Gaining Christ

A careful examination of God's presence and influence in California's recent devastating wildfires. Questions answered in this episode: Why do natural disasters occur at all? What causes our planet to be plagued with so many of them? Why would God create a planet that is so catastrophic? Where is God in any and all of our world's natural disasters? Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 2:8, Genesis 3:17 (incorrectly cited as Genesis 3:7 in audio), Genesis 6:11-22, Genesis 7:11-24, Exodus 19:5, Job 38:4, Psalm 50:21, Psalm 147:3-5, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 45:5-7, Isaiah 46:9-11, Isaiah 55:8-9, Acts 4:27-28, Romans 9:20, Romans 11:33-36, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:20, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:1-3, 2 Peter 3:6 (incorrectly cited as 2 Peter 6 in audio).

A detailed description of the identity, arrival, purpose, power, and work of the Holy Spirit. Specifically discussed are the Spirit's origin and nature, the Spirit's involvement in creation, the Spirit's service through the Old Testament, and the Spirit's extensive work in the salvation and life of the believer. Scripture Referenced: Genesis 1:1-2, Numbers 11:25, 1 Samuel 10:1-6, 1 Samuel 16:1-14, Psalm 51:11, Psalm 139:7, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Joel 2:28-32, Matthew 3:7-12, Luke 3:15-17, Luke 24:45-49, John 3:1-10, John 6:45, 63, John 7:38-39, John 10:27-30, John 14:12-26, John 15:5, 26, John 16:7-15, Acts 1:1-8, Acts 2:1-43, Acts 16:14, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 6:17, Romans 8:6-8, 1 Corinthians 2:1-14, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:5, 14, 17-21, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:13-14, Ephesians 2:1-3, 4-5, Ephesians 3:20, Ephesians 4:30, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Colossians 1:15-17, Colossians 1:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:3-7

A clear explanation of the identity, nature, origin, purpose, work, position, and rank of Jesus Christ to encourage the listener in the eternal truth of God. Scripture Reference: Genesis 1:1-2, Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12:3 (incorrectly cited as Genesis 12:13 in audio), 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, Psalm 2:1-12, Isaiah 9:2, 6-7, Isaiah 13:6-13, Isaiah 42:1-8, Isaiah 53:5, 10-11, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Matthew 1:18-25, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 16:13-17, Matthew 20:28, Matthew 25:31-34, 41, Matthew 28:18, Luke 1:26-38, John 1:1-18, John 3:1-2, John 3:17, John 6:35-30, John 8:12, John 10:9, 14-15, John 10:19-21, John 11:25, John 12:47, John 14:6, John 17:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-18, Colossians 1:19 (incorrectly cited as 1 Corinthians 1:19 in audio), Colossians 2:9 (incorrectly cited as 1 Corinthians 2:9 in audio), Titus 1:1-2, Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-12, Hebrews 2:10, 1 Peter 1:17-20, 1 John 3:8, Revelation 6:14-22, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 22:12-13

A clear description of God. Specifically detailed are God's identity, uniqueness, appearance, nature, attributes, supremacy, power, wisdom, character, love, generosity, and faithfulness. Also discussed are the blessings God gives to those who know Him. Scripture Referenced: Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 2:7, 15-16, Exodus 3:1-15, Exodus 7-12, Exodus 33:20, Exodus 34:6-7, Deuteronomy 32:17, 1 Kings 18:17-40, Job 38:4, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 23:1, 6, Psalm 50:21, Psalm 95:6, Psalm 103:10-11, Psalm 135:6, Psalm 147:4-5, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 40:25-26, 28, Isaiah 45:5-7, Isaiah 46:8-9, Isaiah 55:8-9, Daniel 7:9, Matthew 17:1-9, Matthew 24:14, 36-44, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:26-37, Luke 9:25, Luke 12:32, John 1:1-5, 14, John 4:24, John 10:14, 27-30, John 14:6, John 15:9, Acts 17:22-31, Romans 3:23-26, Romans 6:23, Romans 11:33-34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 1:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Titus 1:1-2, Hebrews 1:1-4, Hebrews 2:14, 1 Peter 3:18, 2 Peter 3:7-10, Revelation 1:14-18, Revelation 4:1-11, Revelation 20:10, Revelation 22:13

Have ever felt hurt, confused, misled, used, lost, uninspired, hopeless, betrayed, controlled, burdened, or burned by religion and its inability to deliver real spiritual results? If yes, then we encourage you to listen to this episode. Eternal life and right standing with God is not a religion. It is a relationship. In this episode we explain why relationship is the way to God’s favor and peace and why the prescriptive rituals of religion are not. Included is explanation on how a person enters into genuine relationship with God as well as why so many are drawn to religion. Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:26-27, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 63:1, 3, 5, Isaiah 55:1-3, Jeremiah 31:34, Matthew 7:13-15, Matthew 11:28, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 15:3, Luke 20:32-43, John 10:10-14, 27, John 14:7, 23, John 17:3, Acts 17:22-27, Romans 1:6, Romans 3:20, 21-25, Romans 5:1, Romans 7:7-25, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:7-11, Colossians 2:23, 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 3:15, James 2:23, 1 John 5:11-13, 19, Revelation 12:12, 17  

A biblical explanation of salvation, including answers to the following questions: What is salvation? Why does mankind need salvation? From what specifically is a person saved who has salvation? How does a person receive salvation? Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1-27, Genesis 2:7, 15-17, Genesis 3:1-20, Exodus 3:1-8, Exodus 14:30-31, Exodus 34:6-7, Psalm 3:8, Psalm 13:5, Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 53:5-6, Isaiah 61:10, Jeremiah 31:30, Ezekiel 18:20, Matthew 1:18-21, Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 2:10-11, John 8:34-36, Acts 2:21, Acts 4:11-12, Acts 16:30-31, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:20, Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12-19, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:10, Romans 8:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-10, Colossians 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, Titus 3:3-6, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:11-18, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:12

Jesus said, “Unless a person is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God" (John 3:3). This episode carefully examines this monumental statement and answers three important questions: 1) What does it mean to be ‘born again’? 2) Why must a person be born again to see the Kingdom of God? 3) How is a person actually born again? Also discussed are prevalent false teachings that mislead many away from a true spiritual rebirth and into a false sense of security with God. Scripture referenced: Genesis 3:1-20, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:22-27, Luke 3:15-18, John 3:1-10, John 5:24, John 6:44-45, 63, 65, John 8:34-36, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9:1-22, Romans 2:28-29, Romans 5:12-19, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:1-3, Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9, Titus 3:3-7, 1 Peter 1:3

A biblical explanation of free will. Specifically answered is: What is free will? Who has free will? What causes a person to have or not have free will? What influences does God have upon free will? Scripture referenced: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:1-20, Genesis 4:1-10, Luke 18:18-30, John 3:1-10, John 6:44-45, 63, 65, John 8:31-36, John 11:1-44, Acts 7:54-8:3, Acts 9:1-22, Romans 5:1-10, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 7:7-24, Romans 8:1-9, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:6-21, 2 Corinthians 5:14-16, 17-21, Ephesians 2:1-5, Philippians 2:12-13, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:3-7, 2 Peter 3:1-9, 1 John 5:19

In Psalm 23, David illustratively describes the profoundly rich results of God's loving favor saturating his life. In this episode, we carefully analyze this well-known Psalm to encourage the listener to seek and enjoy the same rich blessings that God provided David. Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1, 26-27, Genesis 15:6, Exodus 3:1-15, 1 Samuel 13:14, 1 Samuel 16:6-13, 1 Samuel 17:1-54, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, 2 Samuel 12:1-23, Job 19:25-27, Psalm 2:12, Psalm 16:1-11, Psalm 23:1-6, Psalm 32:1-5, Psalm 51:1-17, Psalm 65:1-5, Proverbs 19:21, Isaiah 53:1-12, Isaiah 61:10, Ezekiel 36:22-27, Matthew 7:13-14, Matthew 13:44, Matthew 26:36-42, John 5:21, John 8:56-58, John 14:6, 27, John 15:18-19, John 16:33, Acts 2:22-35, Acts 4:12, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:22-26, Romans 5:1-11, Romans 8:1-8, Romans 9:1-18, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Philippians 2:12-13, Philippians 3:3-21, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:3-7, Hebrews 9:27, 1 John 4:7-19, Revelation 12:12-17

Considering the bizarre events within the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Paris, this episode details how God responds when people deliberately mock God, reject God, or assertively deny His authority. Also explained is how God mercifully responds when even the vilest of sinners repents and trusts and follows Jesus. Scripture referenced: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Psalm 2:1-12, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 37:12-13, Psalm 59:5-8, Matthew 7:13-14, Luke 1:26-35, John 1:1-5, 14, John 3:35, Acts 2:22-41, Acts 3:11-23, Acts 4:12, Acts 4:23-31, Romans 1:18-28, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15-20,