Reliable Truth

Are you on a search for truth?Today we are studying John 3:1-15. In this familiar conversation that Jesus has with Nicodemus, we’re introduced to this great truth about being born again. The idea of a new birth. There is another word that Paul uses that means the same thing - regeneration. If you’ve ever read the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, it uses the words regenerate and regeneration a good bit. There are three definitions in Webster’s for regeneration: to generate and produce anew to change radically and for the better to be spiritually rebornWhat do you think of when you hear the term “born-again" Christian?Looking at our culture today, if you were to ask that same question to a random sampling of people, how do you think they would respond?Author Tim Keller said that: "The new birth means you are now able to sense the reality of things that before were nothing to you. You actually didn’t see the reality of them. The new birth is a new order of life in which you finally begin to sense the full reality of what’s out there in the Universe, and you can live and act in accordance with it." In Ephesians 1:17-18, Paul’s prayer for the Christians in Ephesus was, "God, I pray that You would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation, and that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened." This is what God wants to give us through this new birth.

Today we're studying John chapter 2. It’s a quick read, and full of interesting details about Jesus. He spent 30 years of His life in a small, obscure village called Nazareth. The people in Nazareth didn’t even think much of Him, yet even at age 12, Jesus really had a good grasp of who He was and why He was there. He grew in wisdom and knowledge, and in favor with God and man.Hebrews 5 tells us that, "although Jesus was Son of God, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.” So, we learn that He suffered, and He learned obedience from all that He suffered. What do we know about His suffering?

When my oldest son was about nine, out of the blue he asked me, “Dad, why do you believe in God?” And I gave him all kinds of reasons. I said there are a lot of very good, rational, logical reasons to believe in God. Then I said, but, for me, ultimately, I believe in God because of Jesus. The Word becoming Flesh and dwelling among us.What is the reason for life?Author Tim Keller said, “The Designer has punched a hole in the roof of the world, and He has descended down into it in the person of Christ…You were built, all of us, not to just follow some philosophical principle or follow some law. You were built to know and love this divine person, Jesus. And when you know Him, and you serve Him, and you love Him, when you find out what He built you for, and you comply with it, and you submit yourself to Him, that’s when you find out who you really are, and you become the person you were meant to be.” Go back to John chapter 1, and substitute the word “reason” every time the verse says “the Word” when you read it.“In the beginning was the reason for life, and the reason for life was with God, and the reason for life was God, and the reason for life became Flesh and dwelt among us.” I think Paul says it best in Colossians 2:9-10, where he says, “for in Him (Jesus) all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him, you have been made complete.”John is telling us that Jesus is the reason for life, and, in Him, we are made complete.

Richard joins Dr. Michael Easley to discuss Richard’s book Reflections on The Existence of God and the importance of evidence-based belief.Why is it important to have evidence to believe in?In this episode we'll look at these questions many of us have: How should we think about evil in a culture that loves evil?  What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose in living? What is the psychology of belief and unbelief? How is the person and work of Jesus Christ apologetic evidence?There are a lot of strong arguments for the existence of God, but two of the most compelling are the fine tuning of the universe and the person of Christ as the Son of God. We should each examine the evidence out there and strive to believe responsibly. What evidence have you found for the existence of God?Find out more about Richard's book Reflections on the Existence of God - ⁠Read Chapter 1 for free⁠.Dr. Easley’s experience in ministry spans four decades as a gifted Bible teacher and church leader. He was the 8th president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois  He shares a passion for ministry, a heart for people, and love of God.Michael Easley inContext wants to help you understand how God’s Word applies to the context of your life through interviews with subject matter experts, and men and women striving to obey Christ and His Word. This episode originally aired on Michael Easley inContext here.

Guest Paul Walker discusses four different people from the gospel of John, including seekers Nicodemus and an adulterous woman, and believers Thomas and Peter. They all share the desire to be in the 'inner ring'. The podcast explores the concept of the inner ring, the need for acceptance and love without condemnation, and the importance of being born again and having faith in Jesus. Love, forgiveness, doubt, and failure are also explored in relation to receiving love and grace from God.

All of us have certain pictures in our minds and in our hearts of how we want life to be. Our pictures are made up of people and circumstances.As long as reality and our pictures are somewhat in conformity, then life is good! Everything is going well! The problem arises when there's a gap between my picture and reality. And the greater the gap, the greater the pain and disappointment, the hurt, and just the craziness that comes into our lives. Sometimes our pictures just blow up. How do we respond to the storms when life blows up? The content for today's episode comes from a seminar I attended by Christian counselor and author Julie Sparkman. Check out her book Unhitching from the Crazy Train: https://www.amazon.com/Unhitching-Crazy-Train-Finding-Control/dp/1625915365/I greatly appreciate Julie's teaching on this subject. As I have used and applied these principles in my own life, God has impacted me in a deep way.

Is life worth living? And if so, how can it be lived well? Dr. Mark Gignilliat joins us with a message from the Old Testament book of Joshua.Where is happiness in all of this? Interestingly, I recently read that the largest registration for a single course in the history of Yale University was a course entitled "Happiness." To live a fulfilled human life is an age-old question. Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle answered that a well-lived life is one that's marked by virtue. In today's talk I will discuss how to grow and develop the virtue of courage in your life. Courage is not the absence of fear. Aristotle said that courage is knowing when to withstand and knowing when to advance in the face of fear. In Joshua 1:9 the Lord told Joshua, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠Dr. Mark Gignilliat⁠ is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

Happy Father's Day! Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries joins us with a message for fathers especially, but also for all men - to help us all focus on the things that matter. Are there any boundaries when it comes to human sexuality? How do our choices affect others in our lives? As a father, how do my choices affect my wife? My children? Today's message is about living an upright life - how to be a righteous man. Righteous men are just normal guys, but they’re just not double-minded anymore. They confess their sins. They live with accountability. They want to be part of the solution. Dads, you can demonstrate to your daughters how women should be treated. Men can model to their sons on how to think about real women, and how real men treat women. Women, even the most godly ones, cannot do that like a man can. Women can nurture. They comfort. They encourage and they’re powerful prayer warriors, but they cannot model for boys and demonstrate to young girls in the way men can.Train up your child - create a desire in them to live for Christ through your example and through cultivating a loving relationship with your children. It's the most worthy job you could aspire to.Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S.He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

I remember watching a movie at around age 19, and laughing more than I'd ever laughed before in my entire life. About 6 months later I became a Christian, finished college and went on to start my career. Some years later I found that same movie in a rental store and excitedly took it home to watch it. I started watching it, and after about 10 or 15 minutes I had to turn it off because it was so crude and so perverse. I share this because something had happened to me. Very clearly my view of life had really changed. The way I saw life had changed. And my view of sexuality had changed. So what happened to me? I guess you could say I was seeing life through a different set of eyes. Clearly the Holy Spirit was in me as a Christian, and had transformed the way I view life. Why is the world so broken? I believe the world is broken because of the spiritual condition of man. All people need the light of Jesus Christ, as Jesus said in Acts 26:18, "to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." ⁠Watch on YouTube⁠

Would you say that you're living a healthy life? And what does a healthy life even look like?Today I'm diving into the life of King David and his fall into adultery–we'll look closely at what happened in his life. When marriages are struggling and there's not much passion going on, that's when you are particularly vulnerable to the temptation to adultery. Proverbs 5 tells us men to, "Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth... and be exhilarated always with her love."Maybe you're in a difficult place in your life. You might be thinking to yourself, "Well, you don't know my situation..." I want to encourage you to hold on to the hope and the love of Christ for you. In today's message we'll learn how to: be intentional about guarding our hearts pray about the issues that we face stay close to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls–Jesus Christ, and trust in God's will for us in this. I contend that if you apply these principles in your life, then over time you'll be a very healthy man and you will experience the abundant life that Jesus promised us in John 10:10. Watch on YouTube