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#S2-013: What if the Star Had Never Appeared? [Podcast]

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God’s plan was thought up and set in motion before the foundations of the world (Eph. 1:4). Particular courses of events and situations, at times, align to bring into a focus a particular aspect of God’s wisdom and plan. Today, we are going to look at the birth of Jesus in this way. We are going to look at some of the events that came into view and we are going to ask a rather startling question about one of those events, the appearing of the star. Here is the question: ‘What would have happened, had the Star not appeared?’

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You Are Appreciated by God

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Appreciation is a learned trait so our goal should be to learn to live a lifestyle of appreciation, right where we are, on the way to where we are going. Now, we have all been on the wrong end of this issue. We have all felt at times like we are not being properly appreciated. Maybe even taken advantage of. How does that feel to not be appreciated? Now here are some thoughts and questions for you along this line.

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#S2-012: In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Stony Ground? [Podcast]

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In the previous podcast in this series entitled ‘In the Parable of the Sower, What is Wayside Ground’, we looked at the importance of understanding God’s Word and how to acquire it. In this week’s podcast we are going to look the next type of non-harvestable ground, stony ground.

This is part 4 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here. Part 2 ‘How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables?’ here. Part 3 ‘In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Wayside Ground?’

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What is the Reality of Real Humility?

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The Bible admonishes us to adjust our lifestyle and to walk in a certain way, to walk worthy. Howard was a most talented church choir director. His life was filled with humble service to the Lord and to His church. He was truly a “glory-deflector”—one who was always careful to give God the glory. One afternoon before the Christmas cantata, a choir member approached Howard and said, “Tonight, all of the men are going to wear colorful bow-ties to celebrate the season. Do you want to wear one also”? 1 In a very loving but direct response, Howard said, “I do not want to do anything that would distract others from clearly hearing our message of the gospel.” Howard was demonstrating what walking worthy  means? Are you walking worthy? Is your humility helping others to clearly hear the gospel?

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#S2-011: In the Parable of the Sower, What Is Wayside Ground? [Podcast]

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In last week’s podcast, we took a look at what a parable was and what the disciples understanding of Jesus message was. In this week’s podcast, we are going to begin to look at the different types of unfruitful ground so that we might learn and align ourselves with God’s plan for our life. Jesus mentioned three types of unfruitful ground; Wayside Ground, Stony Ground, and Thorny Ground. Let’s take a look today at the first type of ground, wayside ground.

This is part 3 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here. Part 2 ‘How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables?’ here.

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Is It Really Possible to Know God?

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How badly do you want to know God? Tim Hansel in his book “When I Relax I feel Guilty,” writes some insights of what most people want from God. “I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough of Him to make me love someone racially different or someone who is an immigrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation; I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy $3.00 worth of God, please.” How much of God do you want?

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#S2-009: How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables? [Podcast]

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Lack of fruit in a believers life indicates a need to return to foundational basics. There are certain lifestyle choices which cause the Word to not produce in one’s life. You hear it, you read it but it doesn’t produce. It’s when you align your life with what God said in this parable that the door opens for the rest of the sayings of Jesus to bring forth a harvest of fruit in your life. Fruitfulness is what we are talking about in this series on the Parable of the Sower and understanding is a key.

This is part 2 of the Series “The Parable of the Sower?” You can find Part 1 ‘What Is the Parable of the Sower [Podcast]’ here.

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Is Giving Jesus Everything Worth The Risk?

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Sometimes people try to avoid the complexities of life.  As the story goes, an American businessman named Wilson, tired of the Great depression, rising taxes and increasing crime, sold his home and business in 1940 and moved to an island in the Pacific. Balmy and ringed with beautiful beaches, the island seemed like paradise. Its name? Iwo Jima 1. Inadvertently, we try to live out our Christianity the same way. We try to play it safe. Reduce every possible risk. But, following Jesus is not the place to skimp when it comes to risk. That’s the nature of faith.

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#S2-010: What Ten Things Are You Thankful For? [Podcast]

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Here we are again, another Thanksgiving season – this is my 58th year celebrating this holiday. Every year, at this season, I like to address the topic of thankfulness. No need to break the string now! The character trait of thankfulness is right to have because it strikes at one of the key elements necessary for success in the human person, attitude.

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What Is A Thankful Heart?

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Many only think about thankfulness around this time of the year. We are often admonished to be thankful, to count our blessings, to look back over the year and be grateful for what we have. According, to the Bible, being thankful is not a holiday. In the Old Testament, God commanded the children of Israel to keep certain feasts unto the Lord. By these feasts, they and their children were supposed to be reminded of all that the Lord did (Ex. 13:5-10). These feasts were supposed to be points where children were instructed in the things of God. Most of all, they were supposed to be occasions of rejoicing.

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#S2-008: What Is The Parable of the Sower? [Podcast]

The Parable of the Sower

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Jesus was first and foremost a teacher anointed by the Spirit of God. One of Jesus teaching methods was the use of parables. In this new series, we will look at one of these parables, The Parable of the Sower. Does this parable apply to us in the church? If it does what powerful truths can we glean from it and how can we apply these truths in our everyday life.

This is part 1 of the Series ‘The Parable of the Sower’ You can find Part Two ‘How Important is Understanding Jesus Parables?‘ here.

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