God's goal for all believers is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, a process that begins with spiritual birth, followed by spiritual growth and maturity, and is facilitated through community and relationships, where believers can surrender to God, separate from the world's values, and be transformed by the renewing of their minds. [... more]

Christians must navigate conflicts with a balance of civility and truth, drawing from the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who emphasized the importance of being faithful in the present moment and living out one's faith in the midst of cultural division and opposition. [... more]

Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh is a supernatural gift that can be given to anyone, erasing curses and bringing prosperity. Speaking life and blessing over children, and the young generation, is crucial in following Jesus and keeping our focus on eternal things, rather than material goods and earthly happiness. [... more]

The person you will become is directly linked with the heroes you admire and the friendships that you cultivate. Paul's description of Timothy and Epaphroditus as emissaries, encouragers, and exemplars highlights the importance of embodied community and spiritual friendship in shaping our lives and influencing others. [... more]

The Bible teaches that happiness and contentment come from seeking the fulfillment of others and living a life of service to God, rather than seeking self-fulfillment. Paul's letter to the Philippians emphasizes the importance of learning to be content in whatever state we are in, and finding joy and happiness in our relationship with God. By giving generously and living a life of faith, we can experience true contentment and happiness. [... more]

God's self-sufficiency is a fundamental aspect of His nature, meaning He does not need anything to exist. In contrast, humans are by nature dependent beings, requiring God's provision and care. Recognizing this dependence is essential for a genuine relationship with God, and it is through prayer that we can submit to His sufficiency and trust in His plan for our lives. [... more]

A father recounts the story of his son's motorcycle accident and how it taught him the importance of balancing risk and caution in life. He shares his thoughts on faith and entrepreneurship, and how taking calculated risks can lead to personal growth and valuable life lessons. [... more]

The Bible is a perfect and sufficient source of spiritual truth, providing the greatest possession, pleasure, protection, profit, and purification for those who live a biblical life. It is a comprehensive resource for life, unequal in value, and its truthfulness and righteousness make it the source of everything in spiritual living. [... more]

Chip Ingram concludes his series on You Can Make Disciples, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and discipleship in Christianity. He draws from the Apostle Paul's teachings, highlighting the need for community and God's supernatural power to overcome peer pressure and fulfill one's ministry. [... more]

Christians can experience anxiety, but it's not necessarily sinful. The key is to trust in God's providence and guidance, and to remember that we are not alone in our struggles. Pastors and church leaders can encourage their congregations to cultivate a sense of detachment from the world, and to focus on their eternal home in heaven. This can be achieved by living in the present moment, enjoying the blessings of God, and longing for the day when we will be with Him. Ultimately, it's about having a deep trust in God's sovereignty and a sense of contentment in all circumstances. [... more]

Recognizing a different nature, developing godly relationships, and assuming personal responsibility for sin are key to living a clean life in a dirty world. This involves confession, repentance, and dealing with sin on a daily basis to remain holy and evident in the eyes of God. [... more]

When faced with hurt and unfair treatment, Christians are called to respond biblically, refusing revenge and retaliation, and instead seeking peace and forgiveness. By releasing offenses to God and trusting in His justice, believers can overcome the natural tendency to curse and instead live peaceably with all men. [... more]

God is timeless, existing outside of the linear progression of time. He allows believers to enter into a different realm, known as the Christ time, where they can see and interact with the past and future as if it's happening now. This concept is rooted in scripture, particularly in the books of Romans and Hebrews, where Paul describes the promises made to Abraham and the faith of the heroes of the Bible as if they're happening in the present. By entering into this realm, believers can find encouragement, hope, and confidence in their walk with God, and can see themselves as part of a larger story of faith that transcends time and space. [... more]

Western North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, with federal grants aimed at rebuilding infrastructure and strengthening the workforce. Meanwhile, Duke Energy has joined the Trump administration's ratepayer protection pledge, promising to support measures preventing households and small businesses from paying for power plants and grid infrastructure changes. The North Carolina General Assembly is also debating election laws, with a pair of rewritten bills passed by the Senate that would shorten early voting for primary elections and add performance audits for election systems. Additionally, a state representative is raising concerns about professional standards in public schools, specifically regarding a transgender music teacher at an elementary school. [... more]

Living the Enoch Lifestyle Walking with God- Total Conformity Surrender Until He Comes What does it truly mean to walk with God in daily life In Part of Living the Enoch Lifestyle we continue examining Genesis and the life of Enoch to understand what it means to live in close fellowship with the Lord Biblically to walk with God means aligning our lives entirely with His path surrendering self-will yielding in complete conformity to His Spirit and taking up the yoke of Jesus Christ Matthew We explore what it means to be a devoted servant doulos of Christ dependent on [... more]

John McCormick's life story reveals the power of reinvention in American history. As a devout Catholic who rose to become the first ever Catholic Speaker of the House, McCormick bridged the divide between rural and urban America, and between Catholic and Protestant communities. His career shows that immigration is a solvable issue, and that Americans are always in the process of becoming something new. [... more]

Harlan Akola explains how a reverse mortgage can be a tax-efficient way to manage retirement income, while Rob West discusses strategies for building credit and managing debt, emphasizing the importance of God's wisdom in financial decisions. [... more]

The Bible is a living and active resource that provides doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, capable of turning people around to the right path. It is sufficient for spiritual growth, maturity, and strength, and its power is revealed through the Holy Spirit. Believers can find all they need for life and godliness in the Word of God, which is the key to living a noble and virtuous life. [... more]

Pastor Greg Laurie explores the concept of an upside-down life, where Christians infiltrate and permeate their culture, just like the early church in Acts. He discusses the importance of divine intervention, spiritual awakening, and the need for Christians to be involved in various aspects of society, including the arts, politics, and business. [... more]

Controlling anger is crucial for success in life, and the Bible offers practical wisdom on how to manage anger, including taking an emotional timeout, analyzing the cause of anger, learning to overlook minor offenses, forgiving major offenses, and dealing with anger in relationships. [... more]

Chip Ingram emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and discipleship in Christianity, drawing from the Apostle Paul's teachings in 2 Timothy. He discusses the need to preach God's word, rebuke, and exhort, while being patient and instructive. Ingram shares personal anecdotes and biblical examples to illustrate the importance of living a life that honors God and being a faithful steward of one's gifts and talents. [... more]

Recognizing our true nature as believers is the first step to living clean in a dirty world. We must separate ourselves from things that contradict the truths of God's word and develop personal relationships wisely with those who know our Master and follow the principles of the Word of God. [... more]

The authority of Scripture is under attack in society, and immorality is a thief that steals, deceives, and destroys. It's essential to recognize the capability of sin within ourselves, the evil creation of immorality in our minds, and the sensual culmination of evil deeds. By calling sin what it is, admitting it, and seeking forgiveness, we can achieve victory over immorality through determination, discipline, and dependence on God's Spirit. [... more]

The Bible teaches that we are either slaves to sin or slaves to Christ. As slaves to sin, we have the freedom to ignore anything good or righteous, but this freedom leads to the fruit of shameful conduct and ultimately death. In contrast, as slaves to Christ, we have the freedom to serve Him and produce fruit to holiness, leading to everlasting life. The choice is ours: to serve sin or to serve Christ. [... more]

Knowing Jesus is not just about being a good moral person, but about having a personal relationship with Him. Jesus says that entrance into heaven is not about what you do, but about who you know. The only one who can open the door to heaven for anyone is Jesus. He invites us to come to Him and drink from the living water, which is the Holy Spirit, and promises that those who believe in Him will have eternal life and be with Him in heaven. [... more]

David's faith is tested as he flees from King Saul and seeks refuge in the house of God. He encounters the high priest Abimelech, who is afraid of David's presence. David lies to Abimelech, saying he is on official business, and asks for bread. Abimelech is hesitant, citing the ceremonial laws, but eventually gives David the bread. Meanwhile, a man named Doeg, an Edomite and a servant of Saul, is present and will play a significant role in the next chapter. [... more]

God is timeless, existing outside of time, yet acting in time. He sees all time equally vividly, and His people can enter into His time, seeing things from His perspective. This understanding of God's timelessness gives us assurance of our salvation and helps us live in the present, not trying to change the past or presume about the future. [... more]

Cultivating a generous spirit in families from early years to adulthood involves modeling giving, hosting reverse birthday parties, and encouraging children to help others. As children grow, parents can connect generosity to their passions and interests, and involve them in experiential learning opportunities. Ultimately, generosity is a whole-life purpose-filled concept that makes a lasting impact. [... more]

Living in the last days, believers must be prepared for persecution and evil, but they can find strength and hope in their relationship with God's Word. Discipleship is key to living a life of faith, and obeying God's Word is essential for experiencing His power and guidance. [... more]

The Bible teaches that there is a real enemy, Satan, who seeks to play tricks on our minds and conquer us. God's sovereignty is full of mystery, and He permits trials that we do not deserve. There is a plan we explore, but we will not understand, and it is best. We must come to terms with the enemy and acknowledge his presence in our lives. There are consequences we experience that we could not anticipate, but they are necessary for our growth and development. [... more]

In this heartfelt episode of Q A with Koloff Nikita welcomes Kevin and Caroline Johnston for an inspiring conversation about faith marriage redemption and the power of prayer Kevin shares how listening to the audiobook Nikita A Tale of the Ring of Redemption became a life-changing moment leading him to pull off the side of the road as God stirred his heart and renewed his walk with Christ Caroline opens up about her passion for serving on medical mission trips to Haiti her commitment to prayer and how trusting God has guided every step of her journey The conversation also [... more]

God's essence is unseeable, but He reveals Himself in various ways, including through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Faith is essential to understanding God's nature, and scripture provides guidance on how to approach Him. The Bible teaches that God's visible manifestations are not always a guarantee of faith, and that faith is required to please God. [... more]

Faithfulness to our Lord requires fortitude, a virtue that enables us to face our fears, resist pressure, and obey God even when it costs us. Dr. Craig Bartholomew discusses how fortitude shapes a generous life, strengthens us in moments of honesty and integrity, and helps us cultivate resilience in community, prayer, and humility. [... more]

The Bible is a source of spiritual nourishment, restoring, refreshing, and transforming believers. It provides guidance, comfort, and peace, and is a reliable source of truth, confirmed by science and archaeology. Building a life on Christ and His Word is essential for spiritual growth and success. [... more]

When faced with increasing wickedness and evil, Christians can feel hopeless and helpless, tempted to isolate or compromise. However, Paul's words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3 offer a different perspective, encouraging believers to stay grounded in their faith and trust in God's sovereignty. By remembering past progress and experiences of God's rescue, Christians can find the strength to persevere and respond to evil with love and healing. [... more]

The story of Job, a man of unparalleled piety and prosperity, takes a drastic turn when calamities strike, leaving him penniless, homeless, and childless. Chuck Swindahl explores the biblical account of Job's life, highlighting the themes of God's sovereignty and the nature of Satan, the accuser, who seeks to destroy Job's faith. [... more]

A conversation with Pastor Howard McNeil and Tamron from Pakistan about the spiritual hunger for knowledge about Jesus, the importance of sharing the gospel with Muslim friends, and the role of local churches in reaching their communities and the world with the message of Christ. [... more]

When faced with impossible situations, we can learn to have compassion for people and surrender all that we are and have to Jesus, trusting in his power to multiply and provide for our needs. By putting our talents, abilities, and resources in his hands, we can experience the miracle of multiplication and be used by God to bless others. [... more]

God's total essence, all of his spiritual being, his inmost personality, will never be able to be seen by us yet God still has a form in which He shows Himself in the heavenly world and is seen. He meets us in the tangible, in the circumstances of life, in the pain of life, in the mistakes of life, in our own hang-ups, and then He tells us that He is the only one who can truly satisfy. [... more]

Remembering who Jesus is and what he's actually done can be a powerful reset for those struggling to stay focused. Paul's prescription for Timothy wasn't to try harder, but to remember the most specific answer to prayer, the power of God, and the feeling of being forgiven. By recalling these moments, individuals can refocus on what truly matters in life and live out their faith with greater intentionality. [... more]