Onward in the Faith

What did Paul mean by itching ears? How do we surround ourselves with people who will tell us what we want the Bible to say? And, more importantly, how do we protect ourselves from seeking them out? This challenging episode digs into 2 Timothy 4:1-9 and exposes the difference between choosing to pursue truth and choosing our preferred truth.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/Onwardint...

For some, prayer can be as difficult as it is important. We know we should do it more, but without a good understanding of what prayer is and why we do it, we're unlikely to see much success in doing it regularly.   This episode digs into what is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer," looking at the things Christ modeled and why He may have chosen those specific things. In the end, the goal of this...

If we look beyond the duck-billed platypus, do we have any evidence that God has a sense of humor? Join me for an absurdly thorough look at what God has revealed about Himself to see if we can glimpse this aspect of His perfect character.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo   You can find this episode's original article here .   Scri...

Steel man arguments aren't something we hear every day. However, accurately and fairly representing someone's beliefs is an important part of living in a world that hates God. This episode explores some positive benefits from steel man arguments and ends with some encouragement for God's people.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo  ...

It's easy to misrepresent someone else's beliefs. However, Christians may not realize the seriousness and importance of representing someone's beliefs accurately. This episode digs in to what a "straw man argument" is and why it's so dangerous for us to do it as often as we do.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo   You can find this...

Phones are central to much of what we do throughout our day. Unfortunately, it also easily replaces more important things in our lives. This episode takes a challenging look at what we do when we let our phones dominate our lives, and why we do it.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo   Comparing time and money   You can find this epi...

What should we pray about? Whom should we pray for? This episode looks at what Paul's discussion on prayer in 1 Timothy 2 so that we can examine our hearts and lives as we go before our God in prayer.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo   Link to GCR Link to the video teaching Music by LesFM from Pixabay.

How did people go from living 900 years before the flood to a little over 100 years today? There are many theories, some good and some bad, and this episode looks at the most popular among them. Get ready to dive in and learn why people lived longer before the Flood. Also, a big thanks to this episode's one-time sponsor! Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donati...

Are people in Hell now? Do people spend eternity in Hell? It's hard to believe, but we can't say yes to both of these. In this 2-part series, I look at what the Bible reveals about the afterlife, the ways "Hell" was translated from the original languages, and equip you to read your Bible even better than before.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  P...

Are people in Hell now? Do people spend eternity in Hell? It's hard to believe, but we can't say yes to both of these. In this 2-part series, I look at what the Bible reveals about the afterlife, the ways "Hell" was translated from the original languages, and equip you to read your Bible even better than before.   Join my monthly supporters: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith One-time donations:  P...

This is episode 100! To mark this milestone, I'd like to celebrate with all of you. Come behind-the-scenes of what's happening on the podcast, hear some questions from your fellow listeners, and listen to how God has used Onward in the Faith in the lives of others.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   Top 5 Episodes: #1 Response to Dana Covers...

A trait shared by all mature Christians is a sense of inquisitiveness. This goes beyond being curious and results in finding answers to questions we have. This episode will help you better understand why you need to grow in inquisitiveness, and give some ways to do so.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   You can find this episode's original a...

Last episode , I announced that I'd like your help celebrating 100 episodes. Send in your questions about Ray and Onward in the Faith, or share how God has used the ministry in your life. Click here or email me at contact@OnwardintheFaith.com   Link to GCR and Saylorville Church Link to the video   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith Music by Les...

Celebrate 100 episodes of Onward in the Faith! Send in any questions about me or Onward in the Faith, or share how God has used Onward in the Faith in your life. Remember to let me know if you don't want your first name read with your message. contact@OnwardintheFaith.com or Contact through my website

Roe v. Wade has been overturned. There's a lot we could discuss about what it means and what we should do next. This episode is a collection of my own thoughts for Christians to consider as they engage with others, think about what limited abortions mean for the church, and how we can continue on in a country where millions of babies now have a chance to live.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venm...

We finish our series on Christians & Psychology by answering the most important question - What, or who, is the answer to our problems? Once we've properly interpreted our problems, it's important to seek a solution that will address the root issues we face. Jesus is that answer, but not in a lazy, "Pray more to feel better" way. Jesus is the ultimate solution to everything related to our sin, whe...

When we start with a biblical worldview of who we are, we come to radically different interpretations of why we experience certain thoughts, behaviors, or desires. This episode takes the foundation we laid in Episode 93 to help us better understand the problems that psychologists insist are purely natural.   This will be a difficult episode for some people to hear. Be sure not to make hasty judgme...

In this episode, I discuss how we understand human beings and what they experience. The assumptions we make and worldview we hold will determine how we view our mental health, the problems we face, and how we interpret what they are and why they happen.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   Article on what "heart" means   You can find this epis...

Psychology promises us freedom from something. But can something based on a secular worldview ever hope to care for our souls? This episode takes an honest look at what good psychology offers, where it turns our focus, and why Christians may need to make a difficult choice about where they turn.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   You can fin...

Can we really blend psychology with Christianity when they both start from very different assumptions about the world? In this episode I look at what psychology believes, how that affects who psychologists interpret information, and how that impacts the solutions they offer.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   Science and Christianity   Serie...

Christians know we suffer more than just physically. But does that mean we should see a psychologist for our minds the same way we'd see a doctor for our bodies? This episode lays a foundation for a lengthy discussion about whether psychology and Christianity are compatible. I discuss why it's important for Christians to think about this, share my experiences, and end with an overview of what psyc...

"I want to grow in wisdom, but I'm just not smart enough." This is a statement too many Christians have said, and in this episode I want to do away with this kind of thinking. Wisdom and intelligence are different, and understanding that removes a barrier that keeps us from growing closer to God.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   You can fi...

An important character in the story of Christ's resurrection is often accused of being a former prostitute. This episode looks at what the Bible really tells us about Mary Magdalene, as well as how long-standing traditions can warp how we read God's word.   One-time donations:  PayPal or Venmo Monthly support: www. Patreon.com/OnwardintheFaith   You can find this episode's original article here ....

Just because baptism isn't required for salvation doesn't mean it's not expected after salvation. There are many Christians who haven't yet been baptized, yet God's word has no hint that baptism is meant to be done months, or even years, after someone is saved. This episode looks at three common reasons a Christian hasn't been baptized and challenges listeners to walk in obedience to what God expe...