Episódios
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When a storm enters your life, what do you do?
You know what I mean by storm, right? Something very difficult comes into your life. A hard circumstance. Adversity.
How do I get it out of my life? Is there something I can do to deal with the storm? Sometimes to get out of trouble, people do things they shouldn’t do. But let’s look at the storms of life that are out of your control. A storm that creates emotional pain and fear.
What do you do?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says, “He who hears these words of Mine, and then acts upon them.” The NIV says, “…puts them into practice, will be compared to a wise man who builds his house upon the rock, and the winds come, and the rains come and storms come, and they beat against that house, and yet it did not fall, because it was founded on the Rock.”
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What is our tendency when we become really satisfied?
Often times we become complacent. We think we've got life figured out. We take it for granted.
When we get to a point where we think we have everything we need, instead of being thankful to God, we start becoming arrogant.
Once that arrogance starts creeping in, you are well on a path to forgetting Him.
In Proverbs 30, Solomon asks God to keep lies and deceit away from him. Then he says, don’t give me too much - in other words, don’t give me too much of anything. Don’t give me too much wealth. Because my problem is, once I have too much, I’m likely to forget you and say, Who is the Lord?" It’s like he was saying, give me just enough, because he sees this danger.
As we sit here today, we might find it hard to believe that someone who gets really blessed would forget God, would not give thanks to God, would not be humble. But that does seem to be what happens. An attitude of thanksgiving does not come natural to us. Arrogance does comes very natural to us.
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Who is the greatest Christian in the world?
18th century theologian William Law beautifully answers this question, which is the theme of this episode:
“Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world?...” (And whenever we use the word saint, that means Christian.)
“...It’s not who prays the most, or fasts the most. It’s not he who gives most alms, or who is most imminent for temperance, chastity, or justice, but it is to he who is always thankful to God. Who wills and wants everything that God wills, and who receives everything in his life as an instance of God’s goodness, and therefore always has a heart that is ready to praise and thank God for it.”
I believe this is a big deal, and in my opinion, thanksgiving should be at the heart of our prayer life.
As the apostle Paul says, our lives should overflow with gratitude, because, when that happens, it makes such a difference in our life, and in our own personal health.
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What does sacrifice mean? Is it a bad thing?
To sacrifice is to forfeit something of great value to you, but you do it for something of even greater value.
When you understand the worth of sacrifice, it changes everything.
In the Christian life, to come to Christ, you’re forfeiting your life and your will for something of much greater value - and that is God’s will - His plan for your life.
But most of us don’t like that word sacrifice. It sounds so negative. We confuse it with the idea of deprivation - like I’ve just got to deprive myself of something and there’s nothing really in it for me.
We need to understand that there’s a huge difference between deprivation and sacrifice.
As you grow in wisdom and maturity, there are often things that you realize you need to eliminate from your life just because it’s wise and good.
If you really want to know what a person’s life is really all about, what’s really important to them, all you need to do is look at two things.
What are those two things?
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What does total commitment mean to you?
Whenever you truly commit to something or someone, you have to give up something in the process. In one sense you can see it as a sacrifice.
This is where you forfeit something of great value for the sake of something of greater value.
In our culture, the commitment we are most aware of is marriage. When a man proposes to a woman, he does so knowing he’s giving up all other relationships with single women. He’s giving up a great deal of autonomy and he’s giving up all of his assets. When you listen to the marriage vows, you recognize that you are giving all that you have and all that you are to that other person. You are telling them that I belong exclusively and permanently to you. All of me.
But isn’t this what we yearn for? And we do it to experience union and oneness with another person, and, in the process, experience incredible joy.
Jesus is telling us the same thing. That a new right relationship with Him is worth everything.
However, He has made it clear that we must give ourselves to Him, to surrender to Him, and when we do, we will suddenly find everything that we have been searching for in this life.
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Does how we pray matter to God?
In Part 1 we discussed these 2 principles: the importance of approaching God with humility, and praying with the right motive.
Today we discuss the value of persistence in our prayer life. In Luke 18:1, it says we should not lose heart and give up.
Though Jesus gives us no real explanation, it does appear that persistence is important for several reasons, one being that it indicates the priority of the heart. It shows a real intent and purpose.
We also discuss the final principle, which is asking God for wisdom, praying with faith that He will give it to you.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” - James 1:5-7
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What is prayer? And what does it mean to have a prayer life?
The last time that we talked on prayer, I commented that in order to have an effective prayer life, there are certain crucial principles that are involved. Perhaps the most important is this truth of approaching God with a heart of humility.
Prayer requires humility. Interestingly, your prayer life is the key that produces humility in your life.
Humility does not come naturally to us as human beings, and therefore, it has to be cultivated in our lives. The Bible uses the phrase "humble yourself." As you read scripture, you'll see that God truly has high esteem for the humble.
In Isaiah 66:2 God tells us, "This is the one to whom I esteem, he who is humble and contrite in spirit and who trembles at My Word."
This is Part 1 of a 9-part series.
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How can you put science with faith?
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Ken Boa. He is exploring a huge topic, so get your seat belt on!
We are discussing science, faith and reason. The typical mindset is to ask. "How can you put science with faith?" Well, first of all, the actual origin of science occurred in a context of Christian faith. In fact, science, as we know it, only appeared ONCE in human history.
Yes there was technology in Greece and Babylonia, China etc. But there was no actual science until the period around the Renaissance in Christian Europe.
It was this Christian synthesis that actually provided the foundation for the idea that the universe is rational, and that it can be studied.
Dr. Ken Boa of Reflections Ministries is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. For 40 years, Ken has shared Scripture-based truth to help people view life from God’s perspective. He holds a BS from Case Institute of Technology, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford in England. -
Where is your hope? Is your hope in success, your accomplishments or in a comfortable life?
In scripture, Jesus constantly connects fear and anxiety in the hearts of men. No matter how good people look on the outside, they’re shakier than you think they are in the inside.
That’s me and you included - we’re all looking good but most men I work with, secretly they’re just beating the door back from fear and anxiety.
Most of them fear failure. The rest of them fear being humiliated in front of their friends. One of the biggest fears men have is that one of their friends or anybody that they respect would ever question their manhood.
So, when you look at your life, discovering where you have your ultimate hope will change everything.
Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.
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If you knew you had one day left to live, and you wanted to leave your children some kind of final instruction, what would you say to them?
Twenty years ago I had my kids memorize what I thought was the most important scripture of the Old Testament. I asked them if they still remembered it and all three of them did.
"Okay, let's hear it!" I requested. They all still knew it!
In this verse, I Chronicles 28:9, listen to the last instruction that David gives to Solomon, just before he dies:
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever."
He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, so think about these promises of God; of these great benefits that He bestows on those who seek Him.
The ball is in our court. >>Watch on YouTube
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What are you thirsting for? When you desire something, there's generally something out there that will fulfill or satisfy that desire.
But, one of the problems of life is when you become convinced that there's something out there in the world that you believe will satisfy your life. Then once you obtain it, you discover, "you know, this really doesn't do it. This really doesn't satisfy me."
Or there may be an initial sense of satisfaction, but it just doesn't last. The thrill diminishes over time.
What is that all about? Psalm 64:6 ends with these words: "the inward thoughts and the heart of a man are deep."
In this episode, we'll look at two things that help us understand our desires:
the knowledge of God and the knowledge of self.One of the great things about the Bible is that it teaches us what we need to know about God, and what we need to know about ourselves. Scripture reveals the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. >>Watch on YouTube
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Psalm 112 tells us about two kinds of fear.
This chapter leans into both kinds, and it also tells us that these two fears cannot co-exist. They are like oil and water.
Everyone is fearing something. But the question is:
what are we fearing? and how is this fear shaping our lives?Psalm 112 tells us, "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments!...Light dawns in the darkness for the upright...He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid."
Watch on YouTube
Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.
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How can you and I be ready for what comes after this life?
Today Richard's guest is Allan Chappelle, teaching an overview of Bible prophecy.
The Bible is a supernatural book, written by a source outside of our time domain.
This book literally knows the end from the beginning - the whole history of the world that is in God's knowledge base. And God proves the validity of this book by telling you what's going to happen in the future... and 100% of the time it comes true.
>>Watch on YouTube
Allan Chappelle has been teaching Bible Prophecy as well as the rest of the Bible for over 50 years. He was the Founding Teaching Director for the Birmingham Men’s Community Bible Study.
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When facing death, where is your hope?
Yes this is not the season of Easter, but the truth of the resurrection of Christ is where we find our hope in facing death and dying.
Is it truly possible to “joyfully anticipate death,” as C.S. Lewis wrote about?
Can we honestly reflect and come to terms with mortality so that we can live with a joyful experience of the present and still maintain an optimistic view of the future?
In Armand Nicholi's book The Question of God, he says this about the importance of God and its influence on your worldview:
“Our view of God ultimately determines how we face sexuality, life, death, love, and loss.”
Read more about this in my newly updated book Safe Passage - Thinking Clearly About Life and Death. *This week get 40% off with promo code DAD40 for Father's Day*
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What is your strategy for dealing with your mortality?
Years ago, a friend of mine came to me, concerned about his father, who was a very wealthy self-made man. He was concerned because his father had no spiritual life, so he talked to his dad about it and his father said, "You know, I just don’t have any need for God in my life. I don’t have any real need for Christ in my life."
In other words, he was saying, "I have a strategy for contending with life, and it’s a financial strategy. I’ll throw money and influence at life’s problems."
I have no idea if this man ever changed his mind, but he died recently and I’m not sure that his strategy took into account the fragileness of life.
What's your strategy?
Read more about this in my newly updated book Safe Passage - Thinking Clearly About Life and Death. *This week get 40% off with promo code DAD40 for Father's Day*
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As we lead up to Father's Day, I'd like to share a message that my good friend Jerry Leachman gave at one of our Mens Breakfasts a few years ago.
One of the most important things that could happen in a man’s life is to become reconciled with his father or reconciled with his son. Forgive and be forgiven.
Then cultivate that relationship, and pass on what you are learning to the next generation.
In Deuteronomy 6, God exhorts us to be like an on-field coach:
"These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life...
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.
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When Jesus raises from the dead and ascends to the right hand of the Father, what is He doing? What is Jesus doing now?
He does not sit idly in heaven. As our raised and ascended Lord, Jesus lives right now, praying and interceding for us, His people.
Hebrews 7:25 tells us: "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them."
Watch on YouTube
Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.
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What is the role of understanding in our lives?
I remember years ago, driving back from a vacation with our kids, who at the time were about 4 and 5 years old. They were happily watching a cartoon.
We happened upon a really bad storm, like nothing I had ever run into before. I finally had to pull over to wait it out.
It really shook me up.
Well, I looked back at my kids, and they were totally engrossed in their show - literally unfazed by the dangerous storm. They weren't concerned about it at all.
Many people are in grave danger of being eternally lost; maybe a heartbeat away from eternity, and they're not concerned at all.
It's like they're sitting back watching their favorite show, living with a false sense of security.
In Matthew 7:21, Jesus declares, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Do you know of anyone in your life that is living with a false sense of security? As believers, we have a responsibility to speak up. Today we're discussing just how to do that.
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What is the purpose of planting?
Of course, the purpose of planting is to yield something more than just the seeds that one plants. The purpose of planting is to yield something of value, like forests, food, shade or beauty.
Jesus tells us in John 15:8, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples."
Yet, we cannot make the fruit ourselves. Only God can bring life. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:6 that, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth."
Bearing fruit is not optional. As His people, God designed and expects us to be fruitful in some way or another.
But the beautiful part of planting is to rest in knowing that the results are up to God.
Yes, strive to plant and do your work well in the Lord, using the gifts He has given you, but He is the one that causes the growth and brings others to Himself.
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How much would it take to satisfy my heart? How much is enough?
Interestingly, there are people who don't have much that want more, understandably, and then there are people that have a whole lot, and they still want more.
And neither group stops to ask the question: Do I have enough?
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