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Ask Pastor John

Ask Pastor John

2,304 episodes — Page 31 of 47

Could a Complementarian / Egalitarian Marriage Work?

Can a complementarian and an egalitarian ever get along in a marriage? Or is the difference of belief too fundamental to for the relationship to work?

Feb 19, 20165 min

How Are God’s Attributes “Clearly Perceived” by Everyone?

Romans 1 tells us that the existence of God, along with his attributes, are evident to everyone. Does this mean that even atheists have some knowledge of God?

Feb 18, 20168 min

The Christian’s Great Vocation

Every believer is written in the Lamb’s book of life. That’s not just a privilege for eternal life later but a humble, happy, and satisfied life now.

Feb 17, 20168 min

Doesn’t the Bible Tell Christians to Put Homosexuals to Death?

Putting practicing homosexuals to death belonged to a particular season in the history of God’s dealings with his people.

Feb 16, 201613 min

Should Christians Tolerate False Religious Beliefs?

Christians should tolerate other belief systems not because we think we are all correct, but because we desire people to come freely — not under coercion — to understand the truth.

Feb 15, 201612 min

An Overview of the Whole Bible

If we are going to understand specific parts of the Bible, then we need to understand the flow of redemptive history. Special guest, D.A. Carson, walks us through the entire Bible in half an hour.

Feb 12, 201633 min

May I Split My Giving Between My Church and Another Ministry?

Opportunities abound for Christians to give money and resources, but should we prioritize giving to our churches first and foremost?

Feb 11, 20168 min

We Will Sing Bloody Songs Forever

The song of the redeemed will resound forever in heaven because of the Lamb whose slaying was planned before the foundation of the world.

Feb 10, 20165 min

Why Do Christians Worship Together on Sundays?

If Christians have the freedom to gather and worship on any day of the week, why have we traditionally assembled on Sundays?

Feb 9, 201611 min

Why Do Christians Fast?

Fasting is a way of saying with our stomach and our whole body how much we need and want and trust Jesus.

Feb 8, 201612 min

Romantic Love Is a Wonderful Gift — and a Terrible God

Romance can neither ground nor sustain a good marriage. We need something deeper, and much more steadfast to stand on.

Feb 5, 20168 min

My Child’s Greatest Need

Awe is an important principle for parenting. We can cast most of our struggles with our children as helping our kids redirect their awe to the proper place.

Feb 4, 20167 min

The Single Aim of All Ministry

We should never keep our awe in God to ourselves. So how can we—especially ministry leaders—experience a depth of awe that overflows others?

Feb 3, 20169 min

The Spiritual Battle with Weight Loss

Diets and quick-fix programs for weight loss don’t work because weight loss is actually a spiritually battle that requires us to get our hearts right first.

Feb 2, 20165 min

God’s Glory Must Enchant Us

God’s astounding glory and majesty should awe us. If we don’t live with a fearful sense of his glory, then we miss one of our greatest paths to intimacy with God.

Feb 1, 20168 min

How Do You Humbly Receive Harsh Feedback?

We all need constructive criticism to help us grow and mature. But how do we respond to feedback that seems harsh, and perhaps downright rude?

Jan 29, 201610 min

If We Have the Holy Spirit, Do We Need Other Teachers?

God has granted us his word and his Spirit to guide us into all truth. Does that mean we don’t really need anyone to teach or instruct us in the ways of the faith.

Jan 28, 20169 min

What Is ‘Glorified Joy’ and Can I Get It?

The Bible speaks not only about joy but “inexpressible joy” and “glorified joy.” Is it really possible for us to experience such bliss on this side of heaven?

Jan 27, 20169 min

How Do You Synthesize Your Simple Lifestyle and Speaking at Expensive Conferences?

Christian ministries often spend significant amounts of money on conferences, marketing, and other things that can seem excessive. Do such expenses align with a wartime lifestyle?

Jan 26, 201613 min

What Is Discipleship and How Is It Done?

We all know the call to make disciples of all nations, but where do we start? And how do we know if we have actually succeeded?

Jan 25, 20169 min

What Truths Do We Need from Outside the Bible?

Scripture is sufficient, and yet there is a lot that we can learn from natural revelation. How do we evaluate those truths not contained in the Bible?

Jan 22, 20169 min

How Do We Know We Cannot Sin in Heaven?

If Adam and Eve sinned in the paradise of Eden, how do we know we won’t sin in the next paradise of the new heavens and the new earth?

Jan 21, 20169 min

How Christ Sensitizes Us to Reality

In a 2015 message, Pastor John preaches that the gospel brings life, and in this life comes sensitivity to reality, and there is great sadness in reality.

Jan 20, 20167 min

Can I Be Blotted from the Book of Life?

Several passages in Scripture mention being blotted out of the book of life. Does this mean genuine believers can lose their salvation?

Jan 19, 20168 min

Is God Sovereign over My Free Will?

We do not have ultimate self-determination, but we will all give an account to God for our choices.

Jan 18, 201610 min

Why Was Jesus Baptized?

Jesus clearly stated that he needed John to baptize him. But why would Jesus need to go through the waters of baptism if he had not sinned?

Jan 15, 20166 min

Humbly Handling the Offense of the Gospel with Non-Christians

In a pluralistic world, Christianity faces all sorts of backlash against its exclusive claims. How can we respond well to the claims of other religions?

Jan 14, 201611 min

Who Is Jesus to You?

Jesus Christ is the Alpha and the Omega. He never had a beginning and will have no end. He is fully and completely God.

Jan 13, 20168 min

Four Ways to Kill the Sin of Habitual Suspicion

Sometimes it’s too easy to question others’ motives, especially if we think they want something from us. How do we fight that tendency to suspicion?

Jan 12, 20165 min

What Does It Mean for a Man to Lead His Family Spiritually?

Husbands take their cues from Christ, who gave himself up for the church. How can Christian men serve their wives and kids while leading them?

Jan 11, 201614 min

Will God Call Me to a Career I Don’t Enjoy?

Can a believer ever be called to a lifelong career that they do not enjoy? Pastor John explains why we should ask a different question.

Jan 8, 20167 min

Strategies for When Life Seems Aimless

When seasons of waiting make you feel aimless and without purpose, what truths from Scripture can keep you moving forward.

Jan 7, 201612 min

What’s the Most Neglected Spiritual Discipline?

Which spiritual discipline can help awaken our appetite for God, but is rarely practiced well today?

Jan 6, 20166 min

What Spiritual Disciplines Are Most Important?

Taking in the word of God and talking to him in prayer are the most basic, fundamental disciplines. But is there a way to do both of those better?

Jan 5, 20165 min

How Do I Know If I’m Doing the Spiritual Disciplines Right?

Discipline is a mark of a believer in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us new desires to see and savor Jesus Christ wherever we can find him.

Jan 4, 20166 min

Why We Need Personal and Congregational Disciplines

The spiritual disciplines are habits to be engaged in personally and corporately. We need time alone with God, and we need time together with his people.

Jan 1, 20167 min

What Are Spiritual Disciplines?

What makes a discipline spiritual, and what makes a spiritual practice a discipline? Don Whitney addresses six characteristics of Christian spiritual disciplines.

Dec 31, 20158 min

What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing the Evangelical Church in 2016?

Every generation faces unique issues, but the most pressing, most urgent Christians remain the same year in and year out.

Dec 30, 20158 min

Why Sexual Metaphors of Jesus and His Bride Embarrass Us

Marriage — including sexual intimacy — portrays Jesus’s relationship with the church. Pastor John explains how.

Dec 29, 201512 min

Are We Saved by Belief in God or by Delight in God?

Faith, defined biblically, not only believes in Jesus Christ but also treasures him as the supreme value of all the universe.

Dec 28, 201512 min

The Key to Experiencing Christmas Peace in Your Life Today

Christmas is a time for relishing in the peace that God offers the whole world through Jesus Christ, but we will only have it if we put our faith in the one who took on flesh that first Christmas.

Dec 25, 20159 min

Glory to God and Peace on Earth

The birth of Jesus at Christmas enables glory to ascend forever to God and peace to descend on his people forever.

Dec 24, 20155 min

Santa Claus: Harmless Fun or Christmastime Diversion?

Compared to all the riches of knowing Jesus Christ, even the best gift Santa could bring is little more than a lump of coal.

Dec 23, 20157 min

Truth or Fiction: Did Herod Really Slaughter Baby Boys in Bethlehem?

Matthew’s Gospel recounts Herod’s infanticide of baby boys in Bethlehem, but no other historical sources appear to mention this tragedy. Did it really happen?

Dec 22, 201512 min

Should Missionaries Fundraise?

Lots of missionaries raise their own support for ministry. Does the Bible have any examples of this kind of support-raising that we can look to as a model?

Dec 21, 20159 min

Does the Cross Show How Valuable I Am?

Does the cross of Christ show how valuable we are? Or how enormous sin is that we need a Savior?

Dec 18, 20159 min

Four Signs Food Has Become an Idol

When our contentment in God fades, food quickly takes its place. Pastor John focuses on the secret to winning the war for our desires.

Dec 17, 20159 min

I Will Not Leave Jesus — But I’m Done with the Church

“I’m done with the organized church, but I still love Jesus.” If you walk away from the church, you walk away from Jesus.

Dec 16, 20153 min

Should I Hate Satan?

We know Satan has been working evil since the beginning. But should we actually hate him? Pastor John explains why we should.

Dec 15, 20159 min

Where Did Satan’s First Desire for Evil Come From?

We may not be able to explain how Satan became evil, but we do know that God did not compromise his goodness or glory in allowing Satan’s fall.

Dec 14, 201511 min