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!

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In this episode, we will do this by delving into the common experience of feeling that God has withdrawn from us as Christians.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!

149 SNS: The Best and the Worst Parts of A Christian Life

Welcome to A Coffe-side Chat

In this episode, we are going to look at the best and worst parts of Christian life. And we are going to do this while looking 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 living a life based on everything learned. Indeed, it is only as we look through this lens that we can see these parts as being fully the best and fully the worst.

Let’s start with the best part. I like to start on the positive side of things. Don’t you? Oh, and before beginning, I may not mention them while we chat, but all Scriptures referenced will be listed in the description area of this podcast. Do take a moment and let me know if there are others I could have referenced. Thank you.

Scriptures Referenced:

John 3:16ff ~ Jesus only came because God loved. With no love, Jesus would not have come.

1 Corinthians 13; 1 John 4:17, 18; John 14:27; Ephesians 3:17-19; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ~ what love does in us, for us, and through us.

John 13: 34,35 ~ How others know we are followers of Jesus.

John 15 ~ how we stay connected (abide in) with God.

Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The 2 greatest commandments and they are the basis for all other commands.

John 13:34; Romans 12:10; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:12, 17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Peter 4:8; 2 John 1:5; 1 John 3:23; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 3:8 ~ Ten times love one another is listed.

1 John 4:8, 20, 21 ~ No love = no know God.

Romans 14:22-23 ~ Sin is what is not from faith.

James 2:19 ~ even demons believe God is the One True God and tremble.

James 2:8-19; 1 Corinthians 13 ~ Tieing love to faith.

Mark 7:15, 20-23 ~ Jesus telling us where sin comes from, within us. J

ames 1:14-15 ~ as we are tempted by our own evil desires.

1 John 2:1,2 ~ If we sin, Jesus is our advocate with God the Father.

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!

148 SNS Jesus Is... Who?

Welcome to a Coffee-side Chat

In this episode, we are going to talk about the question: Who is Jesus? I know. In a fairly short video, are we going to explore this question fully? Yeah, no. But we are going to talk about a framework you can use while pursuing your relationship with him while learning who he is.

So, what comes to mind when you hear the question, who is Jesus? You might be saying, “He is God.” Yes, but is that all we know about who he is? What else can you think of? “Lord and Savior?” Yes. What else? “Son of God, Our redeemer?” Yes, what else? “He died on the cross and was raised for our sins?” Yes, that is what he did, but who is he? “You going to keep asking that question or get on with the chat?”

Alright, I’ll move on. But the reason I ask is that, well….

Scripture references:

John 1:1-18 ~ Jesus is God, the Word of God through his being the One and Only God

John 15:13,14 ~ He is our friend.

Hebrews 2:9-18 ~ He is our brother.

Acts 17:7, Revelation 1:5 ~ He is our King.

Hebrews 3:1 ~ Our High Priest and intercessor.

2 Timothy 4:1, Acts 10:42, John 9:39 ~ Our Judge.

John 16:12,13 ~ Jesus not overwhelming us with information.

John 1 - whole book. I find this book to be the best for learning who Jesus is.

Other Resources:

A.W. Tozer’s books The Attributes of God, vols. 1 and 2 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!

147 SNS: What Is Prayer?

Welcome to A Coffee-side Chat

In this episode, we are going to consider the questions: what is prayer, and why is it so important? Many have talked about prayer, going into depth on the hows and whys of it all.

So… what can a man, even one standing in these hallowed halls while chatting over a cup of coffee, contribute to the insights of such heavy hitters as these and other thoughtful scholars? I don’t know, but what better place to kick around an idea than at a kitchen counter over coffee?

Resources for Payer:

Dallas Willard’s book: Hearing God,

Andrew Murray’s: The School of Prayer

Resources for getting to know God:

A.W. Tozer: The Attributes of God vol.1 & 2

Matthew 6:9ff ~ The Lord’s Prayer 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!