CIAM Radio

It’s Witness Wednesday!

In this episode of Wretched Radio, Todd Friel engages in a series of dialogues with students on campus in Gainesville, GA. Friel challenges their theological stances, encouraging them to contemplate their paths to heaven, sin, and the core tenets of Christianity.

Segment 1:

• Seventh-Day Adventist believes salvation is through commandments and Sabbath; admits breaking them.

• Todd shows law reveals guilt; salvation is by grace in Christ alone.

• Urged to repent and trust Jesus’ finished work, not his own.

Segment 2:

• Sikh student believes in reincarnation and good works; admits moral failures.

• Todd explains all die once, face judgment, and fall short.

• Presents gospel: Jesus took punishment, offering forgiveness to all who repent.

Segment 3:

• United Methodist student is polite, but unsure of gospel, no assurance of salvation.

• Todd explains sin, judgment, and Christ’s atonement as only hope.

• Challenged to examine if he’s truly trusted Christ.

Segment 4:

• Two postmodern students believe all paths lead to happiness; reject absolute truth.

• Todd shows opposing beliefs can’t both be true; Jesus’ claim is exclusive.

• Gospel offered as God’s kindness: turn to Christ who died for sinners.

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There are so many different life stages that we can prepare for before we walk through them. It’s important to plan ahead as best as we can even though there are certain unknowns that go before us. In today’s program, host Andrew Marcus gets to spend time with longtime friends Cliff and Erin Ursel, pastors at Westside Church in Vancouver, and unpack all stages of life: singleness, dating, engagement, marriage and raising kids. 

What is the most toxic thing that can destroy spiritual growth and divide the church? Dr. John tackles the dangerous issue of spiritual pride through 1 Corinthians 4:6-7, revealing how pride believes it knows God's mind apart from Scripture and forgets our need for His grace. He warns that everything we have—our abilities, intelligence, and accomplishments—are gifts from God, not reasons for boasting.

The Power of Christ in a Pagan World: Join Dr. John Neufeld for this 20-message series as he focuses on the book of 1 Corinthians. Covering chapters 1-4, The Power of Christ in a Pagan World looks at the many issues that confronted the church in Corinth; Problems that seemed to find their place within the church at every turn! This series helps us unpack the different conflicts and struggles of this early church in a relevant and practical way. Even though the church in Corinth existed a long time ago, they went through trials that might sound familiar to us in the 21st Century!

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Worst Apologies Ever." Enjoy!

If you’ve ever been in that muddy hole called the Slough of Despond, you can relate to Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress. Despondency, or the pits, is really pessimism. It’s a gloomy, negative attitude, which often comes when we rely on ourselves instead of God. Whenever negative thoughts come knocking, don’t open the door. Instead, turn your thoughts to God.

As we reach the end of our study of the book of Jonah, it's fitting that we really let it sink in. It's one thing to go through the book of Jonah but quite another to have that divine word go through us.

From the Series: Jonah: The Reluctant Prophet

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Healing from trauma takes time, support, and care, especially when navigating through it with another person. Eliza Huie shares with us how we can offer support for those around us who have experienced trauma in their life. Offering hope and guidance, this conversation provides practical tools for healing with faith and compassion.

We were adding onto our little house, and we were getting some help from good old Chuck. He's been a part of adding to our house; actually, he did most of the work. A wonderful Christian brother, skilled builder and handyman. He's like an everyday genius...which I am not. Now the days were pretty long and we'd be leaving the house earlier than Chuck got there and we'd return home after dark. So, I didn't get to see him much. But every day that front porch was noticeably farther along than it was when we left that morning. I actually did get to talk to Chuck on the phone one day, and I told him, in a way, he reminded me of the Lord. He was interested in how that happened. I said, "Well, I don't actually see him, but I see the difference he's made!"

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Living Proof of a Living Savior."

There was a song years ago that said, "People need the Lord." Well, that's people you're around all the time. But they can't physically see Him, of course. They can't realize how real, how loving, and how powerful He is by seeing Him in person. But God's plan for introducing Himself to them is that, much like our friend's building work, they see the difference God makes in you.

In 1 Peter 2:12, our word for today from the Word of God, Peter says, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they may accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God..." Here are people who may even be hostile toward you and toward your Lord. But they see such impressive living proof of the Jesus-difference in your everyday life - in what it says here your "good deeds" - that they end up glorifying God!

Jesus made this same point in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). There it is again. They can't see your Lord, but they can see your good deeds that are there because He's in you. And that living proof can turn them to Him. Especially in a world that's more skeptical than ever of religious pitches, religious systems, or religious pitchmen.

Notice, God doesn't say they'll be impressed with your arguments or your persuasive words. No, it's going to be your persuasive life. The random acts of kindness, the words of encouragement, your temper under control, the cleaned up mouth, the way you treat and talk about your mate, or your children, or your parents, your unselfishness, or the way you just put others ahead of yourself.

One clarification: You can't just show them the Jesus-difference and that alone. You do have to tell them Who is making the difference! They can watch you for the next 50 years and they won't say, "Oh, you know, Joe is such a nice guy, I'll bet Jesus died on the cross for my sins." They're not going to figure that out. You have to tell them! So, the business of taking people to heaven with you is actually kind of like first grade...show and tell.

That's why Peter says, right before his statement about them seeing your good deeds, that you are "belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light." They need to see it, but then you need to tell them. They'll never guess Jesus died on the cross for them unless you tell them.

Our friend is a carpenter that I may not actually see, but I could see each day the difference he was making. You belong to a carpenter named Jesus, and whether or not the people around you will ever know Him may depend on whether or not they can see in you the difference that Jesus makes!