This is a brief exhortation reminding believers that the primary focus of the Christian life is to work out the life of Christ in us, which is the new indicative of our nature. The commands -imperatives- of Christ are preceeded by the indicative of our new nature under the new covenant as birthed in us by the Holy Spirit.

There is never a season when it is safe not to be discerning. There is no shortage of people selling an alternative Jesus in the world, as is evident with the much anticipated, upcoming season 3 of -The Chosen.- But is it safe to -Go beyond what is written- -I Corinthians 4-6-, and employ these types of films and art for evangelistic purposes- Is -The Chosen- something you want your children and grandchildren to view-

Spiritual health is often the missing piece of the mental health puzzle. It is impossible to become mentally and relationally healthy apart from spiritual health. Spiritual health is in the primacy of human well-being. In this episode, we examine five steps toward gaining and growing in, spiritual health.

Election season is upon us once again. And tempers and opinions are flaring, TV and radio are broadcasting attack ads, rallies are being held in the left and the right. What is fascinating in all this, is the numbers of people looking to some political party or charismatic leader to give voice to their sense of victimization. Don't go there- Christians ought to be paragons of personal responsibility, not victims of government, or looking to someone to save them from life's struggles. There is one Lord and one Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is not wrong to say God wants to be wanted. The Bible is clear that God is relational, not transactional. He gives us his very best, as was made evident in sending his own Son, so that we might have life and fellowship with him, and now commands our very best. This brief exhortation is offered so that you may have joy, the joy of knowing God wants you to want him with your whole self. It is also a warning to offer anything less than your whole self, is equal to offering nothing at all. Choose joy-

We continue to read certain portions of Scripture in their entirety, just as they were intended to be heard. From this we better develop -ears to hear- the voice of the Spirit in the text. In this episode, we learn that truth, obedience, and love characterize the Christian community, and to avoid the deception of those who teach otherwise.

Seldom in church history has it been more important to understand how the Bible defines who is a Christian, and who is not a Christian. In this episode, we take a one-hour walk through the First Letter of John, with comments and highlights designed to answer this all-imporant question.

The Reformers and their followers were not the friends of the genuine Bible-belieiving Christians of the 16th and 17th centuries. Yet, each year, untold numbers of Protestant church leaders memorialize and celebrate the Lutheran Reformation without acknowledging the fatal flaw of that revival--the state church. In this episode, we consider the Reformation through the eyes of church history, and not the presuppositions of well-meaning, but misguided Christian leaders.

Most Christians today think of the church as a place in which individuals and families meet to worship, and not as the New Testament defines it, that is, as a -spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God . . . a holy nation- -I Peter 2-4-9-. In this episode we examine the meaning of community.

To take Jesus seriously often requires that we set aside our own presuppositions and hear his teaching anew. This is especially true when Jesus teaches something that challenges our religious tradition or our national loyalty. In this lesson, we examine the theological and historic background of Jesus' teaching which was fulfilled at Pentecost, meaning, the Gentile inclusion as a -chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession- -I Peter 2-9-.