Excelling in Christ

Aging is a wonderful journey in which life gets sweeter as the years go by.

Life is filled with transitions. Some are monumental like graduating, getting married, or having children. Others happen in the quiet, day-to-day moments when plans change, and life takes a new direction. But in Romans 6:1-11, Paul points us to the greatest transition of all, the transformation that happens in baptism. This isn’t just a change in status or ceremony, it’s an eternal shift from deat...

Leviticus 2 might not be the passage you’d choose for an inspirational Instagram post. Let’s be honest, it’s a tough read. Details about grain offerings, fine flour, oil, frankincense, and ancient rituals can feel distant, even tedious. But here’s the truth, if we’re willing to look beyond the surface, Leviticus 2 offers something deeply practical and spiritually rich for our modern lives. In this...

In this episode, we dive deep into the sobering reality of sin, starting with the words of 1 John 3:4: “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” As Christians striving to restore New Testament Christianity, we often focus on visible practices such as how we worship, the use of instruments, or observing the Lord’s Supper. But what about the personal, daily bat...

Imagine for a moment that you’re standing at a crossroads. Ahead is a narrow, rugged path marked by clarity and purpose. To the side is a wide, enticing highway paved with ease and popular opinion. The signpost on the narrow path reads “Restoration,” a journey back to the church as Christ intended it, a journey grounded in the authority of the New Testament. In this episode, we’re stepping aboard...

Let Your Light Shine Welcome to today's episode where we explore how each of us can embody the light of Christ in our daily lives. In this episode, we’re diving into one of my favorite truths: there’s no other light like yours. You are  uniquely and wonderfully made by God and have a light that no one else in this world can replicate. Not in your family, not in your workplace, not even in your chu...

Life moves fast. At first, it feels endlessly slow as you count down the days until you’re 16, then 21, then maybe 25 when your car insurance finally drops. But then it happens. Time accelerates. Before long, you blink, and years have vanished like the vapor James speaks of in James 4:14. We’re here for a moment, and then almost gone. What do we do with that truth? For many, it’s overwhelming. But...

In this episode, we tackle the subtle yet severe dangers of compromise, especially as it affects our spiritual lives. Compromise in a faith context isn’t about mundane choices like where to eat lunch or small disagreements; it’s about giving up pieces of our fidelity to God. James 4:4 warns us, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” Compromise blurs our boundarie...

For today’s episode, we're diving into the theme of cultivating love, a real, active love for God, versus just going through the motions. It’s so easy to slip into that routine, where we start simply showing up out of habit, where faith becomes just another thing to check off.  But, just as we hunger and thirst in the physical, Jesus calls us to a deeper hunger and thirst spiritually, "Blessed are...

Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into one of the most pivotal moments in the life of Jesus, His baptism by John at the Jordan River.  We’ll walk through Matthew 3:13-17, where Jesus deliberately seeks out John, setting a powerful example of obedience and humility.  Here’s the question we’re facing, why would the sinless Son of God undergo baptism?  In a culture that often overcomplicates...

In today's podcast, we're delving into the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-13.  This is a passage that may seem straightforward at first but offers a profound spiritual warning just beneath the surface. This isn’t just a story about some who make it in and others who don’t.  It’s a message about the depth of our relationship with God, a calling to go beyond the minimum, beyond just “a...

In part two of our miniseries, "Ten Keys to Spiritual Growth," we’re diving into the powerful, often-overlooked discipline of fasting.  We’ll talk about how fasting isn’t just about giving up food, it’s about refocusing, clearing away distractions, and drawing closer to God.  This episode walks through practical ways to try fasting, drawing from examples in Scripture, like Jesus in the wilderness...

In today’s episode, we dive into the first five of ten essential keys for spiritual growth.  We’re talking about how to stay spiritually grounded in a world that loves to pull us off course, especially in busy times like the upcoming holidays.  We will begin with daily prayer, move to forgiveness and more, with each key building toward a faith that’s both resilient and real.  First up: developing...

Welcome to today's episode!  I’m glad to have you join me as look into the roots of a movement that might be familiar, but probably isn’t fully known to many: the Restoration Movement.  Now, for some of us, it’s been a while since we took the time to reflect on where we come from, our spiritual roots, the groundwork laid by generations before us, the historical shifts that shaped who we are today....

Welcome to today’s episode, where we talk about the purpose of Christianity.  In the last lesson, we focused on what Christianity isn’t, but today, we’re shifting gears. We’re here to explore what Christianity is, the positive, life-changing side of it.  And let me tell you, we’ve got a lot to cover.  So, I’ll keep an eye on the clock, and we’ll get as far as we can.  But this is one of those mess...

Welcome back, and thanks for joining me for today’s discussion.  I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how misunderstood Christianity often is in today’s world.  It seems like everywhere you turn, you run into a version of Christianity that’s been twisted, misrepresented, or used for personal gain.  This isn’t a new problem, of course, but it’s one we need to address head-on.  That’s what we’ll di...

I want to explore the recipe for spiritual success.  Now, this won't be an exhaustive list, but I aim to hit some high points that I believe are crucial for our journey.   For example, in this fast-paced world of impatience and novelty, folks are constantly jumping from one thing to another, thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.  Hopping from one church to another, chasing...

Hey there, everyone!  Welcome back to another episode.  I'm so glad you've decided to join me today.  You know, in our last episode, we took a deep dive into why we sometimes act the fool, why we stumble and make choices that don't serve us well.  Well, today, we're flipping the coin.  We're going to explore the other side of that lesson and talk about ways to live better, to keep climbing higher,...

Good morning, everyone.  I'm so glad you've joined me today as we delve into a topic that's as personal as it is universal: “Why We Act the Fool Sometimes."  You know, it's a curious thing, we've all had those moments where we've looked back and thought, "What was I thinking?" Well, today, I want to unpack some of the reasons behind those moments and maybe shed a little light on how we can navigat...

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode. I'm grateful you've chosen to spend this time with me today.  You know, life has a way of presenting us with challenges, doesn't it?  One of those challenges that seems to be a constant in our lives is dealing with enemies.  Now, that might sound a bit harsh, but let's face it, there are people out there who just don't see eye to eye with us.  T...

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of our podcast.  I'm so glad you've decided to join me today.  You know, life can be a bit overwhelming at times, can't it?  It feels like just when we've got a handle on things, something new pops up to challenge us.  Well, in our first lesson today, we're going to discuss some of the struggles of life and how to manage them, drawing from Bible...

Today, we are tackling biblical masculinity and the responsibilities of men in the home, the church, and society.  This is not a subject that aligns with the prevailing norms of our age, but it is one that is deeply rooted in the Word of God.  As we navigate this discussion, I ask for your prayers for courage and clarity, that I may speak the truth in love.   The family, while not the foundation o...

Welcome to another episode of our podcast.  Today, look into Psalm 91, often referred to as the Psalm of Protection. This psalm is brief, just 16 verses, but gives us assurance of God’s protection.  We won't be covering every single verse today, but we will explore the overarching theme of God’s protection.  This Psalm teaches us that peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God. Ph...

Today, we dive deep into the Word and explore how we can live out our faith with integrity and purpose.  Today, we're going to start with a verse from 2 Corinthians 5:10.  Paul writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." Now, I know many of you are familiar with this verse. You...

Psalm 1 is a cornerstone for understanding biblical meditation.  It provides a vivid picture of the righteous man who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.  This practice is not just a fleeting moment of reflection but a continuous, life-enriching process.  As we explore this passage, we'll uncover how meditation, as defined by Puritan John Owen, involves "thi...