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Are you carrying unnecessary weights in your spiritual race? Dr. John explores Hebrews 12:1-3 and the powerful imagery of running with endurance. Learn how to lay aside the sins and distractions that hinder your faith, and why keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus—the founder and perfecter of our faith—is the key to finishing strong.
The Jesus Effect: Faith in Jesus ought to make a difference in our lives. The good news is not simply a message of comfort or hope; the Gospel is a message of transformation! In this 10 message series, Dr. John teaches about the changes Jesus makes in our worship, conduct, and relationships. Listen to these messages and get ready to be changed.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Consider how precious a soul must be, when both God and the devil are after it.” The story of the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19 shows us just how true that is. This young man approached Jesus with a pressing question: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
What followed was a conversation that revealed not only his heart but also the way possessions can grip any of us more deeply than we realize.
A Revealing QuestionAt first glance, the man seemed sincere. But notice his words: “What good thing must I do?” He assumed that eternal life could be earned—checked off like an item on a list. Jesus, however, had just finished telling the crowd that the Kingdom belongs to those who receive it like children, wholly dependent on God’s goodness. The man either missed or resisted that truth.
When Jesus pointed him to the commandments, it wasn’t because those could save him. It was to reveal what held the highest place in his heart. Outwardly, he looked moral. Inwardly, his wealth had become his god.
When the man pressed further, Jesus cut to the core: “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:22 records the heartbreaking result: “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.”
The issue wasn’t money—it was devotion. Jesus loved him enough to name the one thing keeping him from life. For him, it was wealth. For us, it might be something else—career, reputation, control. Whatever we prize above Christ must be surrendered.
What This Means for UsDoes this mean every believer is called to sell everything? Not necessarily. As the NIV Study Bible notes, Jesus’s command applied directly to this man’s spiritual condition. But the principle still stands: anything we cling to more tightly than Christ can become a barrier to faith.
After the man walked away, Jesus warned His disciples: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is not evil, but it has the unique power to enslave us.
So the question for us is this: What competes for your devotion? What gives you a sense of identity or security apart from Christ?
Jesus’s words to the Rich Young Ruler are both sobering and full of hope. Wealth can blind us to our need for God, but surrendering to Christ leads to true life. The invitation is the same today: Will we cling to temporary treasures, or embrace the eternal treasure of knowing Him?
Because the problem isn’t wealth, the problem is worship.
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At FaithFi, we often talk about being “rich toward God,” a phrase Jesus used in Luke 12 when warning about the Rich Fool. It means treasuring Christ above all else, practicing generosity, and holding our resources with open hands.
That’s why we’ve created the Rich Toward God study, designed to help you see money and possessions from God’s perspective and reorient your heart toward eternal treasure. You can order a copy—or even place a bulk order for group study—at FaithFi.com/Shop.
On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:God's holiness raises two really great questions: 1) If God is so holy that He can't even look at sin, how can sinful people have a relationship with Him? 2) If trusting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross to cover our sin and make us holy in God's sight, why do we keep on sinning? Join Chip as he tackles these and more.
Defining the Holiness of God:
How does God reveal His holiness to us?
God’s holiness raises two important questions:
How must we respond to the holiness of God?
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In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul is writing to believers in a big, influential society that’s not unlike many of our own today. The city of Rome was the largest city of his day … and it was filled with sinful practices and beliefs … today, on Bold Steps, Pastor Mark Jobe is going to show us how we can live in the culture around us … but not yield to its influences.
Bold Step Gift: Walk Like Jesus: Who He Calls Us To Be
Become a Bold Partner: https://www.moodyradio.org/donateto/boldsteps
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A loving person is a generous person. Generosity is giving your attention, time, abilities and money freely to others.
Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/lovelanguageminute
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“Every last one is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.” Constitutional expert, lawyer, author, pastor, and founder of Liberty Counsel Mat Staver discusses the important topics of the day with co-hosts and guests that impact life, liberty, and family. To stay informed and get involved, visit LC.org.
What happens when kids grow up in Christian homes, attend church regularly, and still end up thinking more like the culture than like Christ? That’s the question Elizabeth Urbanowicz couldn’t ignore as a classroom teacher—and it sparked a mission that’s now helping families around the world.
In this episode, Elizabeth shares how her background in education and apologetics led her to create Foundation Worldview, a curriculum designed to help kids think critically, biblically, and confidently. You’ll hear how simple, age-appropriate tools are transforming children from passive consumers into thoughtful, truth-seeking disciples of Jesus.
Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or ministry leader, this conversation will encourage you to build a strong foundation of faith at home—with practical ideas, engaging resources, and a whole lot of hope.
Foundation Worldview
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1 John 4:11-12
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
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