Showing results by narrator "David Cochran Heath" in All Categories

The lives of many believers rarely escape the tight orbits that circle around their own schedules, their own interests. The familiar gravity of familiar places. But the trajectory of our faith should be one that’s continually cycling outward, fueled by a mission and message that God first brought within reach of us, so that we can now join with Him in taking it within reach of others. Authors Daniel L. Akin and Bruce Riley Ashford are calling today’s church members to lives of going—whether going around the world or to people right where they live—going out with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians, Paul gives us a detailed description of Church members' relationship to Christ. The apostle is writing to strengthen the churches of Ephesus. He tells them, "In him [Jesus] you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:22) This reminds us that we are all part of the "body" of Christ, his Church. Listen to Paul, and be encouraged about your role in redemptive history.

In Beauty Will Save the World, Brian Zahnd presents the argument that this loss of beauty as a principal value has been disastrous for Western culture, and especially for the church. The full message of the beauty of the Gospel has been replaced by our desires to satisfy our material needs, to empirically prove our faith, and to establish political power in our world - the exact same things that Christ was tempted with and rejected in the wilderness.  

Humans are prone to amnesia. We easily forget what God has done for us because of an inward focus on ourselves. The Israelites did just this. They forgot about the miraculous things God had done to unite them to Himself. In turn, they abandoned God’s way: “...Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) In Judges, we learn that God keeps His promises despite the sinfulness of His people.

Dr. Peikoff makes a compelling case for a rational system of education by contrasting three approaches to philosophy and the different educational alternatives they propose to replace our present system. He translates the usual abstract discussions in this field into material easily comprehensible to the listener. In the process, he defines a proper methodology and curriculum that will produce thinking high school graduates confident of their ability to achieve their goals.

The gospel is counterintuitive to humans. We are used to earning almost everything in our lives. In the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that we cannot earn our way to God, in fact, even the “good” deeds we do are like filthy rags before the Lord. Listen to Paul as he teaches us that we are more sinful than we could every imagine, but also more loved than we could ever imagine.

An entire generation of faithless Israelites have come and gone, Moses has just died in the presence of the Lord, and now it’s up to Joshua to lead the Israelites into victory. Journey with Joshua as he faces many obstacles on the quest to capture the Promised Land while remaining completely committed to God.

Giving practical advice for showing hospitality and having a charitable heart toward others, the Apostle John focuses on living life in a way that displays one's love for God. Another vital aspect of this book is John's warnings about false teachers. These individuals "have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7).

In light of Jesus' second coming, we should not be compelled to hide out until his return; rather, we should be actively participating in his restoration plan for the world as we wait in anticipation. Paul teaches the Thessalonians that the second coming should not paralyze believers from doing work for the kingdom. Instead it should motivate them to live in a way that is pleasing to God. We all have duties to complete before Jesus' return, so we should "...not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thes. 3:13).

In Holy in Christ, Andrew Murray delves deeper into God's plan for his children. Using scripture to illuminate God's call to holiness, Murray offers listeners insight into the purpose of eternity and all that we have to live for here on Earth. Profound and inspiring, Holy in Christ is truly a gift to believers seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.

False claims about Jesus have been made for centuries, even during Jesus’ time on Earth. The apostle Luke refutes many of the distorted reports about Jesus in this Gospel. He depicts to his listeners the true Christ: the Son of Man who has come to seek and save what is lost. Listen to the third Gospel and learn about our Lord Jesus, a friend of sinners, and what he freely offers us.

The apostle John shares with us his main goal: "...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

How did the founding generation intend for us to interpret and apply the Constitution? Are liberals right when they cite its “elastic” clauses to justify big government, or are conservatives right when they cite its explicit limits on federal power? Professor Brion McClanahan, popular author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers, finds the answers by going directly to the source—the Founders themselves, who debated all the relevant issues in their state constitutional conventions.

King Solomon tells us in the book of Proverbs that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Wisdom, unlike knowledge, is the ability to see things as God sees them. While this book offers practical pieces of advice, it also teaches us that wisdom cannot exist in one’s life without a relationship with God.

The Israelites are becoming a unified nation under a king. The first two kings, Saul and David, are anointed by Samuel. Take a look into the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David as they experience struggles and reveal the many faults of the human condition, giving us a picture of our own humanity.

Piper has gathered many of Jesus' demands from the four Gospels and puts the demands in a redemptive, historical context, then concisely examines each. The result is an accessible introduction for thoughtful inquirers and new believers, as well as meditative meat for veteran believers who want to know Jesus better.

In The Valley of the Dry Bones, Jerry B. Jenkins overlays the ancient End Times prophecies of Ezekiel onto the landscape of modern California. After a 17-year drought, multiple earthquakes, and uncontrollable wildfires, the state is desolate. The United States President declares the state uninhabitable and irreparable, directing California's 39 million citizens to relocate. From the air, California looks like a vast abandoned sand box, but to a few groups of people, it's their home.

What a many-colored career that was which began amidst the pastoral solitudes of Bethlehem, and ended in the chamber where the dying ears heard the blare of the trumpets that announced the accession of Bathsheba's son! None of the great men of scripture pass through a course of so many changes as David; none of them touched human life at so many points; none of them were so tempered and polished by swift alternation of heat and cold, by such heavy blows and the friction of such rapid revolutions.

Have you ever questioned God's goodness because of all the evil and suffering in the world? Habakkuk can relate. The prophet laments to God about the injustices he is allowing among his people. Habakkuk even argues with God, claiming that his decisions are unfair. Watch as the Lord teaches this prophet that he uses even the evil things of this world for his good and holy purposes.

In the beginning of all beginnings, the artist of all artists simply spoke, and all of creation unfolded before him. Satisfied with his work, God said, "It is good." Not long after, the first human beings faced a serious choice when tempted to shake off their Creator’s leadership so as to be his equal. Out of great love, God then chose the Israelites as a nation to be witnesses of his existence. Listen to Genesis, and experience the hope that remains in the midst of creation, fall, and re-creation.