First Naples Podcast

Psalm 1 sets a contrast between two ways of living that have two different outcomes. One way leads to blessing and the other way leads to brokenness. The call of the book of Psalms is to choose which path you will take: blessing or brokenness.

Lessons From a Father 1 Chronicles 3:1-3; 9

In Chapter 7, we see the reality of sin in the believer and the rescue of the believer from sin.

Both Paul and John believed in Hell, and they teach us that Hell is reasonable and horrible, but avoidable because of God’s grace.

The path to salvation has nothing to do with what you do, but everything to do with who you receive.

When it comes to evil and suffering, there is a problem that we need to overcome and a perspective that we need to have to trust the promise of Romans 8:28.

Today, we learn that sickness is a part of living in a shattered world, where people suffer in the shadows, but can find healing in the suffering Savior.

Baptism is important because it identifies us with Christ, illustrates our salvation, and declares the gospel.

Romans 1 gives us both clues for God’s existence and the causes for unbelief.

What would it take for you to truly believe in Jesus and surrender your life to Him? In Matthew 12, Jesus will be challenged by his skeptics, and He is going to point them to a strange sign that points back to Him as the Savior of the World.

The Cross of Jesus gives us the final word, “It is finished,” which gives us strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

In Chapter 4, we see Jonah’s rage is met by God’s response that is both painful and loving for Jonah.

In Chapter 3, we see that God can use and save anyone because He has a heart for everyone, even if we do not.

Chapter 2 shows us how God’s gracious plan gave Jonah a new perspective to get him where he needed to be.

Is there something in your life that you know God wants you to do, but you don’t want to do? Chapter one teaches us that Jonah, a prophet God’s called to go to a people he loved, had a problem that caused him to disobey and yet God pursued him by His grace even though Jonah did not deserve it.

In John 3:16, we see the greatest love story ever told: the origination, the motivation, the demonstration, the invitation, the qualification, and the ultimate glorification.

What’s on James’ heart at the end of his letter is, “How are the people? How is their relationship with God?”

James teaches us about the delusion of living like we are God and the delight of submitting our lives to God.

James wants us to understand the cause and core of our conflict with others so that we can find the cure we need in the grace of God.

James tells us what Godly wisdom is, why we need it, and how to get it.

Real faith in Jesus should change how we speak to and about other people. James teaches us that what we say is powerful, it points to the condition of our hearts and it pushes us to our need for Jesus to be healed.

James teaches us that there is a difference between fake faith and real faith. James teaches us that fake faith is dead and demonic, and that real faith is dynamic.

How are we going to reach our community for Jesus if we mistreat people at church? James is teaching us that the proof that we have been transformed by the Gospel is seen in how we treat other people, especially people who are unlike us and people that we do not like.

Spiritual blessings and lasting freedom come to those who receive and obey the truth of God’s Word.

We can trust God in our temptations because He is not the cause of them, but is the only cure for overcoming them.