Michael Easley inContext

Dr. Abner Chou joins Dr. Easley to discuss the Legacy Standard Bible and the importance of clear biblical translation.Resources Mentioned:MacArthur Study BibleLegacy Standard Bible Ask Dr. E: What Bible Should I BuyAsk Dr. E: What Bible Should I Buy Part 2The Net BibleBlue Letter BibleLegacy Standard Bible SiteRead the full blog post here.

Dr. Kenneth Boa joins Michael today to discuss praying the scripture back to God, why Christians struggle with prayer, and prayer in God’s image. "One of the components of prayer that I think is often overlooked is the ongoing process of practicing God's presence and using prayer as receptivity to beauty. I have become increasingly aware of how God approaches us through beauty as the connection between mystery and goodness. "Resources Mentioned:Kenneth Boa- Handbook to PrayerKenneth Boa- Conformed to His ImageRead the full blog post here.

Barbara Brand joins Michael to talk about building a relationship with God through prayer, and the imperative obedience we are called to as believers. It's not a matter of doing but instead a matter of being. We have a God who loves us and understands us. We can go before the throne of grace with confidence. We can have conversations with our Creator at all times.Check out the full blog post here.

Robert Morgan joins Michael to discuss biblical meditation. He shares what it is and why it is essential for our prayer life as believers. Meditation is not having your mind emptied. It's not having mantras or focusing simply on your breathing. It's filling our mind with scripture until we are not only thinking about scripture but thinking scripture. When we go further and find that our mind is actually thinking scripture, we've made some progress with biblical meditation. Resources Mentioned:Rob Morgan- Reclaiming The Lost Art Of Biblical MeditationRead the blog post here.

Cindy Easley, Michael's wife, joins him to talk about honest communication with the Lord and how the Lord always answers our prayers, just not in the way we would think. Resources Mentioned:Ken Boa- Handbook to prayerAndrew Murray- With Christ in the School of PrayerMary Tileston- Joy and StrengthArthur G. Bennett- The Valley of VisionCheck out the blog post that accompanies this episode here.

Mike Novotny, author of "What's Big Starts Small," joins Michael to talk through common distractions that may prevent us from realizing our growth and maturity in Christ. Learn more about Mike and find resources in our Show Notes.

This episode was originally recorded at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield Virginia.Jim Traficant, Frank Finelli, and Jeremy Traficant share how God moved powerfully in the midst of multiple urgent health crises, weaving their stories together in ways that can only be called miraculous."I've been to the brink of death three times and I want to tell you what I've learned:1. We can't do it ourselves.2. When all else is gone, Jesus is enough.3. Christ's death and resurrection were for you and me. No matter what we've done, no matter what's been done to us, no matter how far we might drift, we're just one step away. We're never beyond His grace....Sometimes you have to wonder if what's happening to you is really happening for you, no matter how it feels."Find more information & a link to the original recording of this episode in our Show Notes.

Alisa Childers began re-examining her faith after a jarring experience in an unexpected place left her questioning what she believed, and why. In this episode, she talks with Michael about rebuilding her faith intellectually through studying apologetics and hermeneutics.Alisa's newest book, "Live Your Truth and Other Lies," exposes five damaging lies that permeate our culture, both inside and outside the church. These lies generally feel good to hear, but ultimately leave us "anxious, exhausted, and self-obsessed."Learn more about Alisa and find show notes at https://michaelincontext.com/live-your-truth-alisa-childers/

Glad to have my dear friend Dr. Dave Gibson back on inContext today to talk about his new book, In My Father's Wake: How an Anxious Boy Learned to Love a Difficult Dad. Hardwon wisdom shrouded in humor, Dave's storytelling offers belonging, comfort, and a gentle challenge to any (many) of us who bear a father wound.

Dr. Dann Spader is back on inContext with a deep well of wisdom and practical encouragement for making disciples. A disciple is someone who follows Christ, is being changed by Christ, and is committed to the mission of Christ.A disciple-maker is someone who helps others follow Christ, helps others be changed by Christ, and helps others commit to the mission of Christ.When you fall in love with Jesus, you want to do what He told you to do. What's that? Go make disciples.It's not about a strategy, program, class, or curriculum. It's about imparting Jesus—the real Jesus—to people on the face of the earth.