This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, the best Christian podcast on the web, we ask the question: How Do I Increase My Faith?.

I want to grow my faith — what can I do? Can reading God’s word and praying more expand my faith? How can I increase my faith?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot talk about faith, where it comes from, what it is, and how it grows and increases. Dr. Philpot introduces the passage of Luke 17 where we can read of the disciples of Christ wanting their faith to be increased. Being disciples of Christ ourselves, we should all want our faith to increase; but how do we go about doing that? Can we increase our faith?

Dr. Caldwell first points out that the One who gives us faith is the One who increases our faith.  He directs us to the text of Luke 17 and reminds us whom it is that the disciples ask to increase their faith: it is the Lord Jesus Himself. So, we do not increase our faith; God does. 

Secondly, Dr. Caldwell asks, “What is faith?” He tells us in a nut shell that faith is believing God. It is taking God at His Word, trusting in His character, knowing and believing whom He has revealed Himself to be, and living out these truths daily. Therefore, it is to God we must come and ask for the increase of our faith, knowing that He can and will by working through different means.

Dr. Caldwell further explains that faith is like a muscle: it grows stronger as it is stressed. When our faith is tested, tried, and stretched, it is being expanded for greater capacity. As we trust in God and believe in His sovereignty in this world and in our lives, we are exercising the faith that He has given us. By continuing to trust, walking out and acting faithfully upon the Word of God, remembering God’s past graces to us in thankfulness, we continue to exercise and expand the opportunities for our faith to increase.

If you are interested in learning more about growing in the faith you’ve been given, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

Growing in Faith

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=8804175746

Increasing Faith

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=250611338

Faith Tested By Fire

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=729091915150

The Faith That Trusts God

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=98182129301

The post How Do I Increase My Faith? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, the best Christian podcast on the web, we are talking about how to pray more effectively.

How can I grow in my prayer life? Is there a way that I can pray more effectively? Does the Bible offer guidance in how to pray more biblically?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot discuss the ways Christians can grow and be more effective in their times of prayer.  Dr. Caldwell reminds us that an important step in being effective in our prayers is to remember to whom it is we are talking. If we know Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God is our Father, and we have been invited through Christ to come before the throne of grace. Thus, because God desires for us to commune and talk with Him, we can therefore pray with confidence knowing that He hears us.  However, we must not come casually or irreverently, nor should we come desiring to impress God with the length, eloquence or intelligence of our prayers. Our approach to prayer must be one of honor and reverence to God, which allows us to both humbly and boldly pour out what’s on our hearts and minds.

Dr. Caldwell says, “Prayer is like breathing.” It is something the believer should do constantly, continually and without ceasing.  He encourages believers to have planned times of prayer, remembering that we are not just rehearsing what’s on our minds at any given moment, but truly praying from hearts that are seeking the will of God. One way we can do this and be more effective is by praying the Scriptures. This will also be helpful when we are finding it hard to pray, or don’t know what to pray. The very truths we have read and studied from God’s Word help our minds to focus on subject matters that are pleasing to God; they will inform, direct and saturate our prayers.  We find examples of this kind of prayer in the book of Psalms where the thoughts and hearts of ordinary men like us have been poured out to God and recorded for us.

Dr. Caldwell offers other insightful recommendations that may be helpful to the growth of our prayer lives. What’s ultimately important is that we pray, and that we pray not in vain repetitious ways, using clichés or the reproduced prayers of others. Our focus in prayer must be on our great and sovereign God, the One that hears and acts on our behalf.  Effective prayer, is prayer that changes us and transforms our thinking and understanding as we pray, giving us a sense of comfort, confidence and joy that wasn’t there when we started. Our prayers can come from the Scriptures and from the depths of our own hearts. They will be effective – not because of the words we use or how we say them – but because of our extraordinary God.

What if I’m unable to express what’s in my heart? Is there a wrong way to approach God in prayer? Is it okay to ask God for anything in prayer?  These questions and more are addressed in this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, as Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot guide us through these issues from a biblical perspective.

If you are interested in learning more about praying biblically and effectively, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

Effective Prayer

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=419091859464

The God Who Hears Prayer – Part 1

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=101804223136

The God Who Hears Prayer – Part 2

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10190423340

The post How to Pray More Effectively appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, the best Christian podcast on the web, we are talking about Reading the Bible for Beginners.

Are you a new believer with no experience with the Bible? Do you want to read the Bible, but not sure where to begin? Where can we find help or guidance when it comes to reading, studying and engaging with the Bible?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell discusses with host Dr. Josh Philpot ways by which new and mature believers can pursue reading, studying, and engaging with the Word of God. In our joyful and eager desire to learn the Scriptures, sometimes we can lack patience and be unrealistic in our approach. We may be expecting to know in a matter of days what really takes years of prayerful devotion to the Word of God. Dr. Caldwell wants us to consider our reading and studying of God’s Word as a life long pursuit. In this way of thinking, we can avoid being overwhelmed and discouraged by what we don’t yet know, but able to rejoice in what the Lord is teaching us now, and excited to know there’s more to come.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to say that new believers would benefit from understanding the structure and organization of the Bible. They may need to learn how the Bible came to be and why there is an Old and New Testament. He wants to help new believers in ways that will produce a more well-rounded knowledge of the Bible; he does this by encouraging them to begin with reading through the Gospels, moving on to the Psalms and Proverbs, and then spending time in both the Old and New Testaments. He also recommends extra reading and studying materials that can assist and support believers in their study of the Scriptures.

Dr. Philpot and Dr. Caldwell also emphasize the importance of believers’ being a faithful part of a local congregation, whether they are new in their faith or more mature in their walk with God. The Body of Christ is where the believer will engage with other believers, learn to truly listen and apply sermons by studying the passages that are peached, and even have opportunities to discuss sermons and grow in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.  In addition to these blessings, new believers can get connected and paired up with more mature believers who are willing to come alongside to disciple and encourage them along the way in their lifetime pursuit of knowing and applying God’s Word.

If you are interested in learning more about growing in your understanding of the Word of God, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

Preparing to Receive the Word

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=71915252470

The Outcome to Our Approach to God’s Word

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=7261598234

The Christian and God’s Word – Part 1

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=419011629

The post Reading the Bible for Beginners appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, the best Christian podcast on the web, we are talking about Christians, Anxiety, Depression and Prescription Medication.

Is it unbiblical for a Christian to take medication for anxiety or depression? Are there circumstances that would necessitate a Christian taking medications for these issues? Will taking medications for anxiety and depression cure the internal struggles many face?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell speaks with host Josh Philpot about the concerns Christians have about taking medications for their struggles with anxiety and depression. Dr. Caldwell says that we should see that medicine is a blessing in a whole host of realms, but the immediate answers cannot be simple “yes’s” or “no’s.” We must not rule out physiological problems that have medical answers; yet, when we are talking about how a person thinks, feels, and decides, it is hard to know where physiological issues begin and end. He asks the question, “How much of these things are fed by our own thinking, our spiritual condition, and/or our emotional condition?” Oftentimes, we can become obsessed with thinking about things that really aren’t that pressing, and we can become consumed with ourselves, making ourselves the center of concern.

Dr. Caldwell further comments that to help someone struggling with these issues, what we want to do is get them to a place where they can hear us as we share the Word of God with them and help them to redirect their focus and thought life. Sometimes, however, people can find themselves in such a dark place that they are unable to reason; in these times, medications can be helpful to help get them out of that extreme darkness so that they can begin to reason clearly. We can then come alongside them and help them manage their thoughts faithfully, consistently, and biblically.

So, is there a place for medication? Dr. Caldwell says, “Yes, but not in a way that this world views it; it is not going to solve all our problems.” He emphatically states that the ultimate answer for all our hearts and minds is the truth of God’s Word. At the end of the day, the only answers for the soul that are final and sure are those found in God’s Word; this is where we want to direct people.

Where should we be focused as we struggle with these issues? How have faithful believers in the past managed these issues? Does the Bible offer encouragement for these kinds of struggles? These questions and more are addressed in this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, as Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Josh Philpot guide us in thinking and reasoning through these difficult questions from a biblical perspective.

If you are interested in learning more about dealing with anxiety, depression, and despair, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

The Treasure That Allows Trust

The Answer for Anxiety

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111911199212

Words to Worriers – Part One

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=620101136258

Words to Worriers – Part Two

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=620102049147

The Life of Peace – Trusting Prayer

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=425121923109

The Wonder of a Believers Life

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=12411212328

The post Christians, Anxiety, Depression and Prescription Medication appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, the best Christian podcast on the web, we ask the question: What is Church Discipline?

Why do some churches discipline their members and others do not? What should be the motive behind church discipline? How should church discipline be enacted within the local body?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell helps us understand why and when a church should enact discipline upon a member(s).  He gives clear evidence that the church is taught to do so from the New Testament and from the command of Jesus Himself in Matthew chapter 18 where the steps of discipline are laid out.  The church should practice discipline as an expression of our mutual responsibility and accountability among the members of the local body of Christ; and the motive behind it must be love, God’s glory, and restoration.

Dr. Caldwell discusses that dealing with the sin should be restricted to those who have knowledge of it and to those who will deal with it. He further discusses that we want to be obedient to the commands of scripture, but that we also don’t want to be over zealous in the process; the goal is not about exposure, embarrassment, or retribution.

We need to be patient, thinking about the person, giving them time and space for repentance, truly caring for the soul of the individual(s). Sometimes, however, there are situations when the disciplinary action must be enacted in a swift manner. Not dealing with the sin of people or persons who are sinning against others means that people are going to get hurt. In dealing with those who are sinning, we aren’t only helping the person who is committing the sin, but also the people who might be impacted by it.

Other questions that Pastor Caldwell answers in this episode include: What is the church’s responsibility if the sinning person repents? What if the sinning person refuses to repent and is actually put out of the fellowship of the local body? What does church discipline do for the church and its witness in the world?

Scripture references that are specifically discussed in this episode come from Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5, and 2 Corinthians 2:5-7.

If you are interested in learning more about dealing with sin through church discipline, you can listen to these sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

9 Marks of Church Discipline Done Right – Part 1

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=31018221920

9 Marks of Church Discipline Done Right – Part 2

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=311181720161

A Proper View of Discipline & Forgiveness

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=116161834467

The Purity of the Church

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=820919321

The post Church Discipline | Dealing With Sin Through Church Discipline appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.