Life Over Coffee With Rick Thomas

Self-reliance is the self-deceiving and isolating process of trying to be stronger and stronger while resisting the help of other people, especially help from the Lord. It is a sinful desire to build a lifestyle and reputation that releases a person from trusting God. The self-reliant person lives in a fantasy world. It is not real-world because it is an impossible feat to achieve. In this webinar, Rick presents the self-reliant worship structure, dismantles it, and provides a practical gospel-centered solution that teaches you how to rely on God. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-369-webinar-how-to-dismantle-self-reliance-and-overcome-unbelief/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – There is a thin line between standing for God and falling into pride. The determining factors are a person’s character and how they use the gifts God has given to them. If a person’s character is wrong, they will manipulate their talents to satiate their craving hearts. The believer with a gospel-saturated character will resist pride’s temptations and love God and others more than anything else. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-368-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-12/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – Because of my former relationship with Sovereign Grace Ministries, now Sovereign Grace Churches, people come to me asking for my take on that organization. They are frequently asking because they are in a Sovereign Grace church or are thinking about attending or leaving one. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-367-is-it-wise-for-me-to-attend-a-sovereign-grace-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

One-to-one interaction is the most efficient way to help another person change. For too many believers, discipleship in a community, in the context of a local church, is not the norm. Favorite books and preachers become our disciplers, which is not God’s best no matter how wonderful the celebrity preacher or your favorite book is. Nothing displaces a competent, caring friend, who can exegete you with God’s Word in a customizable way. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/a-crazy-idea-for-sanctification-the-local-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Some relationships can become so painful that you must retreat while implementing self-protective measures to prevent being hurt again. The unintended consequence is that the strategies for protection can imprison you, which is what happened to Mable. Her husband was harming her so she did what any of us would do. In time, her fortress became her prison. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/when-the-thing-that-protects-you-becomes-your-prison/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes stereotypical counseling can get in the way of what you want to do with an individual, especially when the counselee has a preconceived, pessimistic instinct about what might happen. You’ll see this with some teenagers because they sense a three against one setup—parents and counselor versus the teen. Knowing how to predict this possibility and customizing your care accordingly is essential. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/you-must-know-this-before-you-counsel-a-teen/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Show Main Idea: There is a full-on culture war as social evangelists try to persuade, intimidate, censor, and influence anyone to their worldview. It’s no longer acceptable for conservatives to sit on the sidelines, siloing, hoping for a better day. Silo Christianity is when believers draw lines that separate themselves from those in the culture who need the gospel. They critique the other side but do not engage them. Jesus has called us to go and make disciples. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-366-webinar-engaging-the-culture-bringing-jesus-to-the-world/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – Is it wrong for a church to have multiple campuses? What about one preacher who preaches video messages to several locations? In this episode of the Christianity Today podcast series, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, Mike Cosper shares the motive and method of Mark Driscoll’s desire to share the gospel globally. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-365-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-11/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – Making a decision that you hope won't end with disappointment is a tedious task. How can you ensure there is no future disappointment after you take the plunge? You do due diligence; you follow sound advice, but it leads you into hard times. Should you not have listened? How should you respond when life goes sideways after you take the advice of someone and do due diligence? Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-364-how-can-you-know-your-decisions-wont-disappoint-you/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes in life, you have to get in a conflict with someone. This dreaded reality is not a wish, desire, or prayer request but rather a common-sense perspective that comes with living in a sin-cursed world. It is impossible to have two humans living close to each other for an extended period and not have relational conflict. Sin does not accommodate our desires for peace or a hope for the path of least resistance. Watch Webinar: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-363-webinar-pursuing-conflict-for-unitys-sake/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Spiritual dullness in a community of Christlike disciple-makers is hard to imagine, but it happens all the time. We can lull ourselves to sleep, lose our gospel edge, and before long, we are ticking the Christian boxes without thinking. If the practice continues, we will replace the meat we enjoyed with the milk of our former newborn babe life. The solution is to surround yourself with those who have a vision and plan to spur you to love and good works within a reciprocating community. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/how-to-resist-the-incremental-reality-of-becoming-a-dull-believer/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Sometimes the words we share with our hurting friends are not the best to say, albeit I realize we can say them unwittingly. Oh, how I wish I could rewrite many scenarios in my zealous Christian youth when I had more words than wisdom. It was a ready, fire, aim approach to helping people. Saying the wrong thing is easy, so I am sharing these seven practical ideas to help you navigate these challenging times with your suffering friends. I trust that as you learn and practice these things, you will not succumb to unwise words or inhibiting fear prohibiting redemptive communication, and your friends will appreciate your proactive care. Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/seven-tips-to-help-your-friends-who-are-going-through-suffering/ Will you help us to continue providing free content for everyone? You can become a supporting member here https://lifeovercoffee.com/join/, or you can make a one-time or recurring donation here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/.

One of the most important questions you’ll ask when looking for a new church is the pastor leading the local church. What best describes your pastor? How does he affect others? Can he care for your soul? Finding a pastor is a tedious process that can even be daunting at times. Ensuring the proper leader leads the community is of utmost importance because he determines everything that flows from that local body. Read Here: https://rickthomas.net/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-pastor/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – What would you do if Mark Driscoll was your pastor? You decide to stay in the church, but you’re opposed to the language, bullying, manipulation, and narcissism. How would you respond? Would you self-censor? Would you seek to be part of a redemptive effort to make a difference? Responding the right way to authoritarians is the topic of this episode from the Christianity Today podcast series, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-362-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-10/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – Mike Cosper opened this episode by talking about the Cottingley Fairies found in five photographs taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths in 1918. In 1984, Elsie said the photos were fake, and Frances said people wanted to believe in them. This Christianity Today podcast episode about The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill discusses our need to believe in someone and a leader’s sinful desire to get us to believe in him. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-361-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-9/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – This episode of the Christianity Today (CT) podcast series, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, is an interview with Josh Harris, the former “Christian” who wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye. It’s an odd digression from the straight line Christianity Today had been running about what went wrong with Mars Hill. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-360-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-8/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – In this episode of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill from Christianity Today, the primary talking point is the church’s leadership. Should you have a group of leaders or one man at the top. In the case of Mars Hill, they began with a plurality that led them to its heights only to morph into the lead guy, which began the descent and ultimate fall of Mars Hill Church. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-359-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-7/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – This sixth edition of Christianity Today’s podcast series, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, discusses the brand and how to promote yourself to become somebody. Then Mike Cosper shared how Mark Driscoll associated himself with the gospel community to spread his fame globally. Mark had a gifted team who knew how to build an analytically smart, algorithmic, cyber-preacher. And once they established his fame in the stratosphere, the Christian celebrities and organizations would not ignore him. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-358-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-6/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

All of us are victims. Adam dealt us a death blow. And to complicate matters, we’re also blameworthy. We are guilty victims or victim sinners. It’s not a comfortable thought, but it’s an accurate one. Everyone practically possesses these two polarizing truths. The more significant issue is not what we have done wrong, but what will we do about it? If you’re ready to focus on how you can change, I have some terrific news for you: it can happen today! Here are a few thoughts for the serious-minded person who wants to change their lives. Read Article: https://rickthomas.net/how-a-teen-can-react-when-stuck-in-the-cyclic-effect-of-victimhood/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/

Shows Main Idea – This review of episode five in The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast series begins with a warning similar to the last episode about prescreening it before listening to it with others. This episode is not just gross, but it could cause a woman to lapse to a horrible time in her past if she has gone through a manipulating and inappropriately physical interaction with a man. Please use caution before you recommend this episode. Show Notes: https://rickthomas.net/podcast/ep-357-response-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill-episode-5/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://rickthomas.net/donations/