The Bible Speaks to You: Think, Pray, Love like Jesus

303 – Who decides what it means to be a Christian?

Have you ever been told by someone you’re not a Christian because you didn’t agree 100% with them on every tiny detail of theology? It’s not a great feeling.

Some churches have a pretty wide and inclusive definition what it means to be a Christian, including people from many different denominations. 

Some churches believe they are the only ones with the truth but that God will be merc...

302 – Is it possible for you and me to heal like Jesus did?

Have you ever struggled with a problem and reached out to God in prayer for healing and resolution, but never really felt your prayers were answered, at least not in the way people who asked Jesus for help were healed?

Somehow you got through and were able to cope with the situation, but you didn’t have the kind of healing you read about in the Bible.

Is it even possible for ...

301 – What is the secret to church growth?

How is your church doing these days? 

Are you growing? Are you holding steady? Are you barely hanging in there trying to keep the doors open? 

A lot of churches are struggling right now. Some are closing. Some are growing.

What is it that makes a church not just survive but thrive? 

There are lots of factors, but what really helps a church grow, and I’m not just talking number of members, but m...

300 – If you could go back in time and talk to Jesus, what would you ask him? 

This is the question I posed to you, my listeners, several weeks ago and in today’s episode I share all your answers.

I am totally blown away with the amazing responses you sent me, over 150 questions.

Now, there’s an incredibly wide variety in these questions. You will see very quickly these questions come from very diverse theological perspectives. 

Some o...

299 – Has God put a calling on your life?

Have you ever felt a calling from God on your life but just didn’t feel you were qualified, or didn’t have the talents, time, or resources to accomplish what was being asked of you?

Well, you’re not alone. There are lots of people today and even in the Bible who have felt the same way when God called them to their purpose. 

The beautiful thing is, God takes what you have – what He has already ...

298 – Do you ever feel like your life is full of unsolved problems?

Life seems to be racing along and it’s hard to deal with everything when it comes up.

This can happen on a personal level, but it happens at work, at school, at church. And just think of all the unsolved problems on a national and international level as well.

But the solution is more than just finding a way to get all these problems resolved. 

Believe it or not, it’s m...

297 – Do you know who you are?

When you ask someone who they are, all too often, they respond with what they do or maybe what their hobbies and interests are. 

Sometimes they define themselves by their past, either good or bad, their education, their social and economic status, their cultural, religious, ethnicity and/or country of origin.

But none of these descriptions really answer the question, Who are you?

How would you answer the ...

296 – What if Jesus was interviewing people to work for him?

Would you apply for the job? How would you get ready for the interview?

Do you think Jesus would hire you?

I know, it sounds kind of odd to even talk about this. But when someone asked me these questions, it got me to thinking.

How did Jesus choose people to work for him? We call them his disciples. But they were working for him and with him. He gave them on-the-job training ...

295 – What do you think of when you hear the phrase: worshiping idols?

You probably think of something that happened thousands of years ago, but isn't relevant in today's world.

I  mean really, who bows down to idols today?

Well, you’d be surprised. We may not make idols the way people in the Bible did, but there are modern day idols that we need to quit worshiping.

My guest this week, Jake Doberenz, host of the Smashing Idol...

294 – Are you tired of all the theological debates?

Social media is full of people from different churches "explaining" why their theology is right and everyone else's theology is wrong. 

The basic problem is they are defining what it means to be a true Christian by doctrinal beliefs instead of actually living the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives.

This mistake has gone on for at least 1,700 years. 

It's time ...

293 – Can you see God's beauty in yourself?

Have you ever been out in nature and were just amazed at the beauty of the scene in front of you? 

Maybe you were in a forest with towering trees above. Maybe it was a view of majestic mountains that took your breath away. Maybe it was the crisp yellow and red of fall foliage. 

Or maybe it’s just the tulips and daffodils, the lilacs, iris, and the peonies blooming in your own yard showi...

Does your church need a mentor to help you find fresh ways to reach out to your community with the healing message of Christ?
For more information: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/speaking-bible-workshops

292 – How do you deal with evil influences in your life?

What do you do when you, or someone you know, is barraged by and overcome with evil influences?

How do you respond? How do you pray?

There no simple answers to these questions...

291 – What does it really mean to preach the Gospel to all creation?

How do you feel when you read Jesus’s command to his disciples to preach the gospel to every creature, to all creation, to all mankind?

Does this get you excited to go share your faith with as many people as possible? 

Or does it make you cringe because you don’t feel qualified to preach the gospel to even one or two people, let alone the whole world? And how would y...

Does your church need a mentor to help you find fresh ways to reach out to your community with the healing message of Christ?
For more information: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/speaking-bible-workshops

290 – What do you do when you feel helpless?

Have you ever been so worried about something you couldn’t sleep? 

The problem just loomed too large for you to fix personally. 

And you couldn’t even imagine how anyone individually or c...

Does your church need a mentor to help you find fresh ways to reach out to your community with the healing message of Christ?
For more information: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/speaking-bible-workshops

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289 – What can you learn from women leaders at church?

What is your response to some Christians who insist that women should not be in any leadership roles in church?

This is more prevalent than you may be aware of. And these f...

Does your church need a mentor to help you find fresh vision for ways to reach out to your community with the healing message of Christ? For more information: thebiblespeakstoyou.com/speaking-bible-workshops

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288 – Jesus's death on the cross cannot by itself save you from your sins

I know, this is a pretty bold statement. But have you ever noticed how lots of Christians focus on the crucifixion as the basis for t...

287 – Have you ever been a stranger in a foreign country?

You didn't speak the language. You couldn’t read any of the signs, you couldn’t understand what people are saying. You don’t understand the customs.  

And you felt lost or confused by what was going on around you.

Or maybe you've been in a strange location and felt out of place.

Then, all of a sudden, someone helps you get where you're going or explains what'...

Need a church mentor? Contact James 

286 – Do you have a broken relationship in need of healing?

Maybe you’re having trouble with someone at work, either your boss or an employee. Maybe it’s someone at church. Or could it be someone in your family? Or maybe you’re completely estranged from someone.

Whatever the situation is, there’s always a possibility of healing and restoring these broken relationships, even though it may not be eas...

285 – What do you do when you need healing and justice?

Is there something in your life, at work, or at church right now that needs healing? 

What about justice? Have you or anyone you know experienced any injustice lately?  

And if you look at what’s going on in the world as a whole, it almost seems everyone is crying out for healing and justice.

What on earth is the remedy to all this? 

Well, the solution is never going to come from s...