Why Should You Obey God's Commands?  Are God's commands arbitrary religious laws?  Are they true just because they're in the Bible?    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.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Jesus' way is his instructions to "love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) and to "bless those who curse you" (Luke 6:28). This is a hallmark of our discipleship to Jesus.  The apostles passed on this teaching too. Paul writes, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" (Romans 12:14). And Peter puts it like this: "not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead" (1 Peter 3:9).  So how can you become the kind of person who lives this way routinely?  In this episode, we reflect on 1 Peter 3:9-12 to think through how we can learn to bless those who curse us.    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.  

Sean McDowell and John Marriott authored a new book entitled Set Adrift. It's a fantastic guide to help someone wrestling with what they believe without giving up on their faith altogether.  In this episode, I discuss the topic of deconstructing without deconverting with John Marriott.  John teaches at Biola University and Whittier Christian High School. He has a Phd in Intercultural Studies and his expertise is this very topic of deconstruction.  For resources and more about John: https://www.johnmarriott.org To buy Set Adrift: https://amzn.to/3S7crfc   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.   *Purchase links are affiliate links which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps."  In some mysterious way, God's sovereignty oversees the steps of our life. How does that work out? We may never know with absolute certainty, but in Acts 19-28 we see a living example of how a person plans his way but the Lord directs his steps.  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.    

How do you communicate the gospel in a pluralistic age?  The challenge is real because people are all so different when it comes to religion. Some have a religious background but not a Christian background. Some have no religious background at all. Some have a Christian background but have rejected it as an adult. Some are hostile towards the Bible and Jesus.  In such a milieu, you can't share the gospel the same way to each person. And Paul models this for us in Acts 17 and 13.  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.

In Acts 16 Paul models for us a principle that shaped how he made decisions. In fact, it was a governing principle that shaped his whole life. And it should shape ours as followers of Jesus too. 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.  

Acts 12   Does God always answer prayer? Not the way we often think. And the Bible doesn't hide from this fact. It teaches us that God is a real person who makes real decisions in response to our prayers and Acts 12 is a good example of this.  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.

Acts 5:1-11   Luke, the author of Acts, told the story about Ananias and Sapphira for a very important reason. The message of that story holds a very important lesson for us as the church 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.

Acts 3-4 How does the gospel move forward? In Acts 3-4 we see a good model.  In this episode we reflect on what it might look like to be open for business to loving people and sharing the good news about Jesus.    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.

Acts 2 The Day of Pentecost is the birthday of the church. Jesus pours out the Spirit, 3,000 people believe and are baptized. And the church becomes a reality. And the Acts describes what a difference the Holy Spirit made in the lives of people. And we see the marks of a Spirit-filled church.  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.