Words Matter | Lips That Lie - Episode 26
Abraham, just like all of us, had struggles with lying. We use lies to protect ourselves, to make our lives better, and to bring perceived freedom. However, lies typically do the opposite. They bring us and others hurt and bondage. If we say we love God but don’t live in such a way that demonstrates it, we are living a lie. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but he does expect us to keep improving and growing. We are to live a life of truth and a life that demonstrates Christ to others.
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Purposeful Parenting | Love in the Home - Episode 25
The home is the place where love can be seen, taught, and felt. No one in the home should ever be in doubt concerning the love of another member.
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Acts of the Apostles | In the Name of Jesus - Episode 24
Peter in the healing the lame man of Acts 3 was acting under Christ's authority and was doing what Christ would do in that same circumstance. Peter simply gave of what he had to help the man in need. It was this act of kindness on the part of Peter that led to the lame man praising God. Sometimes an act of kindness needs to precede the declaration of a truth. Kindness draws people to the sound of the gospel, and the truth keeps them and makes them disciples.
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Words Matter | Idle Talk - Episode 23
Paul expressed concern in his letter to Timothy that idle time could lead to idle talk and gossip. Gossip is the act of intentionally or unintentionally tear down and harm other people. We like it, but it is destructive and harms every person involved.
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Purposeful Parenting | Truth About Teens - Episode 22
Perhaps one of the most interesting social developments in the 20th century was the development of a unique social group between children and adults called "teenagers." This created a new interlude of social development and self-defining for young people. This new demographic of teenager lowered expectations for young people. We all rise to the expectations set for us and these new lower expectations keep teenagers from becoming what they potentially could be. Teenagers are young adults; they ought to act like young adults. However, they do face unique challenges that we would be naïve to ignore.
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Acts of the Apostles | Priority of the Church - Episode 21
Our concept of the individual has been greatly affected by our culture. Historically speaking, people have thought of themselves as part of a larger whole, part of a community. However, modernity has led to an emphasis on self over against community. The idea that a person would be a Christian and grow spiritually apart from commitment to a local church community is a cultural idea not a biblical one. Church is a big deal. Gathering together faithfully is a big deal. And it is not optional.
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Step One - Episode 20
God’s people often wallow around in the consequences of their own actions for years or even decades, but God is willing to get His hands dirty in the messes His people make and is faithful to deliver them if and when they cry out for His deliverance. Step one in overcoming sin is to acknowledge that I’m the problem.
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Acts of the Apostles | Peter's First Sermon - Episode 19
In this powerful sermon of Peter's, he unapologetically presents Christ in masterful fashion. The Holy Spirit, through Peter's preaching, pricked the hearts of those who heard, leading to over three thousand souls being saved. We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to change a life through the simple preaching of the Word of God.
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Words Matter | Permission to Complain - Epsisode 18
What if every time we complained, God took it personally as an affront to Him. That is exactly how He viewed Israel's complaining in the wilderness. He saw through their excuses to their hearts. He was not enough for them. When we complain, the problem is not our situation; it is that we've taken our eyes off the good things in life. When things can't be changed, you must change your perspective.
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Purposeful Parenting | Gifting Our Children with Strength - Episode 17
A "strong-willed-child" is kind of a misnomer. Such a child actually demonstrates a lack of will to master self. Misbehavior is a product of self-indulgence. It is the responsibility of parents to train their children in self-restraint. It is the responsibility of parents to train their children to be strong-willed.
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Acts of the Apostles | The Miracle and the Message - Episode 16
The mission initiated in Acts 2 is supposed to be continuing today, and the same power is available to accomplish that mission. This fundamentally verbal ministry of proclaiming the gospel is simple; we are commanded to speak and the Holy Spirit uses our language to work in the hearts of people.
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Words Matter | Your Words Come from Your Heart - Episode 15
We all speak a remarkable number of words each and every day, and those words are not benign. They have great power to do good or to harm. Our words are simply a reflection of what is inside of us. A vile tongue reveals internal envy and strife. To cleanse our tongues, we must first cleanse our hearts.
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Winter Youth Rally 2023 - Episode 14
Winter Youth Rally 2023 - Episode 14
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Purposeful Parenting | The Root of the Problem: Indulgence - Episode 13
The starting place in parenting is to look in a mirror and examine our own character and discipline before we impose something on our children. If we can't ask our children to emulate us, we have a problem. We ought to desire to be the chief influence in the lives of our children. The hope of the future is not our children but those who are training them. Failure to restrain and train ourselves and our own appetites is the root of most problems in parenting. Your children need you to be what they are not so that one day they can be what you are.
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Acts of the Apostles | Making Sense of Treachery - Episode 12
Using an administrative detail in the early church, Luke reminds us of the story of Judas and teaches as invaluable lessons. Evil and treachery did not catch God by surprise, but no doubt, Judas likely never thought his treachery would lead to his demise.
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Purposeful Parenting | Introduction - Episode 11
Of utmost importance in raising children is the environment they are brought up in. The Bible gives us the deliberate analogy of archery. Through discipline and training you can point an arrow at a target and hit the mark. Wishing and hoping will not help you in hitting that goal. God’s grace notwithstanding, children will hit the target they are pointed at. If an arrow fails to hit the target, we rarely blame the arrow; we look elsewhere—as we must in parenting. It is exceedingly hard for a child to become what a parent is not and for a child to behave in a way in which they have not been trained. Parenting must be done on purpose.
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The Acts of the Apostles | Return on Investment - Episode 10
The ascension of Christ was a spectacular, awe-inspiring event that left the disciples dumbfounded, both because of the glory of it…and because of the let down. Christ their constant companion, teacher, and leader for three years was now gone. His earthly ministry had culminated in this moment and now—silence. They were standing gazing into heaven, but the work was only just beginning. They were left for a purpose. They should have been going. How many of us have been guilty of gazing instead of going?
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Self-Giving Love - Episode 9
In Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1, there is an invitation to be a genuine, authentic Christian, and genuine, authentic Christianity leads to something. It leads to self-giving love; it is manifested through self-giving love.
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Acts of the Apostles | Outside the Walls - Episode 8
The Christian church is to be the organization in the world that exists for non-members. It is vital that our church have as its goal, from the book of Acts, reaching outside our walls to affect change in our world.
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The Acts of the Apostles | The Story Continues - Episode 7
Acts is a continuation of the story of Christ. He promised to give His power to His disciples so that His work could continue. His work continues to be accomplished through His disciples. For our part, that work is still ongoing and incomplete. We are to accomplish a work outside our borders in Christ's power.
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