Bible in Life

As a follower of Jesus, how should we think about money and stuff? We tend think money is good. Often we think more of it will solve so many problems. Is that true?  Or is it bad? Should we get rid of it all and take a vow of poverty?  I think Jesus' way regarding money and stuff is much more insightful and balance than either of those two options.  Passages used in this episode: Matthew 6:19-24 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. Connect with me: The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below. https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Support this Ministry Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   Here are some ways to connect with me: ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram   ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net   As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

First Thessalonians 4:3-5 is one of the most powerful passage discipleship and sexuality in the New Testament. Sex and sexuality has been co-opted by Satan and the fallen world, and is thus a major area in need of resocialization when someone becomes a disciple of Jesus. Unholy sex is a problem, a real problem, in a fallen world! God has a better vision for sex and sexuality.  1 Thessalonians 4:1-5 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; Preston Sprinkle - The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender: https://www.centerforfaith.com Connect with me: The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below. https://www.johnwhittaker.net   Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/     I'd love to connect. Here are some ways to connect with me: ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram   ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net   As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.

Redeem Your Time; Reframe Your Tasks. This is something disciples of Jesus must learn to do, but it's not as obvious as others. God has a different view of time than the modern world. God has different goals for the use of our time than the modern world. So as disciples of Jesus we have to learn to tell time God's way.  The Bible and Time and Tasks Eph 5:15-16 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. James 4:13-17 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. Ps 90  - 90:1-2 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. - 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. -90:14 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And establish for us the work of our hands; Yes, establish the work of our hands. The #1 key to becoming like Jesus is living our life attached to him. So I've got a gift for you on my website ... a free video series designed to teach you how to read the Bible in a way to deepens your attachment to God. Click the link below.  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Thank you to all of you who make this ministry possible by your financial support! Do you want to join the team? Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.  http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/   I'd love to connect. Here are some ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email. 

Re-socializing, pt. 3 In this episode, John looks at what Colossians 3 teaches us about re-socializing in general and then he focuses on one area where we need to learn the new way of Jesus. Colossians 3:8 calls us to set aside "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." Those are no longer how we mange life and relationships in the new family of Jesus. Instead, we practice patience and peace.  Colossians 3:5-17 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.   Did you know I work with churches? Check out the following link to learn more about a subscription plan for resources that help churches make more and better disciples. Discipleship resources for churches Bible in Life is a listener supported podcast. Thanks a ton to all of our supporters! Wanna become part of the team and support the show? Two options: Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker and get access to discounts on courses and bonus podcasts, or... Donate through World Family Mission … all gifts are tax deductible.   Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email. 

In this episode, I encourage followers of Jesus to think about the behavioral commands of the New Testament in terms of re-socializing in the soft sense of that word. That is, learning new norms, values, and practices in keeping with a new group that you have chosen to be apart of.  The apostle Paul writes, "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son," - Colossians 1:13. Notice that he says we have been transferred to a new kingdom, the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. This means we've moved. We're part of a new kingdom with a new culture. So now, we have some things to unlearn from our old dominion and we have new norms, values, and practices to learn that are in keeping with the culture of Jesus' kingdom.  I also point out two mistakes Christians often make in thinking about the instructions of the New Testament. 1. The "religious rules" mistake 2. The "spiritual life" mistake.  Our goal is not to be good at religion or spiritual things; our goal is to learn the way of Jesus as part of his kingdom. ▶️ONLINE COURSES: Want to go deeper in your faith? Sign up for an online course at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/courses ▶️SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY:  -Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker and get access to discounts on courses and bonus podcasts -Donate through World Family Mission … all gifts are tax deductible.   Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email. 

"I never thought of reading Philippians as a letter before!" said one guy after church.  Twenty-one out of twenty-seven New Testament books are letters. That means when you read most of the NT, you're reading somebody else's mail! Letters have a backstory and when we read them, we are only hearing one side of the conversation ... which poses some challenges.  In this episode, we explore the question, Why letters and how do the NT letter relate to the teaching and work of Jesus? We discuss how to read the letters well so that you can read them more faithfully as a follower of Jesus.   Did you know I work with churches? I coach churches on how to create discipleship cultures so that they can more faithfully carry out Jesus' mission of making disciples. I have 3 spots available. Email me at john@johnwhittaker.net for more info. ▶️WANT TO DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Sign up for my free video series at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net ▶️MORE FREE RESOURCES: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/resources ▶️SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY: -Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker -Donate through World Family Mission … all gifts are tax deductible.    Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email. 

How do we do discipleship? The most important truth in answer to that question is this - you don't drift into discipleship. It doesn't happen on accident. You have to deliberately follow Jesus by rearranging your life to imitate Jesus' life. That's the essence of being a disciple.  In this episode, I also give some guidance on how you can disciple someone else. Here's a link to the reading plan resource I mention: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/readingplan And I encourage church leaders to wrestle with the question - what is your plan for creating a culture of discipleship? I'd love to help you think this through. In fact, I have a discipleship coaching program to help pastors and church leaders figure this out. You can learn more about that here: DISCIPLESHIP COACHING: I help churches create a culture of discipleship https://www.johnwhittaker.net/discipleship-coaching   ▶️WANT TO DEEPEN YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Sign up for my free video series at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net ▶️MORE FREE RESOURCES: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/resources ▶️BECOME A PATRON: Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker  Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.   

This episode explores several key questions about discipleship:  Are discipleship and evangelism the same thing? When does discipleship begin? Discipleship vs. salvation? Why is discipleship important? Why is discipleship difficult?  What discipleship is not?  How to do discipleship? ▶️SUPPORT THIS WORK: -Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker -Donate through World Family Mission … all gifts are tax deductible.     ▶️WANT TO DEEPEN YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Sign up for my free video series at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net ▶️MORE FREE RESOURCES: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/resources   Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.   

When it comes learning how to do something, showing is more helpful than just telling.  And that’s just as true of discipleship as anything else. The way of Jesus gets passed on by showing not just telling. Your relationship with Jesus is personal but it's not individual. People need your concrete example of discipleship.  Bible Passages mentioned in this episode: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 - For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.    1 Cor. 4:15-17 - For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.    1 Cor. 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.    Philippians 3:17 - Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. Philippians 4:9 - The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 2 Tim. 3:10-11 - You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. . . .”   ▶️CHURCH SUBSCRIPTIONS: Enrollment is open until May 31-  https://www.johnwhittaker.net/bible-training-churches     ▶️WANT TO DEEPEN YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Sign up for my free video series at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net ▶️MORE FREE RESOURCES: https://www.johnwhittaker.net/resources ▶️BECOME A PATRON: Become a patron for as little as $5 per month at https://www.patreon.com/johnwhittaker   Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email. 

What are the main components of being a disciple of Jesus? That is, if you had to boil it down to the main ingredients… what are they? In this episode, I highlight the three main  components of discipleship … and then zero in on the one component without which none of the rest are possible. So it’s the one component you can’t be a disciple without! Bible Passages mentioned in this episode: Mark 1:14-20   14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. Mark 8:31-34   31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” 34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Mark 3:13-14   13 And He *went up on the mountain and *summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach   John 14:16-17a I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth,    ▶️LISTENER’S COMMENTARY: https://www.listenerscommentary.com ▶️DISCIPLESHIP COACHING: I help churches create a culture of discipleship https://www.johnwhittaker.net/discipleship-coaching ▶️WANT TO DEEPEN YOU RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? Sign up for my free video series at: https://www.johnwhittaker.net ▶️SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY: Donate through World Family Mission … all gifts are tax deductible.     Other resources and ways to connect with me:  ▶️Social Media-I would love to connect with you on facebook and instagram ▶️Email - john@johnwhittaker.net As always, if you appreciate this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.