What is God’s Plan For Me? Archives - Christian Questions Bible Podcast: Recent Episodes
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To claim the name of Christ and call ourselves Christians means we are claiming ourselves to be separate from the world. This sounds like a noble claim – and it is – though sometimes you’d never know it. Think about how many people make this claim and bear the Christian label but seem to be just like everyone else. This is a sad testimony to how, over time, Christian practices have been severely diluted. In many cases, this watered-down approach is to the point of not even being able to recognize true Christian principles. For someone who has just come to Christ, this can be a serious challenge. Are these new Christians being guided into the process of following Jesus’ footsteps, or to some other examples? What should any and every new Christian be focused on learning and growing towards?
Let’s begin with the bottom line.To be a Christian is work, and this work actually begins even before we claim the name of Jesus. The seemingly little-known fact of the matter is, we don’t simply choose to be Christians; rather, we are called to be Christians. We know this because it was a plain statement of Jesus that he gave as a response to some who were grumbling at his teachings. He said, “No one comes to me except the Father draw him.” So, where is the work? It begins with being open to God’s call. Because this call is NOT an audible voice, those who are called need to be attuned to the change God is drawing them to.
Our response.Once we are aware of this drawing, our next task is to respond. Jesus informed us throughs parables that responding to the call of discipleship requires an investment of thought and consideration. For many of us, our experience in coming to Christ was energized and emotional. We realized that we were sinners, and we ran towards Jesus for the forgiveness of those sins. While this certainly is a good beginning, it is not what true discipleship is all about. You don’t simply get emotional and then essentially sign a contract that requires you deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Jesus!
Hearing this approach to being a Christian can come across as depressing. All we have talked about is work, thinking, sacrifice and dying for Jesus. Is it really all just work and effort? Of course not! There is MUCH more to this call. Check out our September 25, 2023 podcast, “I’m a New Christian! Now What?” for more. Along with the work, we also examine the blessings. After all, Jesus said that his true followers would be with him in heaven. He said that God’s spirit would dwell within them and guide them. He said that he would give them rest, that his “yoke is easy” and his “burden is light.” Join us as we look at the whole of the journey that true Christians are called to take. It is so worth it!
The post I’m a New Christian! Now What? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast (Live).
To live a life as a disciple of Christ is to live a life of discipline and focus. We are walking in Jesus’ footsteps, and that means there are many things we need to do. After all, by his teachings and examples, Jesus wrote the book of our faith. So, what did Jesus expect from […]
The post Are Christians Supposed to Convert the World? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
People believe in the Bible to varying degrees. Some of us see it as the unerring word of God while others see it as an account of history, wisdom and standards. Still others see it as sprinkled with both wisdom and folly. Then we have those who see no value in it at all. For […]
The post Are We Living in the “End Times”? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Every Christian group proclaims what they believe to be the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as we all claim to follow his leading and his life. The problem arises when we compare our doctrine, principles and life objectives with one another. Simply stated, it all just does not line up. There are SO many variations of […]
The post Does Christianity Preach the Gospel? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life is often measured by time. Our society is hyperfocused on immediate gratification, which means we don’t want to have to wait. We don’t want to have any interval pass before we get what we want. We have scheduled events, appointments, work hours, lunch breaks and periods for sleep. All of these things are time-driven. […]
The post Why Does Time Matter in God’s Plan? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Jesus died for our sins, and if we believe in him we will go to heaven. This common Christian belief that ties Jesus’ sacrifice and our salvation up into one neat package sounds simple, but it actually raises many questions. What does it mean to “believe” in Jesus? Is belief in his teachings the point […]
The post Are Jesus’ Ransom and Our Salvation the Same? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Most people seem to have a sense there is something beyond this life, that death is not a permanent end. This “sense” is expressed in a myriad of differing beliefs about life and death. Every Christian denomination believes in the resurrection of the dead, but the similarities stop there. Looking at the Scriptures we find […]
The post What is the End Times Resurrection About? How Does It Work? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Jesus was and is evidence of God’s love for humanity. The proof is not just in the fact that he came to ransom us from sin and death. It is also displayed in how he taught us God’s plan. Still, it is admittedly hard to grasp what God’s plan is about especially when he spoke […]
The post Does God Really Love Humanity? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
One of the most famous Scripture says, “God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son” for it. For many, the obvious follow up response is, “Great! Then why is the world more messed up now than ever before?” In truth, God does love humanity. His love is expressed in a profound and […]
The post Does God Really Love Humanity? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The King James Bible says righteousness and judgment (although this word judgment should more accurately be translated as “righteousness”) are the foundation of God’s throne. This picture language shows us that God does indeed judge everyone, and everything and His judgments are based on that which is right and equitable. So, how does it work? […]
The post Does God Judge Everyone the Same Way? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
What part of the gospel did Jesus most focus on teaching? For many of us the answer would be simple: Jesus taught love; love one another as he and God love us. While this is a beautiful and profound answer, it is surprisingly incorrect. Jesus focused probably three times more on teaching about the kingdom […]
The post Where is the Kingdom Jesus Told Us to Pray For? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As Christians, we pin all of our hopes on the belief that Jesus was crucified and died for our sins. This is the bottom line core reason for our coming to Christ for it speaks of him doing something for us out of pure love that we in no way could do for ourselves. To […]
The post Did Jesus Die for Muslims? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
A goose that lays golden eggs. King Midas and the ability to turn things to gold through “the Midas Touch.” A winning Powerball Lottery ticket. Confessing Jesus as your Savior and inheriting an irrevocable one-way ticket to heaven. What do all of these things have in common? First of all, they all sound really good […]
The post Once Saved, Are You Set for Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Judgment Day! The very words strike fear into the hearts of many believers across the borders of many religions. After all, this world obviously does not dole out any form of true justice to its vast population, and whatever God you may believe in surely sees this and will soon balance those scales that are […]
The post Will Sinners Be Happy on Judgment Day? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
History does repeat itself. Sometimes in its repetition we can see the heartbreak of the transgressions of the past repeated in the present with an even deeper and more insidious result. Look around you and what do you see? Shootings, stabbings, bombings, race riots, gangs, rape, murder, genocide; Black lives matter, police lives matter, all […]
The post Has God Lost Control of Our World? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everybody wants to know what the future will look like. With all of the myriads of ways we can connect with each other, we certainly are not shy about telling others what we personally think the future will bring. Depending on the school of thought that you come from, looking ahead 100 years or so […]
The post What Will the World Look Like in the 22nd Century? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Bible often tells us what is going to happen before it happens. Sometimes its prophecies are very specific and sometimes they are shrouded in symbols, but in all cases they tell us about the future. So, what is the future? Our world has come to a point where it has the capacity to destroy […]
The post Are Nuclear War and Armageddon Coming Soon? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all know that Jesus came to save the world from sin and death. We all know that Jesus opened the way to heaven for his truest followers. We all also know that Jesus taught frequently about the “kingdom of heaven.” What we may not know is what he meant by that phrase, because it […]
The post How Did Jesus Describe the Kingdom of Heaven? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We believe in God. He is the Almighty Creator. But if you look around, what do you see? Watch the news and you will not only get depressed but probably scared as well. Here in our country, several Christians were gunned down while at a Bible study. A local sheriff was murdered while putting gas […]
The post So, Why Hasn’t God Destroyed Evil? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It kind of funny how there is such a movement against the Bible and biblical principles these days, yet things like “Armageddon” and “Judgment Day,” which have their basis in Scripture, are common themes in our society. Of course, society dramatizes these things way beyond the reality of Scripture, so what we perceive is generally […]
The post What Really Happens on Judgment Day? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Atheism – for many of us who profess Christianity, even hearing the word conjures up a need to defend oneself and one’s faith. Sometimes we envision atheists as those whose objective in life is to ridicule not only us but the mechanism of our faith. And not just the mechanism of our faith, but the […]
The post Did Jesus Die For Atheists? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Ebola virus. War between the Palestinians and Israel. Iraq being plundered by ISIS. Christians in the middle east being persecuted and killed. Worldwide anti-Semitism on the rise. The tenuous problems with Russia and Ukraine. In our country – lawlessness on the southern border, Government scandals over the IRS, the Health Care system and Benghazi, […]
The post A World in Chaos! Should We Be Afraid? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Our world is a mess. Our people are a mess. Our governments have no answers. We live in a time of the greatest enlightenment, the greatest knowledge and the greatest progress history has ever recorded, yet we also at the same time are experiencing the utter collapse of morality, respect and integrity. Was this all […]
The post Can the World Be Restored? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We are blessed – truly blessed – to know Christ and to have the opportunity for salvation before us. In light of this blessing that is claimed by Christians, some have raised the question if you (Christians) have this blessing and path to God’s favor while the vast majority of the world’s population does not, […]
The post Can Everyone Answer the Gospel Call? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.