Running to Win - 25 Minute Edition

Sex is more than a one-night stand. It creates a bond that unites us to another in purpose, desire, and relationship. What effect does a sexual relationship outside of marriage have on us? In this message, we examine the spiraling consequences of a soul bond. No matter how strong those bonds are or how far we've fallen, God is the God of new beginnings. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at www.rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

"If it feels good, it must be right. After all, I am entitled to my happiness." With lies like these, we rationalize our disobedience to God's commands, even about sex. In this message, we take an honest look at five lies about our desires. Our souls can be restored, but the lies must be stripped away. Are we ready to hear God's truth about our deepest longings? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at www.rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Driven by our desires, we are experts at self-deception. We will do whatever it takes to satisfy our urges, and then justify it by believing blatant lies. In this message, we expose five lies about our desires from Genesis 3. Facing the truth about ourselves is costly but there is a way for the soul to be restored. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at www.rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

All of us have had shameful thoughts and done shameful deeds. Since the original sin of Adam and Eve, people have been using others to gratify their desires, without any true commitment. In this message, we uncover God's answer to the devastation of shame. Where is God amid our most shameful secrets? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Our culture is a sea of sensuality. Some have attempted to redefine marriage while others' marriages are infected with infidelity and pornography. In this message on Creation and the Fall, we address God's design for sexuality as well as the effect of shame. When we abandon God's morality, our lives—even our souls—are left in turmoil. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at www.rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Will our faith survive our circumstances? The heroes of Hebrews 11 include ordinary people like us who believed God despite no immediate response to their prayers for deliverance. In this message, we ponder tests of faith from a good and loving God. We can accept the burdens God gives us because a greater reward is coming. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at www.rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Where is God when we really need Him? Many lose what faith they have and give up on God altogether. Believers across the ages have experienced loss and devastating trials. In this message from Hebrews 11, we unpack four facts about faith in God in any circumstance. No matter what, we can trust Almighty God. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Most of us would choose comfort over risk. When our faith in God is genuine, we are ready for unfamiliar territory. In Hebrews 11, Moses risks everything—being alienated from the world—for an eternal reward. In this message, we learn how to decide between the world's temporary pleasures and lasting joy. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Some people say they have faith, yet their lives show little evidence of it. Others who possess true faith are willing to take risks. In this message on Moses' life from Hebrews 11, we identify his radical decision and powerful motivation, followed by a miraculous victory. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

When God is not our priority, our self-absorption destroys both us and our relationship with Him. To ensure we understand the cost of Calvary, God gave us Moriah. On that mountain, Abraham, a picture of God the Father, laid Isaac down, the picture of Christ the Son. In this message, we find three lessons about Abraham's worshipful sacrifice. Are we putting the Lord first? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

God knows sacrifice. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son of the promise, the only fitting response was obedience. In this message, we ascend the mountain with Abraham and Isaac while reflecting on the coming Redeemer from Isaac's line. Let's plumb the depths of a story only God could have written. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Even if we say we do not love the world, we can be tempted to violate our consciences. Lot compromised because his faith was too weak to stand against Sodom's relentless debauchery. He lost his testimony, his family, and his character. In this message, we apply lessons from Lot's failure. Is God faithful even when we fall hard? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Just like Abraham interceded to spare Sodom and Gomorrah, Christians make an impact in the world. In this message, we contemplate lessons on prayer for others, for our cities, and for our families. Despite Abraham's intense intersession, the cities were destroyed. Was His prayer worth it? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

When we feel burned by unanswered prayer, we often neglect our friendship with God. With neighboring cities facing fire and brimstone, Abraham welcomed three men—no ordinary men—into his tent. In this message, we listen to Abraham's intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah with transforming lessons for our prayer life. Let's recover the primary purpose for prayer. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

When resentment, envy, or anger entangle us, our souls are dragged away from God like the two sons of Abraham who parted ways. In this message, we discover three lessons about the desires of the flesh and true submission to God. We cannot live as a child of promise and a child of the flesh at the same time. God's purpose for the line of promise stands. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

When God is silent, we often doubt His promises. After the birth of Ishmael, Abraham did not hear from God for years. In this message, we are going to look at the nature and participants of God's covenant with Abraham. What happened when God called Abraham by name, the "father of many nations"? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

We might be the victim of our own decisions or others. Abraham and Sarah's maid, Hagar, bore a son—an heir. When she was pushed into the desert, God found her and comforted her. In this message, we look at God's command and promise to Hagar. People do not have the last word. In our despair and our extremities, God sees and intervenes. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Sometimes, we try to engineer circumstances to bring God's will to pass. In the face of childlessness, Abraham and Sarah were faced with a decision—one of desperation, frustration, and opportunity. In this message, we walk through the sequence of events that led to conflict in his family. The immediate consequences were devastating. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

How do we know God is working in us to bring about His purpose? In Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abraham—entirely based on His own word. In this message, we are invited to a covenant without conditions. God says He will do what He promises—our eternities depend on it. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

When situations spiral into sin or anxiety, what really matters is our own trust and whether God is trustworthy. In Genesis 15, God makes an astounding promise. But Abraham is obsessed with the problem of the promise. In this message, we reflect on God's three promises to Abraham. Do we trust God to protect and preserve us? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

In our heart of hearts, we have a choice of allegiances: receive God's blessing or manipulate to our own ends. Lot chose to ally with the King of Sodom. Abraham paid homage to the King of Salem, priest of the God Most High. In this message, we perform a heart check on what possesses us at our points of decision. Our choices expose what we really want. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

The decisions we make—even about money—have eternal consequences. After an unusual victory, Abraham is given a choice between selfish dealings and generosity. In this message, we are introduced to two kings at Abraham's point of decision. Are we living like God owns everything or do our decisions and bank accounts say otherwise? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

"Respectable sins" are often the most dangerous in families. Abraham let his nephew, Lot, pick the land he wanted while agreeing to take what was remaining. Lot's pursuit of prestige and position would result in terrible consequences, affecting his testimony, his family, and his character. God gives His best to those who entrust their future and legacy to Him. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

After backsliding in Egypt, Abraham returned to God. Yet his renewed faith is tested again during a dispute about the land. In this message, we meet two men—Abraham and his nephew, Lot—at the impasse of faith. Let's learn from Abraham why we do not have to manipulate circumstances or insist on our own rights. God has our lives in His hands. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

One choice can cloud the conscience. To save his skin, Abraham bent the truth, telling Egypt's Pharaoh that his wife was his sister. He tried to out-maneuver the Egyptians rather than trust in God. In this message, we identify four lessons at the junction of trusting or backsliding. God beckons us to return with a clear conscience to fellowship with Him. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Can we trust God to take care of us? Abraham was chosen by God to leave the comforts of Ur, going a land he had never seen. Along the way, he came face to face with a test of faith which involved his own wife. In this message, we discover the pitfalls of backsliding—turning from God to go our own way. Backsliding always has more burdens than blessings. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

The losses, challenges, and heartaches God brings reveal we were made for another world. God gave Abraham unconditional promises—personally, nationally, even universally—but not all of them were fulfilled in this life. In this message, we find three lessons from Abraham's first steps of faith that prepare us to trust God with our own journey. Are you living and longing for eternity? This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Our spiritual journey is not based on how much faith we possess but rather upon the One in whom we trust. God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, promising to make of him a great nation. In this message, we investigate the background, family, and false gods that Abraham left. He faced a lifelong journey of trust in God. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-217-9337.

Why would anyone rejoice in circumstances that are depressing, painful, or seemingly impossible? Jesus knew that the disciples would be tested in ways they could not imagine after He went to the cross. That's why He spent His final night revealing what would happen. In this message, we join the fearful disciples and gain understanding from our Lord. You and I can read the last page; the war will be won. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

When circumstances bring sorrow to our hearts, we often feel helpless. But our story isn't done yet. While many gladly anticipated Jesus' death, His disciples were saddened when Jesus predicted the cross. In this message, we receive the same encouragement for us which Jesus offered His disciples. By reading the "last page" of our story, we see God's ability to turn sorrow into joy. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Many people are not interested in Christianity at all. They are totally turned off by some Christians. In fact, it's impossible for anyone to come to Christ apart from the Holy Spirit drawing them. In this message, we discuss our vital relationship with the Holy Spirit. Are you resisting or cooperating with the Spirit's promptings? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We all grow up believing lies about ourselves and about God. There's one sin, one standard, and one danger that we must all face. In this message, we discover how the Spirit of God uncovers the truth and exposes the lies we might believe. Even today, He's working in and through believers to convict the world of sin and reveal the truth. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We might hope for smooth relationships, jobs, or social lives. But Christians can expect to be misunderstood for their faith in Jesus Christ. In this message, we hear Christ's instructions on how to handle misunderstanding or hatred when it comes our way. How can we stand against the world's system while loving the world's people? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We all have experienced naysayers or even outright enemies. But for believers, we can expect to be persecuted because of our relationship to Christ. The better the world understands Christ, the more they will hate Him. In this message, we face the reactions as well as the reasons Christians face persecution. How should we respond when we're attacked for believing in Jesus? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Every one of us wants to be truly known—and still fully loved. We all desire those kinds of human friendships. But the One who lives this best is Jesus. In this message from the Upper Room, we learn three facts from Jesus: the badge, the reward, and the result of friendship. Let's learn how to find such a friend in Jesus and to be that kind of friend. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We all need true friends, even those of us who feel burned or guarded in our relationships. Jesus told us how love is manifested—that a man lay down his life for his friends. In this message, we find three facts from Jesus about friendship and sacrifice. Is this the kind of love manifested in our own lives? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We are frequently presented with competing perspectives about Jesus. Some think of Him as a teacher or a revolutionary, avoiding Him as they go on with their lives. In this message, we glimpse the true characteristics of this Jesus from the apostle John's vision in Revelation. Are you prepared to meet the real Jesus, the Keeper of the keys? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

After Jesus had died, two disciples walked away from Jerusalem thinking all their hopes had died with Him—until a mysterious stranger met them on the road. Their hearts were strangely captivated by the conversation. At dinner, they found themselves face to face with the One they loved. When we face troubles, we can know that Jesus has not left us. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

The pain and disappointment had hit home. When Jesus died, His disciples' dreams died. Their best-laid plans were in ruins. Was it best to move on and forget those three wonderful years with Christ? In this message, we learn how the resurrected Jesus revived their dreams, and how He can revive ours. Our living hope is stronger than our shattered dreams. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

What do you want your epitaph to say? We all want to live a good life and contribute to others. For believers, we don't measure the fruitfulness of our lives based on worldly success. In this message, we explore the portrait of the believer's relationship to Jesus as a branch connected to the vine. Let's discover the lasting fruit of abiding in Christ. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Jesus offers us His enduring power. His disciples were common people of the land, who could understand His metaphor of fruit-bearing for the spiritual life. In this message, we discover the first of three portraits from the vineyard. The resulting fruit is sweet to the Father, who tends His garden carefully to grow the harvest. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Despite our health issues, broken relationships, or uncertain financial futures, Jesus' peace brings stability and hope. On His last night before the cross, Jesus said that all who believe in Him can have His peace. In this message, we consider what it means to receive His peace through complete surrender. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Peace seems elusive in a world more hectic than ever and more hostile to Christ. But Jesus offers His peace to those who believe in Him. In this message, we find three dimensions of the Lord's peace: with God, with each other, and for ourselves personally. How could Jesus speak about such peace knowing his betrayal and crucifixion were approaching? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

In lonely apartments, in times of crisis, or in times of need, the Holy Spirit is with us. The presence and the power of the Spirit is promised to all who believe in Jesus. Will we receive Him today in His fullness? In this message, we'll cultivate a sensitivity to the Spirit by faith. As Christians, we are never alone. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Children need love, acceptance, and security but many of us have felt abandoned. When Jesus discussed his own departure from earth, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to provide spiritual strength for each child of God. In this message, we explore the ministries of the Spirit that Jesus did and continues to do. Jesus hasn't left us alone. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

In the Upper Room, Jesus seems to say that whatever we request, we can have. What are the conditions for answered prayer? Is it based on how fully we believe? In this message, we examine Jesus' teaching on prayer—in His name and for the glory of God. The answer you await may be on its way. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

In the Upper Room, Jesus said that those who would believe in Him would do greater works than He did. At first glance, that appears impossible. What works could be greater than His? With a believing heart and by His Spirit, His believers can reach the world with His Word. Let's contemplate this astounding promise. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Have you experienced crippling fear? Our everyday problems—sickness, financial distress, or vocational challenges—often intensify our anxiety. In this message, we reflect on Jesus' promise of heaven to his troubled followers. If we keep our eyes fixed on what Jesus is preparing for those who love Him, we can make it to the finish line. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

Anxiety isn't something we can turn off—it has a way of controlling our thoughts. But in our storm of anxious thoughts, Jesus' promise of heaven fixes our eyes on the shore. In this message, we focus on our eternal destination, reunion, and entrance to heaven: Jesus Himself. What are you focusing on today? Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)

We all must examine our hearts and find out what really motivates us. Judas shows us how far away we can fall from Christ, even though, to all observers, we seem to be children of God. In this message, we'll give our attention to three life-changing lessons that we dare not forget as we look at the life of Judas. Only grace draws us to Christ, changes our motivations, and keeps us in the love of God. Click here to listen (Duration 25:02)