God Centered Life

Imagine for a second that your car didn’t have a Neutral setting on the transmission. The only two options are Drive or Reverse. A bit chaotic if you think about it. But have we come to expect the Gospel to have a Neutral setting? What are the options other than accepting the Gospel? We’ll explore that question in this study. Galatians 1:8-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.c...

You’ve likely heard that a core method of identifying counterfeit money is to study the real thing. Paul is pressing us to deepen our knowledge about the real Gospel so as to be able to quickly identify counterfeit versions. Galatians 1:6-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s not hard to draw to mind situations where new power creates new vulnerabilities for those that are given it. But is the problem always “out there?” I’ve never been crowned king. Do I need to worry about corrupting power? And if so, how do I survive it? We’ll look at these questions in this study. Judges 9:1-57 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You’re offered one of two boxes, with the contents of each clearly identified. What’s not identified is the value of the contents. If you select the box with a very small value, perhaps you don’t understand the riches in the other box. In our study, Paul is working to help us understand the value of what’s freely offered to us. Galatians 1:6-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

“How ya doing?” We say it, but it’s likely that we’re not asking a question. We’re simply using that phrase as a way to interact. In our study today, we’re dissecting a greeting used by Paul to make sure we get the real gold that’s within. Galatians 1:3-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the Apostle Paul walked into any church service on a Sunday morning, it’s likely that service would grind to an immediate halt. But would that be what Paul would want? What does Paul say about his relationship to the church… to you and I? And what does that prompt us to do in our spiritual family meetings? We’ll look at that in this study. Galatians 1:1-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Maybe you’re a fixer. If you see a problem, your inner self wants to jump in and improve the situation. In our study today, we’re going to ask if we are subtly trying to “fix” Christianity by finding ways we can make it more “accessible.” Paul wrote a letter to a church who was doing this. Let’s see how that letter lands for us. Galatians 1:1-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoice...

We’re looking at how God does not give up on us. This passage provides ten promises that demonstrate that enduring love. But what are the implications of that persistent love in our efforts to face challenges? Is it possible for us to fail so massively that we cannot be restored? How do we glean hope out of the rubble of what we’ve done? The prophet has good news for us. Zechariah 8:1-23 Learn mor...

Winning is great! We love to celebrate winning. But is it even better to be a gracious winner? This is just one of the questions we’ll be asking in an attempt to reframe our perspective on what it means to keep the peace. Judges 8:1-35 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prophet looks ahead. A prophet of hope anticipates good things ahead. If we’ve failed miserably, can we still anticipate good things ahead? Is it possible to fail so miserably that we’re outside the realm of hope? Our objective is to gain a perspective of how our failure measures up to God’s promises and love. Zechariah 8:1-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The prophet has lowered the gavel for those who have violated God’s law, those who are not holy. He has pointed out that we need to be reconciled with God. And then, in a move of pure hope, he points out how this understanding of our condition sets us up for a significant dose of good news. We’ll look at that good news in this study. Zechariah 5:1-4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

Maybe you’ve felt it. It’s not uncommon. We’re convinced our current struggles are the consequences of things we’ve done in our past. We trudge along while others appear to be flying high. We see clearly all is not rosy in our worlds. Are we cursed? Are we living in shadows of the past? Or are we missing out on understanding who we actually are in God? Zechariah 5:1-4 Learn more about your ad choi...

Power is important, and vital to change, right? Might is the best way to impact the world. And wouldn’t it be great if we all had special powers to make amazing things happen all at once? But is power always the solution? Our study today explores this question. Zechariah 4:1-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It makes a great movie plot, loaded with “feel good” moments. All is lost, but then suddenly, the least likely character, the outsider, the excluded one, the misfit… jumps in and saves the day. Ever consider your potential to save the day, given the power source available to you? We’ll do that in this study. Zechariah 4:1-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, there are challenges that believers face in today's culture. But Scripture does tell us that peacemakers are blessed. So, what does peace look like for the believer today? And more importantly, what does it cost? Judges 8:1-35 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One truth, two reactions. “God sees you.” How we react to that truth is very telling. In this study, we’ll look at how to make sure you’re on the comfortable reaction side of that equation. Zechariah 1:7-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel like being angry at injustice is a full-time job? What if you got some help with that? In fact, what if God promises to take care of all of that for us? How would that change your day? We’ll look at what God has to say about those who appear to be ignoring Him. Zechariah 1:7-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s easy to do, often without even thinking about it. You look at a potential connection, a friendship, a relationship, being “friended” on social media, and quickly run the numbers. “What can this relationship get me?” In today’s study, we’re going to look unflinchingly at the how we may be doing that… with God. Zechariah 1:1-6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Having a tough week? How about reading from a prophet who lived thousands of years ago? Is that a long shot, or will Scripture once again be found applicable to our very specific and very modern situations today? Let’s find out by heading into the Old Testament book of Zechariah. Zechariah 1:1-6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a scale from 1 to 100, how much faith do you have? Or is that the wrong question to ask? Ever felt like you need more faith? What if the amount of faith is not the most important metric? Today's study celebrates the value of “tiny faith.” Acts 12:1-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s fair to say that if you watched someone jump into a swimming pool, and one leg stayed behind, perched on the edge all by itself, that would be a disturbing experience. But do we do that spiritually? What does “taking the plunge” really look like? We’ll dive… into that question today. Judges 7:9-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve seen it hundreds of times. When news breaks about a product having problems, the marketing department responsible for selling that product often times goes silent. Should the church be just the opposite? Should the message of the Gospel be given extra support during times of crisis? What do you do when things go wrong? We’ll explore this question in our study today. Acts 12:1-25 Learn more a...

Two options: First, describe a mountain peak based on looking out a window at it. Second, describe that same peak having just climbed it. When we’re asked about our faith, do we stumble into the former, completely missing out on the power of the latter? How do we combine our experience with known truth? We’ll look at these questions today. Acts 11:1-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

Stories of turmoil are typically easier to deal with when they’re on the “other side of the fence.” But can it be that when the troubles are elsewhere, the power of God is not as intimately known? Can we know the power of God without going through the fire? We’ll look at these questions in this study. Acts 9:1-19 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“How to overcome exclusion and division in 30 seconds or less.” Clearly not going to happen, unless we know the true source of unity. In this study, we look at the life of a Bible character who was excluded in many ways, and yet ended up in joyful victory. Acts 8:26-40 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices