My God and My Neighbor

Is Jesus the only way? The world needs a straight answer. When the church began, the Roman world was full of all idolatry, superstition and witchcraft. Beliefs were like a buffet where each person chose the religion he liked. But when the apostles preached, they didn’t present Jesus as just another religion. They preached that He was THE WAY. That message is just as needed today.This is not arrogant. It is not biased. The truth is, Christianity is inclusive. It opens the door to the rich and the poor and all races and nationalities. Jesus died for all. But it does exclude. This episode helps us see why Christianity is different from every other religion and how we can teach it to others.Read about this subjectScripture: John 14:6; John 3:5; I Timothy 1:3; I Corinthians 6:9-11“Christianity is NOT Muslim!”Listen to more on this subject “Salvation”, Bible Doctrine

One of the top Internet searches today is this: “Is the Bible the Word of God?” But it’s more than just questions that people are asking. Some  are making some serious charges against it. The religious landscape of America is markedly different now from what it was 75 or 100 years ago. Then there was a general consensus in this country that the Bible is the Word of God. They disagreed about what it meant, but they agreed on what it was. People back then were asking what the Bible taught. Now they’re asking who wrote it.This is a special episode for two reasons. First, it was the pilot episode for My God and My Neighbor when it began two years ago. The title of that episode was “Will the Bible Survive?” But there’s another, more important reason. This episode explains where some of the strange questions and accusations against the Bible come from. It will show you how to answer them. It will give you confidence that the Bible you read is the Word of God.Read about this subjectScripture: Matthew 24:35; I Peter 1:25; II Timothy 3:16Pillars of the Faith God, Christ and the BibleListen to more on this subject Beyond the Basics, Prophecy Series

There have been more books written about Jesus than any other person who ever walked the earth. Yet there is still debate about who He was. Some of the most common questions people ask about God and religion today include “Is Jesus God?” and “Was Jesus God and man?” It’s ironic that Jesus asked His disciples what people were saying about Him in Matthew chapter 16. They all saw the same miracles He did. They had the same prophecies in their Old Testament. But they came to different conclusions about who He was. This episode will give clarity to this question by pointing to some of the great evidences of Jesus in the Scriptures. Read about this subjectScripture: John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-8; Isaiah 53; Psalm 22Pillars of the Faith, Part TwoListen to more on this subject Jesus, the Son of God: TBC Free Course

It’s one of the top five questions most frequently entered on Internet searches about God and religion. That shouldn’t be surprising. We live in a world that is so fast-paced and information-driven that people have either forgotten or don’t know where they came from, where they are headed, and why they are here. In this episode, we’ll look at the gloomy approach to this question first—the mentality that says there is no meaning to life. It just is. Then we will look at an old sermon that was preached in Athens, Greece many years ago by the apostle Paul. He was talking to an audience who were mostly skeptics, and he taught them that life—their life—does have a purpose: a purpose that transcends their own interests, ideas and plans. Read about this subjectScripture: Acts 17:16-34; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; 12:13-14Right From the Beginning in a World of WrongListen to more on this subject My God & My Neighbor “My God and My Money"

There’s nothing new about this commonly asked question about God and religion. From prophets in the Old Testament to martyrs in the Revelation, saints of God have struggled to understand the answer to the simple question: “Why?”In this episode, we will delve into verses that provide a basis for understanding this puzzling dilemma of mankind—If God is all-powerful and if He is perfect in love, then why does He permit evil and suffering? As we think on these passages, we’ll gain strength and patience to endure in a world that, as the great Old Testament character Job described it, is “full of trouble.”Read about this subjectScripture: Genesis 3; Deuteronomy 8; Hebrew 12:1-11God at a DistanceListen to more on this subject My God & My Neighbor “Why, Lord?” Series

This question ranks at the top of the list of the most commonly asked questions in internet searches. This episode is a simple approach to this issue. Sometimes we defend the existence of God with technical words and drawn-out reasoning. There is a place for these discussions, but the truth is the average person doesn’t understand those words and needs something more direct. How would you say God would answer this question? What does God point to as proof that He exists? To see His answer, just read the Bible. It’s not that the Bible spends a lot of time making the case for the existence of God. It’s that the Bible points us to something every person on earth can see. The episode explains how.Read about this subjectScripture: Psalm 19:1-3; Psalm 14:1; Acts 14:15-17; Acts 17:16-31; Romans 1:18-32Pillars of the FaithListen to more on this subject Bible Doctrine, “God”

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth” (John 8:32). That settles the matter. So why is it that many believers think we can never be sure about our faith until we get to heaven? Some call it a “leap of faith”— an expression that is not in the Bible. Others think certain verses in the Bible teach that we can’t know the truth; we can only hope that we do. This thinking is becoming more common. Our age is called the period of postmodernism of which skepticism is a key element. It is in public education, especially on the university level. Young people are being taught that nothing is absolute and everything is relative. The church has been influenced by this teaching. So if you’ve wondered why the faith of some has grown cold, this is one of the reasons. But this episode will show that God didn’t leave us in the dark. He made us and He revealed Himself to us so that we can know Him and His will.Read about this subjectScripture: I Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 11:1; II Corinthians 5:7God at a DistanceListen to more on this subject “Bible Interpretation”

Left, right or straight ahead? How many times have you faced that decision on the road? This episode is about direction in life. Sometimes the course to take is clear because God’s Word tells you what to do. At other times it is not. For Christians, that is where trust in God comes into play. Proverbs 3:6 tells us how to leverage the providential hand of God. It is about the simple recognition Jesus spoke of in the model prayer: “Your will be done.”Read about this subjectScripture: Proverbs 3:6, Proverbs 16:9; Hosea 4:6“Peace and Contentment”Listen to more on this subject America Through the Eyes of Isaiah, Lesson 23, “God’s Ways or Our Ways?”

Christians will quickly tell you they believe God exists. But if you ask them if they trust God, they may hesitate. Trust can be a difficult concept to grasp, not because it’s hard to understand, but because it’s hard to do. God gives us the ability to stand on our own and make decisions for ourselves. Putting our trust in Him and letting Him have control of our hearts and lives can be a challenge. But if we really think about what we are saying when we acknowledge that He is, trusting Him should be natural. After all, He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God who never changes and will always do what is best for us. In this episode on Proverbs 3:5, you’ll be challenged and encouraged to give your heart fully to Him.Read about this subjectScripture: Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 118:8; Proverbs 28:26“Where Our Hearts Truly Belong”Listen to more on this subject 10 n 10 - 10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes

When you face a really hard trial of life, it’s hard to see how anything good could come out of it. Your mind is so fixated on surviving the pain of the present that you don’t think about it. And if the hardship lasts for months or years, you get into such a habit of thinking negative thoughts that it’s difficult to have positive ones. We don’t know how these tragic times in our Christian lives work out for good, but God does. So it’s no surprise that Romans 8:28 is one of the most read Bible verses in our time (and perhaps in any age). The outlook of this verse is not desperate hope. It is a promise from God Himself who knows the future and intervenes to bring good out of bad (and even the worst) situations. In this episode, we will see many encouraging stories in the Scriptures that illuminate this text and teach us not to lose hope.Read about this subjectScripture: Romans 8:28; Genesis 45:5-8; Genesis 50:19-20; Philippians 1:12-18“Long, Hard Lessons of Life”Listen to more on this subject My God & My Neighbor, “Why, Lord? Series”

People today have a personal interest in the Bible because they want to know if God has a personal interest in them. They want to know if God has a plan for their life, a plan for their future.Does God have a plan just for you? If He does, can we know what it is? Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse today because in it God said He had “thought” or “plans” for His people. The real question is: What did He mean? In this episode we will look at Scriptures that give direction and boundaries to the study of this verse. At that same, we will gain encouragement and hope.Read about this subjectScripture: Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 55:8-9; Philemon 15“Bright Expectations”Listen to more on this subject America Through the Eyes of Isaiah Track 20: “The Hidden God”

This episode kicks off a new series on Bible verses that are Googled most. At the top of the list is John 3:16. Millions know it by heart. Countless sermons have been preached on it. This one verse contains many of the most important themes in the Bible: God, Christ, salvation, love, faith, salvation and the hereafter. Yet the “Golden Text” of the Bible is one of the least understood. Church traditions have obscured the meaning of Jesus’ famous words and religions such as Judaism and Islam deny one of the foundational tenets of Christianity taught by it—the role of Jesus Christ in salvation. As a result, it remains little more than a tee shirt slogan or a tattoo for many.This episode takes you step-by-step through the words of this rich passage of Scripture that is a promise of hope to a world in darkness.Read about this subjectScripture: John 3:16; I John 4:9-10; John 1:1“Jesus and Nicodemus,” Annual Lesson Commentary, Fourth Quarter, 1949Listen to more on this subject RENEW 2014 – “God’s Amazing Grace”

The U.S. military bombs Islamic terrorist locations in Nigeria. New York City elects the first Muslim Mayor. A Congressional hearing is held to discuss whether sharia is compatible with the American system of government. These recent developments have called attention once more to the growing presence of Islam in America.This episode is not a primer about what Muslims believe and how they worship. It is a discussion of a question that is being increasingly debated: Is Islam a violent ideology or a peaceful religion? There is only one way to get to the bottom of this issue, and that is to consult the most authoritative sources in Islam. Read about this subjectScripture: Matthew 7:15; Ephesians 6:10-17How God Speaks and How You Can KnowView more on this subject “Jesus, Muhammad, and Peaceful Coexistence”

The wealthiest and wisest man who ever lived said the problem of mankind is that people are not satisfied. His name was Solomon. In the book of Ecclesiastes, he wrote about the emptiness inside us that can drive us to seek satisfaction through selfish pleasures. But he said that just will not work. The more we try to find fulfillment through pleasures, the more empty we will feel. He knew that by revelation, and he had learned it by experience. What were his final words about the the solution to the restless feeling many have inside? “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).The apostle Paul was not a free man when he wrote to the Christians at Philippi. He had been through good times and bad times in life, and he had learned from them. He learned by experience to be content. This episode caps off a series on living a selfless, giving life. Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 4:11-13; I Timothy 6:7-8; Hebrews 13:5“Christian Contentment” in Annual Lesson Commentary, 1950, Fourth Quarter, Lesson 2Listen to more on this subject "America Through the Eyes of Isaiah", track 22 “The Furnace of Affliction”

It’s no surprise that Philippians 4:6-8 is one of the top internet searches related to the Bible. Stress, anxiety and depression are worldwide problems. People are looking for peace with others and peace inside. This is a powerful passage on the subject that deserves special attention.Many Christians are like Martha who was “worried and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). People in Bible times struggled with worry too. That’s why God’s teaching in this 2,000-year-old passage is so important. Christians today need it and can benefit from it as much as the Philippian Christians did. Follow this episode carefully and commit to training your heart and mind to pray and be thankful instead of worrying.Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 4:6-8; Matthew 6:25-34; Proverbs 3:5-6“God’s Promises”Listen to more on this subject RENEW 2019 – “…stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding…” (1 Cor. 15:58)

For hundreds of years before Jesus came, Greek philosophers debated all kinds of philosophical questions. They rarely agreed on anything. But there was one thing many of them were united on: the highest goal in life, the greatest good, is happiness. But the tragedy was that they couldn’t agree on what happiness is or how to get it.Today 2000 years later, the situation hasn't changed. People want to be happy, but they don't know what real happiness is or how to have it.In this lesson, we come to one of the most memorable things Paul said about joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice!”Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 4:4; Matthew 5:10-12; II Cor. 7:4; Prov. 17:22“Bright Expectations”Listen to more on this subject “10 N 10”, 10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes Devotional Series - Proverbs 17

Your past can be a friend or an enemy, a teacher or a tormentor. Memories can make you happy or sad. The apostle Paul had, as we would say, “a past.” But not everything in his life before he became a Christian was evil. Much of it was good, even impressive, in his time. He was a successful man in the Jewish community who was on the verge of becoming more successful. He also did something that still astounds Bible readers: he persecuted Christians. But he left that life behind and kept it there. Learn how as you sit at the feet of this great man of God.Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 3:5-14Listen to more on this subject Bible Commentary, Ephesians 1:18-2:22 (track 8)Bible Commentary, Ephesians 2:16-3:21 (track 12)

They weren’t related by blood, but they had the same heart. Both of them had an unselfish, giving spirit. Bible readers usually recognize one of their names, but they don’t know much about the second. Yet Paul paid to each of these men some of the highest compliments he ever gave anyone outside of the Lord Himself. They stand out in the New Testament among the saints, but not because they were smarter than others. Not because they were better preachers. Not because they had more spiritual gifts than others. What stood out to Paul about them was their care for others and their willingness to sacrifice for the work of the Lord. They truly practiced what Paul said earlier in Philippians 2:4—“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”Timothy and Epaphroditus raised the bar high by their selfless service to the Lord. Best of all, they did so gladly. This episode will challenge you not just to learn more about these men but also to learn more about yourself and grow in the giving nature these men had.Read about this subjectScriptures: Philippians 2:19-30; Matthew 22:1-5"Present Your Bodies"Listen to more on this subjectBible Commentary I-II Corinthians, Lesson 27

Don’t let the title fool you. If you’ve read your Bible a lot, you’re probably thinking this is a lesson from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount. But this is different. Jesus talked about letting your light shine by doing good. In this episode, Paul shows us that we let our light shine by what we don’t do.The book of Philippians is about how to face trials and tribulations. It is a book about how Christians should have optimism and joy in spite of these troubles. That optimism will show. Others will see it even when when we’re not talking about it.Read about this subjectScriptures: Philippians 2:14-17; Numbers 11“Peace and Contentment”Listen to more on this subject Bible Commentary I-II Corinthians, Lesson 39

Today we look backward and forward at the same time. This episode will help you do both. We’ve pulled an episode from the archives that fits this time of the year perfectly. We’re going back 100 years to America in the 1920s. Why? To see how we arrived at this point in our beliefs and morals. To learn how to appreciate what we have. To understand verses like Ecclesiastes 1:9—“That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” You’ll notice a calmness that comes over you as you think about the life that then was. They had good times and hard times just like we have. And we survived as a people. But more than that, you’ll realize that every generation has spiritual battles, and by the grace of God we can endure to the end.Read More About This SubjectScriptures: Ecclesiastes 1:9-11; Galatians 6:7-8Right From the Beginning, Chapter 1

We decided to air an episode from the archives this week. If there’s one thing everybody wrestles with, it’s anxiety. Holidays are wonderful—at least they should be. But the real world is full of heartaches and trials, and they hit at the worst possible time. In this episode you’ll hear from generations who lived through the struggles of life and made it through them. More importantly, you’ll hear from the Master on this subject. One of the most common problems anywhere in the world is worry. Some have a harder time dealing with it than others. But at different stages of life, and in certain circumstances, we all wrestle with this challenge. Anxiety is not a problem that is unique to our modern age. Some stress may be due to advances we have made in communication and travel, but the human race has always dealt with worry. In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us a lesson about worry that is far more profound than any motivational or self-help book will give you today. His teaching is the only instruction that will truly help us. In this episode, you will be reminded not only to listen to what the Bible says about this problem but also to learn from nature not to be anxious.Read More About This SubjectScriptures: Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-8; I Peter 5:7“Bright Expectations”Listen to More On This Subject “Understanding the Times” Renew 2024

Being a Christian is a group matter because you are part of a family of other Christians. But it’s an individual matter because there are things you must do yourself. That’s the lesson of this episode from Philippians 2:12.This discussion helps us avoid two common extremes: being so independent that we think we can do it without others and being so dependent on others that we blame them if something goes wrong. It also steers us away from another popular but false idea: believing that if we are saved by grace there is nothing for us to do. Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 2:12; II Peter 1:5-11; Hebrews 12:18-29“Ability + Opportunity = Responsibility”Listen to more on this subjectBible Commentary: James, track #10-12

You could say the verses we’ll look at today are the pinnacle of Christian sacrifice and service. This entire book teaches us to think of others and not be selfish. There is no greater example of this than Jesus. In this passage Paul tells us to have the same “mind” or frame of mind Jesus had. He left heaven and came to the earth to serve to die. No other founder of any of the major world religions can come close to His example. Muhammad, who founded the Islamic religion, spent his life taking life, but Jesus gave His. The Buddhist and Hindu religions have no divine sacrifice for sin like we find in Christianity. But Jesus was God in the flesh. He willingly gave Himself for us, and that is the ultimate example of putting the needs of others ahead of your own.Read about this subjectScripture: Philippians 2:1-11“The Golden Rule”Listen to more on this subject10 N 10 Ten Proverbs in 10 Minutes

Does the Bible only say it’s wrong to get drunk—that it’s not wrong to drink? Many say this. In fact, the idea that “It’s okay to drink in moderation” is almost gospel to some Christians.In this episode, we will address this burning issue of our time. We will look at the question: Does the word ‘wine’ in the Bible always mean alcoholic wine? And, we will examine the famous story of Jesus turning the water into wine.Read about this subjectScriptures: Proverbs 23:29-35; Habakkuk 2:15; I Peter 4:3; Isaiah 16:10; 65:8Chapter 11, “Alcohol” in Pillars of the FaithListen to more on this subjectI Peter Bible Commentary

In this special Thanksgiving episode of My God & My Neighbor, we pause our study of Philippians to reflect on the blessings God gives every day. Kerry Duke shares Scriptures on gratitude, reads from the original 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, and reminds us why thankfulness is far more than a holiday tradition—it’s a Christian way of life. Whether this season brings joy or hardship, this episode encourages a heart grounded in God’s goodness, His mercy, and His indescribable gift of salvation.Read about this subjectScripture: Acts 17:25, James 1:17, Matthew 5:45, Philippians 4:6–7, 2 Corinthians 9:15"Everyday is a Day of Thanksgiving"“Season of Thanksgiving”

Have you ever been in a good dilemma—one where both alternatives were good, and it was hard to say which one was best? That’s how Paul looked at living or dying! Most people would say that’s an easy call because living is good and dying is bad. But Paul said both are good to a Christian. Either way, the future is bright. The one thing that tips the scales is what is needed, not what we want. In this passage of Philippians, Paul teaches us again to think unselfishly.Are you ready to die? It’s only when you can honestly say yes to that question that you can be ready to live. In this episode we’ll look at the only true philosophy of life and death, and our teacher will be a man who faced the danger of death on more than one occasion and finally departed from this life. Read about this subject:Scriptures: Philippians 1:19-30“Living for Jesus”Listen to more on this subject:II Corinthians Bible Commentary

Paul was a prisoner. He was under house arrest in Rome. The Jews had tried to kill him but they failed. What could the great apostle to the Gentiles do? Why would God allow him to be kept from traveling so that he could convert lost souls and build up churches?We see so little. We look at troubles through thick lenses of pessimism and doubt that distort our thinking. Paul teaches us in this episode that the things we might think are for the worst are actually for the better. Read about this subject:Scriptures: Philippians 1:12-18; Genesis 50:19-20; Romans 8:28“Bright Expectations”Listen to more on this subject:America Through the Eyes of Isaiah - “The Furnace of Affliction”

What does the word fellowship in the Bible mean? Most people think of getting together at a meal and maybe in worship. But it means much more. It comes from a Greek word which means sharing. What is shared depends on the verse you’re reading. In the book of Philippians, Paul says the Christians in Philippi shared with him in some very important ways we need to imitate. And, one reward of this fellowship—again, not simply associating, even though that is priceless—is the joy and peace and fulfillment it gives us.Paul, a prisoner under house arrest in Rome, writes to these Christians. And as you read it, you’ll see that the troubles he had couldn’t sever the bond between him and these saints. In this episode, we will learn how to truly connect with other Christians and have joy that is beyond anything the things of this world can give.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Philippians 1:1-11“Peace”Listen to more on this subject:10 N 10 "Ten Proverbs in 10 Minutes" Devotional Series

It only takes a few minutes to read it. You probably know by heart some of the verses in it. But when you read it as a whole and take time to absorb it, you’ll be amazed at how helpful it is. It’s a short book in the Bible that is packed with meaningful direction for our lives. In this episode, we’ll look at three areas of our life we often struggle with. Then in the next episode we’ll begin to look at this short little book of the Bible. See if you can guess what it is as you listen to today’s podcast.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Hebrews 10, 11, 12; II Corinthians 7:4; Romans 8:28“Too Tired?”Listen to more on this subject:Bible Commentary - Hebrews

When things go awry, it’s time to go back to the basics. This is true in education, in business, in sports or any other area of life. It is certainly true in morals. Our world is very mixed up. The only way to have clarity in a world or confusion is to begin at the beginning. In the study of right and wring, that means going back to the first book of the Bible—the book of Genesis. There we find the true foundation of morality: God. This episode shows that the only way for a nation or an individual to change is to put God in their lives, and that begins by putting Him in our hearts.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Genesis 1; Romans 1:20-32; Psalm 8:3-5Right From the Beginning in a World of Wrong"This Nation Under God"Listen to more on this subject:What Happened to America? TBC Free Course

Ask anyone today how life is going and soon you’ll hear about money. It is a big part of life. No wonder the Bible says so much about it, Sometimes we can sympathize with Agur the son of Jakeh. He prayed, “Give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” A verse that has puzzled Bible readers for centuries is what Jesus said to the rich young ruler. We may not be as wealthy as he was, but we can learn a great deal about money and the distractions and temptations it can bring. This episode will use other passages in the Bible to illuminate this interesting discussion.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Matthew 19:16-24; Deuteronomy 8:1-18; Luke 12:13-21"Here to Make Money"Listen to more on this subject:America Through the Eyes of Isaiah10 n 10—10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes

There are few topics where religion and politics come together like they do in the case of Israel. Should they? Does the Bible have anything special to say about the nation of Israel that it doesn’t say about every other country?In this episode we will look at the highly controversial issue of the nation of Israel today and its relationship, if any, to prophecies in the Old Testament.This is also one of the most common biblical subjects of our time. Millions of churchgoing people all over the world look at the Jewish people as heirs of a future empire on earth that will surpass any civilization in history. What does the Bible say about this question?Read about this subject:Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-3; Isaiah 2:1-4; Matthew 21:43Unfulfilled Prophecy a Discussion on Prophetic Themes by H. Leo Boles and R.H. BollListen to more on this subject:Bible Doctrine - The Old Testament, “Israel in the Bible”

When Covid turned the world upside down in 2020, we lost a lot of trust in what we’d been told—by the government, by the medical profession, and by all types of media and “experts.” Who can we trust anymore?The dilemma is not all that complicated in regard to our spiritual life. There are only two choices: we can either trust God or trust man. Most people make the mistake of trusting in human beings. We all need encouragement and reassurance and teaching, so it’s understandable that we have confidence in people who help us. But we must keep that respect in perspective. It’s not a matter of being prideful or independent. It’s a matter of being honest with ourselves. No man is right all the time, but God is always right.This episode challenges us to “test all things” (I Thess. 5:21) by the Word of God that never fails.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Psalm 118:8; Daniel 4; Matthew 10:34-37Perilous TimesListen to more on this subject:RENEW 2019 “…stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding…” (1 Cor. 15:58)

News of the assassination of Charlie Kirk sent another shock wave throughout the country. Now that the reality of the crime has sunk in, attention has shifted to what should be done with the alleged shooter. The tragedy occurred in Utah, and Utah is one of 27 states that have the death penalty. President Trump is calling for it. Anti-capital punishment groups on the other side are complaining that killing the killer is absurd and counterproductive. Where do Christians stand in this controversy? We must know what the Bible says about it. This episode will explore the subject from the Old Testament to the New and apply relevant verses to this burning issue of today.Read about this subject:Scriptures: Genesis 9:6; Acts 25:11; Romans 13:1-4 Right From the Beginning, chapter 10: “The Death Penalty”Listen to more on this subject:Bible Doctrine, Government: Capital Punishment

There is a strong, clear message in the Bible from beginning to end: we are responsible for what we do. Our society is bent on denying this simple fact. Other people make us act the way we do. Conditions in our body determine how we behave. We are just products of heredity and environment.God cuts through all of these rationalizations. He gives us free will and we decide what we do with it. It’s strange that we agree yet disagree with this. If we do something great, we want to be recognized. We say, “I did it.” But when we do something wrong, we blame someone or something else. The question in this episode is a hotly debated issue. Instead of asking people what they think, we will ask what God says about it.Read about this subject Scripture: I Corinthians 6:9-11; 10:13Right From the Beginning in a World of Wrong, chapter four: “Gender.”Listen to more on this subject"Things No Man Can Destroy" RENEW 2022

When historians in the future list the worst tragedies of our time, what will they mention? Covid? Terrorism? Katrina? Somewhere on that list will probably be school shootings. We have asked the question “Why?” repeatedly in this series. If anything defies our ability to make sense out of human behavior, this crime does.This is one of those subjects people almost unanimously agree on in one sense and completely divide on in another. They agree that the deaths of innocent people, especially children, is a terrible thing. But they disagree about who is really responsible and what actually causes this atrocity. This episode challenges us to look deeper than typical mainstream and social media narratives about this lingering problem in society. Read about this subject Scripture: I John 3:12; Ezekiel 18:14; Matthew 15:19Will It Survive?Listen to more on this subject“Understanding the Times” - RENEW 2024

Studies show that depression is a common problem worldwide. There are many reasons for it. In poor countries the cause may be poverty. In America, ironically, the reason may be wealth. In the Bible we read of many people who struggled with depression—some because of their own choices and others for no fault of their own. All of us must deal with it. The book of Ecclesiastes is about depression we can do something about by changing the way we think—not by learning ways to beat the blues with human wisdom, but by restructuring our priorities and adjusting our perspective. Some books of the Bible tell you what they’re about early in the book. Others indicate the theme in the middle. This book makes you wait until the end before it puts the whole problem into perspective.Read about this subject Scripture: Ecclesiastes 6-12Without HopeListen to more on this subject“10 N 10” 10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes

He had it all – money, power, fame, and wisdom. He didn't have to worry about having enough money to pay for anything. He never had to ask anyone's permission to do something. He was the king of Israel in its heyday. But he also saw a lot of injustice in life. And with all his power, money and wisdom, there was often nothing he could do about the unfairness of life. He saw others being treated unfairly. And the most seemingly unfair event in life was something that even he could not avoid. That “one event” is death.So what advice does Solomon give? How did he deal with the problem of evil? What was his conclusion about the injustice and suffering in this life? The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most remarkable books in the Bible on this topic. This episode is part one of a look at the counsel at Solomon gives. Read about this subject Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1-5Rich Without MoneyListen to more on this subject“10 N 10” 10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes

Prophets of God were human too. They struggled with their feelings. They felt like giving up at times. They wrestled with the unfairness of life. Jeremiah, sometimes called “The Weeping Prophet,” shows this side of himself in the book that bears his name.  This man of God asked God “Why?’ and “How long?” But God didn’t give him the answer we might expect. This is a hard lesson to learn, but this episode shows that God expects us to be adults and face our trials with resolve and not self-pity. We see this determination in Jeremiah as he fought against negative feelings and pushed forward. We also see that the hardships he faced activated strength and faith deep within his soul. That faith came from the Word of God in his heart. Read about this subject Scripture: Jeremiah Teacher’s Annual Lesson Commentary on Uniform Bible Lessons for the Churches of Christ 1947Listen to more on this subjectRENEW 2021 – “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”

What if God did speak directly from heaven and answer our old question: “Why, Lord?” One Old Testament prophet kept crying out to God. He asked why evil was everywhere around him and how long God was going to tolerate it. When God answered him, He told the prophet that He was about to put an end to these evil people and their wicked ways. That should have satisfied the prophet and ended the conversation.But it didn’t. The man of God asked “Why?’ again: But why are you doing it that way? So even if God were to answer our “Why?” questions, we would just have more. This Old Testament prophet was Habakkuk. The book named after him is a tremendous study in the problem of sin and suffering. It is short in length and seldom read, but its benefits are invaluable. Read about this subject Scripture: HabakkukWithout Hope?Listen to more on this subjectAmerica Through the Eyes of Isaiah, “A Drop of a Bucket” track 19

If you are a Christian, it is scary to think about losing your faith. How does this happen? It happens when we are pulled away from God. It occurs when we are distracted. When we look at the world instead of listening to God, we are vulnerable. One of the great things about the Bible is its honesty about good and great men. It does not pull punches. Even the greatest men of the Bible were human. They were tempted and sinned. If it were otherwise, how could we relate to them?In this episode we will look at one of the lesser known writers of the Bible. His name was Asaph. His story is like a chapter in his autobiography. He confesses his innermost feelings. He almost lost his faith because evil people had a good life—a life that seemed better than the life that good people had.Read about this subject Scripture: Psalm 73“This is Not the Answer”Listen to more on this subjectAmerica Through the Eyes of Isaiah

How do you respond to a child or teenager who is complaining about something he doesn’t understand? You might try to explain, but he may not be ready for that. If he’s a teenager and is convinced he’s right, you’ll probably ask him some questions to show him he doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does. That’s what God did with Job. This final section to the greatest book ever written on the problem of evil ends with God responding to Job. God doesn’t give an explanation. He doesn’t tell Job he’ll learn better when he’s even older. He doesn’t tell him to read books on this profound issue of life. He points him to something he already had right before him: nature, the creation of God. This is the simple but overlooked key to this whole problem. Read these chapters closely and prayerfully and behold God’s creation around and above you with a different perspective and the problem of sin and suffering won’t seem so unbearable.Read about this subjectScripture: Job 38-42"Alone"Teacher’s Annual Lesson Commentary on Uniform Bible Lessons for the Churches of Christ, Gospel Advocate Series 1951

The argument had come to a standstill and God wasn’t speaking. That’s how the debate ended between Job and his three friends. They said their peace (and then some) and reverted back to the silence we see in chapter two. But unknown to the first-time reader of this book when Job chapter 31 ends was someone else. A younger man had been there listening to them argue. By the time they finished, he was about ready to explode with his view of this matter. His name was Elihu. Up to this point he had refrained from speaking out of respect for his elders. But he was deeply convicted in what he was about to say. And when he spoke, he had a different point of view about this whole discussion. Elihu’s words are very much worthy of our consideration. We could call him the man God didn’t rebuke because that is what happened in the end.Read about this subjectScripture: Job 32-37Teacher’s Annual Lesson Commentary on Uniform Bible Lessons for the Churches of Christ 1951Listen to more on this subjectI Peter Bible Commentary

It is very easy to get things out of perspective when we're stressed and hurting. We pull into ourselves in a self-protective mode. In a sense this is a natural response to suffering. It's part of the healing process. But we must not allow self-protection to become self-pity. And, when life has been very unfair to us, we naturally want to defend and justify ourselves. But we can go too far. We can be so determined to vindicate ourselves that we forget about the injustices that others face. We can even become angry with God. This happened to Job. And if it happened to one of the greatest men in the Bible, it can happen to us. Read about this subjectScripture:Job 22-31“Do Trials Make Us Patient?”Listen to more on this subject“Delighting in Mercy”, James McGill RENEW 2018 “Who is like unto Thee” (Exod. 15:11)

We can only go so long without encouragement before we feel like we’re going to break. Christians are children of God, but we are human. We need encouragement from likeminded people. We need the support of others, especially when we’re down. “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12:25). But sometimes we must face trials without encouragement for a while. This is what Job experienced. He felt all alone. Elijah the prophet felt the same way in I Kings 19 when he was on the run for his life. But there were many others who would have supported him had they been with him. In Job’s case, his friends are with him, but all they can do is criticize him, and his relatives and other acquaintances have turned their back on him. But Job held on to his faith—even though he felt that God had forsaken him as well! Learn from this great man’s example of perseverance as we delve deeper into this story.Read about this subjectScriptures: Job 6-21“Alone”Listen to more on this subjectRENEW 2021 Lectureship “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”

Do you remember the great prophets in the Bible who reached the point where they wanted to die? Moses did. Elijah did. And now we are seeing that Job felt the same way. But there are some interesting differences between his situation and the circumstances of Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah were not suffering physical pain. Moses was feeling extremely stressed, and Elijah was both stressed and afraid. Job felt intense emotional pain and excruciating physical pain at the same time. When Moses and Elijah asked God if they could die, they were talking directly to Him. No one else heard them. In Job's case, his friends heard what he said and it made them upset. That's when a friendly visit turned in to an ugly argument. But at least we can say that, even though things did not turn out for the best initially, the whole matter was resolved in the end. And had it not been for this disagreement, we would not have the book of Job as it is written.Read about this subjectScripture: Job chapter 3-5Ox in the Ditch by Kerry DukeListen to more on this subject10n10 10 Proverbs in 10 Minutes

There are times we feel like the devil has us in his grip and is doing everything he can to torment us. That was Job's situation, but the difference is that Job didn't think the devil was doing this to him. He thought God was torturing him, and it was almost driving him crazy because he couldn't figure out why.Sometimes the troubles of life—one right after another or at the same time—cause so much pain that we wonder if there are any limits as to how much we can take. More than that, we wonder if God even cares how much we're suffering and why he doesn't do something to stop it. This is the problem of evil in human life, and we're beginning to see more about it in this great Old Testament book.Read about this subjectScripture: Job 2God at a Distance, Kerry DukeListen to more on this subject“Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh”, II Corinthians, Bible Commentary

There's nothing wrong with saving and protecting what you have. There's nothing wrong with planning ahead in case a catastrophe strikes. That's why we have insurance. Jesus tells Christians not to worry about the necessities of life in the Sermon on the Mount. But sometimes we wonder, "What if…?” What if the worst does happen? How would we deal with it? Would we keep our faith or lose it? Would we praise God or blame Him?This episode looks at a piercing question. If we were to lose every good thing we have, would we still love God? Do we serve Him only because of what He gives us? That was the debate between God and Satan about Job.Read about this subjectScriptures: Job 1:13-22; Habakkuk 3:17-18“The Power of Satan” in chapter nine “Spiritual Environment” in God at a DistanceListen to more on this subjectBible Doctrine, “The Devil”, “Our War With Him”

The book of Job has been recognized as a great work of literature for centuries. But it is much more than that. It is an incomparably profound book on the most perplexing of human questions. It shows not only that bad things happen to good people, but that the worst of things can happen to the best of people. We will never fully relate to the sufferings of this man. But we do know something he did not, at least not in the book itself. The Lord reveals in Job chapters one and two a discussion between God and the devil. This is where the story began. God said that Job was an honest and sincere man, and the devil said he was not. Sometimes it is shamefully easy for us to read this book and analyze Job. We can sit in a comfortable chair in the best of health and read about his trauma. But although we may never experience the level of pain and loss he endured, we can learn some things before trials come that will help us when the storms of life arrive.Read about this subjectScripture: Job 1“Meet the Devil but Keep Your Distance”Listen to more on this subjectBible Doctrine, “The Devil”, “Our War With Him”

People have debated this question for thousands of years. We read about it many times in the Bible. We seem to be agreed on the general principle but divided as to how it applies to specific situations. This is not just some abstract, philosophical discussion. It is very practical. It is very personal. And we will learn important lessons in the examples we will look at in this episode.Read about this subjectScriptures: John 9:1-3; Luke 13:1-3; Job 4:7-8“Seven Ways Men Fight Against God”Listen to more on this subjectLuke 12:54-13:9, Bible Commentary