Episode 302: If spiritual growth were likened unto a swimming, too many Christians would be hanging out, splashing around in the shallow end. God expects & desires for His people to learn to swim and go out into the deep end. Tune in as we see God’s rebuke of shallowness and His request for us to go deeper from Hebrews 5.11-6.3.
Today in Church History: Hilary of Poitiers dies (368)
Question of the Day: What is an Arian?
Episode 299: God atones for sin through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus. But why? Why was the death of Jesus, the Lord of glory, necessary for atonement? Tune in as I break down a few different views of the necessity of atonement.
Episode 298: The church is engaged in a spiritual war with the spiritual forces of evil. However, we have the strength of God as well as the full armor of God. Today we examine each piece of the armor which God has given for the battle.
Episode 292: So last month Pope Francis convened a two week long meeting in the Vatican concerning “family life” among Catholics. Hot topic debates were had by a number of bishops while Pope Francis engage in active listening. Tune in as I report on the fallout from that meeting here in the States and what could be in the future for the Catholic Church as a result.
Today in Church History: Gregory the Wonder Worker Dies (270)
Question of the Day: What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
Episode 289: The suicide of Brittany Maynard, 29, has reignited the debate about euthanasia, or physician-assisted suicide. Does God have anything to say concerning this hot-button issue? Tune in as I begin to unpack principles from God’s Word which I believe are applicable to this discussion.
Question of the Day: What about King Saul’s suicide?
Episode 287: “Ask and it shall be given to you.” The Mayor of Houston asked for the sermons of five (5) pastors…and pastors from all over the world sent her sermons! But is this really the “Christian thing to do.” I share my conflicting thoughts over this AND a former homosexual calls “gay marriage” an oxymoron! Tune in as tackle this issue also.
Former Homosexual Calls Gay Marriage an “Oxymoron”
Today in Church History: Henry Dunster Resigns as President of Harvard (1654)
Question of the Day: What must I do to be saved?
Episode 284: Paul says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1, ESV) What a lofty calling! But how does one imitate God? Tune in as I unpack this text and the surrounding context to identify what it means to imitate God.
Question of the Day: How many Christians are there in the world?
Episode 283: The Catholic Church has said gays have gifts to offer the Catholic Church…er, uh, wait…No, they don’t. What’s going on and do gays have gifts for the (true) church? Hmm…Tune in as I cover this story and discuss how gays might be given gifts by Christ for the church.
Monday’s Article: Gays Have Gifts to Offer Catholic Church
Tuesday’s Article: Catholic Officials Walk-back Reports
Question of the Day: Did Jesus say anything about homosexuality?
Episode 281: “[God] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:9–10, NIV84)
It is still “through the gospel” that we come to know the life and immortality of Christ today. It is still “through the gospel” that we gain access to the promise, body, and inheritance today (Ephesians 3.6). We must believe, accept, and obey “the gospel of your salvation” (1.13) to be incorporated into Christ Jesus. As Christians, we need to value the gospel. In order for the gospel to impact our lives, we must value it as revelation from God. Think of the parable Jesus told about the pearl of great price (Matthew 13.44-46). We have that which is of ultimate value. The gospel was all Paul had. The gospel is all we have. We must pay attention to, be defined by, and solve our problems with the gospel.
The gospel is not merely about getting to heaven; it is about life here and now as well as over yonder. It captures our initial conversion and our daily walk as disciples. It touches on our forgiveness and how we ought to forgive others. It speaks to God’s unfathomable love for us and how we ought to love one another. With so many implications upon life right now, it is no wonder Paul calls it “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3.8). And then we gather with the saints once or twice a week and think we’ve got it? No! We only start unwrapping the gift here; you take it home and finish the job the rest of the week.
Question of the Day: Are Mormons Christians?
Episode 279: So for the last week the People’s Climate March has been going on around the nation. Of course Leonardo DiCaprio and Al Gore made appearances…before flying off in a jet or driving away in great big Chevy Suburban (true story). Tune in as I air a sermon I preached earlier this year about the truth concerning climate change and what real global warming looks like according to the Bible.
Live from the Pulpit 