In Acts 2, we read about the practices to which the early church were devoted:  the teaching of Scripture, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. On this episode of Crossroads & Culture, we look at why the breaking of bread was a practice of the early church and why it is necessary and significant for the Church today as followers of Christ.

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We aren't meant to do life alone.  Each of us has been created for relationship with God, first and foremost, and one another.  In this episode of Crossroads & Culture, we are going to look at the early church’s commitment to the fellowship among the believers, and how their devotion to biblical community made much of the gospel, encouraged one another, and influenced the culture in which they lived.

It’s something we need to hear today, as the Church, for the sake of the gospel.

In Psalm 119, David writes, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word sheds light on where to step and how to navigate this life we live. And we desperately need that because the path we walk in this world is more often littered with landmines than it is lollipops. Our path in this life leads us through the valleys of the shadow of death, but God shepherds us by His word and the abiding presence of His Spirit. And as we follow His ways and delight in His word, He provides for our real needs, not just felt needs; He leads us beside the quiet waters of His word when the world feels like a raging sea; He makes us lie down in the green pastures of His word to rest even when we walk through desert moments; He restores our weary and wounded soul with the healing salve of His word; He reminds us of His nearness with the rod and staff of His word so that we don’t have to fear any evil; He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies where we feast on the goodness of His word and the sustenance He gives.

And that's why we should be devoted to the Scriptures.

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In the scriptures, specifically the Psalms, there are a lot of questions that are asked regarding how to live life in a way that is right and God-honoring in the midst of a confusing and chaotic culture. On today's episode of the Crossroads & Culture podcast, I discuss how we can avoid drifting from the truth and embracing the often distorted and destructive worldviews of modern culture.

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Today on Crossroads & Culture I share some thoughts regarding today's Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.  I discuss the issue of abortion in more detail here:  https://www.rivervalleyconway.com/post/the-fallacious-argument-from-womb-to-tomb

Resources that help women choose life:  www.savethestorks.com

If you build a house that looks nothing like the blueprint design, there's a problem.  God's word, specifically in the book of Acts, gives us the blueprint and timeless principles that are to be the essence of His Church.  In this episode of Crossroads & Culture, I have a conversation with David Edwards, Discipleship Pastor at Church Project, about the modern church and what getting back to God's design for His Church looks like.

CONNECT WITH DAVE EDWARDS:  daveedwardsspeaks.com

RIVER VALLEY CHURCH:  rivervalleyconway.com

RIVER VALLEY INSTAGRAM: @rivervalleychurchconway

The fragility of life has a way of giving you a wake up call when you’re headed in an ambulance to the hospital, with no recollection of the trip there. Since the beginning of the month of December, I battled sickness that, although not initially beginning as Covid, ended up with me in the hospital for 6 days with Covid, as well as bacterial and viral pneumonia. I had no idea of the gravity of the situation until I was later told I had a 50/50 chance of surviving. Having been discharged from the hospital, and upon hearing someone say, “Shawn, this is a miracle of God,” I have garnered a new perspective on several things that I'll share today on Crossroads & Culture.

From the widely accepted cultural worldview of casual sex, to the widespread accessibility of pornography, to couples choosing to live together as opposed to getting married, to the normalization of same-sex relationships, and the fluidity of gender identity, the enemy has unleashed a barrage of attacks on God’s created order and design for gender and sexuality.  And we’re seeing lives destroyed and a world shattered.  

In this episode of Crossroads & Culture, I address what the Bible says is God's created order and design for sexuality and gender.

How long, O God, will I remain where I am? That’s been a question I've often asked of God. Maybe that’s one of the questions stirring in your soul and mind as well--how long am I going to be in this season? How long am I going to be in this place (emotionally, spiritually, physically)? How long?

For me, I often get stuck in that question, though, and miss out on the truth that even in my longing to not be in the discontent of where I am, God’s presence is still very near; abiding, actually. And that’s not just a good thing, it’s essential for us.

On this episode of Crossroads & Culture, we answer the question: Does Jesus really want us to get the vaccine? There is a growing effort in evangelical circles seeking to encourage, and even persuade, those who are evangelical Christians to get the vaccine because, according to them, it’s biblical to do so, and Jesus would want us to. But is that true? We'll be discussing that today on Crossroads & Culture.

Note:  You can link to the sources from my blog at shawnbarnard.wordpress.com