adulting” years of your student’s development. They don’t always express their needs clearly, and they can send confusing signals to us in their God-given desire to begin to exercise independence. However, they need our nurturing and love during these years, and they look to us to model love for them…the love that Christ demonstrates toward each of us.
Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. Our topic next week is the economy. We are beginning to see signs of economic struggles, and I will discuss our economic future in this important episode of Relentless Truth
“I discuss the challenges of living this life and FOMO.”###### John Warren
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In this informative episode, Pastor Charlie Parish talks about the challenges of being a Pastor. He explains, in very practical terms, ways that a congregation can and should support their Pastor.
PastorsCharlie explains that praying for our Pastors is the most important way we can provide support. He also explains that engagement in the church and deploying our gifts in community are explained clearly in Scripture.
Charlie is candid about the pressures and stresses experienced by Pastors. He allows us to look behind the curtain, and he walks us through some of these stresses and pressures.
Pastor’s WivesWe discuss the role of a Pastor’s wife, and the fact that she experiences many of the challenges and pressures of the Pastor. The Pastor’s wife can be lonely and should also be supported, rather than harshly judged, by the church community.
We also discuss the need for assembled Christian community amidst some of our cultural decline in the U.S. The value of employing our gifts together by engaging in the local church is clear in Scripture.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
Pastor Charlie Parish talks about the challenges of being a Pastor. He explains in practical terms, terms a congregation can and should support their Pastor.
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My friend, Pastor Charlie Parish, is back with me this week to talk about “the fruits of salvation.” Charlie graciously answers questions like, “what does the Bible say about salvation?” He explains the dangers of thinking poorly about this topic in this important episode.
Doctrines of Grace in SalvationWe also discuss the nature of man, the nature of God, and doctrines of grace in salvation. We discuss professing Christians who attempt to earn God’s favor with their own righteousness. Charlie explains that this problem, which was explained in 1 Corinthians, is also a problem in our culture today. “If somebody thinks they can merit their own salvation, they don’t understand the doctrines of grace.”
Charlie explains eisegesis and exegesis, and the importance of approaching Scripture in an effort to read out of the text the intended meaning by the author.
Fruits of SalvationCharlie explains assurance of salvation. He discusses Scripture’s blueprint and the importance of resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And he goes on to explain that we can look at our lives over years of growth to see if we are loving Christ more and hating sin more over time. This growth, this hatred of sin that we once reveled in is certainly indicative of the work of God in our hearts.
Charlie discusses our doubts, fears, and guilt. He explained that the Disciples doubted and struggled. He explained that true living faith is clearly communicated in 1 John and James. “The test isn’t whether or not we’re sinless, but whether or not we are grieved by our sin. Are we mortified by our sin? Do we have that kind of heart?” Our sin becomes more apparent, and it saddens us more as we mature.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“If somebody thinks they can merit their own salvation, they don’t understand the doctrines of grace.”###### Charlie Parish
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I don’t like talking about myself, but health issues have been on our minds since the pandemic started a few years ago. Over three years ago, I decided to eat a healthier diet due some health indicators slipping toward an unhealthy range. My wake-up call was a trip to the doctor and the required weigh-in process.
BattlesI talk about my battle with cancer years ago in this episode as well as my effort to ensure better health by dropping a lot of weight recently. The solution was a program that has an app that tracks points based on a forced nutrition mentality. There is no way I would have attended meetings or even driven to an office for “weigh-ins.” The plan forced me to eat healthier foods in an encouraging way. And it worked! The weight came off over the course of a year, and it has stayed off. My blood pressure is lower, and other health indicators are improved. My physician was pleased and even gushed that he was surprised because most patients don’t succeed at changing their pattern.
Striving For Good Health Glorifies GodThe truth is that I made the decision to live a healthier lifestyle because of Biblical truth. I genuinely want to be as effective as possible in the classroom, through my podcast, and through my consulting work. And to do this, I need to be as strong and healthy as possible. God’s love for me prompts me to love Him (as I discussed in episode 78), and that love motivates me to want to glorify Him. It isn’t a stretch to link striving for good health with glorifying God.
I’m glad to disclose the specifics of my weight loss process to interested listeners. Please send an email request or contact me through the contact form on the website.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“The truth is that I made the decision to live a healthier lifestyle because of Biblical truth.”###### John Warren
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Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that Christians behave badly toward each other and other people outside of the Christian faith far too often. I see more grudges, posturing, and name calling in the evangelical church than in the secular world sometimes. Why does this happen if we are truly walking by faith?
Christians Behaving BadlyIn this episode I discuss Christians behaving badly. The sense of license that we have in doing this is inconsistent with Scripture, and it seems to come from a place of entitlement. Does our security in Christ lead us into some sort of self-confident antinomianism? Do we treat our Christian community like a club that entitles us to treat others in the club with contempt because we believe our membership can’t be revoke?
The Greatest CommandmentI explore the core issues that inform us on this important topic in this episode. I review the greatest commandment and the fact that Jesus added, “and with all your mind” and “and your neighbor as yourself” when he quoted this commandment. The mind is important in Scripture because God uses His Word to renew our minds in a process that we don’t fully comprehend.
I also discuss God’s love for us as the reason that compels us to engage in loving our neighbor in this episode. It is “because he first loved us” that allows us to love others unconditionally. In fact, his character, as described in Romans 11:33 and following, is the basis for our ability to have our minds renewed as we live in Christian community.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that Christians behave badly toward each other and other people outside of the Christian faith far too often.”###### John Warren
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Sharla Elton is the Superintendent of Heritage Christian School in Canton, Ohio. She has an MBA, and she has both served on the board and served in a leadership capacity at HCS for many years. She shares her personal story and the story of the miracles at HCS in this incredible episode. I’m not one to use that word, “miracle,” often, but God has blessed the faithfulness of His people at HCS!
Heritage Christian School in Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio is a nice town with nice people who appreciate community. This part of Ohio, and others, have some economic challenges, drug issues, and a struggling part of the community that probably flies under the radar for most of us.
I was awakened to the community served by Sharla and HCS five years ago when I visited Canton for the first time. I have worked with over 200 Christian schools, and I have traveled at my expense to meet them, see their campuses, and diagnose their financial challenges. I have learned to get a sense for the culture of a school rather quickly, and I typically also review the school’s financial history and a history of leadership and enrollment changes prior to my site visit.
God’s FaithfulnessHCS is special. The families represented, the students, the faculty, the staff, the leadership team, and the board are unlike those I encounter other places. Sharla and I discuss this and explain a series of events that prompt my use of the word, “miraculous.” God has blessed HCS after years of struggle that would have prompted most of us to quit.
You will be astounded at this story of God’s faithfulness in the lives of His people at HCS. Sharla tells the story well in this powerful conversation. Please contact me if you would like more information about Heritage Christian School after listening to their story. You will be blessed as you hear Sharla’s humble and clear stories of the turns in the road experienced by this school. May God continue to bless the students, families, faculty, staff, leadership, and board of Heritage Christian School!
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at www.johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
“God has blessed Heritage Christian School after years of struggle that would have prompted most of us to quit.”###### John Warren
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My guest today is Pastor Charlie Parish of Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. Charlie’s heart is burdened for the Church. Christ’s Church is perfect and pure, but the physical church on earth is struggling. Charlie calls out those who deserve to be called out for liberal drift in the church.
The Mission of the ChurchThe mission of the church includes prayer, discipleship, the preaching of Scripture and glorifying God in all that we do. The proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to the mission of the church.
Charlie explains the benefits of corporate worship in this episode. He explains that equipping and fellowship are benefits of assembling as the local church. He explains that worshipping individually is not sufficient. Watching a sermon at home is not sufficient. He explains that the church in Acts assembled together and is a model for us today.
We discuss the fact that there is no perfect local church. We also talk about the fact that we often critique people in the church harshly. We often use the excuse that there are hypocrites in the church when we are, in fact, hypocritical to some extent.
We also discuss practical ways to find a good church. Websites, social media, and statements of faith are excellent tools to differentiate churches. Listening to sermons and even talking with a pastor or pastors are also effective ways to find a good church. Charlie explains that magnifying Jesus Christ should be the goal of the church, and our style preferences should take a back seat to this.
The Drift in Our ChurchesCharlie talks about the drift that is happening in our churches on social matters. He explains the liberalism that is sweeping the Southern Baptist Convention. The liberal drift that he has observed in recent years is accelerating.
Charlie addresses specific issues, like the committee formed by the SBC to investigate sexual abuses within the church, that are front and center in his denomination. The SBC has hired Guidepost Solutions, a company that doesn’t share the SBC’s biblical values, to investigate claims of sexual abuse within the church. Guidepost Solutions is LBGTQ affirming, and they apparently are extra-biblical philosophically.
Charlie explains that unity was the theme of the convention. He expresses his heartfelt concern that the church is leaving biblical truth. He says that the church is falling for pragmatism and playing a numbers game. He says, “unity around nothing is not really unity.”
We discuss the fact that doctrine is more important than unity for the sake of unity. It isn’t loving to dilute the teaching of Jesus Christ in Scripture.
This episode is a candid response to the drift of the church away from Scripture. We have a duty to Scripture, a mandate to glorify God, that requires us to engage on this topic.
We are called to be a light to the world, but the world is influencing the church. The church has a history of being influenced by the world. It is time for Christians to stand for biblical truth without compromise. Charlie explains that we are doubting God’s sovereignty when we add to Scripture to make the physical church more appealing. Charlie urges us to unify around the Word of God in this important episode.
Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
“The mission of the church includes prayer, discipleship, the preaching of scripture, and glorifying God in all that we do.”###### John Warren
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Charlie Parish is one of those friends I value most. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational.
Election, Predestination, and CalvinismIn this episode, Charlie explains doctrines of grace. He defines terms such as election, predestination, and Calvinism in a pastorally helpful context. While these doctrines can be jolting to some, I think you will be blessed by Charlie’s capable handling of these important topics in this week’s episode.
You will be blessed by the beautiful truth discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
“Charlie is a pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational.”###### John Warren
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It is my pleasure to welcome back Pastor Charlie Parish. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational. He is the Lead Pastor of Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He’s married to Lacy, and they have five children; Andy, Lincoln, Abel, Luke, and Haven.
This conversation is a continuation from our first episode together a few weeks ago wherein Charlie talked about his personal story and some common themes he sees in the evangelical church today.
AsceticismIn this episode we dive deeper into asceticism, as explained in Colossians 2:13-34, and our problem with self-reliance and the implications of the fall.
We talk about various ministries that are guilty of preying on human greed and even add to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charlie explains the gospel and our need for a savior, and he discusses the danger of false teaching and the misguided sense of belonging that this gives to some people.
God’s Means of GraceCharlie discusses the importance of knowledge and truly knowing God. He discusses the danger of simply knowing facts about God while applying human logic and reason to biblical truth in a way that distorts that truth. He explains the perils of legalism at one end of a spectrum, and antinomianism at the other. We discuss the importance of Scripture as one of God’s means of grace in addition to prayer.
We discuss man’s fear and guilt, and Charlie explains the difference between the healthy fear of, or respect for, God and man’s unhealthy anxiety. In this powerful conversation, Charlie describes our self-sufficiency as the root cause of much of our anxiety.
You will be blessed by the beautiful truths of Scripture discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
“Charlie explains the difference between the healthy fear of, or respect for God and man’s unhealthy anxiety.”###### John Warren
The post A Conversation With Charlie Parish-Part Two first appeared on John Warren Media.
It is my pleasure to welcome back Pastor Charlie Parish. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational. He is the Lead Pastor of Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He’s married to Lacy, and they have five children; Andy, Lincoln, Abel, Luke, and Haven.This conversation is a continuation of our first episode together a few weeks ago wherein Charlie talked about his personal story and some common themes he sees in the evangelical church today.In this episode, we dive deeper into asceticism, as explained in Colossians 2:13-34, and our problem with self-reliance and the implications of the fall.We talk about various ministries that are guilty of preying on human greed and even adding to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charlie explains the gospel and our need for a savior, and he discusses the danger of false teaching and the misguided sense of belonging that this gives to some people.Charlie discusses the importance of knowledge and truly knowing God. He discusses the danger of simply knowing facts about God while applying human logic and reason to biblical truth in a way that distorts that truth. He explains the perils of legalism at one end of the spectrum and antinomianism at the other. We discuss the importance of Scripture as one of God’s means of grace in addition to prayer.We discuss man’s fear and guilt, and Charlie explains the difference between the healthy fear of, or respect for, God and man’s unhealthy anxiety. In this powerful conversation, Charlie describes our self-sufficiency as the root cause of much of our anxiety. You will be blessed by the beautiful truths of Scripture discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
Charlie Parish is one of those friends I don’t deserve. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational.He tells his story in this powerful conversation. The story is one that is shared in some respects by many, and it is also unique.Charlie explains his concerns for the church and explains what it really means to have a high view of God. The implications of the information he shares in this episode are most important.We discuss some challenging topics in this conversation including doctrine, theology, complementarianism, the gospel, and more.Charlie explains his call to Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He explains the amazing congregation there and their migration to a biblical model of governance. I describe the beauty of our visit to this church almost two years ago at the outset of the pandemic, and we talk about the culture, love, and grace, of Chip Doster and others in this congregation.You will be blessed by the beautiful truth discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
No one seems to be talking about the fact that our National Debt has reached the tipping point. Deficits routinely go unaddressed, and that has been the case for almost 100 years in this country. Policy wonks point to Japanese monetary policy in an effort to compare an apple to an orange, and they conclude, based on a comparison of debt to GDP, that all is well. It isn’t. I break down the facts in this episode, and I explain a principle that Art Laffer has espoused for years – a modest individual tax cut would stimulate the right activities that would actually raise tax revenue and balance the budget. This tactic and some spending controls along with a balanced budget each year will put the U.S. economy on the road to indefinite prosperity. Without these changes, we are headed toward serious fiscal trouble. I’m concerned that this spending with debt accumulation in concert with rising interest rates and runaway inflation will create a perfect storm sooner than later. For reasons beyond me, it is politically incorrect to state these facts. I want 536 people in D.C., the President, every member of the Senate, and every member of the House, to lock arms on this issue. The FED can administer rate increases to manage inflation going forward, but those 536 people should agree on a balanced budget amendment and should commit to never printing money to stimulate the economy again. This is the stimulus of 2009 and 2010, and the government’s intervention during the Covid stimulus period, 2020 and 2021, coming home to roost. We did this to ourselves while failing to act in a fiscally responsible manner. I explain all of this and related issues in this important episode. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
My guest this week is Katherine Berger. Katherine and her husband Russel are featured in The American Gospel Films and on AGTV – a streaming service that I recommend to all of you who seek to grow in God’s grace. Their story has been told widely, and I’m grateful that she spent an hour with me to tell the story of God’s faithfulness in her life. Katherine’s story is remarkable because it includes unimaginable physical suffering through medical challenges that have lingered and grown more severe over many years. In this powerful conversation, Katherine tells the story of God’s faithfulness in her suffering. She describes her desires for her family, the challenges her children have grown up with, and her desires for the future. Katherine’s story is made more remarkable by her firm grip on biblical truth. She acknowledges that God is good, and she is resting in His love for her and her family. She shares the good news of some signs of improvement as she describes the fact that she can now cook and drive and experience some of life’s pleasures. But she also describes her prognosis and the serious, life-threatening challenges that she continues to face. This is a conversation that you will want to share broadly. Katherine’s story is impactful. My prayer is that God will use this conversation for His glory in our lives. Katherine’s grace, wisdom, and patience through suffering can only come from our Lord. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
To understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there are two essential pillars of truth that we must address as foundational. An understanding of who God is and clarity on who man is are foundational to all truth. This week, I discuss “who man is.” Paul and other New Testament writers make it clear that man is desperately lost in sin. We don’t like to talk about the darkness of sin and its implications, but this is foundational to seeing the beauty of God’s glory. Much like the darkness illuminating the stars at night, our sin causes us to see the beauty of God’s glory in salvation. We tend to easily see the sin in others, but we like to worship a false god who tolerates our sinful hardness of heart. We are far worse than we are prepared to acknowledge relative to the righteousness of a holy God. BUT good news follows this bad news. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is confirmed by his sinless life, cruel execution, resurrection, and ascension. Praise God, the story of mankind doesn’t end with the bad news of our sins! A holy God justifies us by faith in Jesus Christ! The bad news is resolved by this incredibly good news. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
Does the U.S. Constitution say that church and state must be separated? Where does the Constitution mention religion? What does it mean when it says, “there shall be no religious test?” Our politicians and media misquote and misuse the Constitution’s references to religion. The religious test question is particularly abused. What is it addressing? I discuss this and related issues in this crucial episode. Christians, it is essential for us to be able to articulate these matters clearly. We tend to assume we understand these principles, and we often rely on political leaders for our views on these matters. Please enjoy this vital episode on religion in the Constitution! Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media, email, and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and this Gospel compels us to share these truths.
This episode is intended to encourage you as you live this life walking by faith. I begin with the story of Schroeddie, the cat. And what a story it is. She zooms, scratches, hides, and does other cat things. I’m learning more about cats every day. In this episode, I talk about lessons from Hurricane Ian and the time to think that these storms can provide. Strangely, this was a comforting time wherein I had time to think about Scripture and encouragement. Scripture discusses suffering and God’s purpose in allowing us to suffer. But God is a joy imparting God. To be specific, there is tension in this life, but the God of Abraham is our God! In our struggle against sin, we can be encouraged by Jesus Christ. God treats us as His children when we are disciplined. This glorious promise should encourage us – even when we face adversity, or especially adversity. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media, email, and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and this Gospel compels us to share these truths.
We live in a time of economic uncertainty. I explain our current environment and core issues like inflation, employment, interest rates, and what we will make of all of this. At the core of this episode is the role of government in the economy. If you believe, as I do, that our government should be limited to the scope outlined in the Constitution, you are concerned about our government and its efforts to redistribute wealth through initiatives like the student loan forgiveness executive order recently executed by the Biden administration. Shrinking government should be our priority, but it doesn’t appear to have sufficient political traction. I also discuss practical, biblical instruction on personal economics and how we are to live in financial terms. Planning and budgeting play essential roles, and I discuss my thoughts on this from my years of banking experience. I also share some practical tools your family can use to shop for interest rates and other financial services and products. I even explain how you can become a millionaire! I compare this environment to the Jimmy Carter presidency regarding interest rates and economic confidence. “You might not be feeling it yet, but the middle class is hurting and going to hurt for some time in this country.” Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media, email, and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and this Gospel compels us to share these truths.
Today’s episode is about the story of my life. It is a story of God’s faithfulness and pursuit of me, a sinner in dire need of grace. For years I lived with doubts and fears, and I arranged my life to be all about me. It was about my pleasure, my accumulation of wealth, my career ambitions, and otherwise, a bunch of selfishness. Thankfully, God brought people who are committed to theology and people into my life. He pursued me while I continued my best efforts to be self-reliant. This episode is about the power of God and the sufficiency of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, my self-sufficiency was not sufficient at all. I was a miserable, empty, pathetic excuse for a human. God’s justice and grace aren’t compromised in His pursuit of us because of Jesus Christ. My wife’s faithfulness to love and pray for me is a rich blessing, and I’m grateful for a daughter who completes our family beautifully. Please listen carefully to the truth I share in this episode. God’s faithfulness is the theme of my life, and I want to share this story with you because of its potential to impact others. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media, email, and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and this Gospel compels us to share these truths.
I don’t know whether or not your experience of late mirrors mine, but I find this economy to be very strange. I studied the discipline of Economics in college and graduate school, and prior to a couple of years ago, I would have claimed to understand basic macro-economic principles. But from the moment I heard that we were in a pandemic a few years ago, I have witnessed the strangest economy in several respects. Groceries have increased in cost to a level that was unthinkable two years ago. Supply chain disruptions have resulted in shortages and long wait times for furniture, appliances, construction materials, and other capital goods. Employment is strange in that companies can’t find employees who are willing to work. And yet it appears that people are still spending money like we’re in the roaring twenties – the other roaring twenties a century ago. In this episode, I discuss the automobile and housing industries in particular. Car dealers are charging price “bumps” that take the actual price higher, much higher in some cases, than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. The same is happening in housing. Realtors are listing homes on Thursday, and by the end of the weekend, they are announcing a request for the highest and best offers. These offers are often above the asking price – sometimes thousands of dollars higher. How can demand possibly be so high? Did the pandemic change us? What about the national debt? Isn’t this bad for the economy? We are technically in a recession, but people are paying over the asking price for houses and cars. How is this possible? What does this say about capitalism? Does this say something horrible about our morality, or is this just the way the world works? My students enjoy my rants on the economy from time to time. I hope you enjoy this timely episode of Relentless Truth. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
My guest today is Pastor Charlie Parish of Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. Charlie’s heart is burdened by the Church. Christ’s Church is perfect and pure, but the physical church on earth is struggling. Charlie calls out those who deserve to be called out for liberal drift in the church. The mission of the church includes prayer, discipleship, the preaching of Scripture, and glorifying God in all that we do. The proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to the mission of the church. Charlie explains the benefits of corporate worship in this episode. He explains that equipping and fellowship is benefits of assembling as the local church. He explains that worshipping individually is not sufficient. Watching a sermon at home is not sufficient. He explains that the church in Acts assembled together and is a model for us today. We discuss the fact that there is no perfect local church. We also talk about the fact that we often critique people in the church harshly. We often use the excuse that there are hypocrites in the church when we are, in fact, hypocritical to some extent. We also discuss practical ways to find a good church. Websites, social media, and statements of faith are excellent tools to differentiate churches. Listening to sermons and even talking with a pastor or pastors are also effective ways to find a good church. Charlie explains that magnifying Jesus Christ should be the goal of the church, and our style preferences should take a back seat to this. Charlie talks about the drift that is happening in our churches on social matters. He explains the liberalism that is sweeping the Southern Baptist Convention. The liberal drift that he has observed in recent years is accelerating. Charlie addresses specific issues, like the committee formed by the SBC to investigate sexual abuses within the church, that are front and center in his denomination. The SBC has hired Guidepost Solutions, a company that doesn’t share the SBC’s biblical values, to investigate claims of sexual abuse within the church. Guidepost Solutions is LBGTQ affirming, and they apparently are extra-biblical philosophically. Charlie explains that unity was the theme of the convention. He expresses his heartfelt concern that the church is leaving biblical truth. He says that the church is falling for pragmatism and playing a numbers game. He says, “unity around nothing is not really unity.” We discuss the fact that doctrine is more important than unity for the sake of unity. It isn’t loving to dilute the teaching of Jesus Christ in Scripture. This episode is a candid response to the drift of the church away from Scripture. We have a duty to Scripture, a mandate to glorify God, that requires us to engage on this topic. We are called to be a light to the world, but the world is influencing the church. The church has a history of being influenced by the world. It is time for Christians to stand for biblical truth without compromise. Charlie explains that we are doubting God’s sovereignty when we add to Scripture to make the physical church more appealing. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
Today, we conclude our study of Paul’s epistle to the church in Rome. Paul teaches us about our pleasure here. Counterintuitively, he teaches us those pleasing others or being gracious to others is to be our focus. Paul addresses our kindness to each other here. He says that we should welcome each other as Christ has welcomed us. We tend to ignore these instructions about the focus we are to have on Christ. It is this focus, on knowing God, that is the key to living the Christian life. His love for us allows us to live lives of repentance and love. Paul states that he is grateful for the work he gets to do. Paul loves life and is modeling the way that we are to enjoy life. Our best life is lived by living it with our focus on Jesus Christ while serving others. His relationship with God was such that he knew he was doing the right thing. I want this for my life. I want to be certain that I am experiencing the fullness of Jesus Christ that Paul describes. Paul closes the letter urging the Romans to be wise about good and evil. Paul’s focus on being and doing is powerful. The benediction at the end of the letter talks about the mystery that is now disclosed. This is the mystery of prophecy that has been answered by Jesus Christ. He calls God true, eternal, and wise, and he makes it clear that we are to glorify Him. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
This episode is a timely conversation about government and love. These are two topics that you probably don’t connect quite the way Paul does in Romans 13. I have actually heard Christians say that “taxation is theft.” Others have told me that they don’t believe in the redistribution of wealth. My standard reply is to ask if they enjoy driving on safe roads and having help arrive promptly when they dial 911. We do, in fact, except among some rather unique people who are thankfully few in number, belief in redistribution of wealth. We just don’t want to redistribute our money more so than is prudent. We want the government to be wise and discerning. Paul is clear in Romans 13 about the role of government and our responsibility to honor their authority. God appoints authority, and we are to submit to it. Paul transitions from the government to admonishing us to love each other very comfortably. To enjoy collective liberty, we must each give up some personal liberty. Isn’t this foundational truth in the U.S. Constitution consistent with the biblical imperative to esteem the needs of others ahead of our own? So, this notion of liberty in society actually requires us to employ, to some extent, the biblical mandate to love our neighbor. Paul calls love the fulfillment of the law. We contemplate this and the implications of this in this episode. Loving without regard for reciprocity is the fulfillment of the law. This is radical, relentless truth. We close this episode with a discussion of Romans 14. Paul contrasts the strong and weak in this weighty chapter. He gives us specific instructions on the way we should interact with each other. It isn’t intuitive for us to extend such courtesy and kindness while using discernment as we grow in the faith together. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
Please, if you don’t listen to a word I have to say in any other episode of Relentless Truth, listen to this episode. The truth here is powerful, and the perspective Paul gives us here has changed my life and will change yours! I get to hang out in class with amazing High School 11th and 12th graders for 32 weeks each year. It is a rich blessing to get to know them and their parents. While I’m not conducting any sort of social experiment, I do get to know what most people believe about Scripture and its teaching. Among some of the common things we share from our backgrounds is incredibly narrow teaching on Romans 12. I’m wondering if you can relate to something I have observed about the teaching in most evangelical environments on Romans 12 over the years. I have heard countless sermons and lessons on sexual purity based on Romans 12:1 and 2. It is almost as if the rest of the chapter doesn’t exist, and most of the lessons didn’t bother placing even the first two verses in context. The result of all of this is that we miss some of the beauty of this chapter. In this episode, I explain the straightforward instructions Paul is giving us in this chapter. The notion of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is much more than just sexual purity. This admonition is to present our whole person. Most importantly, we do this based on who God is as explained throughout this letter and specifically in Romans 11:33-36! Paul isn’t saying that we Christians should go out of our way to be different from the world for the sake of being odd. He’s talking about our pattern of thinking! He’s saying, “don’t follow the world’s pattern of thinking.” This is about our ideology. Sure, ideology informs the way we live, but I believe Paul is teaching that living the Christian life well starts with clear thinking about who God is. Paul explains true transformation and renewal. The words he uses here are similar to metamorphosis and renovation. The Roman church would have been jolted by even the notion of a “living sacrifice.” All of the sacrifices they would be familiar with to any diety whatsoever would have been dead. Paul goes on to explain how we Christians are to live. If only we esteemed the needs of others ahead of our own by trying to outdo each other in showing kindness as he describes here. He even describes the relationship we are to have with our enemies. I hope you enjoy the beauty of the truth in this episode. The truths we discuss here are life-changing. My prayer is that these truths will provide clarity and perhaps correct some of the errant teachings, or at least the less than comprehensive teaching, we have heard in this section of Scripture. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
We continue to walk through Romans in this episode of Relentless Truth. In our previous episode, we talked about the sovereignty of God in everything. In chapter 10, Paul talks about mankind’s responsibilities. Paul is saying that man makes choices. We don’t work for salvation, but we do engage in accepting the free gift of salvation. Justification by faith involves man’s will, and Paul makes this clear in this chapter. Scripture informs or grows our faith. Faith and reason aren’t opposed. They aren’t opposites. Our faith is informed by reason. We have the responsibility to study the Bible. Paul makes it clear that we are to grow in our faith by studying Scripture. Period. There is no shortcut. There are helpful tools and books and videos and sermons, but there is no substitute for personal study of God’s Word. Paul goes on in chapter 11 to discuss the remnant of Israel. He continues to talk about man’s responsibility and the heart-hardening implications of our sin. He explains that our belief matters. Our response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is important. Our personal responsibility works beautifully with God’s sovereignty. We can’t fully comprehend this, but we believe it to be true, nonetheless. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths.
We discuss Romans 9 this week in our journey through Paul’s important letter to the church in Rome. This particular chapter is a bit unusual and even challenging to understand. Romans 9 is a difficult section of Scripture for most of us. In this episode, I ask the listeners to take a fresh look at the truth that is clearly revealed in Scripture as context for these challenging sections. I discuss doctrines of grace, God’s sovereignty, man’s will, and other topics Paul addresses in this section. Paul discusses our unity in Christ in this chapter. He is addressing a concern here. Paul is explaining that Gentiles and Jews are both “children of the promise.” We unpack whether or not God actually hated Esau and the Edomites in this episode. This leads us to a discussion of justification by faith and God’s sovereignty in salvation. In fact, this chapter teaches God’s sovereignty over everything. Paul says that God is just. He explains that God is merciful. And he exclaims that God has not just called the Jews but the Gentiles as well. There are mysteries in this chapter to be sure, but the beauty of this section is its focus on justification by faith for all people. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Sharla Elton is the Superintendent of Heritage Christian School in Canton, Ohio. She has an MBA, and she has both served on the board and served in a leadership capacity at HCS for many years. She shares her personal story and the story of the miracles at HCS in this incredible episode. I’m not one to use the word, “miracle,” often, but God has blessed the faithfulness of His people at HCS! Canton, Ohio is a nice town with nice people who appreciate the community. This part of Ohio, and others, have some economic challenges, drug issues, and a struggling part of the community that probably flies under the radar for most of us. I was awakened to the community served by Sharla and HCS five years ago when I visited Canton for the first time. I have worked with over 200 Christian schools, and I have traveled at my expense to meet them, see their campuses, and diagnose their financial challenges. I have learned to get a sense of the culture of a school rather quickly, and I typically also review the school’s financial history and a history of leadership and enrollment changes prior to my site visit. HCS is special. The families represented, the students, the faculty, the staff, the leadership team, and the board are unlike those I encounter in other places. Sharla and I discuss this and explain a series of events that prompted my use of the word, “miraculous.” God has blessed HCS after years of struggle that would have prompted most of us to quit. You will be astounded at this story of God’s faithfulness in the lives of His people at HCS. Sharla tells the story well in this powerful conversation. Please contact me if you would like more information about Heritage Christian School after listening to their story. You will be blessed as you hear Sharla’s humble and clear stories of the turns in the road experienced by this school. May God continue to bless the students, families, faculty, staff, leadership, and board of Heritage Christian School! Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at www.johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
I have the delight of presenting to you this week the amazing teaching of Romans 8. We have reached one of the most beautiful sections of all of Scripture! The beauty of Romans 8 is challenging to capture in a podcast episode. We scratch the surface of the implications of our not being “condemned,” God’s pursuit of us for His glory, and the immenseness of who God really is. I tell the story of our Pastor, Mike Francis, in this episode because this section of Scripture was so important to him. Mike and his family are a testimony to God’s faithfulness through a series of incredibly challenging events. Not only had Mike memorized much of this chapter, but he and his family have lived life in the context of the beautiful teaching in this amazing section of Scripture. Please enjoy the amazing doctrine in Romans 8. This chapter contains life-changing information that is written in plain terms. It will uphold us when we experience life’s struggles. It encourages us when the weight of our sin is just too much to bear. And it explains in clear terms the way God pursues us and ultimately our glorification. Our guest next week is Sharla Elton. You simply will not believe her story and the story of her school. This is one of those incredible stories that will encourage us and our walk by faith. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
We discuss Romans 7 this week in our journey through Paul’s important letter to the church in Rome. This particular chapter is a bit unusual and even challenging to understand. Paul reveals his humanity in this chapter. He reveals his own struggles and his heartfelt love for the church in Rome. I find it encouraging to feel the battle or struggle that Paul discusses in this chapter. Paul discusses the value of the law and the struggle that we experience with our sin. He seems to embrace the tension we experience in our sanctification or our walk by faith. Were the good old days really so good? Paul talks about our liberation in this chapter. I compare our need for crowd control in our institutions and personally living life by a checklist. The unproductive, emptiness of living life solely with the goal being rule compliance is crippling. Paul explains that the commandment proved to be deceptive and deadly when he submitted to sin – when it characterized his life. We unpack this important teaching in this episode. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
We discuss Romans 6 this week in our journey through Paul’s important letter to the church in Rome. How are we to live now that we are justified? Does our ongoing sin matter? What is the significance of God’s grace abounding for us? Paul addresses these important questions in this weighty chapter. We have journeyed through our sins of immorality, our moralism, and our guilt before God. We have discussed the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of justification. Paul continues a discussion on how we are to live in this section of the letter to Rome. The Gospel, or the good news of Jesus Christ, actually informs us on the way we are to live. God’s love for us in the person of Jesus Christ overwhelms us and changes our life. Our incorporation with Him is life-changing! Paul talks about the fact that our “knowledge” is important. It changes the way we live. Knowing who God is and what He has done for His people alters the way we live! Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
We dive into Romans 5 in this episode. This chapter is about the benefits of our justification. Peace with God is explained by Paul in this beautiful chapter. What does it mean to be becoming like Christ? How does God use suffering in our lives? And how do we even begin to rejoice at suffering? These questions are answered by Paul in Romans 5, and he goes on to contrast Adam’s sin with Jesus Christ’s “act of righteousness.” This beautiful discussion will leave you rejoicing in Him! God’s grace doesn’t just save us – it sustains us. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
My friend, Pastor Charlie Parish, is back for another conversation on Relentless Truth. We discuss the prosperity gospel and related dangers in this important episode. This perversion of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ causes anxiety and a focus on the human effort that is extra-biblical. Because we are guardians of truth, we have to share the error of the prosperity gospel. It is helpful to name those involved in the word of faith movement. This movement started as a metaphysical cult, and it has evolved into a perversion of the truth in the church. We discuss illness, wealth, creation, faith, and the power of speaking from the perspective of the prosperity gospel movement. The “New Thought” cult believed in the doctrine of positive confession – that is, people can speak and cure themselves, accumulate wealth, and claim most anything else they want. The root of this heretical gospel is human prosperity. Said simply, these teachers claim that we can achieve prosperity if we use this “force” called faith. One teacher even said, “have faith in your faith – not in God.” In other words, we can use faith to make God do what we want Him to do. The prosperity gospel teaches that we have done something wrong if we aren’t wealthy or if we have a health struggle. This teaching distorts who God is in the worst way. It turns God into a caricature of His actual essence, and it treats God like He is a cosmic vending machine. This distorted gospel teaches that man is the center of the story, but we know that God is the center of the story of Scripture. We discuss the danger of taking man’s word for Scripture over actual Biblical truth. The culture we live in is drawn to this prosperity gospel. Our culture has elevated many ministries that are engaged in espousing a secularist worldview. Charlie discusses the implications of the prosperity gospel. It discounts the sovereignty of God and makes Him subject to us. God becomes less powerful and subject to our will in this movement. Romans 8 teaches us that all things work together for good, and the prosperity gospel distorts this truth. This section doesn’t teach that all outcomes will be favorable to us. It teaches that God uses all things, whether good or bad, for good. This teaching makes me anxious. A self-reliant man is incredibly insufficient. We violate the teaching of Scripture when we question our faith because of illness or financial struggles. This is an anxiety-filled movement that places pressure on a man that man wasn’t designed to handle. According to this movement, we have the power to control even the weather by speaking, and sin isn’t something that separates us from God – it just keeps us from living our best lives. These half-truths are damning to well-intended people who are seeking to grow closer to God. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode on social media and through email and text with your friends. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Romans 4 is often neglected because of the significance of other sections of the letter. But I think we neglect chapter 4 to our peril. I grew up thinking, because of teaching that told me to think this way, that folks in the Old Testament, including Abraham, were justified by keeping the law. I wasn’t quite sure how it worked, but the animal sacrifice system seemed to have something to do with justifying sinners during this pre-Christ period of human history. Imagine my shock when I read Romans 4 and learned that Abraham was declared righteous, not by the law, but by faith. And to make the point, Paul discusses the fact that Abraham was declared righteous by God PRIOR to being circumcised. I discuss the implications of this for us in this important episode. I explain that the story of human history is one big story with the cross of Jesus Christ at its center. God is the main character in this story – not us. We are important to God – incredibly valuable to Him. But we are not the center of the story. The story is all about glorifying God. My students often experience an “aha” moment during our study of Romans 4. Perhaps you will as well when you see that the story of Scripture is one big story of justification by faith. This one is earth-shattering! Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Romans 3 is my favorite chapter in all of Scripture, and Romans is my favorite book in all of Scripture. Paul charges us with fourteen counts of sin using judicially strategic language. And then, he pivots to our great hope in Jesus Christ in the section we are reviewing today! Our study of chapter 3 of Romans today addresses the life-changing truth that impacted my life about 25 years ago, and these truths continue to impact my perspective today. They are foundational to a clear understanding of many other doctrines. Justification by faith, the actual details of this doctrine, will explain our sin, our redemption, and the life we are to live if clearly understood. One of the most encouraging experiences I have every year in my teaching is to have students grasp the teaching in Romans 3. The counterfeit doctrines we have been taught and have even codified in our churches are confounding Christians and causing defeat and even depression in the church. Students are amazed when they see the beauty of the implications of justification by faith in this section of Romans. Many of them conclude that “this makes so much more sense,” when they see doctrines of justification clearly. Paul continues to use legal and strategic language in this section, and I explain the courtroom scene that he describes in this episode. I seek to answer questions about God’s character, man’s condition, and the way God relates to man through Jesus Christ. My hope is that this episode will encourage Christians and appeal to those who are skeptics as we take a look at the finished work of Jesus Christ and its implications for mankind. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Romans 3 is my favorite chapter in all of Scripture, and Romans is my favorite book in all of Scripture. Paul charges us with fourteen counts of sin using judicially strategic language. Paul answers a couple of questions early in this chapter in an effort to anticipate objections to this doctrine of justification by faith. He knows that doctrines of grace are going to trouble the people in Rome – both those who worship the idols of the day and those who rely on their religious achievements. Then, in one of the most dramatic sections in all of Scripture, Paul lists fourteen “charges” against all of humanity. He says that no one is righteous, and it gets worse from there. Before diving into this incredible chapter in this episode, I read Romans 11:33-36. The reason for this is that it is, in my opinion, the centerpiece or cornerstone of this epistle to the church in Rome. It lays out so clearly who God is, and by inference, it contrasts God with us. I don’t believe it is hyperbolic for me to say that this section of the letter in Romans 11 gave me and continues to provide me with a clear understanding of who God is. A summary of this section is that we can fathom the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. His judgments are unsearchable and His ways are inscrutable. We don’t fully know His mind, and no one has given Him counsel. We aren’t even on par to give gifts to Him. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him. And all glory is His forever. This sets the stage and provides helpful context for understanding the way Paul indicts all of us in Romans 3. We aren’t righteous. Period. We don’t seek God. No. We don’t. We are worthless and we don’t do good. And he goes on to describe our throats and mouths in the most unflattering terms. He says that our paths are ruin and misery, and he says that we don’t know peace or fear God. He goes on to say that no human is justified in God’s sight through the law. Next week, we will address the courtroom scene that Paul describes in the rest of chapter 3. He pivots to justification by faith and explains it beautifully. This is our great hope! This is the key to life! This is God’s will for us! We don’t have to fret, and Paul spells out the facts that give us confidence. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
We address the dangers of moralism as we look at Romans 2 today. You might not have heard of moralism, but you have heard of man’s desire to be good enough to please God. Moralism is simply our efforts to be good enough on our own – apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The challenge with moralism is that it feels intuitively good to us from an ethical standpoint. The moralist is convinced that he or she is better than others morally. Most moralists are good people who are self-disciplined. They might be regular church attenders and even involved in leadership because they live exemplary lives. The moralist is also caught up in self-reliant sin. The moralist is often judgmental of others, and he or she strives to be good. Paul shocks the reader by clearly stating that the moralist is also condemned. So, the immoral people referenced in chapter one of Romans and the moralists of chapter two are both self-reliant sinners who are equally damned in their self-sufficiency The moralist probably has a harder time coming to the end of himself because he lives an ethical life – even a good life. The moralist is a sinner, but he doesn’t commit the heinous sins Paul mentions in Romans 1. However, the moralist also lives in sin. He commits sins of the heart while he condemns or judges others who sin outwardly. The moralist is in need of repentance according to Paul. The moralist is a hypocrite who likes to accuse others of sin, but the moralist is equally contemned and in need of repentance. This counter-cultural counter-intuitive lesson on the implications of sin is often neglected in our churches, but it is important to see clearly who God is, who the man is, and how God relates to man. Paul contrasts the immoral person with the moralist, the person who believes they can be good enough on their own. This is a powerful, radical truth that changes lives. This foundational understanding is critical to our ability to place the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the right context. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
We address the implications of immorality in this episode as we look at Romans 1:16-32. I explain the importance of Romans in my life as we begin to discuss the weighty truths Paul shares in this important letter. The church in Rome was well known throughout the world because of its faith in God. Paul knew that they were in a city that worshipped idols, and he knew that the Christians in Rome would have been thought of as atheists or at least counter-cultural from a religious standpoint. This is similar to our modern culture in the U.S. today. Increasingly, Christians are thought of as peculiar and even oppressive because of our faith in Jesus Christ. Paul introduces the beauty of justification by faith. He uses a legal term to explain our imputed righteousness from God by faith alone in Christ alone. Paul uses a very logical, strategic approach here, and he uses legal language – the language of the judiciary. He begins here in chapter one of Romans to build a beautiful legal argument that explains the doctrine of justification by faith so well. Paul says rather plainly in this section that immoral people are damned. He begins painting a picture of the implications of the fall of man. He accuses us of being self-reliant or self-sufficient, and he discusses the hardness of our hearts that comes from living immorally over time. This counter-cultural counter-intuitive lesson on the implications of sin is often neglected in our churches, but it is important to see clearly who God is, who the man is, and how God relates to man. Paul contrasts the immoral person with the moralist, the person who believes they can be good enough on their own. This is a powerful, radical truth that changes lives. This foundational understanding is critical to our ability to place the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the right context. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Any study of the Roman Empire is interesting, but Rome during the First Century is fascinating. They worshipped idols, actual stone, gold, and silver images, that represented gods of various types. In fact, the Christians of this period would have been considered atheists of sorts for not believing in the commonly worshipped religious symbols. A large group of Jewish people was exiled during this period, and this person named Jesus caused quite an uproar as his very fresh story was told in Rome. Many have wondered why the Apostle Paul wrote his compendium of theology to the church at Rome – the New Testament book commonly referred to as Romans. The simple answer is that he was about to embark on a dangerous journey to Jerusalem, and he had heard about the strength of this church in Rome and wanted to give them his complete theological knowledge. The primary theme of the book/letter is The Righteousness of God, and another theme is Justification by Faith. This episode begins a series on this amazing book of the Bible with its beautiful depth. I’m breaking the pattern of varying topics with various guests to focus on Romans for a series of weeks because these truths changed my life. They changed the way I see God, my view of man, and my understanding of how God relates to man. They gave me peace with a knowledge of how God actually saves us and causes us to grow in the faith. I grew up and spent many years of my young adult life not understanding how we are reconciled to God. I really didn’t understand sin, our purpose, and redemption. I failed to see how justification by faith actually works. I struggled with doubts and fears, and I remembered unhelpful sermons and lessons that exacerbated these challenges. Due in large part to my study of the work of several strong theologians, God used the book of Romans to change my life many years ago. Paul’s ability to pull back the camera to show us the larger truths that he is communicating, helped me understand doctrines that confused me for years. I hope this series is a blessing to you. We dive right into chapter one this week! Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Any study of the Roman Empire is interesting, but Rome during the First Century is fascinating. They worshipped idols, actual stone, gold, and silver images, that represented gods of various types. In fact, the Christians of this period would have been considered atheists of sorts for not believing in the commonly worshipped religious symbols. A large group of Jewish people was exiled during this period, and this person named Jesus caused quite an uproar as his very fresh story was told in Rome. Many have wondered why the Apostle Paul wrote his compendium of theology to the church at Rome – the New Testament book commonly referred to as Romans. The simple answer is that he was about to embark on a dangerous journey to Jerusalem, and he had heard about the strength of this church in Rome and wanted to give them his complete theological knowledge. The primary theme of the book/letter is The Righteousness of God, and another theme is Justification by Faith. This episode begins a series on this amazing book of the Bible with its beautiful depth. I’m breaking the pattern of varying topics with various guests to focus on Romans for a series of weeks because these truths changed my life. They changed the way I see God, my view of man, and my understanding of how God relates to man. They gave me peace with a knowledge of how God actually saves us and causes us to grow in the faith. I grew up and spent many years of my young adult life not understanding how we are reconciled to God. I really didn’t understand sin, our purpose, and redemption. I failed to see how justification by faith actually works. I struggled with doubts and fears, and I remembered unhelpful sermons and lessons that exacerbated these challenges. Due in large part to my study of the work of several strong theologians, God used the book of Romans to change my life many years ago. Paul’s ability to pull back the camera to show us the larger truths that he is communicating, helped me understand doctrines that confused me for years. I hope this series is a blessing to you. Please don’t hesitate to send along questions and comments. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. You can learn more, including our contact information, at johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this series on social media and through email and text with your friends. I want to share these powerful truths with people who, like me, struggle with guilt and despair caused by a lack of understanding of the beauty of justification by faith. Our great hope in Jesus Christ is powerful, and it is this Gospel that compels us to share these truths with others.
Stewardship is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts in Christianity today. True Biblical stewardship is antithetical to the American Way. I explain the biblical basis for stewardship and provide some helpful thoughts about the things we steward. God owns it all and we manage it. This reduces anxiety and gives us clarity on the actual value of our resources. When we steward assets, we are managing things owned by someone else. Contrary to popular teaching, we aren’t required to steward these things based on the best decisions we can make. Instead, we are required to steward them with the will of the owner in mind. This means that we must know God’s will to effectively execute our stewardship obligations. I discuss how we determine God’s will in this important episode. In my experience, Pastors often talk about stewardship in terms of giving or tithing. Actual biblical stewardship is so much more than this. We steward our time, talent, vocation, mind, friendships, and every aspect of our lives. We unpack important, helpful thoughts on how to effectively execute our stewardship responsibilities. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends.
In this episode, I rant a bit about current events including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I also discuss the economy and the indicators that should alarm us all. I begin this episode with a discussion of Elon Musk’s pending acquisition of Twitter. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is challenging for us to grasp. The death and destruction they are causing are unimaginable. Please join me in praying for Ukraine and her lovely people. Pray that God’s Kingdom would be advanced in Ukraine even in these challenging times. The U.S. economy is adjusting and declining in many respects. I discuss several concerns and ways to think about the economic environment today. I explain the real cause of inflation and the politics of these economic times. The two and ten-year U.S. Treasury rates are climbing at a concerning pace. I discuss the implications of this, and I compare our economy today to the period during the Carter Presidency as well as the early twentieth century. Since my recording of this episode, interest rates have increased further, and Russia continues to bomb and attack Ukraine. We will continue to track these two important topics in upcoming episodes. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends.
Charlie Parish is one of those friends I value most. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ-follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational. In this episode, Charlie explains the doctrines of grace. He defines terms such as election, predestination, and Calvinism in a pastorally helpful context. While these doctrines can be jolting to some, I think you will be blessed by Charlie’s capable handling of these important topics in this week’s episode. You will be blessed by the beautiful truth discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
In this very practical episode, I discuss the current state of the economy. I talk about interest rates, inflation, the supply chain, and other matters that concern all of us. I explain economic indicators, the stock market, and seemingly contradictory data that is perplexing to the consumer. I try to anticipate your weight questions on your personal economics – your personal household economy. What is actually happening in the economy? How do we separate fact from fiction in this volatile environment? Can we trust the financial press? What are we to do to react to these changes in the economy? How do we keep pace with inflation and the rising prices that we see on essential goods? What is consumer choice theory? How do consumers express demand? I take on these important issues in this timely episode of Relentless Truth. I explain the tools utilized by The Federal Reserve to accomplish its mandates from Congress. Why is the FED raising interest rates, and what are they hoping to accomplish by doing this? The answer to this and other questions will unlock some of the mystery in these frightening economic times. I walk through a step-by-step process that we can all employ now to protect ourselves. I discuss our government’s role in the economy including their perceived and actual impact on the economic issues impacting all of us. I talk about government spending and monetary policy and a straightforward, helpful way. In this episode, I explain that government doesn’t generate wealth – it redistributes wealth. I discuss the need to balance the Federal budget and the implications of this on the economy. I call for all Christians to vote for Congress and other representatives who will actually protect our long-term economic interests. We close these thoughts with our great hope in Jesus Christ. These unpredictable economic conditions should drive us to the cross and to rest in our Lord. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with friends, and please subscribe and review the podcast. It is a privilege to bring you this unsponsored content each week. It is a blessing to share the truth without reservation in this important format.
This week’s episode of Relentless Truth concludes my conversation with Hank Hanegraaff. Hank is President and Chairman of the North Carolina-based Christian Research Institute. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man Broadcast as well as the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading Christian authors and apologists. Through his live call-in radio broadcast, Hank equips Christians to mine the Bible for all its wealth and answers questions on the basis of careful research and sound reasoning. And through the Hank Unplugged podcast, he interviews today’s most significant Christian leaders, apologists, and thinkers.
Hank is the author of more than twenty books, with more than a million copies in print. 2019 saw the release of his book Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life. He is a regular contributor to the award-winning Christian Research Journal and an articulate communicator on the pressing issues of our day, having spoken in leading churches, conferences, and on college campuses throughout the world. Hank and his wife, Kathy, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they are parents to twelve children.
In this episode, Hank discusses his book, Truth Matters, Life Matters More. Hank explains the purpose of the church in the context of Scripture. He also discusses the beauty of the writings of the early church and their value to us today. Finally, Hank explains the sovereignty of God and the will of man. He also answers the question, “Is God the author of evil?” in this powerful episode.
Are we living in a post-truth world?
This week’s episode of Relentless Truth features part one of a two-part conversation with Hank Hanegraaff. Hank is President and Chairman of the North Carolina-based Christian Research Institute. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man Broadcast as well as the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading Christian authors and apologists. Through his live call-in radio broadcast, Hank equips Christians to mine the Bible for all its wealth and answers questions on the basis of careful research and sound reasoning. And through the Hank Unplugged podcast, he interviews today’s most significant Christian leaders, apologists, and thinkers.
Hank is the author of more than twenty books, with more than a million copies in print. 2019 saw the release of his book Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life. He is a regular contributor to the award-winning Christian Research Journal and an articulate communicator on the pressing issues of our day, having spoken in leading churches, conferences, and on college campuses throughout the world Hank and his wife, Kathy, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they are parents to twelve children.
In this episode, Hank tells his personal story and explains his entry into ministry and his work on The Bible Answer Man Broadcast. Hank discusses the post-truth world that we live in, and he explains that “truth is essential to a Christian worldview.”
It is my pleasure to welcome back Pastor Charlie Parish. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ-follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational. He is the Lead Pastor of Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He’s married to Lacy, and they have five children; Andy, Lincoln, Abel, Luke, and Haven. This conversation is a continuation of our first episode together a few weeks ago wherein Charlie talked about his personal story and some common themes he sees in the evangelical church today. In this episode, we dive deeper into asceticism, as explained in Colossians 2:13-34, and our problem with self-reliance and the implications of the fall. We talk about various ministries that are guilty of preying on human greed and even add to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Charlie explains the gospel and our need for a savior, and he discusses the danger of false teaching and the misguided sense of belonging that this gives to some people. Charlie discusses the importance of knowledge and truly knowing God. He discusses the danger of simply knowing facts about God while applying human logic and reason to biblical truth in a way that distorts that truth. He explains the perils of legalism at one end of a spectrum, and antinomianism at the other. We discuss the importance of Scripture as one of God’s means of grace in addition to prayer. We discuss man’s fear and guilt, and Charlie explains the difference between the healthy fear of, or respect for, God and man’s unhealthy anxiety. In this powerful conversation, Charlie describes our self-sufficiency as the root cause of much of our anxiety. You will be blessed by the beautiful truths of Scripture discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
Keith Ablow is a graduate of Brown University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He practiced psychiatry for over 25 years before developing his own groundbreaking life coaching, mentoring, and spiritual counseling program, Pain-2-Power. Expanding on the Pain-2 Power pathway, Keith offers creative coaching for writers, artists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. He has helped thousands of adults and adolescents across the United States, Europe, and in Asia, including CEOs, elected officials, professional athletes, and world-renown artists to: Overcome problems with anxiety, mood, self-esteem, concentration, or communication Define and embrace core talents Survive (and thrive) during crises Achieve heartfelt goals, no matter how ambitious Keith’s 16 books have sold millions of copies and been translated into eight languages. He co-authored the New York Times bestselling self-help book The 7 Wonders, as well as authored Living the Truth: Transform Your Life Through the Power of Insight and Honesty. He is a sought-after speaker and has appeared over 1,000 times on The Today Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, the Fox News Channel, CBS This Morning, Inside Edition, and many other national television programs. His writings have been published by USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Post, Good Housekeeping, Discover, and Newsweek.
In this episode, Dr. Ablow addresses many of the issues that he sees in his practice including common threads impacting most people. He talks about Pain-2-Power and the fact that fear is a universal problem experienced by everyone. He eloquently discusses the challenge of dealing with negative issues in our past in this weighty episode.
Keith talks about the importance of truth and the fact that every person has to come to grips with the truth. He explains our God-given need to experience life realistically. He asks the powerful question, “when you talk, is it you speaking?” Dr. Ablow’s wisdom and discernment are communicated in this conversation as he describes a bit of a “sixth sense” that allows him to get to the root causes in his clients.
Keith provides input for students and parents of students. He describes the need to take a long view of life as opposed to a short-term view. He carefully describes the challenges associated with gender dysphoria and related issues. He tells several powerful stories, based on his experience as a professional and as a parent, to illustrate the truth of this important topic.
Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth. Please don’t hesitate to comment or send an email to john@johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this and other episodes with friends, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
My guest today is Joe Dallas. Joe Dallas is an author and Biblical counselor who has ministered to people dealing with relational and sexual issues for over 30 years. He has authored 9 books and is the Founder of CloudFire Ministries in Southern California. His weekly podcast Christians in a Cancel Culture is based on his latest book by the same title. Joe is an Elder with Mesa Church of Irvine, CA, and he and his wife Renee live in Orange County. Joe is a leader in his field of expertise, and he shares the beauty of the Gospel in his ministry. He understands our culture and our challenges with “truth,” and he explains the biblical solution to these challenges clearly in this episode. Joe addresses parental fears about sexuality and our children, and he provides wise counsel for parents and young people alike. Joe shares Scriptural insights as he gives weighty advice on our sin and guilt. He does this in a very loving, caring, but truthful way. We discuss Joe’s latest book, Christians in a Cancel Culture in this episode. Joe discusses the fact that the evangelical church is in crisis and has abdicated its leadership and pastoral roles. Joe explains his ministry and the focus of his work in this conversation. You will be blessed by his knowledge, his kindness, and his experience. Please share this episode on your social media channels and with your friends. Please go to Joedallas.com to learn more about Joe’s important ministry. Thank you for supporting Relentless Truth with John Warren.
This episode is among my fondest to present to the Relentless Truth audience. Bill Stroup is a friend whose friendship I have enjoyed for over 40 years. His character, knowledge, love for God, and love for his family make him truly exceptional, and you will enjoy getting to know him in this thorough conversation. We discuss Bill’s conversion to Christ years ago including his struggles with assurance for many years. This is a struggle that is common to many of my guests in recent weeks, and Bill’s struggles mirror my own in many respects. You will find Bill’s story humorous, real, and candid. You will be encouraged by Bill’s story. He married his sweetheart from a young age, Lil, and they became missionaries to Japan. Bill describes the challenges they experienced and God’s clear hand in their lives over many years of ministry. Bill also explains Lil’s struggle with cancer including a recent recurrence. In telling this story, Bill discusses profound truths that provide his family with comfort during these trials. Bill’s description of this season of life will encourage and inspire those facing similar challenges. Please share this episode on your social media channels and with your friends. Thank you for supporting Relentless Truth with John Warren.
My guest today is former Orlando Magic great, Nick Anderson. Nick is currently employed by the Magic in a public relations role and he also works as a broadcaster. He was the Magic’s first pick in the 1989 NBA draft as an expansion franchise. Nick was selected by the Magic with the 11th pick of the first round in the draft. Nick quickly became a franchise favorite, and he was later joined by Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Dennis Scott, and other talented teammates. Nick went on to enjoy thirteen seasons in the NBA. His career included setting many franchise records for the Magic, and he famously stole the ball from Michael Jordan in the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals. Nick scored 50 points coming off the bench in a 1993 game against New Jersey. His career averages in shooting, assists, and rebounds are impressive. I met Nick a couple of decades ago after he returned to Orlando to work for the Magic in his current capacity. He has become a good friend over the years, and I asked him to introduce you, our Relentless Truth listeners, to Nick Anderson, the man. He grew up in Chicago where he played basketball at a young age. Nick describes growing up in “the hood” fondly, and he credits several of his coaches during those formative years, as well as his family, with his success. Nick thrived at the University of Illinois, and he left before his senior year to declare for the NBA draft in 1989 because his Mom had experienced health issues and Nick wanted to take care of her. Nick calls playing professional sports and enjoying a successful career a privilege. He remembers his lengthy career with the Magic fondly, and he humbly describes his blessings from God in this powerful conversation. Nick opens up about his struggles, his anxiety in particular, and he talks about the importance of family and his faith in God. In a very raw, genuine, transparent way, Nick reveals the man that he has become and the principles on which he lives his life. Please enjoy this conversation with my good friend, Nick Anderson, and share it widely across your social media platforms. Nick’s candor and depth are refreshing as he chronicles his life and career in this conversation. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
Charlie Parish is one of those friends I value most. He’s a Pastor, theologian, and Christ-follower. Every encounter with him is uplifting and educational. He tells his story in this powerful conversation. The story is one that is shared in some respects by many, and it is also unique. The sufficiency of God’s grace is clear as Charlie tells his story in this episode. Charlie explains his concerns for the church and explains what it really means to have a high view of God. The implications of the information he shares in this episode are most important. We discuss some challenging topics in this conversation including doctrine, theology, complementarianism, the gospel, and more. Charlie explains his call to Foothills Community Church in Marble Hill, Georgia. He explains the amazing congregation there and their continued progress and development. I describe the beauty of our visit to this church almost two years ago at the outset of the pandemic, and we talk about the culture, the love, and grace, of this congregation. You will be blessed by the beautiful truth discussed in this important episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
In this episode, I discuss the challenging topic of children in America. We say that we value our children, but we often treat them like they aren’t a priority to us. Evidence of our neglect or failure to prioritize our children is our accumulation of debt as a nation. We are leaving them in an almost insolvent position as young adults because we have failed to address the challenging issues associated with balancing our government’s budget. I discuss the critical parenting years – late high school through young adulthood. Students, young people in the high school to young adult years struggle, almost universally, with confidence. We sometimes, as well-intended parents, check out our parenting responsibilities during this age. The balancing act here is between giving them space and responsibility and supporting them with guidance and some accountability. We also have diagnosed this generation to death. While there are certain illnesses and disorders that should be properly diagnosed, we tend to label tendencies and personality types as if they are immutable. We have a tendency to label people and unintentionally reinforce their weaknesses. In doing so, we can cause them to lose hope in a sense. I discuss the fact that we sometimes struggle to manage our expectations for our young people. We tend to either push too hard or ignore, and neither of those inartful approaches is productive. Instead, we should embrace the tension, be mindful of the implications of the fall of man, and rest in who God is. Our young people are starved for challenges and to be loved. My hope is that parents and young people alike will be encouraged and challenged in this episode of Relentless Truth. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
In this episode, my personal medical expert, nurse (and wife), Connie Warren shares an overview of the pandemic. We discuss viruses from a user-friendly but technical standpoint. There are only three types of viruses, and Covid is an adenovirus. This group of viruses includes the common cold and the flu. Connie explains virus transmission and dispels some of the misinformation that has been shared over the past couple of years regarding the ways Covid is transmitted. She explains that we don’t transmit most viruses via surfaces or mail or gas pumps or other objects. Covid is a SARs virus. It can certainly be a severe virus as it attacks the respiratory system. We contract this class of virus through the airways. It can manifest with gastrointestinal symptoms, but it is an airborne, respiratory virus. We even discuss handshaking and transmission through the mouth and even the eyes. Connie explains the efficacy of masks and the correct masks to wear along with the proper types of masks to wear. Connie explains natural immunity, and she explains the MRNA vaccinations. This episode will educate the listener and alleviate some of the mystery that has fueled the fears of many of us for the past two years. Thank you for supporting the podcast. Please share it with your friends!
In this episode, I discuss some encouraging truths about life. Life has been coming at me “fast” and I try to make sense of it in this episode. What do we do, or what do we focus on when we find life exhausting and frustrating? Does our search for truth give us clarity? The biblical context for living life is important, and we need to know where to go when life is challenging. Depression and Anxiety often accompany this challenging environment, and it is important to know what the Bible says about our experience with challenges or suffering. Thanksgiving appears to be a key. So, how do we do that? How do we develop a thankful heart? Underlying the environment we find ourselves in is the Covid-19 virus and the implications of this awful disease on our lives and emotional state. We don’t seem to understand this virus, and the information we receive is often suspect. Life on this fallen earth is challenging, and Covid amplifies our anxiety. How are we to think about these challenges as Christians? I offer some helpful truths to answer these questions in this important episode. Thank you for supporting Relentless Truth With John Warren. Please share our podcast with your friends.
This week, Matt Adams, the newly appointed Head of School at Circle Christian School, talks with me about his life, his mentors, his family, and his vision for the school. The press release announcing his appointment follows. On December 1, Circle Christian School announced the appointment of a new Head of School, Matt Adams. Matt Adams joined Circle as the Director of Guidance in 2020 after a 15-year tenure at The First Academy. While there, he taught AP Psychology, AP Human Geography, and History and was involved in the arts and athletics program. Adams says, “I’m really excited about the partnership that Circle provides between the school and family. We provide the best opportunity for each student to achieve their individual academic success. The team at Circle is outstanding and remains committed to quality, Christ-centered education.” In Circle’s Guidance Department, Adams was responsible for all academic guidance for grades kindergarten through 12th. He oversaw a 100% graduation rate, with most students moving onto 2 or 4-year colleges and universities. “Matt’s talents and leadership skills will be a rich blessing to Circle Christian School families for years to come,” says John Warren, member of the CCS Board of Directors. “We are grateful for Matt’s solid experience and his commitment to Circle’s culture and future growth.”
After over six months of weekly episodes, we are diving into the deep end today to talk about Critical Race Theory. We discuss an overview of its underlying philosophy, its assumptions, and its aspirations. We explain the philosophy of Karl Marx and his view of the oppressed versus the oppressor. We look at socialism and communism in the context of CRT, and we contrast this ideology with biblical Christianity. The underlying challenge in many discussions of this topic is the definition of terms and the underlying assumptions. The CR Theorist believes that the oppressor is incapable of clearly seeing the institutional oppression in the world. We refute this claim in this important episode. We define terms like “intersectionality,” “equity,” “equality,” and “hegemony.” We explain that the assumption that we are in a post-truth world underlies Critical Race Theory. This big idea is important to understand as we attempt to carve out the appropriate response to those who embrace this heretical view. Finally, we explain some of the nuances of racial biases. We discuss loving our neighbor in a complex world, and we are also candid about the threats to family that are inherent in CRT and Marxist ideology. We explain that we are one race, and we all share in a problem – a sin problem that damns us without the finished work of Jesus Christ. Please share this important episode with friends and don’t hesitate to comment on this episode. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth.
After over six months of weekly episodes, we are diving into the deep end today to talk about Critical Race Theory. We discuss an overview of its underlying philosophy, its assumptions, and its aspirations. We explain the philosophy of Karl Marx and his view of the oppressed versus the oppressor. We look at socialism and communism in the context of CRT, and we contrast this ideology with biblical Christianity. The underlying challenge in many discussions of this topic is the definition of terms and the underlying assumptions. The CR Theorist believes that the oppressor is incapable of clearly seeing the institutional oppression in the world. We refute this claim in this important episode. We define terms like “intersectionality,” “equity,” “equality,” and “hegemony.” We explain that the assumption that we are in a post-truth world underlies Critical Race Theory. This big idea is important to understand as we attempt to carve out the appropriate response to those who embrace this heretical view. Finally, we explain some of the nuance of racial biases. We discuss loving our neighbor in a complex world, and we are also candid about the threats to family that are inherent in CRT and Marxist ideology. We explain that we are one race, and we all share in a problem – a sin problem that damns us without the finished work of Jesus Christ. Please share this important episode with friends and don’t hesitate to comment on this episode. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth.
My students have suggested for years that I am most effective in class when I “let it rip.” I’m not sure what letting it rip looks like on a podcast, but I push the limits of my comfort in this episode by discussing politics and the polarization of our great nation candidly. I tell the truth about the political parties, Congress, and the Executive Branch, and I describe the fundraising and re-election mindset that prompts our leaders to bankrupt future generations in their effort to maintain robust economic indicators today. I explain that this isn’t “the Biden economy,” and last year wasn’t “the Trump economy.” I also discuss the link between Wall Street and Washington in this episode. The circle is a tight one and it impacts our nation significantly. These seemingly incestuous relationships happen somewhat naturally, I think, but they alarm me, nonetheless. I’m a fan of the watchdog organizations that hold the government accountable at all levels. Finally, I discuss cryptocurrency in this episode. Although some of my friends and students are advocates for investing in crypto, I struggle to embrace investing in this “currency” because values appear to me to be arbitrarily assigned. Further, these values won’t hold up without a “greater fool” coming along who agrees to pay more for a currency that doesn’t really have objective value the way equities do. We just scratch the surface on this topic in this episode. Please let me know if you find this and related topics interesting. My email address is john@johnwarrenmedia.com. Please share this episode with your friends, and don’t hesitate to contact us via our website, johnwarrenmedia.com. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
My guest today is Melanie Harder. Melanie is a CPA who, after beginning her career in public accounting, now serves as the CFO for Circle Christian School. She also serves on the board of the school. Melanie talks about her life story and her faith in Christ. She discusses the beauty of the Gospel and explains that Scripture informs every aspect of her life. We also discuss Christian education and Circle Christian School, in particular. You will enjoy Melanie’s insights on these important topics in this episode. Please share this episode with your friends, and don’t hesitate to contact us via our website, johnwarrenmedia.com. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
In this, our 25th episode, we discuss the economy from an applied perspective. My guest, Connie Warren, discusses household management from a biblical perspective in this episode. We discuss relationships, biblical imperatives for the family, and related topics. Connie talks about the fact that families are under attack in our culture today, and she eloquently explains God’s remedy for this challenge. This is a very personal, informative episode wherein we talk about our family and some of the lessons we have learned. Connie provides wise counsel on a variety of family and home-related topics in perhaps a counterintuitive way that families will find helpful. Please enjoy this important and informative episode and share it with your friends. This is part three of a three-part series on the economy. Next week’s episode features a conversation with my friend, Melanie Harder. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
In this, our 24th episode, we discuss the economy. We transition today to focus on biblical instruction relating to money and the economy. Jesus focused on material things during His earthly ministry. We discuss the wisdom of Scripture during this important episode. We answer the question, “Is Jesus Christ more important to me than money?” My goal in this episode is to share God’s perspective on the use of our money from Scripture. I talk about God’s plan for reducing our anxiety by focusing us on the appropriate view of wealth and material resources. Our great hope is in Christ. We don’t have to fear or run and hide. We can employ biblical stewardship principles in every economic environment. Please enjoy this important and informative episode and share it with your friends. This is part two of a three-part series on the economy. Part three is a very practical look at the implications of the economy. Connie Warren joins me with her perspectives in both of these important, practical episodes. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
My guest this week is my friend, Josh Shepherd. We discuss the current state of our world and other current matters of interest in this important episode. Josh M. Shepherd writes on culture, faith, and public policy issues for media outlets including The Roys Report, Family Theater Productions, Christianity Today, The Federalist, and What’s On Disney Plus. A graduate of the University of Colorado, he previously worked on staff at The Heritage Foundation and Focus on the Family. You can find him on Twitter @joshmshep. Josh and his wife, Terri, live in the Washington, D.C., area with their son and daughter. Josh tells his personal story and talks about the important work that he does. In addition to the important writing that Josh does on politics and government topics of interest to the Christian community, he is also an expert on entertainment. We conclude with a discussion of several of Josh’s favorite family movies. Josh’s balanced, well-considered approach to complex issues shines through in this episode. Please share it with friends! Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
In this, our 22nd episode, we discuss the economy. This episode is an overview of the U.S. economy. I discuss U.S. history and several big-picture economic trends throughout our history. In a very real sense, the environment we are in today is a repeat of several points in our history that we can learn from. My goal in this episode is to share these thoughts with you so that you may be prepared for the next phases of this economic environment. Business and economic news can be confusing, and one of my goals is to simplify trends in the economy so you can strategize based on accurate understanding and expectations. You will learn the actual cause of “inflation” in this episode. You will learn how inflation is created, and you will learn how government influences the economy. We talk about these concepts in the context of today’s seemingly unpredictable environment. Our great hope is in Christ. We don’t have to fear or run and hide. We can employ biblical stewardship principles in every economic environment. Please enjoy this important and informative episode and share it with your friends. This is part one of a three-part series on the economy. Part two will be released in two weeks, and part three, a very practical discussion on applied, personal economics, will be released the following week. Thank you for your support of Relentless Truth!
This episode of Relentless Truth is part three of our series on the U.S. Constitution. Most Americans haven’t read this important founding document and its 27 amendments. For three episodes, I discuss The Constitution and basic constitutional literacy. I discuss the content of the Constitution and describe what it says and doesn’t say. I focus on the misrepresentations that often occur and highlight the beauty of several key sections of the Constitution. Topics like the balance of power, federalism, the elastic clause, and our republican form of government are addressed in this three-part series. You might be surprised to learn that the sometimes forgotten third amendment is among the most important amendments. I even discuss the use of the word “religion” in the Constitution along with other rarely discussed facts that might inform your view of our government more clearly. My hope is that this three-episode series will inspire you to rekindle your interest in our nation’s formative documents. It is important for Christians to understand these documents in their historical context because it is “we the people” who are responsible for the preservation of the rights that are so critical to the proper functioning of this great nation.
This episode of Relentless Truth is part two of our series on the U.S. Constitution. Most Americans haven’t read this important founding document and its 27 amendments. For three episodes, I discuss The Constitution and basic constitutional literacy. I discuss the content of the Constitution and describe what it says and doesn’t say. I focus on the misrepresentations that often occur and highlight the beauty of several key sections of the Constitution. Topics like the balance of power, federalism, the elastic clause, and our republican form of government are addressed in this three-part series. You might be surprised to learn that the sometimes forgotten third amendment is among the most important amendments. I even discuss the use of the word “religion” in the Constitution along with other rarely discussed facts that might inform your view of our government more clearly. My hope is that this three-episode series will inspire you to rekindle your interest in our nation’s formative documents. It is important for Christians to understand these documents in their historical context because it is “we the people” who are responsible for the preservation of the rights that are so critical to the proper functioning of this great nation.
This episode of Relentless Truth features the U.S. Constitution. Most Americans haven’t read this important founding document and its 27 amendments. For the next three episodes, I discuss The Constitution and basic constitutional theory. We discuss the content of the Constitution and describe what it says and doesn’t say. We focus on the misrepresentations that often occur, and we highlight the beauty of several key sections of the Constitution. We discuss the founding of the United States and our founding documents. You will be inspired to read and study our formative documents, and my hope is that this episode will lead you into deeper study of the U.S. Constitution.
Cade McManus is a senior at Circle Christian School. He moved to the Orlando area from Ohio where he lived most of his life. He plays soccer and is 17 years old.
In this episode, Cade discusses his family’s transition from Ohio to Florida, and he explains his medical challenges. Cade’s positive attitude and resilience will refresh the listener in this episode of Relentless Truth.
My guest this week is Warwick Fairfax. He is the founder of Crucible Leadership, a philosophical and practical breakthrough in turning business and personal failures into the fuel for igniting a life of significance. He has been hailed by Forbes as offering “compelling insights for anyone who would like to wake up feeling inspired by their work but doesn’t” … insights rooted not in a checklist of glib to-do’s but in his own experience at the epicenter of one of the most spectacular business failures in the history of his home nation of Australia. Fairfax was only 26 when, as the fifth-generation heir to a media empire bearing his family name, he led — and lost — a multibillion-dollar public takeover bid. The result? The company founded by his great-great-grandfather slipped from family control after 150 years, leaving him to examine not only his own shortcomings and losses but also his life’s principles and the lessons he learned from family members who came before him and some of history’s greatest leaders. It has been by shaping these insights as a leadership adviser that Fairfax has enabled others to learn from what he describes as their own “crucible experiences” and emerge to lead a life rooted in who they are. His journey has opened a door for men and women from all walks of life to not only bounce back from failure but to become the leaders they were born to be. Fairfax is the author of Crucible Leadership: Embrace Your Trials to Lead a Life of Significance (Mount Tabor Media, 2021). In the book, he discusses for the first time his thoughts and actions in launching the John Fairfax Ltd. takeover and explains what he learned about himself from that devastating failure — who he was and was not, his unique design, purpose, passions, and vision really were. He shares insights from his experience and interviews other leaders who have leveraged their crucible moments to live and lead with significance on the podcast BEYOND THE CRUCIBLE, available through all major podcasting channels. Fairfax holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He is an International Coach Federation (ICF) certified executive coach. He is an Elder at Bay Area Community Church. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife, Gale. They have three children who are in the process of developing their own unique paths to lives of significance.
My guest this week is Ella Quigley. Ella is a senior at Circle Christian School in the Orlando, Florida area. Her insights on the Church, absolute truth, and the challenges faced by young people today are powerful. Her wisdom, which she has acquired at a young age, is exemplary and will give you hope for future generations. Ella is open about her own challenges, and she maturely diagnosis the underlying philosophical issues we are facing in our culture. She beautifully explains her worldview in the context of Scripture. I believe this is one of the most powerful episodes of Relentless Truth to this point. I hope you will comment on social media, review on Apple, Spotify, and other platforms, and share this episode of Relentless Truth to encourage students like Ella in their walk as Christ-followers.
This week’s episode features a conversation with Anne Paulk. She is featured in the Netflix documentary film, “Pray Away,” and she has been engaged in ministry for many years. She brings more than two decades as an author, speaker, spokesperson, and advocate for men and women struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions to her role as executive director of Restored Hope Network. Her mission in leading the organization is to, quite literally, restore hope to those broken by sexual and relational sin, especially those impacted by homosexuality.
“I do this work because of the work the Lord has done in me,” Paulk explains. “I know it’s possible to be set free from sexual confusion and sin because that is my story. It is the testimony of thousands just like me. We at Restored Hope want to make sure all who seek the same healing we’ve experienced through submitting to Jesus can have it be their story, too.” Central to Restored Hope’s mission is the counsel and resources it offers to equip the church to impart that transformative power of Christ. Paulk has spotlighted that power in thousands of television, radio, and magazine interviews that she began doing in the ‘90s and continues to do today. She has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News, The 700 Club and Focus on the Family and has been profiled by People magazine and Newsweek – which put her on its cover.
Paulk has also spoken at Love Won Out conferences, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Clarity Conference, Western Seminary, the National Religious Broadcasters Convention and Focus on the Family’s Pastor and Pregnancy Resource Center conferences.
She has appeared on Focus on the Family Radio, Dr. James Dobson’s FamilyTalk, In the Market with Janet Parshall, Equipped with Chris Brooks (Moody Radio), Dr. Michael L. Brown’s In The Line of Fire, Janet Mefferd Live (SRN/AFR), Joni and Friends, Table Talk (Daystar TV), Total Living Network with Jerry Rose, Focal Point with Brian Fischer, and The Georgene Rice Show (SRN), among others. Her story of redemption has also been featured in documentaries, including Such Were Some of You (Pure Passion TV/2014).
She is the author of Restoring Sexual Identity: Hope for Women Who Struggle with Same-Sex Attraction (Harvest House Publishers) and co-author of Love Won Out (Focus on the Family), She also has written for Spirit-Led Woman, Charisma, and The Gospel Coalition.
Paulk, who lives in Colorado, enjoys dark chocolate, laughing with friends and family, serving at her church, skiing, and the beautiful outdoors. Her greatest joy is being mom to her three sons.
My guest today is James Rosen. James Rosen is the National Investigative Reporter for Sinclair Broadcast Group in Washington, D.C. An award-winning journalist and bestselling author, James previously spent nineteen years at Fox News, where he covered the White House and State Department beats, served as chief Washington correspondent, and also filed stories from Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, the Supreme Court, the campaign trail, virtually all fifty states and forty foreign countries on five continents. His exclusive reporting on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program prompted the Obama administration, in unprecedented action against an American journalist, to designate James as a criminal co-conspirator in a violation of the Espionage Act; the ensuing furor provoked a national debate about press freedoms in the Obama era and led to procedural reforms at the Department of Justice for the treatment of reporters in national security leak investigations. His work also prompted procedural reforms at the State Department, when it was revealed that officials there improperly deleted James’s penetrating line of questioning about the Iran nuclear deal from the department’s archives of its daily press briefings. James has interviewed presidents, secretaries of state, CIA directors, and celebrities from the world of literature and popular culture, including Paul McCartney, Tom Wolfe, Laura Hillenbrand, and others. James is the author or editor of three books, including The Strong Man: John Mitchell and the Secrets of Watergate (2008), Cheney One on One: A Candid Conversation with America’s Most Controversial Statesman (2015), and A Torch Kept Lit: Great Lives of the Twentieth Century (2016), a collection of essays by the late William F. Buckley, Jr. that James conceived and curated, and which spent five weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. James’s essays and articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Harper’s, Playboy, National Review, the American Bar Association Journal, and many other periodicals. A collector of rare recordings by the Beatles, James lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two sons.
Rick Kempton is featured in this episode of Relentless Truth. Rick grew up in California and has spent his adult life in education. He has a Master’s degree from Pepperdine University, and he has served on the board of The Association of Christian Schools International.
About nine years ago, Rick moved across the country from California to Annapolis, Maryland, where he lives today. He is the Superintendent of Annapolis Area Christian School where he has served for the past nine years.
Rick describes his pursuit of athletics and his love of basketball; in particular. He discusses a knee injury that changed his plans for college. As he reflects on this period, he recognizes his anger with God and his circumstances. He explains that God used the injuries and disappointments of this season to place him in community college where he met his wife, Barbara.
Rick entered education by teaching high school English and coaching basketball over forty years ago. Rick discusses his wife’s cancer diagnosis as they were raising their two young daughters. He reflects on her experimental surgery to save her leg, her lengthy hospitalization, and the recurrence of the cancer a few months later. Rick explains, in the context of Scripture, God’s miraculous work through an additional surgery.
Rick describes his move from California to Maryland later in his career. He talks about his love for students and his passion for Gospel-centered education. Rick explains his love for people and his passion for them at a deep level. We talk about the impact Rick has had on so many people over many years in Christian education.
Rick’s transparency, his family, and his faith in God shine through in this important episode. His story is powerful, and God’s hand in his life is beautifully explained.
It is a blessing to call Rick a dear friend. Annapolis Area Christian School is blessed to have an amazing leader. And you will be blessed by Rick’s story and insights in this powerful conversation.
In this week’s episode, I discuss Psalm 51 and the Biblical instructions for living effective lives. David’s prayer of repentance gives us insights into the importance of knowing God and his character, knowing how to deal with our sin, and then knowing how to be used by God to teach others. I discuss Romans 12 and Paul’s instructions for us there as compared to David’s prayer in Psalm 51. Our desire to live an effective life is only possible when we experience the metamorphosis and complete renovation that Paul describes in Romans 12:1 and 2. Interestingly, Psalm 51 captures David experiencing this very transformative and renovating of his heart. This episode of Relentless Truth will remind us all to focus on the object of our faith. Simply changing our worldview lenses is insufficient, but being transformed by God is entirely sufficient as we grow in maturity in the faith.
Russell Berger, the host of the Defend and Confirm Podcast, is featured in this week’s episode of Relentless Truth. Russell, his wife Katherine, and their family are featured in The American Gospel Film Series. Russell is a former senior executive with CrossFit, Inc. His wife, Katherine, has a rare genetic disorder that affects her connective tissues, her autonomic nervous system, and multiple organ systems in her body. Russell is the primary caregiver for Katherine, and her needs for care have increased in recent years and months as her health challenges have increased. The family has a Go Fund Me page titled Katherine’s Transplant Fund. Russell tells his story in this episode, and we discuss his family, his life, and his love for our Lord. Russell points to Jesus Christ and God’s sustaining work in his family as we talk through important topics in this weighty conversation. Russell explains that he is involved with AGTV (American Gospel TV), and he discusses his podcast, Defend and Confirm. He tells the story of his being “canceled” for taking a principled stand for truth and his subsequent termination from CrossFit. In this powerful episode, Russell explains the centricity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He explains God’s faithfulness to his family as he describes raising his children while caring for his wife through her incredibly challenging health issues.
A Conversation with Max Simmonds Max Simmonds, a high school senior, tells his story in this week’s episode of Relentless Truth. He discusses issues of our day including the fact that we live in a post-truth world. He discusses his family, living the Christian life, and he takes on social media and the challenges it presents for his generation. Max talks candidly about temptations that a young man faces in this world of rapid electronic access. Max describes our culture and discusses the notion of “cancel culture.” He says that the culture we live in today can be an impediment to growth because we are often afraid to engage in a meaningful way. Finally, Max closes with a discussion of concepts his generation would like the rest of us to know about them. He discusses the Gospel and the need to communicate boldly. Max wraps up this episode with our great hope in Jesus Christ.
Quote: “My generation wants to be heard and respected like everyone else does.” – Max Simmonds
In this week’s episode, I talk to Lauren McElrath. Lauren is a college freshman, and she shares her perspective on her parents, her Christian faith, and her plans for the future. Lauren discusses her dad’s accident in Panama in 1989 where he served as an Army Ranger. She describes his service and his zeal for life today. Lauren explains the impact of technology on her generation. She explains that influencers on the internet are promoting socialism and political ideology that conflicts with Christian values. She talks about her upbringing and the fact that her parents answered her questions on important topics during her formative years. Lauren talks about socialism, education, and her grounding in the truths of Scripture. She describes the fact that Biblical truth informs every aspect of her life. Lauren describes the point in her life wherein her faith in God became her own. We discuss the “obvious” questions about theology that aren’t so obvious, and we talk about the need to resolve those questions. Lauren talks about online bullying and canceling. She explains that this is now accepted in a sense, and she explains the impact that this has on her peers. You will enjoy getting to know this amazing young lady, and your confidence in her generation will grow as you get to know her in this important conversation.
In this week’s episode, I talk with radio show and podcast host Janet Mefferd. Janet Mefferd is the host of the nationally syndicated Christian radio show Janet Mefferd Today, which is broadcast on more than 240 radio stations across America, including Bott Radio Network. An award-winning radio broadcaster, she is also a former news and religion reporter and editor for newspapers including The Dallas Morning News and the Daily Herald in suburban Chicago. Janet’s journalistic work has been a blessing to so many people over many years. We discuss Janet’s background, her interest in journalism, and the work she does today. Janet discusses “Christian muckraking” and she explains the real role of journalism in American society. Janet explains the challenges of being a journalist in a world of “clicks’ and “likes.” She explains the history of journalism and the self-promotion and branding that goes on today. Janet discusses the absence of Christian men who are heroes in evangelicalism. She talks about seeker sensitivity and the challenges this presents for churches. Janet explains the biblical mandate for elders and the fact that most churches are ignoring those passages. Janet talks about “Big Eva” and woke Christianity. She discusses cultural comfort and the mistake churches make when they move away from Scripture. She describes our evangelical subculture that chastises Christians who hold to biblical truth. We close with a discussion of our great hope in Christ. Janet talks about God’s faithfulness in her life and the clear perspective that experience provides.
In this week’s episode, I talk with Noah Magill. Noah is a high school senior who understands government well. He’s a nuanced thinker and follows legislation carefully. Noah understands the U.S. Constitution and his theology and faith inform his worldview.
Noah talks about his background and formative life. He credits his parents with giving him the desire and ability to seek the truth. He discusses the fact that he learned to question assumptions and even question the motivation of the media. Noah talks about ultimate reality and explains that his parents fostered deep discussions about all sides of various arguments, and that environment gave Noah a real appreciation for truth.
Noah encourages young people to learn to articulate the core tenets of their faith. He discusses the need for the study of apologetics even at a young age. We also discuss current challenges in our nation, and Noah explains his views on several of those issues. Noah explains the risks of inflation in the context of our political environment. He explains the role of the Federal Reserve and their current policies and the impact of those policies on the economy.
He talks to older generations about his generation and its challenges. He talks about practical ways to manage information and electronic inputs, and he talks about valuing Scripture as his source of truth.
Finally, Noah addresses media bias and the consolidation of media outlets. He takes on Supreme Court packing and explains his views on the judiciary clearly. And he closes with a discussion of our education system and its ideology.
Parents, students, and others interested in government and the economy will enjoy this important conversation.
In this week’s episode, I talk to Audrey Foulk. Audrey tells the incredible story of her life. She talks about the challenges her family has faced and God’s faithfulness throughout all of those challenges. Audrey maturely discusses delicate matters that have impacted her life and her family. She explains how God met her family’s needs during a challenging season of life.
Audrey talks about her love for aviation and her plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She discussed her goals for the future and the way she honors her Dad through her experience as she learns to fly.
Audrey also discusses the ideology of our world today. She talks about the desire for instant gratification, and she explains that her generation has access to information and entertainment that is unprecedented. She says this is a reason for many of the challenges in our world today.
We also talk about Christianity and what it means to be a Christian in the world we live in today. Audrey discusses the struggle not to conform, and she explains Romans 12:2, and its explanation of “renewal of your mind.” She explains the difference between outward behavior and inward transformation.
Audrey talks directly to parents about her generation in this episode. She explains that her generation is underestimated. She says that her generation wants to be challenged and respected. She explains that older generations often assume that her generation doesn’t understand or care about weighty topics that matter. Audrey states that her generation wants to be challenged.
Audrey explains the importance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She wisely talks about living a life characterized by love near the end of our time together. This episode will restore your confidence in future generations.
This week’s episode of Relentless Truth concludes my conversation with Hank Hanegraaff. Hank is President and Chairman of the North Carolina-based Christian Research Institute. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man Broadcast as well as the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading Christian authors and apologists. Through his live call-in radio broadcast, Hank equips Christians to mine the Bible for all its wealth and answers questions on the basis of careful research and sound reasoning. And through the Hank Unplugged podcast, he interviews today’s most significant Christian leaders, apologists, and thinkers.
Hank is the author of more than twenty books, with more than a million copies in print. 2019 saw the release of his book Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life. He is a regular contributor to the award-winning Christian Research Journal and an articulate communicator on the pressing issues of our day, having spoken in leading churches, conferences, and on college campuses throughout the world. Hank and his wife, Kathy, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they are parents to twelve children.
In this episode, Hank discusses his book, Truth Matters, Life Matters More. Hank explains the purpose of the church in the context of Scripture. He also discusses the beauty of the writings of the early church and their value to us today. Finally, Hank explains the sovereignty of God and the will of man. He also answers the question, “Is God the author of evil?” in this powerful episode.
Are we living in a post-truth world?
This week’s episode of Relentless Truth features part one of a two-part conversation with Hank Hanegraaff. Hank is President and Chairman of the North Carolina based Christian Research Institute. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated Bible Answer Man Broadcast as well as the Hank Unplugged podcast. Hank is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading Christian authors and apologists. Through his live call-in radio broadcast, Hank equips Christians to mine the Bible for all its wealth and answers questions on the basis of careful research and sound reasoning. And through the Hank Unplugged podcast, he interviews today’s most significant Christian leaders, apologists, and thinkers.
Hank is the author of more than twenty books, with more than a million copies in print. 2019 saw the release of his book Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life. He is a regular contributor to the award-winning Christian Research Journal and an articulate communicator on the pressing issues of our day, having spoken in leading churches, conferences, and on college campuses throughout the world Hank and his wife, Kathy, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they are parents to twelve children.
In this episode, Hank tells his personal story and explains his entry into ministry and his work on The Bible Answer Man Broadcast. Hank discusses the post-truth world that we live in, and he explains that “truth is essential to a Christian worldview.”
John Warren talks NFL, family, and faith with Jeff Driskel, quarterback for the Houston Texans.
In this episode, we discuss the life of Alexander Hamilton. This statesman, economist, banker, writer, and founding father lived an interesting life full of epic successes and failures. John discusses Hamilton’s life in the context of our tendency to rely on our own strength. We explore the empty frustrations and failures that ensue when our focus is on our personal agenda. John closes this episode with a discussion of God’s transformation and renewal described in Romans 12.