Thanksgiving-cast!

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Cult leaders have present themselves as Pastors of a church. Today we will discuss how to differentiate between a cult and a church.

Key Points:

1. A skeptical man sees little difference between a religion and a cult.
2. The Sheppard takes care of the sheep. The sheep don’t take care of the Sheppard.
3. The church belongs to the Lord, not a preacher or charismatic leader.

Additional Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

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When I was 25, I found myself in the midst of a quarter-life crisis. My business failed, my relationship was falling apart and I lost the things I valued most. During the same week, I began Bible Study with a pastor and saw a psychologist. Since then, many Christians have asked if a true believer really needs a psychologist.

Key Points:

1. There are countless key verses that say we should take all of our cares and problems to the Lord in prayer.
2. There are many cultural and religious stigmas around therapy. Therapy is viewed as showing weakness or lacking faith.
3. Christs see specialists for medical and financial advice. Why not seek the advice of a psychologist?

Additional Reading: Matthew 11:25-30

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Have you ever noticed that the vast majority of people that profess Christs seem to fall away within a few years? I believe the modern church does a horrible job of setting expectations for a new life in Christ.

Key Points:

1. Telling new Christians they will get their heart's desire sets them up for false expectations. Two Christian opponents may both pray for victory.
2. Complete faith in a lie does not make it true. Many people believe in false prophecy. God does not bend to their faith.
3. God never promises we won't have storms. He promises to go through them with us.

Additional Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

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Recently I have been doing a lot of self-study to be a more balanced man. In my study, I learned about many cultures having a rite of passage to so symbolize maturity. I wondered if Christians have any rites of passage.

Key Points:

1. A Rite of passage is a ceremonial event that marks the passage from one state to another
2. A wedding ceremony symbolizes the end of two separate lives beginning of a new life as one.
3. Baptism pictures the death of one's old self, burial, and resurrection in Christ.

Additional Reading: Romans 6:1-5

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The other day I overheard a video of an older man teaching a young man about forgiveness. The sound advice came from a familiar but unlike voice. It was none other than "Iron Mike" Tyson. Today we will examine how his advice lines up with Christian Concepts, drawn from the Bible.

Key Points:

1. There really is no limit to the number of times Jesus expects us to forgive a person that offends us.
2. Even while we are God's enemy, He is willing to forgive us and offers reconciliation.
3. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. We all reap what we sow.

Additional Reading: Romans 5:6-10

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In high school, I learned about the excesses of medieval churches. It was music to my ears because the church I attended was very materialistic and wasteful. I told my mother I no longer wanted to give money to the church. I learned some valuable lessons.

Key Points:

1. God requires us to give, not the church. He doesn't need our money but giving is a blessing.
2. The leaders of the church will have to give an account to God for their stewardship of the offerings. The bad shepherds are not an excuse to stop giving.
3. We are willing to trust God with our souls, so trusting him with our finances should be easy.

Additional Reading: Malachi 3:8-10

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I am almost 35 and have been reflecting on life. What is most important? It is possible that I am halfway through life. How can I best use my time left to serve God and others? This is a question that we can and should ask ourselves. I have been reflecting on all of this lately and I want to share my thoughts with you.

Key Points:

1. There are no Uhaul (moving/cargo) trucks behind a hearse.
2. We were created by God and for Him. In other words, we bring him pleasure.
3. Seeking God should always be our priority. The rest will fall into place after.

Additional Reading: Colossians 1

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Genesis and the Creation account are often presented as allegories or parables. Some churches even believe Genesis only reflects man’s knowledge during the Bronze age. Today we are going to discuss why those beliefs are in direct conflict with Christian Concepts.

Key Points:

1. The foundation and core beliefs of Christianity are established in the book of Genesis.
2. The Gospel is dependent on the Old Testament. God sets the stage for Jesus dying on the cross in Genesis 3:15.
3. Jesus and the Apostles directly quote the Old Testament and Creation as Jesus did in Matthew 19:1-6.

Additional Reading: Genesis Dos Matter (unaffiliated Creation Resource)

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I often hear people say God is loving and kind in the New Testament, but he was a brutal disciplinarian in Old Testament.  Today we are going to discuss weather that is true or just another misconception.

Key Points:

1. Negative experiences tend to be more memorable than positive one. Therefore it is easy to overlook the good and focus on traumatic events.
2. We can read Genesis 1 - 7 in one sitting. However, Noah's flood occured 1656 years after Genesis 1. A lot of time passed before judgment.
3. The New Testament is about a third of the Bible, but only documents less than 100 years. The Old Testament documents over 4,000 years of events.

Additional Reading: Matthew 1:17, Genesis 5

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