Truth & Circumstances

Highlights:
– We need to be mindful of the spiritual dangers lurking behind some of the “fun” features of social media.
– It’s impossible to love the approval of people and the approval of God at the same time. Gal 1:10; John 12:42-43
– For those drawn in by the need for social media approval, an extended break from social media may be a good idea.
– The “one another” commands should be the measuring stick of our relationships, not unwritten laws of social media etiquette.

Highlights:
– This verse is typically used to comfort small gatherings of believers. “We don’t need a ton of people to have church…where two or three are gathered…” It’s also used as a general assurance of the Lord’s presence with His people.
– The typical application of this verse misses the point of the context in which it is found.
– Matt 18:20 is part of a passage pertaining to the authority to exercise discipline in the church.
– This verse assures believers that Jesus is guiding their decisions regarding church discipline cases.

Highlights:
– Children should be taught to pursue godliness as a higher priority than athletic or academic achievement. 1 Tim 4:7-8; 2 Tim 2:22; 1 Tim 6:10-11
– Children should be taught to do everything as unto the Lord. Col 3:17, 23; 1 Cor 10:31
– It’s possible to use athletics and academics as tools to teach godliness.
– Working heartily as unto the Lord means doing your best, not necessarily being the best. Parents should emphasize the former, not the latter.
– If a parent is investing more in a child’s temporal achievement than growth in godliness, it may indicate the parent is living vicariously through the child.
– If a parent is not okay with their child not being the best, it may indicate the parent is living vicariously through the child.

Highlights:
– When it comes to earthly patriotism, we must keep in mind that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. Phil 3:20; Eph 2:19; 1 Pet 2:11
– As citizens of heaven, we must remember that we have a mission that is not of this world. Matt 28:18-20
– As citizens of heaven, we must keep in mind that we are more profoundly joined to believers in other cultures than we are to unbelieving fellows Americans. Eph 4:25b
– As citizens of heaven, we should be the best citizens of our earthly country, submitting to the governing authorities. 1 Pet 2:13-17; Rom 13:1, 7
– Patriotism is a good thing, if kept in its proper place.

Highlights:
– This is a good question because the Catholic church teaches a different gospel. The concern is, would I be endorsing Catholicism by participating in the wedding?
– Ultimately, it is God who joins a man and woman in holy matrimony, no matter who the officiant is. Matt 19:6
– Participation in a wedding is not tantamount to endorsing a church or religion. Rather, it’s the endorsement of a marriage.
– By not participating in the Eucharist, you would be able to make a silent statement, “I do not believe in Catholicism.”

Highlights:
– This verse is typically used to mean, “I can do anything I set my mind to” and then apply it to various life goals or the overcoming of adversity.
– Context always determines the meaning of words. “All things” means whatever the context dictates. Here, it is not literally all things.
– The main idea of the paragraph is “I’ve learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Phil 4:13 relates directly to that idea.
– Phil 4:13 is a statement about the ability of the believer to be content in all circumstances.
– We should appeal to this verse anytime we find ourselves in difficult situations, struggling to be content.

Episode highlights: 

• Lust can take place regardless of what we do with our eyes.
• We should keep our heart and mind focused on the Word.  Prov 6:20-24
• We should enjoy the godly sexuality that God has provided. Prov 5:20-23; 1 Cor 7
• We should run from the ungodly sexuality the world/devil is pushing. Prov 6:25; 7:6-9, 24-27.