121 Podcast

In order to live well as the church today, it is important to understand how we began.

It is good to periodically check our hearts on whether or not we are generous givers in the way that God expressed His generosity to us.

We often find ourselves in pain, difficulty, or crisis and are not sure where to turn, but we have ways to be a help whatever the situation might be.

So many in the world are curious and desperate for good news, and we have the best news of all for those who desire it!

While there are many motivations to serve one another, there is a motivation that Jesus gives that is totally unique to the Christian.

The motivations and desires of our hearts lead to what we live for. What are yours?

Hosea is an incredible story of restoration in the midst of marital unfaithfulness. God uses this picture to show us His radical love for us as He restores us from our wandering and unfaithfulness to Him.

God challenges us to give Him our best. What we give God reflects our attitude toward Him. The Bible says our lives should be a living sacrifice to Him (Romans 12:1-2). What areas of your life (family, job, money, praise and worship, good works, witnessing to unbelievers) are you not giving your full heart to God?

God is just and must judge all sin, but he is also merciful and sent his Son so that we could avoid his divine wrath.

God’s compassion towards certain kinds of people can make us uncomfortable, and even more uncomfortable when He tells us to move towards people we dislike with His same compassion.

For anyone who has strayed away from God, the prophet Joel describes the way back to Him!

God is all about His justice and righteousness flowing from genuine and true worship.

True joy is found in worshipping Jesus. We worship him by giving of our entire lives to Him. We live our lives for Christ by living lives of sacrificial service. You cannot and will not give your body as a living sacrifice unless you know what it took for Jesus to pay the price for sin When you worship Jesus, you then see there is no greater joy than sacrificial service.

There is often a mystery as to why life unfolds the way it does, and there is a meaningful and joyful way to embrace what comes in the time it comes.

We sometimes think we cannot bring our questions of unbelief to God, yet we see again and again that we can and that is actually the way forward in a great relationship with God. List of Books: Messy Grace - Caleb Kaltenbach Out of a far Country - Christopher Yuan The secret Thoughts of an unlikely convert ) - Rosaria Butterfield A Transgender‘s Faith - Walt Heyer The Third Option - Miles McPherson Under our skin - Ben Watson Live not by lies - Rod Dreher A practical guide to culture - John Stonestreet Evidence that demands a verdict - Josh McDowell

Once there has been betrayal, is it possible to restore the relationship? Jim Newheiser, Professor of CounselingCharacteristics of worldly sorrow:Self-focused; self-protective.Doesn’t primarily hate the sin; hates the consequences of sin. Blame-shifting.Resents accountability. Impatient – demanding to be trusted and restored immediately. Focuses on the sins of others. Criticizes the disciplinary process. Unchanged (hard) heart. No fruit. Characteristics of godly sorrow: Focused on God and other person; well-being of others is first priority Hates the sin itself; accepts the consequences of the sin. Fully accepts responsibility. Seeks accountability. Patient.Focuses upon their own sin. Submits to the disciplinary process. Changed heart. Fruit.

Sometimes it is hard to put the pieces together in understanding the Christian message, but there are some ways to help people put those pieces together.