By God's Grace

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

theshepherdslove — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:41:46 -0500

The new American Motto seems to be “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”. All we want to do is have a good time and to go about life as if nothing matters. We certainly do not look to God or expect Him to be a major part of what happens in our life. Well, the Bible tells us what happens when we have that attitude. In this Podcast, we study Genesis 6 and Genesis 7 and learn how God poured His Wrath out on the people of Earth during Noah’s time because they were living just as we are now. Jesus predicted that shortly before the Great Tribulation began we would once again be living in just that way. We need to look to God now and repent before it is too late. He is about to pour out His Wrath and there will be no escaping it just as there was no escape then.

Selfie Sunday

theshepherdslove — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:44:13 -0500

Preachers do some weird and frankly annoying things when preaching. One of the latest crazes is Selfie Sunday where they stop in the middle of their sermon and have the congregation take selfies with other people in the congregation and then post them on social media. But what does God think about all these things? Do they really help to fulfill the purpose for why we go to church?

Join us for Selfie Sunday and find out the answer to another of life’s deep questions.

Fire and Brimstone or Love?

theshepherdslove — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 12:00:09 -0500

Fire and Brimstone or Love? Which type of sermon do you want to hear? Would you be more likely to follow Jesus if you were being scared into it or if you were told He loved you enough to die for you? That is the focus of our Podcast on John 9 and 10. Jesus once again confronts the preachers of His Day and very specifically compares His life and actions to theirs. He was offering the truth of God and love. They were offering the equivalent of fire and brimstone and trying to scare people into following their religion. Jesus challenges us to choose which we will follow, the Shepherd or the Hired Man who would run at the first sign of trouble. Join us for this Podcast episode and then decide for yourself which you want to follow based on the actions of the men who claim to serve God and what the Bible tells us God actually did.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

theshepherdslove — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 12:38:50 -0500

Many children learn their first prayers by saying poems like “Now I lay me down to sleep” and there is nothing wrong with that. Prayer does not have to be some big, long, formal thing where you try to say exactly the right words. Ultimately, prayer is about having a conversation with God our Father. In this Podcast, the next in our “Life’s Deep Questions” series, we tackle the different types of prayers and when we should say each of the different ones. Come along for the journey as we learn that there is no reason to be bored or to hate prayer time. Just have a friendly conversation with the Father who loves you.

The Prideful Hypocrite

theshepherdslove — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:56:14 -0500

Pride and hypocrisy are running rampant. They are also two sins that are helping to destroy both America and the American Church. In John 8, Jesus dealt with both of these things in the Preachers of His Day. Unfortunately, two thousand years later not much has changed. We still need to turn to God and trust in Jesus’ teaching that we are to be humble servants and we have to live what we preach. If we do not do that, one day we will have to face God and His Wrath. In this Podcast episode, we take a verse by verse look at what happened when the Priests brought a woman before Him because she had committed adultery and then how they reacted when Jesus challenged them for focusing on their heritage rather than the God who gave them that heritage. God is supposed to be our focus, not our pastor, church, heritage, or anything else.

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

theshepherdslove — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 20:19:46 -0500

Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? Those are questions we hear asked a lot even in the Church. Sadly, too few people turn to the Word of God to find the answers to those questions. In our next Podcast in our Life’s Deep Questions series, we tackle them head-on. We discuss how it is that even though God would like to see every person healed and living a wonderful life, He does not always do so. There are times God chooses to allow us to remain in our sicknesses or with our problems. That does not mean He does not love us. It simply means there is more going on than we can see. Ultimately the answer comes down to what God said to Paul. “My Grace is sufficient for you.” Rely on His Grace and in the end everything will be okay.

God Among Us

theshepherdslove — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 17:51:50 -0500

One of the things we seem to often overlook is that wherever we go or whatever we do, God is among us. He is there in the good times and the bad times. The saddest part is that we so often miss Him. When Jesus came the first time, the Religious Leaders of His day should have been the first ones to recognize Him. They had spent centuries looking for the Messiah and studying what the Jewish Scriptures had to say about His Coming. Yet, they were so caught up in their traditions and rules they did not know God was among them. We are in danger of having the same thing happen with the Second Coming of the Christ. We have spent 2,000 years talking about His Return. But our Religious Leaders have us so caught up in traditions, doctrines, and rules that we are in danger of missing that Return. Even now God is among us and we don’t see Him. Join us in this study of John 7 and see what God wants to do in your life.

Hippity Hop Time To Get Moving

theshepherdslove — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 21:27:03 -0500

Pastors go absolutely bonkers over what they call “Church Hoppers”, people who move from one church to another. But is there really anything wrong with it? What does God say about this idea that we have to stay in one church for our entire life? The answer is pretty simple actually. If churches were giving people a reason to be there, they would not leave. The biggest problem is not with the church hoppers but with the churches themselves. Many people leave a church because they are made to feel like an outsider, not family. Others leave, or never join in the first place, because there is no POWER there. The Book of Acts gives us a clear example showing the Church is supposed to be full of the Power of the Holy Spirit, and when we are people will flock to us. So, if churches want people to quit leaving and going elsewhere they should start making everyone feel like they are part of a family and start displaying the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

The Bread of Life Breaks the Curse

theshepherdslove — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 16:49:39 -0500

All men are under a curse because we have sinned. All men are condemned to spend eternity burning in the Lake of Fire separated from the Presence of Almighty God who created us to be in His Presence. But Jesus said there is a way to break that curse. In this life-giving study of John 5 and John 6, we see the Word come to life, be made understandable, relatable, and most important relevant to our lives. Here Jesus tells us He is the Bread of Life and the Bread of Life breaks the Curse. In order to have the curse broken, however, we must do something which is very hard for us to understand or participate in. We must eat the flesh of our Savior and drink His Blood. Only by doing this can we find life. In order to break the Curse, we must eat of the Bread of Life. Join us in this Podcast as we review exactly what Jesus meant by that command.

Suicide: The Unforgivable Sin?

theshepherdslove — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:33:07 -0500

Suicide is a national tragedy and an epidemic. This tragedy hurts so many and extends well beyond the person who chooses to end their life. Those who are left behind struggle with all the pain and emotions this act stirs up and often question what could have been done to prevent it. This pain is often made worse by Religious Men and Churches attacking and judging the one who committed suicide. So many Religious Men and Churches teach, often very loudly and vociferously, that a person who commits suicide goes straight to Hell. God cannot and will not forgive this act and God will not let someone into Heaven who has taken their own life. But what does God say? Join us as we look at this deep question and see what the Bible says about unforgivable sins and see that there is only one, which is certainly not suicide. Yes, this is wrong but so are all other sins. No matter what happened only God can decide if someone is going to Heaven or Hell, not us. Our only job is to love those who are still here and to help them heal.

Drink of The Living Water

theshepherdslove — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 19:08:19 -0500

So often men judge us based on our financial circumstances, racial makeup, background, or what we have done. Jesus proved that is the exact opposite of what God does. He purposely sought out a woman who was rejected and judged by Religious Men and offered her the gift of Living Water. Come along as we bring John Chapter 4 to life. Find out what Jesus meant by Living Water and how you too can drink of it.

Abortion, Sex, and Things That Send You To Hell

theshepherdslove — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 21:53:35 -0500

So many like to claim certain things are terrible sins. They judge and attack others because of the supposed sins they are committing. Some examples we see frequently are abortion, homosexual sex, drug abuse, and suicide. But that is NOT what the Bible says. God makes it clear that a sin is a sin is a sin. There is no such thing as a mortal sin or a not mortal sin. A little white lie, such as when you tell your wife you like her ugly new haircut is just as bad in God’s eyes as someone who is engaged in sexual activity outside a marriage between a man and a woman. So, it is long past time we stopped judging others based on what they are doing and instead love them the same way Jesus does.

For God So Loved…..

theshepherdslove — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 18:25:17 -0500

Jesus told Nicodemas that God loved the world enough that He sent His One and Only Son to die for our sins. But that verse can also be made more personal. God so loved YOU that He sent His Only Son to die for you. How amazing is that? Even if you had been the only person to ever need forgiveness for sins, Jesus would still have died for you. So many of us feel unloved or unlovable, but even then God’s Love is available to us. Join us for this study of John chapter 3 which brings the words of Jesus to life and helps us understand the full meaning of the message given to this priest.

A Sin By Any Other Name

theshepherdslove — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:49:16 -0500

Shakespear said, “A rose by any other name would still smell just as sweet.” The same is true for sin. Even though we so often want to ignore it or make it sound pretty, a sin is still a sin. Anything which violates God’s Word or goes against His Holiness is a sin. It is time we start saying so once again so people know to repent and avoid Hell.

Show Me A Sign! Entertain Me!

theshepherdslove — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:44:00 -0500

In this study of John Chapter 2, we see that the Religious Elite of Jesus’ day was only interested the show. They wanted to be entertained. They came to Jesus and asked Him to do signs and miracles for them, but they were not really interested in God. It was all about being entertained. This is so much like our churches today. Everything is about the show, the entertainment. This podcast will help you understand John 2 in ways you never have before while also being fun and light.

In The Beginning

theshepherdslove — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 16:03:45 -0500

An interactive walk through the Gospel of John Chapter 1. Verse by verse look at what the Bible actually says and what it means to us today. As John and Moses both began their story of God’s Plan with the words, “In The Beginning”, so we start at the very beginning to see the Bible come to life.

Hell: Fact or Fiction?

theshepherdslove — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 15:59:35 -0500

Let’s Discsuss Life’s Big Questions.

Many people question whether Hell is a real place. Others act as if it is not important or something to be afraid of. But what does the Bible say about Hell? Take the journey with us as we examine one of life’s deep questions from a humorous and entertaining angle.