Have you ever wondered how you can juggle a bustling career, family responsibilities, and personal time without feeling overwhelmed? This episode explores the Pareto Principle, emphasizing that 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. We discuss goal-setting strategies based on this principle, the importance of prioritizing meaningful relationships, and practical tips for managing time effectively.
With wisdom drawn from Psalm 90, Ephesians 5, and Mary and Martha from the book of Luke we reflect on the true worth of time, offering practical tips on goal setting and prioritizing the things that truly matter.
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Have you ever caught yourself smirking when someone who sped past you on the highway gets pulled over? We've all felt that intriguing twinge of satisfaction at another's misfortune, and in this episode of the Exhorter podcast, we explore the curious emotion of schadenfreude. Through personal anecdotes and pop culture nods like Homer Simpson's envy-fueled glee, we examine how this complex feeling manifests in daily life and question whether it's inherently negative or a part of our human experience.
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Is sarcasm a clever tool or a dangerous trap? In this episode, we explore how sarcasm shows up in the Bible, from Elijah’s sharp mockery of Baal’s prophets to Job’s biting responses to his friends. While sarcasm can highlight absurdity and deliver truth with wit, it can also harm relationships when used carelessly. We’ll share biblical examples, personal stories, and insights into how sarcasm can enhance communication—or derail it—depending on the intent and audience. Join us as we navigate the fine line between humor that builds up and sarcasm that tears down.
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It would be impossible for one tool to become sharper without the presence of the other. This is what the concept of “iron sharpening iron”, from Proverbs 27, alludes to. Left isolated, both blades would be dull and quite useless. In this episode, we highlight 3 things we can learn from Proverbs 27:17, mutual accountability, encouragement and support, and the value of challenging one another.
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Can a church be doctrinally sound yet feel sterile and unwelcoming? Join us as we discuss how some congregations, despite their sound doctrine, might lack the warmth and familial excitement essential for a thriving church. Our conversation takes a deeper look at the church in Ephesus, whose commendable doctrinal soundness was shadowed by their loss of initial love and zeal.
(Lost Episode) This episode was recorded last May and considered lost until recently.
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How do you navigate the complexities of church membership and unity within your congregation? Join us for a discussion recorded at the serene Dinky Lakes, California, as we reflect on the lessons from the churches in Thyatira and Sardis from the book of Revelation. We'll explore Jesus's advice to the faithful remnant in Thyatira to hold fast to true teachings amidst false doctrines and immorality. Through this, we consider the nuanced decision-making process of whether to stay or leave a congregation facing significant issues.
Note: Our apologies for the noise during the recording, we did our best to clean it up but it was a windy morning in the woods.
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Are we supposed to be fasting? Matthew 6:17 says “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face...”. Does this verse allude to a practice we are neglecting in our lives? What do we know about fasting? In this episode, we dive into this listener's request to learn more about biblical fasting.
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What does "membership" mean, and is it necessary to join a local church? Some argue that the Bible doesn't explicitly require membership. Join us as we explore the significance of local church membership and what the Bible says about it.
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It’s summer and most of us will be finding ways to take a break from school and work, through long planned vacations or smaller trips throughout the summer. In this episode we conclude season 2 of the Exhorter Podcast by providing a few suggestions for how we can spend this summer not just becoming further away from hour homes, but drawing closer to our Lord and out creator.
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Is doubting your faith and God wrong? Are we expected to have an unwavering belief as Christians? Join us as we search the scriptures for examples of doubters and see how God responded to them. We also talk about the right and wrong ways to test the scriptures and our faith. Learn about the core problem of the deconstruction movement and how it can quickly lead to deconversion in Christians.
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What bible translation do you read from? How accurate is it? What is the difference between each translation? Whether you read from KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, NIV, or NLT, in this episode, we briefly examine the broad categories of translations, speak about their accuracy, and discuss the overall value of side-by-side comparison during bible study.
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Are you one of the 20-25% of Americans that have a tattoo? Are you thinking about getting a tattoo? There are many differentviews about tattoos within the church - some earnestly opposed andothers see no issue. Join us as we have our own lengthy debate on this topic and let’s see what the bible says, and doesn’t say, about getting that ink.
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Historically we’ve made a strong effort to draw doctrinal distinctions between the Church and denominational churches. But when determining if an activity is right for us or our local church, we sometimes may ask ourselves “Would that make us look like them?”. Let’s unpack this comparison idea a little more and dive into the practice of finding scriptural authority for what we do.
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Struggling with feelings of guilt over your sins, past mistakes, or lingering regrets? Why do we hold on to guilt and regret of sin and why does it manifest in physical pain sometimes? Maybe like us, you are contemplating the concept of self-forgiveness and questioning its validity in comparison to relying on divine forgiveness. Come join us as we explore the alignment of self-forgiveness with biblical teachings and share insights on summoning the courage to release the burden of guilt.
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Have you ever caught yourself substituting a potentially offensive word with a seemingly innocent one? Well, that's a euphemism. What is the real impact of euphemisms? Are they wrong to use? Join us for a brief chat about our words of choice, euphemisms, blasphemous slang, and crude language.
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What is wrong with gambling? Is gambling a sin? Are innocuous friendly wagers and raffles wrong? What about investing? Join us as we unpack these questions and dive into gambling's relationship with our walk as Christians. Whether you're firmly rooted in your views on gambling or still pondering where the line in the sand should be drawn, this discussion is for anyone seeking a balanced dialogue on making wise and discerning choices when it comes to gambling.
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Grief is a journey we all navigate differently, and in this episode, Kyle and Jon talk candidly about lamenting to God in the mourning process. We will guide you through the biblical accounts of expressing our anguish to the Almighty—taking cues from David and Jeremiah—and reveal how their example may lead us to hope and healing.
Finally, we honor the legacies of those we've loved and lost, inspired by King David's own tributes. We reflect on balancing our memories of those we’ve lost with our devotion to God and share intimate stories of how legacies have touched our lives. This episode isn't just about coping with grief; it's an invitation to carry forward the torch of our departed loved ones through kindness and service that furthers God's love in the world.
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As the new year approaches many have healthy resolutions on the brain. Well so did Kyle, and he asks "How important should the pursuit of fitness be in the life of a Christian?". Being physically fit is a good thing right? Then what could be bad about it? On the other hand, aren't we supposed to be disciplined and good stewards of the lives that God gives us? Join us for a light-hearted discussion on all of these questions and maybe a few fitness tips as well.
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Do you like to listen to Christian Rock, Gospel, or any other genre of instrumental music outside of worship that mentions God and is centered around Christianity? How about religious Christmas music? Or, does it all bother your conscience to do so? In this episode, we talk about what our perspective should be, as Christians, on instrumental Christian music outside of our assembly and worship.
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Join us and Tommy Peeler as we talk about when sin first entered the world in Genesis 3. We'll discuss how tempting it is to get close to sin and why that's not a good idea. Let's chat about setting clear boundaries, avoiding messing with sin, and understanding how we deal with it.
We'll also look at Matthew chapters 5 and 6 and use the idea of "glorifying God" as a guide. It'll help us figure out which paths might not be full-on sinful but could still mess with our journey or dim our light.
You can check out Tommy's podcast "Carefully Examining the Text" on all platforms.
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Ever wonder why we have quirky rituals for sports games or high-stakes competitions? Are you guilty of patting your car dashboard before a road trip or avoiding ladders at all costs? We unravel these peculiarities, linking them to biblical teachings and how God views superstitions. Sharing a few laugh-worthy anecdotes we explore how superstitions affect our understanding of God's will.
Also, drawing from compelling narratives like the Philistines taking the Ark of the Covenant, we expose the pitfalls of tokenizing religion and blurring the line between religion and superstition.
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Ever wondered why, despite a packed schedule and ceaseless hustle, there’s a nagging feeling that something is missing? Are we sacrificing the truly important on the altar of the urgent? Join us as we have an honest conversation about the struggle to keep God at the forefront, amidst the whirlwind of life.
In our quest to balance faith, family, hobbies, and 'me time', it's easy for our priorities to tip over. We share personal stories and talk about the challenge of recognizing when our priorities are out of balance.
Our journey takes us through an exploration of how to resist the allure of 'good' things that can distract us from the 'best'—keeping God as our priority. We end on a note of grace, acknowledging that stumbling is part of the journey, and sharing practical tips on how to trim the excess off our time for what truly matters.
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Ever found yourself grappling with the harsh reality of prioritizing others' opinions over your faith? You're not alone. In this episode, we crack open some biblical accounts to shed light on this dilemma. We look at John 12, where many couldn't openly profess their belief in Jesus due to their fear of the Pharisees. We also explore the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) and see how anxiety over people's perceptions can lead to devastating choices.
As we journey through this episode, we examine how age and maturity play pivotal roles in our sensitivity to others' perceptions. Using Paul's experience in Corinth as a blueprint, we see that criticism can often fester even amidst spiritual maturity. But hey, that's where the challenge lies. As parents, we're tasked with instilling in our children a sense of self-worth that reflects their divine representation, aiming to cultivate a mindset that shouts 'None of self and all of Thee'.
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Gospel meetings, singings, lectureships, youth forums...events like these are somewhat above and beyond the usual weekly worship service. They aren't more important but they do have their own benefits to our congregations and our own Christian walks. What is your attitude in regard to these "extracurricular" events?
Join us as we reminisce about the importance of these sorts of events to our own lives. We also dive into how they have changed over time and what our attitudes should be towards these opportunities.
This episode also serves as an announcement of some of our own events coming up this fall. Be sure to check out the episode and mark your calendars!
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Remember the excitement of the start of a relationship? Those little notes, sweet gestures, and genuine eagerness to impress? In this episode, we explore the reminiscent charm of the initial stages of relationships and also draw a parallel to the early days of our conversion. Listen as we dissect the Church of Ephesus from Revelation 2, a congregation so steeped in doctrine they lost sight of their initial passion, their first love. This is not a tale of yesteryears, but a timely reminder of the peril of going through the motions, of letting the flame dwindle in our service to others and our relationships.
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