Christian Questions Talk Radio

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Sinopse

Rick and Jonathan talk about how mainstream and biblical topics mix in todays world. This a discussion from several different angles that will make you think about the Bible like you never have before! Sign up for the CQ Rewind free written transcript of each episode at our website.

Episódios

  • Does God’s Holy Spirit Speak to Us?

    18/03/2024 Duração: 01h03min

    Every serious Christian knows about God’s holy spirit. We not only know about it, but we also often talk about what we believe to be its effects upon our lives. Christians speak of being provoked, directed, protected and guided by the spirit. Some of us claim the spirit speaks to us, or perhaps to our pastor, for the purpose of giving us not only instruction, but prophetic utterances regarding our lives as well. In short, our brand of Christianity or denomination has much to do with how we believe the holy spirit works. So, how does it work? Who is right, and who may be mistaken when it comes to understanding and following this mighty power of God in our lives? Not surprisingly, the Bible says a lot about this subject. It also doesn’t say things about God’s spirit we might assume are true.

  • What Is the New Creation?

    11/03/2024

    We don’t know much about the spiritual world, especially before the creation of humanity. What we do know is that it was an entirely harmonious world with loyalty and obedience to God at its center. God foreknew that when pride crept into Satan’s heart and was exposed, it would lead to a massive shift in the way things would run. In heaven, it would no longer be business as usual, for now the lessons of sin and disobedience would be unleashed. These painful but necessary lessons would - under God’s power and providence - ultimately bring the whole of His creation back into the harmony it had left behind, only this time that harmony would be for eternity. How would He make this happen?

  • Why Is Jesus Called the “Last Adam”? (Listener Q&A Series)

    04/03/2024 Duração: 29min

    Jesus is the Savior of the world. We all know how he left his heavenly glory with the Father and was reduced to the human condition so he could be the ransom - the corresponding price - for Adam and his fall from obedience and grace. By so doing, Jesus gave the whole human race an opportunity for everlasting life. So, when we look at Jesus, we see him as Savior, Redeemer, the Lamb of God, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and I could go on and on. So, why address him as the "last Adam”? Simply looking at such a title actually invites a lot of questions, especially since all the other ways we know Jesus seem to be so much higher and honorable. As we look into this, we will find what we always find: inspiring reasons and lessons that unlock an even deeper understanding of all Jesus has done!

  • Have We Lost Our Ability to Honor One Another? (Part II)

    27/02/2024 Duração: 59min

    Honor and respect. These seem like simple enough words but try and find them actively functioning in everyday life and you will find that they are surprisingly rare. As we speculate about why this is, we may conclude that we as a social order simply don’t perceive a need for them. The further we go down the road of each of us primarily answering to only ourselves, the less important honor for others becomes. While this may now be socially acceptable, it is far from being scripturally authorized. On the contrary, as Christians, we are solidly instructed to be people who exemplify honor in every aspect of our lives. As we began laying the “how to” groundwork in Part I, we began to see what a difference this practice of giving honor can make in everyday life.

  • Have We Lost Our Ability to Honor One Another? (Part I)

    20/02/2024 Duração: 57min

    Our society is in trouble. In many ways, it seems that we have lost our way, and we no longer have a general sense of societal respect. Maybe it’s just me, but when I was a kid, I was clearly shown the importance of valuing others. We were taught to respect those in charge, and respect those who enforced the law and kept order. We were taught to have high esteem for parents and educators. We were taught to appreciate and value all who did whatever their part was, be it big or small. Now it seems we are taught respect should be demanded from others and not given. Our go-to approach encourages disrespecting and demeaning any who don’t fit our personal perceptions of how we think life should look. Interestingly, the Bible has a lot to say about how honor and respect should work!

  • Can My Marriage Be a “Happily Ever After”?

    13/02/2024 Duração: 54min

    It would seem that most entering into marriage do so with high expectations of a life of happiness, fulfillment and companionship. Unfortunately for far too many, these expectations are foreign to their reality. Excluding marriages that end in divorce, how many are truly happy and fulfilled, and how many are simply going along to get along? These are hard things to look at. In order to do so in a positive and growth-oriented way, we need to establish two basic truths for our conversation. First, let’s understand that “Happily ever after” is a fairy tale ending. The feelings it ignites of an everyday bliss-filled life are unfair and not real. Second, let’s understand that our marriages CAN be happy, fulfilled and full of companionship, IF we know what we’re striving for and are willing to put in the effort!

  • What Did Jesus Really Think of the Pharisees? (Part II)

    06/02/2024 Duração: 59min

    Jesus was at odds with the scribes and Pharisees. They stood for traditions that had been built upon the foundation of the Jewish Law but were not part of the already complex rules and guidelines God had commanded through Moses so many generations before them. No, these traditions were fabrications, and were likely in place to separate the ruling class from the people. Meanwhile, Jesus stood for the people. He stood for those who were less educated, less fortunate and less prominent, as they were the ones most likely to be open to God’s grace and mercy. This division came to a head shortly before Jesus was crucified, as he directly confronted these leaders with their hypocrisy. In Part I, we began to address the seven powerful "woes" Jesus had proclaimed to them.

  • What Did Jesus Really Think of the Pharisees? (Part I)

    30/01/2024 Duração: 59min

    Jesus was a wise, loving and compassionate man. His whole reason for becoming a man was to give his life as a ransom for every single human being who ever lived, and you can’t be more selfless and giving than that. Yet, with all of his compassion, Jesus was also one to not mince words when a hard message was needed. This becomes extremely evident when we examine the seven woes he proclaimed to the Pharisees in Matthew chapter 23. Of all the words we have recorded from Jesus’ earthly ministry, these are the most blunt and direct. So, what was Jesus really saying to the scribes and Pharisees? Was he showing a fundamental dislike for them? Was he exposing their true characters so everyone could see? Or was he simply expressing his dislike for who they were and what they stood for?

  • It’s Time to Change, but How Much Is Enough?

    23/01/2024 Duração: 01h30s

    Let’s face it. We all know that each and every one of us can be better. We can be better human beings, better friends, co-workers, spouses, cousins and certainly better Christians. The challenge here is obvious. Being “better” requires change. Significant change. To be better in whatever area we are focusing on requires a different mindset, which brings different words and actions. This all translates into work! So, how do we go about actually becoming “better”? Where do we start? How many parts of our lives do we try to change? Do we work on them all at once? How do we figure out what the very highest priorities are? What if we fail? How does the Bible guide us with all of these details?

  • Is My Christian Judgment Tainted by Bias? (Part II)

    16/01/2024 Duração: 01h01min

    In Part I, we laid a foundation for understanding and managing harmful biases. One primary lesson we learned was that we ALL - no matter who we are and what our background is - are biased. While this is an uncomfortable truth, it is a necessary realization, for a true Christian is to strive to overcome any and all fleshly inclinations. We also learned this overcoming is no easy task. Just because we may be able to point out a personal bias does not mean we are on a path to dismantle it. On the contrary, often times recognizing our biases can make us very self-protective. In this episode, we continue to uncover specific ways our biases show themselves and specific scriptural principles to deal with them. This also is not easy! We gave a simple working definition for bias: An inclination or outlook that prevents an unprejudiced consideration of a matter. The objective of this definition is to focus in on those biases that are obviously detrimental to our ability to see clearly. We need this clear focus beca

  • Is My Christian Judgment Tainted by Bias? (Part I)

    09/01/2024 Duração: 01h48s

    I was recently summoned for jury duty. As I sat in the room at the beginning of the day, the court and its representatives showed some really informative introductory videos on what to expect and look out for when serving on a jury. The main topic they focused on was bias. Their premise was that we ALL have biases and we ALL can be in danger of following them rather than following the simple facts of a case. I was struck by their significant efforts to enlighten and warn about this sometimes subtle but incredibly common enemy of justice. Our claiming to be Christian does NOT somehow magically release us from our previous biases. In fact, our claims to Christianity may even be in jeopardy because of our personal biases. So, how do we learn to recognize this devious and damaging tendency?

  • Do I Show Up When God Calls, or Do I Run and Hide?

    02/01/2024 Duração: 01h02min

    We all have heard of the biblical account of Jonah and the whale. Because it is so unique and dramatic, it has been an often-repeated story with many lessons - and rightfully so. What many don’t realize is the magnitude of the events and teachings surrounding this amazing circumstance. First, one point of clarification: it wasn’t a whale, it was a “great fish.” When we examine how and why Jonah came to be in the unlikely position to be swallowed by that fish and what happened afterwards, we end up with a powerful story of God’s will versus our preferences. The bottom line here is that Jonah is an example of what NOT to do when tasked with godly responsibilities. However, he’s also an example of what TO do. Let’s unfold this account and see how both of these descriptions can be true. Jonah was a prophet of God, and as such, he was bound to go where God told him to go and speak what God commanded him to speak. This was a pretty straightforward setup. You simply do as you are told. There were many prophets befo

  • How Do We Know Jesus Is the Promised Messiah? (Part II)

    27/12/2023 Duração: 01h05min

    As Christians, when we think about Jesus and his reason for being born as a man, we’re always inspired by the selflessness of his sacrifice to redeem Adam and all of humanity from sin and death. This gift is truly beyond anything we deserve. When we think of the Messiah, we instinctively think of Jesus. In our last episode, we explored a Jewish perspective regarding their expectations of Messiah. What we found were several differences, but also several inspiring similarities. Today, we delve deeply into many Old Testament prophecies. We’ll focus in on the astounding detail with which they not only describe Jesus, but also provide all of humanity with the hope for a new life and the opportunity to live it forever. The bottom line? We’re blessed to have God’s amazing plan unfold through Jesus our Lord and Messiah. It's a rare word The word messiah is only translated as “Messiah” twice in the Old Testament. As we discussed in Part I, this does NOT in any way minimize the importance of who the Messiah is and what

  • How Do We Know Jesus Is the Promised Messiah? (Part I)

    19/12/2023 Duração: 59min

    Christians differ on a lot of things, and sometimes these differences can be troublesome. The basics we all agree on are centered on Jesus. We believe he died for our sins, and we believe he came to give his truest followers the opportunity to be in heaven with him. We also believe he is the Messiah. As a matter of fact, we look at the Old Testament prophecies and have a hard time comprehending why those of the Jewish faith aren’t able to recognize his Messiahship. It seems obvious! Obvious until we realize a few startling scriptural facts. First, the label “Messiah” is only used twice in the Old Testament. It is only used twice in the New Testament as well. This means that what we see as overtly obvious, may in fact be more hidden than we ever thought. So, what do we do now? Anointed The word translated “Messiah” only twice in the Old Testament is used 37 other times. Because this word simply means “anointed” or “consecrated,” it actually applies to many individuals. The priests of the Jewish Law were “anoin

  • What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part III – Israel and Nations)

    12/12/2023 Duração: 01h05min

    God gave us the ability to understand and appreciate His plan of the ages by revealing that plan within the pages of the Bible. This plan is focused on the necessary steps to bring ALL of His creation - both heavenly and earthly - to an existence that will completely and forever live in harmony with one another under His mighty hand and will. In Parts I and II of this series, we looked at how that shaping and revitalizing to a state of perfection takes place. It began with the Old Testament heroes of faith, continues with the faithful disciples of Christ now, and will come to include an opportunity for each and every human being later. In this episode, we look at the nations of the world, beginning with Israel. What does the Bible tell us about the perfecting process of all these nations? Plenty! From early on in biblical history, Israel was THE nation. They were God’s chosen. But what did that mean? It meant that they were responsible to live to higher standards than everyone else. They were to have God and

  • What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part II – Mankind)

    05/12/2023 Duração: 59min

    In Part I of our series, we focused on how the New Testament describes "perfection." We found that Jesus, though perfect, had to be further "perfected" - further completed - by his personal experiences and sufferings in order to fully pay the ransom price for Adam. Similarly, but on a much smaller scale, Jesus’ disciples have a perfect beginning as well. They are given forgiveness for their sins, they are given God’s holy spirit, and they are called "sons of God." With these perfect gifts, they also need to be "perfected' - to be completed - in maturity in Christ. This present-day perfecting work is clearly defined in Scripture. So, what about everybody else? Does the Bible show a perfecting work for them? It does! Today we will look at another biblical perfecting process that is not as well-defined and is also a future work instead of being a present work.

  • What is the Biblical Process to Become Perfect? (Part I – The Church)

    28/11/2023 Duração: 58min

    God has an amazing plan that includes every human being who has ever lived. Rather than torturing billions for eternity in a fiery hell, this plan will give all of humanity a legitimate opportunity to be taught how to live in a godly and righteous way. We’re saying God’s plan gives EVERYONE an opportunity to become perfect in His sight. Now, if you look around at the condition of our world, it’s really easy to roll your eyes and think with all that’s happening, this plan of God’s is pretty lame! Well, it does look that way, but the reality is that this plan works in specific stages. There is a perfecting work happening right now, but it’s NOT focused on everyone. Our three-part series will walk through how and when Christians, non-Christians and all who have ever lived will have an opportunity for perfection. When we think of somebody being “perfect” what do we picture in our minds? Likely we imagine someone whose physical appearance is flawless, and health is exemplary. Their mind would be sharp, intuitive

  • What Is Your Ebenezer?

    21/11/2023

    The world around us moves so fast that it’s easy to forget to pause and consider just how profoundly God has blessed us. In the United States, somewhere tucked in between the massive Halloween parties and the exhilaration of Christmas, Santa Claus, presents and fun, is a holiday called Thanksgiving. While we won’t take the time to discuss how it came to be, we do want to remember why. Thanksgiving’s origin was actually simple. It was proclaimed to pause and consider just how profoundly blessed those settlers were to have lived through a hard winter and now experience a harvest in preparation for the next hard winter. In short, the thanksgiving they gave was to God above, period. Today we’ll talk about a similar thanksgiving to God but under the biblical name of Ebenezers. The name of a place and a rock Back in the days of ancient Israel, even before they had a king, Samuel was God’s prophet for the people. In spite of Samuel’s presence, a series of events led them down a road of essentially abandoning God for

  • Is There a Christian Secret to a Happy Life?

    14/11/2023

    Way back in the 1980’s Bobby McFerrin recorded and released his very popular song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” It's a simple and upbeat perspective on living. When you think about it, the title is a profound instruction for life. Don’t worry; instead, be happy! About 100 years before this catchy song, Hannah Whitall Smith wrote an ageless book called The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. In it, she detailed a powerful formula for happy living that was based on complete faith in God and fully surrendering to His will. The message in the song and the book are the same, except the book gives us solid “how to” perspectives for Christians. While we won’t be singing the song or reviewing the book, we will be applying scriptural principles that will help make happiness real in our daily Christian lives.

  • Are Christians Really Baptized Into Christ?

    07/11/2023

    Arise and be baptized! This and many other similar scriptural statements have in many ways defined Christianity. Unfortunately, because Christianity is so splintered it applies these very important words and instructions in a wide variety of ways. Some say baptism changes you, others say it is a symbol, and others say it is necessary for heaven. Some baptize infants, others baptize children and others, adults only. Others baptize into a church or denomination, while some "baptize into Christ." Some see baptism as a necessary beginning to walk towards Christ, while others see it as a symbol of having decided to sacrificially follow Christ. How can all of this be one baptism? It can’t! What do we do with all of this? We search the Scriptures and look for the originally intended message behind Christian baptism. What's the purpose? When you think about it, baptism is a strange ritual. What would be the purpose of dunking people in water anyway? Do they need a bath? Actually, the whole concept of Christian baptis

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