In Revelation 2-3 Jesus Himself speaks to the churches. This message to specific, historic churches rings through the ages to the churches today. How are we to understand these messages to the churches?

Now that the election is complete and the next administration is returning in 2025, we thought it may be helpful to remind ourselves of God's sovereignty over the nations. Last year Pastors Mike and Nathan had a conversation about the prophecies of Daniel and how God's revelation about future nations bring us great comfort and hope.

In this episode of Focused on Christ, Pastors Mike and Nathan explore eight humanistic errors that have subtly infiltrated the church, impacting faith and community. Continuing a conversation from the previous episode, they examine the concept of individual autonomy, highlighting its potential to lead to moral decay and a life devoid of true spiritual guidance. They also addresses the flawed idea of being 'spiritual but not religious,' emphasizing the biblical importance of community for mutual support and growth. Furthermore, they contrasts the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of holiness, explaining that true joy is a byproduct of a holy life and a relationship with God. Lastly, they clarify the Christian perspective on enlightenment and truth, asserting that Christians are not anti-science and that truth is revealed through Scripture and the natural world.

In this episode of Focused on Christ, Mike Crump and Pastor Nathan Smith delve into how Christians should approach content from questionable or theologically problematic sources. They emphasize the importance of #discernment and personal #conviction when consuming #christian media, urging believers to evaluate content based on its alignment with Scripture.

Discussion Questions

You're invited, along with our live audience, to celebrate the 100th episode of the Focused on Christ podcast. In this episode Pastors Mike and Nathan share about the beginning of the podcast and then jump into a series of questions including:

In this special episode of Focused on Christ, Pastor Nathan and Mike discuss the current election season and provide some biblical and historical frameworks for engaging our political system.

#election2024 #podcast #politics #trump #harris

01:01 Historical Context

05:42 Church's role in government

12:53 Lesser of two evils

16:44 Biblical role of government

21:49 Is NOT voting a sin?

26:26 Voting for bad people

37:39 Stop doing this

41:00 Dealing with those who vote different

42:08 Prayer for the election

Hell is a crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of Christian theology. Contrary to popular belief, hell is not Satan's headquarters but a place of eternal separation from God for those who reject Christ. The doctrine of hell underscores the seriousness of sin, the need for a Savior, and the justice of God. Understanding this #doctrine motivates believers to take sin seriously, share the gospel urgently, and find comfort in God's ultimate justice.

In this episode, Mike and Nathan walk through several myths about #hell in order to better understand this doctrine and to consider why it is important for the local church.

Along the way Mike and Nathan talk through the real influences of the spiritual world and look to the Bible to clarity on how we to be experience the fullness of our freedom in Christ.

#demonic #deliveranceministry #deliverance #spiritual #satan #holyspirit

Pastor Nathan Smith and Mike Crump discuss the topic of spiritual gifts as mentioned in the scriptures, focusing on whether the lists provided by Paul are exhaustive and how these gifts should be understood and applied within the church. They explore the purpose of spiritual gifts, emphasizing that they are meant for the edification of the body of Christ and not for individual gain. The conversation also touches on the distinction between natural talents and spiritual gifts, the role of prophecy, and the importance of love as the greatest gift. This episode concludes with a discussion on the controversial topics of miracles, healing, and the proper biblical perspective on these gifts, cautioning against the misuse and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts in modern contexts.

Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the edification and building up of the church. In this episode of Focused on Christ, Mike and Nathan look at the purpose of gifts seen in 1 Corinthians 12. This topic can cause tension, but it doesn't have to! Learn how to identify your spiritual gifts and use them effectively for the glory of God and the benefit of His people.

Mike and Nathan also discuss the recent fall of Steve Lawson at the beginning of this conversation. You can find more on this story online.