Reliable Truth

What are you thirsting for? When you desire something, there's generally something out there that will fulfill or satisfy that desire.

But, one of the problems of life is when you become convinced that there's something out there in the world that you believe will satisfy your life. Then once you obtain it, you discover, "you know, this really doesn't do it. This really doesn't satisfy me."

Or there may be an initial sense of satisfaction, but it just doesn't last. The thrill diminishes over time.

What is that all about? Psalm 64:6 ends with these words: "the inward thoughts and the heart of a man are deep."

In this episode, we'll look at two things that help us understand our desires:

• the knowledge of God and
• the knowledge of self.

One of the great things about the Bible is that it teaches us what we need to know about God, and what we need to know about ourselves. Scripture reveals the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. >>Watch on YouTube

Psalm 112 tells us about two kinds of fear.

This chapter leans into both kinds, and it also tells us that these two fears cannot co-exist. They are like oil and water.

Everyone is fearing something. But the question is:

• what are we fearing?

• and how is this fear shaping our lives?

Psalm 112 tells us, "Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments!...Light dawns in the darkness for the upright...He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady. He will not be afraid."

⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

How can you and I be ready for what comes after this life?

Today Richard's guest is Allan Chappelle, teaching an overview of Bible prophecy.

The Bible is a supernatural book, written by a source outside of our time domain.

This book literally knows the end from the beginning - the whole history of the world that is in God's knowledge base. And God proves the validity of this book by telling you what's going to happen in the future... and 100% of the time it comes true.

>>Watch on YouTube

Allan Chappelle has been teaching Bible Prophecy as well as the rest of the Bible for over 50 years. He was the Founding Teaching Director for the Birmingham Men’s Community Bible Study.

When facing death, where is your hope?

Yes this is not the season of Easter, but the truth of the resurrection of Christ is where we find our hope in facing death and dying.

Is it truly possible to “joy­fully anticipate death,” as C.S. Lewis wrote about?

Can we honestly reflect and come to terms with mortality so that we can live with a joyful experience of the present and still maintain an optimistic view of the future?

In Armand Nicholi's book The Question of God, he says this about the importance of God and its influence on your worldview:

“Our view of God ultimately determines how we face sexuality, life, death, love, and loss.”

Read more about this in my newly updated book ⁠Safe Passage - Thinking Clearly About Life and Death.⁠ *This week get 40% off with promo code DAD40 for Father's Day*

What is your strategy for dealing with your mortality?

Years ago, a friend of mine came to me, concerned about his father, who was a very wealthy self-made man. He was concerned because his father had no spiritual life, so he talked to his dad about it and his father said, "You know, I just don’t have any need for God in my life. I don’t have any real need for Christ in my life."

In other words, he was saying, "I have a strategy for contending with life, and it’s a financial strategy. I’ll throw money and influence at life’s problems."

I have no idea if this man ever changed his mind, but he died recently and I’m not sure that his strategy took into account the fragileness of life.

What's your strategy?

Read more about this in my newly updated book Safe Passage - Thinking Clearly About Life and Death. *This week get 40% off with promo code DAD40 for Father's Day*

As we lead up to Father's Day, I'd like to share a message that my good friend Jerry Leachman gave at one of our Mens Breakfasts a few years ago.

One of the most important things that could happen in a man’s life is to become reconciled with his father or reconciled with his son. Forgive and be forgiven.

Then cultivate that relationship, and pass on what you are learning to the next generation.

In Deuteronomy 6, God exhorts us to be like an on-field coach:

"These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life...

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Jerry Leachman of ⁠Leachman Ministries⁠ is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

When Jesus raises from the dead and ascends to the right hand of the Father, what is He doing? What is Jesus doing now?

He does not sit idly in heaven. As our raised and ascended Lord, Jesus lives right now, praying and interceding for us, His people.

Hebrews 7:25 tells us: "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them."

Watch on YouTube

Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

What is the role of understanding in our lives?

I remember years ago, driving back from a vacation with our kids, who at the time were about 4 and 5 years old. They were happily watching a cartoon.

We happened upon a really bad storm, like nothing I had ever run into before. I finally had to pull over to wait it out.

It really shook me up.

Well, I looked back at my kids, and they were totally engrossed in their show - literally unfazed by the dangerous storm. They weren't concerned about it at all.

Many people are in grave danger of being eternally lost; maybe a heartbeat away from eternity, and they're not concerned at all.

It's like they're sitting back watching their favorite show, living with a false sense of security.

In Matthew 7:21, Jesus declares, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Do you know of anyone in your life that is living with a false sense of security? As believers, we have a responsibility to speak up. Today we're discussing just how to do that.

What is the purpose of planting?

Of course, the purpose of planting is to yield something more than just the seeds that one plants. The purpose of planting is to yield something of value, like forests, food, shade or beauty.

Jesus tells us in John 15:8, "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples."

Yet, we cannot make the fruit ourselves. Only God can bring life. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:6 that, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth."

Bearing fruit is not optional. As His people, God designed and expects us to be fruitful in some way or another.

But the beautiful part of planting is to rest in knowing that the results are up to God.

Yes, strive to plant and do your work well in the Lord, using the gifts He has given you, but He is the one that causes the growth and brings others to Himself.

How much would it take to satisfy my heart? How much is enough?

Interestingly, there are people who don't have much that want more, understandably, and then there are people that have a whole lot, and they still want more.

And neither group stops to ask the question: Do I have enough?