In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria and how Scripture calls believers to respond. Thousands have been killed by Islamic extremists, yet the gospel continues to advance through their faithfulness. The conversation highlights God's sovereign purpose in suffering, reminding believers that persecution is not defeat but divine refinement. Through the lens of passages like 1 Peter 4 and Revelation 2:10, this episode reveals that suffering for Christ strengthens the church, purifies faith, and displays the power of God's grace to sustain His people even unto death.

In this episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell addresses the struggles of image and insecurity that plague both men and women. He explains that insecurity stems from a distorted view of ourselves and of God. Scripture teaches that we are made in the image of God and redeemed by Christ, giving us worth and dignity beyond worldly standards. When believers embrace God's sovereignty over their lives, they can rest in His design and live free from comparison, fear, and self-focus, finding joy & confidence in Him alone.

Introduction: A great awakening among the Jewish people is coming in the future. It will come at the end of the age. It will come during the tribulation period, especially in the last half of the tribulation period. It will come especially, and in a massive way, at the time of the second advent. That great awakening is described in this 13th chapter. What is described is a great day of cleansing. And in this description, we find — not just the wonder of what God will graciously do for the Jewish people — but what God has done for ALL OF HIS PEOPLE in THE CLEANSING of His people. What God will do for Israel at the end of the age, God has done for you and me on the day that He saved us and forgave us of all our sins. We will consider this chapter under five headings, each one having to do with a relationship between God's saving acts and the cleansing of God's people. I. REPENTANCE AND CLEANSING (THE MOURNING OF THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER) This chapter is vitally connected to the ending of the previous one. "In that day" makes clear that a continuation of thought is occurring. This reaches back to verses 10-14 of the previous chapter and repeats the words at the beginning of verse 11. We can state the connection this way. THE GODLY GRIEF THAT GOD POURS OUT ON THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM IS DESIGNED BY GOD TO BRING THEM TO THEIR CLEANSING. This is what we find wherever salvation occurs, wherever cleansing occurs, wherever justification occurs — a broken and contrite heart. GODLY SORROW. GENUINE REPENTANCE. ESV 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. The faith t

Introduction: Someone once said, "Sin is its own worst avenger." THIS IS TO SAY, "IN THE SINS THEMSELVES ARE THE SEEDS THAT DESTROY." The CONSEQUENCES of sin punish the transgressor. The man or woman who chooses sin chooses self-harm. WHY? BECAUSE SIN IS TRANSGRESSION AGAINST GOD HIMSELF. Whatever is contrary to God's nature and God's will is contrary to GOOD. ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GOOD AND ALL SIN IS DESTRUCTIVE. And standing behind all sin, all rebellion against God is the great leader of that rebellion — Satan — and he is a DESTROYER. ESV John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. NAS Revelation 9:11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. (Ἀπολλύων is "a destroyer.") In sin is that which is OUT OF ORDER. In sin is that which is SELF-DESTROYING. In sin is that which is OTHERS-DESTROYING. In sin is the WISDOM FROM BELOW that produces CHAOS ALL AROUND. THE FRUIT OF SIN IS PAIN, LOSS, REGRET, DISCONTENTMENT, AND EMPTINESS.