CIAM Radio

Pastor Chuck Swindoll discusses how “religion” is a counterfeit for genuine spiritual growth. He unpacks the traditions and works that the Jews relied on instead of faith in the Messiah (Romans 2).

From the Series: Romans: The Christian’s Constitution

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It's easy to become entangled in bad stuff. Instead of running from temptation, we often run right into it. Living life well requires making the choice to do what's right—regardless of what everyone else is doing.

Dr. Ken Wilgus encourages parents to deliberately work their way out of the parenting role by the time their child is 18, and instructs them to see their teenagers as young adults, not large children. He offers tips on how to progressively give your teen more responsibility, along with examples of how to have difficult conversations on a range of topics, from music choices to dating. (Part 2Âof 2)

I'll bet you didn't know that Christianity is like suntan lotion. Huh? Neither did I until I was speaking at a conference, and I took my oldest son with me. He was about 12 or 13 I think (my poor kids had to listen to their Dad speak so many times).

Well, we were on our way home on the plane, and all of a sudden on this long trip from the West, my son said to me, "Hey, Dad, you know what? I finally listened to a lot of your talks this time." Let's see, was that's good news/bad news. I don't know what he was doing before. But he said, "You know what? I've figured out that Christianity is a lot like suntan lotion." I said what you would have said, "What?" He said, "You know, if you put a big, old blob of suntan lotion on your arm, it doesn't do you any good until you rub it in."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your Bible - Informed or Transformed?"

Now, our word for today from the Word of God comes from Joshua 1:8 where we have God's formula for success. "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night..." By the way, that word meditate is used in Hebrew to talk about a cow chewing its cud. So, chew it over and over again. Why? "...so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Now, you get what God is saying to Joshua? I think it's His message to you and me today. The purpose of reading is not just to know something. It's to find something to do. When Jesus was talking to the 12 disciples about going out in the Great Commission to disciple people all around the world, He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Don't just tell them what there is to know; teach them to do it.

James 1 again says that the Bible is like a mirror. When you look in a mirror, you're supposed to change something because of what you see there. Right? The one reason there's such a gap between our beliefs and our behavior is because we won't in my son's words, "Rub it in." We have these great big blobs of spiritual truth all over us. We've been hearing it forever. We went to church a couple of times this week, we've got this guy that keeps coming at us on the radio, we've got Bible studies, we've got websites. The problem is that we tend to go for information rather than transformation; for application of what God says. To answer the question, "So what? What's this supposed to do in my life." It's one thing to read the Bible; it's another thing to let the Bible read you.

God's interested in what difference His Word is making in you today, not just whether you can pass a Bible quiz. What did you read today? What are you doing differently today because of it? When God says meditate on it, what does that mean? Does that mean you stare into space blankly, kind of an Eastern mysticism thing? Not at all! You think about something you read in the Bible until you have made a connection between what you read and something you're going to face today. That's Christian meditation. It's not focusing on nothing; it's focusing on what God said and then you've meditated when you've connected that there's something you should do with it today. I think you ought to keep a spiritual journal and write down every day, "What did I read today in my own words? What did God say today and what am I going to do differently because God said it?"

If you're in a position where you teach God's Word to people, even if you're just a parent doing that, make sure you always answer the unspoken question I think people are asking, "So what? Okay, it's true. So, what do you want me to do with it?" By all means answer that question for yourself. Look, have you gotten a little lazy as you read God's Word, just sort of accumulating more Bible informat

During his church’s fall retreat at a nearby camp, Pastor Jeff took a walk with my son, who led him through a wooded trail to the outdoor chapel. Suddenly they came upon the ark of the covenant! Of course, it wasn’t the real ark, but a life-sized, gold-colored replica begun by my husband years ago, with Jeff’s encouragement, and recently completed by my son as a surprise.

Jeff was so thrilled, he hurried to enlist others to help him bring the ark to the camp dining hall. What a sight to see the men carrying the ark down the road as two of the pastor’s little grandsons trailed behind hand-in-hand!

Scripture tells of the joyous occasion when the real ark of the covenant, which symbolized God’s presence with His people, was brought from the house where it had been kept into its proper place in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:12). King David was so overjoyed he danced “before the LORD with all his might” as the people shouted and trumpets sounded (vv. 14-15).

Years later, the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon and Jerusalem was destroyed (2 Kings 25). Scripture doesn’t tell us what happened to the ark. Legends abound, but we no longer need the ark to enjoy God’s presence (John 14:16-17). Through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and sending of the Spirit, God is with all who believe in Christ. That’s an excellent reason to rejoice!

It’s easy to believe that having more money would fix everything--that if we just had enough, life would finally feel secure, peaceful—even meaningful. From lotteries to luxury ads, we are constantly told that more wealth is the goal; however, in Scripture, we are invited to embrace a different perspective—not how much money we have, but why we want it in the first place. Rob West explores more on the next Faith & Finance Live. Then, it’s your calls and financial questions. That’s Faith & Finance Live, where biblical wisdom meets today’s finances—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

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Segment 1:

• Conservative Christianity saw a resurgence decades ago—but pride and inflated opinions fractured it.

• The MacArthur Memorial revealed surprising unity with leaders like Piper, raising big questions.

• Are we elevating secondary issues to essentials and repeating secular cancel culture?

Segment 2:

• Scott Aniol’s “Conviction and Charity” points toward a healthier future for conservative Christianity.

• Tone and tenor matter—we’ve all felt and likely contributed to the online heat.

• G3’s pivot could help the local pastor and church recalibrate.

Segment 3:

• Key question: when do you call out error, and when do you show charity?

• Biblical conviction must never fade, but secondary issues shouldn’t destroy fellowship.

• The church must grow in discernment without weaponizing it.

Segment 4:

• Theological sharpness is good—but not our identity.

• Have we been distracted from our Father’s business by endless squabbles?

• Unity in Christ must outweigh division over non-essentials.

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Thanks for listening!

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God rescues David from the pit and sets his feet on solid rock, giving him a new song of praise to share. In this study of Psalm 40, Dr. John explores David's powerful testimony of deliverance, his insights about faith versus religious ritual, and his honest admission that new troubles are already emerging. This Psalm captures the realistic rhythm of Christian living—celebrating God's victories while preparing for fresh battles that require continued dependence on Him.

Reasons for Worship: In a world of political turmoil, personal struggles, and the apparent prosperity of evil, where should believers place their trust? Dr. John’s series on Psalms 33–41 called “Reasons for Worship” explores God’s faithfulness amid life’s challenges. From David’s escapes to his reflections on the wicked, these psalms offer practical wisdom for trusting God, finding hope in desperate circumstances, and keeping faith when evil seems to prevail. This series brings both comfort and challenge, pointing to the God who is completely trustworthy in every season.