Podcast Seminary

What to Expect From God When All Hope is Gone

Sometimes life hits us hard. When that continues without letting up, people begin to lose perspective. They have doubt, fear, insecurity, hopelessness, and even depression.

It's happened to all of us. Every Christian seeking greater discipleship and spiritual maturity know the feeling.

But when the bottom falls out, what can we expect from God? What can we expect when "hope" itself is gone?

Struggling in our faith isn't uncommon. Sometimes people even sort of 'lose' their faith. But the Bible says that faith is from God, first to last. In other words, it's not the power of our faith that sustains us, but our faith in God-- and His strength, not the strength of our faith, is what sustains us.

When All Hope Is Gone, we learn several key things from Psalm 32. Yes, that Psalm-- the utterly tormented Psalm of David where he finally cries out in repentance. Following that, David discusses what happens when we see floodwaters rise.

We learn in this important Psalm 32:6 and following several essential truths about what God does when life falls apart and we get realigned with Him.

In this important podcast episode, Dr. Freddy Cardoza tells a true but unlikely story for the first time about how God shared this truth with him. Listen and be encouraged. You'll learn, among other things, that:

1. God Will Speak To You

2. God Will Show You the Way

3. God Will Give You Counsel

These and other insights will help you in the dark days of your Christian life.

We all want God's best for our lives. We want to grow spiritually. We want to become all God has made us to be. We really want that!

But we often don't know how.

Because of the importance of spiritual maturity, Christians have always, since the days Jesus walked with His disciples, sought to understand what spirituality is and how to get it.

Spiritual maturity is the goal-- and spiritual formation is the means to that goal.

Depending on the time in history, Christians have historically looked at spiritual formation through different approaches. This has led to what may be identified as five historical movements in Christian Spirituality.

Each of these continue to have influence today, though some are very old. No such history is perfect, but these markers at least provide a context to thinking about spirituality and how it is viewed.

Five Major Movements in Christian Spirituality

Learn about these five major approaches to Christian spirituality in this episode of Podcast Seminary.

1. The Desert Fathers (Monastic, with Orthodox and Roman Catholic Spirituality)

2. The Protestant Reformation (Reformation Spirituality)

3. Evangelical Movement (Modern Evangelical Spirituality)

4. Charismatic Movement (Charismatic Spirituality)

5. Spiritual Formation Movement (Christian Formation and Renovare' Movement)

Psalm 119 has the honored status of being the Bible's longest chapter.

Fittingly, it also happens to be 'all about' the Bible. It's nearly 200 verses are packed with information about the Word of God and its importance.

In this Podcast Seminary episode, our Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza, unpacks a total of 24 principles learned from the Bible "about" the Bible.

You'll learn:

• 12 Ways the Bible Describes Itself
• 12 Benefits of the Word of God

Listen in!

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God doesn't want us to live in fear—but many do.

This session is to challenge us not to fear, but to overcome it with courage.

Throughout scripture, God says it again, and again, and again—Fear Not; Be Not Afraid, Be Strong and Courageous, and other similar phrases— a few hundred times, in fact. So it's clear that God doesn't want us to be afraid.

But how do we overcome debilitating fear? Important tips are presented here in this special episode.

Want even more? Check out my long-talk given at a men's retreat for Saddleback Church in 2016. Check it out: http://podcastseminary.libsyn.com/fearless-the-psychology-of-fear

Want Podcast Seminary content regularly? Of course you do! Be the first to get it by subscribing to our email list, plus you'll get multiple free resources to boot! Get on the list and receive free downloads in only a minute from now. See www.podcastseminary.info

You're a great dad– or at least trying. Great!

Now it's time to begin thinking about upping your game, by setting your sights on the real prize: Winning Your Children's "World's Greatest Dad" Award OR AT LEAST the title of "Hero."

But what does it take to become our kids' champion?

Three things, explained fully in this special Father's Day Podcast Seminary episode.

The Sure-Fire Way to Clinch Your Kid's "Hero" Title

1. Provide Memorable Experiences

2. Give Spiritual Wisdom and Godly Advice

3. Inject Experiences With Adventure and Play

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Happy Father's Day, Dads!

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NOTE: This episode is intended to be a 'sharable resource.' See details below.

Do you have a difficult relationship with your father, or painful memories that you'd like to shake? Why not, in the privacy of your mobile device or computer, download the just-released Podcast Seminary 9 page resource "Fatherless" which speaks to the challenge of having been neglected, ignored, or wounded by your father. Or, if you don't need it, why not get one and share it with others who do?

In this special resource, Podcast Seminary Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza, provides an enormous number of solid resources to help provide encouragement, healing, and perspective to sons and daughters who had difficult relationships with their dads. You'll also find helps and perspectives, if you happen to be a dad who has room for improvement in your own parenting or fathering approach.

Unique in its design and content, this is a resource that provides:

• 25 links to websites specifically devoted to those hurt by their fathers
• 25 links to important web-based articles on all aspects of this topic
• 25 links to books that specifically target all aspects of fathering

That's 75 resources! All a click away.

In addition, there are two special prayers in this dossier-- one being a prayer for those hurt by their dad, and another for fathers seeking to be good dads.

These would be appropriate resources for (1) personal healing and (2) a Father's Day Dinner Toast or Prayer [specifically the touching prayer/reading for fathers trying to be good dads to their kids and grandkids].

This is something you have to see. Download it instantly right now. See this amazing resource now: http://www.podcastseminary.com/fathers-day-2017/

Here are 3 pages of this 9 page resource!

Part 2 of the two-part mini-series! Listen to part 1 first.

Are you pleased with your handle on scripture? Are you confident about your personal knowledge of the Bible?

If not or if you are unsure, this podcast is for you.

In it, our Podcast Seminary Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza, discusses a number of aspects surrounding today's societal challenge of biblical literacy (knowing the Bible). He then discusses two of the 5 secrets to building and possessing that type of biblical knowledge with specific detail on how we can avoid weak or spotty understandings of the Bible, making them a thing of the past.

Are you pleased with your handle on scripture? Are you confident about your personal knowledge of the Bible?

If not or if you are unsure, this podcast is for you.

In it, our Podcast Seminary Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza, discusses a number of aspects surrounding today's societal challenge of biblical literacy (knowing the Bible). He then discusses two of the 5 secrets to building and possessing that type of biblical knowledge with specific detail on how we can avoid weak or spotty understandings of the Bible, making them a thing of the past.

Join us for part 1 of this series then look for the next and final part of the mini series by the same title.

Have you seen our new Podcast Seminary YouTube Channel? If not, check it out at www.podcastseminary.net.

Thanks for listening. If you're not yet subscribed to Podcast Seminary, please do at http://podcastseminary.libsyn.com or on your favorite podcasting app. If you are already subscribed and want additional information, be sure to join our email list for all the latest from Podcast Seminary's many resources!

For joining our email list, you will receive this valuable 12 page free resource, just created to help you dig deeper into God's Word. Wow!

Join our email list here and receive this!

Thanks for listening to Podcast Seminary!

Dr. Freddy Cardoza, Dean

What is the primary warning sign of spiritual weakness?

Lots of Christians feel private concern that they aren't where they want or need to be when it comes to their spiritual life.

In addition, there are those who are spiritual seekers, people trying to find their way toward God, who also feel concerned about this issue.

It's time for that to stop! Listen as Dr. Freddy Cardoza, the Podcast Seminary Dean, explains the primary warning sign of spiritual weakness-- followed by three specific tips of how to avoid spiritual weakness.

Knowing God is mysterious, but God hasn't left us in the dark about how to increase our knowledge and experience of Him.

In this episode, Podcast Seminary Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza, identifies 7 key ways to increase your knowledge of God. These are seven accessible and actionable principles you can put into action immediately. They include mindsets, practices,

1. We know God by being intentional
2. We know God by being curious
3. We know God by being open
4. We know God by being deliberate in our learning
5. We know God by being consistent in learning
6. We know God by being discriminating in what we learn
7. We know God by being obedient to what we learn

So these are 7 sure ways to increase your knowledge of God.

Thanks for listening! Podcast Seminary helps you grow in your faith. If you've benefited from today's podcast, please subscribe then share it with others!

Today's question is, "What do Mature Christians do in order to become "Mature Christians?"

Most of those we know who have made great progress in the Christian life have done so in the secret place of the heart. Spiritual Giants aren't made on stage or under the spotlights; they are hewn from the Rock of Ages in secret.

For this reason, the secretive and private process of spiritual growth and personal metamorphosis, Christian maturity is sometimes misunderstood and remains a mystery.

In this episode of Podcast Seminary, we'll learn that, to be transformed, we must be intentional and deliberate. Transformation is not accidental. It isn't happenstance. It is the result of a process of working with God in His effort to shape you and form you.

When we cooperate with God, our growth comes easier and more quickly. When we resist and resent God's work in our lives, our spiritual growth is sluggish, uneven, and frustrating.

In Episode 004 of Podcast Seminary, our Dean, Dr. Freddy Cardoza unpacks Five Keys to Christian Maturity, which are:

1. Acquire
2. Assess
3. Acknowledge
4. Apply
5. Advance

During this discussion, we'll explore some of the wisdom of Solomon, the great king of the Nation of Israel, among other people and passages in scripture.

Thank you for sharing your time with us and joining in this effort to take responsibility for your own discipleship. That's honorable, and we respect that.

Podcast Seminary's 9 Essential Areas of Discipleship

Incidentally, this episode falls in one of the nine essential categories we have identified as being critical for renewing your mind. This episode is categorized as a "Formation" episode, which is Category 2 in our discipleship model. Here are the categories we are building content to help you develop a balanced life and powerful faith.

Look for future episodes of Podcast Seminary, as we work to provide resources that equip you with the tools you need to grow in your faith.

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Thanks for listening!