Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast

We crave power. We like walking in our own strength. We are embarrassed by weakness, yet the apostle Paul boasts in his weaknesses. Minister Aaron Hill reminds listeners how Paul, whom we consider a giant of the Christian faith, points out his own weaknesses, declaring that it is God’s power that made him perfect in his weakness. Is it possible that if we don’t recognize our own weaknesses, we may not recognize God? God gives us our gifts! When we are weak, then we are strong. We can be content with weakness if we are in Christ.

How often have we let our inadequacies affect our faith? Minister Aaron Hill uses the example of Moses to assure listeners that God wants to be with us even though He knows we're not good enough by ourselves. Even though we're not good enough, that's ok. Moses didn't think he was good enough to lead Israel, and without God, he wasn't. Though we may doubt our own ability, it's not about us! It's about the fact that God can. God is absolute. God makes us good.

Guest speaker Paul Jones challenges listeners to be deep divers into God's word and to think seriously about their lives and the choices they've made and will make. Have you ever wondered how things would be if you'd never been born, if you hadn't chosen the same spouse, if you had chosen a different career? Our choices define us, and our choice to follow Jesus Christ is the most important we'll ever make. Dig deep.

Cole Law of Walnut Street Church of Christ in Texarkana walks listeners through Romans chapter 8. He asks whether any of his audience has reached his or her potential in life in Christ. Christians don't retire but continue to pursue that goal throughout their lives. God created us for more than we are doing now. Romans 8 gives us the confidence and assurance we need to continue on the Christian path. 

Kraig Martin of Harding University of Searcy, Arkansas, walks listeners through various theories of atonement, considering how Jesus' death on the cross affects salvation. Are we only saved from the guilt of our sin, or are we saved from the sin in our lives? Do we know what sanctification is, and do we strive for that through our lives as Christians? Martin gives listeners a lot to think about as he walks us through the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for all humanity to give them the ability to choose a lasting relationship with Him.

Jesus told his disciples well in advance of His death that He would die and be raised from the dead. He was arrested, beaten, abused, crucified, and buried, and on the third day He rose. He appeared to some of His disciples, and they spread the word of His resurrection.  Minister Robert Peek reminds listeners that Thomas was one who did not immediately believe their report.  Thomas said that he would have to see the wounds, touch them, before he would believe. When Jesus told Thomas to do just that, Thomas responded, "My Lord and my God!" There will be times when we doubt or question. That's not bad, but we don't need to stay there. Jesus helped Thomas move beyond his doubt. He can help us do the same. We should believe in Christ not because we don't know what else to do but because it is the only thing to do. 

Aaron Hill of Waco, Texas, and Searcy, Arkansas, reminds listeners that being a follower of Christ means making oneself vulnerable. We might cringe at the thought of making ourselves vulnerable. We view vulnerability as weakness, yet Paul the apostle said that God told him, "“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul goes on to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."  We are not called to live a life of comfort. Christ didn't live a comfortable life. Christ made Himself vulnerable for us. Shouldn't we make ourselves vulnerable for each other?

God created humans and wanted a face-to-face relationship with his creation. Humankind, however, began early to listen to the wrong voices. Todd Richards tells listeners that once Adam and Eve opted to listen to Satan instead of God, they began a trend that has continued throughout history. They chose human pride over the wisdom of God. We must learn what is gold and what is gold-plated. No matter how wise we think we are, we can't changed to truth. We can't separate our spiritual life from our worldly life. With Jesus, it's all or nothing, and the only way to be genuine is to listen to what God has to say. We can either be servants of cynicism or slaves of salvation. Which will we choose? To whom will you listen?   

Matt Carter leads listeners through an in depth look at Psalm 95. Two songs that we often sing come from this psalm: "Come, Let Us Sing for Joy to the Lord" and "Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down." The psalm begins on a note of hope, joy, and gratitude, but it ends with despair. The psalmist warns the Israelite people not to harden their hearts as they had done in the past and had incurred God's anger. Can we take to heart both the hope and the warning? What is God saying to us, to you, through this psalm?

Mike Ireland of Searcy, Arkansas, challenges listeners to take another look at the parable of the Good Samaritan. When the teacher of the law asks Jesus the question, he does so in order to test Jesus. After Jesus' answer, the lawyer, wanting to justify himself, asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus responds with a story that likely made the questioner squirm. Jesus ends the story with a challenge to the lawyer to go and do likewise. Why would the lawyer struggle with that? We don't usually struggle with knowing what God wants us to do; we struggle with doing what God wants us to do. Three men passed a wounded man on the side of the road. Only one stopped to help. Didn't they all see the same thing? Ireland contends that they did not because two of them lacked the response needed to stop and help. Only the Samaritan saw the man and had compassion on him. It didn't matter to him whether the man deserved it, qualified for it, or could do anything in return for it. He saw the man, and he had compassion on him. Christians should not lose their capacity to care. We should care MOST! Compassion moves us to get involved. The compassion we show reflects our relationship with God. Compassion does something. Do we care enough to do what we can do?