SAY THAT AGAIN with Pastor Jason

In this episode of Say That Again, Pastor Jason, CJ, Chevas, and Lauren Tonge tackle the most misunderstood and sensationalized topics surrounding biblical prophecy: the Antichrist, the Mark of the Beast, global technology, and the nature of Heaven. In this episode, we cover: The Antichrist Defined: What the Bible actually says about the "spirit of antichrist" already at work versus the future man of lawlessness. The Defeat of Evil: Why Thessalonians makes it clear that Jesus destroys the Antichrist with a single breath—meaning evil stands no chance. Technology & Global Shifts: How AI, instant translation, and digital networks make global prophecy plausible without resorting to conspiracy theories. The Deception About Heaven: Why Satan slanders our view of heaven to make it sound boring, disembodied, or weak—and why the “new earth” is a tangible, restored reality. Practical Hope Over Panic: Reframing our expectations so that we stop clinging to temporary earthly comfort and start living with hopeful expectation. Whether you've felt anxious about headlines or curious about what Scripture really says about the future, this episode offers a clear, grounded, and liberating perspective. Key Topics Defining the Antichrist: Exploring the Greek term anti-christos in 1 John and 2 John and the two beasts of Revelation 13. The Spirit of Antichrist: How deception and opposition to Christ operate in present culture versus future prophetic events. The Victory of Christ: 2 Thessalonians 2:8—Jesus defeats the Antichrist effortlessly with the breath of His mouth. Technology & Prophecy: AI, instant translation, and global connectivity as tools that make prophecy and the Great Commission possible. Reframing Heaven: Randy Alcorn's "gravel vs. real food" analogy, and why heaven is a restored physical creation, not floating on clouds. Living for the Next Life: Why a small view of heaven causes people to panic over politics, suffering, and temporary loss. 📖 Scripture References: 1 John 2:18 1 John 4:3 Revelation 13 2 Thessalonians 2:8 Revelation 21:1–5 📚 Book Recommendations Heaven by Randy Alcorn   Timestamps: 00:10 - Intro & Recap from Part 1 00:56 - Defining the Antichrist: 1 & 2 John vs. Popular Hype 02:42 - "The Spirit of the Antichrist Is Already Here" 04:07 - Revelation 13: The Two Beasts & The Unholy Trinity 05:21 - Defeated by a Breath: 2 Thessalonians 2:8 06:15 - Debunking Fake Predictions & The Mark of the Beast 07:03 - Technology, AI & Instant Global Translation 09:14 - Why Is Christ's Return Both Terrifying and Hopeful? 12:09 - Justice, Suffering, and a Holy God 13:48 - Bunkers, Floating on Clouds, and a Distorted View of Heaven 15:03 - How Satan Slanders Heaven (Revelation 13 & Randy Alcorn) 16:31 - Why Earthly Disappointments Reveal Our Need for Eternity 18:32 - Life in the New Heaven and New Earth 19:50 - Matthew 24:14 & Reaching Every Nation in Our Lifetime 21:35 - Misconceptions About Eternity & Marriage in Heaven 22:58 - Closing Hope: "The Good Old Days Are Always Ahead" 23:18 - Behind-the-Scenes Outro & Recording Setup Notes   Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe & Like: Hit the subscribe button and like the video to help reach more people. Share the Episode: Share this video with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. Connect with Bethlehem Church: Visit bethlehemchurch.us to take your next step in your walk with Jesus or find a local campus.  

What happens if the end times don't offer an easy escape hatch? In part one of this deep dive on Say That Again, Pastor Jason, hosts CJ and Chevas, and guest Lauren Tonge tackle the hard questions surrounding tribulation, suffering, the Rapture, and spiritual preparedness.   Rather than leaning into Hollywood sensationalism or fear-driven survivalism, the team looks directly at Scripture (Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Timothy 3) to ask: Is the Church called to be raptured out of trouble, or empowered to endure it?   In this episode, we cover: The Reality of Tribulation: What Matthew 24 actually says about global hardship, false prophets, and Christ's return. Rapture vs. Return: Unpacking the theological distinctions and why Western comfort has shaped our views on end-time escape. The "Lullaby" Over the Church: A powerful story of an Iranian convert warning against the spiritual sleepiness and distraction in Western Christianity. Cultural Christianity vs. True Discipleship: Why "civic religion" is fading and why a fire-tested, authentic walk with Jesus is the only way forward. Algorithms & Attention: How modern technology silently shapes our affections and lulls us away from kingdom mission.   Whether you're looking for clarity on biblical prophecy or a wake-up call in your daily walk, this episode moves past speculation to anchor your faith in the power and victory of Jesus. Timestamps:  00:25 - Intro & The Forehead Number Game 04:20 - Episode Setup: Is the End Near? 05:35 - Baggage, Sensationalism & TikTok Prophets 07:30 - Unpacking Matthew 24: What Is the Tribulation? 10:42 - Reading Matthew 24: False Christs & Lightning from the East 11:33 - Will Christians Escape Suffering? (Endurance vs. Escape) 13:20 - Examining 1 Thessalonians 4 & The Rapture Debate 15:08 - Why Western Comfort Shapes Our Views on the End Times 18:03 - Living Awake: How Should Expecting Suffering Change Us? 20:25 - The "Sleepy Lullaby" Over the Western Church 21:45 - Algorithms, Manipulated Attention & Staying Alert 23:35 - Overcoming "Cultural Christianity" & Passive Faith 25:35 - "God Has No Grandchildren": Personal Faith vs. Civic Religion 27:15 - Outro & Teaser for Part 2   📖 Scripture References: Matthew 24:21–31 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 2 Timothy 3:1–5 Revelation 2 & 3   Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe & Like: Hit the subscribe button and like the video to help reach more people. Share the Episode: Share this video with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. Connect with Bethlehem Church: Visit bethlehemchurch.us to take your next step in your walk with Jesus or find a local campus.

Are we living in the last days? With headlines flashing, culture shifting rapidly, and social media buzzing with apocalyptic predictions, it’s easy to slide into panic, fear, or endless speculation. In this episode of Say That Again, Pastor Jason, CJ, and Chevas are joined by special guest Lauren Tonge to cut through the noise surrounding the return of Christ.   Together, they dig into what Scripture actually says about the end of the age - moving away from sensationalized predictions and back to the heart of Christian discipleship. The team breaks down:   Expectation vs. Speculation: Why the return of Christ was written to give believers hopeful expectation and comfort, not fuel fear or conspiracy theories. The "Alarmist Culture" Trap: How media and technology amplify fear, and why we run to God in a crisis but forget Him in times of comfort. Understanding End-Times Perspectives: A broad look at how faithful Christians approach prophecy, the Day of the Lord, and the return of Christ without breaking fellowship. A Pastoral Call to "Come Home": A tender word for those who have grown spiritually cold, tired, or asleep after going through hard seasons, reminding them of God's welcoming grace. Preparation vs. Fear-Driven Survivalism: Why billionaires building bunkers miss the point, and how the Church is called to make disciples and serve the "least of these" until Christ returns. Living Awake in a Distracted Age: Why the greatest threat to the modern Church isn't persecution, but being lulled to sleep by the world.   Whether you're fascinated by biblical prophecy, feeling spiritually weary, or overwhelmed by modern culture, this conversation offers a grounded, gospel-centered, and hopeful roadmap for navigating the last days with confidence.   In this episode, we cover: The Return of Christ: Why Christ's return is the central hope of the New Testament outside of salvation itself. Hope vs. Fear: Shifting from apocalyptic speculation to hopeful, present-day faithful living. 2 Timothy 3 & 2 Peter: Examining biblical descriptions of culture in the last days (lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, loss of the fear of God). Spiritual Apathy & Grace: Pastoral encouragement for believers who feel distant or weary after suffering, inviting them back to the Father. Practical Preparation vs. Survivalism: Reclaiming the mission of making disciples (Mark 16) and translating Scripture globally over building survival bunkers. The Bridegroom & The Bride: Reframing the return of Christ from a horror movie event to a joyful wedding celebration. Conspiracy Theories & Social Media: How algorithms feed end times panic and distract believers from everyday discipleship.   Timestamps:  00:00 - Intro & Welcome 04:19 - Why the End Times Craze? 08:00 - Reading the Signs Right 11:51 - Culture in the Last Days 14:08 - Social Media & Fake Predictions 19:52 - End-Times Views Explained 24:45 - The 100% Guaranteed Prediction 27:13 - Tech, AI & Acceleration 30:10 - Distraction Over Persecution 32:01 - Encouragement for the Weary 33:36 - Bunkers vs. Bibles 35:49 - Anticipating the Bridegroom 38:45 - "Rapture Practice" Nostalgia 41:07 - The Good Old Days Are Ahead   Episode Resources: Chart   📖 Scripture References: Titus 2:11-13 Matthew 24:6 2 Timothy 3:1-5 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 Mark 16:15   Key Literature & Quotes Referenced: C.S. Lewis Quote: "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next." “The Office” Quote: "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." -> Pastor Jason's take: "Because of the Return of Christ, the good old days are always ahead." Dr. Alan Bandy  Live Free with Josh Howerton Podcast Episode    Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe & Like: Hit the subscribe button and like the video to help reach more people. Share the Episode: Share this video with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. Connect with Bethlehem Church: Visit bethlehemchurch.us to take your next step in your walk with Jesus or find a local campus.

What happens when the drive for success starts taking over your heart, your rest, and your relationships? In this honest and deeply personal episode of Say That Again, Pastor Jason Britt and host CJ Moneke are joined by Executive Pastor Kevin Miller to tackle the heavy weight of ambition, performance, and gospel-centered identity.   Together, they dive into John 15 to unpack the crucial distinction between achievement (visible metrics, status, and impressing others) and fruitfulness (abiding in Christ, relational depth, and blessing others). Pastor Jason shares openly about his personal wrestling with leadership anxiety, hitting walls that felt like burnout but were actually God breaking him, and learning to surrender the constant need for approval.   Guilt Around Rest: Unpacking bad habits with Sabbath and why high-capacity leaders struggle to pause and celebrate God's work. The Danger of "The Next Mountain": Why achieving your next milestone won't fix what is broken inside you. When Failure Feels Existential: Why criticism or coaching triggers defensive identity crises when our value is tied to applause. Family Leftovers: Recognizing that success owns us when the people closest to us get what's left over instead of our best. The Antidote: Using biblical community, Philippians 4 contentment, and honest self-checks ("Search me, O God") to keep motives pure.   Whether you're leading a team, building a career in your 20s, or striving to be faithful in everyday life, this episode provides a liberating roadmap to stop performing for the applause of culture and start resting in your identity in Christ. In this episode, we cover: Redefining Success: How societal standards of success (money, status, recognition) clash with biblical fruitfulness. Achievement vs. Fruitfulness: Breaking down John 15—visible metrics and performance vs. abiding in the Vine and blessing others. Burnout vs. Breaking: How God uses seasons of exhaustion to break our self-reliance and draw us back to dependence. Guilt Around Rest & Sabbath: How a drive toward "the next thing" keeps leaders from resting and celebrating wins. Identity & Criticism: Why receiving coaching or correction feels like an identity crisis when identity is built on approval. Family Getting Leftovers: Identifying when success has become an idol—starting when spouse and kids receive depleted energy. The Antidote: Using biblical community, Philippians 4 contentment, and Psalm 139 prayers to guard the heart against ambition.   Timestamps:   00:00 — Intro & Welcome: Introducing Pastor Kevin Miller 01:19 — High School Superlatives & Preschool Presidents 02:51 — Defining Success: Applause, Affirmation, and Achievement 05:35 — The Big Question: What If You Succeed in Things That Don't Matter? 07:05 — John 15: The Vine, the Branches, and Abiding in Christ 08:55 — Achievement vs. Fruitfulness: Visible Metrics vs. Lasting Good 10:47 — The Addiction to Performance: Why Success Is Never Enough 14:07 — Facing Pastoral Pressure: Striving for Peace Through Metrics 16:00 — Burnout vs. Breaking: How God Rescues Us from Performance 18:00 — Deep Soul Desires: Distorting God-Given Purpose into Surface Success 20:46 — Grounding Prayers: Praying for Humility over Platform 22:20 — 1 Corinthians 4 & Psalm 139: Clearing Your Conscience Before God 25:50 — Red Flags of Success: When You Can't Celebrate Someone Else's Win 27:50 — Wounds, Performance, and Finding Rest in Your Identity 28:58 — Guilt Around Rest: The Shadow Side of Rushing to the "Next Thing" 31:03 — Family Leftovers: Knowing When Ambition Has Taken Over 32:04 — The Danger of "The Next Mountain" & Learning Contentment 35:04 — The Antidote: Community, Accountability, and Filtered Motives 37:55 — Encouragement for CJ, Teasing Upcoming Episodes, and Outro Episode Resources:   📖 Scripture References: John 15:1–5 Mark 8:36 1 Corinthians 4:3–4 Philippians 4:11–13 Psalm 139:23–24   Calls to Action (CTAs)   Subscribe & Like: Hit the subscribe button and like the video to help reach more people. Share the Episode: Share this video with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. Connect with Bethlehem Church: Visit bethlehemchurch.us to take your next step in your walk with Jesus or find a local campus.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains direct, mature conversations about biblical sexuality, pornography, intimacy, and mental health. Viewer and listener discretion is advised, especially for younger audiences. Podcast Description: What does it look like to follow Jesus in our confusing, cloudy, and complicated culture? In this episode of Say That Again, Pastor Jason, Chevas Phillips, and CJ Moneke tackle a topic the world is loud about and the church cannot be silent on: sex, sexuality, and identity. Cutting through the awkwardness and shame, the team breaks down why biblical sexuality starts with God’s creation rather than a list of prohibitions. They discuss how modern culture has shifted sexuality from something you do to who you are, and why trusting God's authority over our body and desires is the ultimate test of discipleship. Plus, the conversation gets deeply practical: Winning the War for Your Mind: Moving from retroactive accountability to stopping temptation at the “desire” level. Towers of Defense: The power of Scripture internalization over simple memorization - storing up "warring verses" before the battle hits. Parenting in a Digital Age: Why parents must bring a wartime mentality to technology, boundaries, and phone monitoring. Grace & Truth: How to treat every individual with Imago Dei dignity without sacrificing biblical truth. Whether you're single, married, or raising kids, this episode offers a freeing, gospel-centered roadmap for walking out sexual integrity in a hyper-connected world. In this episode, we cover: Pre-Christian vs. Post-Christian Culture: Applying early church biblical ethics to modern secular society. Creation vs. Prohibition: Why biblical sexuality originates in God's creation design, not a list of restrictions. Authority & Identity Shift: Addressing how culture shifted sexuality from what you do to who you are, and trusting God as the ultimate authority. Light, Community & Accountability: Overcoming isolation and shame by bringing struggles into the open at the “desire” level. Proactive Spiritual Defense: Developing a "wartime mentality" through intentional time with God, Scripture internalization, and "warring verses." Parenting & Digital Safety: Establishing boundaries, active phone monitoring, and spiritual leadership in a hyper-connected world. Truth with Grace: Engaging people with dignity and respect regardless of lifestyle differences, rejecting both condemnation and compromise.   📖 Bible Passages Referenced Genesis 1:27: Humanity was created male and female in the image of God (Imago Dei). 1 Corinthians 5 & 6: Christian freedom, sexual ethics, and fleeing sexual immorality. John 8:1–11: Jesus, grace, and the woman caught in adultery (neither condemning nor condoning). Psalm 119:9–11: Guarding one's path by storing God's Word in the heart to combat sin. James 1:14: Understanding how personal desire leads to temptation and sin.   📚 Book Recommendations Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry People to Be Loved by Preston Sprinkle    Calls to Action (CTAs) Subscribe & Like: Hit the subscribe button and like the video to help reach more people. Share the Episode: Share this video with a friend who needs encouragement in this area. Connect with Bethlehem Church: Visit bethlehemchurch.us to take your next step in your walk with Jesus or find a local campus.