Right Start Radio with Pastor Jim Custer
1,271 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsRight Start Radio with Pastor Jim Custer
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John The Baptist's Preparation - Part 2 of 2
July 09, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBJohn the Introducer knew who Jesus was - not "just" the Lamb of God, but the Son of God! Think about what rare company John the Baptist was in. When he was let in on the secret of Jesus' divine nature, only a few people had shared that knowledge. Mary, Joseph, maybe some magi or shepherds. And those who did know, and were still alive, had waited 30 years for ...something. The acerbic John was chosen to announce the greatest news of all time. And now everyone can know who Jesus is. Here's...
John The Baptist's Preparation - Part 1 of 2
July 08, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBGod never learns. That sounds like an insult, doesn't it? "God never learns." If we said that about a human it would be a put-down. But the Omniscient One doesn't have anything to discover. And this presents a bit of a problem when we insist, as we do, that the baby Jesus was God. The key to this mystery resides in the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, that wild prophet John. Jim continues to think about him today in a sermon called John the Baptist's Preparation. Here's Part 1. Listen to...
The Eyewitnesses Of Jesus - Part 2 of 2
July 07, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBDo we have the Gospel According to Mary? Luke's account reveals the innermost thoughts of Jesus' mother at critical moments in His life. It's clear that we do have Mary's version of events, and much more, in the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Yesterday Pastor Jim wanted to give us a better appreciation of Dr. Luke, in order to gain more clarity on another powerful man of God, John the Baptist. Today Jim will tell us that we'll never get Jesus right if we ignore John! Let's listen Lis...
The Eyewitnesses Of Jesus - Part 1 of 2
July 06, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWhat did Jesus know, and when did He know it? Since we believe that the "Word was made flesh," in such a way that Jesus wasn't half-man and half-God, but somehow fully man and fully God, how did that work itself out in His life? How did He come to know His identity? Was there a process of discovery, or a sudden revelation? This isn't just a question for theologians, as Jim will explain over the next few episodes. Here's Part 1 of his sermon, The Eyewitnesses of Jesus Listen to Right Star...
Freedom To Fail - Part 2 of 2
July 05, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBCaptivity is always an option. It's strange to think that a freed slave would voluntarily go back into bondage. But the ancient Israelites wanted to do it. Paul saw an entire church - the church in Galatia - that apparently found servitude appealing. And we have to admit that being a free and responsible person is sometimes a burden. How can we stay free (assuming we want to)? Let's join Jim in Galatians 4:31 for the second half of, Freedom to Fail. Listen to Right Start Radio every Mon...
Freedom To Fail - Part 1 of 2
July 02, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBFireworks and freedom just seem to go together! Paul wrote a letter about Freedom in Christ, and it's full of fireworks! It's the book of Galatians. Around this Independence Day weekend it's good to think about what we're set free from; about the dangers as well as the delights of liberty; and about how to live truly free. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:...
The Final Satisfaction - Part 2 of 2
July 01, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MB"He who laughs last laughs best." Or, "All's well that ends well." We have a number of old, "trite and true" sayings to remind us that it is in fact not the journey, but the destination, that's all-important. Today we'll conclude our series of questions, called I Wonder. And at least some of them have been questions for God, or challenges to Him. How does He defend the suffering and injustice that we have to live in? The Bible is the only place for answers to these questions, and especial...
The Final Satisfaction - Part 1 of 2
June 30, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBJesus could say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" but we cannot. On His cross the Son of God suffered alone, except for a few friends who couldn't be of much comfort. We on our crosses may feel like we're alone - and the Enemy will try to intensify that feeling - but God is with us. We've asked some tough questions in this series, I Wonder. Some of the toughest have to do with human pain, and what it means to have a God who allows that to continue - for now. Jim will address the...
Doing Good and Suffering for it - Part 3 of 3
June 29, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIf we seek the pain-free path, we'll be on the wrong road! No normal person likes pain, and our generation has become highly skilled at avoiding any kind of discomfort. Christians can rationalize our love of the soft life as "God's will to bless us." But God's will includes a cross. We've been talking specifically about Doing Good and Suffering For It. What happens when we "don't return evil for evil, but give a blessing instead?" Jim will give us some encouraging answers to that question...
Doing Good and Suffering for it - Part 2 of 3
June 28, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBYou keep putting good out into the world, and evil keeps coming back. But it's nothing compared to the experience of Jesus. If anyone could have been disheartened and angry because His help was repaid with hate and malice, it was Christ. He could heal a man and be accused of lawbreaking; He could reveal deep truth and be called a blasphemer. Yet He continued to love His enemies. And that's our Example. Here's Jim in 1 Peter with more of the sermon, Doing Good and Suffering for It. Listen...
Doing Good and Suffering for it - Part 1 of 3
June 25, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIn our upside-down world, doing good is a punishable offense. I hope someone warned you that walking with Jesus would make you a target. Because that's what we all signed up for. As long as the world lies in the power of the Evil One, he will bring consequences on those who dare tell the truth, or resist him in any way. The question is, how will we respond when we suffer for Christ? Will we choose to respond like Jesus? Here's the first part of a sermon Jim calls, Doing Good, and Sufferin...
The Unfairness of That Which Is Fair - Part 2 of 2
June 24, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBGod cries, "Oh, that they would consider their latter end!" When we ponder the prosperity of the wicked, as the psalmist Asaph did, we're tempted to forget that we're not seeing the end of the story. This opera isn't over yet - the plump lady is still backstage doing her vocal warmups. Jesus illustrated the truth that it's not the score at halftime that counts, using the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Which would you rather be? Don't answer too quickly. Jim's in Luke 16. Listen to Ri...
The Unfairness of That Which Is Fair - Part 1 of 2
June 23, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIt's not always the cream that rises to the top! In recent days we've acknowledged that life is unfair. And we've thought about some of the reasons why bad things happen to good people. But what about when good things are continually showered on bad people? The dross, the dregs of humanity are sometimes the "rich and famous" - and powerful. The devil wants us to believe that serving God is pointless. So let's listen instead to the truth, as Jim talks about The Unfairness of That Which is ...
The Unfair Advantage - Part 2 of 2
June 22, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBLight affliction; heavy glory. Actually, Paul's formulation in 2 Corinthians is "momentary, light affliction" balanced against an "eternal weight of glory" - something to remember when those troubles don't feel so light. Are Christians crazy for looking at suffering this way, or are we just able to put our pain in perspective? Can it really be true that it will all be worth it - and much more than worth it - on the other side? Here's Pastor Jim with the conclusion of his sermon, The Unfair...
The Unfair Advantage - Part 1 of 2
June 21, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBUndeserved suffering is unfair, we agree. But what if it's unfair in a good way? Last week we began to think about the ancient and universal human question, "Why do the innocent suffer?" Or, to point the finger at our Creator: "Why does God allow unjust pain in this world?" We got some inspiring answers from Job, but today we turn to the New Testament, and another expert on the many dimensions of unjust suffering - Paul. Here's Jim with Part 1 of The Unfair Advantage. Listen to Right Star...
Why Is Life So Unfair? - Part 2 of 2
June 18, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWhy do bad things happen to good people? We learn in the Bible that "There is none righteous, no, not one," and, "No one is good except God alone." Yet there is a sense in which we can talk about "good" human beings. The Lord praised Job as "blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." And Job's book is where we go when we want to learn about suffering that's not directly related to sin. You'll be glad you came back for Part 2 of Why is Life so Unfair? Listen to Right ...
Why Is Life So Unfair? - Part 1 of 2
June 17, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBYour dad probably told you, "Life isn't fair." And if he didn't, someone should have. We live in a state of simmering moral indignation. It's not merely that the world is an unjust place, but we expect a just God to balance the books. Yet He seems indifferent, at best, to the cries of the innocent, and the crimes of the wicked. We've arrived at one of the oldest questions man has struggled with: Why is Life so Unfair? Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM ...
The Greatest Secret In The World - Part 2 of 2
June 16, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBGod doesn't have to choose, to do good. If you and I even want to make an attempt at goodness, we have to decide, and then stick to our decision as the devil's flaming darts come our way. But God is good. It's as easy for Him to be kind as it is for us to be cranky. He is giving, we are selfish; those are our natures. Let's continue to explore this innate, overflowing goodness of God. Here's Jim to conclude his sermon, The Greatest Secret in the World. Listen to Right Start Radio every Mon...
The Greatest Secret In The World - Part 1 of 2
June 15, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBToday you'll learn the greatest secret in the world. Some days my job is even easier than usual. If I want to interest you in listening to this episode, all I have to do is read the sermon title, The Greatest Secret in the World. And we all want to know: What is that secret? Will we agree that it's the most significant piece of information known (or unknown) to humanity? And if this knowledge is so important, who's keeping us in the dark about it? Here's Jim with answers, on today's Right ...
Why Don't I Do What I Know I Should? - Part 2 of 2
June 14, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIf you put your car in Drive and it goes backwards, something's wrong. On Friday we opened a sermon called Why Don't I Do What I Know I Should? ...and it deals with an issue that has frustrated every Christian all the way back to the Apostle Paul: If I know what is right, and I want to do what is right, why can't I do it? He cried, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" Fortunately it's not a rhetorical question. Here's Jim in Romans 7. Listen to Right S...
Why Don't I Do What I Know I Should? - Part 1 of 2
June 11, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBMy Morality account has been hacked! Please be aware that someone pretending to be me has been saying things I certainly wouldn't say, and doing things I would never do. But he looks like me and he sounds like me, and he lives inside my skin! In our series on the big questions of life, our next stop is in Romans 7 for a look at the dilemma that all Christians face: what to do about our dual nature? Or, as Jim puts it, Why Don't I Do What I Know I Should? Listen to Right Start Radio every M...
Is There A God? - Part 2 of 2
June 10, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MB"[S]ince the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." - Romans 1:20. Yesterday we started to examine the question, Is There a God? And, as with our previous question, Why Do I Exist? Jim has 4 responses from the Word of God. Then we'll move on to the follow-up questions: If God exists, Where is He? and What's He up to? Listen to Right Start Rad...
Is There A God? - Part 1 of 2
June 09, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBGod doesn't believe in atheists. We're here for Jim's sermon, Is There a God? as part of our series on the Big Questions called, I Wonder. And we'll see right away that we have overwhelming evidence for God's existence - the problem between Him and the disbeliever lies elsewhere. The giveaway is the hatred towards this "imaginary" Being. But before we're finished, Jim will acknowledge that the atheist has at least one thing right. We'll begin, as you may have guessed, in the first chapter...
Why Do I Exist? - Part 2 of 2
June 08, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBEven Christians sometimes struggle with "our purpose in life." If that's a familiar feeling, this is for you. Paul was talking to nonbelievers in Acts 17, but even believers can get a little "fuzzy" on these things sometimes. Yesterday Jim began to bring out 4 points from Paul's sermon at the Areopagus. The first reason for your existence is that God wanted you to exist. There's no stronger reason than that! Now we'll rewind a bit, to hear the rest of the list. You've joined us very early...
Why Do I Exist? - Part 1 of 2
June 07, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBPurpose: Don't leave home without it. If we're all living pointless lives in a random universe - as many try to tell us - why are humans so desperate to find our purpose? We seem to be wired in such a way that we need meaning. We're so hungry for it that we'll sometimes latch onto a false reason for existence. Today, Jim opens a new series on the fundamental questions of life, with Part 1 of a sermon called, Why do I Exist? He'll find four answers to that question, and we'll hear three of...
Seizing The Opportunities That Come With Difficulties - Part 2 of 2
June 04, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBResurrection is everything. Paul had a lot of time to think between his various court appearances. And as he pondered his defense, and what was really being charged against him, and the ramifications of the gospel, he distilled the matter to one point: the dead will rise. And Jesus is not only the Resurrected One, but the Resurrector of all - for one destination or the other. Here's Part 2 of Jim's sermon, Seizing the Opportunities that Come with Difficulties. Listen to Right Start Radio e...
Seizing The Opportunities That Come With Difficulties - Part 1 of 2
June 03, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBFestus said, "I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night." When a new administration comes in, unscrupulous people can take advantage of the lack of historical information. The incoming ruler must move cautiously until he learns the lay of the land. The Roman governor Festus wasn't going to have the wool pulled over his eyes, if he could help it. And he made a historic decision. Today Jim begins his final sermon in our Acts series: It's called, Seizing the Opportunities that ...
The Roman Trial Of Heaven's Ambassador - Part 3 of 3
June 02, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBMurder in the name of God? When Paul came to Jerusalem, we knew it was only a matter of time before he would run afoul of the Jewish authorities. As we're reading Acts 23, now the Roman authorities are involved, too. And apparently the Sanhedrin despaired of winning their case at law, because some of them - more than 40 - planned to take matters into their own hands. But everything was in God's hands, as always. Here's Jim with the third-and-final part of his sermon called, The Roman Tria...
The Roman Trial Of Heaven's Ambassador - Part 2 of 3
June 01, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIs Jesus God? Paul shouts that he's on trial for "the hope of the resurrection of the dead." And that hope doesn't just split the Sanhedrin in two; it divides the world. If Jesus not only laid down His life for us but took it up again, as He put it, then He's more than just a human being. We pick up Acts 23 after Paul has received a slap, and given the High Priest back his change. Here's Jim with Part 2 of The Roman Trial of Heaven's Ambassador. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday ...
The Roman Trial Of Heaven's Ambassador - Part 1 of 3
May 31, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIn our culture there are certain things - true things - that you're not allowed to say. Just like in Paul's day. The Sanhedrin would have made a good editorial board for one of our social media platforms; apparently their plan was to censor Christianity out of existence. And maybe their biggest red flag was race. If you said that God was "color blind," and loved even the Gentiles - well, that was over the line. Here's Jim with Part 1 of, The Roman Trial of Heaven's Ambassador. Listen to R...
Obedient No Matter The Cost - Part 2 of 2
May 28, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIt's said that "A lie will go 'round the world while truth is pulling its boots on." There was "fake news" even in the first century, and the fakest was that Paul was persuading Jews to abandon their religious identity. How does one combat a lie like that? Well, the church elders in Jerusalem had an idea. ... We're hearing the second half of Pastor Jim's sermon, Obedient, No Matter the Cost. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am,...
Obedient No Matter The Cost - Part 1 of 2
May 27, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MB"Is this the hill you want to die on?" It's good to be reminded that not all arguments have to be won, that not all causes are worth the ultimate sacrifice. Paul had picked his final battle. Though it grieved those who loved him, he knew the hill he wanted to die on - or the 7 hills, we could say. In our study today, we'll make it to Jerusalem with Paul and company. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH)...
To Finish My Course - Paul - Part 3 of 3
May 26, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MB"The buck stops here." There's nowhere else for it to go. As Paul said goodbye for the last time to the overseers and shepherds of the church in Ephesus, he charged them - not some distant, religious bureaucrats - to guard their sheep from wolves. The government of the early church was simple, personal, and local. We're in Acts, chapter 20, overhearing the parting words of the great Apostle to some dear brothers. Today Pastor Jim will close his sermon, To Finish My Course - Paul. Listen t...
To Finish My Course - Paul - Part 2 of 3
May 25, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBPaul knew he had started the last lap of his race. When Jesus had set His face toward Jerusalem, His disciples didn't understand what would happen there. When Paul started his final trip toward that same city, his disciples and friends knew it was a death march. And it was heartbreaking. Jim promised we would see a Riot, a Resurrection and a Revival in Acts 19. We'll begin today with the riot in Ephesus. Here's the middle segment of the sermon, To Finish My Course - Paul. Listen to Right...
To Finish My Course - Paul - Part 1 of 3
May 24, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MB"Believe whatever you like - as long as it doesn't affect my business!" Paul's attack on the goddess Diana, or Artemis, wasn't just a religious insult to the Ephesians; it must have wounded their civic pride - and most importantly, it was going to take food off their tables. Something had to be done! There was only one problem: Paul wasn't blaspheming their goddess. As we move forward in Acts 19, Pastor Jim opens a message called, To Finish My Course - Paul. Listen to Right Start Radio eve...
God's Two Year Visit To Ephesus - Part 2 of 2
May 21, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBThere's a book-burning in Ephesus tonight. Let's make s'mores! Authoritarians and activists burn books because they're afraid - afraid of the ideas inside them. Occultists who turn to the Lord burn their mystical books because they're renouncing dark powers - they've been set free from fear. That's what happened in the idolatrous city of Ephesus. In this edition Jim will wrap up his sermon called God's 2-Year Visit to Ephesus. We're in the book of Acts, chapter 19. Listen to Right Start ...
God's Two Year Visit To Ephesus - Part 1 of 2
May 20, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBPaul isn't exactly touring the "garden spots." For a year-and-a-half the Apostle had ministered from that slimy "city of ill repute," Corinth. After another road trip with stops including his old stomping grounds Antioch and Jerusalem, Paul landed in Ephesus. That town was the center of Artemis-worship; and where there are idols, there are demons. Did all the occult activity hamper the work of God there? Let's find out, in a sermon Jim calls God's 2-Year Visit to Ephesus Listen to Right S...
Following John - Finding Jesus - Part 2 of 2
May 19, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBApollos was a gifted speaker... with some big holes in his theology... this could have gone really wrong! We could easily have a Cult of Apollos, the "John's Baptism Only" sect, if not for the loving guidance of two people we'll meet today. We're in Acts 18 for Following John, Finding Jesus, Part 2 Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can al...
Following John - Finding Jesus - Part 1 of 2
May 18, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBA modern-day "evangelist" might sweep into town, preach a few nights, then fly away forever. Not Paul. We've joined the traveling company of Paul, courtesy of Dr. Luke, and we see that the Apostle is no shallow showman. He's not concerned about increasing his head-count or his pocketbook; he's interested in deep roots, and lasting fruit. We'll be in Acts 18 with Jim after this personal story. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am,...
Reaching God's People In Corinth - Part 1 of 2
May 14, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWhat happens in Corinth, stays in Corinth. We may associate that ancient Greek city with Corinthian columns or "Corinthian leather." But historically, the name has been connected to licentiousness and vice. Our ongoing study of the book of Acts takes us to chapter 18, and we'll walk with Paul from Athens about 50 miles West, to the "sin city" of the day. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, ...
Making Known The Unknown God - Part 2 of 2
May 13, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBJudgment is coming. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would "convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgment." And Paul must have been inspired by the Spirit when he spoke to the idolaters in Athens. This God you don't know, knows you. And He has appointed a Judge. We'll start in Acts 17:25 for Part 2 of Making Known the Unknown God Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Col...
Making Known The Unknown God - Part 1 of 2
May 12, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWill Rogers said, "Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects." The Athenians thought Paul was an ignorant bumpkin. But they were ignorant of the biggest subject of all - and they had admitted as much. Now, where to begin his explanation? They were so uninformed that Paul couldn't use the Scriptures to make his case; he had to start from the basics: the nature of God, and Creation. We might playfully call it, "The gospel for dummies." Here's Part 1 of Jim's sermon, Making Known the ...
Checking To See If These Things Are So - Part 1 of 1
May 11, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBActs 17, "Paul at Mars Hill" - a symbol of the verbal defense of the gospel. Socrates had addressed the "men of Athens," you may remember, and it didn't turn out so well for him. But Paul wasn't on trial that day - it was the gospel on trial. And while his audience wasn't predisposed to believe it, they were at least willing to listen. But before we get to Athens, we'll make a happy stop in Berea. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:...
Those Who Have Turned The World Upside Down - Part 2 of 2
May 10, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWhen the "officials" come out on the field and start kicking the ball around, they're not officiating anymore! As the gospel spread in the first century it forced people to take sides. Exactly what and how much do we owe to God, and how much to the king? What if the king thinks he is a god? What if the supposedly impartial rulers, the "officials," take sides in the game? These are questions arising from our reading of Acts 17 today. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Frida...
Those Who Have Turned The World Upside Down - Part 1 of 2
May 07, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBPaul had a feeling he was not in Kansas anymore! The Apostle who called himself a "Hebrew of Hebrews" found himself far from home, out in the land of the Gentiles. And things were different, yet the same. We've come to Acts 17 in our survey of this fascinating book. We'll see that, wherever they go, Paul, Silas and Timothy make it a point to bring the gospel to Jews first, and then to the non-Jews. In both groups they'll find faith, and also fury. They became infamous as Those Who Have T...
Application Of The Apostolic Decisions About Gentiles - Part 2 of 2
May 04, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBWhile Paul and Silas were obeying the command to "Go," the Holy Spirit told them to Stop! Go, preach the gospel everywhere - but not here, not just yet. That's one of the notable things we'll get out of Acts 16, today. It must be that God has a strategy. There's nothing unplanned in heaven, even though we may not know what those plans are. Yesterday we started a sermon called, Application of the Apostolic Decisions About Gentiles. Today we'll continue to learn about Paul's Second Missionary...
Application Of The Apostolic Decisions About Gentiles - Part 1 of 2
May 03, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBThe Jerusalem Council had made its decision. Now, how would the people in the pews receive it? Some unauthorized teachers and Pharisees - who else? - had tried to put the church under the Law. But the dustup had been resolved. The Gentiles' freedom in Christ had been preserved... with some stipulations. Let's learn what these were, and how both Jews and Gentiles liked the outcome. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM...
The Blessing Of God To Both Jew And Gentile - Part 2 of 2
April 30, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBIf Gentiles don't have to become Jews, do Jews have to become Gentiles? I've been known to ask trick questions to get you thinking. But this question is a sincere one that has implications for us today, just as it did 2,000 years ago. Should Jews give up their cultural and religious distinctives when they embrace Jesus? Are these just remnants of the Old Covenant to be cast off, or do they enrich the faith of the believing Jew? Jim takes us back to Peter's speech in Acts 15. Listen to Ri...
The Blessing Of God To Both Jew And Gentile - Part 1 of 2
April 29, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBNo salvation without circumcision? It must have seemed very logical to some of the early Christians: God had commanded His people to follow some rules and to carry in their bodies the sign of being in covenant with Him. If Gentiles wanted to join the people of God, they would have to observe the Sabbath, keep a kosher diet, and be circumcised. But there's a flaw in that logic: This covenant isn't like that covenant. We have a record of how the early church resolved their controversy, and we...
A Light For The Gentiles - Part 2 of 2
April 28, 2021 04:00 - 22.8 MBDon't expect any mercy from the court of public opinion. Mobs are irrational, and that's never good. The people who hailed Paul and Barnabas as gods quickly came to believe they were the worst of men. It would be hard for us to believe that the crowd at Lystra could change its collective mind so quickly - and so completely - except that we saw the same thing happen to Jesus between Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Jim will read from Acts 14:15 as we complete his sermon, A Light for the Gentiles...