Dan River Church Podcast

The right habits come from having the right heart. To break free from bad habits, we must be willing to endure temporary pain. We must not minimize small steps. We must change the way we think about ourselves. We must initiate healthy relationships. And we must rely on a power greater than ourselves.

The truth about relationships: God created us for relationships. The one who created it has the authority to define it. The ultimate goal of any relationship is to become like Christ. In relationships, if we don’t win, I don’t win. Godly relationships (especially in marriage) honor, nurture, and celebrate your marriage.

Can I lose my salvation? To answer that question, we must first ask, "Has there ever been salvation?" Genuine faith causes real change. Superficial faith looks good but does not endure. And eternal faith cannot be defeated; therefore, we can walk in confidence.

Everyone who is born will also die … and then comes judgment. So, what happens when we die? Everyone must answer the question of Jesus. Everyone without Jesus will realize the agony of separation. Everyone with Jesus will see the glory of heaven. Everyone must feel the urgency of today.

Because Jesus sat down, we can look up. We look up to greater purpose, look at greater peace, and look forward to a greater promise.

What is the myth of joy? The more I have, the happier I’ll be. What is the secret to joy? Learn to be content. Biblical contentment: the inward state of perpetual joy, peace, and strength in every moment, regardless of the circumstances. So, how can we be content? We must be grateful when it is natural to compare, Christ-dependent when it is natural to be self-reliant, and generous when it is natural to be greedy.

How can we have peace in the chaos of life? We must resolve our conflicts by not confusing minor issues with major ones, taking the first step, quickly forgiving, speaking with love and grace, and remembering that we're teammates. We must release our worries by talking daily with God and not trying to control the outcomes. And, we must renew our thoughts by rehearsing the truth and getting in the habit of praise.

The secret to joy is to live every day as if we haven't arrived. How do we move toward the prize? We stop living in the past, imitate the right people, beware of the roadblocks, and set our minds on the eternal.

How can we have a life that counts? We must choose our advisors carefully, stop trusting in our own ability, make knowing Jesus our greatest treasure, and exchange our life for Jesus' life.

What are the keys for facing your giant? First, remember God's faithfulness. Know who you are by standing out from the crowd in faith, not trying to be someone else, and guarding your heart. Finally, adjust your perspective.

Are you driven or just merely livin'? Commitment is powered by personal surrender. Commitment is standing out in faith. Commitment is persistent faithfulness and faith over fear. And commitment is always rewarded.

What is the secret to joy? In a world full of darkness, we can be the light. We shine our light by realizing that life change is a lifelong process, pursuing righteousness, never wavering from the Gospel, and living life in faithful service to God and others.

What is the secret to joy? Remember where your home is and who you belong to. As citizens of heaven, we stand together in unity, in suffering, and in humility. 

Real joy comes when Christ is your life, not when life is perfect. What does it look like when Christ is your life? When Christ is your life, your perspective of difficult problems changes, people become partners not competitors, death becomes a gift, and your purpose never ends.

First, why do our words matter? What we say is powerful, untamable, and revealing, and we are accountable for what we say. Then, how do we clean up our words? We must guard our hearts, speak life-giving words often, and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Envy can be defined as discontentment with what I have and resentment with what you have. The truth about envy is it ruins our relationships, robs us of enjoyment, and rots our bodies. How can we get rid of envy? We avoid the temptation to compare and celebrate God’s goodness to others and to us.

Uncontrolled anger is the result of being unwilling to deal with sin fully and immediately. What is the key to controlling anger? We must put on our new nature. What does that look like? We refuse to let the actions of others damage our relationships, remember our own sin first and how Jesus forgives us, resign our position as judge, and recognize that God can use our pain for His greater purpose.

Greed is a liar: It says life would be more secure if we just had a little bit more. We must beware of greed. It is never satisfied. It is only temporary. And, it is always destructive. How do we get rid of greed? We learn to be content and live with generosity.

What is the evidence of pride in our lives? We rely on ourselves and look down on others. What's the key to getting rid of pride? Humility looks to the mercy and sacrifice of Jesus. And humility is the joy and freedom of not being preoccupied with self.