How do you get the most out of your Bible study? Or in reverse, how do you make studying the Bible useless, or at the very least, less fruitful than it should be? That's the focus of our study today. James 1:22-25 gives us an exhortation to "be doers of the word and not hearers only." If you want to master a new concept or skill, what do you need to do? Can you read a tutorial or watch one video and declare yourself an expert? No, we know we need to use and practice the information we've been taught. We'll find in our study today that the same principle applies for growing in our knowledge and transformation in Christ, as we study his word. We hope you are blessed and challenged by this episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

In Paul's closing words to this letter, he gives 5 simple and practical exhortations for the Corinthian believers (and all believers) to put into practice. We finish our series on the letter of 2 Corinthians by expounding on each one of these exhortations. We hope you are blessed in this another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

Scripture teaches us that salvation is a free gift procured solely by the righteousness and atoning death of Jesus Christ. Scripture also teaches us the only way to receive this gift is by faith in God offering it. John 1:12 tells us "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." A question comes to us then: how do I know I've really received Christ as my savior? The Bible's answer to that question is the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

One of the most uncomfortable, and therefore often neglected, functions of the church is church discipline. As Paul is concluding his second letter to the church at Corinth, he essentially warns them that he's coming to deal with those who have continued to live in sin. Why is this practice of accountable Christian behavior essential for the health of the church? Why then do we struggle so much with faithfulness in this area? What are some things we need to be aware to help us fulfill this church function? Consider these questions and more in another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

Someone once said that it is not that power itself corrupts people, but positions of power attract the most corrupt people because they see they can benefit from those positions. We see this play out in leadership in both the public and private sectors. As believers, we know the root evil is the selfishness of sinful human beings. How is a Christian leader's life pattern different from these examples, and what does this unique pattern meant to produce? That's the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

When tragedies occur, like the recent earthquakes in Venezuela, people often say there can't be a God because no loving and all-powerful being could ever allow such an event to happen. Even for believers who are very convinced of God's power and goodness, tragedies can be great stumbling blocks that cause us to doubt and question God. In John 11, we find several helpful revelations about God's perspective being higher than ours in tragedies, God's presence in the midst of our tragedies, and how we can even see God's glory as we walk through tragedy. That's the focus of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

What type of servants is God looking for? Many times, we think God should save and use those whose talents we presume would be profitable to him. In today's focal passage, the Apostle Paul narrates a personal experience where he asked for deliverance from a bodily weakness, but then learned the truth about how God's power is actually perfect in our weakness. We hope you are blessed and encouraged by another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

There have been some popular books written about people who claim to have gone to heaven and returned, some even claiming to have come back from the dead. Many people have been influenced by such claims and have placed a great deal of trust in them. What should believers think about such stories? In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul gives us a record of his own experience of being "caught up to heaven." His description of this event is very instructive to us in ciphering through the alleged claims of heavenly revelations people use to support their truth claims. That is the topic of today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

What qualities do you appreciate most in other people? One of the most common criticisms of world leaders' behavior is their arrogance. This complaints shows that humility is one of the qualities we find most attractive in people. How does this play an important part in the Christian life, and especially in effective Christian leadership? We'll consider these things and more in today's episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.

In this study, we focus on the Apostle Paul's narrative of his own personal history as evidence proving he was a true servant of Christ. One of the great warnings to the church throughout the NT is the reality that there are many pretending Christians, and especially pretending Christian leaders, within the fellowship of the church. How can we recognize them when they "wear sheep's clothing?" Today, we'll receive some from important perspective in discerning "proof" of a true leader's service. We hope you are blessed and challenged by another episode of transforming our thinking through the power of God's word.