Character Archives - Christian Questions Bible Podcast: Recent Episodes
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As we continue our Ten Commandments series, we are focusing on how each and every Commandment given by God to Israel after their being freed from slavery has direct and profound meaning for us as Christians. While we live in a VERY different world, the principles of each of those Commandments are powerfully important for us to follow in our walk as disciples of Jesus. The Third Commandment tells us to not take God’s name in vain. For the most part, we look at that and we might think, I don’t use God’s name in any inappropriate way, so I’m fine! Well, the reality is taking God’s name in vain is far deeper, far more subtle and far more destructive than the words we use. We need to pay close attention!
Beyond OMG!The Third Commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain,” reaches far deeper than avoiding careless speech. In this episode, we explore how “taking God’s name” is about carrying His name, bearing it as a representative of His character. The commandment warns against taking God’s name in vain — living in a way that makes God’s name appear empty, false, or inconsistent with the life of a disciple. It is not merely about words; it is about the integrity of our walk.
Connecting CommandmentsThe discussion begins by connecting the Third Commandment to the first two. When we allow doubt, divided loyalty or idolatry to take root, hypocrisy naturally follows. We may outwardly claim God’s name while inwardly relying on our own desires, worldly influences or the persuasive voices of others. We discuss how this progression leads to a “forged signature,” a life that bears God’s name but does not reflect His holiness.
Jonah’s story becomes a vivid example. As a prophet, he carried God’s name, yet his refusal to obey revealed an idol of self‑will. Only in distress did Jonah recognize the emptiness of his own vanity and return to faithfulness. The Apostle Paul’s transformation provides another powerful illustration. His impressive credentials once masked spiritual emptiness, but in Christ he learned to count all things as loss so he could bear God’s name with sincerity.
Practically speaking, how do we avoid becoming a “shell” of a Christian? By guarding our priorities, resisting worldly influences and rejecting leaders who twist Scripture for personal gain. Ultimately, Jesus’ words in the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name,” show the positive side of the Third Commandment. To carry God’s name is to treat it as sacred, letting it shape our character, our choices and our daily walk.
Key Takeaways
- We are supposed to represent God with integrity at all times, not merely avoiding careless speech.
- Hypocrisy begins when doubt, idolatry or worldly influences distort our loyalty.
- Jonah and Paul illustrate how personal desires can forge a false spiritual identity.
- The antidote is returning to the first two commandments: no other gods, no idols.
- “Hallowed be Thy name” is the positive fulfillment of the Third Commandment—living in a way that honors God’s holiness.
The post Do I Ever Take God’s Name in Vain? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Temptation is everywhere. In fact, it may be lurking in places that we are not even aware of. Let’s put this in perspective: Who do you claim to be? If you answered that you claim to be a Christian, then the next question is, who do you serve and in whose footsteps are you therefore to walk? Our answers should be that we serve God and are walking in the footsteps of Jesus our Lord! Now here’s the test: Let’s think about our associations, our work or school environments, our friends, the shows we watch, the influencers we follow, the music we listen to and the posts we make and read. Where are all these things drawing our minds to? What percentage of all these things are in exact alignment with God our Father and Jesus our Lord? Think! Be honest! You see, temptation IS everywhere!
How to identify temptation? It doesn’t always arrive with flashing lights or obvious danger. More often, it begins quietly—like a seed dropped into the “soil” of our hearts. What matters most is what we do with those seeds. Left unattended, they can take root and pull us off course. But when recognized early, they can be uprooted before they grow into something that harms our spiritual life.
The New Testament describes temptation as a proving ground—a pressure that reveals what is already inside us. That pressure can either weaken us or build us, depending on the desires we allow to take root. Even Jesus faced temptation, showing us that the battle itself is not sin. The danger comes when desire is fed, entertained, or justified. Whether it’s the “lust of the flesh,” the “lust of the eyes,” or the “pride of life,” temptation always begins with something that looks appealing and promises more than it can deliver.
Because temptation is subtle, how to identify temptation becomes our first line of defense. We’re called to examine our thoughts, emotions and habits with honesty. Are they drawing us closer to God or quietly nudging us away? Scripture encourages us to “submit to God,” “resist the devil,” and “draw near” to the One who provides strength and clarity. When we recognize the early signs, remove ourselves from compromising environments and reassess our emotional state, we create space for God to reshape our responses and strengthen our character.
Temptation is universal—but so is God’s faithfulness. With humility, vigilance, and a willingness to grow, we can face temptation with confidence and shut it down before it takes root.
Key Takeaways• Temptation begins as a seed—often subtle and easily overlooked.
• Desire is the catalyst. Temptation gains power only when it connects with something inside us.
• Awareness, honesty and early action are essential to stopping temptation before it grows.
• Scripture provides a clear process: submit to God, resist the devil, draw near and reshape our responses.
• God always provides strength, clarity and a way of escape for those who seek Him.
The post How Do I Identify Temptation and Shut It Down? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Let’s get practical. For most of us, the largest portion of our waking hours is spent working in one way or another to support ourselves and our household. Whether we are in a trade or at a desk, whether we are engaged in a service or retail or farming, building, manufacturing or raising children or going to school or freelancing, most of us are tied to the responsibility of investing time into our physical care. Now, if we are truly dedicated Christians, we know our primary responsibility is to God through Christ. How do we make these seemingly contradictory investments of our time work in perfect harmony? How do we fully live our Christianity while involved in spiritually mundane activities? What does my Christianity look and sound like when I am simply taking care of business?
One way to best frame the answer to these questions is to lay out what it looks like for a Christian to be an ideal employer or employee. By using the word “IDEAL” as an acronym, we can appreciate the guidelines we should strive for.
I.D.E.A.L.Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, Leadership—These attributes are a framework for living out faith at work.
Integrity is described as wholeness and consistency. Integrity is not an idea; it is a decision.
Diligence builds on integrity by turning conviction into sustained action. It is “urgent devotion,” not passive effort. Christian workplace diligence comes from seeking God’s will first!
Excellence is not just an ideal; it is an attainable reality and can be achieved even when the conditions of our work environment are lacking. Jesus is our example of excellence, and he should be ever present in our minds while we work.
Attitude is not just an emotional state; it is a driving force. The prophet Daniel is a powerful example of a godly attitude while he positively served the kingdom he was a captive of for his entire life.
Leadership is not just for those in front; it can be a privilege for all! When we work with Integrity, Diligence, Excellence and Attitude, we ARE leading by example!
Faith at work is revealed not primarily through words but through character—how we show up, how we treat others, how we handle pressure, and how we honor God in the mundane.
Key Takeaways:
- Integrity is being the same person in every setting.
- Diligence is action, not emotion
- Excellence comes from always truly applying our best efforts
- Attitude is a powerful force that can change an environment
- Leadership is a result of all these things in action
- Faith at work begins internally, with Scripture, discipline and purpose.
The post How Is My Faith Revealed When I Am at Work? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
At the beginning of his second letter, the Apostle Peter reminded us that God, in His power and love, has graciously given us everything we need to be faithful to the calling of discipleship. This walk of sacrifice is supported by the overwhelming gift of God’s precious and magnificent promises. Peter then tells us that because we have such privilege and grace before us to build on our faith. He tells us that as a result of having this gift of faith, it should help us fully develop moral excellence. That moral excellence should in turn drive us towards spiritual knowledge, which feeds our ability to have self-control. Our outward manifestation of self-control should trigger powerful perseverance which in turn nourishes a godly and reverent character. This godly character produces an all-encompassing brotherly kindness which in turn develops the kind of selfless love that our Lord Jesus and our heavenly Father both have.
Useless or unfruitfulWhen these qualities are present and increasing, they keep us from becoming “useless or unfruitful” in our knowledge of Christ, but when they are absent, we become spiritually short‑sighted, forgetting the cleansing and new life Jesus provided. Complacency is a danger, and we as believers can drift into blindness or relapse into old habits when we stop climbing the ladder.
Peter then re‑energizes us with a call to diligence—bookending the entire process with earnest effort in verses 5 and 10. This diligence is not frantic activity but a sincere, steady commitment to practicing these virtues so that we can keep moving forward even when we stumble. Through vivid examples, warnings and encouragements, the episode emphasizes that spiritual growth is intentional, not automatic, and that God’s providence works with our effort to shape a character that reflects Christ. Ultimately, Peter assures us that if we continue developing these qualities, we will walk securely, avoid spiritual collapse and receive an abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom.
Key Takeaways
- Peter’s “virtue ladder” outlines a clear, ordered path for Christian growth.
- These qualities must be increasing to keep us from becoming spiritually unfruitful.
- Forgetting our cleansing leads to spiritual blindness and drift.
- Peter uses diligence as bookends (verses 5 and 10) to show that growth requires intentional effort.
- Practicing these virtues helps us recover quickly when we stumble.
- God’s promises supply the power; our diligence supplies the response.
The post What Does a Fully Supplied Christian Character Look Like? (Christian Character Series Part X) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have arrived! This episode explores the final and highest rung of the Apostle Peter’s “virtue ladder”- agape, the selfless, God‑shaped love that defines the true purpose of Christian character. We walk through how each previous rung—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self‑control, perseverance, godliness and brotherly kindness—builds the capacity to reach this culminating form of love. While Strong’s Concordance’s Greek definition of agape may sound simple or even underwhelming, Scripture masterfully fills the word with depth, weight and divine intention. This eight and final rung powerfully reveals the height what our Christian characters aspire to!
The love of God HimselfAgape is the love God demonstrates in giving His only begotten son. It is the love Jesus lived by laying down his life, and the love the apostles taught as the unmistakable evidence of spiritual maturity. This love is “disinterested” in the classical sense—free from selfish motive, seeking no advantage and offered even when it is not reciprocated.
It is critical to remember that while this kind of love grows out of brotherly kindness, it surpasses it by embracing even the hardest expressions of love: loving enemies, blessing those who persecute us and caring for those we don’t naturally like. A powerful illustration of this is the story of Maximilian Kolbe, who voluntarily took another man’s place in a starvation bunker at Auschwitz—an act that embodied Christlike, sacrificial agape.
The first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13, show us how this kind of love must shape what we as Christians say, know and do; without it, eloquence becomes noise, knowledge becomes pride, and even great acts of sacrifice lose their spiritual value. Finally, we observe how the Scriptures remind us that perfect love casts out fear, and that agape matures in us as we continually practice the earlier virtues. When brotherly love is strong and relationships are aligned with God’s will, agape becomes the defining purpose of a disciple’s life, shining as the highest expression of Christlikeness.
Key Takeaways Agape is the highest rung of Christian character, built on the foundation of the previous seven virtues. * Strong’s definition is insufficient—Scripture reveals agape as God’s own selfless, sacrificial love. * Jesus models agape through his willingness to lay down his life. * Agape includes loving enemies and those we don’t naturally like. * Without agape, words, knowledge and actions lose spiritual value (1 Corinthians 13). * Perfect love casts out fear*, revealing maturity and alignment with God’s purpose.
The post What Does Christian Love Really Look Like? (Christian Character Series Part IX) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The blueprint for Christian character development the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 lays out for us a “ladder” that we as disciples of Christ are to climb. Each rung of this ladder is vital to our ability to be able to progress up to the next rung. As we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time in this extended series, we have worked on making the connections between our foundation and how each step makes us more like Jesus. Now comes the seventh rung, and this one really begins to reveal what a truly developed Christian character should look like.
The seventh rung is brotherly kindness—philadelphia in Greek and also translated as “brotherly love.” We must realize that faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self‑control, perseverance and godliness form the necessary foundation for this deeply relational virtue. In ancient Greek, this kind of love referred to the instinctive loyalty shared by blood relatives—a devotion that is both expected and not optional. Peter places this rung after godliness because only a character shaped by reverence for God can sustain the sacrificial, loyal, family‑level commitment required to love fellow believers as true siblings.
Lots of loveTo broaden our understanding, it is helpful to compare three Greek categories of love: natural family affection, brotherly love and philanthropia—a benevolent love for all humanity. Brotherly kindness sits at the center of these circles, bridging instinctive affection and universal goodwill. Jesus himself established this family identity when he taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father…,” making all disciples brothers and sisters.
Questions to ask ourselvesPractical self‑examination is needed to see how well we are living this brotherly kindness: Do we protect others’ reputations? Do we step in quietly when someone is overwhelmed? Do we welcome those who sit alone? Brotherly love is not convenient. It is costly, time‑consuming and emotionally demanding.
Ultimately, brotherly kindness is the training ground for the final rung—agape love. If Christians can’t love the family of faith with loyalty and tenderness, they cannot hope to love the world with Christlike sacrifice.
Key Takeaways
- Brotherly kindness is loyal, family‑level devotion rooted in godliness.
- It bridges natural affection and universal benevolence.
- Jesus established Christians as a true spiritual family.
- Brotherly love requires patience, protection, presence and emotional investment.
- It is inconvenient but essential for mature Christian character.
- Practicing philadelphia prepares us for agape—the highest form of Christlike love.
The post What Does Brotherly Kindness Mean for a Christian? (Christian Character Series Part VIII) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The blueprint for Christian character development the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. With this blueprint, Peter lays out for us a ladder of Christian character development. As we examine it, we find that each rung of this ladder is vital to our success in climbing up onto the next rung. In the last five parts of this series, we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time and worked on making the connections between what our foundation is and how each step makes us more like Jesus. Now comes the sixth step, and this one really begins to shape what our outward Christian character should look like!
In this episode, we continue our Christian Character Series by examining the sixth rung of Peter’s “virtue ladder” in 2 Peter 1:5‑7: godliness. Godliness is not “looking religious,” but a whole‑life orientation toward God, expressed through reverence, devotion, humility and a character that consistently seeks God’s will. It is the “allegiance of our character,” the natural outgrowth of perseverance and self‑control working together.
Fake godlinessGodliness is not something humans possess naturally; it must be developed intentionally through discipline, sound doctrine and a continual turning away from worldly distractions (1 Timothy 4:6‑8). True godliness grows from the inside out and can’t be faked, even though many in the “last days” may display only an appearance of it (2 Timothy 3:1‑5). Real godliness is rooted in Christ’s teachings, not tradition, and must never be used as a means of earthly gain (1 Timothy 6:3‑10). Instead, godliness produces contentment, freeing believers from the traps of wealth, status and self‑promotion.
Misplaced prioritiesWe also highlight the dangers of misplaced priorities through Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:22) and the encounter with the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16‑22). Can we truly be called “men or women of God” (1 Timothy 6:11)? Are we pursuing transformation through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2‑3)? Ultimately, godliness must be visible, shining as a testimony that glorifies God (Matthew 5:16). It is the payoff of perseverance and a foundational step toward authentic discipleship.
Key Takeaways Godliness is the allegiance of our character, formed by the previous five virtues. * True godliness is internal, genuine and rooted in Scripture, not outward performance. * It can’t be used for earthly gain; its true gain is contentment. * Godliness requires discipline, perseverance and continual renewal of the mind. * It must be visible*, shining in a way that glorifies God, not us. The post How Do I Grow in Godliness as a Christian? (Christian Character Series Part VII) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The blueprint for Christian Character development that the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter chapter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. Based upon God’s power and promises, Peter lays out for us the blueprint for a ladder of Christian character development. Peter has taught us that each rung of this ladder is very important to our success in climbing onto the next rung up. In the last four parts of this series, we have focused on one rung of this ladder at a time. We worked on making the connections between what our foundation is and how each step makes us more like Jesus.
Step 5 on the ladderChristian perseverance is the fifth step following faith, moral excellence, knowledge and self‑control. Perseverance means “cheerful, hopeful endurance”—an active, conscious decision to “stay under” the weight of trials with constancy. It is not drudgery. It is a spiritually energized commitment to keep moving forward.
Perseverance is essential because self‑control can’t survive without it. Scripture shows that perseverance grows out of justification, peace with God, and His grace (Romans 5), and is modeled perfectly by Jesus in his endurance of the torturous cross experience (Hebrews 12).
Developing enduranceChristians develop perseverance through three major arenas: trials, persecution and loyalty testing. Trials cultivate endurance that leads to maturity, as seen in James’ teaching and in real-life examples of believers who endure suffering with faith. Persecution requires principled perseverance, following Jesus’ example of non-retaliation and trusting God’s power when feeling afflicted or targeted. Loyalty testing cultivates perseverance that glorifies God in every circumstance, choosing prayer, spiritual perspective, and Christlike responses over fleshly reactions.
Perseverance strengthens what has already been built—faith, moral excellence, knowledge and self‑control—while enabling continued spiritual growth. Ultimately, perseverance is the allegiance of our energy to God’s will, empowered by His spirit, inspired by Jesus’ sacrifice, and necessary to receive the promised reward. It keeps us from giving up, restores our confidence and helps us “run and not grow weary” as we walk in Christ’s footsteps.
Key Takeaways
- Perseverance = cheerful, hopeful endurance, not mere survival.
- Self‑control collapses without perseverance; endurance keeps spiritual progress intact.
- Jesus is the model of joyful endurance, inspiring us not to lose heart.
- Trials develop maturity, producing endurance that leads to completeness.
- Persecution requires principled perseverance, following Jesus’ example of never retaliating.
- Loyalty to God is proven through endurance, glorifying Him in every circumstance.
The post How Do I Grow in Christian Perseverance? (Christian Character Series Part VI) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The blueprint for Christian character development that the Apostle Peter gives us in 2 Peter 1 focuses us on a profound series of steps we need to take in order to be more Christlike. As a basis for this needed growth, we have seen how God’s promises help us to be ready to systematically take the next step up Peter’s “ladder” of Christian character development. So far in our series, we have begun to see how each step up this ladder needs the step before in order to actually bring us towards true daily discipleship. We now continue this character development process by looking into the fourth step up towards Christlikeness.
This fourth rung in Peter’s “virtue ladder” from 2 Peter 1:5‑7 is self‑control, the “allegiance of our passions.” The first three rungs—faith, moral excellence and knowledge, deal primarily with internal transformation. Self‑control is the pivot point where that inner work begins to show up in real‑world choices. The Greek word for this conveys mastery, inner power and dominion over oneself.
For Christians, this begins with preventing harmful or unproductive thoughts from becoming actions, and culminates in actively choosing what is spiritual, wholesome and Christlike. Our discipline requires self‑examination: identifying what naturally pulls us off course so we can learn to make adjustments.
The self-control of an athlete running a racePaul’s athletic metaphors in 1 Corinthians 9 highlight three components of self-control: intentional focus on the goal, embracing necessary limitations and wholehearted perseverance. Like a trained athlete, we as Christians must make many daily small, disciplined choices that strengthen spiritual “muscle memory.” Self-control also shapes how we view and treat others, enabling us to respond with grace rather than instinctive frustration.
It’s important to recognize that self-control is not a standalone virtue, and it stabilizes the entire structure of our Christian characters. Without knowledge, self-control becomes directionless; without self-control, perseverance becomes impossible. When rooted in faith, moral excellence, and knowledge, self-control opens the door to genuine spiritual growth and Christlike living.
Key Takeaways* Self-control is the “allegiance of our passions,” the disciplined governing of our impulses and desires. * It is the pivot point where inner transformation becomes outward behavior. * True self-control begins with restraint and culminates in choosing what is spiritually beneficial. * The Apostle Paul’s athletic imagery teaches focus, limitation and perseverance as essential components. * Self-control shapes how we respond to others, reflecting Christ rather than our impulses. * It stabilizes the entire virtue ladder and enables the next step: perseverance.
The post What Kind of Self-Control Is Really Required of a Christian? (Christian Character Series Part V) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle Peter laid out a phenomenal blueprint for us to follow regarding the how and why of developing a focused and loyal character that is modeled after Christ. After reminding us of the incomprehensible promises that God brings us through His power and Jesus’ sacrifice, he then focuses us on doing our part. Peter gives us a blueprint for building a virtue “ladder” of Christian character development, of which the first rung is our faith. Because we have the firm footing of Christian faith in place, we can then develop “moral excellence,” which in turn gives us the stability to next develop knowledge. As we will continue to see, when followed, the order of developing these attributes of our Christian characters will yield an unbreakable allegiance to daily, living God’s will through Christ!
Peter’s ladder sequence is intentional: faith establishes our direction, moral excellence aligns our heart with God’s highest standards, and only then can knowledge become a stable, Christlike attribute rather than a source of pride or harm. By contrasting godly vs. misapplied knowledge, we can see that without moral excellence, it can inflate ego and harm others. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 shows that even correct knowledge can become destructive if it emboldens weaker Christians to violate their conscience. True Christian knowledge must therefore be governed by love, humility and responsibility.
How much of the Bible do I have to know?This is not about mastering every prophecy or detail, but about understanding Christlikeness and allowing God’s light to shape our intellect. All Scripture – both in the Old and New Testaments – is the essential source of this knowledge, forming a lifelong journey of discernment, filtering out worldly influences, and taking every thought captive to Christ.
God’s plan is expansive, merciful and awe‑inspiring.Recognizing its depth should cultivate gratitude rather than arrogance. Paul’s example in Philippians 3 shows the surpassing value of knowing Christ, which makes all previous accomplishments seem like “rubbish” in comparison. Ultimately, knowledge becomes transformative when it flows from faith, is shaped by moral excellence, and leads us toward deeper loyalty to God’s will.
Key Takeaways* Knowledge must be built on faith and moral excellence to avoid arrogance. * Misapplied knowledge can harm others while godly knowledge is always governed by love. * All Scripture is the authoritative source of Christian understanding. * True knowledge produces humility, responsibility and awe at God’s plan.
The post How Does Knowledge as a Christian Change My Worldly Life? (Christian Character Series Part IV) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In 2 Peter chapter 1, the Apostle Peter is laying out a phenomenal blueprint for us to follow regarding the how and why of developing a focused and loyal character modeled after Christ. He begins by reminding us of the majesty and power of God, along with the loyalty and sacrifice of Jesus. He tells us that because God is as lofty as He is, we are given incomprehensible promises that can bring us to God’s own divine nature. He then tells us what’s required on our part. Peter explains that because of these promises, we need to apply all diligence, and in our faith, we need to supply – to develop and live – a character that will nurture and grow specific virtues of Christlikeness.
As we continue our Christian Character Series, the second “Allegiance Attribute” in Peter’s spiritual blueprint is moral excellence. Building on the foundation of faith, we find that that moral excellence is not merely good behavior but wholehearted allegiance of the heart—a life shaped by God’s purpose and modeled after His own character. This excellence evokes the idea of something fulfilling its highest purpose, like a horse that runs fast, or land that produces abundantly. For Christians, this moral excellence means living in a way that reflects God’s excellence and demonstrates that His purpose truly matters to us.
Inward excellence and outward goodnessThis inward excellence naturally produces outward goodness, the visible conduct others can observe. Drawing from several scriptures, we can observe how moral excellence expresses itself through humility, patience, forgiveness, perseverance, gratitude and Spirit‑led transformation. True Christian virtue is not simply avoiding wrongdoing but actively embodying Christlike character in everyday interactions.
The challenge is that God’s standard is high, and we will fail repeatedly. Yet Peter reassures us that God has already provided “everything pertaining to life and godliness,” equipping us through His promises to grow into His divine likeness. Moral excellence becomes possible, not because we are strong, but because God is faithful.
Ask yourself: Is my moral excellence stronger today than yesterday? Am I becoming the person God intends me to be?
Key Takeaways* Moral excellence is the allegiance of the heart, reflecting God’s character and purpose. * Inner excellence produces visible goodness. * True virtue requires intentional growth, not just avoiding sin but embodying Christlike qualities. * God equips believers with everything needed to develop moral excellence through His promises. * Spiritual progress requires perseverance, humility and daily habits that nurture transformation.
The post What Does True Christian Moral Excellence Look Like? (Christian Character Part III) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. In Part I of this series, we covered the first four verses of 2 Peter chapter 1. These verses laid out a broad foundation for the development of our Christian character that is based on who God is, what He promises us and what Jesus has done. The next part of the blueprint for our character development is to not only show us traits we need to have included in our Christlikeness, but HOW we are to include them. This episode reveals how Peter unfolds his spirit-driven, exciting and practical approach to building a true Christlike character.
Peter’s blueprint continues with a command: “…applying all diligence.” The Greek terms reveal a vivid picture—bringing our effort alongside what God has already supplied, and doing so with eagerness, earnestness and speed. Diligence is the opposite of sluggishness; it reflects a focused loyalty to God’s will. As we receive God’s promises, we are to simultaneously apply this diligence.
The first area where diligence must operate is our faith.Faith is not a wish; rather, it is a conviction grounded in God’s reality. It is a gift, and though not earned, it must be tested, strengthened and lived. Trials develop endurance, and endurance matures character. Faith becomes what we call an “Allegiance Attribute”—a foundational internal quality that shapes all the other traits Peter will list.
Faith must be active, single‑minded and visible through works.Just as Christ fully supplies the body and Christians supply one another, we are called to fully supply our own character with what it needs to grow. Ultimately, God abundantly supplies entrance into the eternal kingdom, far beyond mere adequacy. Our role is to respond to His overwhelming provision with the diligent and eager faith that fuels the lifelong process of Christlike transformation.
Key Takeaways
- God’s promises form the foundation for Christian character development.
- “Applying all diligence” means bringing earnest effort alongside God’s provision.
- Faith is the first and foundational Allegiance Attribute.
- Faith must be active, tested, single‑minded and visible through works.
- Growth is mutual: God supplies us, we supply our character, and we in turn support others.
- God’s supply is abundant and our response to it must be diligent and wholehearted.
The post What Steps Help Me Build a Permanent Christlike Character? (Christian Character Series Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Apostle Peter began his second letter to all Christians by addressing the very formation of our Christian lives. He proceeded to lay out a deep and profound series of character development steps to show us how to completely and wholly grow into mature disciples of Christ. To begin this process, his clear message in the first four verses of Chapter 1 verifies that we have been given EVERYTHING we need to be faithful to our call. Peter directly connects God’s promises to our faithfulness. What is it about His promises that has such a powerful influence on the everyday lives of those who are “called according to His purpose”? How can we clearly and definitively apply these promises to each and every day of our lives?
This episode explores how God’s promises transform the life of a Christian, using 2 Peter 1:1–4 as the foundation. Peter opens his letter by reminding Christians that they have received a “like precious faith”—a faith equal in value to that of the apostles. This faith requires a life of non‑conformity to the world, inner transformation and continual renewal through God’s spirit. Such faith is rooted in the righteous acts of Jesus, whose obedience satisfied divine justice and opened the way for believers to become “new creations.”
Grace and peacePeter then highlights that God multiplies grace and peace in the lives of those who grow in true knowledge of Him. This knowledge (Greek: epignosis) is not superficial; it is a deep, ever‑advancing understanding gained through study, prayer, discipline and perseverance. God’s divine power has already provided everything necessary for life and godliness, regardless of one’s circumstances. Christians are fully integrated into God’s plan—granted access, citizenship, a spiritual foundation and a place in His household.
Only after establishing this foundation does Peter introduce God’s “precious and magnificent promises.” These promises are trustworthy because they come from God’s unchanging character. They include peace, strength in temptation, instruction, protection, courage, assurance, hope and an ultimate reward of immortality. Importantly, these promises do not remove trials but walk Christians through them, shaping Christlike character.
The purpose of these promises is transformative. Through them, we may become “partakers of the divine nature,” escaping the corruption of the world. This extraordinary privilege is granted only to faithful followers of Christ who live in alignment with God’s will. Peter’s introduction sets the stage for the “ladder of virtues” in 2 Peter 1:5–7, which outlines the step‑by‑step development of Christian character. The promises are tools that empower us to grow into mature disciples whose allegiance is fully centered on God.
Key Takeaways God’s promises are powerful because of who God is—unchanging, truthful and sovereign. * These promises equip, not escape; they strengthen Christians to endure trials. * True transformation requires knowledge, discipline and alignment with God’s will. * The promises ultimately enable faithful followers of Jesus to become partakers of the divine nature.* The post How Do God’s Promises Change Your Life? (Christian Character Series Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is said that when Benjamin Franklin was an American Minister in Paris, he spent an evening with a group of intellectuals at a time when literary circles were known for being agnostic or even atheistic. He was called on to contribute to the entertainment and read from what he called a “charming bit of literature.” He proceeded to read the entire Book of Ruth. The normally skeptical audience was delighted and wanted to know where in ancient history such a beautiful and idealistic story could be found. They were shocked to find out it had been copied from the Bible. The story of Ruth is indeed beautiful as an endearing account of loyalty, faith and divine providence.
The account explores how Ruth’s faithful decisions amid hardship reflect profound spiritual lessons. After the deaths of her husband and two sons, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law, chose loyalty over comfort and insisted on going with her into a land of a diversly different culture. Ruth’s declaration, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” marks a pivotal moment of voluntary discipleship, echoing the call to follow Christ.
Naomi’s selflessness and Ruth’s humility set the stage for divine providence to unfold. Ruth’s decision to glean in Boaz’s field, seemingly by chance, revealed God’s guiding hand. Boaz, a wealthy and godly man, noticed Ruth’s integrity and ensured her safety and provision. His actions mirrored Christ’s care for his followers, offering not just sustenance but honor and protection.
Key takeaways from this amazing account include strong insights into the three main people in the account:
- Ruth’s loyalty and humility positioned her to receive God’s abundant blessings.
- Naomi’s wise and selfless guidance allowed Ruth to make a free, faith-driven choice.
- Boaz’s integrity and generosity reflect Christlike leadership and compassion.
The story further emphasizes that:
- God can work through imperfect decisions to bring about redemption.
- Humble service and steadfast commitment open the door to spiritual abundance.
- Providential “happenings” often disguise divine orchestration.
Ultimately, Ruth’s story illustrates how one person’s faithful choice can ripple across generations, shaping legacy and revealing God’s character. Her journey from foreign widow to honored matriarch in Israel’s lineage of Jesus himself reminds believers that dedication, humility and trust in God’s timing yield lasting impact.
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If we are serious about our Christianity, then we know that the bottom line of everything in our lives is to be more like Jesus. If we call ourselves disciples of Christ, if we call ourselves his footstep followers, then any and every other objective in life must by definition become secondary. Our last seven episodes have been examining several of Paul’s pointed statements regarding our separateness from the world in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24. Having God “sanctify us entirely” is the dramatic conclusion of this powerful set of teachings. So, how does it work? What are the secrets of Jesus’ true followers living their daily lives in a truly holy fashion? Does God just set us apart? What are the standards we must adhere to? How do we know if we are on the right track?
The call for Christians to live sanctified lives is truly profound.To be “sanctified” is to be set apart from worldly influences and wholly devoted to God’s purpose. Sanctification is not only an individual journey but a collective responsibility of the entire church. It’s both a divine gift and a developmental process requiring intentional effort. God initiates sanctification, but we must sanctify ourselves by actively pursuing holiness.
Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians that they had a threefold unity: spirit, soul and body, representing the spiritual harmony, shared mission and coordinated action of the church community as a whole. God helps us rise to these challenges by giving us His sanctifying spirit and His undefiled words in Scripture as instructions. We are given everything we need; now we need to do our part!
When reviewing the previous seven lessons of our Christian Conduct Series, we need to keep Paul’s conclusion in mind: 1 Thessalonians 5:24: “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
God’s faithfulness in proven by His care in:• giving us diligent, spirit-driven and humble shepherds to guide and teach us.
• setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way.
• providing a spirit-driven environment that invites a thriving state of being.
• setting up his church with a continuous line of communication through prayer.
• providing us with abundant reasons for daily gratitude.
• giving us His spirit and giving us ways to feed its influence.
• setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way.
Ultimately, Paul’s message is that God is faithful—He provides the tools, the spirit, and the community for us to grow in holiness and preserve spiritual integrity!
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All upbuilding and spiritually mature Christian thought and action inevitably have their foundation in Scripture. The Bible gives us clear truth. Just as importantly, it gives us clear direction as to how to apply those clear truths to our lives in practical ways. In 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul teaches us to NOT despise “prophetic utterances.” Why would we make light of any teachings given for our benefit? As we shall see, Paul’s teaching here is showing us to be open and accepting towards what our brotherhood is proclaiming to us, but not without caution. Next, he warns us to examine everything! Is this a contradiction? Are we supposed to embrace what we hear, or are we supposed to be skeptical?
The key to answering this question lies in understanding how Christians can discern which teachings and prophesyings are trustworthy, especially in a world filled with conflicting spiritual claims. Biblical truth must be rooted in Scripture, not personal feelings, traditions or charismatic personalities. It is vital to not accept teachings simply because they sound good or align with popular opinion. Instead, the Apostle Paul urged us to test all spiritual claims against the Bible’s consistent message, historical context and prophetic accuracy.
In this journey, it’s important to highlight humility, study and spiritual maturity in evaluating doctrine. We also need to address the danger of false prophets and misinterpreted signs, remembering that genuine prophesying aligns with God’s character and long-term plan of redemption.
A few key takeaways• Scripture is the ultimate authority: All teachings and prophesying must be measured against the Bible’s consistent message.
• Emotions and tradition can mislead: Just because something feels right or is widely accepted doesn’t mean it’s biblically sound.
• False prophets and teachers are real and can be persuasive: The Bible warns repeatedly about deception, especially in the End Times.
• Prophesying must align with God’s character: True informative and enlightening teaching reflects God’s justice, mercy and long-term purpose.
• Spiritual maturity is essential: Discernment grows through study, prayer and humility—not through quick conclusions or viral teachings.
Our bottom line is the importance of examining the Scriptures carefully as a testing ground for what we hear. God’s word is sufficient and trustworthy, even when cultural voices or influencers claim new revelations. Ultimately, the path to truth is paved with careful study, accountability and a deep reverence for God’s Word.
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God’s spirit—His power and influence—is a power we can’t even begin to comprehend. His spirit was introduced to us as the mighty power of His will in Genesis 1:1-3 as His creative process began with “Let there be light.” This same power and influence is described as taking root in us in Ephesians 1:13 where it says we were sealed with God’s spirit through the salvation of Jesus. With all of the marvel of this mighty power of God working in us, how is it that we can “quench” it? Why would we ever even think of doing such a thing and most importantly, what do the Scriptures tell us about handling this awesome privilege with reverence and humility?
The biblical warning from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to “not quench the spirit” has important meaning in regard to Christian conduct in our day. Quenching the powerful and transformative force of God’s spirit means stifling or extinguishing that divine influence through neglect, disobedience or self-deception.
Critical elements for avoiding this spiritually destructive behavior were laid out by the Apostle Paul in his previous teachings about rejoicing, prayer and gratitude, as these behaviors “fuel” the spirit.
Conversely, bitterness, distraction and indifference can suppress it. The Bible provides vivid metaphors—like hiding a lamp under a basket or forgetting one’s reflection in a mirror—to illustrate how spiritual neglect can lead to eventual quenching of the spirit.
While there is a difference between grieving the spirit (through harmful attitudes or behaviors) and quenching it (cutting off its influence entirely) we as disciples are urged to remain attentive and disciplined, feeding the spirit through active faith and humility.
Key Takeaways:• To “quench the spirit” means extinguishing God’s influence through neglect or resistance.
• Joy, prayer and gratitude are essential “spiritual fuels” that keep the spirit alive.
• “Grieving the spirit” through such things as bitterness or gossip can lead to quenching if left unchecked.
• Distraction and indifference are common modern threats to spiritual attentiveness.
• Active faith involves doing, not just hearing—responding to conviction, not suppressing it.
• The armor of God, especially the shield of faith, helps extinguish Satan’s attacks. In this context, “quenching” is a good thing!
• God’s mercy ensures even a flickering ember of faith is precious and worth fanning into flame.
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One of the hallmark attitudes of a focused Christian life is being thankful. The very foundation of our Christian beliefs is the fact that being redeemed from sin and death by the love and sacrifice of Jesus is a gift that is in every case beyond our ability to earn or deserve. We are freely given life in Christ, and therefore we have great motivation to live in a state of gratefulness. That being said, how far should this grateful attitude go? Is it really supposed to encompass each and every experience we have? Does being thankful in everything mean we should never be sad or anxious?
There is a profound challenge requiring a necessary spiritual discipline before us if we are attempting to live with gratitude in all circumstances. We base this on 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This teaching builds on two prior principles— “Rejoice always” and “Pray without ceasing”—to form a triad of Christian conduct that fosters spiritual resilience and peace.
To meet this challenge, we must accept that true thankfulness is not a fleeting emotion but is instead a cultivated state of perception. It means viewing life’s hardships—grief, loss, uncertainty—through the lens of trust in God’s providence. The Apostle Paul models this in 2 Corinthians 12, where he expresses gratitude for unanswered prayers, recognizing that weakness becomes strength when Christ is present.
True thankfulness in everything can be described as being:• A spiritual lens that reshapes how we interpret suffering.
• A gateway to peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:6–7).
• An active expression, not just a feeling—meant to be lived and shared.
Paul’s Epistles demonstrate that thankfulness should be expressed both to God and to others. His joy over the Thessalonians’ faith despite their persecution illustrates how mutual encouragement strengthens the body of Christ.
There are MANY reasons for us to be thankful daily.
Here are just three core reasons daily gratitude is in order:1. For our calling to follow Jesus (Colossians 2:6–7) 2. For Jesus’ sacrifice which is described as an indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) 3. For God’s enduring faithfulness and creative power (Psalm 92)
Ultimately, thankfulness is a spiritual discipline that equips Christian believers to endure trials, uplift others, and align with God’s will. It’s not about denying pain. It’s about trusting that even in pain, God is present and purposeful.
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To live a truly dedicated Christian life is to live a life that has a firm grasp on prayer. It is a life that strongly and regularly seeks out God’s will and blessing in all that we do. It also seeks to regularly ask for blessings and providence over the lives of our fellow disciples. There are many scriptures that teach us about how to pray and how not to pray. So, how does all of this fit into the life of a Christian living in the 21st century? Does the fact that our life experiences are so vastly different than the times of the apostles change or alter anything? We are taught to “pray without ceasing.” How can we practically accomplish this on top of managing all of the other responsibilities of life?
When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to pray without ceasing, he was not suggesting nonstop verbal prayer. The phrase refers to cultivating a continual attitude of prayerfulness—a spiritual reflex that keeps communication with God open throughout daily life. This mindset is closely tied to the practice of rejoicing always and giving thanks in everything. Together, these habits create a kind of spiritual resilience that keeps us grounded and connected to God.
Paul’s letters offer examples of this ceaseless prayer: he regularly remembered the faith and love of the Thessalonians, expressed gratitude for their reception of the gospel, and interceded for the broader Christian community. His prayers were not limited to urgent needs but included repeated thanksgiving for past blessings, showing that prayer is both reflective and forward-looking.
There are several practical labels for this ongoing prayerful state, including:• Micro prayers—brief, breath-length expressions of thanks or need
• Flare prayers—urgent cries for help in moments of distress
• Echo prayers—reciting Scripture back to God
• Inner dialogue—maintaining a mental conversation with God throughout the day
What does supplication mean?When it comes to deeper and more intense prayers, “supplication” is an essential and distinct form of prayer. It involves earnest requests regarding specific challenges. Supplication should be paired with thanksgiving to avoid demanding to God what we want. Even Jesus modeled this in Gethsemane, praying intensely yet always submitting to God’s will.
Ultimately, to pray without ceasing means living in constant spiritual awareness by bringing every joy, struggle and decision before God. It’s not about thoughtless repetition but sincerity, gratitude and trust. Our privilege is to embrace this privilege and deepen our connection to God through consistent, heartfelt prayer.
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A Christian life is supposed to be an energized and fulfilled life. It is supposed to be this way because we have been called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. This means our lives are to be centered around following God’s word and will, regardless of what our circumstances may lay before us. So, when things are going smoothly and difficulties seem to be at a minimum, we can rejoice and thank God for His providence. By the same reasoning, when things are unstable, disastrous and traumatic, we can rejoice and thank God for His providence. Wait, what? How do we do that? How do we find and embrace true rejoicing in our lives when our external circumstances and our internal emotional state are breaking down?
Rejoice always?In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Paul gives a deceptively simple command: “Rejoice always.” As we look more deeply into the meaning of this teaching, we begin to see that rejoicing is not about emotional highs. Rather, it is about cultivating a calm, thriving state of being rooted in trust and purpose. Jesus modeled this state of being perfectly. Hebrews 12:2 says he endured the cross “for the joy set before him.” This joy was a joy that was grounded in fulfilling God’s will without trying to escape pain and suffering.
The apostles followed suit. In Acts 5 after being flogged for preaching, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Their joy wasn’t a euphoric feeling. It was focused, resilient and a mission-driven mindset.
Key lessons about rejoicing• Rejoicing is calm and centered: It means thriving in God’s will, even amid grief or hardship.
• Rejoicing is not the same as being glad: “Be glad” (Matthew 5:12) refers to emotional exaltation, which comes in moments of spiritual triumph.
• Rejoicing is shareable: Paul urges believers to “rejoice and share your joy” (Philippians 2:17–18), showing that shared joy strengthens community.
• Rejoicing is rooted in selfless love: 1 Corinthians 13 teaches that love “rejoices with the truth,” not with unrighteousness.
• Rejoicing reaches beyond circumstances: Even in sorrow, believers are called to rejoice—not by denying pain, but by being anchored in God’s promises.
Ultimately, rejoicing always is about living with spiritual clarity and purpose. It’s a quiet strength that fuels endurance, uplifts others and reflects the joy of being held in God’s care. Whether we’re weeping or celebrating, this kind of joy is our daily invitation to thrive!
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According to the New Testament, Christians are instructed to work together as a community. Even more than that, we are instructed to care for one another as a family, humbly serve one another and protect one another as soldiers in battle – even to the point of being willing to sacrifice ourselves. All of this is to be put in place while we each are dedicated to following the clear and godly teachings of Jesus in Scripture. So, how do we go about making all of this happen? In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he gives us a list of practical ways we should take care of one another. While this list is not comprehensive, it alerts us to several of the foundational principles of sound Christian conduct.
This episode of our Christian Conduct Series focuses on how each believer can actively contribute to the health of their church community. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15, we can see the Apostle Paul lays out a blueprint for mutual care, beginning with honoring spiritual leaders and extending to everyday interactions within the body of Christ.
These instructions aren’t just ideals—they’re actionable steps rooted in humility, empathy and discipleship.
Paul’s list includes five key responsibilities that shape a spiritually vibrant church. Each of these reflects the character of Christ and reinforces the interdependence of believers. A major foundational point here is that these contributions are not optional niceties but essential disciplines for anyone seeking to live out their faith within the Christian community.
Key Contributions to a Healthy Church• Admonish the unruly: Gently correct those who are out of step with Christian principles, aiming for restoration—not shame.
• Encourage the fainthearted: Comfort those who are timid, anxious, or overwhelmed with emotional and spiritual support.
• Help the weak: Cling to and support those who lack strength—physically, morally, or spiritually—through loyal, spiritually based companionship.
• Be patient with everyone: Practice forbearance by restraining reactive impulses and allowing space for small steps of growth.
• Seek good for all: Reject retaliation and pursue what benefits others, modeling the selfless love of Jesus.
By living these principles, we can create a healthy church with a culture of compassion, accountability and spiritual resilience. The message is clear: mutual contribution isn’t just about helping others—it’s about embodying Christ in every relationship.
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Christians are supposed to live lives that reflect godliness every day and in every way. This is not only difficult but frankly looked down upon. Because our world is driven by technology and social media, we are saturated daily with images, commentary, suggestions and pressure to stand for ourselves with pride and conviction. To stand as one subservient to God through Christ and to be guided by the Bible (which to many is misguided, ancient and outdated) is seen as a useless and even dangerous way of life. So, what do we do? How do we stand firmly and confidently as disciples of Christ? It all begins with the biblical principles we claim to hold as sound and true.
What should a Christian leader look like?The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 that striving to genuinely appreciate those who are tasked with shepherding Jesus’ flock is one of those biblical principles that should guide our behavior. In this epistle, Paul highlighted many of the character traits, responsibilities and sacrifices of true Christian leaders. We should follow and appreciate our shepherds only as they follow Christ.
Interestingly, Paul’s personal model of leadership is a strong guide for us to grasp what shepherding really looks like. His example is rooted in humility, integrity and spiritual maturity. He emphasizes that shepherds must serve willingly, not for personal gain, and must be examples of Christlike living. Paul’s personal interactions with the Thessalonian church showed how he prayed for them, recognized their growth and endured persecution while supporting their faith.
Key takeaway points regarding our appreciation of our spiritual shepherds include:• Christian leadership is defined by humility and service (John 13:14).
• Leaders must be above reproach, spiritually mature and doctrinally sound (Titus 1:5–9).
• Terms like “elder,” “overseer,” and “shepherd” describe different aspects of care—not hierarchical roles.
• Paul’s example shows leaders should be prayerful, observant, selfless and fearless in adversity.
• Appreciation begins with recognizing the sacrifices and spiritual investment of leaders.
• True appreciation involves reciprocating, imitating and elevating our own spiritual conduct.
• Jesus’ followers are urged to internalize what they’ve received and transform it into service for others.
• Applying appreciation includes standing firm in faith, resisting worldly desires and proving truth through Scripture.
Ultimately, what’s the best what to appreciate our spiritual leaders? The Apostle Paul taught it is to: follow their Christlike example, grow in faith, and then pass on what we’ve received.
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As Christians who are to walk by faith and not by sight, the statements Jesus made about having faith as a mustard seed are sure appealing. In Luke, Jesus says faith like a mustard seed can uproot a tree and toss it into the sea. In Matthew, he said mustard-seed faith can move a mountain and make nothing impossible for us! So, what did Jesus mean? Obviously, he was using picture language, but he was still showing us that mustard-seed faith can dramatically change our lives. Why a mustard seed and how does this work? What do we need to do to have such a strong and foundational faith that the obstacles of our lives will be diminished before us?
The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith after hearing difficult teachings about forgiveness and accountability. Jesus’ response to their request was the mustard seed analogy. His purpose was not to highlight minimal faith, but rather to illustrate faith’s capacity to grow and overcome great obstacles.
You of little faithIn related teachings, Jesus used the phrase “you of little faith” on four separate occasions. Applying these lessons in the order they were given reveals a progressive development of our mustard seed faith:
Magnitude: In calming the storm (Matthew 8), Jesus showed that mustard seed faith must recognize the vast power of God. The disciples had faith but lacked confidence.
Practicality: In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6), Jesus taught that this kind of faith should relieve anxiety by trusting in God’s provision.
Deliverance: Peter walking on water (Matthew 14) demonstrated that mustard seed faith enables us to step out in trust, even if we falter. Jesus’ rescue of Peter showed compassionate support for growing faith.
Guidance: When the disciples misunderstood Jesus’ warning about leaven (Matthew 16), he corrected them, urging spiritual discernment over physical concerns.
This kind of faith must be nurtured, tested and matured. It begins small but is rooted in the right foundation: God’s truth and Christ’s example. Mustard seed faith is all about transformation, starting small but growing strong through life’s trials and divine guidance.
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Depression can be overwhelming. Even though many people suffer from it, and even though there are treatments and medications that can help it, depression can still be an insurmountable life obstacle for every individual who faces it. There is no easy answer and no miracle cure, so those of us who experience it are left with the sober reality of its potential lurking influence in our daily lives. So, what do we do? As Christians we are taught to have faith and rely on God’s peace. While this is sound and powerful advice, we need to find ways to deeply rely on our faith and to transform God’s peace into a tool of growth and healing. One way to work on this is to observe the struggles of a biblical hero of faith and step-by-step identify with their struggle and their journey towards a more God-driven life.
High highs and really low lowsAfter Elijah’s stunning victory over the prophets of Baal, he fell into despair. He was depressed. He had successfully demonstrated the supremacy of God as THE God, and yet Queen Jezebel promised to have him killed.
These events show us that even God’s mightiest servants can struggle deeply. As he ran and hid from Jezebel, he felt completely alone, ineffective and broken. His next journey showed us how feeling depressed can be overwhelming and lead us to
- internalization,
- isolation and
- insulation.
Rather than rebuke him, God gently met Elijah with rest, food and a repeated touch through an angel.
- What a reminder that divine care often comes in quiet, steady steps!
- Even though Elijah couldn’t immediately respond with renewed confidence, God remained present and patient.
To counter the internalization, isolation and insulation that depression can bring to us, Elijah’s experiences introduced three small steps toward godly peace:
- Acknowledge: Recognize that God’s presence—whether through Scripture, people or providence—is near, even if we don’t feel it.
- Apply: Take steps, however small, to act on that external input. Elijah walked 40 days to Mount Horeb, still burdened, but at least moving.
- Allow: Permit God’s truth and love to take root, even while feeling numb, broken or depressed.
Once Elijah arrived at Mount Horeb, God’s question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” invited introspection, not condemnation. This question would open the door to Elijah being able to realize that he wasn’t alone. As a matter of fact, there were 7,000 others in Israel who were faithful to God!
The lesson for Elijah and for us is that depression doesn’t disqualify faith! On the other hand, God often calls those who struggle so His strength can shine through them.
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Many Christians have had the disheartening experience of feeling like they have lost their connection with God. There you were, going along through life’s experiences, and something happens. Whether it is one big change or many little things over time, you wake up one day and realize God seems far away. Now what? Is it over? How do you find your way back to that precious connection that you lost? A good way to understand what to do to reconnect is to observe some of the experiences of the Apostle Peter. We all know how he denied Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. What we don’t often think about is how he got to that point and what it took to draw him back into God’s favor.
- The third and final time Jesus called Peter to follow him Peter openly and fearfully admitted that he was a sinful man. Jesus called him anyway.
- Peter’s journey following Jesus would show him just how little he knew about his own faults and how little he knew about what discipleship required.
The night before Jesus’ crucifixion…Peter confidently claimed he would never forsake Jesus. In spite of that bold proclamation of loyalty, Peter would deny Jesus three times early the very next morning. His denials escalated from simple avoidance to emphatic rejection.
If we have ever alienated ourselves from God…we have likely gone down a similar road to Peter’s. The good news is we can now learn how to bring ourselves back to God by following the pattern that Peter himself followed. So, what happened? How was Peter’s alienation slowly dissolved and he was able to reconnect?
Peter’s experience shows us there are three key steps to reconnecting with God:
- Prepare Your Mind for Action: Peter running to the empty tomb on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection was taking the first step. Even though he still didn’t understand what was happening, he showed that he wanted to. This was crucial.
- Be Serious and Reverent: Peter likely wrestled with self-doubt, but God’s grace persisted. Jesus would reaffirm Peter’s efforts through two miraculous personal appearances to him and others on that resurrection day.
- Embrace Forgiveness & Change: Weeks later, Jesus restored Peter by asking if he loved him. This restoration would come with the profound responsibility of being a shepherd to Jesus’ flock after his ascension up to heaven.
For each of us, to spiritually reconnect requires small, intentional steps which include prayer, scripture study and humility. The beautiful message here is that God’s faithfulness ensures that even in failure, restoration is possible!
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We have all experienced or heard the conversational question that sometimes gets asked when one person is getting to know another. “So, are you religious?” The response can be a myriad of differing replies, one of which is, “Yeah, I’m a Christian.” That answer usually puts the respondent into the broad and vague category of Christianity in the 21st century. The real question is, what does it mean to be a true Christian according to the original biblical meaning? If we put aside all of the tradition, all of the preconceived notions, and all of the countless denominations, what does the Bible say it means to be a genuine and sincere disciple of Jesus?
Christianity is the world’s largest religion with over 2.4 billion followers, but the key question is: how many are true followers of Christ versus simply identifying as Christians? The Bible explains that genuine Christianity revolves around complete reliance on and the complete following of Jesus. It acknowledges God’s plan for salvation through His son. Scriptural passages like John 3:16-17 and 1 Peter 1:18-21 highlight Jesus’ role as the Redeemer who saved humanity through his sacrifice.
We are “new creatures”2 Corinthians 5:17 emphasizes that being “in Christ” makes a person a “new creature,” representing transformation and renewal. This is a much bigger deal than most of us think, as it has everything to do with being guided by God’s spirit for the sake of personal growth in Christ and the sacrificing of our own will and desires. True discipleship requires self-denial and cross-bearing (Luke 9:23), which demonstrates commitment beyond passive belief. This commitment was foreshadowed in predestination found in Ephesians 1:3-6, which describes how faithful Christians as a class (not predestined as individuals) were chosen before the world’s foundation for a holy calling.
What about our own identity as Christians?Are our thoughts, words, actions and beliefs reflecting a deep and consistent engagement with God’s plan? Many may admire Jesus, yet few fully follow him in action. Galatians 3:16, 26-29 ties Christian discipleship to the Abrahamic Covenant, illustrating how a true Christian inherits the spiritual promises given to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth.
Christians are also likened to a “royal priesthood” and the “bride of Christ” (1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 5:22-27). Both descriptions highlight our responsibility to serve God. Practical applications include self-sacrificing love (John 15:12-14) and mutual support within the “body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). The bottom line is that Christianity is a life of progression, sacrifice and commitment—not mere admiration.
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Deborah stands out as one of the inspiring figures in biblical history. As a prophetess, a judge and courageous leader, she rose above all expectations in a society driven by patriarchal influence. Her story, recorded in Judges 4 and 5, recounts her reliance on divine wisdom, as well as her decisive leadership and unwavering faith in God’s promises, as she rallied Israel to victory against their oppressors.
Superior military technologyAt the time Deborah served as a judge, Israel as a nation was subjugated by King Jabin of Hazor whose general, Sisera, commanded an army equipped with 900 iron chariots. These chariots were intimidating because they were markedly superior to any of the weapons of warfare Israel possessed. For 20 years, King Jabin and Sisera ruthlessly oppressed Israel until the people finally cried out to God for deliverance. God would answer their cry through the faithfulness of Deborah.
Deborah received divine instruction to summon Barak, a military commander, and told him to gather 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. She assured him that God would orchestrate the battle against Sisera at the Kishon River, ensuring victory. However, Barak hesitated and insisted that Deborah accompany him into battle. Deborah agreed but foretold that the ultimate victory—defeating Sisera—would be accomplished by a woman.
The battle unfolded dramaticallyBarak led his forces to Mount Tabor, and Sisera responded by mobilizing his army with their superior military technology. God intervened by sending a sudden, torrential rainstorm, causing the battlefield to flood. Sisera’s iron chariots, once a formidable advantage, become useless in the mud. His army was thrown into panic, and Barak pursued them, wiping out all of Sisera’s forces.
Prophecy fulfilledThough Sisera escaped the actual battle, he was killed by a woman who was not even from Israel. This small but important detail reinforces the sovereignty of God, as His word is always fulfilled, even if it is accomplished in unexpected ways.
Deborah’s leadership was marked by wisdom, humility and courage. She positioned herself to be used by God, patiently serving in her role as a judge until the time came for decisive action. Her ability to inspire faith and confidence in others played a crucial role in Israel’s victory! Her story clearly reflects the importance of relying on God’s guidance, acting with faith and recognizing godly leadership in unexpected places.
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Anxiety is an enemy of the heart. When left unchecked, it can take a normally functioning human being and turn them into a second guessing, insecure and trembling mess. In Part I, we talked about how Jesus showed us the depths of damage that anxiety can bring. He also taught us how to process the solutions for this challenge. As we continue this conversation, we look at Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6. We then concentrate on how and when being anxious can be a good thing!
Four steps for managing our obsessive anxiety challenges:1. Recognize – Becoming aware of anxiety and acknowledging its presence.
2. Refrain – Interrupting the cycle of anxious thoughts.
3. Reframe – Shifting perspective to see circumstances through faith.
4. Restart – Intentionally refocusing on God’s care and guidance.
In the four examples of anxiety Jesus pointed to in Matthew 6, he emphasized that they all stem from human insecurity and self-perception. But these can be mitigated by viewing life through God’s perspective. This understanding is verified in the Apostle Paul’s teachings, illustrating that God’s providence sustains believers even in the face of overwhelming worry.
Productive AnxietyThe next perspective on anxiousness the Bible teaches is the critical concept of “productive anxiety.” This is the process of training our anxious thoughts and energy towards mutual strengthening and passionate caring for others. Understanding and applying this concept is foundational. The Apostle Paul and Timothy serve as examples of believers who transformed their concerns into a deep commitment to helping others. Unlike obsessive anxiety which is self-focused and paralyzing, productive anxiety is motivated by genuine concern and action for our fellow Christians.
The New Testament broadly encourages believers to redirect their energy toward faith-building and community support. Biblical examples showcase individuals who successfully transformed their worries into motivation to strengthen and encourage others. Paul, despite experiencing hardship and persecution, dedicated himself to the spiritual well-being of fellow believers. He demonstrated that channeling anxiety into service is a powerful way to overcome its negative effects.
Ultimately, Christian management of anxiety focuses us on managing our natural anxieties by reframing our perspective to a godly view of our experiences. We are then urged to shift our perspective from personal worry towards actively contributing to the encouragement and growth of others. By focusing on faith, purpose and contribution we can not only find balance when overwhelmed by anxiety we can also profoundly build others up and glorify God in the process!
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Anxiety seems to be everywhere, and everyone seems to have it! The good news is it can be a very normal and sometimes healthy part of life. The bad news is more often than not it grows into an oversized burden that can be difficult and even debilitating. When we as Christians have anxiety that needs to be managed, we know the Bible has the answers. The good news is we know we need to trust in the Lord, to pray continually and to live in faith. The challenging news is many times our anxiety is so powerful that hearing these biblical answers hurts and doesn’t help. Why? Because we have already worked at applying these things, and we’re still stuck! Our objective today is to slow the whole process down and work on suggesting ways to cope with anxiety’s overwhelming grip.
Four stepsWhile we always encourage anyone who suffers from high levels of anxiety to seek professional help when appropriate, we also encourage focusing on what we personally can do to cope with our anxiety. Along with prayer, faith and trust, we suggest facing and challenging our anxieties with a four-step approach:
- Recognize: Observe when anxiety is overtaking our minds.
- Refrain: Pause the cycle of anxious thinking.
- Reframe and Rebuild: Approach the problem positively and take action.
- Restart: Intentionally reboot our life perspective to see our experiences from God’s perspective.
Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount highlight the anxiety-inducing dangers of earthly treasures and what to do about them. Jesus shows us how being anxious warps our perception, and he emphasizes the importance of God-centered reframing. While not necessarily a sign of weak faith, it is a challenge that requires intentional coping strategies. Psalms 88 and 139 encourage us to recognize anxiety and rely on God’s care.
Social anxietyAnother point in Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6 reveals how social comparisons intensify the problem. Jesus warns us of the challenge believers face to focus on spiritual priorities rather than worldly appearances. Philippians 4 promotes prayer and gratitude to combat anxiety and bring God’s peace in its place.
Ultimately, we understand this mental struggle as an adversary to a believer’s faith that requires continuous efforts to manage. Through prayer, biblical teachings, and reframing anxious thoughts, we can all work towards peace and balance as we continue to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
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Loving the people we know and appreciate can be hard work in general, never mind loving our enemies. There is so much emotion involved in loving others, and let’s face it, sometimes even those we appreciate can act in ways that cause us aggravation! When it comes to how we are to treat ALL of those around us – whether we like them or not – Jesus taught us a very high standard to live by. Luke’s account of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount clearly lays out the way we should be striving to live, especially in relation to those who stand against us. If we give it a chance, focusing on what Jesus said and working at practically, applying it to our everyday lives, can fundamentally change the way we see and treat everyone around us.
Jesus plainly said, “Love your enemies.”If I’m a Christian and I proclaim to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, then there is no way I can take that teaching and somehow twist it around so as not to apply to me. He said it, he did it and I need to follow. Ok, so how do I do that? What does loving my enemies even mean? Am I supposed to cozy up to them and try to be their best friend? What if they have hurt me or my family? What if they do evil things to others? Does loving them mean that I overlook these things? Does it mean that there are no consequences for the wrongs and hurt they have done?
The short answer to all of this is no.However, that “no” comes with an important list of things that need to be understood. The fundamental truth we need to grasp is what it actually means to “love” an enemy. Jesus was not only specific in how he described what this love is, he was also specific in showing us how to live it. We have his words and his actions to examine and learn from.
By the way, Jesus didn’t just tell us to “love your enemies” as a stand-alone statement. Right after saying this, he expanded his teaching by adding several applications including, “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,” and then he added, “pray for those who mistreat you.” So, now we have a list of specific responses we are given to apply to those who stand against us. Once again, the question arises – how do we do that?
Check out our March 10, 2025 podcast, “Do I Really Have to Love My Enemies?” for more. We open up the meaning of Jesus words by clearly tracking how he himself fulfilled them in the treatment of Judas his betrayer. By detailing what Jesus did and how he did it, we open the door to understanding what loving our enemies truly means. Join us for this challenging and important discussion as we learn to apply what every Christian should know.
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The biblical definition for sin is “to miss the mark.” To illustrate the point, let’s think about shooting an arrow at a target. As you aim for the bullseye, you shoot. You hit the target but missed the bullseye. Because your shot did not hit the mark, it fits the definition of sin. You can say, “But wait a minute! I hit the target,” and you did, but you were aiming for the bullseye. Seeing sin through this “all or nothing” lens can be frustrating and even scary. What does God do with all of our “just missed” sins? How about those bigger sins, where at times we may not even aim the arrow? Are we simply lost causes? Fortunately, the Bible explains all of this to us in great detail. The conclusions the Scriptures draw us to are both dramatic and inspiring!
Forgiveness #1 and Forgiveness #2There are actually two kinds of forgiveness that God can give us. The biggest and most comprehensive forgiveness has to do with sin’s earthly origin. We know Adam’s original sin led to all of humanity to be born with that defect. This means we are all destined for death, as that was the consequence for his disobedience. When Jesus died on the cross, he canceled out Adam’s sin by sacrificing his own perfect human life in place of Adam’s. This brings salvation from the death sentence to all of humanity either now (for Jesus’ faithful followers) or in the future (for the “everybody else”).
There’s good news!There can be no greater news to anyone than the opportunity to have Adam’s death sentence removed at God’s appointed time. As good as this is, we still have a problem…we still sin! We still do and say things that are just not right. That’s okay, because there is more good news: God can and will forgive those sins as well, however, here it’s a little different. Because these sins happen as a result of our own choices, we do have a responsibility to bring them before God and seek His forgiveness. Okay, that sounds easy enough. I sin, I feel bad, I ask God for his forgiveness – and then I’m good! Right? Not quite, but we’re on the right track.
Check out our February 24, 2025 podcast, “Will God Forgive Me?” for details. First, we clarify the differences between these two types of forgiveness. We then explore how forgiveness for our present-day sins works. This process really does begin with us, as we need to want God’s forgiveness. We begin with the role regret plays in the forgiveness process. What we find is that regret, while important, is only a beginning step. The next step of repentance is where being forgiven really has traction. Join us as we take what looks like a lot of confusing details and put them together into straightforward and understandable steps. To live a forgiven life is fundamental for any Christian! Doesn’t it make sense to be clear on what it means and how we can get there?
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In the book of Proverbs, it says a friend loves at all times. So, what does that really mean? Jesus called his followers “friends.” This should give us a sense of its importance. Marriage can and should be between friends. Brotherhood in Christ should be fertile ground for forging deep and powerful friendships. It turns out, there is a lot to this friendship thing. Fortunately, we have many biblical examples of what true friendship looks like and what principles need to be present to build a friendship that will not only flourish but become a vital contributor to faithfully following Jesus. As we will see, God created the concept of friendship for our happiness, wellbeing and fulfillment!
God and AbrahamOne of the most significant friendships in all of the Bible was also the most unique as well. Abraham, known as the father of the faithful, was referred to as a “friend” of God. How could this be? How could the God who is ruler over all of the vastness of time and space be a friend to this one teeny, tiny human being who was born into the broken world that Adam’s sin unleashed? The answer not only shows God’s greatness but also exemplifies the fundamentals of friendship. It is all about mutual respect. God saw and respected Abraham’s love and loyalty to Him, and He chose to work with Abraham in the development of His eternal plan for humanity. This unique friendship had love and loyalty working both ways for the good of all.
John the Baptist and JesusAnother not often talked about friendship in the Bible was between John the Baptist and Jesus. When John’s influence with the people was beginning to wane, he explained to some of his concerned followers that he saw himself as a bridegroom’s friend. He knew Jesus as the bridegroom was destined to receive the bride as his own. John expressed his great joy that his friend would be the one to be so honored. John was happy to decrease as Jesus would increase. Again, we have the deep loyalty of true friendship expressed in a truly powerful and proactive relationship.
Check out our February 17, 2025 podcast, “What Is True Friendship According to the Bible?” for more. We look at many of the building blocks true friendship needs to thrive. Then we address the perils of deep friendships that can destroy our lives instead of enhancing them. We also delve into the way Jesus described friendship. Interestingly, he did not address his disciples as “friends” until the end of his ministry. When he did, he lifted the meaning of friendship up to a whole new level. While we all have friends, we likely don’t have many friendships that live up to what Jesus taught. Join us as we learn how the give and take of true friendship really works so we can ultimately be better friends!
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What is the status of promises these days? Has the making of a promise become a simple figure of speech? When we say, “I promise,” are we really saying, “I’m going to try,” or “I really do intend to accomplish what I said I would do”? Have we lost our connection between our promises and our integrity? It seems as though the power of a promise has gone from being a guarantee of what will happen to a way of showing effort in getting things done. So, what does God see in us when we make a half-hearted promise to someone else? Does this kindle His wrath, or does it just disappoint Him? What should we know and do when it comes to making and keeping our promises?
God’s promisesIf we want to truly understand what keeping promises is really supposed to be all about, we need look no further than to God himself. When we begin to get to know who He is by understanding the Bible, a few things become plain. First and foremost, God’s word is truth. This means that whenever He says anything regarding the future, He is stating a future fact that has simply not yet been revealed. Second, God is the very definition of integrity. All of His actions and plans fit together in a completely harmonious fashion. God’s promises will always be just, loving and merciful realities. He does not break a promise.
Human promisesWith such a lofty standard for promises in place, we now need to look into the role our human promises play. What may come as a surprise is that the New Testament says very little to encourage us to make promises, with two main exceptions. First, there is the godly promise of forsaking all to become a disciple of Jesus. This promise is made to God and absolutely needs to be kept. Second is the promise of marriage. This solemn promise is made during a wedding ceremony with God as a witness and also requires lifelong fidelity.
Outside of these two promises, Jesus himself had very little to say regarding promise making and promise keeping. Now the big question is why. Why aren’t we encouraged to be people whose promises are widely heralded as sound and dependable? The answer is simple. God designed Christian integrity to work in a very different way.
Check out our February 10, 2025 podcast, “Does God Punish Us When We Break a Promise?” for more. We break down the biblical approach for living a Christian life according to Scripture. We address what the consequences might look like for those Christians whose promises are questionable. Most importantly, we follow the powerful guidelines Jesus gave us regarding living a reverent and promise- keeping life. Join us as we uncover many surprising and revealing aspects of being human and making promises. There is so much to learn!
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Many know the story of Jacob wrestling with an angel. When we just drop in on the account and read what happened, there are many unanswered questions. Why would you pick a fight with an angel anyway? Why would an angel even let you fight? Couldn’t the angel have overwhelmingly defeated Jacob even before the altercation began? What could possibly be gained by such a confrontation? Once we begin to understand who Jacob was and the experiences of his life that led up to this confrontation, it all begins to fall into place. What we will find is that Jacob lived a life filled with experiences of great faith, as well as experiences of great deception and rivalry. God allowing him to wrestle with the angel gives us a clue as to how God knows us and meets us where we are.
For us, wrestling with God really doesn’t sound even remotely reasonable. However, once we understand what wrestling with God can really mean, all of that can change. Examining the life story of Jacob is a great way to make all of this clear. His wrestling with an angel is the scriptural basis for this thought. Looking at his life helps us to see our own life struggles more clearly.
Jacob was a twin.He was the second born, right behind his brother Esau. You might say his wrestling experiences began even before he was born, based on a message from God to his mother, Rebekah. God essentially told her she would have twin sons, and the older would serve the younger. Back in those days, the first born received the greatest blessings and a double portion of paternal inheritance. This message from God was in direct conflict with all expectations. Later in their lives, it would cause great frustration and rivalry.
This was only the beginning.For most of his adult life, Jacob found himself in circumstances that provoked confrontation. His dysfunctional experiences regarding his brother Esau led him to leave his home for about 20 years. Interestingly, Jacob was not the one doing the provoking through all of his unrest. He was also on the receiving end as well. All of these interactions led him to eventually make his way back home, even though he had no idea if he would be welcomed back.
Check out our January 6, 2025 podcast, “What Happens When We Wrestle with God?” for details. We investigate many of the dramatics of Jacob’s life that led him to that incredible wrestling match with God’s angel. We put the profound reasons for his tenacious wrestling in line with God’s responses. The results are inspiring. Jacob wrestled because he could not go on without God’s blessing. Our lives are the same. Join us as we learn how wrestling with God in the right ways is not only a productive practice but also encouraged as well. These are lessons that can bring clarity and direction to our daily lives!
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We have all heard the saying, “Life is what you make it!” It is usually at the approach of a new year or a birthday or some landmark life event when we turn our focus inward. We think about changes we would like to make. Normally, these changes are aimed at finding a greater measure of happiness, health or fulfillment in our daily lives. So, what should we decide needs changing? Even more importantly, how will we decide to implement those changes? On the surface this may sound easy, but for the vast majority of us, it is not. Life tends to get in the way, along with old habits and second thoughts. Then there is our old friend, our comfort zone! Why would we want to leave that, as it is so, well…comfortable? What can we learn from the Scriptures to help us actually implement God-honoring life changes?
WHY?The first big question to ask about making life changes is why. Why do I think I want to take this or that part of my life and alter it to fit some other mold or objective? What do I see as the real benefit? Answering this question honestly will give us insight as to what level of value the proposed changes truly hold for our future. Think about it. As a professed Christian, our whole lives are supposed to be about serving God, about doing His will. If the changes I seek are primarily focused on me and not Christlikeness, then what am I really pursuing?
Is it what I look like or what I really am?There’s a big difference between trying to make myself look better compared to others and trying to live up to my calling in Christ. Obviously, one way brings me into the center of everyone’s thinking and perception. Do I want to be more acceptable, more respected or more admired in relation to those around me? Or do I want others to more fully notice Christ in me? While this may seem like an odd way to look at making significant life changes, it certainly is a credible approach. Even if the life changes we seek are focused on our physical wellbeing or rethinking old habits, our motivation should always gravitate toward letting Christ shine through us.
Ok, so we may need to do some rethinking when it comes to our motivation. As we work on this reexamination, we also need to consider our comfort zones of old habits. Wait a minute – does changing for the sake of Christ mean that all of my comfort zones are now obsolete? Check out our December 30, 2024 podcast, “How Will I Choose to Live the Life That is Ahead of Me?” for answers. We look at the dynamics of making life changes as well as how to leave old comfort zones and find new ones. All of this brings us to being positioned to make truly valuable God-honoring life changes. Walk this path with us; it is well worth the effort!
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Life is forever busy. Whether it’s a holiday season or tax season or baseball season or following this, that and the other influencers on social media, we always have too much to do and not enough time or energy to do it. With all of this being said, how often do we stop and think about being generous? You know – just giving of our time or resources because we see a need. Built on the question of giving generously is the matter of how to go about it. How do we know what to give, how much to give and when to stop? Is generosity always appropriate? What if there is no appreciation for a gift? Is that an indication that we should focus our giving elsewhere? So many questions! It looks like the subject of freely giving needs some “generous” consideration!
Christian generosityMany people are moved to be generous because something touches their heart, provoking them to contribute. While this is certainly good and to be encouraged, we need to be clear that Christian generosity is even bigger. Ideally, we want our giving to be modeled after God’s own principles of generosity. There is much written in the Bible that describes the kinds of gifts God gives here and now in this age. One basic principle of how He gives is that His gifts are always given for the ultimate good of the recipients. Understanding this single point helps us to glimpse just how important our generosity can be.
How should we be giving?Now comes the question regarding how to apply this. How do we in a practical sense, give to others in need while keeping everyone’s ultimate good in mind? A good place to start is with the simple phrase, “Don’t just give to bail someone out of a problem, give to build them up.” This kind of giving stretches us to an entirely different level of thinking and action. Instead of just giving a handout and hoping we helped, we are now engaging in the activity. While this obviously takes greater effort and a measure of spiritual wisdom, it can also yield much greater blessings for all involved.
Giving can also be done in many different ways. We can support others financially. Perhaps we can assist with ongoing physical needs be they food, shelter or physical aid. We can also contribute to others through the generous gift of our time.
Check out our November 25, 2024 podcast, “How Generous Should We Be?” for more. We base our generosity conversation on God’s own principles while looking at the practicality of those three ways to give. We share several true stories of giving in these areas. Some of these experiences ended up working out well and resulted in great blessings. Others of these experiences ended up not quite the way we had planned. That brings us to another question. If our giving in a certain way ends up not working out, what do we do then? Join us on this wonderful journey of generosity and find out!
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By definition, being a Christian is all about following in Jesus’ footsteps. It’s all about learning how to walk the walk and talk the talk that he himself lived. Of course, this is no easy task, as we are challenged with applying the life lessons he taught us 2,000 years ago to the very different lives we live in our present digital age. As different as all of this is, some things are very much the same. Jesus’ promise to prepare a place for his true disciples in heaven is the same. His assurance that God’s spirit would guide us is the same. His alerting us to the trials that come to us because we follow him is the same. Having Christ in us producing the hope of glory is the same. So, what does it mean to have “Christ in you”? Is this an automatic thing that happens when we believe, or is it the end result of a long journey of growth?
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“Tell the truth!” For many of us, we can recall that strongly stated advice as coming from our parents when we were caught doing or saying something that we shouldn’t have. The immediate dilemma was obvious. If I tell the truth, then I’m going to get in trouble. If I lie or just tell a part of the truth, I may get away with it. But what if they found out I lied? Then I might be in even more trouble! While we as adults may look back upon such dilemmas and smile, the reality is, we as Christians must always be on our guard to practice being truthful and having integrity every day and in every way. What does this mean? How are we supposed to handle the countless compromising circumstances of life where half-truths and exaggeration come into play? And what about little white lies?
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Everyone wants to be heard. Being heard is not only an acknowledgment of our existence but also confirms our value. Being listened to helps us find a place of significance in whatever social order we happen to be engaging in. To be heard – to be truly paid attention to – is to be recognized as the individual you are. Because so much rides on our ability to be heard, how do we enhance that ability? How do we better place ourselves in this position of mutual respect and contribution? Do we speak louder? Do we elevate our passion, or raise our voice or talk faster? Many of us likely have little to no idea how to enhance this ability of communication, and what we think we know are in many cases backwards. As we look at this question through the eyes of biblical principles, the answers will become obvious!
To best understand how to be heard as someone who contributes value, we need to understand what methods and motivations to adopt, as well as which ones we need to be rid of. We cannot expect to become great communicators by simply adding a few catch phrases or expanding our vocabulary. Taking the negatives away needs to be one of our primary focal points.
One example of a communication destroyer is gossip.Think about being in a situation where important things are being discussed, and the person relaying these things is a known gossip. How seriously do you take their input? Do you ever wonder if engaging with them with make you the subject of future gossip? True communication ability depends on having strong credibility, and let’s face it. Gossip is a credibility drainer. This is just the tip of the iceberg, as there are several other very negative speech habits that derail our ability to be heard.
Let’s enhance our communication methods.On the other side of the issue, there are also several foundational communication enhancing methods of approach. When applied, these draw those listening to become more fully engaged. One example here is authenticity. When we are truly authentic, we are clearly representing ourselves as being fully and sincerely committed to what we are saying as well as how we are saying it. Authenticity is not very common and when people see it, they are drawn to it.
Check out our July 1, 2024 podcast, “How Can I Get People to Listen When I Speak?” for more. We label and discuss seven detractors from effective communication. We examine them scripturally to expose the depth of their damage. As a remedy, we also dwell on four solid foundations for effectively communicating. Embracing these foundations draws us away from those other damaging habits. One more thing. There is another amazingly powerful secret to truly valuable communication most of us just don’t think about. Join us as we assemble all of these pieces and learn how to elevate our ability to be heard and to be effective!
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Habits are BIG! In many ways, habits – whether they are good or bad for us – dominate our lives. The odd thing is we are not even generally aware of how deeply rooted they are and how much control they really have. In Part I of our 2-part habits series, we looked into the habits that define our personal lives, those things we do that may or may not impact those around us. In this episode, we look into the habits that define our public lives, those things we do when others are watching or engaging. The science of habits tells us the human brain is capable of being rewired through our conscious efforts. While this truth might be surprising, it also offers us a foundation for change. The Christian question here is, do I present myself in public in a way that brings glory to God, or do I have work to do? How are my social habits?
In Part I of this 2-part series, we focused on two things:
- We learned about how the brain’s neuroplasticity contributes to the forming of habits. New habits can replace old ones.
- We focused on our personal habits and assessed whether or not they should be replaced in order to glorify God.
Here in Part II, we took things one step further as we considered our public habits. When you think about it, these public practices say a lot about who we are to others. Do they show our Christianity or display our fallen humanity?
Likely the unfortunate answer to this question is that our habitual behavior in public is generally designed to feed our human inclinations. Because these behaviors are not usually designed with God’s glory in mind, our need to work at changing them becomes evident.
Where do we start?The first thing to realize is that how we act in public depends upon what type of people are in our present circumstances. If we are among fellow Christians, our often-repeated behavior will fall into a specific category. If we are situated among family, friends or associates of some kind, our habitual natural responses will probably look different. Finally, if we find ourselves among those who would stand against us, our habitual responses would undoubtedly be very preservation-oriented and different once again. What do we do with all of this?
Check out our June 6, 2024 podcast, “Do My Habits Glorify God? (Part II)” for answers. We assess each category of our public habits. Next, we establish what the thought process needs to be to systematically replace any of our subconsciously engrained public habits. We then match this thought process with the science of habit-changing behavior. We end up with a remarkable message! As Christians, we are called upon to reflect godliness at every turn in our lives. As we combine Scripture and science, we see the pathway to this higher godliness unfold. Join us! Changing our lives to better honor God is not only possible, but also joyful as well!
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Human beings are undeniably creatures of habit. Let me dramatically oversimplify the whole habit thing for a moment to make a point. Habits are formed as tools to bring us comfort, reward and what we believe we want in life. Little kids test this all the time. A child with a very focused mind wants to do things their own way. Instead of listening, they argue and even rebel because doing it their way is what they find the greatest reward in. Another perhaps less stubborn child will fight and argue for their own way and then back off because their parent’s approval or recognition gives them a greater reward. This oversimplified comparison helps us see that our human habits are ultimately self-driven. How do we as Christians deal with all of this? What habits should be changed or left alone?
Habits can be really good things.They can protect us from danger and enhance our lives by being able to do many things without having to consciously focus. However, when we look at the other side of the issue, we can see how our ability to “mindlessly” do things can be a serious detriment. The great news here is our minds are capable of changing such “mindless” activity into positive and productive habits. This capacity for change is not necessarily an easy fix, but it can be a powerful one. We can do this because our brains have something called “neuroplasticity.”
Neuroplasticity means your brain has the ability to change throughout your life.The fascinating thing is that our brains are always changing. We continually and subconsciously develop new habits in relation to our daily experiences. As Christians, our big challenge is this: Develop new God-glorifying habits we consciously choose to replace old habits that are ultimately detrimental. There is so much to this, as the prospects can be both exciting and scary all at once. So, where do we start?
Check out our June 17, 2024 podcast, “Do My Habits Glorify God? (Part I)” for more. We break down this complex and important subject into its basic pieces. First, there is the understanding of the how and why of our brain functions. Then there is the understanding of what steps actually take place when a habit is being formed. Once we understand these steps, coupled with how our brains reward us for behavior, the whole habit thing becomes clearer.
Now comes the life-changing part. We delve into clearly identifying our God-dishonoring habits. We then lay out the necessary steps for making the kinds of changes that will replace them with better, God-honoring habits. While this may not be easy, it is hands down a thrilling and practical lesson to learn. Join us for this episode as we focus on our internal, private habits. This will set the stage for Part II when we examine our public habits which govern how we act around others.
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As human beings, we all know what it’s like to get fired up about something. We see a circumstance unfold or read about something controversial, or our team wins the game no one thought they could. And we react! We become passionate or energized and feel that adrenaline rush. Suddenly there is no mountain too high or ocean too broad. We’re up for the challenge! Yeah, we all know what that’s like. The question is, is that what “having our lives on fire for Christ” looks like? Before we get too excited, let’s consider a simple question. What was David referring to when he wrote, “For zeal for Your house has consumed me” in Psalm 69:9? Was he talking about being consumed by a moment and reacting, or was he writing about having his very being consumed by a lifelong desire to honor God?
Compare todayThe 21st century version of getting fired up is a far cry from what was known as “zeal” in the Old and New Testaments. For us here and now, it really ends up being all about emotion. Being fired up can be either a good thing or a bad thing. The dramatics of such a surge of feelings can easily push the borders of personal control. Interestingly, this is the greatest similarity between modern-day fire and scriptural zeal. In the Bible, the word is often used to describe things like jealousy and even hatred. However, on the positive side, it is frequently used to depict a powerful, disciplined and long-lasting burning desire – just the kind of Christian zeal we want.
David, Paul, JesusWhen we look at biblical individuals like King David, the Apostle Paul and Jesus himself, we can begin to understand what this burning desire looks like. When Jesus cleared the moneychangers out of the Temple in John 2, he was described as having the same kind of zeal King David had relating to that very Temple. What was that zeal? David spent many years of his adult life dedicated to getting the Temple built. Even though God told him that because he was a warrior it had to be built by someone else, David was unphased. He planned, he gathered materials, and he taught his son Solomon what needed to be done. THAT is zeal. That is what a burning desire looks like according to the Bible.
How can we even relate to that kind of zeal? Check out our June 10, 2024 podcast, Is My Life on Fire for Christ? for more. We uncover some startling realizations about how Jesus learned zeal, and how he himself expressed it in different parts of his life. We break down several other biblical examples of zeal and then use them as a basis to formulate what our Christian zeal should look like. Finally, we compare the burning desire of zeal in the Bible with our emotional versions of it today. What we find is revealing! Join us and see how true zeal for Christ can change your life!
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Most of us are likely familiar with what shame feels like. We know all too well that it has the capacity to be a debilitating weight that can cut us off from others and reduce our lives to a cycle of hiding and self-contempt. Such a cycle can bring us to a living space where the ceaselessly droning voices of regret and unworthiness echo in a continuous loop. Even if we are repentant, shame can make forgiveness seem not only undeserved and impossible, but entirely unreachable as well. Our shame now grows into a malignant tumor. Unchecked, it can drain away the goodness and value of our lives. What can we do to battle against and overcome its debilitating characteristics? Fortunately, the Bible shows us many principles to transform shame into a tool for growth!
Feeling shame has a long history within the human race. We can actually trace it back to its beginning. As we do, it’s important to observe what it looked like and why it appeared. Adam and Eve were direct creations of God and the beginning of our human family. As such, Genesis tells us they were naked and unashamed. We know they were given clear guidelines for living and ended up choosing to follow Satan’s suggestions rather than God’s proclaimed truth. Once they committed to this sinful act, something unique happened.
Adam and Eve felt shame.
They covered themselves.
They hid from God.
Their shame was a function of their consciences.It was a tool of the mind to let them know that their previously perfectly balanced lives were now off center. They were out of harmony with their Creator and consequences would follow. This shows us that in its best application, this can be something very positive. It can serve as a sort of alarm to alert our minds that corrective action needs to be taken.
Shame as a weaponUnfortunately, in our world this very positive purpose for shame barely exists. Why? Because we have taken to using shame as a weapon. Instead of it being based on the purity of godly righteousness, we have based it upon our rivalries and our desire to exclude “those” people. Shaming is now a great way to close down arguments and send those on the other side into hiding.
Added to this shaming by others is the fact that many of us bring unjustified shame upon ourselves. We perceive ourselves as “less than” or unworthy and proceed to hide ourselves away. None of this is good, healthy or godly. So, what do we do? Check out our June 3, 2024 podcast, “How Do We Cope With Feeling Shame? We break shame down into its varied applications and find scriptural remedies. We examine an incredibly powerful account of shame in the New Testament and observe how Jesus – with just a few words – changed it all. Join us for these important and inspiring lessons. They just might add valuable insight to your perspective!
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Fasting is a practice that has endured for thousands of years. Fasting appears often in the Bible. Among other things, it is used as a tool of focus, an expression of grief and a sign of humility. What seemed to have been a common occurrence in ancient days has now become far less mainstream. So, do all of the biblical references to fasting in both the Old and New Testaments mean we as Christians should be engaging in this practice regularly? If we should be participating, what circumstances bring on appropriate times to fast? Just as importantly, how should we fast? Are there time frames that should be kept? What about drinking water during a fast – is that appropriate? So many questions! Fortunately, the Bible gives us many practical answers, and some are VERY surprising!
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Our world is such a cynical place. Sometimes it feels like every time you turn a corner, you’re met with frustration, unrest and a lack of trust. Because we have so many platforms through which we can speak, we do. When we speak, our words and sentiments are often full of accusation and vitriol. We harshly address “those people.” You know the ones. “Those people” on the other side of this or that issue whom we often label as uneducated or ignorant, as members of the wrong party, wrong belief system, wrong ethnicity or wrong culture. We speak to be heard, and we neglect speaking so others will listen. We are cynical, and this cynicism is to the detriment of all. As Christians, we should NOT participate in this damaging interpretation of free speech. So, is it possible to be cynical in a positive way?
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In Part I of our two-part conversation about influence, we began to uncover just how broadly and how deeply the power of influence runs. In our world today, influence has taken on a new – and in some ways even more significant meaning – than ever before. Now because we have social media, we have created a space for influencers to arise within our midst. Sometimes these individuals appear on the scene from very unlikely backgrounds. The vast majority of the most popular of these influencers have been given our attention because they are famous. Curiously, much of their influence is not based on the expertise that was required to master their craft. Because influence happens all of the time at all different levels, our big question now is, how can we become more effective influencers in our everyday lives?
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Influence. We are all touched by it in countless ways and countless times each and every day of our lives. Influence comes from all corners of life. If we are partial to someone, we generally accept their influence positively. If we are at odds with someone, we generally look down upon their influence. Either way, they influence us. Influence comes from advertising and social media. It comes from politicians and educators; from books, movies and shows. From those who enforce and those who break the law; it comes from our superiors, our peers and our subordinates. Influence has become such a central factor in our world that we now focus on and follow those we call influencers! To have influence is to have power. To have power is to have control. And to have control can easily bring the manipulation and domination of others.
It’s nothing new.The only difference now is where it comes from. Throughout most of history and in ancient days, it was born out of rank. If you had authority, you had influence. Additionally, if you were positioned to advise or guide those in authority, you also had it. This kind of leverage played out at every level of life, from national preeminence down to family and peer group control.
All of that has changed.When you think about it, those we call “influencers” are essentially random people who have in one way or another become famous. Many of them are athletes or performers. The fame and name recognition achieved through their respective crafts paved the way for them to become coveted influencers. Here’s the interesting thing. Their influence is usually not directly related to their craft. Instead, it is often related to marketing products or giving perspectives on subject matter that they really have no expertise in. Essentially, we let somebody who is famous dictate some of our behaviors in life simply because of their social stature.
Influence was alive and well in Bible times. When we compare the massive influence that both Satan and Jesus have and have had, the biblical picture of influencers takes on a much deeper meaning. Not only can we see how influence works on a spiritual level, but we can see the difference in the methodology of influencing for good versus influencing for evil.
Check out our April 8, 2024 podcast, “How Can We Become Influencers? (Part I) for more. We discuss what influencers look like today and what they looked like in biblical times. We look at biblical influencers who passionately perpetuated evil. Then we uncover an example of one who influenced many others towards an incorrect result even though his heart was working at following Jesus. We compare these examples with those who influenced with integrity and focus for the ultimate glory of God. The bottom line is, influence is everywhere! Join us for this eye-opening journey through culture and Scripture!
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Everyone experiences loss in their lives in one way or another. How we attempt to cope with those losses depends upon several things. First, the kind of loss we are facing can dictate whether our response to it is mild, strong or severe. Second, our cultural environment offers up expectations as to how our mild strong or severe responses are to be displayed. In biblical days, grieving over difficult losses was often displayed in a very outward, very public manner. The Bible is full of examples of such public crying, wailing, renting of clothes and despair. For many of us in our present-day mindset, these things may seem to be over-the-top and too dramatic. Actually, when we seek to understand all of this lamenting, we find very strong lessons of faith, growth and acceptance.
Help!Loss is difficult. Sometimes it is unbearable. When we seek help in coping with such things, the counsel is always the same: Go through the experience and don’t try to avoid or hide the emotions. We need to give ourselves permission to feel what we are feeling so we can, when appropriate, move forward to the next step. In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, we are told there is a suitable time for mourning, just as there is a suitable time to dance for joy. The Hebrew word for mourn actually means “to tear the hair, to beat the breasts, to lament or wail.” Wow! For us living now with our current cultural backgrounds, that certainly sounds dramatic.
Biblical lamentingTo be clear, we are not suggesting that our lamenting be so dramatic. What we are suggesting is that we be willing to face our tragedies with an openness to feel them. Why? As we look into the deep lamenting revealed in the Bible, several things begin to rise to the surface. Most striking is that our lamenting not only serves a purpose, but it is also part of a distinct process. There are four essential steps our outward anguish can bring us through. The first step is for us to come face-to-face with the reality of our tragedy. Without this acceptance of the pain of our experience, we would not be able to fully move forward through the healing and growth process of the other steps.
Check out our March 25, 2024 podcast, “Is Mourning Out Loud Over Our Losses Good for Us?” for more. As we lay out the scriptural steps our anguish can lead us through, we also uncover several other reasons besides personal loss that can provoke such outward lamenting. These issues can be a result of our own bad choices, as well as tragedies that don’t happen to us but nevertheless have a dramatic effect on us. Join us as we uncover the strength and growth that can come from our mourning. Though this topic is rarely talked about, it is absolutely a worthwhile investment of our time and attention.
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Honor and respect. These seem like simple enough words but try and find them actively functioning in everyday life and you will find that they are surprisingly rare. As we speculate about why this is, we may conclude that we as a social order simply don’t perceive a need for them. The further we go down the road of each of us primarily answering to only ourselves, the less important honor for others becomes. While this may now be socially acceptable, it is far from being scripturally authorized. On the contrary, as Christians, we are solidly instructed to be people who exemplify honor in every aspect of our lives. As we began laying the “how to” groundwork in Part I, we began to see what a difference this practice of giving honor can make in everyday life.
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Our society is in trouble. In many ways, it seems that we have lost our way, and we no longer have a general sense of societal respect. Maybe it’s just me, but when I was a kid, I was clearly shown the importance of valuing others. We were taught to respect those in charge, and respect those who enforced the law and kept order. We were taught to have high esteem for parents and educators. We were taught to appreciate and value all who did whatever their part was, be it big or small. Now it seems we are taught respect should be demanded from others and not given. Our go-to approach encourages disrespecting and demeaning any who don’t fit our personal perceptions of how we think life should look. Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about how honor and respect should work!
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It would seem that most entering into marriage do so with high expectations of a life of happiness, fulfillment and companionship. Unfortunately for far too many, these expectations are foreign to their reality. Excluding marriages that end in divorce, how many are truly happy and fulfilled, and how many are simply going along to get along? These are hard things to look at. In order to do so in a positive and growth-oriented way, we need to establish two basic truths for our conversation. First, let’s understand that “Happily ever after” is a fairy tale ending. The feelings it ignites of an everyday bliss-filled life are unfair and not real. Second, let’s understand that our marriages CAN be happy, fulfilled and full of companionship, IF we know what we’re striving for and are willing to put in the effort!
Every genuinely successful marriage has a few things in common. With each of these things, there is always a continual need to focus and refocus as life can relentlessly get in the way. Let’s start with the one thing that most of us think of as obvious – love. We “fall in love” and develop a powerful connection. We cannot imagine that connection ever changing or waning, as it is so strong and binding. We get married. Maybe we have kids. Maybe we have demanding careers. Maybe we have trauma or family issues or sickness or loss. Maybe we grow apart from one another. We wake up one day and realize that our once seemingly indestructible connection is blurred or foggy. Are we done? Is it over?
Can perspective help?It certainly doesn’t have to be, as there are MANY things we can do to rebuild, revive and reconnect. One principle to begin with is perspective. As we observe what has happened or is happening in our marriage, we need to realize we have the power to set our perspective. Most often we feel the pain or sorrow or regret or confusion of what is happening, and those emotions drive our conclusions. This natural and emotional approach can easily end in disaster. However, there is another way. We absolutely need to feel what we feel, but it is important to ask ourselves one important question. This question can open the door to strong, revitalizing possibilities.
How am I seeing my marriage challenges?Is the glass “half empty” or is the glass “half full”? The fact is, when we see any situation as a “glass half empty” scenario, we are framing it as a loss. Studies have shown that once we frame something this way, it is very hard to reframe it as a gain, as a “glass half full” conclusion. Understanding this simple life equation can change everything. Check out our February 12, 2024 podcast, “Can Marriage be a Happily Ever After?” for more. We delve into the power of perspective and apply it to the foundational building blocks of marriage. Join us for answers – real practical and marriage-enhancing answers!
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Let’s face it. We all know that each and every one of us can be better. We can be better human beings, better friends, co-workers, spouses, cousins and certainly better Christians. The challenge here is obvious. Being “better” requires change. Significant change. To be better in whatever area we are focusing on requires a different mindset, which brings different words and actions. This all translates into work! So, how do we go about actually becoming “better”? Where do we start? How many parts of our lives do we try to change? Do we work on them all at once? How do we figure out what the very highest priorities are? What if we fail? How does the Bible guide us with all of these details?
What makes a person want to change?One of the most obvious answers is that we see something or someone that displays circumstances or characteristics or perceived advantages that we would like to possess. We want to change because we want something different than we already have. This tells us that change – true and lasting change – is driven by more than a desire for something, it is equally driven by dissatisfaction with our current situation.
The idea of dissatisfaction as a driving force is both powerful and potentially problematic. It is powerful because human nature will run towards something with even greater energy if it is running away from something at the same time. Simultaneously being motivated away from one thing and towards another gives us a much higher opportunity for success. As good as this is, dissatisfaction can be problematic when the change we seek is difficult. An inability to achieve the change we sought can trigger an abiding and depressive mental state.
How do we handle this?1. Realize we cannot change everything about ourselves all at once. Overload is a recipe for discouragement and failure. 2. Understand that all change is not the same. Some things in life can be changed by altering or adjusting what we say do or think. These alterations build on a base that is already valuable and somewhat established. On the other side of the matter, there are some changes that can only be achieved by abandonment. If we have habits or associations that are toxic, we need to recognize their poison and leave them in our past.
Great! Lots of details, but how do we do it? Check out our January 22,2024 podcast, “It’s Time to Change, but How Much Is Enough?” for more. We walk through the several stages of change and highlight how each stage looks in relation to the altering or abandoning being pursued. Any and every Christian needs to daily work on changing to become more like Jesus. The Bible is full of advice, encouragement and examples of how all of this can be accomplished. Join us for some practical and welcomed biblical advice on how our changing can bring glory to God!
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We all have heard of the biblical account of Jonah and the whale. Because it is so unique and dramatic, it has been an often-repeated story with many lessons – and rightfully so. What many don’t realize is the magnitude of the events and teachings surrounding this amazing circumstance. First, one point of clarification: it wasn’t a whale, it was a “great fish.” When we examine how and why Jonah came to be in the unlikely position to be swallowed by that fish and what happened afterwards, we end up with a powerful story of God’s will versus our preferences. The bottom line here is that Jonah is an example of what NOT to do when tasked with godly responsibilities. However, he’s also an example of what TO do. Let’s unfold this account and see how both of these descriptions can be true.
Jonah was a prophet of God, and as such, he was bound to go where God told him to go and speak what God commanded him to speak. This was a pretty straightforward setup. You simply do as you are told. There were many prophets before him and many who followed. All of that being said, Jonah had a problem. Actually, he had a lot of problems. God told him to go and preach to the city of Nineveh because they were evil and idolatrous. They were also bullying and taking advantage of God’s chosen people. God told him to tell Nineveh that because of their evil, they would be destroyed in 40 days.
Jonah went in the opposite directionSo, Jonah got up and went. The only problem was, he went the other way. That’s right, he ran away from God and His command. He got on a ship and basically tried to hide from God as he was making his escape. Not to state the obvious, but trying to hide from God is about as effective as a little kid covering their own eyes and thinking you can’t see them. Jonah would find this out in a dramatic way as he ended up in the belly of a fish that God had prepared. No more running, no more hiding.
He was successful yet miserableJonah finally did go and do the job that God had commanded. What’s hard to comprehend is how he was so angry at the wholesale repentance of the entire city. Jonah had successfully brought them to honor and worship God, and yet his own emotions and personal hatred for them robbed him of the joy of such a miraculous change.
Check out our January 1, 2024 podcast, “Do I Show Up When God Calls, or Do I Run and Hide?” for more. We dig into Jonah’s experiences along with his emotional and tragic reactions. We examine how God answered these with several uniquely prepared responses. Don’t miss this story! It’s an amazing drama about the enormous inconsistency of human nature and how God can give us the pointed and needed lessons to overcome ourselves.
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Way back in the 1980’s Bobby McFerrin recorded and released his very popular song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It’s a simple and upbeat perspective on living. When you think about it, the title is a profound instruction for life. Don’t worry; instead, be happy! About 100 years before this catchy song, Hannah Whitall Smith wrote an ageless book called The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. In it, she detailed a powerful formula for happy living that was based on complete faith in God and fully surrendering to His will. The message in the song and the book are the same, except the book gives us solid “how to” perspectives for Christians. While we won’t be singing the song or reviewing the book, we will be applying scriptural principles that will help make happiness real in our daily Christian lives.
Do you know how the Bible defines happiness?The first and perhaps most important point in figuring out what a “happy” life looks like would be to actually define the word. This might sound silly at first. After all, everyone knows what it means to be happy! But do they? When we say, “Happy Birthday,” we are wishing a person to have feelings of goodness and excitement. How about when we look at a happy coincidence? It means we observe events that came together in an unplanned but positive way. When we end a story with “happily ever after,” we are indicating that life for those involved will be smooth and contented going forward. Happy can mean many things!
Biblical happiness is none of the above.As a matter of fact, biblical happiness is much more about a state of mind than it is about how we might feel in a given circumstance. The Old Testament sets the standard for happiness by the way the Hebrew word is translated. The same word can be “happy,” as in Deuteronomy 33:29, and “blessed,” as in Psalm 1:1. This suggests that happiness for those who are loyal to God is a direct result of that loyalty. It helps us begin to understand that being happy is not an emotional state; rather, it is a focused state of mind.
On the surface, this can sound depressing. You might think, you mean I don’t get to be happy as a Christian? Actually, we are saying just the opposite. Christian happiness can and should be vibrant even when life is not going well. 1 Peter 4:14 says that we are happy – we are blessed – when we suffer reproach for Jesus’ sake. So, how does that work?
Check out our November 13, 2023 podcast, “Is There a Secret for a Happy Christian Life?” for answers. We walk through understanding what true Christian happiness is and what it looks like. Then we then dig into the how to of actually applying it to our daily life. We also examine how Christian contentedness and happiness can give us a truly bountiful life. Join us! This is a journey worth taking as it can open our eyes to a fulfilled Christian life.
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In our last episode, we talked about doubt as a permanent fixture in our present world and experiences and how this can be both a positive thing as well as a negative thing. There are many ways the seeds of doubt are planted. It might be as a result of misinformation or misunderstanding. Or when we have a limited perception of our circumstances. We can doubt when we are in a difficult situation or have unmet expectations. Whatever the case may be, itis a very real part of our Christian experience. As we continue our conversation in this episode, we focus on how doubt manifested itself in the New Testament and what we can learn from it. To clearly understand it is to open the door that can diffuse it or use it, whichever brings glory to God!
Choices in the New TestamentUnderstanding New Testament doubt can be tricky, as there seems to be marked differences in the kinds of doubt that are revealed. The more common words for doubt have the sense of choice and indicate a wavering or hesitation: I am presented with a dilemma and can either handle it this way or that way. On the surface, this can sound simple – you have the choices before you, so just decide already! However, rather than being simple, this kind of doubt can be somewhat paralyzing. If I focus on option A, then this or that may not happen. Option B feels safer, but then I have this inconvenient issue to handle.
You of little faithThen there is that hesitation or wavering caused by looming and dramatic circumstances when we need to choose right now. The Apostle Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water towards Jesus is a great example of this. The wind is fierce, and the waves are big. Jesus tells Peter to come to him against all common sense and natural law, Peter steps out of the boat to walk on top of the water. He then wavers as he sees the strength of the wind and begins to sink. Jesus saves him then asks, “Why did you doubt, you of little faith?”
Was Peter’s doubting really an example of having “little faith”? Could this in any way have been a constructive doubt? What about the women who went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body and found the body was gone? What about the Apostle Peter’s doubt after he had the vision that instructed him to eat the meat of unclean animals?
Check out our October 16, 2023 podcast for answers. We consider these examples along with several others as we draw lessons from both constructive and destructive doubts. Doubt – just like trust – can keep us safe or get us in trouble. Join us for Part II of this series and learn how to hold on to the positive power of doubt while avoiding its negative results!
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Everybody doubts. So, is this a good thing or a bad thing? The answer is a resounding yes! Doubt can be a godly tool of necessary and righteous caution just as easily as it can be an ungodly tool of imperfect human judgment and destruction. Appropriate doubt that is fact- and integrity-based is an early warning system that can keep us focused on and engaged in the most important things. This kind of doubt is a welcome addition to our lives and should be counted on. By the same token, highly charged doubt that is primarily fed by feelings and personal preferences needs to be examined and adjusted according to higher godly standards. How can we learn to doubt the doubts we should doubt without doubting the doubts that undoubtedly protect us?
What (or whom) exactly are you doubting?Learning to question the doubts in our lives that need to be challenged really begins with one important question: What am I doubting? Answering this may not be as easy as we may think. For instance, we may find that we are doubting ourselves. Such doubt could be a needed and welcome warning sign for staying away from certain questionable circumstances. On the other hand, self-doubt could be detrimental to approaching a specific challenge or experience we may need to face. What if I’m doubting God? While answering this question may seem easier to understand, it also needs a bit more clarity. Am I actually doubting God, or am I doubting what I think God should be doing based on my own perspective?
Is doubt destructive or constructive? Yes.Once we better understand what we are questioning we then want to look at the “why” of the matter. To help with this, we look at biblical examples of doubt, and there are plenty to choose from. As we isolate these examples, we want to put them into two specific categories – destructive doubt and constructive doubt. One clear example of destructive doubt is Eve in the Garden of Eden. She was tempted by Satan, and that temptation caused her to reconsider the specific guidelines God had previously put in place. The obvious question is, why would anyone doubt God’s personally delivered and specifically precise guidelines?
Check out our October 9, 2023 podcast, “How Can I Doubt My Doubts? (Part I)” for answers. We examine the details of Eve’s doubt and compare them with other Old Testament examples of destructive doubts. This exercise begins to unfold a pattern for understanding our negative second guessing. It helps us begin identifying what the building blocks are for our different areas of doubtfulness that are not productive.
We then examine how constructive doubts work and compare those building blocks with those of destructive doubt. We talk about two dramatic examples of biblical characters who used their serious doubts as tools of growth in God’s service. Join us for Part I of this eye-opening journey through one of the most common challenges that humanity faces each and every day. It is “undoubtedly” worth your attention!
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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!
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n our last episode, we talked about many big picture aspects of how the humbling and amazing privilege of prayer works. We learned that, as is usually the case with true Christian discipleship, there is much more to praying than talking to God about things and letting him know what we need and want. Today […]
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Prayer is an incalculably awesome privilege, and yet it is massively misunderstood. Prayer can easily become a ritual, an almost automatic activity like brushing our teeth. We know we need to do it because we know it’s really good for us. So, we do it at what we think are the appropriate times and in […]
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It is a natural human response to want to be recognized for who we are and for what we contribute. This is easy to observe. Just look at a small child who does something to be helpful or obedient. When their parent recognizes and praises their behavior, their face beams with delight! While it is […]
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We have all been wronged by someone. Sometimes the wrong is especially deep and hurtful, and we are debilitated by it. We have all also heard the saying “forgive and forget.” The forgiving part sounds like a really magnanimous Christian thing to do. However, it can be deeply challenging, depending upon the hurt we have […]
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If we make promises, we should keep them. This statement seems simple enough, and yet when we look around, how much confidence do we have in it? Do we see an unequivocal keeping of promises in our political leadership? Do we see it in the business world? The world of advertising or education? Do we […]
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Patience is one of the most understated yet powerful characteristics any human being can have. Most of us think of patience as simply waiting things out – it’s raining and we can’t start the game until it stops, so let’s be patient. While this is a true facet of patience, biblical patience goes much further […]
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As a Christian, taking the time to understand what we think about is a worthy and necessary investment of our time and effort. When you look at anyone who is truly successful at any endeavor, you will always find that one of the common denominators of their success is controlling their minds. In Part I of this two-part series, we spent considerable time piecing together the groundwork the Apostle Paul laid out in Philippians 4 as a basis for productive Christian thinking. He understood the demands of Christianity and cared enough about his fellow disciples to teach us not only what he knew, but how to apply that knowledge. One major result of his spiritual wisdom was the letter he wrote to the Philippians.
The Apostle Paul’s “dwell on these things” list was and is much more than a gathering up of nice and inspiring things to focus on. It was actually a specific and dynamic grouping of necessary characteristics that every true Christian must understand and internalize. Paul himself made this clear when he told us to “dwell on these things.” The Greek word here used for “dwell” is very pointed. It is a precise word for taking inventory of something. It focuses us on giving these featured characteristics a highly calculated and proven value in our Christian walk.
Beautiful and of good reportIn Part I, we saw how dwelling on what is true, honorable, right and pure, presents a broad-based foundation for our thinking. Without these characteristics, what follows can easily go off track. The next two characteristics Paul gives us to dwell on are things that are “beautiful” and “of good report.” It is easy to see how we can pick and choose what we apply this list to, and end up focused on worldly things instead of spiritual things. With such an easy detour, how do we keep our minds firmly entrenched in godliness?
What do we simply acknowledge and what do we dwell upon?It all comes down to the straightforward comparison between what we acknowledge and what we allow our minds to dwelling upon. There are many things in our world that are worthy of our notice and support. There are wonderful causes, just and righteous actions, things of beauty and experiences of victory and success that we can and should stand up for. However, this acknowledgment is entirely than dwelling upon things spiritually true, noble, just, pure, beautiful and of good report. These feed our lives in ways that things of the world simply cannot.
Check out our recent podcast “We Are What We Think About, So What Are We Thinking About? (Part II)” for more. As we establish our approach to thought priority, we also look into the last two items on Paul’s list – things that are excellent and praiseworthy. Paul is teaching us a comprehensive way to think and leaves no stone unturned. He lifts our minds above that which is natural to that which is spiritual. Join us for this awakening journey of learning, application and change!
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Most of us don’t realize just much of our lives come down to our own personal choices. We have far more power over how we handle our everyday experiences than we give ourselves credit for. Why wouldn’t we claim this power so we can better influence our path? Because we subtly and regularly fall into habits of thinking that lull us into a lukewarm and compliant attitude of submission. The Apostle Paul was all about helping us, as his fellow disciples of Christ, challenge the status quo and reset our minds so we can daily think and choose with spiritual clarity. Much of the letter he wrote to the Philippian Christians focused in on the adverse conditions in life and how to think through them. Examining this letter is the first step to better focusing our Christian thinking!
The Apostle Paul really loved his fellow Christians at Philippi. While on house arrest under Roman guard, he wrote them a comprehensive letter concerning their Christian growth and development. One of his conclusionary teachings in this letter is found in the commonly read verse of Philippians 4:8. Paraphrased it says, “Finally, whatever is true, honorable, right, pure lovely or of good report, if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy, dwell on these things.”
This letter to the Philippians is a tutorial on several of the high standards that true discipleship requires. Paul showed us how to handle limiting circumstances by talking about his own imprisonment. He implored all of his brethren to work through their issues in a unified fashion. He focused us on the importance of leaving our old standards of success behind and instead seeking success in a life of sacrifice. These and many other teachings were all in place to address the building up of a mature Christian mind.
A special listPaul then gave us the list of things he pointed us to and what we should dwell upon. This was no mere listing of nice things to preoccupied us. This was a list of solid, connected, sequential and spiritually-sound priorities. Dwelling on them meant we were to use them as solid foundation stones of our Christian lives.
First on this list was the instruction to dwell on what is true. As we dig more deeply into his teaching, we realize the apostle was pointing us not to general worldly truth, but to godly eternal truth. All of the rest of his “think about this” list had its foundation in this solid beginning. Check out our May 15, 2023 podcast, “We Are What We Think About, So What Are We Thinking About? (Part I)” for more. After comprehensively summarizing the letter to the Philippians, we delve into the meaning of what is true, what is honorable, what is right and what is pure. What we find is the beginnings of a profound and life-altering approach to setting our minds up for true Christian thinking. Join us as we begin to learn what to think about and how to think about it!
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We all know someone who has been in some kind of altercation that didn’t end well. When we go back and look at the events, we always want to know who started it. What we are looking for is who initially provoked the other party to cause the chain of events that led to someone on some level being hurt. The point is, provoking one another is not usually looked at as a good thing as we think of things like sibling rivalries or having someone “push your buttons.” However, with an appropriate approach, provoking others can be a powerful tool, as it can stimulate them to positive action and conflict resolution. So, how do we do that? How do we provoke others towards everything good and avoid provoking them towards anything bad?
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Christian faith is a big deal. The Bible tells us that faith is a gift from God. It tells us the just live by faith. It tells us that faith without works is dead, and that without faith, it is impossible to please God. It tells us that we can be of little faith needing more and then it tells us that if we have faith like the grain of a tiny mustard seed, we can move mountains. With all of these varied and important applications of faith it is surprising that defining faith and how it really works can be difficult tasks. Faith is far too often described as a feeling or a pathway to believing in something that has no substance. When it comes to biblically defined faith, nothing could be further from the truth!
Christian faith frequently comes under fire as foolishness.Skeptics seem to love to challenge us to “prove” that there is a God. Their standards of proof require us to show God to them, which is simply not possible. Interestingly, biblical faith is defined as “a conviction of the reality of something unseen, based on credible evidence.” We believe in God because we see unmistakable evidence pointing to Him.
Christian faith is a sincere belief in that which is sensible.Let’s use a cell phone as an example. Think of all the planning, engineering, manufacturing and testing that goes into it. We all use them, and we all credit their manufacturers and the genius minds that created such incredible devices. Now, what would it take for nature to duplicate that creation? Seriously. Would any of us EVER believe that the wind, the sea, the land and elements, on their own by just the forces of nature could create one? Of course not. That would not fit the biblical definition of faith, because believing in such a thing would be foolishness.
While this may be obvious, many critics of Christian faith seem to do this very thing. They credit the forces of nature with creating DNA, which is so complex that it took a decade for our best and brightest to simply map it out so we can begin to understand it. And what about massively complex things like functional eyes, ears and noses? We credit nature, which incidentally does not have a conscious mind, with creating humans who because of their intelligence, can create little things like cell phones. Now who believes in ridiculous things, and who believes in that which is sensible?
Check out our April 24, 2023 podcast, “What Does It Feel Like to Have Real Faith?” for more. We examine biblical faith on several levels. We find that it begins by the grace of God. It is then put into our hands so we can develop it and live according to its direction. True biblical faith is no small thing, and it certainly does not fit the definition that so many label it with. Join us as we unravel the confusion surrounding what faith is and what it is not.
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It is a given that life is stressful. We all know that the sheer quantity of input that we are each exposed to from the various parts of our lives is overwhelming. Now come the decisions. Do I watch, do I listen, do I click, do I respond, do I message, do I like? Now comes what is supposed to be the main part of our day, our work, or schooling or caregiving and attempting to do a good job. Next comes our down time, which for many is laughable. It is now in our downtime that we watch, listen, click, respond, message and like, so downtime easily becomes stress time. As Christians, we are supposed to have God’s peace covering our lives. I say “supposed to” because many of us have a really hard time finding that peace in the midst of our daily chaos. Where are we going wrong, and how do we correct it?
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It’s not too often that those who are young adults rise up to be the heroes of the day. Usually they are in the “figuring life out” stage, but occasionally there comes a young adult who is living far beyond that perplexity. David, who would become known as “a man after God’s own heart,” was such a young man. This designation would be made apparent when he visited the battlefront to bring food to his brothers and ended up defeating Goliath. Now, the story of his battle with Goliath is well-known, but the events leading up to that battle? Well, they deserve our attention. Focusing on what David already believed and thought – and what he said and did as a result – will reveal Five Points to a Stronger Christian Life for us. Why not learn how to be more focused on God’s will from a man after God’s own heart?
Literally, a big problemThe armies of Israel stood ready to fight the armies of the Philistines, but they had a really big problem. His name was Goliath. He was a menacing presence, a literal giant of a man standing about nine feet tall. Every day he would stand in the valley between the two armies and put out a challenge for Israel to send their best warrior to fight him to the death. It was a winner-take-all proposition. Goliath’s brash challenge was repeated day after day for 40 days. King Saul and his men stood paralyzed! How could anyone expect to be victorious over such an overwhelmingly imposing figure?
Food delivery!David, the teenage shepherd from Bethlehem, shows up to deliver food to his three brothers and cheese to their commander. He hears the brash challenge from Goliath, immediately questions what is happening and volunteers to fight the giant. David goes before King Saul, rejects the king’s offer to use his own royal armor and boldly goes down into the valley to meet Goliath for this epic battle.
Wait a minute! Why would any king ever agree to sending a teenage shepherd boy with zero military training or experience to fight a seasoned warrior in a winner-take-all battle? The answer here is deep and compelling. The bottom line wasn’t about sending a boy to do the job of an experienced and powerful man. Instead, it was all about sending the right person to meet and defeat an enormous challenge. David was that right person.
Check out our March 20, 2013 podcast, “What Can David, a Battlefront and Cheese Teach Us?” for more. We dive into why David was the right person for this overwhelming task. We look at who he had been during his short life before this challenge presented itself. We breakdown what drove him, why it drove him and how he was able to keep fear from burying him. These lessons ring loudly in our ears. Join us for this inspiring conversation with our special guest Matt Kerry, as we learn from and apply the power of David’s character to our daily lives.
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King Solomon ruled over a united kingdom of the 12 tribes of Israel. While the king celebrated the breathtaking splendor of Israel’s civil engineering feats and the exquisite opulence of his palaces and buildings, the people were being suffocated under unreasonably high taxes and forced labor. Tribal jealousies were prevalent between the northern and southern regions, especially between Ephraim in the north and Judah in the south. These conditions, along with Solomon’s impending death, set the table for a never-before-seen fracturing of national unity. But there was hope! In Part I of this 2-part series, we laid the groundwork for what would happen. Simply stated, it all came down to being given extraordinary opportunity and privilege by God and the decisions that followed these gifts.
Solomon’s son, RehoboamRehoboam was King Solomon’s son and inherited the throne of Israel when Solomon died. Becoming the king of God’s chosen people was an enormous privilege. Rehoboam had the choice to do things God’s way or to follow in his father’s later footsteps and leave God behind and do them his own way. Israel was in rough shape.
Solomon’s servant, JeroboamThe overworked and overtaxed people rallied behind one of Solomon’s valiant warriors named Jeroboam. This warrior had been told by a prophet that God would bless him and give him kingship IF ONLY he would obey God’s laws.
Here we have two men from two regions of Israel given the opportunity of a lifetime. Both had choices as to how they would handle that opportunity. Both had full knowledge of God’s influence over and protection of Israel. Both also knew of the current sorry state of the nation as it wallowed in idolatry and disunity. As we look from the outside in at the choices these two men faced, it is so easy to see what we would consider as the obvious course of action. Follow God! He has worked miracles of deliverance and victory in the past! Do things God’s way! Let Him bless you AND the people!
Sadly, neither of these men ultimately chose that path.Israel would be split into two kingdoms and have two kings. Jeroboam would rule over the ten tribes to the north, and they would be called “Israel.” He would leave a legacy of idolatry so blatant that his bloodline would end in disgrace. Rehoboam would rule over the two tribes to the south and they would be called “Judah.” His legacy was only slightly better.
How could both kings be so foolish? Check out our March 13, 2023 podcast, “Am I Throwing Away My Life’s Greatest Privilege? (Part II)” for answers. As we examine their failed choices, we do so with a mirror of self-assessment in hand. Think about this: if we claim to be true followers of Jesus, then we are claiming the highest privilege humanity has EVER been offered! How are WE handling OUR privilege? Are we really following Jesus or just doing it our way like these two kings? Don’t miss this enlightening journey as ancient history reveals our potential present day pitfalls!
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When God miraculously rescued His people from Egyptian slavery and established Israel as a nation, He put a system of rulership through judges in place that did not include having a king. We all know what happened. The people complained to the prophet Samuel because they wanted a king like everybody else. Even though they were warned of the dire consequences that a monarch would bring, they stood fast in their desire, so God let them have their way. Saul was Israel’s first king, and we all know how that ended. David was their second king, and his life and reign ended with turmoil. Solomon was their third king. His reign began in wisdom and faithfulness and ended in the grip of idolatry. From that time on, Israel’s unity fractured, and they would never have a king to rule over their entire nation again. What happened? Israel and its rulers would teach us how easy it is to throw away great privilege!
Peace and prosperity come at a priceAt the end of King Solomon’s reign, Israel was in a socially weakened state. The people were seriously suffering under the high taxes and conscripted labor that built Solomon’s empire. Israel had also become very idolatrous as Solomon’s godly wisdom gave way to the heathen beliefs of his hundreds of wives. Solomon would leave this unhealthy and ununified nation to Rehoboam, a son of one of those wives.
Before Solomon’s death, another man named Jeroboam had been told by God through a prophet that he would have the opportunity to rule Israel. The prophet said he would be blessed of God if he diligently followed God’s law and instructions. Now, Jeroboam was a valiant and trusted warrior under King Solomon and must have been quite surprised by this prophetic message.
Solomon dies and his son Rehoboam becomes kingThings begin to happen! Many of Israel’s mistreated people approached their new king through the valiant warrior Jeroboam to ask for reasonable treatment. With their request, they promised their loyalty. With this opportunity for godly righteousness right before him, the king responds by seeking to think on it for three days. Now the stage is set. On one hand we have this new King Rehoboam who has a golden opportunity to right a sinking ship. On the other hand, we have Jeroboam who was promised extraordinary blessings from God if he would lead according to God’s principles.
Who would step up and follow the incredible privilege that God put before them? Check out our March 6, 2023 podcast, “Am I Throwing Away My Life’s Greatest Privileges? (Part I)” for more. We walk through these two unique stories of opportunity and observe human reactions to God’s will. There is so much that this account can teach us! The fact is, we also have grand and godly opportunities before us every day. Learning how the responses of these two significant men in Israel’s history can show us the do’s and the don’ts of handling our own life privileges. Join us for these powerful lessons!
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Human relationships are a key factor in human survival and well-being. We need them, and God has designed humanity in such a way as to thrive when healthy relationships are present. In Part I and Part II of this three-part series, we drilled down into marriage relationships, as well as family and close friend relationships. We found striking similarities in the “how to” of making these relationships stronger. Much of our input came from 1 Corinthians 13, the “love chapter.” In our final episode of this series, we now look at our relationships within our Christian fellowship. Though the principles remain the same, what we will find here are some significant differences and challenges unique to our calling to Christ.
You may have heard the saying, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your relatives.” The implication is that relationships with relatives will have more inherent challenges due to this unchosen connection. Now think about our relationships with fellow Christians. These connections are based not on our personal preferences or family blood lines. They are based on the blood of Christ only. This means that those whom we would have chosen to avoid or those who were even former enemies are now in the category of being closer than a brother.
A necessary connection with our oppositesIf we claim to be true disciples of Jesus, this close connection with those who may be our opposites is a requirement. It can be an invitation for disaster if we attempt to develop it just based upon our human thoughts and feelings. Just ask those who were the earliest Christians, especially after Gentiles were called to Christ along with Jews. Before the call to all nations to follow Jesus, Jewish culture avoided Gentile influence. Now as disciples, both groups were instructed to leave their past thinking, habits and traditions behind and adopt a unified approach as a brotherhood.
Jesus told us to “Love one another as I have loved you.”How do we do that? How do we make these brotherhood relationships work on such a high level? The answers are abundantly clear in Scripture if we choose to search them out. The first 2 parts of this series laid important groundwork, as they focused on the scriptural principles of selfless love and respect. Putting these principles into practice in all of our close relationships is the necessary staring point.
Check out our February 27, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part III) for more. Using the scriptural basis of 1 Corinthians 13, we delve into the practicality of how to enhance our Christian fellowship. Interestingly, our love for one another needs to be based upon both selfless love and brotherly love. It needs to be profoundly respectful, coming from as pure a heart as we can possibly have. Jesus showed us how to do this, and the Apostle Paul explained it in great detail. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to be better connected to the body of Christ!
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In Part I, we opened the door to talking about strong and healthy relationships by focusing on marriage. We looked at what it is built upon, what makes it work, what hinders it and how to stay with it when challenges arise. We discovered a powerful scriptural pattern for success that can be traced to the simple descriptions of what selfless love is and is not in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Our next set of relationships will focus on our families and closest friends. In many ways, these relationships are similar to the marriage relationship and what it stands for and therefore can be nurtured and healed with the same scriptural principles. God’s design in all of this is truly magnificent!
Greek to EnglishThere is such a difference between the English and Greek languages. In English, we talk about loving our family, loving our friends and loving selflessly by using the same word, “love.” In Greek, these different types of love are expressed with specific and precise words. Greek defines love of family and friends with specific words that are all based on a fraternal relationship. The Greek word for “selfless love” is entirely different and expresses a love and caring that gives without a need to receive. Understanding these differences in the meaning of love helps us to see the depth of the Bible’s instruction regarding our relationships.
Family and close friend relationships are easy targets for frustrations and issues. Because we have such a close natural or chosen connection with these individuals, we are easily liable to fall into misunderstanding and disagreement. Fortunately, the Bible gives us several ways to approach these challenges. One basic piece of scriptural guidance is to simply listen to Jesus. This can come across as almost too basic because we are always supposed to listen to Jesus, so let’s get specific.
In Matthew 7, Jesus talked about judging others.His guidance was unmistakable as he stated it in an exaggerated example. To paraphrase, he instructed us to remove the log out of our own eye before we try and remove the speck of sawdust out of someone else’s eye. This is a simple lesson that teaches us to right our own attitude and perspective before approaching those things in someone we care about. Being willing to do this shows that we truly care for and respect those in our lives who may be having issues.
This is just one of many practical ways the Bible helps us to feed and nurture our family and close friend relationships. Check out our February 20, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part II)” Further steps and guidance include a deeper grasp of the listening process and what to do after we listen. We also delve into the profound realization of how to connect brotherly and family love with the selfless love that Jesus taught us. Learning to put these things together is learning to have stronger family and friend relationships. What are we waiting for?
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This may sound odd, but for a moment think about your personal relationships like a car. You depend on your car though you generally don’t think much about it. When you get in it you are ready to go, and if it doesn’t start or it breaks down, it creates issues. A lack of attention and maintenance will inevitably bring trouble. Proper maintenance is key to keep it running smoothly and to keeping you happy. Well, our personal relationships are immeasurably more important than our car, so we need to keep them in good working order as well. Because there are so many kinds of personal relationships, let’s start by looking at marriage. What are some basic principles to keep our Christian marriage going and growing?
When we think about what a healthy marriage looks like, most of us think about being happy. We think about quality time, doing things for one another, encouraging each other, giving to each other and intimacy. Images of things like walking together along a deserted beach or being surprised with a gift or gesture, or going on an adventure or a having quiet dinner for two give us a sense of a powerful marriage connection. All of these things are awesome, and we’d all love to be there! But how do we do it? How do we build our marriages up to this kind of sharing and security?
Let’s face it, life is incredibly complicated and busy.Even thinking about all of these sharing experiences can be stressful – nevermind actually doing them. The unfortunate equation many of us find even our Christian marriage trapped by looks something like this: Work stress plus responsibility, multiplied by financial challenges, plus social media, multiplied by digital entertainment equals no time and little desire left to intentionally strengthen our marriages! What we would love to have is seemingly inaccessible as we face the tangle and drain of simply living everyday life.
There is a better way.The starting point to untangle the confusing mess of life’s expectations begins with doing one thing and understanding two principles. The one thing is to self-assess. Decide that the responsibility for making your marriage better lands squarely on your shoulders. Now, you might respond that marriage is by definition give and take, contributions from both sides! You could not be more correct! However, the process of positive change always begins with taking personal responsibility to take the first small steps, regardless of what anybody else does. Simple…but not easy.
Check out our February 13, 2023 podcast, “How Strong Are My Relationships? (Part I) for more. We expand on this self-assessing process by homing in on what to focus on, which brings us to our two principles: LOVE and RESPECT. The key here is understanding that the kind of love we are talking about is the kind Jesus showed us. It is a love that graciously, selflessly gives. And respect, well, that’s much bigger than we might think as well. These are just our starting points. Join us for the rest of the story!
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The Bible is full of examples of God’s love, justice, wisdom, power and plan. It is a fountain of mercy and foresight, and a treasure trove of prophecy. Understanding the magnitude of all these things helps us see God as the Sovereign Creator and Father that He really is. But wait, there’s more! Running through ALL of the descriptions we just mentioned is another facet of God’s character – His grace. The word for “grace” in the Bible has many shades of meaning. When we understand how this word is applied to God in both the Old and New Testaments, we are given a profound glimpse into the depth and breadth of His character. God’s grace is and always has been a game changer. Let’s see how!
A giftGod’s grace is often and accurately described as His unmerited favor. On a mere human level, this concept can be exciting and fulfilling. Suppose you know someone who has a favorite sports team. You decide one day that you will buy them two tickets to an important game their team will play in. You buy the tickets not because you are returning some favor, but simply because you want to give them something that was previously out of their reach. Finally, you give them the tickets and they are stunned in their joy and surprise.
This is a tiny example compared to the magnitude of God’s grace. His grace is expressed in many ways at many times under many circumstances. Think of the gift of Jesus. The Bible says God gave us this gift as an expression of His grace. This means that we are ransomed from death because God wanted to give humanity the unmerited gift of an opportunity for eternal life. This gift changes everything about the futures of every human being who has ever lived. It’s a pretty big gift! So, is our reaction to it as joyful as receiving tickets to a big game?
What if they are just paper?How would you feel if your friend you gave those tickets to never went to the game and instead just stared at the tickets and loved the fact that they had them? Your reaction would be that they missed the point of the gift. You wanted them to be at the actual game and not just appreciate the fact that they could go. It is the same with God’s grace, only on a massively larger level. He doesn’t want us to simply appreciate the opportunity for life; He wants us to live in that opportunity, to change and grow as a result of its presence in our lives. God’s grace always seeks an active response!
Check out our January 16, 2023 podcast, “What Does God’s Grace Do for Us?” for more. We reveal the countless ways His grace is described, give examples of how it works and lay out what it does for us. God’s grace is bigger and more powerful than we think. Do yourself a favor and join us for an awe-inspiring look at the grace that changes the world!
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The fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5 are much more than a recounting of nice things to develop as Christians. They are fundamental building blocks upon which any productive Christian life must be built. Whenever we refer to any of these nine characteristics, let’s remember there are two ways we can view them. Take love, for example, the first fruit of the spirit. Many people can exhibit selfless love in their lives, even if they’re not Christians. However, the “fruit of the spirit” love is based on God’s own example through Jesus, and therefore has a higher foundational meaning. The key to understanding all of these fruits is to see that they reflect God’s ways and not the best of our ways. In Part V of our series, we complete our discussion of this fruit and absorb their amazing impact.
In Parts I and II of this five-part series, we extensively covered the 15 sinful deeds of the flesh we humans must fight against. We saw how the Apostle Paul grouped these into specific categories of human behavior. We then moved on to Paul’s listing of the nine powerful and healing fruit of the spirit. Parts III and IV covered love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness. We learned to go beneath the surface to see how the fruit of God’s influence in our lives each contribute to our transformation.
Next on the list are faithfulness, gentleness and self-controlAs with the previous fruit, there is a depth here that needs to be explored and understood. Let’s take faithfulness as an example. Sometimes we as Christians view faithfulness as simply doing the things we know God wants us to do. We go to church to learn about the Bible, and we treat others decently. However, the faithfulness the Apostle Paul is teaching us about here is far deeper than that.
The model we are given of faithfulness is not that of each other or even the Apostle Paul. Because it is a fruit, an outgrowth of God’s spirit, this faithfulness is modeled after God himself. There are several Bible verses that tell us God is faithful. But what does that mean? It means that God is loyal to His word and His promises. If He says He will help us in our darkest trials, then that help is guaranteed to arrive. All we need to do is claim it and apply it.
Does my faithfulness portray such clarity and action?Check out our December 5, 2022 podcast, “Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part V)” for more. We define how our faithfulness should be a driving force in our lives and then go on to examine gentleness and self-control. As you might expect by now, gentleness is MUCH more profound than being nice, and self-control is the grand conclusion of everything! Join us as we conclude this revealing journey into what the fruit of God’s spirit can bring into our daily lives!
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When the Apostle Paul listed the “fruit of the spirit” in the 5th chapter of Galatians, he placed it right after a nasty list, recounting 15 “deeds of the flesh.” This fruit list was positioned as a remedy for any Christian who might struggle with any of those earthly issues. In Part I and II […]
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In our last two episodes, we spent significant time reviewing and understanding the Apostle Paul’s list of the deeds of the flesh in Galatians the 5th chapter. His reason for such a detailed and uncomfortable list was to give us all a clear push forward and away from such things, so we can walk towards […]
The post Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part III) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Adam was created in the image of God. His physical human nature was fashioned in a way that would glorify God by its very existence. Once he sinned, all that changed. What was once a pure reflection of the heart and mind of God, at best became a muddied and defective reflection. Fast forward thousands […]
The post Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It’s a simple equation with a guaranteed end result. Walk in the spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. As Christians living in an “anything goes” world, this straightforward statement can be easily overlooked and even ignored. Among the many challenges we face today, being like everyone else is among […]
The post Do I Walk in the Spirit or the Lusts of My Human Nature? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Let go and let God.” This simple statement is focused on faith and trust, two fundamental challenges for Christians. We may think it’s easy to have faith, but when we are in times of difficulty, the depth of our true faith is revealed and sometimes revealed as seriously lacking. We may think that we have […]
The post How Do I Let Go and Let God? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
To seek and acquire wisdom seems to be a lost art in our technology-laden world. Why spend the time, seeking, gathering, learning, absorbing, internalizing and applying wisdom when you can simply Google it and be told what something means? Why invest time and effort into trying to become a “wise person” when most of your […]
The post What Can We Learn from One of the Wisest Men on Earth? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As long as no one gets hurt, I can do pretty much whatever I want! Such is the battle cry of our present age. We are so advanced in our awareness and thinking that it has become easy to throw off the once-constricting values of ages gone by and just be in the here and […]
The post Is It a Sin if I . . . ? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Technology, medicine, communication and interdependence allow a previously unimaginable world of seemingly unlimited possibilities of societal advancement and personal fulfillment. Our communication is instantaneous, and our collective demands for entertainment and happiness have never been louder. While some of this has been a blessing, Satan, as this world’s master of confusion, has blurred the lines […]
The post Is It a Sin if I . . . ? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Parenting is a difficult and often unpredictable task. In Episode 1238, we laid a scripturally-principled foundation for managing our parental “what ifs” and imperfections. We also addressed the ever-present challenge of growing confidence and competence in our children as we slowly release our parental control over them. With all of this in place, it is […]
The post How Do We Best Support Our Kids Through Their Hardest Times? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It’s hard to stay focused, especially when that focus requires attention be given to something that is different and challenging. As Christians living in this 21st century, our responsibility is, as Jesus said when he was only 12 years old, to “be about our Father’s business.” As clear as this objective is, because we are […]
The post God is Out of My Life! How Do I Get Him Back In? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
God does not reward sin. On the contrary, He abhors it! Satan’s first rebellious thoughts against God will result in his eventual destruction. Adam’s sin of disobedience has and continues to result in the power of sin, evil and death plaguing our world to this day. Enter Tamar and Rahab. These are two Old Testament […]
The post Why Would God Bless Two Immoral Women? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all get angry. In today’s social media world, we can easily find a platform to express that anger. Our anger develops when we hear or see something that we interpret as causing fear, frustration or offense. We react to our perception, and the seeds of anger are sown and grown in an instant. Once […]
The post I’m a Christian and I’m Angry! What Now? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Nobody likes to suffer. Nobody wants pain, turmoil, uncertainty, tragedy or sickness to take up continual residence in their lives. When a Christian suffers by facing hard things in their daily experience, it is easy to look at it as punishment. We see these harsh experiences as a signal that something is wrong and expect […]
The post Am I Being Punished or Favored? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Most Christians are very aware of Satan’s influence in our world today. We know he is opposed to God and His will at all turns, and as the “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), he will ferociously fight to keep all he has laid claim to. What we don’t often think about is how […]
The post How Is Satan Trying to Devour Me? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Hope is a critical part of the human experience. Without it, our lives would be overrun with despair, doubt and difficulty. It’s intertwined in every part of any experience that contains even the smallest measure of doubt. Without it, we would end up meeting the uncertainties of each day with our own internal and unanswerable […]
The post How Do We Keep Hope Alive? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As Christians, we all fail. We all think, say or do things that are out of harmony with God’s will and way, and this can be really frustrating. So, what can change those failures? Will focusing on having more faith make a difference? The answer to this is both yes and no. Having more faith […]
The post Can Faith Take Me From Failure to Victory? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When it comes to understanding your marriage relationship, there may not be a more revealing question to ask than, “What do I say when I talk to my spouse?” We make a life-altering decision to marry, and the passion behind it is clear and solid. We see it as a “forever” passion. Time passes and […]
The post What Do I Say When I Talk to My Spouse? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, he changed everything. All that the people of Israel had ever heard before this was related to the Jewish Law and much of that teaching had been corrupted by their religious leadership. Jesus sat on a hillside teaching his disciples, allowing anyone to listen in who had […]
The post Is God Happy With My Attitude? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Arguably, the most well-known sermon in the world is the Sermon on the Mount, delivered by Jesus over 2,000 years ago on a mountainside near the Lake of Gennesaret and Capernaum. It was his longest recorded sermon, covering important topics like loving your enemies, anger and murder, adultery and divorce, how to fast and laying […]
The post Is God Happy With My Attitude? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is easy to live with bitterness. I am not suggesting it’s initially comfortable, but I am suggesting that being bitter towards one or many people or circumstances is considered acceptable. We know it’s acceptable because if we pay attention, we will see that the harsh and angry results of a bitter temperament are widely […]
The post Am I Too Bitter to Be Better? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The source of the phrase, “The devil is in the details” is a bit unsure. It is thought to be a derivation of the phrase “God is in the detail,” thought to be from an old German proverb sometime in the 1800’s. Whatever the origin, both phrases are profoundly true. As we begin a new […]
The post Is the Devil in the Details of My Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Technology brings the world to the palm of your hand. This means we are bombarded with voices. Worldly voices of opinion, anger, politics, perspective, ego, trends and personal interpretations of morality. If you have technology in your life, it is virtually impossible to completely shut these voices out. On the other hand, we have the […]
The post Whose Voices Are You Listening To? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As a Christian, we never want to be in a situation where we end up fighting against God. Yet, we may end up in this position more often than we’d expect. To fight FOR God is to stand for His principles, His Plan and His purposes as outlined in Scripture. This sounds simple, but it […]
The post Am I Fighting For or Against God? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life can be difficult and unpredictable. It can be full of insecurity, unexpected disappointments, and events that press and overwhelm our coping skills. All of this can bring us to places that make us want to run from our reality. We instead engage in a pseudo-reality that makes us feel better – at least for […]
The post Could an Addiction Block My Christian Growth? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Every Christian loves Jesus and every Christian wants to be acceptable to him. None of us ever wants to take his sacrifice on our behalf for granted. We don’t want to fall into a pattern of complacency where we don’t appreciate the blessings he gives us. While these are all well-stated intentions, we need to […]
The post Am I Passionate or Complacent About Jesus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, what does it mean to be a Christian, and how do I know if I am doing it right? What happens if I am doing it wrong? Is there a clear-cut standard? Will Jesus be disappointed in me if I fall short? Am I expected to change who I am, or develop who I […]
The post Am I Failing as a Christian? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Never in the history of humanity have we had such a profound ability to communicate with others. From the palm of our hand, we can see and speak with individuals and groups all over the world at anytime of day or night. We can message, share and “like” in countless ways. Yet, never in the history […]
The post How Can I Effectively Reach Out and Connect With Others? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Forgiveness is a tough thing. The times we need to forgive are usually the times we are in no mood to forgive. It can be easy to say, “I forgive you,” but are those words reflected in my thoughts, emotions and actions? Do I say those words out of mere obligation or to just end […]
The post Did I Really Forgive Them? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As Christians, we are constantly faced with the challenge of doing the right thing in a sinful world. We are bombarded with input and suggestions that can easily cloud the simplicity of what the right thing is. Once we get the right thing in focus, the next challenge is to do that right thing the […]
The post What Is My Battle Plan to Defend Against Satan’s Attacks? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
What are we supposed to do? What do we do when we have done something – either on purpose or by accident – that causes someone excessive harm or loss, or even tragedy? How do we go on, how do we face our family or those we have hurt? How do we live with ourselves? Crushing […]
The post How Can We Overcome Crushing Guilt? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
To “challenge” Jesus and succeed is not something you hear about every day, so let’s clarify what we are talking about. Jesus was a speaker of God’s word and a doer of God’s will. Inevitably, challenging this would be a futile effort. When we say “challenge” we mean not following an expected pattern. There were […]
The post Who Successfully Challenged Jesus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Bible is full of inspirational accounts of such female heroes of faith like Abigail, Mary and Esther. It also gives us the cautionary tales of the infamous like Jezebel and Delilah. But there is a class of special women in the Bible – both virtuous and sinful – whose stories are told without mentioning […]
The post Can I Get What I Want Through Seduction? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life can be difficult. We are surrounded with issues, events, opinions, politics and posts that continuously bring us stress and strain. As if this isn’t enough, we add to the frenzy by putting up self-designed roadblocks to block our own way! Why would we do that? Why would we make things harder for ourselves? Turns […]
The post Am I My Own Worst Enemy? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Truth matters. This is something I imagine we would all agree upon and yet we seem to rarely get to the truth. Why? Because we bicker with and debate those who see things differently based on our different versions of the truth. Enter exaggeration. It is a tool of language to make a point, sway an […]
The post Is There a Difference Between Exaggerating and Lying? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Have you noticed how blurred the world has become? It has become increasingly more difficult to locate and abide by any life guidelines that represent clear boundaries and a clear direction forward. The eighth Commandment was simple: “You shall not steal.” This was a clear directive to not take what is not yours. Fast forward […]
The post Is It Still Stealing if I Deserve It? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Let’s set the record straight right from the start. As Christians, God does NOT want us to suffer! Having said that, we know He does want us to learn and grow and mature. This means he will permit us to suffer and will use it as a tool to serve our eternal welfare. Now, what […]
The post Does God REALLY Want Me to Suffer? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
No one wants to be lonely. It is a sad and painful state of being that daily grows more and more common. There is a major difference between being alone and being lonely. To be alone is to be without anyone to engage with. This can be a productive place to be when in the […]
The post How Do I Cope With Overwhelming Loneliness? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Ancient biblical history paints a very specific picture of the world regarding morals and ethics. In the days of the Jewish Law, there were unmistakable lines that anyone of Jewish descent knew they simply should not cross. Just as lying, stealing and murder were lines not to cross, committing adultery was one as well. Fast […]
The post Is Adultery Really That Wrong? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The first four of the Ten Commandments all have to do with humanity’s relationship to God. These directives came first because our relationship with God should always be the driving factor in our lives. The fifth Commandment focuses on our relationship with our parents and is fashioned after the first four, with honor and respect […]
The post Could God Convict ME of Murder? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
As Christians, we face the potential for deep trouble each and every day. Why? We live in an age of knowledge, choice, technology and accessibility. This would all be thoroughly awesome, except for one thing. These opportunities come with a healthy dose of what I will call an “entitlement of excess.” Because we can, we […]
The post Can Good Things Ever Be Bad? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
To honor your father and mother is the 5th of the Ten Commandments given to Moses for Israel. Like all of the other Commandments, this is a very old-fashioned and worn-out sounding principle. I mean, we all know that we should respect our parents to some degree, but are we supposed to let them run […]
The post What Does Honoring Your Mother and Father Look Like? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Last week we talked about perseverance as an essential aspect of our Christian lives. We saw that persevering means much more than simply hanging on when things are tough. It means we set our hearts and minds on moving forward, no matter how small the steps might be. We examined some Isaiah scriptures that gave […]
The post How Can I Persevere When Life Gets Tough? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Perseverance is not something we talk about much anymore. It sounds like an old word from some other time in history. Now we talk about making demands and our personal perspectives being instantly and unquestioningly accepted by those around us. We now live in a society where it is not about hard work or building […]
The post How Can I Persevere When Life Gets Tough? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Compromise can be so misunderstood. On one hand, we as Christians should be standing for and living a compromise-free life. Nothing should ever water down our life principles of sacrifice. Walking steadfastly in Jesus’ footsteps must always be our immovable goal. On the other hand, there are times and places when compromise is not only […]
The post Has My Christianity Been Compromised? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Politics. It’s a word that represents a world of power, prestige and problems. It’s a word that conjures up anger, division and disrespect. It is a word that often gives us a sense of retreat and uncomfortable acceptance. Sometimes I think we forget that the ideal perspective of political power is to serve the needs […]
The post Are We Supporting the Right World Leaders? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Conflict is everywhere! This is not necessarily a bad thing, as proper conflict management at every phase of our lives provides some of life’s most fertile growth experiences. The problem is, we are NOT taught how to manage our conflicts. In the first of our 2-part series, we listed and discussed the Five Degenerating Stages […]
The post Can Biblical Strategies Resolve Serious Conflicts? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Wearing a mask when you go out. Cleaning and sanitizing anything and everything all the time. Social distancing. Avoiding crowded places. Working from home or not being able to work at all. Seeing friends and family on Zoom instead of in person. It is enough to make the strongest among us to feel battle worn. […]
The post Is Your COVID-19 Christianity Still Being Tested? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Conflict is everywhere. Small children need to be guided through conflict when they learn about sharing and scream, “…But that’s MINE!” Adolescents could use some serious education through conflict when they begin to believe their parents are ignorant and rebelliously demand their way. Adults (especially spouses) need practical coaching when they clash with one another’s viewpoints […]
The post Can Biblical Strategies Resolve Serious Conflicts? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, they were in a specific order. Did you ever wonder why the last Commandment was to not covet? To covet in its most basic sense is “to have a strong desire for” something. What was there about the human propensity to want that God saw fit to […]
The post Thou Shalt Not Covet – Is It Wrong to Want? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
David was a hero and anointed to become the king of Israel. Long before he assumed the throne, he defeated Goliath in battle, contributed to the sovereignty and protection of Israel and faithfully served under King Saul. All this happened before he was 25 years old. Though he became a fugitive when King Saul turned […]
The post How Can I Fight for God’s Purposes Like King David? Warriors of God Series appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
What do you envision when you think of a warrior? Someone engaged in conflict or struggle? A soldier, discipline, a fighter, training, bravery? King David was one of history’s great warriors. He possessed all of those warrior attributes, and yet he was also a shepherd, poet, musician and songwriter. Tender-hearted and humble, he was faithful […]
The post How Can I Be a Giant Slayer Like David? Warriors of God Series appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life can be a real challenge when we are pressed by personal anxiety or depression. These things can not only burden our days, they can constrict and suffocate our very moments. As difficult as living is under these circumstances, think about the overwhelming confusion anxiety and depression would bring to a child. They begin to […]
The post How Do We Cope With Anxiety and Depression in Our Kids? (Part III) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everyone at times in their life feels anxiety. Sometimes it is a simple reaction to having to do or say something that we would rather avoid. Other times it is a more powerful reaction that lingers and may even cause us interrupted sleep or a lack of focus. These are feelings of anxiety. They are […]
The post Does My Anxiety or Depression Invalidate My Christianity? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
For many of us, daily life is a secret struggle. Some of us go through the motions of our daily routines while inwardly carrying overwhelming fear and anxiety. We don’t want to share what we feel as it is not only embarrassing, it is impossible to describe. For others of us, even our daily routines […]
The post Does My Anxiety or Depression Invalidate My Christianity? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Burnout is nasty. As we found out in Part I of our two-part series, it can demoralize and diminish the efforts and quality of care from medical professionals and first responders. But it doesn’t stop there. Even though the rest of us may not have other’s lives in our hands, burnout is more than capable […]
The post How Do I Avoid Burnout? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is a common saying that the two things you can count on in life are death and taxes. While that might be true, there is another thing lurking in the background of the lives of more and more people every day: BURNOUT. With all of the overstimulation a technology-based society produces, we are set […]
The post How Do I Avoid Burnout? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
…And they lived happily ever after! While this fairy tale ending makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, it doesn’t help us to prepare for reality. The fact is, marriage is hard. Having a bad marriage is much easier. Think about why. Two people make a promise to one another before God to be – […]
The post I Don’t Think I Love My Spouse Anymore. What Now? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Yup! It’s another New Year and that means another opportunity to start some things that are new, different and good for us! It also means we consider stopping (or at least reducing) those things in life that aren’t so good for us. It all sounds so easy, except for one little detail that can be […]
The post Should My Habits Be Kept or Broken? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
To live is to decide. No matter who you are and what environment you live in, you will most likely be pressed with making an untold number of decisions. These will directly influence how your life will unfold. This can be a scary thought because no one wants to make decisions that are bad! Yet, […]
The post How Do I Know My Decisions Are Right? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Right is right and wrong is wrong! A few generations ago, morality and ethics seemed simple: There were things you knew you should and should not do. There were principles you knew needed to be present when it came down to making appropriate decisions. There were societal consequences for stepping outside of those lines. Now […]
The post Have We Become Too Desensitized to Sin? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We are going about our lives doing the best we can when suddenly we are receiving criticism for our talk, dress, actions or beliefs. Now what? Are we immediately defensive? Do we hurl back insults and accusations? Or do we cave internally, feeling really bad about ourselves and finding it hard to recover and move […]
The post How Can Criticism Help Us Grow? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Being uprooted can mean a lot of different things. It can be the onset of a disease or disability, the loss of a job or loved one or experiencing a difficult trauma. Maybe it is a change of location – a physical move or perhaps an emotional jolt that makes us reset our thinking. Being […]
The post How Do You Handle Being Uprooted in Your Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Sometimes we have people in our lives who seem to create difficulty wherever they go. This can be for a variety of reasons including the fact that WE could be actually attracting such folks into our experiences. For now, let’s assume there are some people who simply live unhappy and unfulfilled lives. In their search […]
The post How Do You Deal With Toxic People in Your Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is a sad thing to say, but slander and gossip are easy. They are. Whether by spoken word or social media interaction, we are set up to say things, write things and imply things about others without recourse. For some reason we think it is okay to slam those we don’t like with twisted […]
The post If I Slander and Gossip, What Does That Say About Me? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Jealousy and envy are often very secret sins. We invite them into our lives and harbor them deeply in our hearts where they fester and grow. One day we look around, and if we are observant, we realize we are seeing our world through different and damaged eyes. Jealousy and envy not only damage our […]
The post Am I a Jealous Christian? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have all done wrong. We have all had to come to grips with our actions and deal with the consequences. In short, we have all had to experience the opportunity for repentance. So, what is repentance anyway? Does it mean we carry the results of our sins with us every day as a reminder […]
The post How Do I Live a Life of Repentance? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have all seen arrogance. Sometimes it comes across as ultimate confidence and a sense of indestructibility and we might admire it. Sometimes it comes across as a cocky, self-absorbed perspective and we are appalled by it. The point is, whether we are looking at someone in their self-proclaimed loftiness in a positive or a […]
The post Am I an Arrogant Christian? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Why criticism? We don’t like it. For the vast majority of us, receiving it invokes feelings of angst, anger and resentment. Being criticized usually ends in a sense of being defeated and often leads us to resentment and a desire to lash out at whoever has been critical to give them a taste of their […]
The post Should Christians Criticize Anyone? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be given “the spirit of power and love and sound mind” as stated in 2 Timothy 1:7? With this spirit of power, shouldn’t all enemies of God cower before us as we call them out for what they are? With this spirit of love, shouldn’t we […]
The post Do I Have a Sound Christian Mind? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everyone needs hope. With a clear hope we can conquer all kinds of obstacles. Without it we lose our motivation to continue on. The problem is that life moves fast – so fast that we rarely slow down enough to realize what is – or should be – driving us. This means we rarely ever […]
The post Do Christians Need Hope in Their Lives? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
How often do we as Christians look at our experiences, determine what God’s will is for us and then notice it just happens to coincide with what we want? It is far too easy to fall into the trap of looking for God’s permission to do or act or respond when we really should be […]
The post Do I Seek God’s Protection or His Permission? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Love one another as I have loved you.” The kingdom of God is at hand.” “Bless those who persecute you.” “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” These are just a few of the profound teachings of Jesus, but how do we determine which was most important? Many Christians have differences regarding priorities […]
The post What Was Jesus’ Top Priority? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life is overflowing with opportunities, and I’m not talking about the big things that change your world. I’m talking about the small and often-overlooked chances in your everyday to refocus on the good, or to simply be kind or to elevate a conversation rather than diminish it. Many of our life experiences come from small […]
The post Is He Who Hesitates Really Lost? The Story of Lot appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Sometimes we are called by destiny. Queen Esther of the Old Testament showed us what can happen when circumstances open the door for uncharacteristic heroism. In Part 1, we told the story of how a Jewish teenage girl kept her calm and found a way to save her people at great personal risk. She worked […]
The post Is This the Moment You Were Created For? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Without communication, human life would cease to exist. We need to express ourselves and absorb the expressions of others. People need to be heard. The need to share thoughts, feelings and lives with one each gave birth to the phenomena of social media. We need to pause and consider. Somewhere along the line, our […]
The post Do You Communicate or Just Talk? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Nobody likes a hypocrite. Nobody likes it when you proclaim yourself to be a certain way or stand up for specific principles or speak up in support of a clear ideology and then display yourself to be a walking contradiction. Nobody likes lip service or pretend support, especially when there are circumstances that require firm […]
The post What Makes a Christian a Hypocrite? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Let’s face it – the Bible really does a lot of focusing on men. Adam was created before Eve, Noah saved humanity and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. The prophets, Jesus and the Apostles – all men. So where does that leave the women of the Bible? The […]
The post Are You a Mary or a Martha? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
(We apologize for the sound quality in the first audio segment – it clears up quickly!) I’m not even going to ask the question because, let’s face it we all know what the answer is. Procrastination is common with all of us. The only real question is, “What kind of procrastinator am I? Do I […]
The post What Can I Do Now About Procrastination Later? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence! As we go about the business of making our lives work, we can easily and frequently wind up looking at others around us with some level of envy. They seem to have it better than we do, they seem to be more stable […]
The post How Do You Bloom Where You Are Planted? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
BFF. Best Friends Forever. These three words conjure up an image of connectedness and loyalty that any one of us would want to be a part of. Sadly, it is an image that for many will only ever remain a thought and never become a tangible reality. Why is that? Why are so many of […]
The post What Does True Friendship Look Like? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
No one ever wants to experience betrayal. It is easily one of the most devastating life events we can imagine. When we come face-to-face with it, it shocks, breaks and undermines much – if not all – of what we hold dear. For many, once we are betrayed it becomes a cancer that cannot be […]
The post How Do I Strike Back at Betrayal? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Humanity is built for loyalty. We have wired within us a longing to be seen and accepted by others as trusted and important. We are also blessed with a deep desire to give allegiance and live with faithfulness to those whom we deem worthy of our fidelity. If you just stop and think about being […]
The post What is the True Meaning of Loyalty? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When we think of Christian faith we often think of those heroes past and present whose lives reflect the courage and fortitude needed to stand up for Christ in the face of an opposite world. We recall their drive, experiences and actions and feel inspired. What zeal! Then we look at our own lives, and […]
The post How Do I Relight the Fire of My Christian Faith? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Christianity at work…for the most part, we all need to support ourselves. That self-supporting system generally comes in three phases. First is the education phase, where we are supposed to choose what self-support direction to take and then how to do it. Second is the work of making ends meet, which for most of us, […]
The post What Happens to My Christianity When I Go to Work? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Let’s start by stating the obvious. Sin is bad. To act in accordance with sin is to act in a way that is not only contrary to the will of God but is also damaging to our standing before God. It is obvious that if we want to be pleasing to God then we need […]
The post Are Some Sins Worse Than Others? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Just be yourself, no can ask any more of you than that.” This is such free and easy advice – someone has probably said it to you, and you have probably said it to someone else. But what does it mean? Is being yourself just reacting to whatever comes your way with a knee-jerk impulse? […]
The post As a Christian, Should You Just Be Yourself? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
If you have doubts that means you must not have faith. So goes the typical thinking of many Christians. If we adhere to this thought then each and every one of us will need to brace for our next crisis of faith, because the fact is we ALL doubt. We all question. We all wonder […]
The post Do My Doubts Mean I Don’t Have Faith? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all want to be successful at whatever it is we are focusing on. Our Christian life is no exception, though the words we use to describe “success” are entirely different than with other endeavors. We want to be faithful – we want to live lives of sacrifice – we want to walk in Jesus’ […]
The post Am I a Double-Minded Christian? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Think about your life for a moment. Think about those things, people, places, experiences and memories that are most precious to you. The few thoughts that top this list are in all likelihood some of your greatest treasures. Now, think again about your life for another moment. Think about the things, people, places, experiences and […]
The post Are Your Treasures Really Worth Treasuring? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
For more, please see ChristianQuestions.com/grief Loss brings grief. Everyone hurts when they suffer loss and many losses are met with grief. The recent Florida school shooting brings the trauma out in the open for all to see. Yet, before and after that singular tragedy there have been and will continue to be countless experiences of […]
The post How Do You Find Your Way Through Grief? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everybody complains. Sometimes, well…actually occasionally, we do it from a positive perspective for the purpose of effecting change and that’s good! But most of the time we complain because someone or something is irritating us, or putting pressure on us or challenging us or contradicting us. Most of our complaints are not for the purpose […]
The post Does Complaining Ever Help? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Everyone has had and will have the experience of being wrong, of making mistakes and of not understanding something well enough to properly represent it. Everyone! The question is not about what to do IF these things happen; the question is how do we handle it WHEN these things happen? Making mistakes and being wrong […]
The post How Do I Handle It When I Am Wrong? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
You hear the word “temptation.” What do you think of? For some of us it might be best to NOT answer this question out loud. For others it might be dark chocolate or getting even or pushing the envelope or wanting to take what is not ours. In every case, such enticement is directly built […]
The post How Do I Deal With Enticing Temptations? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In many ways we are daily in a fight for our lives. There are so many choices that present themselves to us each and every day, many of which can distract and derail us from what is most important. The biggest factor that determines whether we stay on track with life or go down some […]
The post How Do I Defeat My Worst Enemy? Me! appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all would like to think that we are special in some way before God. We want to be sure of His love for us and His guiding hand in our lives. For most of us, being special translates into a feeling – an emotional response that produces a sense of security. But is that […]
The post How Does God Touch Your Heart? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Last week we began our conversation by saying that pride can be a tricky thing and prejudice can be an awful thing. We focused our attention on the pride side of the matter and its insidious way of taking over our lives. Now it’s time to talk about prejudice, and this is a hard conversation […]
The post Does Our Pride Make Us Prejudiced? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Pride can be a tricky thing and prejudice can be an awful thing. Let’s focus on pride right now. On the one hand we are told to take pride in our work – well, at least when I was a kid that’s what I was told! We want to be proud of our children and […]
The post Does Our Pride Make Us Prejudiced? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Failure, as everyone knows, is an unlooked for and unwelcome commodity in life. It disrupts our plans, impedes our progress, upsets our feelings and is generally intrusive to our lives. As a result of failure’s glowing resume, we often do whatever we can to avoid it, and when we experience it we often try to […]
The post How Do You Manage Failure? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Nobody likes failure. Even when we have been told it’s good for us, that it’s a stepping stone, and that you don’t learn from success nearly as much as you learn from failure, we still don’t like it! For many of us, it can be discouraging, debilitating and even depressing. So, what do we do […]
The post How Do You Manage Failure? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all need to be heard, and we all need to be acknowledged. We all need that feeling of validation that comes with being personally recognized as having value, and all of this comes through the important tool of communication. The problem is that we have become terrible at both the giving and receiving […]
The post Why Doesn’t Anyone Listen to Me? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We are not patient. Not anymore. It used to be just a few decades ago that when you needed to talk to someone far away, you waited until the day ended, went home, had dinner and then you tried to call them. Several decades before that, you thought about what you wanted to say, wrote […]
The post What’s Your Hurry? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Revenge – the desire for it can be a powerful and even overwhelming emotion. Sadly, thinking about revenge can be a fun, motivating and bonding experience. It occupies our minds with creative and often diabolical means with which to carry out our purpose. It is amazing how the development of such a negative action can […]
The post How Sweet is Revenge? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, have you ever been or have you ever known someone who has been a victim of fraud? You know, had their credit card number stolen or their bank account hacked or their social security number breached? It is all quite real and it is all quite unsettling. Now, have you heard the term “fake […]
The post Does Your Mind Have Fraud Protection? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
You want to be happy. I want to be happy. Everyone wants to be happy, I mean, who wouldn’t want to be happy? The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America talks about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as being unalienable rights of humanity. What can we conclude from all of […]
The post Why Can’t I Just Be Happy? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We make choices every day. Some are easy choices that we don’t even need to think much about and there are others that require some on-the-fly time and attention. Then there are the choices that can be difficult and even agonizing. These are the choices that can make or break a life or shape a […]
The post So, What Are My Choices? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
When you think of compassion, what do you picture? Perhaps you see Jesus healing the multitudes or volunteers caring for victims of some natural disaster. Perhaps you see an individual patiently working with a disabled person or a soldier protecting children in a war torn region. Perhaps compassion makes you think of Doctors Without Borders […]
The post When is Compassion Wrong? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Did you ever notice that there never seems to be enough time? For some reason or other, we are always rushing around to do the things we need to do and we seem to scarcely be able to even take a breath in between this and that. Our lives are often harried, and as a […]
The post Is MY Christianity a Waste of Time? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Fear is a life dominator. When fear wells up within us we are often physically paralyzed, speechless or at a loss for cogent thought. When fear strikes we run, we hide or we cower before it as our new and merciless master. When we see fear in others we can easily be drawn into its […]
The post Does Fear Torment Your Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
How is it that life seems to go by so fast? How is it that we more often than not look back on our life – the things we did and what we became – with a measure of regret, knowing that we could have been more or contributed more? Have you ever stopped to […]
The post So, What Should I Be Doing Differently? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
What a pain in the neck – or my back or my arm or my leg. None of us like physical pain and when we have it we usually try and do all kinds of things to get rid of it. One really great way to do this is to go to a physical therapist […]
The post Does Physical Therapy Teach Us Spiritual Wellbeing? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Stress is all around us and unfortunately, within us. We know stress is not good for us. Physically it wrecks havoc with our bodies. Mentally it causes us to make poor, rash decisions and not work up to our full capacity. It causes us to lash out at those around us and causes damage to […]
The post Why Are We SO STRESSED?!? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
People want to be happy. They think about it, they talk about it and they do things to find happiness. The United States Declaration of Independence speaks of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Yes, we all want to be happy, but have you ever thought about joy? Have you ever heard of people […]
The post Is Your Heart Looking for Jesus? The Story of Zacchaeus appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
What does it mean to be a Christian? Seriously, what is the real bottom line true meaning of following in the footsteps of Jesus? Is being a Christian like an entitlement program? By professing Jesus do we receive protection from evil, deliverance from trials or the healing of our maladies? Do we receive a promise […]
The post Is the Price of Christianity Too High? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Lying. Okay, we know it’s bad but is it really always a bad thing? From a parent’s perspective, it is one of those things that is perched at the top of the “never do this” list of moral and ethical behavior. With children, the boundaries are clear and easy to define, because as we show […]
The post Should We EVER Lie? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Gossip – is it ever useful or good or is it always a waste of time and bad? Have you ever stopped to consider just how much of our present culture not only accepts it but places it in the enviable and important position of being a core and driving value of our everyday existence? […]
The post Does Gossip Really Hurt Anyone? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Faith is a part of life. Faith is not reserved for those of us who claim religion. On the contrary, faith is an integral part of human life, no matter what perspective you come from. We have faith in the people in our lives that they will be there for us. To varying degrees, we […]
The post What Do YOU Have Faith In? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Most of us really don’t like ourselves. We are too tall or short, too fat or thin, too reserved or too lazy. We don’t like ourselves because we don’t think before we act or we think too much and don’t act at all. We don’t like ourselves because we are not attractive enough or we […]
The post But Do You Really Like Yourself? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life can get heavy sometimes. It can happen for all kinds of reasons – our own poor judgment or mistakes, circumstances beyond our control, accidents or a tragedy. Whatever the reason, the fact is that sometimes life just becomes a heavy burden. When life does get heavy we begin to doubt and to fear, which […]
The post How Do You Stand When Life Gets Too Heavy? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
…But do you trust me? Such a question pierces right down to the heart of any matter, for true trust is sacred. Any relationship – be it family, friends, business or otherwise – will thrive when it is intact. With it, growth, change and the conquering of obstacles are all not only possible but probable. […]
The post How Do You Learn to Truly Trust? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Inspiration elevates people. Everyone loves inspiration and wants to inspire others. We love to hear or watch stories that make us feel good, and we will go back to those stories again and again to refuel. Even more than going back to those stories, we would love to inspire others – we would love to […]
The post How Can I Inspire Like Jesus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Resentment! How dangerous is it? Is there a way to prevent it within us? Resentment is a potentially lethal evil that can cause great harm inwardly and toward others. It has the power to enslave us to the past. When we resent people, we give them power over us. Resentment is based on a way […]
The post How Can Resentment Lead to Death? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We live in a time of great contradiction. There are voices that shout, rant and insist for all in our society to embrace and accept everyone no matter what their choices in life are and no matter what their actions in life may be. Their message in many ways is framed as one of love […]
The post Why Should We Love Our Enemies? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
I think that God is telling me to look for another job.” “God wants me to buy this house instead of that one.” “It’s God’s will that I be happy.” As Christians, we may have made statements like this. We assume anyone making these types of statements has some way to know what God wants […]
The post How Do You Know What God Wants You To Do? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Courage. It is an attribute we all can envision somehow or other. Courage is digging deep within to do what others won’t. It is acting in spite of fear, it is standing up when no one else will, it is joining with others against the odds, it is facing an enemy when you are overmatched. […]
The post What Does Courage Look Like? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Regret stinks. And it stinks for so many reasons. Think about it – you do something and the result for whatever reason is just not good, so you end up deeply regretting that action. Now, it’s not enough to just look back over what happened and feel that twinge of pain just once – no, […]
The post Will My Regrets Ever Leave Me Alone? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
(Click here for Part 2) Regret is one of those things that takes up residence in our heads and always seems to have a long term lease – it just does not want to go away. You know the drill – you do or say or think something that should not have been and then […]
The post Will My Regrets Ever Leave Me Alone? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Time passes and that original drive and inspiration begin to fade. It is kind of like the new toy you get for Christmas – after you use it for awhile, it ends up being just another toy to be tossed around. But wait a minute! This is your life we are talking about and NOT […]
The post So, Where Do I Start? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Happy New Year! …Or is it? Have you asked yourself if you are happy and excited about this New Year or do you fear the same old stuff will get in the way of the better life you had imagined? When you look at your own character and your own track record, what do you […]
The post Do You Like What You See in the Mirror? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So, what do you think of when you hear the statement, “Ah, this is the life!” Ease, fortune and comfort? Well, Jesus said He is “The Life” – so what does that mean and does that statement still develop the same picture in your head? Probably not. Okay, how is Jesus “The Life” and how […]
The post How is Jesus “The Life”? (Part III) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Hope is perhaps the most vital element of life. With it one can do amazing things, overcome seemingly impossible odds, achieve remarkable results and find true and deep meaning in life. Without hope, we doubt, falter and crumble. Without hope we often leave the greatest achievements unachieved, the greatest discoveries undiscovered and the greatest opportunities […]
The post Is There Any Hope Left? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Ten Commandments are iconic. They represent a distilled view of what God wants the human race to follow after in daily life. They are concise, firm and explicit. Someone once said that God gave them as the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions. The last of these Commandments is the command to not covet. […]
The post Is Wanting What Others Have Really That Bad? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
On the night before his crucifixion and literally hours before he would begin a sleepless ordeal of beatings, humiliation and accusation, Jesus took his precious time to give comfort to his truest followers. He spoke of what would happen, of God’s care for them and of his love and devotion to them. He taught them […]
The post How is Jesus “The Way”? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
God is love! We as Christians love to bask in the magnitude of that statement as it gives us comfort and confidence that our faith is in a Being that possesses understanding, compassion and wisdom. God is love – that statement just makes us feel good! So was that the reason John wrote it – […]
The post Is it Love? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Anger and rage – these are two emotions that are all too familiar in our present day. How often do we hear of random acts of violence? Think about what that means – it is something done that causes hurt to others who just happen to be in the way. Where does all of this […]
The post What Are We So Angry About? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Life has become quick and easy – think about it – we have instant coffee, instant oatmeal, Instagram, Instant Messenger, fast food, Jiffy or Quick Lube and “while-you-wait” service. We can instantly see our photos, instantly send and receive our mail, instantly buy or sell online and instantly see 75 different versions of what is […]
The post How Do We Develop Endurance? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
So often when people think about the Bible, they think of an ancient book full of rules given by a God who was jealous and angry in the Old Testament, and they think about Jesus as a representation of love and kindness in the New Testament. Our present social culture has decided that any necessary […]
The post The Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule – Why Bother? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all know that Jesus taught us to forgive. If your brother trespasses against you seven times in a day, Jesus says to forgive. Okay, while this may be difficult, we can see its value and strive to live up to that standard. But, but what about when someone commits a horrible crime – what […]
The post Is Forgiveness Really Necessary? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
A few weeks ago in Episode 855 Part 1, we began to tell the story of the dramatic events that led up to the conversion of the Centurion Cornelius to Christianity. Because the expansion of Christianity to Gentiles was such a radical shift in God’s methods, radical measures had to be taken! Today we will […]
The post Why Cornelius? Why a Soldier? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Sometimes things need to change. When there is a great plan in progress, the need for great change is likely to be a part of that plan. Since Adam’s fall from grace, God’s plan for man’s redemption has been punctuated by changes, including the great Flood which ended the old world, the calling of Abraham […]
The post Why Cornelius? Why a Soldier? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
It is a truly amazing thing to look at the intricacy and detail with which we are created. God not only blessed us with reasoning minds, He gave us the ability to experience the world around us through our five senses. Each of these five senses is a full experience in itself and putting them […]
The post So, How Does Jesus Get You Going? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We are faced with decision making all the time. Some are big and significant life-altering choices and most others are small, often unnoticed and even insignificant. What most influences our decisions – reason, emotion or expediency? What about laziness versus discipline? Can we make better decisions? If so, how? God-honoring choices should be in the […]
The post So, How Do You Make a Decision? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The Bible tells us to stand fight and be courageous for our faith. It also sometimes tells us to run away from some things and some people. What is the difference? How do we know when to plant our feet solidly on the foundation of Christ and truth or when to lace up the running […]
The post When Should We Stand and When Should We Run? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We can talk in person or on the phone. We can Skype, conference, email, text, Tweet, Instagram and Facebook. But are we communicating? Are we REALLY communicating? What role does communication play in our lives – is it simply a common tool of the human race or can it be transformational? Can better communication make […]
The post Are There Secrets to Better Communication? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Selfies” – a modern day phenomena of simplicity and ease. The concept is simple – take pictures of yourself so the world can see you as you choose for it to see you. What could be wrong with that? After all, it is your life and you should have control over it, right? As with […]
The post What Do “Selfies” Say About Us? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Happy New Year! Happy new beginning! Happy new opportunity to resolve to make changes in your life once and for all, only to be shot down later by the steady force of habit, life and expectations later…wait a minute…that’s not happy! The truth is, for most of us a new year and a new beginning […]
The post If You Could Change One Thing, What Would it Be? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” It is one of the Ten Commandments, so it must be important. But, what does it really mean? Is it just about the words we use or is there more to it than that? Can our thoughts and actions also be a […]
The post Do We Take God’s Name in Vain? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There are many accounts in the Bible that really run along the edge of reality for many of us here today. Think about it – Balaam’s donkey talks, the sun stands still for Joshua in a battle, Jesus rises from the dead and goes to heaven… These are fantastic and unbelievable to many. And then […]
The post What Can We Learn From Noah? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Morality. Here in the 21st century, morality has become a moving target. In any given circumstance, its interpretation can be diverted, diminished or even dissolved, depending on what one may feel is right at the time. Is this the way life is supposed to work? Are we all supposed to only follow our own internal […]
The post So, Where Should Our Moral Standards Come From? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Love God. It is a simple enough commandment – easy to say, repeat and remember. But what does it really mean? Are there different ways of expressing love for God and does God look for different results depending on what age of humanity we live in? Most of all, is loving God – no matter […]
The post Is Loving God Enough? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Faith. It is the basis of all religion, for it is faith in something larger than oneself that draws people to a common belief. Faith. It is a necessity in any functional society, for it creates the environment for citizens to rely upon their leadership. Faith. It is a key in any deep and enduring […]
The post How Do We Develop Unshakable Faith? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There are some things from the days of the earliest Christian church that we read about, find inspiration from but rarely take the time to do ourselves. Fasting and praying are a particular example – these combined activities are sprinkled throughout the Old and New Testaments, yet they receive very little attention from us now. […]
The post Why Focus On Fasting and Prayer? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Sometimes no matter how hard we try, there are just some things in life that we are not capable of seeing. Whether our blind spots are caused by personal prejudice or experience, ignorance, our personality type or the circles with which we associate, we all fall into the trap of blind spots. So, if having […]
The post But What if You Just Can’t See It? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Hate is an immensely strong emotion. It can ruin relationships, perpetuate untruths, create rage and feed the fire of war. It is because of it that much of the good in this world is not recognized and many in this world are truly unhappy. Did God create hate? Yes, He did! If God created it, […]
The post Is it Ever Okay to Hate? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Several weeks ago we began a conversation about how our lives bear fruit and how important it is to know what that fruit represents and how to cultivate it. We began to walk through the fruit of the spirit for the fifth chapter of Galatians, taking a tour of what God expects from us relating […]
The post What is the Fruit of Your Life? (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
The very definition of “Christian” is one who follows Christ. As Christians, we all know this and we all agree that it is of paramount importance. The big question is, what exactly does it mean to follow Christ? What is our life supposed to look like? What does God want FROM us through Christ and […]
The post Do I Really Have to Suffer for Christ? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all have heard analogies regarding fruit… “That was a fruitful trip.” “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “What a fruitcake!” “We are hoping the experience bears fruit.” “Please, with a cherry on top!” “He went bananas!” “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch!” You get the idea! Fruit gives us a sensible […]
The post What is the Fruit of Your Life? (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
All you have to do is look around – what do you see? There is knowledge, there is technology, there are people, places and things. We rush and we are impatient. We want what we want now. We text, but we don’t talk – we type but we don’t write. We have “friends,” but we […]
The post Where Do We Find Wisdom? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Promises, promises! We have all made them, heard them, kept them and maybe even broken them. Promises have always been an integral part of the fabric of any society, for they are truly the basis of trust and loyalty. When promises are kept, life is better and less lonely and when they are broken life […]
The post Are Promises Made to be Broken? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Time for a Christian Questions pop quiz! Who here in our listening audience is so satisfied with their Christian life that they see no need to focus on further change or development? As you look at your life and imagine yourself before Jesus would he say to you – wow, your character is so fully […]
The post Is it Finally Time to Change? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There are many analogies that depict the life of a Christian – growing as wheat, being sheep, being fishers of men, being a member of a body, growing from a baby to adulthood, brotherhood and being a soldier. Now, how is it that we who are followers of the Lamb of God can possibly be […]
The post What Makes a True Christian Soldier? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Grace…even speaking the word seems to give a sense of calm. It is almost as though the word itself emits a fresh and breathable air that clears away the stuffiness of a confused life. Grace can have lots of different meanings, from something that comes with elegance to a powerful heavenly gift. So, what is […]
The post What’s So Amazing About Grace? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
(Part 2 in a 2-part series) About a month ago we began talking about leadership – Christian leadership – and how important it is for a Christian community – any community – to have significant leadership. Without leadership, people tend towards their own way and more than that, without leadership people tend towards a self-centered […]
The post What Makes a True Christian Leader (Part II) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
(Part 1 in a 2-part series) Leadership – In today’s world, it is one of the most important necessities of life and sadly it is one of the most absent aspects of life. Humanity needs leaders. We need leaders to show us a vision, to clear a path, to walk the path first and to […]
The post What Makes a True Christian Leader (Part I) appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Gossip – it is an integral part of our society and has been a constant in the history of humanity since the beginning of recorded history. If gossip is such a staple to society, doesn’t it seem reasonable that there must be something redeemable about it? By the way, did you hear what happened to… […]
The post Is it Really that Bad to Gossip? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have all had experiences – real life experiences – that have triggered a bitter reaction in our hearts. This can actually be a very natural reaction. As we look at the harsh experiences of some we often say things like, “who can blame them” or “I’d feel the same way if that happened to […]
The post Is Bitterness Ruining Your Life? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Here we are in the 21st century and Christianity has really taken on a different look than when it all began. So, what is following Jesus all about? Is it costly? Is it pleasant? Can we customize our following of Jesus to our personal preferences? How do we know if we are really following him […]
The post What Does it Cost to Follow Jesus? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
A few weeks ago we talked about worry, what it is, how it works, and most importantly, how to work through it. Well, today we thought we should look at worry’s opposite, happiness! What makes us happy? Is happiness elusive? Are there different kinds of happiness? How, where, when and why do we find happiness? […]
The post What Are You Happy About? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all worry and we all get anxious at times. Well, if we are people of faith – I mean if we are really people of real faith – then shouldn’t that faith override our worry? The answer is that in an ideal situation, yes, faith always wins. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us have […]
The post What Are You Worried About? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We all know what it is like to be wronged, and we all know what it is like to do wrong to someone else. We also have all probably experienced being accused of or assumed to have done wrong when in fact we are entirely innocent – in that circumstance anyway… Is it right or […]
The post What if It’s Not Your Fault? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Sometimes in the overwhelming flow of life we can forget the simplest things. We get so caught up in a “me first” – and sometimes a “me only” mentality – that it never even crosses our minds to stop and consider some of the most basic and healing attributes available to humankind – kindness and […]
The post What Does it Mean to be Merciful? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Is Christian faith different? Is it somehow more magical or extensive than the faith of other religions? Is it less credible than the faith we have in science or medicine? Is Christian faith based on long-standing traditions, feelings, the Bible, or what church you go to? Is Christian faith transformative? Should Christian faith be a […]
The post What Drives Christian Faith? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Oftentimes as we look around us we can really get discouraged, for we live in a world that embraces darkness and persecutes light. We are surrounded by political corruption, we are developed in a “me first” environment. We are shown that winning at all costs is acceptable. And instead of a “turn the other cheek” […]
The post Can a Christian Thrive in a World that Rewards Evil? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
There are many different approaches to Christian faith. Some of us find the basis of our faith in feeling Jesus present in our lives. Others of us find the basis of our faith in intellectual understanding and reasoning through the Scriptures. Still others of us thrive on the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in […]
The post Should Christianity Be an Emotional Experience? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
We have all made mistakes in our lives and we have all had the experience of carrying those mistakes with us often unnecessarily in the form of guilt. Left unattended, guilt like this can turn to shame which can bring darkness. How does a Christian overcome deep and debilitating guilt and shame over past mistakes? […]
The post How Do We Manage Guilt? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
Some subjects stimulate the heart and not the mind and others stimulate the mind and not the heart. Then there are those that do both – to an extreme. Today we have such a subject: gay rights, gay marriage and Christianity. How should we view these things? Should we be redefining our vision of families? […]
The post Can Gay Rights and Christianity Co-Exist? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
If you ever want to go somewhere, it’s usually a good idea to know where you are going and what the path is to get there. The destination of pleasing and serving God is no exception. The problem is, that there are so many interpretations as to what direction to go and what to take […]
The post What Does God Want From Me? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.
In just two days we will begin yet another new year. With it comes new experiences and new opportunities to make a difference in our own lives, as well as the lives of others. Many people make “New Year’s Resolutions” and most don’t keep them. Why? Why don’t resolutions usually work? Stay with us and […]
The post New Year – New Beginning – Now What? appeared first on Christian Questions Bible Podcast.