God's kingdom isn't a competition.

There are many who call themselves "believers" that have quite a skewed perception of the role of men and women when it comes to kingdom ministry. When the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy, he made some statements that some denominations have used to subjugate women to subservient positions

So, how do we deal with Paul's "women should learn quietly" and 'I do not permit a woman to teach?"

He told the Galatians that "there is no Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. All are one in Christ."

Some church leaders may not agree with Jay and Tom but they do need to consider the truth from God's Word and not just operate on historical culture or traditional opinion.

We're in God's kingdom together and need to work together to be His Body "fitly joined together."

We all have an "expiration date"

It's not printed on us like a jug of milk, but God has it written in His Book of Life. He knows that date but doesn't let us in on it.

When we think of mortality, it brings up two very important concepts:

1. What happens after we do pass over into eternity?

2. How should we live now in preparation for that day?

Too many people cling to this life with a death grip. What does this life hold that our promised eternity with the Father compares to? Storing up treasures in heaven, like Jesus said, doesn't mean piling it up down here.

Sure, we miss those that have "gone down the long road from which no one returns," but they don't miss us. They're in the presence of the Almighty!

Embracing our mortality is important because our mortality will soon put on immortality and we'll never regret living in preparation for that day.

When King David sinned against God via adultery and murder, he had a friend in Nathan to whom he was accountable.

It took courage for Nathan to approach the king, who could end his life right there, and help him account for his actions and repent. David and Nathan had a relationship of trust too many people lack in their life.

Sin percolates in darkness. Each one of us has areas of weakness that must be confronted and dealt with. Blind spots in our spiritual walk may elude us but with someone to whom we are accountable, we can eradicate them.

Trust and accountability doesn't just happen. It takes building a relationship over time and a willingness to be vulnerable.

Restoration and reconciliation is what we are called to as believers. Little compares to the freedom we have in Christ when this happens.

Can we lose our salvation or are we guaranteed a seat at Heaven's feast if we walk an aisle, repeat a prayer, and get "dunked" but then live any way we like?

If we sin and immediately die, are we bound for hell or is it that it doesn't matter what we do as long as we can tell Saint Peter at the pearly gates that we did more good than bad in our lifetime?

There's opinion and there's the Biblical truth. And the key word in this whole podcast is what God's opinion is about being "saved."

Some people live in fear of God rejecting them while other people set their own standard of right and wrong and expect God to agree.

Knowing the truth settles the issue.

Proclaiming themselves wise, they become fools. Ouch!

When we reject God, eventually He gives us over to our sin. In Romans, chapter 1, Paul tells us three areas where we are given over; lust of the heart to impurity, dishonorable passions, and, finally, a reprobate or depraved mind.

Sound like anything that is happening today?

What does the Word say about the path to the reprobate mind? Is there hope for someone who has been given over to a depraved or reprobate mind?

Serious questions for a serious topic.

Termites. Those little buggers can wreak havoc on the foundation of a house, to the point of collapse, if let alone to do their thing.

Syncretism has, for centuries, but especially of late, undermined the foundation of faith to the point where sometimes it's hard to tell the Church from the world.

So, what is syncretism? It's the blending together of opposite belief systems. It's the amalgamation of different cultures, religions or schools of thought to the point of trying to homogenize them when they actually oppose each other.

Truth becomes relative instead of absolute. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Proverbs 14:12. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 That's very specific and not popular with syncretists.

Today, we expose this destructive attempt, warning that we have to be reminded God's Word is the foundation, not the relativism of mankind.

Hey, just repent. God will forgive you.

Woah, wait a minute!

Is Grace just "sloppy agape?" Can we live like the devil and just tell God, "Sorry, my bad"?

When it comes to understanding what and why of the Law as well as what and why of Grace, we find out that there's one thing too many forget as they make choices in life...consequences.

Take Jephthah's story in the book of Judges, chapter eleven. He vowed a vow to God if only He would give him a battle victory. It was the most rash and costly vow he would never have imagined possible. Could he have repented of the vow and God just let him off the hook?

Digging into the Word helps us understand that eternity isn't just fun and games and missing the burning sulfur forever. We are called to be true followers of Jesus Christ and that means obedience from a changed heart.

No more "sloppy agape!"

Sloppy agape?

- Follow the rules or free "get out of hell" card?

- Is it "Old Testament out, New Testament in?"

- In this day of Grace, is the Law something we even need to concern ourselves with?

It's vital in today's culture, especially in the modern-day church to fully understand how true followers of Jesus Christ relate to both the Law and Grace.

Jesus said that He didn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. What does that mean? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to the Law as "you've heard it said" or "you've seen it written.' He then lays out that the works of the Law is outward but the work of Grace is heart-changing.

That's why we have the Holy Spirit in us. He is the One who empowers but also convicts. He leads us into truth and into repentance.

Get out the Book of Galatians. There's a great revelation of just how we're supposed to deal with the Law and Grace.