Gaining Christ

Part 1 of a comprehensive series on the Love of God. Specifically answered in this episode: What is love? What is God's love? What is the nature of God's love? What is the ultimate desire and pursuit of God's love? Also covered are the primary reasons why many do not know or understand the love of God. Scripture referenced: Exodus 34:6, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 103:8-17, Isaiah 53:5, Matthew 13:44, Luke 9:25, Luke 12:32, John 3:16, John 15:9, 13, John 17:24, Romans 3:9-24, Romans 5:1, 8-11, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 3:17-19, Philippians 3:3-9, Titus 3:3, 1 Peter 1:18-20, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:8-10

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave is only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," is very likely the most well-known and quoted verse in the Bible. Unfortunately however, this beautiful declaration of God's loving grace is also one of the most misunderstood, misinterpreted, and inaccurately used verses in the Bible as well. This episode provides a detailed explanation of John 3:16 in order to encourage the listener in his or her knowledge of God, understanding of God's truth, and spiritual well-being in Christ. Scripture referenced: Genesis 19:15-29, Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 5:7, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 32:10, Psalm 35:5, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 103:8-11, 17, Psalm 107:1, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-27, Jonah 1:17-2:10, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 12:40, John 3:1-18, John 6:63, John 10:27-30, John 15:9, John 17:23, Romans 5:18, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:35-39, Romans 9:9-16, Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9

11 encouraging truths to help equip the believer in Christ for more faithfulness, enjoyment, success, and perseverance in the specific ministry God has called you to do. Scripture referenced: Psalm 23:6, Isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 4:18-21, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 24:45-47, Luke 5:1-11, Luke 12:32, Luke 15:1-10, John 10:10, John 10:14-15, 27-30, John 12:31, John 14:12, John 14:30, John 15:5-16, John 18:36, John 21:15-17, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 8:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 12:4-20, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Ephesians 4:7, 11-16, 1 Peter 4:12-13, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 John 5:19, Revelation 12:12, 17

11 encouraging truths to help equip the believer in Christ for more faithfulness, enjoyment, success, and perseverance in the ministry that God has called you to do. Scripture referenced: Psalm 23:6, Isaiah 55:10-11, Matthew 4:18-21, Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 24:45-47, Luke 5:1-11, Luke 12:32, Luke 15:1-10,, John 10:10, John 10:14-15, 27-30, John 12:31, John 14:12, John 14:30, John 15:5-16, John 21:15-17, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 8:8, 1 Corinthians 2:9, 1 Corinthians 12:4-20, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20, Ephesians 4:7, 11-16, 1 John 5:19

Why is the believer in Christ the most joyful, satisfied, and content person on the planet? This episode answers that question and describes the specific knowledge, mindset, behaviors, and favor that cause the believer in Christ to be extremely joyful and deeply satisfied and consistently content despite the earthly circumstances of their life. Also, discussed are the reasons why some Christians do not experience the full joy of Christ. Scripture referenced: Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 32: 1-5, 10-11, Psalm 51:1-17, Psalm 63:1-5, 11, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 45:5-7, Isaiah 46:9-11, Isaiah 55:1-3, Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 5:6, Mathew 5:12, Matthew 5:14-16, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 25:21, 34, Matthew 28:18, Luke 6:23, Luke 11:28, Luke 12:32, John 1:12-13, John 3:3-8, John 6:44-45, 63, 65, John 10:14-30, John 14:12, John 14:12, John 14:27, John 15:5-16, John 16:33, John 17:1-5, 6-13, 23-25, Romans 2:4, Romans 6:23, Romans 9:15-16, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Ephesians 1:1-14, Ephesians 1:15-20, Ephesians 2:3-10, Ephesians 4:7, 11-16, Ephesians 4:30, Philippians 1:25, Philippians 3:1, 3-11, 12-21, Philippians 4:4, Philippians 4:12-13, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (incorrectly cited as 1 Thessalonians 1:16 in audio), 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:3-7, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 11:13-16, Hebrews 12:1-4, Hebrews 12:7-11, James 1:2-4, 11, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 1:14-21, 1 Peter 1:9-11, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Peter 1:2-4, 1 John 5:13

Jesus begins the 'Sermon on the Mount' by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." To encourage the listener in the truth of God's rich grace, this episode examines this interesting statement and answers these questions: 1) What does it mean to be 'poor in spirit'? 2) How and why is a person 'blessed' who is poor in spirit? 3) How does a person become poor in spirit? Scripture referenced: Psalm 51:1-17, Isaiah 64:4, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:22-25, Matthew 5:1-3, Matthew 19:16-22, Luke 5:31-32, Luke 18:9-14, John 3:3, Romans 2:4, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 3:20, 22-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Galatians 1:3-10, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-9, Philippians 3:3-9

A clear presentation of the gospel to encourage the listener in the foundational truth that eternal life is a gift from God- a gift not earned by our good works or religious merits, but rather a gift received through genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 2:7-25, Genesis 3:1-20, Exodus 34:6-7, Isaiah 53:5-6, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 64:6, Luke 1:26-36, John 1:1-3, 14, John 14:6, Acts 16:25-31, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:20 (incorrected cited as Romans 3:19 in audio), Romans 3:22-26, Romans 5:1, 18, Romans 6:23, Romans 7:7-24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-9, Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:3-7

One of the most profound and yet misunderstood words in the Bible is "Foreknew." In Romans 8:29, Paul writes, "Those whom God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." This episode explains the specific meaning of this grand statement and answers three important questions: 1) What is the biblical meaning of 'foreknew'? 2) Who are those whom God foreknew? 3) What are the ultimate results or benefits for those whom God foreknew? Scripture Referenced: Genesis 4:1, Psalm 3:8, Psalm 16:8-11, Psalm 50:21, Isaiah 46:9-11, Isaiah 55:8-9, Jeremiah 1:5, Matthew 1:25, Matthew 7:21-23, John 2:24-25, John 3:3-10, John 5:21, John 6:44-45, 63, 65, John 10:14-15, 26-28, John 15:16, John 17:3, John 17:24, Acts 2:22-23, Acts 2:29-31, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:14, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:20, 22-23, Romans 5:1, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:6-18, Romans 11:2, Romans 11:33-36, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:13-16, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 3:7-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 2 Timothy 2:19, Titus 1:1-2, 1 Peter 1:2, 3-5, 1 Peter 1:18-20

Romans 8:28 states, "God is working in all things for good." This episode carefully explains the rich meaning of this monumental verse while answering three crucial questions: 1) What is the good that God is working in all things? 2) How does God work in all things to accomplish that good? 3) For whom specifically is God working good in all things? Scripture referenced: Genesis 37, 39-50, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 46:9-11, Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 10:29, 37, Matthew 20:28, John 4:34, John 5:17, John 10:27, John 11:38-44, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 11:33-36, 2Corinthians 5:14-15, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Philippians 3:7-10, Colossians 1:9-13, Colossians 1:15-18, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 2:11-14, Hebrews 1:1-3, 1 John 4:7-19

A detailed explanation of God's reasons for and messages in the recent wildfires that devastated parts of California, as well as the many other natural disasters that frequently strike our planet. Additionally discussed are how God's sovereign will providentially works in and through natural disasters, how God uses natural disasters ultimately for the spiritual well-being of His people, and what specifically is God's likely message to anyone who has suffered loss in a disaster of any kind. Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 3:17, Genesis 6-8, Genesis 19:1-28, Numbers 25:1-9, Deuteronomy 32:17-22, 35-39, Exodus 6:1-8, Exodus 7-12, Exodus 19:5, 1 Kings 16:29-34, 1 Kings 17:1-7, 1 Kings 18:1-40, 2 Kings 24:1-25:30, Job 1:1-2, Job 2:1-10, Job 19:25-27, Job 42:1-6, 10-12, Psalm 2:1-12, Psalm 7:11-13, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 96:4-5, Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 5:20, Isaiah 13:6-13, Isaiah 45:5-7, Isaiah 46:9-11, 45, Isaiah 53:1-12, Jeremiah 21-25, Matthew 6:19-33, Matthew 7:21-22, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:47-50, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 24:1-51, Luke 3:7-17, Luke 13:1-5, John 5:14, John 8:31-36, John 14:1-6, John 16:33, John 18:36, Acts 2:22-23, Acts 4:27-28, Acts 17:22-31, Romans 1:18-25, Romans 3:10-25, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 8:28-29, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Corinthians 1:1-10, 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, Philippians 3:7-10, 18-21, Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19, Hebrews 10:1-18,31, Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 11:1-3, 10, 13-16, Hebrews 12:26-29, James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:13, 2 Peter 3:1-13