Mel Moon's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hartville Freewill Baptist Church
If you think partiality, prejudice, favoritism, or racism is not a big deal, then you need to hear what James says about it.
Peter said that the end of all things is at hand. That was 2K years ago! So, we know we are living in the end times, but how should that affect us? What should we do?
Scripture gives us some strong advice about dealing with the busy-ness and clutter in our lives. Sometimes we just need to clear up the files and reboot!
When did Christmas--Christ coming into the World to be the Savior of all mankind--really begin?
Being a Christ follower means a continual journey of learning and growing into Christlikeness as God uses others to help and encourage us and then uses us to do the same for others.
It's impossible to be a true disciple of Jesus without the effects of it showing in and through your life.
What does it mean to be a disciple, and what are the priorities we should have? Jesus brings this out during three different encounters with people who thought they wanted to follow Him.
This is it! -- the most important message you can ever hear. It's too important not to share!
Everyone has discouragements, troubles and trials. For those who walk by faith, what is seen on the surface is not the reality. It lies much deeper. Here are more reasons to not lose heart or give up.
How to keep going even when the going gets really tough! Here are some words of motivation and perspective so we don't lose heart, give up, or act like cowards.
In our day of "virtue signaling" and moral grandstanding, people need to see something genuine in our lives now more than ever. Through Christ, our lives are changing. It's not about the talk. It's all about the walk--so, off with...
Often misunderstood and overlooked, the Superpower defies logic and human ability. It is not natural; it is supernatural!
There is another example of a "harvest" that is used in Scripture that should motivate us with urgency to be working in God's field--the Final Harvest!
In part 1, we focused on what God has done for us. Now, we take note of a responsibility He sovereignly gives us. It's impossible to have true faith without this key element!
God wants to transform you. How? By the renewing of your mind. You can't do it without His power and presence, but it also involves your participation.
In order to change the direction my thoughts are taking me, I have to expose the lies I have believed with the light of Scripture, remove the lies and replace with God's truth.
We all have struggles that go on in our hearts and minds. Paul talked about his in Romans 7. The answer is Romans 8. Your life will go in the direction of your strongest thoughts, so he teaches about setting the mind on the things of the Spirit--being...
He has made you free from the law of sin and death. You have the power, the freedom to OVERCOME!
The price for our freedom has been paid and power to live in that freedom is provided. So, why would anyone choose to live in bondage?
This is often a big blind spot in our quest for real freedom. It affects our freedom in relationship to God, ourselves and others.
What does real freedom look like? Does it mean we are free to do what we want? Jesus said He came to set us free. What does that look like? Paul teaches about a key ingredient of real freedom. Without it, freedom can destroy itself.
No matter what is happening in the world around us, for those who are following Christ, He is still the center, the Gospel is still the focus and our Mission is still the same!
No matter what is going on in the world around us, Christ is still the Center, and the Gospel (good news) is still the focus of who we are and what we do.
It's not a matter of having Christ first on our priority list for the New Year. It is about having Him at the Center of the entire list!
The history of Christmas Trees may be a bit confusing, but the message is clear concerning God's own special tree!
At the time of His birth in Bethlehem, He had already been Lord from eternity, but the way God orchestrated this event was the only way a perfect God could redeem sinful humans.
If the "end of all things" was at hand in Peter's day, then it must be "in the hand" in our day! How are we to respond? What should "last days" living look like?
When you are struggling, suffering or even being persecuted and just not feeling the victory anymore, look to the lesson God gives us in this passage. Hope will come alive!
The Blessed life is where not only are you blessed, but you bless others--even your enemies--even during suffering. This impacts the world around us in one of the most powerful ways.
God is the designer of the home and He knows what our roles and responsibilities should be. As believers, we show the truth of the Gospel by how we submit to and honor one another.
As people of God, we display the good news (the Gospel) to the world around us through our attitude toward the authorities in our lives and our response even when our "rights" are violated.
The hope we have is a living one. It is based on Jesus' resurrection from the dead. We have a living hope because of our living faith in a living Savior!
A lot of people began 2020 as a year of renewed vision. Now most would say, "If hindsight is supposed to be "20/20," then that's where I'd like to have it-- behind me!" But, true vision is the ability to see God's...
"Good Nuff" just isn't good enough! God didn't send His Son to die on the cross for our sins and rise again to give us new life in order to produce mediocrity in our lives! He deserves (and demands) excellency. It starts with a...
We have a battle raging right now against a nasty virus, and we are all familiar with the phrase "going viral," but this is about the best kind of "viral" spread. We're talking about the Good News!
How many of us have anxieties, cares, and worries these days? How would you like to to unload these and also find out how valuable and precious you really are to God? That's what this passage is about!
The Gospel is such an incredible balance of Truth and Love. False teachers are everywhere! It is vital that we know the Truth and walk (live) in God's Truth. Our motivation: love!
Everyone knows these are serious times. As Jesus answers three questions from the disciples, He gives us important instruction for last days living.
The Bible: How do I read it? How can I understand what it says? And, most importantly, how do I apply its teachings to my life?
Abraham's nephew, "Lot," is an example of a few bad choices leading to terrible consequences. Don't be a lot like Lot!
I know what the Bible is and how we got it, but can I trust that it is reliable and true?
Don't become barren or blind! It's your responsibility to supply your life of faith with these necessary ingredients.
John said that the world itself couldn't contain all the books that could be written if everything Jesus said and did were recorded. But what we do have were written "That you may believe."
Genuine, mature faith in God's saving grace doesn't always deliver us from the storms. Often, it delivers us THROUGH them!
Walking by faith involves a "meanwhile." It is the trust and hope that propels us while we wait for the fulfillment of all God's promises.
All the great examples in Hebrews 11 from the Old Testament not only had faith, but it was a faith that looked to the Resurrection.
It's easy enough to say--even in times like these--to just trust the Lord. But what does it really mean to have genuine, saving faith?
God's Word gives us the perspective that will prevail over our fears or over any other thing that this uncertain life throws at us.
Why do we call it a worship service? What does worship have to do with service? Actually, there are two things that flow from the heart of worship that are in this verse.
As we totally focus on God in sincere worship something happens to us. Our lives are altered at the "altar" of worship.
Worship must be in Spirit and in Truth. It is also public as well as private. Scripture details some other powerful aspects of the context from which our worship flows.
What are some things worship involves? Psalm 95 is an invitation to worship that contains several powerful elements.
Jesus teaches about the meaning of worship in an unlikely situation with an unlikely person. Is what we call "worship" fall in line with what Jesus said?...intro Part 1.
Jesus teaches about the meaning of worship in an unlikely situation with an unlikely person. Is what we call "worship" fall in line with what Jesus said...intro Part 1.
In a world of constant change it's good to know we can hold on to something that never changes!
Don't let all of the presents and distractions cause you to miss His Presence this Christmas!
A man came to Jesus with an important question. Jesus answered in a way that exposed where the man's heart really was. Maybe we all need to examine our own, as well.
What you think about the most...whatever you protect the most...whatever you value the most---It's what you treasure the most. It is also where your heart is. Who has your heart? Are you building up treasures that last forever?
Stewardship! It's all about how we manage what God has given us. It involves our time, talents, and treasures. ..and everything else!
Too many Christians are weak, immature, and focused on themselves. That's now what God wants. It's time to stop being babies!
A popular thought in our culture is that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. God never said that! What you believe determines how you live in this life and in eternity.
Our culture believes it doesn't matter what you do as long as you don't hurt anyone. Some Christians believe it doesn't really matter because God has you covered. Guess what, God never said that!
It's a popular phrase, but did God really say He would never put more on you than you can handle?
Did God actually say that? No! He has something more, something better for you than what we often call happiness!
You might be confusing this with something else God said! Mercy and Grace say the opposite!
The Truth from God is the most valuable treasure in the universe. We must protect it with everything within us and pass it on. However, make sure the truth you are guarding is God's Truth and not just your preferences or opinions!
Fight or flight? According to Paul, it depends! There are some things from which we need to flee, and there are some things for which we are to fight.
real--authentic--genuine...Living in the real world can be really difficult! God wants to give us strength and encouragement to live out a real faith in the real world.
When frustration and discouragement comes because life seems unfair and the wicked world around us seems to be prospering, the first thing we need to do is get closer--draw near to God! Amazing what happens to our perspective!
We live in a world full of toxins. As important as it is to cleanse our bodies from the effects of them, it's even more important to cleanse the real you--your soul--from those things that contaminate the life of Christ within you.
When you receive salvation, you not only receive eternal life. You also get a family--the family of God. There are going to be issues and messes that need to be worked through.
Physical exercise is important, but it's not nearly as important as spiritual discipline and training. What we believe (God's Truth) should determine how we live. Godliness is about living life God's way...a way that glorifies Him and...
The enemy's attacks don't always come from the outside. Often, they come from within. Thus, the warning about false teaching and the encouragement to be disciplined for the truth.
Just like God established order, with different roles and responsibilities, within the family, so has He established order in His household, the local church. It all has to do with fulfilling our purpose and mission...
He has delivered us! But, He doesn't deliver us FROM without delivering us TO. He has transformed and transferred us out of darkness into the light, to partake of His inheritance in the Kingdom of the Son of His love.
This Mother's Day message is not just for mothers. The qualities Paul saw in Timothy were taught, and reinforced by his mother and grandmother and are needed in all our of our lives.
It may come as a shock to some in our modern world, but men and women are different! There are certain things we need to know if we are going to have powerful prayer lives.
"First of all..." we are to pray, and that involves prayers for all people. It's not the last resort. It's the first stop!
Nothing in the universe is more important than this single event. This changes everything!
A personal testimony about God's amazing, abundant, overflowing grace transforming a life that no one thought would change! Can you testify, too?
This single word is one of the most important ingredients of love, mercy, grace and salvation. It makes our relationship with God possible...also our relationships with one another.
Instead of giving a technical definition of what real love is, 1 Cor. 13 describes it by telling us what real love does and does not do.
There's a lot of confusion and controversy over this gift, yet the Bible doesn't give a great amount of info on it. We want to keep our views and practice within the boundaries of Scripture. No more, no less. This is a look at practically...