Life Over Coffee

On the radio today, a well-known pastor says that Christians should not describe themselves as "sinners saved by grace" but "saints who occasionally sin." If we define ourselves as the first, he says, "What a dangerous, miserable way to live." As Christians, how much focus should there be on the reality of daily sin versus the spiritual reality of our identification with Christ and His holiness dwelling within us? What does this practically look like in daily living?" – Supporting Member Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/am-i-a-sinner-saint-or-both/ Will you help us to continue providing free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Shows Main Idea – What is the relationship between mental illness and suicide? Is that the best way to ask my question? If not, how would you frame the problem of a person who commits suicide? What does the Bible say? I deal with many desperate people who are Christian and non-Christian, and the normalization of suicide over the past few years has created not just an interest in self-harm but an acceptable solution to commit suicide. What are your thoughts? – Supporting Member Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/biblical-perspective-mental-illness-suicide/ Will you help us to continue providing free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

There are two large groups of people in America today. They are the winners and the losers. The happy and the sad. The glad and the mad. The hopeful and the fearful. Which one are you after an American election? What does the state of your heart reveal about your faith? Regardless of our camp, there is probably work to do in our hearts. For the victorious, the temptation is smugness and high-fives that look down on the losers. For the losers, the temptation could be despair and anger. The election is the heat in our lives that reveals the pre-existing condition of our hearts. Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/assessing-my-heart-the-morning-after-an-american-election/ Will you help us to continue providing free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Shows Main Idea – If a person in your church lives a sinful lifestyle and is a leader, how should I respond to that person? Should I sit under their teaching and leadership? Should I separate from sinners in the church? A lady asked, “I know I am to engage sinners for redemptive purposes because that is what Christ did to me. I don’t want to separate from them but influence them with the gospel. But what about the ongoing sinfulness of someone in your church?” Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/separate-sinful-people-church/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

One of the problems with some marriages is a lack of respect from the wife for the husband. A proper probing question follows: what does that mean? Is her lack of respect the entire problem in the marriage, or are there other complexities that might contribute to her lack of respect? There are always complexities in relational conflict, but why do some folks focus only on one track in a two-track marriage? It appears these eisogetes are extracting Paul’s words about respecting the husband and missing the context. What if we take a look at the context and content of this pivotal passage about marriage? Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/wife-respect-unkind-husband/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Shows Main Idea – “I’m thinking of a person who is not concerned with the kingdom of God and is more concerned with a kingdom of self, especially a person who does not have a gospel-centered motive. They have a lot of pride and are not easy to teach. They want a certain way and do not consider God’s will. How do you counsel a self-righteous person?” – Doug Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/counsel-self-righteous-person/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Boys and girls are different. You cannot say that aloud or the culture will cancel you. But it’s true, and when it comes to the act of love in reciprocal relationships, the different ways they respond to each other are fully displayed. God made Adam a unique male and Eve a unique female. This news is not new for the believer. However, knowing these differences is vital, especially when a boy meets a girl. Understanding how the genders react to love provides wisdom while potentially saving a couple from much disappointment. Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/a-girl-kissing-a-boy-is-different-than-a-boy-kissing-a-girl/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Being reproved or rebuked is tough stuff. Nobody enjoys it. I don't! When someone comes along pointing out a flaw in your life, it's typically a tense moment because it cuts against the grain of our Adamic hearts. To be willing to have others speak into your life is one of the high marks of Christian maturity, making it a great time to ask a few tough questions to examine our Christian maturity. Read Here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/six-tough-questions-that-examine-your-christian-maturity/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

As we head into the holidays, this is the most mission-critical season of the year, and we ask the Father to provide our financial needs for the proceeding year, 2023. Thankfully, a donor has stepped up, saying they will give us $50K if one, two, or more folks do similarly. I shared this news with our supporting community, and several have committed to praying and fasting during this vital season. Will you pray about this fantastic opportunity? For those who cannot donate at that level, will you give what you believe the Lord wants you to give? The majority of our finances come in during this season. I'm asking God to move many hearts, and I'd love for you to join our community and me as we petition the Father. You may donate here: https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/

Shows Main Idea – Just curious if you might flesh out the differences between capacity versus character issues. I assume we would expect a response to God’s truth in whatever capacity someone could respond. I wonder what you think about a person unable to process truth because of diminished soul issues; thus, their behaviors reflect those compromised soul issues. It would help me understand this problem a bit better. Show Notes: https://lifeovercoffee.com/podcast/respond-people-different-character-capacity-issues/ Will you help us so we can continue to provide free content to the world? You can become a supporting member here rickthomas.net/recurring-membership/ Or you can make a one-time or recurring donation(s) here https://lifeovercoffee.com/donate/