CIAM Radio

Can the Bible alone be our ultimate authority, or do we need something more? Dr. John Neufeld begins a defense of sola scriptura—the principle that Scripture alone is our final authority for faith and practice. Addressing objections from Roman Catholics and others, Dr. John demonstrates that Jesus Himself chose the apostles and promised the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. The church didn't decide which books belong in the Bible—it simply recognized what God had already established.

The Case for Sola Scriptura: Is the Bible alone our ultimate authority? In this 5-part series, Dr. John Neufeld defends sola scriptura—that Scripture alone is our final authority for faith and practice. He addresses challenges from Roman Catholicism, Protestant liberalism, and the New Apostolic Reformation. Dr. John demonstrates that the 66 books of Scripture form a closed canon—God's complete and final word.

Are there ways you’re shooting your own marriage in the foot? Author Ted Lowe knows 5 bad habits that could stealthily undercut all the closeness you crave--and 5 ways to stop them.

Show Notes and Resources

• Get "Us in Mind: How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Marriage" by Ted Lowe wherever books are sold.
• FamilyLife.com/marriagehelp — free marriage resources

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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There are five stages of anger: mild irritation, indignation, wrath, fury, and rage. While anger itself isn’t wrong, uncontrolled anger never results in anything good.

The story we discover recorded in 1 Samuel 25 is amazing—change a few particulars, the geography, and the date, and we find ourselves reenacting a series of events as modern as today’s news. It is the story of an unfair boss, a strained marriage, and a great-hearted woman whose act of unselfish bravery saved her husband’s neck! Its fairy tale ending makes the story one of the most memorable in all the Old Testament.

From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

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Middle school can be tough. Kids face bullying, first crushes, and the pressure to have the right clothes or the latest tech—all while trying to figure out who they are. Dr. Heather Holleman steps into the world of teen girls to help you better understand what your daughter is experiencing. She also offers practical tools to help your daughter build a strong, confident identity rooted in Christ.

February is National Girls & Women in Sports Month. Jennifer Sey was an elite U.S. gymnast in the mid-1980s, later becoming a prominent corporate leader at Levi's and the founder of her own apparel brand, XX-XY. She shares how these experiences shaped her commitment to support and protect girl's and women's sports, as she and Jim discuss the impact of trans-ideology on having fair competition. They explore the intense pressures and physical demands of gymnastics, highlighting the culture of abuse and the toll it took on Jennifer’s mental and physical health, which ultimately contributed to her decision to leave the sport just before the Olympic trials. Jennifer emphasizes resilience, the importance of self-advocacy, and the challenges of navigating a changing cultural landscape while maintaining integrity and supporting female athletes.

The world is shifting. Truth is under attack. Truth Rising, a new documentary from Focus on the Family and the Colson Center, reveals the crisis shaking faith, identity, and morality. But we can make a difference when we stand in God’s truth. Join the movement—watch now!

Here are some key resources – from Focus on the Family and the Daily Citizen – to help parents understand sexual identity confusion; explain to children God’s good design for male and female – and how this is distorted by transgender dogma; and raise children who embrace their God-given masculinity or femininity.

19-year-old Chloe Cole shares about the devastating effects of gender transitioning on children, her personal regrets of transitioning as a young teen, and the peace found by trusting in God's perfect design.

Focus on the Family's staff of licensed, professional counselors can help you bring healing and restoration to your family with Christian perspectives you can trust.

Buy your copy of Jim Daly’s book, ReFOCUS! He shares how believers can engage others in the culture with the love of Christ and reveal the heart of God.

SUPPORT REFOCUS! GIVE HERE!

Send your feedback or questions to Jim in the Contact Form.

Years ago, we had this 1998 Oldsmobile, and it had behavior problems. You could say it was acting up again. I was thinking about this one time that it seemed to be having lots of problems at the same time. So my wife and I looked at each other and said, "It's time to take it to Mr. Oldsmobile." So, we dropped it off at the local Oldsmobile dealer's garage. Of course, they knew exactly what was wrong and exactly what had to be done. Of course! That shouldn't be a big surprise. They represented the manufacturer. And the manufacturer knows how it runs best. Right?

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about "Sex and the Inventor."

In our lifetime, our culture has gone through a culturequake that probably registers about a 9.5 on the Richter scale. One area that has been severely shaken is our beliefs about sex. So much so, that our culture is just rapidly redefining what's normal, including sexual relationships outside of marriage, sexual relationships with the same sex, sex where the only deciding factor is whether you can do it safely.

But sex is just too powerful; it's too beautiful to risk messing it up. I'd like to think that this bombardment of sexual ideas has left God's people untouched, but you know better than that. That's why it's time to take this wonderful invention called sex right back to the Manufacturer to see how it's supposed to run. Because the quake has left too many victims scarred, and lonely, and devalued, and struggling with guilt, and shame, and brokenness.

Remember, no one knows more about sex than the Inventor. So let's go to the Manufacturer's manual - you may know it as the Bible - and we'll see what the Manufacturer of sex says about His invention in our word for today from the Word of God. It begins with Mark 10:6. Jesus is talking. "At the beginning God made them male and female." Okay, so God thought up this whole thing. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Now the Inventor of sex says He designed it to be an exclusive language of love with only one person in your life - the person of the opposite sex to whom you are committed in a lifetime covenant called marriage. Anything else is abnormal sex - sex as it was never meant to be, sex that can never deliver the fulfillment and love and excitement that belongs only to those who wait for and limit themselves to Designer Love.

The debates over abstinence and safe sex, living together, and same-sex relationships tend to be a clash of human values and viewpoints. What we're talking about here is the Inventor's word on sex. The user doesn't have the final word. The Inventor does. His word is final. It doesn't matter what percent of any group believes differently or what the culture says is normal or what your glands or rationalizations say is okay. The Creator of sex has spoken. He's never changed His mind. Sex is for one man with one woman, committed to each other for life. And the Creator of sex is also the Judge of all mankind - the One to whom we will give account for what we have done with His powerful gift of sex.

You may very well say, "You know, I have crossed the boundaries of God more than once." And the Bible says, in fact, we will stand before Him in judgment for all of our actions that have violated His boundaries - outside of His fence...His laws. But I have wonderful news for you. The very things you're thinking about right now that may have brought shame and guilt and great concern about the judgment you may face are the very things Jesus was nailed to a cross to die for, pay for, and forgive you for.

This very day He could give you a brand new beginning. The Bible says you can be clean

Read: Ephesians 2:4-7

Harvey threw a baseball toward his dad. “What if I do all this practicing and I still don’t make the team?”

Dad grinned. “I’ll still love you.”

Harvey sighed. “You’ll always love me. You say that all the time.”

“God will always love you too.” Dad lifted his arm. “Get ready to swing.”

The ball came toward Harvey. He swung hard, but his bat didn’t connect with the ball.

“This is what I mean.” Harvey went to get the ball so he could try again. “What if I somehow make the team and then I strike out every time I’m up? My teammates are going to hate me.”

“If we keep practicing, I don’t think that will happen,” Dad said. “But even if it does, I will still love you, and God will still love you too.”

Harvey threw the ball back to his dad. Dad held on to it as he looked over at him. “God and I will still love you, Harvey, but how will you feel about yourself? Do you feel like you have to do well to be deserving of love? What’s going through your head, bud?”

Harvey looked down at the ground. “Ever since Mom left, I find it hard to believe that anyone really loves me. Even you and God. Sometimes I don’t like myself too much either.”

He heard footsteps and knew his dad was coming over to him, but he was surprised when Dad knelt on the ground in front of him. “Bud?” His dad looked up into his eyes. “You are so worthy of love. You can’t imagine how much I care about you and how much God loves you. He sent Jesus to die for you so you could be His child! Your mom leaving had nothing to do with you or anything you have or haven’t done.”

“But…a mom shouldn’t leave her kid.” Harvey blinked his eyes hard.

“No, she shouldn’t.” Dad dropped the baseball and wrapped his arms around Harvey. “But what she did doesn’t change your value in my eyes or God’s eyes, and it shouldn’t change how you think about yourself either. God will always love you, and I will too.”

–Emily Acker

How about you? Do you let what others think about you affect how you see yourself? You have great value in God’s eyes, and nothing will ever change how He feels about you. He loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for your sins so you could belong to Him forever. He cares about you so much and will never, ever leave you. When others let you down, know that He is with you and that you are loved.

Today's Key Verse: As the Father loved Me [Jesus], I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: You are very loved

Regardless of your circumstances, you can still become the person your heavenly Father wants you to be.

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