Abiding Free | Biblical Truth & Encouragement

What do you talk about a lot? 

It’s reasonable to come to the conclusion that the thing you talk about the most is also most important to you. So, what did Jesus talk about more than anything? If we want to know the heart of Jesus more, we should also be studying His words. 

In today’s episode, Kristin chats with Pastor, Professor, and Author Jeremy Treat to get to the heart of what Jesus talked about more than anything else, the Kingdom of God.

So what is the Kingdom of God? How do we seek first the Kingdom of God? Where do we find our identity? Tune in as we gather a better understanding of the Kingdom of God and the heart of the Father for the Kingdom.

Episode Highlights: 

• Intro to Jeremy Treat
• What did Jesus talk about more than anything?
• The Kingdom of God
• The Social Gospel Movement of the 30s
• The Renewal of Creation
• Seek First the Kingdom
• God cares about the ‘mundane’ aspects of your life
• Seeking Community
• Our identity in Christ

Find more on Guest:

• Jeremy's Bio Page - Reality LA
• Find Jeremy’s Books HERE!

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
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• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• “Life of Jesus Bible Reading Plan” here: https://www.abidingfree.com/blog/life-of-jesus-bible-reading-plan

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Is doubt among people growing? Or has it always been there and it’s just not really talked about? What does Jesus think of our doubts?

There is sometimes shame associated with doubting our faith, but Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Conviction is good, it is God’s way of steering us back when we veer off track, but shame and condemnation do not come from the Lord.

Acknowledging our weakness allows Jesus to do mighty work within us. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. 

Dear friends, we hope this episode encourages you to give yourself grace and show yourself the compassion that Jesus freely gives us. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Doubts in our walk with God
• We are human
• Jesus & His compassion
• Don’t stay in your doubt
• Rethinking doubt
• Jesus won’t let you go
• 
  
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*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Were the parables actual stories? Or were they just examples?

Friends, sometimes parables can leave us confused, but there is much to be learned from them. These stories use everyday life situations to teach valuable lessons.  The confusing aspect of the parables acts as a way to keep them on your mind. They are designed to get us thinking, and the more we think about them, the more revelation can come from them.

In today’s conversation with Dr. Peter Gurry, Director of the Text & Canon Institute, we dive deeper into the parables, what they mean, and who they are speaking to.  We learned so much from this conversation, and we believe you will as well!

Episode Highlights: 

• Intro to Dr. Peter Gurry
• What is Text & Canon Institute?
• Diving into the Parables
• Why did Jesus speak in Parables?

Find more on Dr. Peter Gurry:

• Scribes & Scripture Book
• Text & Canon Institute
• Is the Rich Man & Lazarus a Parable? Article by Dr. Peter Gurry

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

How do we know the gospels are reliable?

We’re so excited to have Jon Noyes back on the podcast today! Jon shares his incredible testimony of how he journeyed from being an atheist who enjoyed challenging Christian’s beliefs to becoming a Christian Apologist. Throughout his testimony, it is easy to see how God orchestrated situations and brought people into his life that helped cultivate the faith that he has today. 

We are here on this earth by divine appointment and each conversation we have is an opportunity to point people to Jesus. We hope this conversation will spark a desire in your heart to learn more about the textual reliability of the gospels so that you can stand firm and have confidence when questioned about your faith.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV

Episode Highlights: 

• Jon’s Testimony
• The ‘Three Bumps’ on the road from Atheism to Christianity
• Discovering Christian Apologetics
• Diving Into Textual Criticism

Find more on Jon Noyes:

• Stand To Reason Website
• Jon’s Bio Page

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Do you ever feel defeated or like you’re just not measuring up?

If we’re honest, most of us moms can probably identify with these feelings. We feel the enormous pressure of doing it all, and doing it well… but the reality is - we are not enough (on our own). This is where God’s incredible grace steps in. By His grace, we are enough. His grace fills the gaps where we fail or fall short.

Join Shannon today as she discusses every day stresses, pressures of parenting and how God redeems it all with writer, teacher, and speaker - Amy Seiffert. Amy is the author of Chin Up: Wearing Grace, Strength, and Dignity When Motherhood Unravels Our Souls.

We believe in the transformative power of God’s grace, and trust that the truths shared in this episode will meet you right where you’re at and help usher you into the beautiful peace that can only come from Him.

Episode Highlights: 

• Background on Amy
• Do you ever feel defeated?
• The pressure to ‘do it all’
• We are the sheep, He is the shepherd
• God’s grace fills the gaps
• God is in it all
• Trusting God in the everyday moments
• Practicing the Sabbath

Find more on Amy:

• Buy Chin Up: Wearing Grace, Strength, and Dignity When Motherhood Unravels Our Souls
• Amy’s Website

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Have you ever been in a situation where you struggled to defend your faith?

Apologetics is the ‘why’ behind what you believe. It is important for us as Christians to know why we believe what we do so that we can be prepared to defend our faith and share the gospel with others.

In this week’s episode, Shannon discusses apologetics, defending your faith, and living from a Biblical worldview with Shanda Fulbright. Shanda is an Apologetics Teacher and has her own podcast - Her Faith Inspires Podcast. 

Don’t find yourself in a situation where you are ill-equipped to defend your faith.  Join us as Shanda shares how to arm yourself with evidence supporting what you believe, and be prepared to share the Good News with others.

Episode Highlights: 

• What are Apologetics?
• Being Prepared to Defend Your Faith
• Strengthening Your Faith
• Living from a Biblical Worldview 

Find more on Shanda:

• Shanda’s Website
• Her Faith Inspires Podcast

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

Anyone who is a parent knows parenting can be a struggle. 

Have you ever found yourself worn and weary, wondering if the fight will be worth it?

On top of all the everyday struggles that parents face, how do you parent Biblically in today’s culture?

Today on Abiding Free, you’ll find insight into all of those questions and more.

In this week’s episode, Shannon sits down with Lisa Chan to discuss the role of parenting biblically in today’s culture. Lisa co-wrote the book You and Me Forever: Marriage in the Light of Eternity with her husband, Francis. The pair has been married for 29 years and has seven children and three grandchildren.

There are so many things fighting for our children’s attention, and it takes disciplined effort to walk by the Spirit and raise them with a solid background of faith and the Word. This is a task that is not always easy, but one we cannot take lightly. 

We know today’s episode will uplift and encourage you to be the parent God has called and equipped you to be!

 
Look to Him in all things; He will give you guidance and strength.

Episode Highlights: 

• Intro to Lisa Chan
• Desiring Salvation for our children
• Parenting in today’s culture
• Social Media and Cell Phones
• Reading the Word

Find more on Lisa Chan:

• You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity
• Lisa Chan on Desiring God

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• Digital Detox Book

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Are you allowing God to interrupt you?

Every day, God uses mundane, seemingly insignificant moments to minister to people. These moments can happen in a taxi ride, on an airplane, or even at your mailbox. Some of Jesus’ greatest opportunities in His ministry were interruptions in His day.. But He welcomed them with open arms when even some of His disciples tried to push them aside.

Our hope in sharing this episode with you today is that it will stir up adventure and passion and that you would be open handed to God using you in very mighty ways! Ministry doesn’t only happen from a pulpit, God is ready to use you in everyday moments if you are willing to listen and be obedient.

Episode Highlights: 

• What are ‘divine interruptions’?
• Kristin’s stories of God using everyday moments to minister
• Being a witness to the world

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

How is God jealous for you today?

We tend to think of jealousy as a momentary feeling, but the Bible says in Exodus that God’s name is Jealous. He does not fluctuate. God’s jealousy is not the same as human envy in which we covet what someone else has. He longs for you to worship Him and delight in His presence. 

He delights in you and He wants to give you the desires of your heart. He wants to give you Himself. The God of the universe wants YOU and He is jealous for you.

We hope you are left encouraged and inspired to delight in the Lord and find joy that can only be found in Him today. He loves you more than you will ever be able to comprehend on this side of eternity.

Episode Highlights: 

• God’s jealousy
• God is yearning for you
• True joy is found in Him
• Delighting in the Lord

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• God is Jealous for Your Joy article

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Did you know that in 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide?

According to SAVE.org, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US, approximately 125 Americans die by suicide every day, there is one suicide death every 11.5 minutes, it is the 3rd leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds, and there is estimated 1 death in every 25 suicide attempts. 

In today’s episode, Kristin had a chance to sit down with Former atheist, now speaker with Stand to Reason, Jon Noyes to talk about this critical issue. Stand to Reason trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make even-handed, incisive yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and Christian values in the public square. Stand To Reason teaches the value of using our minds to love God and share the gospel. 

If you or someone you know are contemplating suicide, please know that you are not alone, there is hope, and you are a part of God’s master plan for history. We pray that this episode will bring you hope in whatever you are facing. Life can be hard, but you have a wonderful Creator who loves you and will pull you through any trial you may face. 

Help is available - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Dial 988

Your life matters.

Episode Highlights: 

• Suicide Statistics
• Reasons for Suicide
• You are a Child of God
• What can we do to help?
• You are not alone
• Signs to look out for

Find more on Jon & Stand to Reason:

• Stand To Reason Website
• Jon’s Bio Page
• Can a Christian Take His Own Life and Still Go to Heaven? (str.org)

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Dial 988
• SAVE.org Suicide Statistics

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.