God Centered Life

Prayer is not magic. We do not seek to manipulate a god with certain styles of speech—that's a pagan way of thinking about it. Jesus speaks against that when he says: do not pray like the pagans, who think they'll be heard because of their many words. Josh Moody says that prayer needs to be on the top of our list of priorities, and we must learn better how to pray. 1 Chronicles 4:1-10 Learn more a...

We live in a day when we are very much aware of the opinions of others about us, on social media and elsewhere. In 1 Chronicles, what makes Jabez different is that he was willing to go against the flow of his brothers and peers. 1 Chronicles 4:1-10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Social networking through the internet—Facebook, Twitter—the question is raised whether all this interaction is actually improving our relationships. Friendship is a wonderful gift—it's one of the richest experiences of life, and it has spiritual benefits, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're thinking to yourself, "I can't keep on going," that's not the issue. The issue is that God will keep on going. "He who called you is faithful; he will surely do it."  1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are looking forward to a new heaven, a new earth, a new body, and a whole new universe. Our focus on Christ's second coming gives a whole new purpose to our lives today.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our mortality is real, but Christians do not die in the sense that they will not be separated from God. We may become physically dead, but we're spiritually alive. Pastor Josh teaches how Christians can approach their physical death in a very different way.  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people spend their whole lives looking for a church that fits their preferences—but that's not the point of church! When we love people who are very different from us, it says to the world that these are Jesus' disciples, because the only reason we'd do so is because God is teaching us to. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It can seem like you're not making any difference in ministry whatsoever. The most important parts of ministry are hidden within our hearts—only God knows. As we seek to serve, this passage sets out an encouraging pathway on how we can have an authentic, Christlike, God-honoring ministry.  1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's only one thing harder than living alone—learning to live with another person! Marriage is like juggling—it looks easy until you try it! All jokes aside, the church family includes all of those who love Jesus, including those who are single. This teaching is for everyone. Proverbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're a leader, it's very easy to always be thinking about the problems you need to fix and the people associated with those problems. But that's not Paul's approach; he has thanksgiving on his mind. Pastor Josh encourages us that the church can lift Jesus up and build us up in our faith. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every person on the face of the globe lives with the shadow of the grave. But a real Christian also lives with the light of the empty tomb. The purpose of the book of Esther is ultimately to point to Christ, but with the story of a rescue and a joyful feast of celebration.  Esther 8 - 10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The gospel has a pattern of grand reversal. The failure to grasp this reversal is at the heart of every failure of religion. And the switch between who's going to die in the story of Esther reflects the gospel.  Esther 5 - 7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're living in an age where everyone thinks they can redefine who they are. They can make themselves whatever they want to be. We tend to think about what's in it for us and to set things up for our own benefit. And then we have Esther, who is being called to give her life away for such a time as this.  Esther 3 - 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We live in a day that is decreasingly dominated by Christian ideals, and all of us will be faced with moral conundrums. We must do the right thing, but also be canny and wise. Esther is a story of winning favor with man through the favor and grace of God. Esther 2:1-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We can be creative but not be the Creator; we can invent but not truly create. The "gender agenda" is an attempt to recreate humanity. It will not work. Sexual fidelity is God's best for us. Proverbs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's an aspect of the book of Esther that's important to catch, but it's hard because of the narrative technique used. It's not immediately obvious to us, but it's meant to make you laugh—in a "gallows humor" sort of way. Esther 1:1-22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The church in America has utterly failed God's people. It has not taught on sin and on the darkness of the human heart because we've wanted a feel-good message. The result of that is that we always say that the problem is outside of us. But Jesus says the problem is within. Jude 1:17-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no doubt that we need to do what Jude is calling us to do: contend for the faith. In the church in America today, false teaching is prevalent. God's word is so relevant for our lives today. Jude 1:1-16 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone has a need for encouragement. And while this passage shows us the path to encouragement, it also has some sobering predictions in it. But we can come away from this message with fresh, spiritual courage to live the life we're meant to live for Jesus. John 16:29-33 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not about happiness or a big house or successful children—all that will be dust in the end. Happiness is temporary. It's about joy which is lasting and unrelated to what is happening around you. Joy is ultimately related to who Jesus is. John 16:17-28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We will never achieve much nor make life work until we master our fears. The only way to do that is to fear and reverence our Master. The Lord is good and loving, and his perfect love casts out all fear. Proverbs 1:1-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When we hold on to life how it is, we may be missing out on something better. You may be in the situation where you think you have everything you could possibly want, so why do you need to follow Jesus with any kind of real commitment? There is so much more on offer, and Jesus speaks to it here. John 16:5-16 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These days people have to be very careful what they say at work about the Bible. There are different kinds of persecution, and while you're not likely to be killed in America or England for being a Christian, there is opposition to Christian claims to truth and to Christian morality. John 15:18 - 16:4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This isn't about the person who has never been to church. This is about people who look like they're connected to the vine, but aren't. It's quite possible to grow up in the church and do all the "right" things, but not actually bear any fruit. It all comes down to regeneration by the Spirit. John 15:1-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It may be that you're here because you feel your life isn't having the impact that you wish it would. You don't feel that you're fulfilling what you were made to do. In biblical terms, you're not bearing fruit—so how do we do that? John 15:1-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices