Topic > Christianity & Culture
Asking The Awkward Questions
Have you ever been around someone who spoke their mind a little too loudly? Today on Discover the Word, the team talks about “The Disciple of Doubt,” and his tendency to ask the awkward questions no one else would. Discover how Thomas’s questions moved him from skepticism to belief, when you listen today to Discover the Word!
The Spiritually Vigorous Saint
A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization, but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random, nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over again until we do.
The Skeptic Who Believed
The King of Rock and Roll, Honest Abe, and Doubting Thomas. Some nicknames just stick. But today on Discover the Word, we will reveal that Thomas’s story didn’t end in doubt. It ended in faith! Tune in to discover what we can learn from the “Disciple of Doubt,” today on Discover the Word!
Thomas The “Disciple Of Doubt”
Nicknames have a way of sticking with people. But few nicknames have been as enduring, or unfortunate as “Doubting Thomas.” Today on Discover the Word, we begin a study on the “Disciple of Doubt” by asking the question, was Thomas’s doubt a good thing? Learn how doubts can actually lead to greater faith when you listen today […]
Anonymous Kindness
When I first graduated from college, I found myself needing to adopt a strict grocery budget—twenty-five dollars a week, to be exact. One day, while entering the checkout line, I suspected the groceries I’d selected cost slightly more than my remaining money. “Just stop when we reach twenty dollars,” I told the cashier, and was able to purchase everything I’d selected but a bag of peppers.
As I was about to drive home, a man stopped by my car. “Here’s your peppers, ma’am,” he said, handing the bag to me. Before I had time to thank him, he was already walking…
The Point of Being Alive
Lately, as I’ve been skimming financial advice books, I’ve noticed an interesting trend. While almost all such books have good advice, many imply that the primary reason to cut costs is to live like millionaires later. But one book offered a refreshingly different perspective, arguing that living simply is essential for a rich life. If you need more or fancier stuff to feel joy, the book suggested, “You’re missing the point of being alive.”
Those insightful words brought to mind Jesus’s response when a man asked Him to urge his brother to divide an inheritance with him. Instead of sympathizing, Jesus dismissed…
Fearless Giving
When my son Xavier was six years old, a friend brought her toddler to visit and Xavier wanted to give him a few toys. I delighted in our little giver’s generosity, until he offered a stuffed animal my husband had searched several stores in different cities to find. Recognizing the high-demand toy, my friend tried to politely decline. Still, Xavier placed his gift into her son’s hands and said, “My daddy gives me lots of toys to share.”
Though I’d like to say Xavier learned his confident giving from me, I’ve often withheld my resources from God and others. But when…
Not Enough?
On the way home from church my daughter sat in the backseat enjoying Goldfish crackers as my other children implored her to share. Trying to redirect the conversation, I asked the hoarder of snacks, “What did you do in class today?” She said they made a basket of bread and fish because a child gave Jesus five loaves and two fish that Jesus used to feed more than 5,000 people (John 6:1–13).
“That was very kind of the little boy to share. Do you think maybe God is asking you to share your fish?” I asked. “No, Momma” she replied.
I tried…
Do You See Your Calling?
…separated to the gospel of God… —Romans 1:1
Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is…
Are We Idolizing Our Relationships?
“My life is incomplete. I’m still waiting until my knight in shining armor swings by on his horse, scoops me up in his arms, and takes me away in the distant sunset! And then, I’ll feel complete.”
Removing cultural blinders
Have you ever tried reading something upside down? Doesn’t usually work too well does it? But, flip it over and that change in perspective is all you need to see clearly! Well, today on Discover the Word, we wrap up a two-week discussion with authors Brandon O’Brien and Randy Richards. They’ve been helping us to […]
How we miss the main point by reading Scripture out of context
We know that reading a verse out of context can lead to some wacky interpretations, but what if we’ve been doing that without even realizing it? Today on Discover the Word, authors Randy Richards and Brandon O’Brien look at a story in the Bible where we likely have missed the main point! Find out how […]
Handling tragedy – a challenging and freeing discussion
We’ve all experienced loss. But have you ever felt like you’re just supposed to soldier on, denying your grief? Today on Discover the Word, we will tackle the subject of handling tragedy. It’s a challenging and freeing discussion—part of a series about “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes” with special guests Brandon O’Brien and Randy Richards. […]
Understanding context makes for a much clearer story
Today on Discover the Word, Randy Richards and Brandon O’Brien join the team to lead a discussion on the story of David and Bathsheba and Uriah. Discover how understanding their culture makes some confusing things about this story a lot clearer. Join the conversation about “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes,” today on Discover the Word!
“Love God and love others” – How did this gospel get Jesus crucified?
The gospel is sometimes summarized as “Love God and love others.” So it makes you wonder how that message got Jesus crucified. Today, the Discover the Word team continues their series titled “Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes”—providing cultural perspective for the Bible. We’ll learn why some things we consider orthodox were absolutely revolutionary to first-century […]
