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The doctrine of election can be a matter of division among a lot of Christians. Today's Richard's guest, Dr. Mark Gignilliat, discusses some overlapping and important theological concerns that the Bible itself raises, in terms of what we are as human beings and the necessity of God's grace to enter into our lives and to raise us into new life in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that "no one can say Jesus is Lord" without the animating work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot say with true sincerity that Jesus is Lord without the work of the Holy Spirit to take that which is dead and to make it alive again. Watch on YouTube Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

What is the quality of your work? Would you like to get understanding on how to live a more fruitful life? In today's message, we continue looking at the metaphor of the different types of soil that the Word of God fell on. We'll look at three things that keep us from being fruitful: worry, deceit and the desire for other things.

The most widely used metaphor in the Bible is farming. Metaphors are clearly one of the ways that God uses to teach us spiritual truth. In John 1, we learn that John the Baptist leads Andrew to Christ, and Andrew, one of the 12 disciples leads his brother Peter to Christ. And then Phillip, one of the 12 disciples leads Nathaniel to Christ - Phillip brings him to "come and see" Jesus. Tim Keller says that here we have a very important kind of principle at work: many times the way to find Jesus like this and to really know Him personally is almost always through a friend. I believe our responsibility as Christians is to share who Christ is with others. Not to ram Christ down people's throats because that is not kind or respectful, and in fact that is very ineffective. In today's message, I share some creative ways that we can bear fruit for the Lord - ways that you and I can invite others to, as Jesus said to Nathaniel, "come and see." In 1 Timothy 6:11-12 Paul tells us, "But you, man of God... pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith." >> Watch on YouTube

What would it mean for the world if Jesus truly did rise from the dead? And what does it mean to me personally - or does it mean anything at all to me? For many years C.S. Lewis thought the Bible and the stories of the resurrection were all a bunch of myths, kind of like Norse mythology. But I would just say that the evidence for the resurrection is quite compelling, particularly if you'll take the time to look into it. In this message I dive into 3 strategies that we use to deal with facing our own mortality. By choosing the right one you can have true peace and confidence that will impact the quality of your life until it comes to an end. Watch on YouTube

What is Lent, and why is it important? Much like Advent leading up to Christmas, Lent is a season that's really a gift for us. It is a time to become conscious and to take some time to enter into thought, prayer and repentance as we prepare for Easter Sunday. Christians have an unusual relationship with the concept of time. We live in the present here on earth, but the Bible also lets us know that we're already participants and citizens of another time and place. What does that look like in our daily lives? Watch on YouTube Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.

How did God design us, and what were we made to long for? God is a relational being, and we are in His image, so we are also relational beings. Relationships are inherent to who we are as people. If we were not made relational, then there would be no such thing as loneliness. Why do people get lonely? Life is bankrupt without relationships. Former pro football player Joe Ermann says this about men:"This is our problem (as men): we compare, we compete; that's all we ever do. It leaves most men feeling isolated and alone. And it destroys any concept of community." Even to truly know God in the fullest way, we also need to experience God in relationship with other believers who know God intimately. As you listen to this message, ask yourself, "How does this really apply to me?" Be honest with yourself. Then ask, "Is there something that I can do differently in my life?" Watch on YouTube

What would say are the biggest struggles in your life? In Part 3 we discussed how to grow in wisdom as men. Now, using that wisdom, let's look at how to confront the three deadly sins - pride, greed and envy. My desire is that these messages help bring you wisdom and freedom to live as healthy men. >>Watch on YouTube

What role do our choices play in our health? In Part 1 we learned the importance of being centered on truth. Last week we discussed how to guard and look after your heart and mind - even recognizing that the heart and the mind are one. Now in Part 3 we dive into growing in wisdom as men. Proverbs 24:5 tells us that "A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power." Wise people are forward-thinking. They understand that all of life is connected - that there is a cause and effect relationship between the choices we make today and the lives that we end up with tomorrow. Watch on YouTube

What has more power over you - your mind or your heart? Which one rules over you? The heart can easily overcome or override what you know. The heart is the seat of the emotions and has the ability to take charge of your thinking. Last week we looked at the foundational principles to living a healthy life:- Being transparent- Dealing with the past- Dealing with the future- Emotional health We concluded that to truly live well is to live in the present. In Part 2 we are looking at the heart and the mind, the innermost parts of a man. The heart is made up of the mind, the will and the emotions. And the soul is the mind and the heart of a man. To have a healthy heart, we have to be proactive, and we have to be defensive. It is up to each of us to protect our own hearts and minds.

What does it mean to be a healthy man? This is a complex issue. One definition of the word healthy is, "a state of physical, mental and emotional well-being. A healthy person functions well in their day-to-day living, as opposed to being dysfunctional. I propose to show you how the foundation of our health is actually spiritual, along with being centered on the truth. Being centered on the truth is crucial to living a healthy, vital human life. - Richard E. Simmons III >>Watch on YouTube

How do you respond when you experience hardship? How many of us face moments in our life when we don't have a plan? Serious illness, financial loss, failure... how we need to have this as our prayer from 2 Chronicles 20:12 "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You." Our guest is Jerry Leachman, sharing this message at our recent Men's Breakfast. James 5:16 tells us that "The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!" - Watch on YouTube Jerry Leachman of Leachman Ministries is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally. Learn more about the books Jerry mentioned in his talk: Reflections on the Existence of God and The Battle Plan for Prayer

What is the power of a humble life? Two verses sum up how God views pride and humility: Proverbs 16:5 tells us that, "The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this, they will not go unpunished." James 4:6 "But He gives us more grace. That is why scripture says that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Those are powerful words: God detests the proud. The word opposed in the Greek means "to be at war with." C.S. Lewis said that "Pride is a spiritual cancer... It is the complete anti-God state of mind." This is true because we have such a hard time seeing it in our own lives. Could that be true of my life and yours? I believe that we should be praying daily, "Lord, show me the pride in my heart. Let me see it."

How important is unity in ministry? After an interval of 14 years, Paul goes back to Jerusalem to confront 2 false brothers - false teachers. And he also went to see all of the 12 disciples, to make sure that they were unified in their mission of Christ with him. Tim Keller writes: "If the other apostles had not confirmed Paul, if they had not renounced the false teachers, it would be very hard for Paul to retain his converts, because he had all these false teachers telling his converts that Paul was preaching a gospel that was inadequate, and not as full as the original apostolic gospel preached by the Jerusalem leaders. So you can see why Paul wanted to come meet with them. Paul found that the 12 disciples were completely unified with him, which dispelled the false teachers attacks and propelled the growth of the church.

Do you think God has things that He wants us to do - that He appoints us to do? It is an interesting thought! When Jesus appeared to Saul (Paul's previous name) on the road to Damascus, Jesus told him, "Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Am I doing the work that God has appointed for me to do?

Today's episode previously aired on this podcast with the title "Seeking the favor of men or God?" I share it again today as it is Part 2 of our study of Galatians. Isn't it interesting to think about how we let other people have such an influence on how we live our lives. I think we would all agree that the people in our lives are important to us. In fact, relationships are the substance of life. We were meant to be with other people. But, am I living my life to please others? Or am I living for the approval of God? I can't do both. You cannot truly live to please and approve Christ and live to win the approval of man at the same time. One has to be above the other. We're discussing a single verse, Galatians 1:10, to learn how to find true freedom from the fears that drive us to comparison, envy, jealousy and loneliness. ⁠Watch on YouTube

When I first became a Christian, I didn't think much of the book of Galatians. I didn't understand what Paul was saying. But now here I am some 47 years later, I have a much better understanding of Galatians, and I love it. I deeply appreciate it. Paul wrote this letter just 17 years after Christ's death and resurrection. He emphasized the many eye witnesses that were still alive at that time and encouraged those who were skeptical to go and talk with them. Galatians 1:3-4 says that Jesus "...gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." He alone can rescue us.

What is God like? What are the most significant attributes of God that you think of? Many people would respond that he is a righteous God, a holy God. He is all powerful. He is loving, he is merciful. He is a just God. But maybe his most important attribute is one that we don't think about very often. The prophet Jeremiah tells us in chapter 31, verse 34 that God is knowable. Think about that. He's not a God that's hidden. He wants to be known. He reveals himself so that he can be known. The scripture and prophecy that we are studying today, Jeremiah 31:31-34 is considered one of the best texts on knowing God. Would you like to know him better?

Today my guest is Dr. Michael Green, bringing us a message from Acts 18, to begin the new year with renewed hope and courage.  Lift up your eyes to see what just one man can do for the cause of Christ. Remember, one person plus God is always a majority!

Are you a part of the remnant? Jerry Leachman of ⁠Leachman Ministries⁠ joins us with a message for men - to help us examine where we are in life. Many people are wondering in our culture today, "Am I seeing the America I have known fundamentally change before my eyes?" And maybe it’s never coming back. I’m going to talk about the remnant today, because in the Bible and all the way through the Bible, it’s the remnant that always saves the city. I want you to wonder: are you part of that remnant or are you just one more scared guy filling up with anxiety, bluffing your way through the world, trying to pretend to be brave, but you’re really not? Jerry is a favorite speaker at The Center's events. Along with being an associate Chaplain in The NFL for many years, Jerry has done ministry in Guatemala, Scotland, Russia, Europe and Africa as well as all over the U.S. He and his wife Holly have been on Young Life Staff and continue to be involved with Young Life here and also internationally.

Today Dr. John Guest brings a message of hope in the certainty of Jesus Christ. "I wasn’t raised to go to church. I did think Christians were soft. Pastors in England would talk in a rather slow and boring tone, and it was sort of remote. I didn’t go to church, but I picked them up on the radio and when there was no such thing as television when I was a child and from time to time, you’d hear one speaking for whatever reason on the radio and I gave it no credence until I got into my adolescence and was asking questions about my own life..." - John Guest John is the author of ten books. He co-founded Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry and was a participant in the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism and a board member of the National Association of Evangelicals. He founded the Coalition for Christian Outreach, an evangelistic organization employing approximately 150 staff on college campuses. Also, he co-founded South American Missionary Society (1976), hosted a daily radio broadcast, “New Life In Christ,” on WPIT-FM, Pittsburgh (1983-1990), and currently has a daily broadcast on WORD FM, 101.5 in Pittsburgh as well as several other cities. John married Kathleen Heggar in 1967 and has four daughters: Carrie, Chelsea, Sarah and Susanna.