Christianity waits for the return of Jesus. Depending on your doctrinal beliefs, you may be looking for his return to bring incredible drama and life changing moments – things like earthquakes , destruction, anarchy and a rapture. While we can see scriptural evidence to support SOME of these things, we want to be careful about just viewing the return of Jesus through dramatic and traumatic even...
The history and cultures of our world have brought us to where we are today. Many various cultures have fueled wonderful traditions, solid communities and exemplary progress. But many cultures have also brought us darkness, superstitions and strong desire to harm those they see as enemies. Enter the worldwide phenomena of curses. To quote from Wikipedia, “A curse is any expressed wish that so...
The word “curse” is overused and under comprehended. Cursing can mean using words that are not acceptable to repeat in public. To curse can mean to call upon a perceived other-worldly power for the purpose of harming someone or something. Cursing can also mean the expression of great disdain and loathing for people or things. In Part II of our 3-part Curses Series, we observed in great detail h...
Our God is a God of order. Psalm 89:14 says that righteousness and justice are the very foundation of His heavenly throne. This means that all He does must be based in what is right and just. While some of us may look at this through fearful eyes, this is actually great news. It means God is and always will be dependable and trustworthy. If this is the case, why did God seem so over-the-top ang...
Every Christian loves Jesus and every Christian wants to be acceptable to him. None of us ever want 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 dig in much deeper to see how to make them well-lived principles. How do we actually l...
When Jesus was being questioned by Pilate, he told him that those who were “of the truth” would “hear his voice.” Pilate’s answer was an important question, for he asked, “what is truth?” This brief interchange brings us to similar questions. How do we know that we are people “of truth”? Do the groups we follow, be they centuries old denominations or newer Christian sects, hold to the “truth”...
Our shared human experience is linked by extreme grief at the loss of a loved one. COVID-19 has unexpectedly killed millions of people around the world, often with no time opportunity for meaningful closure. When a child dies, or a loved dies tragically or simply passes away from sickness or old age, we want to know, where are they? Are they hurting? Are they okay? Our emotional devastation c...
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 and instead engage in a pseudo-reality that makes us feel better - at least for the moment. Enter the pathway to potential addictive behavior. It often begins as a ...
We always say that prayer changes things - and it does. Jesus was emphatic about prayer and even gave us an example of how to pray in what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer.” With prayer, as with so many parts of Christian doctrine, the core value of what the Bible teaches easily gets lost in the interpretive value of our own human perspective. Because of the imperfect human part of the equation...
It seems like wisdom has become old fashioned and obsolete. When I think of wisdom, I think of a thoughtful approach that is not driven by self-interest. I think of quiet observation that seeks to understand the people, the facts and the circumstances before weighing in with answers. When I think of wisdom, I think of my Grandma Helen. She lived a hard life and yet judged no one, always found...
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 really isn't. We find ourselves fighting against Him when we are misinformed or misguided and we take a stand for s...
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are common. They have been reported from cultures and religions worldwide for hundreds of years. In this near-death scenario, there is usually a dark tunnel with a warm and calming light at the end. Often there are deceased relatives waiting in that light to receive the person going through the experience. Sometimes the person feels and sees themselves leave thei...
Outside of some deeply philosophical debates, the idea of human beings having inherent freedom of choice seems to be a generally acceptable premise. Free will makes us special. The capacity of conscious choice establishes humankind in a unique category in relation to the rest of life on our planet. When human beings interfere with the freedom of choice of other humans, the consequences are usua...
*YouTube automatically notifies us of pirating. Please contact us to obtain permission to use this video outside of this channel.* Parents, it’s true some Scriptures do “seem” to imply the earth will be burned up, but these are symbolic - continue your studies about the earth’s destiny in podcast Ep.1174: Did God Make Heaven and Hell Humanity’s Destiny (Part 1)? https://christianquestions.com/...
So, what is Christmas about? Well, that depends on who you are. For some, Christmas is traditionally a time for family and friends. It’s a time when we are more likely to put aside the stresses of our daily grind and give a little more, smile a little more and notice what is around us a little more. It is a time to slow down and have gratitude. For others, it is a time of gifts, parties, decora...
This is a short clip from a longer video discussing one of the many issues I go over in the MegaChurch model. The longer version of this video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0QvXOtJ58Q&t=2828s There are churches that are huge that are growing in membership every year... Yet we see a decline of people who follow the actual Biblical standard of what defines a follower of Je...
I talk a lot about what goes on in some churches when it comes to spiritual experiences with God. Some are on one side of the pendulum and are very insistent that supernatural encounters should be normal and constant, while others are perfectly spiritually content without them. Not to mention many are willing to enter into New Age practices just to have MORE encounters with God. How does this h...
This is a short clip from a longer interview found here: https://youtu.be/a686EkPTP6M Micah Wilder was raised a faithful Latter-Day Saint, or LDS which some people might know better as ‘Mormon’. He is a co-founder of Adams Road ministry, a music ministry that is performed at over 1000 churches across the U.S. He briefly attended Brigham Young University, and at the age of 19 went on a two year...
This is a short clip from a longer interview found here: https://youtu.be/a686EkPTP6M Micah Wilder was raised a faithful Latter-Day Saint, or LDS which some people might know better as ‘Mormon’. He is a co-founder of Adams Road ministry, a music ministry that is performed at over 1000 churches across the U.S. He briefly attended Brigham Young University, and at the age of 19 went on a two year...
Did you know there’s a biblical mandate for being merciful to those who doubt? In the letter of Jude vs 22-23 it says “Be merciful to those who doubt, snatch others from the fire and save them. To others show mercy, mixed with fear even hating the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” Other Resources: What Is the Gospel?: https://youtu.be/YkxEdB_3QLM Can we Please Give New Christians some ...
This is in Mark chapter 9 and it’s a simple scripture, but every time I come across it, it stuns and humbles me. Jesus... I believe!...but please help my unbelief. I was reading this recently and felt led to share these ideas with you guys and the beauty of this scripture and simple event. Other Resources: What Is the Gospel?: https://youtu.be/YkxEdB_3QLM Can we Please Give New Christians ...
I thought I'd make a video on how I 'bible study'. Yes, I use that word as a verb no matter how much my Grammarly wants to correct it. I hope this helps you guys be more confident when you sit down and try to study. Have a different method that you think might be helpful for others? Share it in the comments! Keep in mind, this is more for casual and simplified Bible study. I think of the busy ...
I brought my friend Jeff Morgan on to talk about Judaism and answer common questions that Christians have about what the Jewish people believe. In this short clip, we talk about how Christians love the Jewish people and some considerations when talking with them about the Messiah. Watch Full Video Here: https://youtu.be/-aPA_uQWaok Jeff's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW...
This is a short clip from a longer video that can be found here: https://youtu.be/1VfZDep6Z50 In this clip, I discuss how we need to strive to understand different perspectives and how it can help us reason with and reach others. My friend Rob Bowman made this post, and he's one of the most respected men in his field. He's a biblical scholar and apologist with 35 years of ministry experience...
This is a short clip from a longer video discussing one of the many issues I go over in the MegaChurch model. The longer version of this video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0QvXOtJ58Q&t=2828s In my experience with the MegaChurch, I sometimes wonder if it looks more like a humanitarian corporation than a Gospel soul-winning machine. Jesus made crowd-thinning statements. H...
How spiritually mature are we? Sometimes I don't measure up. Like... at all. I have observed some of the most admirable Christians in my life and have learned so much about Jesus just by watching them. These are areas that I see that are scriptural and can demonstrably be shown by how some Christians respond to certain things. Timestamps: 0:46- 1. Filter Feelings Through Scripture/High Emotio...
The link to the longer video is found here: https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ John 10:10 says: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." In the New Age, this scripture (among many others) I heard used regularly to promote the idea that Jesus taught that His purpose was to give us a prosperous and abundant life, overflowing with ble...
There's MUCH more to her story and this conversation. Here's the link to the whole video here: https://youtu.be/anLxU9riiqA In this short clip, Jen, a former lesbian, explains how when she understood what God's love and grace were then it changed everything. We also talk about the culture's redefinition of love and tolerance. Other Great Resources: Mike Winger's Series on the biblical view o...
The link to the longer video is found here: https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ Mark 11:24 says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." In the new age and in many churches, it's taught that if you believe hard enough what you've prayed for, then you *must* receive whatever you've asked for. The logic is that since you're havin...
Is it true that every new age practice has a sanctified practice of it? Is there a sanctified version of adultery? Stealing? So why with Witchcraft? Channeling? Necromancy? There is no sanctified practice of these things. These are not imitations or perversions of something good, they’re just outright defiance and disobedience. You don't redeem these things. You *divorce* them. Link to full v...
The link to the longer video is found here: https://youtu.be/C8K8h0OL9sQ This was my favorite segment of this two-hour video. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." This was the ultimate scripture used ...
What do we do when we have churches with their hearts in the right place but their methodologies, priorities, and goals are flawed? The "American Church" style has a reputation for entertainment, preaching prosperity, life application, wonders, healing, and miracles... but not necessarily the Gospel, or exegeting scripture and theology. It creates a frustratingly watered-down gospel and puts th...
