Christianityworks Official Podcast

You know something – that old saying that blood is thicker than water, it’s true. There’s a special bond between members of a family. Our family really does matter.  And that – that’s why it’s time to start looking at what it means to build a godly family.

Family Matters

It’s great! Here we are again, another week continuing our series called, "Building a Godly Family". And the reason...

Peace is one of those things – well, who doesn’t want peace in their lives. Freedom from conflict. But imagine, imagine what a blessing it must be, to have peace at home.  A family that thrives on peace instead of being lost in conflict.

What a Blessing

If God offered you anything you wanted in this world, anything at all, what would you ask for? Tough question. It takes a bit of thin...

Of course, families are and always were, God’s idea. Yet so often these days, families seem to be, well, let’s be honest, just a tad dysfunctional. And as we each grapple with the realities of family life, all too often, we look around at all those apparently normal, balanced, near-perfect families out there and wonder to ourselves – what’s wrong with my family? What’s going on here?

The Dysfunct...

Over the last few weeks on the program, we’ve been discovering how it is that God speaks to us today and how we can get about hearing Him when He does speak. The question is – when it’s something big or important – how can we make sure that we’ve heard Him right? Because the last thing we want to do, is to get it wrong, right?

God is a God who speaks to us. It’s something He’s been doing for centuries. Millennia in fact. And sometimes, sometimes he speaks to us in ways that we just don’t expect. Right out of the blue. Question is – are we listening?

It’s one thing to want to hear God speak. Lots of people do – How can I hear God speak to me is one of the most common questions I’m asked. But half the time, I wonder whether we’re not wandering around with our ears shut and our eyes closed. Really!

Let me ask you a question – is God still speaking to us here and now? Today? And if so – how? Well – what are the answers? If God is indeed still speaking, shouldn’t we be listening? Imagine what a difference it could make, to know His will for our lives.

When we have a need – a real need – something we can’t do or fix or resolve for ourselves – what we need, is a helping hand. And if we get that helping hand – the person who’s attached to that hand, well, they go up in our estimation. They earn the right to say things that others can’t to us.  Funny thing happens through a helping hand.

Anyone who believes in Jesus – is also meant to be an Ambassador of Christ. Now – that’s not an easy role. Sometimes being Ambassador requires some tough talk. Other times it’s about diplomacy – the question is, knowing when to call a spade a spade, and when to be more … circumspect.

Everyone – everyone who believes in Jesus is called to be His ambassador. An Ambassador of Christ. That involves a change of heart, it involves a change in our actions and it involves – well, going. Ambassadors don’t stay, they go. That’s why being Christ’s Ambassadors ain’t easy sometimes.

Life just seems to happen doesn’t it? We get up, do pretty much the same thing as yesterday, over and over. And as someone who believes in Jesus it can be easy for us to lose sight of what God wants us to do with our lives. And it turns out – that in His eyes, you and I – we’re Ambassadors of Christ. That’s quite a calling.

Jesus promised us His complete and perfect and abundant joy. Problem is – there are so many things that want to rob us of that joy.

Joy is a wonderful thing. And it turns out that Jesus died in order that we might have His joy. True. But sometimes, sometimes we squander that joy – what an incredible waste.

We tend to think of joy and sorrow as being opposite ends of the emotional spectrum. But God – God has this thing where He wants to pour His joy, into our sorrow..

It’s such a simple word. Three letters. Just one syllable.  So why is joy so elusive?  We try so hard to find it –but, you know…

The only faith the Bible talks about, the only sort of Faith Jesus talked about was the sort of faith that moves mountains. The sort of faith that conquers the world! The sort that has powerful results.

You know, I wish I could tell you that God is primarily concerned about our comfort and convenience, but that’s just not true. He’s much more interested in our character and maturity and so He often calls us into radical, uncomfortable faith.

Christians are always talking about faith. My faith walk. Faith this, faith that. So what is faith? Not the theory? But what does it look like when you live it? The sort of faith that pleases God.

The whole resurrection of Jesus thing – can be a bit hard to swallow. I mean – did it really happen? And if it did, what does it mean for us here and now?