Addiction on SermonAudio

Joshua Emmanuel grew up the son of a Presbyterian minister and memorized the Westminster Confession by age 8. By 13 he was using drugs and making a point of being the atheist in his Christian school's Bible class. At 17, God brought him back. Today Joshua runs the Jungle Ministry in Jos, Nigeria, working with the men most churches there have written off: addicts, hustlers, and traffickers living in the slums. He tells Kevin Swanson what brought him back to the faith, what his father did right, and why he spends his time on a few men instead of crusades and altar calls. Kevin asks the question behind it all: how do kids raised in Christian homes catch a real Kingdom vision instead of walking away? #ChristianParenting #Discipleship #Missions #GenerationsRadio #KevinSwanson #JoshuaEmmanuel

The Five "Giants" Newton categorizes the major forces of sin and spiritual danger into five specific giants that every person must fight: Giant Heathenism: Spiritual darkness, ignorance of God, and the global need for gospel truth and missionary work. Giant Selfishness: The natural inclination toward self-centeredness, greed, and failing to love and serve others. Giant Ill-Temper: Uncontrolled anger, impatience, bad temper, and bad behavior in personal and family relationships. Giant Covetousness: The insatiable desire for things that belong to others, material greed, and discontentment. Giant Intemperance: Addiction, lack of self-control, and the ruinous consequences of strong drink and indulgence.

Questions for the Christian - Alcohol?

Consider the Lord's mercy, ponder divine grace and salvation, to thank the LORD for His rescue and protection that has forgiven you and protected your life.

This testimony highlights the radical power of God's grace to transform lives broken by addiction and criminality, using the framework of Ephesians 2 to illustrate the journey from spiritual death to new life in Christ. The speakers describe their individual struggles with methamphetamine and the failure of religious effort or self-discipline to bring true freedom, emphasizing that salvation is a gift received through faith rather than achieved through works. The narrative details their surrender to Jesus, the subsequent heart transformation, and the restoration of their family and identity, demonstrating that true change comes from knowing Christ rather than merely modifying behavior. The sermon concludes with a call to find one's identity in Christ, which serves as the foundation for healthy relationships, biblical marriage roles, and effective discipleship in addiction ministry.

This sermon addresses the societal issue of gambling by examining biblical principles of covetousness, contentment, and work. It argues that while the Bible does not explicitly mention gambling, it warns against the greed and snare of seeking wealth through uncertain outcomes, citing 1 Timothy 6 as the primary text. The message contrasts the destructive nature of gambling addiction with the biblical mandate to work hard and live within one's means, referencing Proverbs and 2 Thessalonians. It emphasizes that godliness with contentment is superior to material gain, urging believers to prioritize the Kingdom of God over financial pursuits. The sermon concludes with a call to reject the idol of wealth and trust in God's provision for eternal salvation.

The sermon centers on Psalm 23:4, challenging the expectation that faith in Jesus guarantees a life free from hardship. It argues that believers must walk through the 'valley of the shadow of death,' which represents grief, addiction, and brokenness, but they do not walk alone. The text highlights the shift in the psalm from third-person references to direct address, illustrating how suffering can deepen intimacy with God. The speaker shares a personal testimony of finding comfort in a tangible reminder of God's presence during a season of crisis, linking this to the imagery of the shepherd's rod and staff. Ultimately, the message emphasizes that God's power and presence provide comfort, and the church serves as an extension of that comfort to others in their affliction.