Reliable Truth

Do you think God has things that He wants us to do - that He appoints us to do? It is an interesting thought!When Jesus appeared to Saul (Paul's previous name) on the road to Damascus, Jesus told him, "Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."Am I doing the work that God has appointed for me to do?

Today's episode previously aired on this podcast with the title "Seeking the favor of men or God?" I share it again today as it is Part 2 of our study of Galatians.Isn't it interesting to think about how we let other people have such an influence on how we live our lives. I think we would all agree that the people in our lives are important to us. In fact, relationships are the substance of life. We were meant to be with other people.But, am I living my life to please others? Or am I living for the approval of God? I can't do both. You cannot truly live to please and approve Christ and live to win the approval of man at the same time. One has to be above the other.We're discussing a single verse, Galatians 1:10, to learn how to find true freedom from the fears that drive us to comparison, envy, jealousy and loneliness. ⁠Watch on YouTube

When I first became a Christian, I didn't think much of the book of Galatians. I didn't understand what Paul was saying.But now here I am some 47 years later, I have a much better understanding of Galatians, and I love it. I deeply appreciate it.Paul wrote this letter just 17 years after Christ's death and resurrection. He emphasized the many eye witnesses that were still alive at that time and encouraged those who were skeptical to go and talk with them.Galatians 1:3-4 says that Jesus "...gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." He alone can rescue us.

What is God like? What are the most significant attributes of God that you think of?Many people would respond that he is a righteous God, a holy God. He is all powerful. He is loving, he is merciful. He is a just God. But maybe his most important attribute is one that we don't think about very often. The prophet Jeremiah tells us in chapter 31, verse 34 that God is knowable. Think about that.He's not a God that's hidden. He wants to be known. He reveals himself so that he can be known.The scripture and prophecy that we are studying today, Jeremiah 31:31-34 is considered one of the best texts on knowing God.Would you like to know him better?

Today my guest is Dr. Michael Green, bringing us a message from Acts 18, to begin the new year with renewed hope and courage. Lift up your eyes to see what just one man can do for the cause of Christ. Remember, one person plus God is always a majority!

Are you a part of the remnant? Jerry Leachman of ⁠Leachman Ministries⁠ joins us with a message for men - to help us examine where we are in life. Many people are wondering in our culture today, "Am I seeing the America I have known fundamentally change before my eyes?" And maybe it’s never coming back. I’m going to talk about the remnant today, because in the Bible and all the way through the Bible, it’s the remnant that always saves the city.I want you to wonder: are you part of that remnant or are you just one more scared guy filling up with anxiety, bluffing your way through the world, trying to pretend to be brave, but you’re really not?Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S.He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

Today Dr. John Guest brings a message of hope in the certainty of Jesus Christ. "I wasn’t raised to go to church. I did think Christians were soft. Pastors in England would talk in a rather slow and boring tone, and it was sort of remote.I didn’t go to church, but I picked them up on the radio and when there was no such thing as television when I was a child and from time to time, you’d hear one speaking for whatever reason on the radio and I gave it no credence until I got into my adolescence and was asking questions about my own life..." - John GuestJohn is the author of ten books. He co-founded Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry and was a participant in the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism and a board member of the National Association of Evangelicals. He founded the Coalition for Christian Outreach, an evangelistic organization employing approximately 150 staff on college campuses. Also, he co-founded South American Missionary Society (1976), hosted a daily radio broadcast, “New Life In Christ,” on WPIT-FM, Pittsburgh (1983-1990), and currently has a daily broadcast on WORD FM, 101.5 in Pittsburgh as well as several other cities. John married Kathleen Heggar in 1967 and has four daughters: Carrie, Chelsea, Sarah and Susanna.

Dr. Mark Gignilliat from Beeson Divinity School joins us today with a special Advent message from the book of Isaiah.Does God seem distant to you? Do you wish that God would fill you in on what he's doing in this chaotic world that we live in? Hebrews 1 tells us that, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."The Lord has not left you and me to the best of our own imaginative devices. He has not left us to the best of our own intellectual enterprises to figure out who he is.Jesus is the speech of God on display. The scriptures are God's inscribed word that witness to him. The Lord has spoken. He has given himself to be known - to truly be known. But we must remember: we only get to know God on his terms. We don't get to know God on our terms.I pray that in this season that each of you will be able to enter into Advent with joy and with hope. Lord, thank you for these words from the prophet Isaiah. Even though they were written hundreds of years ago, they continue to resonate to us even today, as they point to you, oh Jesus, our wonderful counselor and our Mighty God.I pray that you will bless these listeners during this season. Draw us to yourself, draw me to yourself, oh Lord! In repentance and renewal, I pray in Jesus name, Amen!⁠Dr. 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. ⁠Watch on YouTube here

What is the single most important factor in an abundant life, or even a successful life? Maybe you would say it's education or health, or maybe it's money. If we thought it through, I believe that we would come back with the answer of character. Well then, where does faith belong? Faith is a part of character, but I think that character is the single most important building block or factor in an abundant life - in a successful life. And truthfully, in today's world, it seems that we have lost an understanding of what character is. The Greeks were the first culture that studied character, and probably outside of the Bible, has left us the greatest legacy with respect to what character is. They used the word ethics for character.The Greek said that to be ethical people is to be people of strong character. If we are people of strong character, then we will do the right thing, and like a healthy tree, we will produce good fruit. So, what is the single most important question relating to character?Today's special guest is my friend Drayton Nabers, Jr., successful attorney and former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. He is discussing the subject of his book The Case for Character. Get your copy here.

Richard's guest is Russell Levenson, speaker at our recent Men's Breakfast, sharing about his special relationship with President George and Barbara Bush, as well as his newest book In God's Grip: What golf can teach us about the Gospel. Today he shares many heartwarming and inspiring stories about the Bush's. You don't want to miss this!⁠Watch on YouTubeRussell is the pastor of St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston Texas, the largest Episcopal Church in America, with over 10,000 members. He was President George and Barbara Bush's pastor and performed the eulogy/sermon at each of their funerals. Russell's book about the Bush's is Witness to Dignity: The Life and Faith of George H.W. and Barbara Bush. In God's Grip: What golf can teach us about the Gospel is a unique collaboration by two Texans, both among the best in their field, sharing hints to improve golf and faith. The family of Ben Hogan, one of the game's immortals has permitted Rev. Russell Levenson to use the four-time U.S. Open Champion's words on both subjects in this profound and joyful book.Get your copy of Russell's book