169 SNS: Art, Creativity, and Christian Faith

The other day, I was talking with TEAforTheology, and he suggested this topic. I must confess I find this topic a bit daunting. It is very large and encompasses so much ground. Indeed, it is too large for any one chat, so this will be an ongoing series within the Coffee-Side Chat series.

So, where to begin? First, I think we will establish the basis for creativity, its origins, and motivations as seen through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. Once this is sorted, we will have a firm basis for any and all future discussions about art, creativity, and Christian faith. Without this basis, art and creativity could be discussed, but not as they interrelate with God and our faith, our relationship with him.

Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 22:34 – 40 – the two greatest commands ever given and that they are the basis for every other one.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might.

Colossians 3:1-23 – These give good context to whatever you do in word or deed, do unto the Lord, in the name of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Ephesians 6:6, 7 – Serve with good will, as to the Lord and not to men.

Matthew 7:12 – Do unto others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

168 SNS: Free Will... Concerning a Thought Found Missing in a Debate

This past week I came across a debate on free will. I’ll leave a link in the description area. As I was watching both sides present their case, there was one thing that I noticed to be lacking from either side. Something, that while not shocked by its absence, I was saddened by its absence. It is unfortunate that this was missing, but when mere points of view get argued over, it is often overlooked. What is this, that is what we are going to talk about. Here we go.

Links to:

The Free Will debate:

https://youtu.be/cfyOmkaDtMg?si=D_9w9cEg8-5ZNCyB

Mike Winger on Free Will: specifically question 2

https://youtu.be/nCba5AGffWM

John Lennox on Free Will: 2 different ones.

https://youtu.be/9N-E17d2SXA?si=a9IHsuOd_yN48nyt

https://youtu.be/Swx7z-esPBg?si=ZF87YqoJRy8HfAM0

Leighton Flowers on Fee Will:

https://youtu.be/fEVEZLa_4Xo?si=xQpmJK75y4pQU-wD

Tim Stratton on Free Will: https://youtu.be/s7r901-fd-w?si=OdNUoXSjlRMPPjmj

Scripture References:

Matthew 22:34-40 – The Greatest Commands ever given are to love God with our entire being and our neighbors and ourselves. The basis for all other commands.

John 14:15 – Jesus says that if we love him, we will keep his commands.

John 13:34,35 – A new command I give you, to love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

1 John 2:10,11 –whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates (does not love) his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

1 John 4:20,21 –if we do not love our brothers, we cannot love God. And so, whoever loves God must also love his brother.

1 John 4:8 – the one who does not love, does not know God.

Luke 16:13 – we cannot love two masters. We must choose between the two, to love one and hate (not love) the other.

Ephesians 2:9 – God’s free gift.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

167 SNS: Steps To Grow By

Welcome to our kitchen counter. The perfect place to enjoy some delicious conversation while sipping on some richly satisfying coffee. So, what are we chatting about this time? Steps we can take to grow in our genuine faith.

So, what steps can we take to grow and mature in our genuine faith, stop the doubts, and stop the occasional repeating of a sin? And I do think this is something to remember.

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalms 1:1, 2 – Blessed is the man…. Whose delight is in the Law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.

John 5:39 – poring over Scripture and missing out on Jesus is a possibility.

Colossians 3:1, 2 – set your mind on things above, not earthly things.

Philippians 4:8, 9 – “Whatever is true, what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is lovely, what is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on these things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, put into practice. And the peace of God will be with you.”

Matthew 5:29, 30 – If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

Chapters:

00:00 – 01:02 – intro

01:03 – 06:21 – What is needed to grow a relationship

06:22 – 14:38 – Step 1 in growing a relationship

14:39 – 19:55– Step 2 in growing a relationship 1

9:56– 26:36– Step 3 in growing a relationship

26:37 – 27:51– Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

166 SNS: Genuine Faith, Doubts, & Failures

So, what are we chatting about this time?

Well, Alanpanameno9508 suggested we chat about genuine faith and how we can be genuine in faith, especially when we have doubts, which in part stem from repeating the same sins and an abuse of the Grace of God.

It’s a big topic and a most worthy one. I find many who have this same question. And I that is one of the first things we need to recognize; this is a common experience among Christians.

Authentic, genuine faith. What is it? As you know, we look at everything through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. And you know, I find our definition of this to be a perfect explanation. Genuine faith is a following of Jesus that involves a relationship with him, leading to studentship from him, leading to a life lived for him based on everything learned. This never has been a bunch of nice-sounding religious words. It is both authentic faith and how growth in that faith happens.

Scripture Referenced:

1 Timothy 1:15, 16 – Paul, the worst of sinners and the reason he was shown mercy. That Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who believe in him.

1 John 1:8, 9 - if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make God to be a liar, and his word is not in us.

Matthew 18:3 – unless we come to him like little children, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

John 13:33 – Jesus calls his disciples ‘little children’.

1 Corinthians 3:1 – Paul addresses the Corinthians as infants in Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 – Godly sorrow leads to repentance, leading to salvation (restoration of a relationship with him).

Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus our high priest who what tempted in every way we are but was without sin.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation seizes on you that is not one common to others. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and he will provide an escape so you can stand up under it.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:28 – intro

00:29 – 03:13 – Genuine Faith, Doubts, Failures

03:14 – 7:36 – Jesus and little Children

07:37 – 08:20– Who removes Sin

08:21– 10:46– Genuine Faith Looks Like

10:47 – 14:07– Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

165 SNS: Authentic Faith vs Role Play

Welcome to our kitchen counter. The perfect place to enjoy some delicious conversation while sipping on some richly satisfying coffee. So, what are we chatting about this time? MMLzombie suggested that we talk about whether or not being judgmental is tantamount to being hypocritical, with pride playing a major role in both. And this arising from our discussion of Matthew 7:1-6 about 2 episodes ago. One entitled An Apology and God Telling Us Not To Judge.

Now, you might be thinking, “I guess this could be intriguing. I mean, how did you go from judgmental and hypocritical mixed with pride to authentic vs. role-playing?” Well, since you asked, here we go.

Scriptures referenced:

Matthew 5:20 – Unless our righteousness exceeds theirs, we will not enter heaven.

John 5:39 – You study the Scriptures diligently because you think in them you have eternal life… yet you refuse to come to me.

Passages where Jesus uses the words Hypocrite and Hypocrisy Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; 7:5; 15:7-9; 22:18; 23:13-29; Mark 7:1-8; 12:15; Luke 6:42; 12:1, 15, 56; 13:15

Matthew 5:22 – The passage about not calling a brother ‘Raca’ or fool.

Matthew 6:5 – Pharisees praying to show how righteous they are.

Matthew 6:16 – Pharisees making a physical display of fasting so others know how righteous they are.

1 John 4:20 – When we don’t love our brothers and sisters, we are liars and cannot love God.

1 Corinthians 13 – To lack love is to be obnoxious and gain nothing. It is to be rude, proud, and easily angered for love is none of this.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

164 SNS: Disagreement, Enjoyment, &... God's Love?

This past week, I have enjoyed being in disagreement with a couple of folks. Enjoying disagreement? Yes. Well, not the fact that we disagreed, but in how we dealt with it. Let me explain. And this explanation does come from looking at disagreements through the lens of what it means to be a Christian.

Also, I am speaking of Christians disagreeing with other Christians when discussing what the Bible teaches. I am addressing Christians who are honestly pursuing a maturing relationship with Christ. The concern is how we disagree with each other. Topics such as disagreeing with heresies, atheism, or anything other than the above-stated concern are beyond the scope of what is being addressed.

Thank you for understanding.

Scriptures Referenced:

Mark 3:33 - 35 – “Jesus asks who are my mother and brothers…. Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.” We are God’s family.

Also seen in the following passages.

1 Peter 4:17  - we are called the family of God.

Galatians 6:10 – the family of faith.

Ephesians 2:19 – we are members of God’s household.

John 13:34 – love each other as Jesus has loved us.

John 17:11, 22 – that we be one as Jesus is with the Father.

1 Corinthians 13:9, 10 – We know in part and teach in par but …. The partial passes away….

John 7:24. Jesus is telling those who, through following their religious practices, were angry with Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath. “Stop judging by appearances and see what is going on. To judge correctly that this is God working.”

1 Corinthians 14:29 – weighing carefully what is said.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – test all things and hold on to what is good.

James 1:5 – If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives freely to all men.

John 16:13 – The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, will guide you into all truth.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

Chapters

00:00 – 00:21  – intro  

00:22 – 01:57  – Enjoy disagreement?

01:58  – 05:50– Studentship = learning

08:51 – 10:14– The benefits of this approach

10:15– 14:21– And interesting lesson

14:22 – 16:02– Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

163 SNS: An Apology and God Telling Us Not To Judge

What are we chatting about this time? First, an apology and then a new consideration of God telling us not to judge, and finally, an interesting thought that I had along the way. One I’d dearly love to hear your thoughts about. Here we go.

So, in this episode, we are going to kick this around while viewing it through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. Which is a following of Jesus the Christ, that involves a relationship, leading to studentship from him, leading to a life lived for him based on everything he teaches. And, as always, all Scripture referenced will be listed in the description area for you to check out.

Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 7;1 - 5 - Jesus telling us not to judge, and to take the plank out our our eye.

John 17:11-26 – That we may be one even as he had the Father are one.

Matthew 7:12 – Do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22: 34 – 40 – Two greatest commands and how all the Law and Prophets based on these.

1 John 2:9 – 11 If we love we live in the light, if we do not, we are in darkness, and do not know where we are going because the darkness has blinded them

1 John 3: 14, 15 if no love, than remain in death, and are a murder.

1 John 4:7 – 12 if we do not love others we do not know God.

Matthew 5:43 – 48 – Love our enemies.

Romans 8:34 – Jesus alone can condemn us.

1 Corinthians 14:29 – Weigh every thing carefully.

Matthew 7:6 – The dogs and swine verse.

Romans 8:34 – Jesus alone can condemn us.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

Chapters;

00:00 – 00:33  – intro  

00:34 – 01:18  – Apology for stanjz 

01:19  – 01:58– Let’s kick this around

01:59 – 06:30– Looking at Judging through a relationship

06:31– 13:50– The interesting thought

13:51 – 15:12– Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

162 SNS: The Whole Armor of God & How It Applies

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. Still coming to you from the hallowed halls of Mykitchen University, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better. My name is Charles; thank you for stopping by.

Before kicking this topic around, I do want to give a heartfelt thanks to TEAforTheology for suggesting our topic for this episode, which is the Whole Armor of God. And please, if you have a topic you’d like to talk about over coffee, drop me a note in the comments section, and we’ll kick that idea around as well.

Now one thing I always try to do here is to talk about a topic while examining it through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. Which is a following of Jesus that involves a relationship with him, leading to studentship from him, leading to a life lived for him based on everything we have learned. I find this helps keep things in balance, in perspective, and authentically real.

Scripture Referenced:

Romans 8:29; Philippians 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:3; 1 Corinthians 15:49 – be conformed to Christ, in his death, to godliness, and bear the likeness of Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:12 – Become like Christ, be transformed.

Colossians 3:4 – Christ becomes our whole life.

Ephesians 5:1, 8 – 10 – Walk as children of light.

Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:12, 14 – Be clothed with Christ.

Colossians 3:12 – 14 - Clothing ourselves in humility, compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and love.

Luke 12:35 – Be dressed for service.

Ephesians 4:1 – 6 - That we are completely humble and gentle, patient and bearing with one another in love. Making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. For there is one body and one Spirit – just as there is one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:13, 14 - We will then become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. No longer being infants tossed back and forth by the waves, blown here and there by the wind of teaching and cunning craftiness of men.

Ephesians 4:22 – 24 - Taking off the old deceitful self and putting on the new self.

Ephesians 4:25 Putt off falsehood.

Psalms 132:9 - Priests being clothed in righteousness.

Job 29:14 - Job talks of how he put on righteousness as clothing and justice as a robe and turban. Isaiah 11:5 – The Messiah being clothed in righteousness and faithfulness. Isaiah

59:17 – The Messiah having put on the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and the garments of vengeance, wrapping himself in zeal.

Ephesians 6:10 -17 – The Whole Armor of God.

Ephesians 5:8, 9 - Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Ephesians 4:1 – 6:9 – The context of what Standing involves.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 – Breastplate includes faith and love.

Matthew 22:34 – 40 – Two Greatest Commands.

John 13:34 – Just as I have loved you, love one another.

Matthew 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers.

1 John 5:13 – John writes so that we may know we have salvation, eternal life.

Hebrews 4:12 – The Word of God as the sword while referring to Christian folks trying to enter into the rest of God.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

Chapters: 00:00 – 01:02 – intro

01:03 – 01:29 – Thank you TEAforTheology

01:30 – 02:41– Let’s kick this around

02:42 – 03:48– Some Background

03:49 – 08:13– Be Conformed to Christ

08:14 – 16:58– The Armor of God

16:59 – 18:00 – Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

161 SNS: Judge Yes, Judge No, Judge... What?

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. Coming to you from Mykitchen University, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better. Oh, it’s going to be a good chat!

What are we chatting about this time? God telling us not to judge.

Well, let’s kick this around.

As I began to prepare, I went looking for Scripture passages to find out what all this topic of judging might include. I didn’t assume a point and looked for proof; I went looking to see what the Bible said and then used this to form my opinion, an important distinction.

Well, I found ...

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:55 – intro

00:56 – 01:126 – Thank you Stanjz.

01:27 – 02:11– Let’s kick this around

02:12 – 05:31– Judge Yes.

05:32 – 08:32– Judge No.

08:33 – 14:16– Importance to God

14:17 – 16:43 – Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

Scriptures Referenced.

1 John 4:1; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Test, weigh all that is taught and all teachers and hold on to what is good and avoid what is evil.

Romans 12:3 - Paul ties sound judgment to living humbly.

1 Peter 4:7 - sound judgment is part of what is needed for the purpose of prayer.

1 Corinthians 6:1 – 6 - it is shameful that the Corinthian Christians had no one in their midst who was able to judge disputes among themselves but rather had to go to court with their problems.

Matthew 22:34 – 40 – the greatest command ever given.

Romans 13:10 – love does no harm to a neighbor.

Galatians 5:14 – 15 - if we do not love, if we bite and devour each other, we need to watch out, or we will be consumed by each other.

Luke 6:36, 37 - Jesus says to be merciful as the Father has been to us, so judge not and you will not be judged, condemn not and you will not be condemned. Indeed, forgive and you will be forgiven.

James 2:13 - that judgment will be merciless to those who show no mercy…. For mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 4:11, 12 - anyone who speaks against a brother or judges him, is actually doing so against the law of God. And God is the only one who is the one who gives the law and how judges it.

Matthew 7:1 – 5 - if we get judgmental, the standard we use will be used against us.

Romans 2:1 – 4 - in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For then you despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience. And do you not know that the goodness of God leads to repentance?

Matthew 18:23 – 35 – The unmerciful, unforgiving servant.

Romans 14:10 – 13 - Why judge a brother and regard him with contempt? For we all stand before the judgment seat of God, and each will give an accounting of himself.

Matthew 10:16 – like sheep among wolves, so be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

160 SNS: Salvation Lost?

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better. Oh, it’s going to be a good chat!

So, is it possible to lose our salvation?

We are going to do what we always do here and look at this through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. Which is a following of Jesus that involves a relationship, leading to studentship, leading to a life lived from everything learned. All three, all at once, and never one or the other in isolation from the rest. And yes, I’m listing all Scripture I reference in the description area so you can check them out.

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:53 – intro

00:54 – 01:05 – Thank you Eino.

01:06 – 01:24– Topic Suggestions?

01:25 – 2:36 – A tragic trend.

2:37 – 13:19– Can we lose Salvation?

13:20– 23:18– And Objections?

23:19 – 26:10 – Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

Links to videos mentioned.

How we are saved:

https://youtu.be/P1ra5AjoiKY

Dr. Flowers and Dr. Allen's video:

https://youtu.be/Qsjv4lx991s?si=fO_WFV9OH8kBRyHP

Additional Dr. Flowers video on the subject:

https://youtu.be/5wVonZ1S2Ss?si=JtXBWUz9sWals7TY

Scripture referenced:

John 10:29 No one and nothing can snatch us out of Jesus' hand.

2 Corinthians 5:12 We are a new creation, old things passed away, all things are new.

Romans 3:24 – 30; 5:1, 9; Galatians 2:16; 3:24 We are justified through faith.

John 6:38-40 Jesus will never lose any he has been given.

Romans 8:35, 38, 39 all say that nothing can separate us from God.

1 John 2:4 John calling people who claim to be Christian but who live however they want and who do not follow Jesus’ teachings are liars.

Romans 6:1 – 7 Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? No!

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us, but their going out showed that none of them belonged to us.

Matthew 25:31 – 46 The sheep and the goats at judgment.

Hebrews 6:1-8 About leaving behind the elementary teachings about Jesus to press on to maturity…. If God permits. For it is impossible that these elementary teachings will profit those who already believe. It’s time to grow up.

1 Corinthians 9:22 Paul says he disciplines his body so that after preaching to others he is not disqualified.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

159 SNS: How We Are Saved

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better. Oh, it’s going to be a good chat!

Before we begin, I want to thank Eino Shikongo for suggesting such an interesting topic. And, if you have a topic you’d like to discuss, let me know in the comments section. I have had suggestions for the next two chats as well, but your suggestion very well could be the next one after those. Thank you.

So, the question we are looking at is: How are we saved? This is a pretty important question, if mean, if we are going to be Christians, it would be helpful to know how we can become one, right? And yes, we are going to kick this around while looking at it through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. Which is being a follower of Jesus, the Christ; which involves a relationship, leading to studentship, leading to a life lived from everything learned. Not one, not the other, but always linked.

And, if you think about it, this actually tells us exactly how we are saved: through accepting his gift of a relationship with himself and the Father, one that leads to our learning from him and our living for him.

Chapters

00:00 – 00:56 – intro

00:57 – 01:17 – Thank you Eino.

01:19 – 01:42 – Topic Suggestions?

01:43 – 03:55 – How We Are Saved.

03:56 – 06:24– Who Saves Us

06:25– 10:48 – Believe in Jesus

10:49 – 13:59 – Confess Jesus is Lord

14:00 – 17:32 – Odds, Ends, & Conclusion

Scripture Referenced:

Through God Alone:

John 6:44 Jesus tells us in John that without the Father drawing us to him, we can’t get to him.

Matthew 19:25, 26; Mark 10:26, 27 Who can be saved? He says that with man (the word used to mean all people), this is impossible but with God, all things are possible.

Ephesians 2:1-9 God being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us made us alive with Christ, by grace you have been saved….by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; a gift of God, not of works that no one can boast.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our savior, being justified by his grace.

Matthew 18:3 Unless we become like little children, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 5:1,2 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand.

Colossians 2:11-13 we are raised with Jesus into life with God through our faith in God and the working of God.

Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18 We are reconciled to God through Jesus’ death.

John 17:3 This is eternal life, knowing God the Father and Jesus.

1 John 5:1-13 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God….

1 John 3:1-14 As Children of God we have passed from death unto life.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is in no one else, no other name under heaven… by which we can be saved.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 God appointed us to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:25-31 God chose the foolish things to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong, Because of God you are in Christ Jesus.

How we are saved:

Acts 16:30-32 What must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him.

Acts 4:12 No other name under heaven by which we can be saved.

Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18 We are reconciled to God through Jesus’ death

John 17:3 This is eternal life, knowing God the Father and Jesus.

John 3:14-18: whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.

John 5:24 has heard my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

John 6:47 Anyone who believes has eternal life.

John 8:51 who keeps my words will never see death.

1 John 5:1-13 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…. Whoever has the Son had life and whoever has not the Son has not life.

Romans 10:8-13 if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved…. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Revelation 3:19, 20 Be earnest and repent and Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and will dine with him, and he with me.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

158 SNS: Calvinsim or Arminianism... Really?

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better.

Recently, I’ve been hearing a lot about Calvinism vs Arminianism. Have you ever noticed that when one ism starts talking about a different one, tones get hard, words get harsh, and voices tend to get raised? Aren’t we supposed to be family? This has always bothered me. And since we look at everything here through the lens of what it means to be a Christian. I thought that is what we’d do as we look at this whole Calvinism vs Arminianism thing and see what we can see.

And just to get us on the same footing, what we mean when we say Christianity is a following of Jesus the Christ, which involves, first and foremost, a relationship with him, which then leads to studentship from him, leading to a life lived from everything learned.

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:53 – intro

00:54 – 02:19– The lens we will use to look at this

02:20 – 06:57 – What teacher should we follow?

06:58 – 13:09 – How should we think about our teachers?

13:10 – 16:06– How to test what we hear

16:07 – 17:58 – when teachers disagree

17:59 – 19:36 – a teaching and a prayer of Jesus

19:36 – 21:49 – who the focus needs to be

21:50 – 22:27 – conclusion

Scriptures Referenced:

1 Corinthians 1 – 4 – Do not adhere to a mere messenger of God but to God himself. And all the whys and wherefores of that.

1 Corinthians 4:6 – Paul states that he is using himself and Apollos as an illustration.

1 Corinthians 4:1, 2 – How we are to regard, think about, messengers of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – Paul he proclaimed nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified. So faith no rest on human wisdom but on God’s power.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – test all teachings and hold on to what is good.

Revelation 2:2 – Test and examine all to find the liars.

1 John 4:1 – Test the spirits.

1 Corinthians 14:29 – Others should weigh carefully what speakers say.

2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves, test yourselves to see if you are in the faith.

John 13:35 – How others know we are in Christ by our love for one another.

John 17:11, 21 – we are to be one (mind, purpose, soul) as Jesus and the Father are.

Matthew 23:13 – 32; Luke 11:42 – 52; John 5:39, 40 – The Pharisees having religious thoughts, facts, and rituals and it not being enough. It is Jesus who is important.

1 Corinthians 14:33 – God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

James 1:5 – Ask God for wisdom, and he will give generously.

John 14:26; 16:13 – The Holy Spirit guiding us into and teaching us all truth.

Galatians 1:6-10 – ignore gospels other than what Paul had preached. And if anyone taught something other than the gospel of Christ, they were under God’s curse.

2 Corinthians 11:4 – a warning about adopting a different gospel than had been taught.

1 Corinthians 13:12 – seeing through a glass darkly, seeing dim reflection.

1 Corinthians 13:9 – we know in part, and we prophesy (teach) in part.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

157 SNS: Deny Yourself, Pick Up Your Cross... A Practical Step?

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast, where the coffee is good, and the conversation is even better.

In this episode, we are going to pick up a thought from our last one. Last time, we looked at denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Jesus. And how that, too, is based on love.

So, where are we going with this? Well, knowing that it’s all about being in and building a relationship with Jesus, we are going to look at a small step that we can take to give this some practicality in our lives. And worry not – this will be a really simple step, nothing earth-shattering.

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:53 – intro

00:54 – 01:42– Suggest a topic

01:43 – 05:21 – A Specific Step

05:22 – 10:50 – It Is about Growth, and You Are Not Alone

10:51 – 12:25– Please Comment and closing

Scripture Referenced:

Colossians 3:5 – 9 – what we need to cloth ourselves with.

John 16:13-15 – The Holy Spirit guiding us into all truth.

John 14:17 – 26; Galatians 5:16 – The Holy Spirit teaching and helping us. Helping us live out our relationship with God.

John 16:8 – 11 – The Holy Spirit convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Other Interesting passages in light of this:

Matthew 5: 43 – 45; Luke 6:27 – 29 - love your enemies, pray for those who hurt you.

1 Peter 3:9 - do not return evil with evil, but with a true blessing.

Romans 12:24 – Paul saying the same thing as Peter did in 1 Peter 3:9.

Jonh 17: 11, 22 - That we will be one even as Jesus and the Father are one.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologists: Mike Winger , Frank Turek

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

156 SNS: Deny Yourself, Pick Up Your Cross, &... Love?

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast.

Before we begin, I want to say thank you to AvengerClaps for suggesting our topic. And if you have a topic you’d like to chat about, let me know in the comments section. Your suggestion might be next. Thank you.

So, interesting topic: denying ourselves and picking up our cross. I must confess, at first, I found this to be a little overwhelming. This topic covers so much ground and yet is an important teaching from Jesus. But where to begin?

Chapters:

00:00 – 00:28 – intro

00:29 – 00:51– Thank you AvengerClaps

00:52 – 11:06 – Deny self, pick up cross, and love

11:07 – 11:37 – The subject for next video

11:38 – 12:50 – Please Comment and closing

Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 16:21 – 27, Mark 8:34 – 37, and Luke 9:23 – 26 --- Deny ourselves and take up our cross.

1 Corinthians 13:3 ----- If Paul surrendered his body to be burned but had no love, it would be for nothing.

Romans 8:13 -- Tells us we need to put to death our misdeeds and evil desires.

Colossians 3:5 – 9 -- Here, he also says that we are to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature. And we are told what some of those are, both in actions and desires.

How to those things to death:

Romans 8:1 – 17 -- he says to live according to the Spirit and not according to the sinful nature.

Colossians 3 – Paul clarifies this by saying to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and bear with and forgive each other. And over all of these, put on love, which binds them together in unity.

Other interesting passage:

2 Peter 1: 5-8

Philippians 2:12,13 -- We are to work out our salvation as God is working in us.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

155 SNS: Jesus Being the Way Is.... Loving?

Hello,

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. My name is Charles, and this is the Coffee Side Chat series.

Recently, I’ve heard questions like, “How is it loving when Jesus says that no one can come to the Father but by him? Isn’t that a bit exclusive? Shouldn’t love be more inclusive? If God is so loving, why limit how people can connect with him?

I have a question of my own in response to these types of questions. If Jesus is who he says he is, then how is loving if he doesn’t say this? No, seriously, how would that be loving?

That's what we are going to kick around in this episode.

Scripture Referenced:

John 10:30 - That he and the Father are one.

John 10:38, 14:11, 17:21-23 - He is in the Father and the Father is in him.

John 5:17-19, 12:49, 14:10, 24 - He only says and does what the Father gives him to say and do.

John 5:18 - He identifies himself as the Son of God, which the people of that day understood as his calling himself God.

John 5:26, 27 - That even as the Father has life in himself, he gave to Jesus, life in himself.

John 14:7 - if you know me, you know the Father. If you see me, you see the father.

Luke 10:16 - if you reject me, you have rejected the one who sent me.

John 10:10 - he says he came to give an abundance of life.

John 17:3 - He gives eternal life, which he says is to know the only true God and to know himself, the Christ who the Father sent.

Philippians 2:5-8 – He gave up his status, becoming nothing in the form of a human being to die on the cross.

John 14: 6,7 – Jesus is the way the truth the life, no one can come to the Father but through him.

John 10:9; Matthew 7:13,14 – Jesus comparing himself to being a gateway, a small gate.

Matthew 7:13,14 – The pathway of life, of relating to God, is the narrow way.

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he sent.

John 1:18 – The one and only Son… has made him known.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

154 SNS: Love is... What?

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. My name is Charles, and this is the Coffee Side Chat series.

Now, you and I do tend to think of love as an emotion; right? So, I guess the first thing to kick around is whether or not this is an accurate understanding. I mean, is it just an emotion, or is it something more?

As I began looking into this, the first thing that struck me was that it seems to be much more than mere emotion. Indeed, based on what I found, we cheapen love by limiting it to just being an emotion. No, no, no… hang with me here as I explain.

Scripture Referenced.

Luke 10:27ff, Mark 12:30, Matthew 22:37 ~ Greatest commandment: use to show love is not mere emotion.

Deuteronomy 6:5 ~ The Greatest Command found in the Old Testament.

Leviticus 19:18 ~ The second greatest command found in the Old Testament. Why love fulfills law:

Galatians 5:14 ~ love tied to serving.

Romans 13:9,10 ~ love fulfillment of law, because love does no harm to a neighbor.

1 Cor 13:4-8 ~ what love does and never fails.

1 Peter 4:8 ~ love forgives

1 John 3:16 ~ This is how we know what love is, Jesus laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 John 4:10 ~ This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us.

Romans 5:8 ~ While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16 ~ For God so loved the world…

John 17:3 ~ This is eternal life….

1 John 5:3 ~ This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not burdensome.

John 15: 9-12 ~ Jesus telling us how keeping Gods commands leads to our joy being complete.

2 John 1:6 ~ This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment: love one another.

1 Corinthians 13 ~ Love is the most excellent way. No matter what else we know and can do, it is worse than meaningless without love. Everything else will pass away, but love will never fail, it will always be here. So what remains is faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

Other interesting passages:

1 John 2:5 ~ the one who keeps Gods word, his commands, in him the love of God is perfected.

1 John 5:2 ~ How we know we love the children of God when we love God and observe His commandments.

James 1:27 ~ the religion God accepts as pure and faultless.

Isaiah 55:9 ~ God’s ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts higher than ours.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

153 SNS: The End of Times... What... Again?

Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. My name is Charles, and this is the Coffee Side Chat series.

So, let me ask you a question. Have you recently been hearing all the talk about the End of Times being upon us? You know, Jesus’ second coming. I have. And I must admit that my first reaction to it all was to say, “Again?” I mean, if I had a dime for every time someone said, “The end is here; Jesus will return in two months,” or the like. I’d be a rich man.

But that got me thinking. I wondered if, before getting too wound up over any of this, there was a reason we are told about the second coming, one not so filled with hype? And is there any way to legitimately know when this will happen?

Scripture Referenced.

Matthew 24:42-51 and Luke 21:34-36 ~ Jesus talking about the destruction of the temple, the end times, and his second coming. Telling us why we need to know these things. To not be deceived or have this sprung like a trap.

2 Peter 3:1-14 ~ Be stirred up to a sincere mind. Knowing this, be the sort of people you ought to be. Be diligent to be found by Jesus in peace, spotless, and blameless.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-9 ~ Since you know the day of the Lord is coming…. Be awake and sober. Not like those who don’t believe, those who are asleep. Put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

2 Peter 3:3ff. ~ Do not allow yourself to be lulled asleep, thinking things don’t matter. That everything will always be as it always has been.

Revelation 3:11; 16:15 ~ Jesus is coming quickly so stay awake and hold on to what you know so as to keep your crown and not be shamefully exposed.

Revelation 22:12 ~ Jesus is coming soon and bringing a reward to each person based on what that person has done.

Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; cross reverence Acts 1:7 ~ Only God the Father knows when any of this will happen.

2 Peter 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3; 16:15 ~ Peter, Paul, and John telling us that the second coming will be at an unexpected time, like a thief unexpectedly showing up to rob a home. It will be when folks are saying, “There is peace, there is safety.”

2 Peter 3:10 ~ The second coming, though at an unexpected time, will be unmistakable. Kind of like an earthquake; you won’t overlook it.

Additional Scripture:

Matthew 24:45 – 25:30 ~ Jesus is kindly letting us know that this is no game. These tell us what happens to those who do not stay awake, alert, and live out what they know. A warning is given ahead of time so preparations on our part can be made.

Revelation 22:14 ~ This I see as an encouragement. He is saying, Hold on, I’m coming. And you will be blessed if you have lived from what you know of me. Or as it is phrased, “who wash their robes, they have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

152 SNS: Repentance Is... What?

Welcome to a Coffee-side Chat

So, let me ask, what is your first reaction to the word repentance? I mean, did you just cringe a little bit? I don’t know about you, but I find that, too often, this word is one of the big, bad, negative words in the Christian vocabulary. When it is one of its most positive words.

To see this will mean that we need to look at this through the same lens of what it means to be a Christian. Which is a following of Christ that involves a relationship leading to studentship leading to a life lived from what is learned. All three altogether, not one or the other. But all are intrinsically linked and in balance with each other.

Scriptures Referenced:

2 Corinthians 7:10 ~ Godly sorrow brings repentance, leading to salvation.

Luke 3:8 ~ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Acts 26:20 ~ Repent and turn to God and repentance is shown true by what you do.

Luke 24:47 ~ Repentance leads to the forgiving of sins.

Acts 3:19 ~ Sins are wiped out, forgiven, when we turn to God, that is repent.

Mark 1:4; 4:12; Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38; 5:31; 8:22; and even Old Testament 2 Chronicles 7:14: all share repentance comes before forgiveness.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

151 SNS: Forgiving Others... Why It's Important

Welcome to a Coffee-side Chat

Hello, Welcome to the Simple Not Shallow Podcast. My name is Charles, and this is the Coffee Side Chat series. So named because of this amazing cup of coffee sitting on the counter right beside me. We are coming to you from the hallowed halls of Mykitchen University. The kitchen counter is the perfect place to stand, talk, laugh, and learn together while sipping on a cup of beautiful coffee.

Let me ask you a question. Why is forgiving others so important to our faith? Well, let’s kick this around while looking at it through the lens of what it means to be a Christian and see what we come up with. Now, this lens is a following of Jesus that involves a relationship leading to studentship leading to a life lived from what is learned. All three altogether, not one or the other. But all are intrinsically linked and in balance with each other.

So, forgiving others… Why is it so important?

Matthew 6:9-15 ~ The Lord’s Prayer, forgiveness linked to forgiving others. And Jesus saying that if we do not forgive others God will not forgive us.

Matthew 22: 36-40 ~ The 2 greatest commands ever given and Jesus saying that these 2 from the basis for all other commands.

1 John 4:8, 20, 21 ~ If we do not love we do not know God.

Proverbs 10:12; 1 Corinthians 13:5; and 1 Peter 4:8 ~ Love forgive, covers over sin.

Proverbs 17:9 ~ Forgiveness promotes love.

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. We have some wonderful drinkware at our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!

150 SNS: When God Seems Distant

Welcome to a Coffee-side Chat

In this episode, we will do this by delving into the common experience of feeling that God has withdrawn from us as Christians. Many of us have encountered this feeling where he seems so distant, though there was a time when we felt so close to him. What’s up with that?

In looking into this, I came up with two suggestions. I know there may be more, and please leave others in the comments section for me.

Scripture Reference:

Romans 8:11 ~ God makes his home in us.

Hebrews 13:5 ~ God promises he will never leave or forsake us.

Psalm 22 ~ King David feeling that God was distant.

Psalm 44 ~ Son of Korah, the Psalmist, feels God is distant.

1 Kings 19 ~ Elijah feels God is distant.

Matthew 27:46 ~ Jesus feels God the Father is distant. Isaiah 59:2 ~ Our sin hides God from us.

Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-11; Mark 6:7-12 ~ Jesus "letting go of the disciple's hands" and sending them out two by two.

Matthew 10 ~ A third mention of Jesus "letting go of the disciple's hands."

Other interesting videos on this.

1. Reformed Theological Seminary https://youtu.be/Gcb6hM0TzCU?si=AMJq_Bgjsx9xjRUN

2. Capturing Christianity: https://youtu.be/PMrsFqBZgWI?si=A4EL-0J-uGdkNQVP

3. HTBB Church https://youtu.be/ZJfaIVulEgI?si=th-t9M5cXbtZU1lO

4. Tim Keller https://youtu.be/4Gj3x8C5umk?si=Stbb-5XHJkIq9M_d

Here are some links to:

My favorite YouTube apologist: Mike Winger

My favorite online church service: Alistair Begg

If you like what you have seen, and would like a memento... or at least a coffee mug. Follow the link below to our store on Spring.com.

If the comment box is missing below, click here to go to this episode’s home page, scroll to the bottom, and comment away!