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

The prophet Micah scolds Israel and Judah for their idolatry and injustice to the poor. The Assyrians are about to invade and the two Jewish nations will have to suffer for their sinfulness. Thankfully, God’s judgment is seasoned with mercy and he will not break the covenant with His people.

There is an inseparable link between our faith and how we live our lives. In his letter to his coworker, Titus, Paul gives us practical instruction on godly living as well as qualifications for Church leaders. While Paul paints a picture of what a healthy Church looks like, he also emphasizes the Gospel as the source of godliness: "...he saved us not because of works done by us in righteousness but according to his own mercy...."

This letter was written by Paul while he was imprisoned Rome. The apostle was experiencing persecution for his faith, but this was no surprise to him, nor was it stealing his hope. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). He was writing this letter to encourage Timothy, his coworker, to be strong in the Lord in spite of suffering. He called on him to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, as we should all strive to be ourselves.

In Resurrecting Justice, theologian Douglas Harink invites listeners to rediscover Romans as a treatise on justice. He traces Paul's thinking on this theme through a sequential reading of the book, finding in each passage facets of the gospel's primary claim - that God accomplishes justice in the death and resurrection of Jesus Messiah. By rendering forms of the Greek word dikaiosyne as "just" or "justice", Harink emphasizes the inseparability of personal, social, and political uprightness that was clear to Paul but is obscured in modern translations.

Filled with real-life stories and practical advice, Called to Care starts by helping you honestly assess your motivation to help - sometimes the wrong motivation sets the stage for an unsuccessful experience. From there, the book shows what adoption and foster care really look like in a variety of situations, from domestic and international adoptions to short-term foster care and foster-to-adopt arrangements. Also included is how churches and individuals can minister to refugees.

As Christians, we have a hope that withstands all trouble. In fact, while many strive to avoid suffering, believers can actually rejoice in it. Why? Because God will vindicate his people. We can rest in God’s salvation now and look forward to the day he will bring full redemption. This letter, written by the apostle Peter, points us to Christ in times of tribulation and encourages us to persevere in the midst of suffering.

God tells Jonah to preach repentance to Nineveh, a ruthless and idolatrous nation. Jonah, a prophet who does not like the Assyrians, wants Nineveh to be destroyed. Instead of following God’s call, Jonah rebels and sails the opposite direction, deliberately fleeing from God. Stubborn Jonah ends up in the belly of a fish. Listen to the story of this prophet as God disciplines him for his disobedience and teaches him that He loves all people, even the enemies of his chosen ones.

Much like the wisdom literature in the OT, James offers snippets of wisdom to Christians. The practical instruction he gives serves to motivate believers to be doers not just hearers of the word. His audience, Jewish Christians, is in the midst of social conflict in which they are seeking worldly advice instead of pursuing God's way. James' letter should inspire Christians today to seek divine wisdom in all situations while translating one's faith into practice.

Just like in Galatians, Paul teaches the church in Colossae to beware of men who add unnecessary elements to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything added to the gospel results in “no gospel at all” (Gal. 1:7) The main reminder given in this book is that Jesus is king over all. This means that we must trust in him alone and not in “the tradition of men” (Col.2:8) Listen to Paul’s letter to Colossae and be reminded of the superiority of Jesus, who is our only hope.

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.

Idolatry, rebellion, disobedience, pride. Second Kings illustrates the collapse of a divided nation that turned its back on God. This, however, does not change the fact that God is faithful. Like any good father, he does not allow his children's sinfulness to carry on without discipline.

Would you like to know the basics of theology and have an easy route to that knowledge? If so, these short, simple readings are the way to go. Here, Daryl Aaron answers some of the toughest questions about the nature of God, heaven, the Bible, church, and even ourselves. Blending the knowledge of a college professor with friendly, down-to-earth language, Aaron explains theology in a way you can understand. Broken into 40 small chapters, this book gives you quick, clear answers to your questions about theology.

The church has always been in danger of “secret agents” who gain entry into the Christian community and thwart the gospel, consequently leading believers astray. We see this in Jude’s letter as he tackles the same issues Peter did in his second letter.

The biggest story of the election was how the media ignored the biggest story of the election.

Amid all the breathless coverage of a nonexistent war on women, there was little or no coverage of Obama's war on the economy - how, for instance, part-time work is replacing full-time work, how low-wage jobs are replacing high-wage ones, how for Americans between the ages of 25 and 54 there are fewer jobs today than there were when the recession officially ended in 2009, and fewer, in fact, than at any time since mid-1997.

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).

The apostle Peter writes to churches pertaining to the false teachers and opposition among them. His letter is a reminder that God’s grace is not only pardon but also power to live righteously in the face of opposition. Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can pursue holiness, bear fruit, and deny false teachers. Peter’s exhortations are an encouragement to remain steadfast and firm in the faith.

Like many of us, the Thessalonians need to be reminded of the reality of Christ’s second coming. In this book, Paul encourages believers to look forward to the second coming as the final accomplishment of God’s promise to save his people. In light of the Thessalonians’ false sense of security, Paul only addresses the timing of the second coming by saying, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thes. 5:2)

God’s providence always comes through, even in the worst of situations. This is something we learn in the life of Queen Esther. A woman of strength and humility, Queen Esther endures the struggles that come with living a life of obedience to God. She knows that God’s hand is on her and that His plans are not moved, not even by the actions of evil men.

In this issue of Christian History magazine the editors bring together a collection of articles that explore the depth of C. S. Lewis' robust personality. His loves, his contribution to analysis of historical literature, his friends, and his deep theological thought are all brought to light.

As Christians we often face opposition while doing kingdom work. It is sometimes easy for us to forget about God's sovereignty and become discouraged. The prophet Haggai challenges God's people to trust in God's power as they face local opposition while building the Temple. He encourages them to repent and look to God for strength. Listen to Haggai as he draws attention to common struggles we face today.