The Messiness of Spiritual Formation This is part 1 of my conversation with Kyle Strobel. One of the major themes of this episode is the messiness of prayer and the messiness of spiritual formation. We explore why this is and that the remedy is NOT just adding spiritual disciplines to your life.  Kyle Strobel is a systematic theologian who teaches spiritual theology for Talbot’s Institute for Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Formation Focus programs. His areas of interest include systematic theology, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual formation and prayer. He writes both popular and academic books and articles, and is on the preaching team at Redeemer Church, La Mirada. Book: Where Prayer Becomes Real https://amzn.to/3Wd2uOo    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.   *Book link is an affiliate link

A With-God Life    The heart of living as a disciple of Jesus is living a with-God life. This is fundamentally what it means to "walk by or with the Spirit" in Galatians 5:16. This is what Jesus taught us when he said "abide in me" (John 15:1-11).  This is the remedy for  our deepest problems. Book: Where Prayer Becomes Real https://amzn.to/3Wd2uOo   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.   *Book link is an affiliate link

Bonus Episode with Sam Sorbo A special bonus episode of the Bible in Life podcast featuring actress, author, speaker and homechooling advocate Sam Sorbo. Sam is married to actor Kevin Sorbo. They have raised three kids, whom Sam passionately homeschooled. Sam and Kevin recently released a new Christmas devotional titled Christmas for 40 Days: A Loving Celebration-  https://shop.sorbostudios.com/product/p/rnqjkqv In this wide-ranging conversation Sam and John talk about the Sorbo's love for Christmas and what Sam's hope is for this new Christmas devotional. We also talk about Sam's passion for homeschooling and whether or not your kids should go to college... and whole lot more.  I hope you enjoy listening in as Sam and I spend a little time getting to know each other.  To learn more about Sam: https://sorbostudios.com/home-page To order the Christmas devotional: https://amzn.to/3ZFhXsE To learn more about the Washington D.C. tour: https://christianexpedition.com/tour/8815/   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.  

A Key to Joy | Psalm 103   Bless the Lord, my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your guilt, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with favor and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. 6 The Lord performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. 7 He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the sons of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in mercy. 9 He will not always contend with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our wrongdoings from us. 13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. 14 For He Himself knows our form; He is mindful that we are nothing but dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass; Like a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 When the wind has passed over it, it is no more, And its place no longer knows about it. 17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, And His justice to the children’s children, 18 To those who keep His covenant And remember His precepts, so as to do them. 19 The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Mighty in strength, who perform His word, Obeying the voice of His word! 21 Bless the Lord, all you His angels, You who serve Him, doing His will. 22 Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, my soul!   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

What Does It Mean to Forgive? | Matthew 18:15-35   In a conversation with Peter, Jesus instructs us to forgive 70 times 7. He then tells a story that shows us what forgiveness actually means, and it's incredibly helpful. In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast John shares a sermon exploring how we deal with sin in the new family of Jesus and what it means to forgive.    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Why Melchizedek Matters | Hebrews 7 In the episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John preaches on Hebrews 7 and intriguing Bible character named Melchizedek. Why does author of Hebrews bring up Melchizedek and why does it matter for us today?   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

What Does it Mean that Elders Must Manage Their Household Well? | 1 Timothy 3:4-5  4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?)   In this episode of the Bible in Life John and Steven discuss what exactly it means that church leaders must manage their own household well. And what about the parallel in Titus 1:6 about having children who believe? Does having an adult son or daughter who walks away from the faith automatically disqualify someone from church leadership?    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.  

Why Rewards Matter | Rewards pt 4 In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John and Steven wrap up their discussion of rewards in heaven by exploring the question of why learning what the Bible says about rewards matters. Many of the passages where the idea of rewards shows up have to do with endurance: Matthew 5:10-12 10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.     Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Are there Degrees of Rewards? | Rewards, pt. 3   Some passages, especially in the parables of Jesus such as the parable of the minas in Luke 19, seem to suggest that there are degrees of rewards. That is, some people get more than others.  But other Bible passages seem at odds with that.  So in the episode of the Bible in Life podcast, Steven and John wrestle with the question, Are there degrees of reward in heaven?    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

What kinds of rewards are promised to us? | Rewards, pt. 2 In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, Steven and John explore the kinds of things promised to God's people as rewards. And the distinctive thing is that the rewards promised fit the person and their life. In other words, the rewards aren't arbitrary.    Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com   Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.