The Pact Podcast

God is love. God is just. As we explore Advent and His love for us in the first coming, we start by better understanding God's just character. Tim, Ian and Adam warn against any idea, book or teaching that diminishes the justice of God which also diminishes the love of God. The cross doesn't increase the expectation for us to love God, it enables us to love Him. This demonstration of love cannot b...

Thinking through the anticipation of the appearing of Christ, both his first and second coming. As we're nearing Christmas, we celebrate the Advent of Christ. Today we discuss more specifically hope and some ways we can celebrate Advent as a family as we get closer to Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving! This podcast is for all of our turkey hunters, fishermen, and also for those who would never, ever go hunting. We look at the old testament sacrificial laws, the creation story and also share our own stories of loving and struggling with hunting.

In today's polarized world, we can quickly find ourselves portraying a rebellious spirit. At times, we all disagree with how government is being run, but God calls us to submit to them anyway. So, what does this look like and are there any exceptions? We explore passages from Romans 13 and look at a few issues from modern day. 

What happens when God is absent from our decision making? We turn to the default way of making decisions where the ends justify the means. When we think it through, this way of thinking is really just another way of displaying selfishness and sin. Adam, Ian and Tim discuss different areas of life where we might be tempted to lean into this way of thinking. 

Humanity, at every stage of life and from all ethnicities, has dignity and should be protected. Why? Because we are all created in the image of God. Today we explore where our value and worth is rooted as humans.  Focus scripture: "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these...

Trick or treating unto the Lord...? Yep, we're discussing Halloween in the church. What's appropriate for those whose Gospel is life during this holiday surrounding death? We're encouraging you to talk about it and settle in your own mind what is right for you and your family. 

We all experience various forms of suffering in this life due to injustices. Sometimes these life experiences even lead us to question whether God is in fact just. Ian, Adam and Tim, explore what justice is and what the cross of Jesus means for each and every one of us. 

We don't tell you who to vote for or even hint at it. But, here's what we lay out today: some guiding principles of how we, as Christians, should put on our scriptural lenses in how we think about politics and approach conversations about politics. Remember, our citizenship is ultimately in heaven. 

It's only when Jesus is the prize that sanctification is happening. As a Christian you are counted as righteous because of Christ, not of anything you've done right or wrong in this life. But now begins a different work, that of sanctification. What does this mean and what does it look like in our life? Let's explore it today!  Scripture Referenced: Hebrews 12 and Psalm 19:12-13  The PACT Pick is...

Today we're exploring the difference between these terms: ambition, contentment and apathy. As Christians we can struggle with having ungodly ambitions and looking for contentment in things other than Christ. Or, we can just not care, walk into our everyday life with apathetic views toward everyone we encounter. Let's talk about how to cure apathy in our life and begin living an ambitious life for...

We define the packed word that is "sin". It's often a word associated with bondage, but we explore the attitude followers of Christ should have regarding sin. It might not be what you would expect. Let's talk about it! 

Come to church with expectation and anticipation. Don't fret over distractions or noisy kids. Prepare, be present and worship. Today we're talking about how to approach Sunday mornings with your family. 

You have the Bible, so where do you begin? Why is it important to read it? How often should we study? We delve into these questions and more. Let's first understand that the Bible is food. If you want to have a healthy diet, you don't want to starve yourself. It's the same with Scripture. You study the Bible to know God. Together, let's get to know Him a little better today. 

Is it normal for Christians to doubt? Is it okay for a Christian to doubt? We talk about the many types of doubt in the Christian life and look at what Matthew 9:23-25 has to teach us about it. 

Last week we discussed what biblical forgiveness looks like. Today, we go even deeper, exploring the relationship between forgiveness and restoration. Is restoration a necessity to the process of forgiveness? Are there levels of restoration after you've forgiven the one who wronged you in some way? Let's talk about it. 

Forgive and forget. Is that biblical? Is it even possible? Let's explore it from a practical and biblical perspective. 

Addiction is seen from many different perspectives. Some see it as a purely moral issue. Others see it as a disease where no choice is involved. We talk with Dr. Larry Purcell who has counseled many over the years struggling with different forms of addiction. Listen in for a new definition and perspective of addiction and how the church family can respond. 

We are image bearers of God, but quickly confuse who we are with what we do. Today, we talk through where we find our identity. The question to think through today is: "Whose glory am I concerned with?" We reference the creation story and also the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19. The PACT Pick of the week is: Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ. 

The last four weeks we broke down the PACT acronym, diving into the meaning behind each word. Today, we give a little preview into some of the subjects we'll be tackling together over the coming weeks. We hope each week we are welcomed back into your headphones or car sound system as we learn more about how to disciple and be discipled.

Today we're discussing the last part of our PACT accronym: Truth. We hear a lot these days the phrase, "my truth." But, in making a pact with other believers it's important to let God's truth lead, not our own. Let's unpack what that means for our relationships, confrontations with others and our walk with Christ. 

Taking the PACT with a group of brothers or sisters in Christ hinges on having confidence and trust within the group. Ian, Tim and Adam dig into what this looks like and even ask the question, "What do you do if you're betrayed?" Don't forget to subscribe so you get notifications when each new episode becomes available! 

What does accountability look like in the church? What's the difference between being judgmental and holding one another accountable? We dig into each of these questions this week. Don't forget to hit subscribe! 

Today we focus on two main questions related to prayer:  1. How do we balance discipline and delight in prayer?  2. What should be our focus in prayer?  Let's dig in! 

In this episode of the PACT podcast, we explore the meaning of being "pure in heart" as discussed in Matthew 5:8. We define the heart as the entirety of our being, encompassing our soul, mind, and emotions. We emphasize that purity of heart means having a singular focus and devotion to God, free from divided interests. We acknowledge the challenge of achieving a pure heart, given that the Bible de...