The Bridge Austin

When it comes to Christmas, most people think about Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus born in a manger. But they often forget about the other child that was born around the same time! Dr. Robert Jeffress looks at the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth—and the miraculous birth of their baby, John.

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When Ron Blue joins us, it’s always a masterclass in biblical wisdom. He’s co-founder of Kingdom Advisors, a best-selling author, and a trusted mentor to many. Ron has spent decades helping believers apply God’s principles to every area of life and business.

Today, Ron unpacks what Scripture teaches about partnerships and how faith should shape the way we enter, manage, and exit them.

When the Apostle Paul warned believers about being “unequally yoked,” he wasn’t speaking only about marriage. As Ron explains, “Paul was talking about partnerships—and there are so many kinds.”

From professional firms and small businesses to investment ventures and partnerships, they can take many forms. And while they can be incredibly fruitful, they also carry spiritual and relational risks.

Ron pointed out that partnerships often last a long time—sometimes decades. “The CPA firm I founded has been operating as a partnership for 50 years,” he said. “But not all partnerships endure well. Like marriage, many end in conflict.”

Ron’s first principle is about spiritual integrity. “You have to ask what the partnership will do to your testimony,” he said. “If you’re unequally yoked with someone whose values fundamentally differ from yours, you could lose your witness in the process.”

He recalled being asked whether a Christian OB-GYN should enter a business partnership with a doctor who supports abortion. “Only you and God can answer that,” he said, “but it’s a big question. Your witness is always at stake.”

“Have your exit strategy in place before you form the partnership,” Ron advises.

Just as couples prepare for challenges in marriage, business partners should anticipate potential separation. A clear exit plan protects both parties, ensures fairness, and helps maintain peace when the time comes to move on.

“When you have that in place,” Ron said, “you avoid a lot of conflict and preserve your testimony if you’re the believer who’s leaving.”

Perhaps the most powerful insight Ron shared was this: the mission must outlive the partnership.

Ron recalled his own experience leading a financial planning firm. “After 23 years, I left—but no one left with me,” he said. “They were committed to the mission. That’s what you want to see happen.”

A strong exit strategy and shared vision help ensure that the work—and the witness—continue long after any individual departs.

Shared faith isn’t just good for business—it’s essential for a lasting witness. Partnerships grounded in biblical principles reflect God’s wisdom and preserve peace amid challenges.

As Ron put it, “The most critical thing you want to preserve is your testimony. Everything else flows from that.”

• I’m concerned about vendors and service providers who want my bank account information for automatic withdrawals. I’ve been paying my lawn service with money orders, but now they require my account number. I told them we’d have to stop doing business because I’m not comfortable giving out that information. Isn’t this kind of intrusive? What do you think about vendors wanting access to our accounts?
• My spouse and I are both 70 and ready to retire. I own 10 rental houses, but managing them has become too much. Once I sell the properties, what should I do with the proceeds? I understand the basics about capital gains and selling real estate, but I don’t want the responsibility of managing individual stock investments myself.
• I’ve saved about $15,000 for a car, bu

What can turn a normal rational person into an out of control monster - destroying relationships, abusing children, spewing threats, and alienating lifelong friends? Join Chip as he reveals the source of that devastating power, and how to keep it under control.

Introduction: James 1:19-20

A look at anger from God’s perspective:

• Definition: Anger is neither good nor bad; it is a “charged,” morally neutral, emotional response of protective preservation.
• Positively – It can be a healthy emotion that motivates us to correct attitudes, behaviors, or injustices that we perceive to be wrong. -Eph 4:26-27
• Negatively – It can be an unhealthy and destructive emotional response to protect us from (real or perceived) hurt, frustration, or personal attack. -Pro. 19:19; 22:24; 29:22

Anger wears many masks: We EXPRESS our ANGER in such a wide variety of ways that many people assume anger is not an issue in their life.

• Spewers: Anger is necessary – They’re exploding or calculating time bombs
• Stuffers: Anger is wrong – They deny and avoid OR pretend and ignore
• Leakers: Showing anger is wrong – They’re passive-aggressive

Broadcast Resource

• Overcoming Emotions that Destroy Resources
• Message Notes

Additional Resource Mentions

• Overcoming Emotions that Destroy Small Group Offer

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In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young emphasizes the importance of vision as a God-given ability to see the unseen and encourages believers to cultivate vision in obscurity, endure uncertainty, resist discouragement from "vision vandals," recognize and use the resources God provides, value past victories for strength, and understand that vision is a contagious force that impacts not only individuals but entire communities.

Jesus did not die accidentally. Every detail of His sacrifice was predetermined before time began. In this message, Pastor Lutzer wonders at six attributes of God displaying His glory at the cross. Only God can take a mess and a crime like the cross and turn it into a river of blessing.

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Moody Church Media [https://www.moodymedia.org/], home of "Running To Win," exists to bring glory to God through the transformation of lives.

Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as Senior Pastor for 36 years. He is a prolific author of over seventy books. A clear expositor of the Bible, he is the featured speaker on "Running To Win" and "Songs In The Night," with programs broadcasting on over a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across more than fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area. They have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

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Many people today believe they have the right to define who they are. Yet our Creator alone enjoys this prerogative. Today, R.C. Sproul considers what it means to be human from God's perspective as revealed in His Word.

Request R.C. Sproul's book The Hunger for Significance, plus lifetime digital access to A Shattered Image teaching series and study guide, with your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4399/offer
 
Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series and study guide for A Shattered Image with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global
 
Meet Today's Teacher:
 
R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
 
Meet the Host:
 
Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast.

Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

From Voltaire to Beavis and Butthead to the loss of humor the heart really needs. 

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