The PursueGOD Truth Podcast PursueGOD Podcasts

Today we start a new series on the Book of Acts. We’ll cover the first five verses and answer the question: How should we act on the message of Jesus?
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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A lot of people view Christianity as merely an ideology or a set of beliefs.
I just need intellectual assent to the right ideas, believe the right thingsI go to church, read the Bible (occasionally) to learn these ideasThis is how a recent article struck me: Why I am now a ChristianAyaan Hirsi AliGrew up Muslim in Kenya“The most striking quality of the Muslim Brotherhood was their ability to transform me and my fellow teenagers from passive believers into activists, almost overnight. We didn’t just say things or pray for things: we did things. As girls we donned the burka and swore off Western fashion and make-up. The boys cultivated their facial hair to the greatest extent possible.”Then became an atheist“You can see why, to someone who had been through such a religious schooling, atheism seemed so appealing. Bertrand Russell offered a simple, zero-cost escape from an unbearable life of self-denial and harassment of other people.”Eventually became a Christian. But why?Because only Christianity has “an elaborate set of ideas and institutions designed to safeguard human life, freedom and dignity….”This is true, but is this all there is?For many “Christians,” yesIt’s a better ideology than atheism, IslamBut it’s more than ideology - it should cause us to act.
Acts 1:1-2Acts 1:1-2 (NLT) "In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit."
In my first bookActs is Part 2 of the Luke-Acts volume(Expositor's Bible Commentary: Abridged Edition (2 Volumes)) Luke-Acts being originally one work in two volumes, which sometime during the last part of the first century or very early in the second began to circulate as two separate works(Expositor's Bible Commentary: Abridged Edition (2 Volumes)) The Acts of the Apostles was originally written as the second part of a two-volume work, and its inseparable relation to Luke's gospel must be kept in mind if we are to understand the work.Luke 1:1-4 (NLT) 1 Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. 2 They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. 3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.So the author was obviously Luke (the doctor)Colossians 4:14...

In this episode Bryan, Bo, and KD discuss the Mormon perspective on the fall of Adam and Eve and how it shapes their view of women. They contrast this with the biblical view that emphasizes the equality and value of both men and women as image bearers of God. The conversation also touches on the Mormon belief in becoming gods and the role of women in Mormonism.
Mormonism has a different interpretation of the fall and the role of women compared to biblical Christianity.The biblical view emphasizes the equality and value of both men and women as image bearers of God.Toxic masculinity and controlling behavior from husbands and a desire for control and subversion from wives are the result of the curse.Jesus is the solution to this hostility, as he crushed Satan's head and overcame sin and death.In biblical Christianity, there is no difference between men and women at the foot of the cross, and all believers have access to God through Jesus.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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Today we’ll answer the question, “What does God really think about women?” Culture often says biblical Christianity demeans, diminishes women - but is that true? For some churches, it is.
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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The biblical answer is clear: God loves women and from the beginning has worked to bless them. John 10:10
John 10:10 (NLT) The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.This reflects God’s heart for humanity in Gen 1-2. We’ll see that today.But look at how the thief (Satan) is working against this plan - and he’s also been doing that from the beginning! We’ll see that today in Gen 3. But a lot of people think that the Bible lowers and denigrates women. This is what you would expect from an ancient document, reflecting ancient societal norms. For example:Ancient Sumerian proverb (circa 2100 BC): "Woman is a pitfall, a hole, a ditch," "Woman is a sharp iron dagger that cuts a man's throat." Plato in  "Timaeus" (circa 360 BC): "And if a man lived well... and according to his appointed lot... they will make him a man again in his next incarnation... but if he lived a cowardly and unrighteous life... they make him a woman."Aristotle in "Politics" (circa 330 BC): "The male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the one rules, and the other is ruled."We’re going to see today that from the opening chapter of the Bible, God starts with the opposite statement. That’s incredible if you think about it. God’s purpose from the beginning was to give women a rich and satisfying life. The word for this is “blessing”, and we’re going to break it into two parts…
Equality
God’s first blessing was equality: he created women and men in God’s image, making them equal in dignity and worth. 
Many people mistakenly believe the Bible teaches that women are less valuable than men.Toxic masculinity example?Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us....” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.What “Imago Dei” means (Pursuit L3): This means we are like God in certain ways, such as mentally (we have the capacity to think and create), relationally (we were designed to be in relationship with others) and spiritually (there’s a part of us that lives forever). Imago Dei is also a reference to humanity’s responsibility to “reign” and represent God to the rest of creation.That applies to all of us: male and female. But not animals. We are different from the rest of creation. Imago Dei sets us apart. People matter to God - men and women alike.In fact, over and over the Bible elevates women (shocking for ancient literature): Women heroes: Esther, Deborah, Naomi, Rahab, Hannah,...

In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD explore the question that skeptics and scoffers love to use to stump Christians: If God is good, why does evil exist? At first blush this paradox seems impossible to answer. But take a second look at the Bible and you’ll not just make sense of this difficult question, you’ll find an answer that can change your eternity.
Takeaways:
Mormonism and Christianity have different understandings of God, Satan, and the nature of evil.Evil is not just external, but also resides within each person.Evil exists because people exist. Sin is what broke the world, and God is being patient with people to give them a chance to repent.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Skeptics and scoffers love to stump Christians with this question: if God is good, why does evil exist?
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Philosophers have framed the problem like this: 
If God is able to prevent evil, but not willing to do so, he is evil himself.If God is willing to prevent evil, but not able, he is impotent.
At first blush this paradox seems impossible to answer. But take a second look at the Bible and you’ll not just make sense of this difficult question… you’ll find an answer that can change your eternity. 
We’re going to find today’s answer in 2 Peter chapter 3, and we’ll get to that by the end of the lesson (I promise). But let’s frame this whole question with this verse:
2 Peter 3:3 (NLT) Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
A “scoffer” asks the question without really wanting to know the answer. They’ve already made up their mind, and they simply want to disprove.A genuine seeker is different. They ask the question in good faith, and have a heart that’s willing to submit to God. I hope this is the attitude you have as you approach the question. 
So let’s start with the first part of the question: God is good - this much we know for sure! From The Pursuit, Lesson 1:
Jesus shows us the truth: God is for you, not against you. Through his life and teachings, Jesus shocked the religious world with his attitude toward the lost and irreligious. He invited lowly fishermen and despised tax-collectors – not religious experts – to be in his inner circle. And then he went around rubbing shoulders with drunkards, healing the demon-possessed, and touching the untouchables. Jesus didn’t avoid the broken and the lost, he sought them out. Here’s a perfect example:Matthew 8:2-3 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.The leper knew that Jesus had the ability to heal – he just didn’t know if he had the willingness to do it. For most people, it’s easier to believe that God is powerful than to believe that he is good. But here’s the truth: he is both!And consider how Jesus healed the leper: he touched him. That was unthinkable in Jesus’ day.
Now to the second part of the question: why does evil exist? This will take some explaining. But consider this: God does eradicate some evil.
Genesis 6:5-8 (NLT) The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke

In this episode, Bryan, Bo and KD talk about how the Mormon church claims to have prophets who speak authoritatively for God. But is that really a thing anymore? If not, how do we hear from God? This podcast explores the answer to that question. They discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments, the concept of worthiness in Mormonism, and the differences between capital P prophets and lowercase p prophets. They emphasize that every believer now has the Holy Spirit and that the Bible is God's authoritative Word. They also talk about the closed canon and the importance of testing everything against God's Word.
Takeaways:
There are two different types of prophets: a capital “P” prophet who speaks authoritatively for God, and a lowercase “p” prophet who speaks what God has already spoken. The canon of Scripture is closed, meaning that God is not going to speak authoritatively through prophets anymore.The Bible is God's authoritative word and does not need to be supplemented with new revelation from prophets.The gift of prophecy in the local church is about reminding people of what God has already spoken, not bringing new revelation.Believers should test everything against God's Word and hold on to what is good.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
Mentioned in this episode:
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