Truth & Circumstances

Episode Highlights:
– The impulse to withhold from a spouse in response to their failure to love well comes from a worldly notion of love, “I am to love only as well as I’m loved.” Christlike love pours itself out regardless of the performance of the one loved.

– Your responsibility to your spouse is ultimately your responsibility to the Lord.

– The “one another” commands indicate that the Christian life is to be lived in transparency and sharing. If that is true of a normal Christian relationship, it should be an even higher priority in marriage.

– The Bible depicts marriage as a one-flesh relationship, the sharing of two people physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

– Jesus did not withhold Himself from His bride.

– Guard against bitterness by keeping your eyes on Jesus, who has always loved well those who spurn Him.

Episode Highlights
– We should resist supporting any ungodly lifestyle. Titus 2:11-12
– The Bible is clear about LGBT issues. Gen 1-2, 19; Lev 18:22; Judges 19; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 1 Tim 1:10
– In situations where an employer (or any other authority) asks us to do something ungodly, “we must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
– We should be as loving, kind, and hardworking as possible so as to mitigate any fallout, while recognizing that we’ve been called to suffer for the Name. Acts 5:40-41

Episode Highlights
– Total depravity asserts that every aspect of our human nature has been affected by sin (mind, will, emotions, desires, body). Rom 1:18-32; Eph 2:1-3, 4:17-19
– Because every part of our being is affected, we are not able to please God (total inability). Joshua 24:19
– Total depravity does not mean that we do not make real decisions; we always do what we want to do. Gen 6:5, Jer 17:9, Psa 14:2-3
– This doctrine should lead us to humility and to live like those who were dead but who have been brought to life.

Episode Highlights:

– There are inherent differences between God and man that make it appropriate for God to desire worship and inappropriate for man to desire worship. (Psa 50:12-15; Acts 24-25)

– God doesn’t need anything. When we conceive of Him as needy because He desires worship, we make the mistake of thinking about Him as if He is a man. (Psa 50:12)

– We are worshipers by nature; the worship of false gods brings misery; by calling us to worship Him, God calls us to joy. (Rom 1:18-32; Ps 16)

– God is the greatest being conceivable, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. When He calls us to Himself to recognize this, it is a kindness.

Episode Highlights:
– Reformed theology (as we are using the phrase) holds that God rules with absolute control over all creation, foreordaining all that happens, but doing so in a way that does not deny human will or make God the author of sin.

– It is an important doctrine because it is founded upon the doctrine of God and therefore has implications for all other doctrines. It also has implications for ministry methodology and the Christian life.

– Reformed theology is not the most important component of what we believe and we should NOT break fellowship with those who disagree.

Episode Highlights:
– Christians should use whatever means God affords to preserve life.
– If our goal is the preservation of life, incremental progress in the fight against abortion should celebrated, while continuing to work toward its eventual eradication.