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It's easy to follow God when everyone agrees with you. But what happens when standing for Truth means standing alone?

In this powerful message from How God Works, Dr. Michael Youssef teaches from 1 Kings 18, where Elijah confronts King Ahab, the prophets of Baal, and a nation divided between worshiping God and following false idols.

Elijah's courage on Mount Carmel didn't happen overnight. It grew through years of private obedience, prayer, and complete trust in the living God.

Dr. Youssef warns that spiritual compromise begins when we value public opinion more than God's Word. Like Israel, believers today must decide whom they will serve.

This episode challenges you to:

• Stop wavering between God and the world's approval,
• Recognize and reject the idols competing for your heart,
• Build bold faith through daily prayer and obedience,
• Trust God's power when you feel alone,
• Stand firm for Biblical Truth without compromise,
• Put your faith in Jesus Christ above public opinion.

Public courage begins with private obedience. Discover how Elijah's example can help you overcome fear, reject compromise, and stand faithfully for Christ.

Scripture Focus: 1 Kings 18

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

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You’ve probably heard that a Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t. One reason: When you’re constantly reading Scripture and meditating on its truth, the more you’re reminded of the salvation that’s yours in Christ. So risk some wear and tear on your Bible with John MacArthur looks squarely at A Faith That Pleases God.

When you think about leaving an inheritance, you probably picture children or grandchildren. But what if your next steward isn't a person at all?

For many Christians, leaving a gift to a church, ministry, or nonprofit organization can be a meaningful way to extend their generosity beyond their lifetime. But deciding where, when, and how to give deserves the same thoughtful preparation we would give to an individual heir.

Sharon Epps, President of Kingdom Advisors and a contributor to FaithFi's new field guide, How Do I Prepare the Next Steward?, joined us today to discuss how believers can make these decisions wisely.

Her central encouragement is simple: Choosing a ministry as your next steward is about more than deciding who receives your money. It's about considering what those resources might accomplish after you're gone.

Before deciding how much to leave a ministry, consider what you hope your gift will accomplish.

What needs are particularly meaningful to you? What kinds of ministry have shaped your life or strengthened your faith? How would you like the resources God has entrusted to you to continue serving others?

Sharon encourages believers to begin with these questions rather than immediately settling on a dollar amount.

Once you've identified your priorities, look for organizations whose missions align with them. Consider whom they serve, how they carry out their work, and whether their approach reflects the purposes behind your generosity.

For example, someone whose family has been blessed through adoption may feel a particular desire to support foster care and adoption ministries. Someone who has benefited from Christian financial discipleship might want to help make those resources available to future generations.

Your own experiences, including seasons of difficulty, may help you recognize opportunities to serve others in meaningful ways.

Finding an organization whose mission resonates with you is important, but it's only the beginning.

Just as you would consider an individual heir's character and readiness to manage an inheritance, it's wise to evaluate how a ministry currently handles the resources entrusted to it. Sharon recommends asking several important questions:

• Does the organization demonstrate integrity and accountability in its leadership?
• Is it transparent about its finances?
• Does it have a healthy governance structure and an engaged board?
• How does it measure and communicate the impact of its work?
• What happens when its current leadership changes?

These questions aren't intended to create suspicion. They're part of understanding the ministry well enough to support its work confidently.

Whenever possible, build relationships with its leadership, observe its work firsthand, and learn how it makes decisions.

Approach these conversations with a servant's heart. Rather than simply evaluating whether a ministry deserves your gift, seek to understand how you can help advance the work it's already doing.

A ministry can do wonderful work without being equipped to manage a substantial financial gift. This is especially true for smaller or local organizations with limited staff and administrative resources.

A contribution that dramatically increases a ministry's annual budget may sound like an extraordinary blessing. But if the organization lacks the systems, personnel, or infrastructure to manage that growth, the gift could unintentionally create new challenges.

A significant contribution could also affect existing fundraising

We would love to pray for you! Please send us your requests here.

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