Christian Questions Bible Podcast

Hate is an immensely strong emotion. It can ruin relationships, perpetuate untruths, create rage and feed the fire of war. It is because of hate that much of the good in this world is not recognized, and it is because of hate that many in this world are truly unhappy. Did God create hate? Yes, He did! So, if God created hate, when is it a godly time for us to hate? Stay tuned!

We are free. We have liberty. We can speak our minds, make choices about our lives and be an influence on the influencers. Because of these things, we are truly among the most fortunate people to live on this earth today. As a matter of fact we are among the most fortunate people to ever live on this earth. The United States of America grants us these freedoms. How did the founders of this country get so smart?

Several weeks ago we began a conversation about how our lives bear fruit and how important it is to know what that fruit represents and how to cultivate it. We began to walk through the fruit of the spirit for the fifth chapter of Galatians, taking a tour of what God expects from us relating to our character growth as we follow Christ. Today, the tour continues, and as with any tour, it is important to stay with the group so you don’t miss out!

Politics! For some of us the very word elicits a shiver and a feeling of frustration and disappointment. Are we really so power hungry and immature that we need to demonize those who disagree, that we need to exaggerate our own point of view and win at the cost of our own integrity? The more we know about the political game, the more it seems to be about agenda instead of the will of the people. Should Christians be involved in this arena? Does the political world need a Christian perspective? Do Christians need politics?

So much of the philosophy of our society today is built around the idea that “I am the center of my universe, therefore what I want, I truly must have,” so the whole concept of sin becomes very subjective and often not even really relevant in people’s lives. So, is sin as relevant today as it was in the past, or have we outgrown the concept of sin in favor of a much more fluid and progressive understanding of right and wrong?

There is so much that comes to mind when you think of the life Jesus lived here on earth for 33½ years. The Old Testament had an amazing amount to say about his life – much of it written hundreds and thousands of years before he came. This brings up the question – could Jesus have done the things he did and said the things he said simply because he knew the prophecies and wanted to fulfill them, or was it all of his own free will? Stay with us – this is fascinating!

The very definition of “Christian” is one who follows Christ. As Christians, we all know this and we all agree that it is of paramount importance. The big question is, what exactly does it mean to follow Christ? What is our life supposed to look like? What does God want FROM us through Christ and what does God want FOR us through Christ? Is it different for everyone? How do we know if we are on track? What role does trouble play? Do we really have to suffer for Christ?

We all have experiences in our lives that hurt. Sometimes the pain in our lives can feel like a flood - an overwhelming tide that is sweeping us away and we feel all alone. So we try to cope. We try to find something to hold onto or something to do that takes our minds away from the pain of our lives. For some of us, especially for teenagers, what they find to mask their heartache is physical pain they can control and inflict upon themselves. As we invest our time today in discussing positive and negative ways to cope, we dedicate our conversation to those who find themselves coping through self-injury. Our message is simple – there is hope and it can be found!

We all have heard analogies regarding fruit… “That was a fruitful trip.” “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “What a fruitcake!” “We are hoping the experience bears fruit.” “Please, with a cherry on top!” “He went bananas!” “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch!” You get the idea! Fruit gives us a sensible and understandable way to define life – and it’s tasty too! Not surprisingly, fruit is a centerpiece of New Testament teaching, so let’s take a look!

When you begin to grasp the life and times of Daniel the Prophet, what you find in your hands is pure inspiration, integrity, faith and courage. Here is a man who lived out his entire life far from his home in Israel and who, by God’s grace, turned captivity to a pagan nation into an opportunity to reveal the greatness of the One God and eventually win over the King who made him captive. When we grow up, we should all want to be like Daniel! Stay with us as we continue his story!