Mission Upside Down: Recent Episodes
MUD Media
For 2000 years, the followers of Jesus have been on a mission, even as Jesus himself was on a mission. Often wrongly understood as “saving souls,” this mission of Jesus actually is about bringing people into a new kingdom, a new reality. Life in this new kingdom requires not only a change of heart and mind, but a change in life-purpose and worldview. As Jesus himself observes, there are not many people who will want this change. But for those who are changed by God inwardly, life in this new kingdom, brings new meaning and purpose in life. Everyone who becomes part of this new kingdom finds that almost all their prior beliefs, ideas, attitudes, and perspectives become turned “upside down.”
In the seventh commandment God not only prohibits adultery, but all types of sexual immorality. In this episode we explore how God safeguards our marriages and multiplies our joy as we obey Him.
Jesus interprets the Ten Commandments in a deeper sense than the Jewish rabbis. He applies them not only to our actions but also to our attitudes and motivations. Thus, under the Sixth Commandment we are judged guilty
Children must respect and obey their parents out of love for Jesus. A special promise applies to those who do. Today we explore the fifth commandment.
In the fourth commandment, God’s people are told to remember the Sabbath day. It’s the 7th day of the week, corresponding to our Saturday. Why do most believers no longer worship on the Sabbath? And how can we apply this commandment today?
Like the first two commandments, the third one is also a prohibition. We are prohibited from using God’s name in unbiblical ways. Not only will we learn some of those wrong ways, but we will consider how to use God’s name rightly.
The second commandment is about our worship of God. We must not represent God by any images, or other visible means. We also consider two opposing ways to decide what to include in our worship services.
For believers, the main use of the Ten Commandments is known as the normative use. That is, God’s laws are the norms, the standards, for living thankful lives once we are saved. We also explore the meaning of the first commandment.
In popular thinking, laws are regarded as bad things. People think that laws get in their way, restricting their freedoms. Indeed, some human laws are bad. God’s laws, however, are perfect and are given for our benefit.
It’s easy to over-simplify the commands in these verses. That if only believers could wave a kind of magic wand, all their worries will disappear. In this episode we try to carefully interpret and apply important biblical teachings.
Continuing our look at Philippians 4, we ask if it’s possible to be rejoicing always. It really depends on our definition of biblical joy, and, most importantly, the meaning of our being in the Lord Jesus.
No local church is perfect. That’s because it is made up of imperfect believers. In a new series on Philippians 4 about Christian joy, we set this topic in its proper context. The Apostle Paul writes honestly about some of the struggles in that congregation.
We look at three more masks that men wear, according to Lewis Howes: the aggressive mask, the joker mask, and the know-it-all-mask. For better and deeper friendships, we must start to remove these masks.
Scientific studies show that the #1 factor in ordinary human happiness is our social relationships. That includes our friendships. From a book written by Lewis Howes, we will explore what gets in the way of close friendships.
Most men aren’t good at being open or vulnerable. We look at some reasons for that. In addition to (perhaps) having spouses and extended families, men need friendships with other men.
Several books in the Old Testament refer to God’s friendship with the people He has redeemed. We will take a quick survey of several Biblical texts. We also consider some practical steps for building deeper friendships.
The night before he was crucified, Jesus spoke at length about his love for his eleven faithful disciples. He specifically called them his friends–his deeply-loved friends. In today’s episode we begin to examine the biblical concept of friendship.
In the second part, the pastors discuss other matters connected to funerals. Among other things, they talk about the difference in tone and emotion at the funeral of an older believer compared to someone much younger, about typical words spoken at the gravesite, and so on.
From time to time, pastors are asked to lead funeral services for people in their church who have died. In this episode two pastors talk about their experience in leading funerals–both the challenges and the blessings.
Our limited minds cannot fully comprehend the glories of heaven. Yet God has told us enough about heaven to encourage us on this earth. As we’ve trusted in Jesus, someday we will enter that heavenly place He’s already prepared for us.
Whether we’re grieving the death of a loved one, or standing alongside those who are grieving, Jesus is with us. Psalm 23 reminds us that our Good Shepherd walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.
The Bible speaks of death as our enemy. In Christ, death is a defeated enemy, but it remains our enemy nonetheless. Therefore we rightly grieve and mourn the deaths of those we love.
In the second part of this conversation, the pastors discuss some of the advantages of this unique model of training. They also explore the need for leadership training and the role of mentoring for making disciples in the context of the church.
Traditionally, pastors get educated in seminaries. They pass their courses and receive their degrees. In today’s conversation, two experienced pastors talk about a different model used by some churches for training their pastors.
Randal recently visited one of the churches he had served years ago. In this episode he reflects on conversations with various pastors and church members.
Continuing the conversation, Randal and Mitchell suggest ways for pastors to find help in their ministries. Under-shepherds today need to be strengthened and encouraged so that they, in turn, can strengthen and encourage their flocks.
Two pastors, Randal and Mitchell, talk about certain dangers and temptations for pastors today. Along with the Apostle Paul himself, they conclude that pastors, at times, are weak. They are also prone to pride
The word most often used in the New Testament for preachers, or ministers, is the word “pastor.” Literally, a pastor is a shepherd, the leader of a flock of sheep. In this episode we learn about some of the duties and the character of pastors
What else can help a church become more like an Acts 2 church? Among other things, the pastors discuss sharing meals together, meeting in small groups, praying for one another, and serving others in a spirit of humility.
Today we’re beginning a conversation with a pastor of a church in Toronto. With Acts 2:42-47 as a starting point, we talk about how churches and its people can become more like the Church described in the Book of Acts.
Recent statistics show that many people who consider themselves believers are dropping out of church. They’ve become spiritually homeless, unhoused. Why is this happening?
Jesus’ main message in the gospels is about the coming of the Kingdom of God. There are two very different ways to interpret the meaning of the kingdom. Each way will impact your understanding of prophecies about the End Times.
Does God have one plan for the Jews to be saved, and a second plan for the Gentiles to be saved? Contrary to what preachers say today, the Bible shows God’s plan for Jews and Gentiles to belong to one Body of Christ, one Church, and one Kingdom.
Many believers think that God commands us to ‘bless’ Israel today. And if we don’t, we will come under God’s curse. So let’s look at the specific promise God makes to Abraham in Genesis 12, and let’s learn how those promises are ultimately fulfilled.
It’s common in many churches to hear dramatic conversion stories–how people were delivered from a life of crime or drugs to faith in Jesus. But what about believers whose conversions weren’t so dramatic? Today’s episode comes from our podcast archives.
Here’s another powerful excerpt from C.S. Lewis. He echoes the Apostle Paul in referring to believers as “New Creatures” or “New People.” We aren’t just improved people; we are transformed people when we are in Christ.
C.S. Lewis is one of the most popular authors of the 20th century. His book, Mere Christianity, has sold millions of copies and has been translated into dozens of languages. Listen as Lewis explains the Christ-Life in us.
According to the book, “I Once Was Lost,” being converted to faith in Jesus is process. Sometimes, a long process. The authors describe five stages, or thresholds, in this process.
In a recent book about conversion, the authors describe how most non-believers have to cross five “thresholds.” In this episode, we’ll explain why we probably can’t analyze conversion so neatly. But we must be thinking about where our non-believing friends are on their journey of faith.
Raised in an atheistic family, Lochlan was recently converted to faith in Jesus. Though God converts us by His sovereign grace, He uses various instruments to do that. Lochlan explains how this happened in his life.
We’re beginning a series on how God converts people to faith in Jesus. Today’s episode comes from our podcast archives. It gives basic biblical teaching about conversion and gives examples of people who have been converted.
The apostle John says that all believers “have an anointing from the Holy One.” Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and we share in his anointing. United with Christ, we serve as prophets, priests, and kings in various ways.
Though the work of redemption was Jesus’ most important work, the Bible teaches us about other aspects of his work. These aspects are seen in the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king.
Jesus spoke many words and did many works while he lived on this earth about 2000 years ago. But there is one thing Jesus did which should be considered his most important work. That work is highlighted in the meaning of his name.
Jesus once asked, “Who do people say that I am?” Indeed, that is an all-important question. Today we’re considering the person of Jesus–that he is truly God and truly human. We’ll learn why this is essential if Jesus is to be our Savior.
In this conversation, Randal chats with a believer who struggled with a problem with alcohol. She shares how she was delivered from what she calls “a stronghold of sin” in her life in those years. We’re reminded that, indeed, God’s grace is greater than any sin.
When Adam and Eve rebelled against God in the Garden, they and human civilization would suffer horrible results. In this episode, we look at the worst of these results. In grace, God also made a promise to Adam and Eve to someday send Jesus.
Though created in perfection, Adam and Eve ended up rebelling against God. In their guilt and shame they tried to hide from God. Something similar happens today, when we sin against God. Thankfully, God takes the initiative and by His grace to us in Jesus, He calls out to us to save us.
Human beings are created in the image of God. From that central biblical theme, we learn about God’s image in a deeper sense and in a more general sense. We also consider how this teaching motivates us to care for the environment and to be productive in our daily work.
What does the Bible teach about our beings, ourselves as human beings? Today we consider the biblical teaching of how God created the first humans in his own image. This teaching radically changes how we should view ourselves and other people.
In Acts 17:6, two followers of Jesus were accused of “turning the world upside down” (ESV). The gospel does that–in our lives and in our world. We hope that our podcast, in a small way, is contributing to this upside-down mission.
Romans 8:28 says that God is always working for the good of those who are following Jesus. That means He’s working also through our times of suffering. Today we learn some of the good results that come from bad things in our lives.
One of the challenges about the biblical teaching of providence is this: If God is fully in control of everything, why do bad things happen to us? Is God really in control? Or, if he is, perhaps He’s not always good. Let’s explore this teaching in more detail.
Why have certain events occurred in your life? The Bible says that ultimately God is in control of all the events in our lives and in world history. In this episode we learn about this biblical truth and about what difference it should make in our lives.
Some scientific theories and some interpretations of Genesis chapter one disagree with one another. However, if scientists and biblical interpreters are careful and humble, they can find some areas of agreement.
A while back, we considered some of God’s attributes, His personal characteristics. Now we turn to God’s main works. Among the greatest of God’s works, is His creating of all things at the very beginning of time.
We’re continuing the conversation from last time. Among other things, we talk about how it’s normal for believers to sometimes become depressed. We also discuss how God works many good things from the sad things in our lives.
Today we’re talking to someone who’s doing their best, by God’s grace, to follow Jesus. Though her story has its sad moments, ultimately, it helps us better understand why the gospel is indeed GOOD news.
What’s the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross? We consider three aspects of the cross. All of these aspects contribute to a full biblical perspective on why Jesus died for sinners.
All of God’s attributes work together in perfect harmony. In this episode we consider God’s great love for us in Jesus and how He saves us by His grace. The Bible teaches that God’s love and grace work alongside His justice and righteousness.
When it comes to God’s attributes, theologians often distinguish between His communicable attributes and His communicable attributes. We take a look at two of God’s communicable attributes, namely, His holiness and righteousness.
In theological language, the personal characteristics of God are known as His attributes. In this episode we consider several of these attributes, including God’s power, knowledge, wisdom, and sovereignty.
The Bible reveals God is only one God. So Christianity is considered a monotheistic religion. Yet, from the very first chapter in the Bible, we learn that there is some kind of plurality within God.
While God’s essential nature cannot be known by us, we can know God to the extent that He has revealed Himself to us. God has particularly revealed Himself in His Word, the Bible. We also consider some good things that result when we truly know Him.
We continue the conversation with Dr. Thomas Reilly. His book, “Saving the Nation: Chinese Protestant Elites and the Quest to Build a New China” was recently published by Oxford University Press. Among other things, we discuss the YMCA in its earlier years
Our guest on the program is Dr. Thomas Reilly, professor of Asian Studies at Pepperdine University, a Christian university in Malibu, California. Reilly has spent significant time in China, particularly in Shanghai, and is familiar with both the government-approved churches as well as the so-called ‘underground churches.’
Our days on this earth pass by so quickly. How can we find meaning in life, when our lives are so short? Psalm 90 gives us some answers.
You would think that Herod’s son and grandson, also regional kings, would respond to Jesus in a better way than Herod. But they didn’t. We learn about Herod’s descendants from the gospels and the Book of Acts.
The gospel-writer Matthew gives us one story about King Herod the Great. It’s in connection with Jesus’ earliest days on earth. In that story we can see ourselves and can understand why Jesus came to this earth years ago.
The gospel writer, Luke, records many of the details surrounding Jesus’ birth. Among those details, is the decree of Caesar Augustus. We a closer look at that ruler and some of those who later ruled from ancient Rome.
Continuing the conversation, Jeff and Randal focus on the future. What would the future be for us, if Jesus has not been raised from the dead?
In this episode Randal and Pastor Jeff talk about the crucial importance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Focusing on 1 Corinthians 15, they discuss how the resurrection gives believers great hope.
In Acts 8, a church leader named Philip helped a man understand what he was reading from the Old Testament. To help us properly interpret certain verses in the Bible, we need extra help.
While the basic teachings of the Bible are clear, some verses require extra care in interpreting them. Here are some rules to help us do just that.
More than 500 years ago, the authority and sufficiency of the Bible was up for debate in a famous public meeting. To this very day, evangelical Protestants come down on one side of that debate.
The Bible, as the Word of God, is fully true and without error in its teachings. This doctrine is known as the “infallibility” or “inerrancy” of the Scriptures.
Having learned about God’s general revelation, we now learn about His special revelation. What, exactly, is so “special” about it?
Following the previous episode, we’re focusing on one signal from God, a signal that indicates His existence and His character. It’s the universal sense of right and wrong. Listen to what C.S. Lewis and others have said about this signal.
God is continually sending out signals to all people on the earth. By “tuning in,” everyone should be able to know something about God. In this episode we explore the idea of “general revelation” and what it means for us today.
Two other objections to believing in the God of the Bible are these: a) the Church has caused injustice and violence in the world, and b) science makes belief in God and miracles impossible. How shall we respond?
In his New York Times bestselling book, Dr. Timothy Keller replies to objections to Christianity. In this episode, we’re looking at three of the most common objections raised by sceptics today.
We’ve now completed our third season of “Mission Upside Down.” We’re listing the most popular episodes among our listeners. If you’ve missed any of them, you might want to catch up during the summer.
As we’ve learned in this series on the Beatitudes, it’s not easy to follow Jesus consistently. But by God’s grace we are enabled to do that. And in the doing, we are blessed and rewarded.
In the fifth and sixth Beatitudes, Jesus shows us more about the kind of people belonging to Him and His kingdom. Literally, we are “blessed” as we live in this kingdom.
Continuing with the Beatitudes of Jesus, we consider how the Kingdom of God is so very different from the kingdoms of this earth. Radically different, in fact. Life with Jesus turns everything upside down.
People speak about being “blessed” whenever something good comes their way. Jesus teaches that believers are blessed, blessed by God, as they display certain characteristics in their lives.
In the final episode of a three-part series, we focus on the older son in Jesus’ parable. We explore his underlying attitudes and motivations which led him to reject the Father’s invitation.
Continuing with the parable, we look at both sons in that household. Each of them showed their own type of rebellion. The father moved toward both sons in love and mercy. One responded, the other did not.
The parables that Jesus taught are stories intended to teach us. They teach us important things about God and about life within His kingdom. Today we look at one of Jesus’ best-known parables.
There are many good reasons for attending church worship services. One of those reasons is that at church we can encourage other believers, and that they can encourage us.
A recent survey shows that 4 out of 10 pastors are considering quitting. How would you know if one of those is your pastor? And how could you and your church encourage him in his ministry?
Continuing the conversation, Darnell reflects on the legitimate authority of the government and on the abuses of this authority. He also shares his personal experiences as a black man living in the greater Toronto area.
In a two-part interview, Randal speaks with Darnell, a committed follower of Jesus. He’s also a black man in his 30s. Darnell reflects on his past and on current racial issues.
“The Fundamentals” was a name of Christian booklets published in the early 1900s. While many followers of Jesus like to be known as “fundamentalists,” other followers do not. How about you?
Some Modernists have become quite radical in their teachings. The radical Modernists have more in common with Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism than with historic Christianity.
The most modern version of Christianity is actually not Christianity at all. Not in any historic sense. Let’s discover some of the main teachings of “modernism” today, teachings that are found in many churches.
Many modern churches give new meanings to old biblical words. Consider Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. You might be surprised to learn how many people in many churches think about that teaching today.
Forgiveness is usually a long pathway, not an instant action. But the more we forgive people who have hurt us, the more we heal and the more we grow, both emotionally and spiritually.
Continuing the topic of biblical forgiveness, we learn more about what it is and is not. And if we refuse to forgive people who have hurt us, we should be prepared for the alternatives.
It’s very hard to forgive people who have hurt us in some way. Yet, if we’re serious about following Jesus, we must forgive. In a series of three episodes, we will explore what God says about forgiving those who have sinned against us.
John 3:16 is the most familiar verse in the Bible. Yet as we look more deeply at its meaning, we should be surprised, even shocked, at God’s gift of Jesus.
Continuing their conversation, the pastors give some examples of wonderful Christmas carols. One of them recently has been written. God is glorified and his people are rightly instructed when these kinds of carols are sung.
In this episode two pastors talk together about singing carols during the Christmas season. Some carols have words which do not accurately reflect biblical teaching. The pastors give some examples of these.
The New Earth, not heaven, is the final destination for followers of Jesus. When Jesus returns, God will make all things new, including our bodies, the creation, even the animals. What an incredible future!
What will happen when Jesus returns? Let’s avoid interpretations or ideas not clearly stated in the Bible. Rather, as we gain better understanding about these things, we should be encouraged and be eager to meet our Lord.
Many teachers and preachers have speculated about when Jesus will return. In this episode we’ll learn about some recent speculations. We’ll also learn where Jesus says our focus must be.
Following up on the previous episode, we look at five suggestions for giving good judgment, biblical correction, to someone who might be slipping. All believers have a responsibility to help other believers follow Jesus more closely.
Jesus says, “Do not judge.” What did he mean? Must we never make judgments about right or wrong, good or bad? We will learn what Jesus meant by these words and how we might put his teaching into practice.
Pastor Sam Allberry has written a small book about being a follower of Jesus and being single. As an unmarried man, he not only writes biblically but also very personally. You’ll want to get his book.
In many large urban areas, single adults comprise 50% of the population. How does God view singleness? What does He say about unmarried believers? You might be surprised!
From Romans 1-3 we have learned that God the Father is the giver of the gift of Jesus’ righteousness. We are the recipients of the gift. Concluding this series, we learn from Romans 4-5 how we receive the gift and what results from it.
We could become discouraged about our inborn, human sinfulness and God’s wrath against us. But from the book of Romans, we are greatly encouraged by God’s wonderful gift to us.
The word “gospel” means the good news about Jesus. To know exactly why this is good news, we must know the bad news. Romans 1:18 and following explains our natural condition before God, and what’s bad about it.
In this new season, we start by looking at the Book of Romans. Martin Luther called Romans “the chief part of the New Testament.” In four episodes about the first three chapters of Romans, we’ll understand why Luther said that.
In this episode we look back upon the past year of “Mission Upside Down.” Our listeners have some favorite episodes and so do we. We’re also going to be taking a break and will resume in September.
In Mark 7:27 Jesus says something quite shocking, even potentially offensive. It’s about a certain Gentile woman. But in his words and in her response, we learn a powerful lesson about humility and about simply trusting him.
In 1 Timothy 3:15 we read about “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” To have life in Christ means that we must have a place in his church on earth.
We in the western world live quite individualistically. The COVID epidemic also has caused us to become more separated from one another. In contrast, Jesus calls us to meet together to worship and to minister together as his church in this world.
Philip Yancey has written several best-selling Christian books. In this episode, we learn God used several people, mostly writers, to restore his hope for the church. Some of those writers might encourage you.
It’s easy to give up on the church. People give up because of some bad pastors, or unbiblical teachings, or phoney believers. In some cases believers might have to leave their congregation. But usually they should remain.
From the first book of the Bible to the last book, from Genesis to Revelation, the main message is found in descriptions of four trees. Learn about these trees and about the wonderful future which awaits believers.
Do you believe God plans all things in life--not only the good things, but also the bad things? In this episode we explore the Bible’s teaching on the topic of God’s providence.
The ancient Greek philosophers said, “Know yourself.” Though John Calvin agrees with this point, he emphasizes that proper self-knowledge flows out of our knowing the true God. Only as we know God can we rightly know ourselves.
Along with Martin Luther, God also raised up the pastor John Calvin to bring about a return to the Bible in the 16th century. Listen as Calvin’s pastoral heart is revealed through some letters he wrote in those days.
Let’s look at three more ways that biblical doctrine helps us. With the previous episode that makes five ways altogether. If it’s right doctrine, and used rightly, then we and our churches will be helped greatly.
Some believers think of “doctrine” as a bad word. Yet, biblically and historically, it’s actually a good word. Though sometimes used in a wrong way, biblical doctrine can be used today to help believers and churches.
It’s not easy to talk to people about Jesus. In fact, it often requires hard work. But Jesus reminds us that someday there will be a gospel harvest. And then we, along with the new believer, will be rejoicing.
How can we talk to people about Jesus? In John 4, Jesus gives us some help in talking to unbelievers. Though we cannot do everything Jesus did, we can find some practical help in these verses.
How do believers speak to unbelievers about Jesus? Often, it’s by quoting some Bible verses or using a memorized presentation. From John chapters three and four we will learn where we must begin.
Having considered one big takeaway from Luther in a previous episode, we now consider three more takeaways. In God’s providence, the teachings of Luther continue to have a powerful effect upon our beliefs and practices today.
Almost 500 years ago, Martin Luther preached this sermon on Easter Sunday. It is based on John 20:17. Listen as Luther beautifully explains what Easter means for us today.
More books have been written about Martin Luther than anyone except Jesus. That’s according to one historian. Yet many people today know very little about him. Let’s learn how God used Martin Luther to change the world.
It’s possible to become so heavenly minded that we end up having little earthly value. We as believers must keep in balance our earthly and heavenly callings. In this episode, we focus on how God calls us to our earthly duties.
Followers of Jesus are citizens of heaven. The Bible says that we must set our minds on the things above. Our heavenly citizenship helps us handle many earthly situations.
Almost all news reports emphasize the bad news. As a result, people are becoming increasingly pessimistic and negative. Some are getting depressed. Now is the time to go on a ‘news fast’ and also to enjoy a ‘gospel feast.’
Part of our prayer life should include asking other believers to pray for us. As we share our needs with them, we are humbled. And as they pray for us, we are strengthened.
The psalms in the Bible can be used in your daily prayers. By using the words of the psalms you’ll find new ways of talking to God in prayer. Try it! You’ll soon find your prayers more satisfying and more God-glorifying.
We often make prayer too complicated. In contrast, Jesus teaches us a basic and easy way to pray. In this episode we cover some of those “prayer basics” so that we will be able to pray more naturally and more often.
Following the previous episode, we listen to Augustine’s account of his conversion experience. The final step is very dramatic. Yet Augustine came to realize that God had been at work in his life for many years before he took that final step.
The church leader, Augustine, was raised in north Africa around the year 400 A.D. He writes about his life before and after he was converted. It’s a fascinating story. In this episode we hear him describe his life before his conversion.
To have a relationship with God, each of us needs to be converted. Randal explains the biblical meaning of conversion. He also shares the stories of four people converted to faith in Jesus.
Counselor Andrew McKenzie explains how people can be traumatized by various events, including the death of a loved one or even in the current epidemic. He also gives practical advice about helping people cope with trauma in their lives.
Here’s a second list of Christian songs that every believer should know. By knowing these classic hymns and singing them, you’ll be giving glory to God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What’s more, these songs will encourage you during difficult times.
These hymns, Christian songs, are classics. They have been loved by new converts and mature believers for many years, in some cases, for centuries. Learn about these hymns, including ‘Amazing Grace,’ ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness,’ and others.
The birth of Jesus is something to celebrate. But the Bible puts more emphasis on the death and resurrection of Jesus than on his birth. Find out why.
Years ago, someone asked this question: “where does my help come from?” Today we might ask it this way: “where can I find encouragement?” For the answer to this important question, we explore Psalm 121
How can the church help those who feel lonely or discouraged? Our host and a Christian counselor talk about small groups as well as other ways to encourage those who may be struggling in this season.
Especially In the holiday season, many people feel lonely. A Christian counselor explains why we must give one another the freedom to express those feelings. We must also give ourselves grace.
Every sin listed in the Bible can be contrasted to its opposite. So the sin of pride can be contrasted to the godly virtue of humility. Listen to several Bible verses which show the vast difference between these two.
Though all sins are bad in God’s sight, some sins have more deadly results than others. Find out why one particular sin tops the list as the most “deadly” of all sins.
Coronavirus, politics, and protests are decreasing our joy and increasing our stress. On top of those things, we have to deal with personal struggles. From the book of Philippians, we’ll learn how to increase our joy.
We share insights from a best-selling book about friendships. Increasing transparency, speaking more warmly, and performing small acts of kindness, are among the practical things we can do to deepen our relationships.
It’s not really about the quantity of friends you have, but the quality of your friendships. In this episode we consider how to deepen friendships that you already have. We suggest five things you can do right now to deepen your existing friendships.
How many friends do most men have? Not too many! At least not many close friends. But for emotional health and for spiritual growth, men need better male friends.
Following up on our most popular episode, “Online Dating,” we dig deeper into the topic. Many believers advise single adults to just “Let go and let God” in order to find someone special. What might be wrong with that advice?
If you are a believer in Jesus, and you believe that God is calling you to marriage, should you try “online dating”? Though there are some risks to keep in mind, the benefits seem to outweigh those risks. Many Christian husbands and wives have met their spouses by being introduced to each other through an online service.
In many churches, so-called “personal testimonies” are usually quite dramatic. Yet the vast majority of believers come to faith as they are raised by believing parents in the context of a Bible-believing church. Though their testimonies might sound a bit boring, yet God’s grace to them is just as amazing as any other kind of testimony.
In one of our more provocative episodes, Randal explains why he cannot call himself a Christian anymore. Hint: it has something to do with the meaning of the word ‘Christian” as it is used today in North America. Also, we will discover from the Bible that there are other, better words, to refer to ourselves as those trusting in Jesus as Saviour. Get ready to be provoked!
As with all areas of knowledge and learning, we sometimes have to learn some big words. And some difficult concepts. So it is with the Bible. Thankfully, most of the words and concepts are fairly easy to understand. But some words and concepts require more effort on our part. In this episode we learn two fairly difficult biblical words. And it is very easy to confuse them. Once we learn them, however, these words will provide us with good encouragement in our following Jesus.
In all religions, people must do something to show their “god” that they are worthy of being saved. They must demonstrate something about their good heart, or their loving works. Even for us, today, it is easy to think that in some way we must show to God that we deserve salvation. But the shocking truth of the Bible is that God freely gives us salvation, without our deserving it at all. It comes to us as a gift, freely given to us, as we simply trust in Jesus.
In certain episodes you can listen as God’s Word, the Bible, is read to you. This is one of those episodes, entitled “God’s Word ...” Listen as God speaks to you about the beauty of His grace and His wonderful plan of salvation for you. Be reminded that no one or nothing can ever cancel God’s love for you in Jesus. That love of God will be yours in this life and in the life to come. The readings are selected from Ephesians chapters 1, 2; Romans chapters 1, 3, 8; and Revelation chapters 21, 22.
In this episode, we learn about the most basic biblical teaching about being saved. It’s a radical teaching, something that indeed turns us and our world “upside down.” You see, we are not saved by trying to be better people or by trying to improve our morals. We are saved only as God credits us with the righteousness of Jesus. This is amazingly good news!
To be saved by Jesus, we need to put genuine faith in him. In this episode, we explore three elements of genuine faith in Jesus, the kind of faith we need to be saved. Surprisingly, real faith is not based on extensive biblical knowledge, nor is it always a strong faith. At times, genuine faith will be mixed with doubts about some things. This episode will help you know if your faith in Jesus is real.
Sometimes people make a conflict between God’s eternal plan to save people and their responsibility to trust in Jesus. Instead of setting these two aspects in conflict, the Bible teaches both of them. Just as a train rides on a railroad of two tracks, tracks which run parallel, so our salvation has those two aspects—God’s plan, and our responsibility to respond to Jesus. The church has the duty to proclaim Jesus to everyone. Everyone who hears the good news then is expected to respond—either in faith or in unbelief.
Before we will be able to understand the “good news” found in the Bible, we must know the “bad news.” It is this: the root of our personal failures runs deep into our hearts, down to our most basic desires. We not only say and do wrong things, but we fail to love our Creator God above all, and we fail to love people. Only when we understand how bad the “bad news” is, can we appreciate how truly amazing is the “good news” found in the Bible.
Continuing with Acts 2:42, we explain the four “must haves” for any good church. These are biblical teaching (doctrine), biblical fellowship, biblical breaking of bread, and biblical praying. In this talk, we particularly focus on the last three items in that list. As we seek more biblical churches, we surely will be “turned upside down” in our thoughts and our actions.
Many people are “shopping” for a good church. In this episode, we identify four “must haves” for any good church. First and foremost is that a good church must have good teaching from the Bible. Probably every church will claim it has biblical preaching. This podcast will help you identify the main features of proper biblical teaching.
According to one expert, a good story must accomplish one or all of these things: it must broaden our perspective; it must cause us to act beyond that which has imprisoned us; it must empower us to live more of our potential. In this episode we show how the story in the Bible does all three of these things—and more! We also learn how our Creator calls people not only to love Him, but also to love other people in helpful and practical ways.
In this launch of our podcast, Randal introduces himself to our listeners. In these podcasts, we are attempting to explain what it means to follow Jesus and to be part of His kingdom. At times we will provoke our listeners, challenging some of their beliefs and traditions, but at all times we seek to be humble. As we will learn, the good news about Jesus can turn the world upside down.