Reliable Truth

Is there anything out there that you would sell your house, your cars, your possessions - all that you had in order to get it? Today we discuss the second of two of Jesus' parables on the kingdom of heaven. In Paul David Tripp's book Redeeming Money, Tripp says that "the central message of these two parables is the incalculable value of the kingdom of God."So, what is the kingdom of God and how does it impact me? Tripp explains that "the kingdom of heaven is "God's gracious plan of redemption for us and the world that we live in. What is the treasure of great value and the pearl of great price? It is Christ Himself and His gift of forgiving, rescuing, transforming, and delivering grace. These two parables argue that there's nothing more valuable than God's gift of His Son of grace, and there's nothing more worth celebrating than the redemption that comes with that grace. The parables demonstrate if you properly value this Treasure, this Pearl, it will radically alter the choices you make and the actions you take in your everyday life."

What do you treasure most in your life?When Jesus speaks in the Bible, there are a number of times He will say, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." and then He usually follows it with a parable. For the next two weeks we're discussing two of my favorite parables - "The Parable of Hidden Treasure" and The Pearl of Great Value."In Paul David Tripp's book Redeeming Money, Tripp says that "the central message of these two parables is the incalculable value of the kingdom of God."So, what is the kingdom of God and how does it impact me? Tripp expains that "the kingdom of heaven is "God's gracious plan of redemption for us and the world that we live in. What is the treasure of great value and the pearl of great price? It is Christ Himself and His gift of forgiving, rescuing, transforming, and delivering grace. These two parables argue that there's nothing more valuable than God's gift of His Son of grace, and there's nothing more worth celebrating than the redemption that comes with that grace. The parables demonstrate if you properly value this Treasure, this Pearl, it will radically alter the choices you make and the actions you take in your everyday life."

Who is caring for the caregivers? Richard's guest is Phil Reddick leading our 3rd annual Caregiving Seminar, hosted by The Center's ministry FinishWell, along with co-hosts YBL and WBLHear 3 perspectives on caregiving, coping with health issues, dementia, grieving, and how to prepare for your loved ones during this critical time.FinishWell is a ministry of The Center, and is led by Phil Reddick. Meet the panelists: Judy Shepura O'Brien - Attorney Dominick, Fletcher, Yielding, Wood, and Lloyd Beau Green - CEO/Franchisee of Right at Home Scott Hannah - Director of Quest Recreation Outreach>>Watch on YouTubeMore about Phil Reddick and FinishWellMore about YBLMore about WBL

What is God's message to us in these days?Our guest Dr. Mark Gignilliat continues teaching in our study of Deuteronomy. God's call to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:1-5 still applies to us:"These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."⁠⁠Watch on YouTube⁠⁠Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

Do you remember what happened on November 22nd 1963? John F. Kennedy was assassinated on that day. C.S. Lewis also died on that day.For the last two years of his life, C.S. Lewis suffered from very poor health. He knew that death was at hand, and yet anticipated it with cheerfulness and peace. At one point he said, “If we really believe what we say we believe—if we really think that home is elsewhere and this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival?”Finally, a week before his death, Lewis shared these words with his brother Warren: “I have done all that I was sent into the world to do, and I am ready to go.” His brother re­marked that, “I have never seen death looked in the face so tranquilly.”I share this because this can be a reality in each of our lives if we prepare for it.We've been given a number of clues about heaven. A good place to start is to consider how we view Heaven versus how we view our Earthly life. >>Watch on YouTube

How do we know that heaven is real?I think some of you know that my brother passed away back in May. He had been sick a long time.Then I turned 70 back in December, so I'm getting on in years. Now I'm reading Randy Alcorn's book Heaven. So this is a topic that I think is important and as we get into today's study I think you'll see why.Be encouraged by what the book of Hebrews tells us:"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever..." - Hebrews 6:17-20 >>Watch on YouTube

Are you praying for God's protection over your life and for your loved ones?This is the last message in our 9-part series.I think it’s crucial that you ask God to protect your family, and for those of you who are married, to pray for your wife and your marriage. Marriage and family are truly under great attack. I really do think that one of the greatest ways that the Enemy can undermine the church and God’s people is to break up the family.Where do you start? I start with Psalm 27:1, it says that “God is the defense of my life.” I just say, "Lord, You’re the defense of my life, and there are only a certain number of things that I can do." Then there's Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” I pray, "Lord I can do all these things, but ultimately, You are the defense of my life."Here are more verses that I use in my daily prayer time: Psalm 4:8 “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, made me dwell in safety.” Psalm 18:1-3 “I love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in Whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 32:7 “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm 40:11 “Do not withhold Your mercy from me, may Your love and faithfulness always protect me.” II Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”That’s pretty cut and dry. But you have to claim the Lord's protection. You have to pray it, and you have to ask Him for it. My prayer is, "Lord I stand on Your promise. Because You are faithful, I pray that You will protect us and strengthen us against the forces of darkness. I thank You for doing that."Listen to what Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 26:41: “Keep watching and keep praying that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Are you anxious about the future? David Wells, who is quite the scholar, wrote a book about 15 years ago, called Losing Our Virtue. And listen to what he says about this as we think about the future and the present. Wells says: “The world today intrudes upon us as it never has before, and one of the surest indications of this is that the levels of anxiety have never been higher in peoples lives. And why are we more anxious? There are, no doubt, many reasons, including a heightened tempo in the workplace, greater economic insecurity, too many choices, and perhaps, family breakdown.” This was before you had to worry about terrorism. This was before 9/11. He continues:“What is more, the extraordinary rapidity of change in our society powerfully fixes our attention upon the future, for we need to anticipate events that are in the making in order to avoid what will be harmful and to capitalize on what will be beneficial.” But then, listen to this. Wells says:“Anxiety, however, is nothing more than living out the future before it arrives. And modernity obliges us to do this many times over. The future is thereby greatly intensified.” Yet we’re being instructed by Jesus to live in the present. Our lives should be focused on the day at hand.

When a storm enters your life, what do you do? You know what I mean by storm, right? Something very difficult comes into your life. A hard circumstance. Adversity.How do I get it out of my life? Is there something I can do to deal with the storm? Sometimes to get out of trouble, people do things they shouldn’t do. But let’s look at the storms of life that are out of your control. A storm that creates emotional pain and fear.What do you do?In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says, “He who hears these words of Mine, and then acts upon them.” The NIV says, “…puts them into practice, will be compared to a wise man who builds his house upon the rock, and the winds come, and the rains come and storms come, and they beat against that house, and yet it did not fall, because it was founded on the Rock.”

What is our tendency when we become really satisfied?Often times we become complacent. We think we've got life figured out. We take it for granted.When we get to a point where we think we have everything we need, instead of being thankful to God, we start becoming arrogant.Once that arrogance starts creeping in, you are well on a path to forgetting Him.In Proverbs 30, Solomon asks God to keep lies and deceit away from him. Then he says, don’t give me too much - in other words, don’t give me too much of anything. Don’t give me too much wealth. Because my problem is, once I have too much, I’m likely to forget you and say, Who is the Lord?" It’s like he was saying, give me just enough, because he sees this danger.As we sit here today, we might find it hard to believe that someone who gets really blessed would forget God, would not give thanks to God, would not be humble. But that does seem to be what happens. An attitude of thanksgiving does not come natural to us. Arrogance does comes very natural to us.