The Pact Podcast

Today we're taking a closer look at stewardship and investing and what the Bible has to say about both. If we invest for the future, are we not trusting God with our future? If we don't invest, are we not being wise? More questions like this, so let's get started! 

It can sometimes be harder to have a Gospel conversation with those in our region because of the cultural christianity that so many believe in. We talk through conversation starters and questions to ask as we all learn how to bring Jesus into our workplaces and friendships.

Maybe family worship is a new concept for you. Maybe you've been wanting to incorporate more prayer or scripture reading in your family dynamic, but you've been unsure how. Or, maybe you're just convinced the rest of the family will be against it or that your kids are too wild to ever sit still for a Bible lesson and song. Wherever you are today, know that there's still a way for you to begin invi...

Parenting is just hard. But there are things that makes Christian parenting uniquely challenging. You want your kids to understand the gospel. You love them so very much and you want to protect them from sin and heartache. But, sometimes, if we aren't careful, we can frustrate them because we want them to be where WE are in our sanctification journey. It's difficult at times to be patient with our...

Yes, you read that title right. We're talking about the implications of the Bible in the question of if aliens do or could exist. It's an interesting discussion. Sit in on our thought process as we look at this question. 

Is there a reason to pray if God already knows everything about the future? First, let's examine our attitude toward prayer. Are we seeing prayer as just a place to petition God? Or, are we seeking a relationship with our Father? Today, we look at the purpose for prayer and the encouragement we've received by the prayer life of others. 

Arguments and disagreements come up, no matter how close your family or coworkers are. So, how do you handle them with grace and charity? We talk about moments where we didn't quite show up that way in our own life and how scripture points us to a better way. 

It's a question that different denominations answer when it comes to children and faith in Jesus Christ. At what age do they become accountable for putting their own faith in Jesus? We tackle the question and the different perspectives you might hear. 

Hedonism isn't exactly a positive term. But, when you think of it with a little bit of a different lens, it can turn into something quite beautiful. John Piper talks about Christian hedonism being where we find our ultimate satisfaction in Christ through a personal relationship with Him. It's a good and right thing for us to find our joy and satisfaction in Jesus alone. Every person, Christian and...

What do you think of when you hear the word "Tradition"? Is this a positive or a negative thing? Today, we consider some church traditions and try to consider the good and the bad. 

Dr. Ian Carrico is back with us today! We hear what God is doing in his family's life and hear his challenge for us all as we think through the value of our time in relation to God and the local church. 

Have you ever said or heard your kid say "The devil made me do it!"? Let's explore how Jesus himself faced temptations, how we should approach sin and the mindset that leads to confession and repentance.

We've all witnessed history and recent events where religious liberties for Christians and non-Christians are called into question. But, how should we view our own religious liberty and that of those with different beliefs than ourselves? Also, how does our response to other religions impact our Gospel witness? 

Last week we left off on this question so we encourage you to start listening to last week's podcast first if you can. We talk through some reasons why Jesus is the only way, looking at different religions and theological understandings. 

There's no bigger question in life than "Who is Jesus?". If Jesus is not the treasure of our hearts, then we have Him in name only and really nothing else. There's an eternity of things to consider surrounding who Jesus is and what His birth, death, burial and resurrection means to our life. Just as the disciples had to answer, so too do we have to answer Jesus when He asks, "Who do you say that I...

Are you experiencing burnout in your job, ministry or just in everyday tasks you used to enjoy? Today we're discussing how to live what some call a grace-paced life. We explore the fuel behind our ministries and our work, and discuss this important question: Why do I do what I do? Spend this time with us and reflect on your own life's focus/priorities. How are the truths found in scripture molding...

We see angels present throughout scripture, but there are a lot of questions surrounding them. Do we become angels when we die? Are any of the images we see in culture accurate? When were they created? Are they like us? We explore what scripture teaches us about angels throughout the new and old testament. 

Today we're talking about our God who creates. And not only does He create, but in Genesis we learn that He created through speech. If God is powerful enough to create all things with a word....then we begin to learn just how much confidence we can have in the promises of scripture, His written word. 

Sunday, Bethlehem Baptist is beginning a new series through the entire book of Genesis. So, we decided to take a week to talk through the beginning. The very beginning. There are many creation theories that scientists and Christians alike have for the creation of the world. We test these theories against scripture and talk through the deeper implications of each theory. 

What does Christian unity look like? How do we reconcile differences inside the church and show Christ's love? This is a big topic that we'll continually be talking about throughout our time in ministry probably, but unity is one of the last things Jesus prayed for (read in John 17). So, let's at least get the conversation started. 

Do you understand your own worldview? If we continue trying on other people's worldviews we will stumble around in life. But, if we look to Scripture and see the lens God wants us to use, we'll begin to live with consistency. 

What is our attitude toward food and fasting? Is our heart so satisfied with the world that our heart isn't broken enough for the things it should be? Do we fully acknowledge and recognize the dependency we have on God? Today, we're discussing the purpose of fasting and the way we should approach it.  The Pact Pick of the day is: A Hunger for God by John Piper 

After a long day of work, we're exhausted. Many of us go home, scroll through social media or turn on the TV for a while to relax. But, are we actually resting in those moments? Today we're exploring what it means to redeem the time and approach our days with wisdom, starting with a look at Ephesians 5:16.  Our challenge of the day: sit for 5 minutes in prayer/silence/rest and when your mind wande...

As we prepare for July 4th weekend, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about patriotism and the Christian faith. History is a great teacher so we dig into a short history lesson of past nationalism paired with Christianity. As we approached the 4th, we encourage you to consider your own past experiences with worship on July 4th Sunday and think about whether it was Biblical or not. Also, h...

Brandon Sickling is the new associate pastor of worship at Bethlehem Baptist Church, so we decided to pick his brain a little on how he views worship. We talk through what it means for worship to be seen as a celebration and we get a glimpse into the process Brandon uses in picking out songs for the congregation each week.  "Is this a song that I would want a member of my church to be singing on t...