Programs And Podcasts

Abraham was a man of faith—but he was not a flawless man. In this searching message, Dr. Michael Youssef exposes the danger of partial obedience, spiritual detours, and settling short of God’s will.

Abraham faltered, stalled, and made fear-driven choices. Yet God’s inerrant Word kept pressing him forward until his life became a powerful testimony to God’s faithfulness and grace.

This episode calls believers to:

A faithful witness is not someone who never fails. It is someone who keeps returning to God, trusting His promises, and pressing forward in obedience.

Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:8–19

 If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone. 

Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

ESG investing promises to align your portfolio with your values. But an important question remains: Whose values are shaping the standards?

Environmental, social, and governance ratings are often presented as measures of corporate responsibility. Yet the assumptions behind those ratings may not always align with biblical convictions.

Nick Schmitz, Professor of Finance at The Catholic University of America and a Board Member of the Christian Investing Council (CIC), joined the show today to explain the differences between ESG and faith-based investing—and why Christians should pay attention not only to what they own, but also to how their shares are voted.

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. ESG ratings attempt to evaluate companies based on their performance in each of those areas.

But Schmitz points out that ESG standards are developed by secular ratings agencies and can shift with cultural and political trends. Faith-based investing starts somewhere different: with convictions rooted in biblical truth.

That distinction matters because a company may receive strong ESG ratings while supporting practices that conflict with a Christian investor’s beliefs about issues such as the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, family, or human dignity.

There may certainly be areas of overlap. Christians care about justice, responsible stewardship, fair treatment of employees, and care for creation. But agreement on certain issues does not mean the underlying moral frameworks are the same.

Faith-based investing asks a deeper question: Does the way this company operates—and the way my ownership stake is used—reflect the convictions I am seeking to live by?

One area investors may overlook is proxy voting.

Owning shares in a publicly traded company generally gives investors the opportunity to vote on certain corporate matters. But individual investors rarely cast those votes themselves. Instead, asset managers often rely on large proxy advisory firms to provide recommendations or process votes on their behalf.

That means Christians may unknowingly own investments whose shares are being voted in ways that conflict with their beliefs.

Schmitz offered an example involving shareholder proposals related to Google and crisis pregnancy centers. Some proposals sought changes in how those organizations appeared in search results and were characterized positively within ESG-oriented frameworks. Faith-based investors, however, could reach a very different conclusion because of their convictions regarding the unborn and the work of pro-life ministries.

For Christian investors, then, screening a portfolio may be only part of the stewardship equation. How shares are voted can matter too.

Schmitz has been involved in developing proxy-voting policies designed to better reflect Catholic investment principles. The effort grew from concern that existing guidelines did not always reflect the convictions they claimed to represent.

The broader lesson applies to Christian investors of many traditions: we do not necessarily have to outsource our influence without asking questions.

Faith-based investing can involve both screening and engagement.

Screening considers whether a company’s products, services, or practices conflict with an investor’s convictions. Engagement asks whether shareholders can encourage companies toward practices that better promote human flourishing.

That makes faith-based investing more than a list of companies or industries to avoid. Shareholders can also use their ownership to advocate for positive c

If you find a great restaurant, or see a good movie, chances are you’re not shy in mentioning it to someone else. We like to pass along helpful suggestions. But so many of us just don’t feel comfortable in suggesting someone consider the hope of the Gospel. We’ll talk about that reluctance today on A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg Laurie continues his studies in the book of Acts. We’ll learn to follow the example of our First Century forefathers and discover the thrill of spreading the Good News.

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is a zig zag line. God’s ultimate purpose for our life is often achieved by circumstances that seem to make no apparent sense to us. Is that how you feel? Do you need some help? Join Chip as he explains how, even in our worst circumstances, God can bring us joy!

Resources

• Message Notes
• Special Offers

Connect

• 888-333-6003
• Website
• Chip Ingram App
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Partner With Us

• Donate Online
• 888-333-6003

Pop culture is everywhere—shaping the way your kids see the world and often teaching lessons that go against God’s Word. Dr. Holly Brand explains why you as a parent play such a crucial role in helping your children develop a strong faith, discern truth from lies, and build godly character in the middle of today’s confusing culture. She’ll share how you can help your kids find their identity in Christ, work through doubts, and stand firm on God’s truth, even when life gets tough. Those small, intentional choices you make every day can have a lasting impact on your child’s heart and beliefs.
Receive a copy of the "Christ & Culture 2.0" bundle and an audio download of "Teaching Your Children How to Engage the Culture" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.
Get more episode resources 
Do you have a story or comment on how Focus on the Family impacted you or your family? Leave a message for Jim Daly!
If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.