The Bible and Our Culture

Remain relational until the grave!

Relationships hurt sooner or later, but they are worth the risk, they are worth the pain.  
God builds His Church relationally.  

KISS: Keep It Simple Saints

We are called to keep the gospel and our lives with Jesus simple.  What does that mean? What does it look like?
There are challenges of remaining simple like Jesus taught.
 

Personal Testimony of Jay MacPherson, host of this podcast

There is power in your testimony!
God is faithful to work His character in His saints regardless of the challenges they face.

The kingdom of darkness often shoot itself in the foot.

Demons have no power over a believer other than what we allow.
Don't sin.
Paul's ministry in Ephesus shows the devil's plans backfire.
Demons and Satan often shoot themselves in the foot; that is, their plans will backfire if we stand against them in faith and truth.
Time with the Lord alone and time with Lord collectively are important to your health.
Time with God is an epic fight but keep fighting!

Kingdom methods for advancement.

Paul's ministry in Ephesus was successful!  The Ephesus Church reached all of Asia.  How?  Because they were able to replicate themselves starting with Paul.
Even if you find yourself within tyranny, keep sharing your testimony.  The kingdom of God cannot be oppressed.  
A daily grind and routine of regular Bible Study is what led to success!
The church of Ephesus shows kingdom methods for advancement.  Replication is God's method of growth.

Apollos, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and division.

Apollos was an amazing minister even though he didn't know about this second baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2, 8, 9 and 19 explain a subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit different than conversion.  
If you haven’t experienced the subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit, please leave your heart open to it.
If you have experienced this subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit, please receive from today’s Apollos-type believers.
This subsequent baptism is biblical, but it is not the central thrust of the New Testament.
Please be open to what the Holy Spirit may be doing.

Riots, race and provoking the lost to jealousy.

Live an adventurous life for Jesus!  It will bring persecution.  Riots today are like riots in the book of Acts. 
Make unbelievers jealous of the life you have in Christ.
Why did Paul go to the Jews first?  He didn't have a racial bias.  He had companions of all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds.  He wanted to take advantage of the Jewish people's background and worldview.
Our civil duties are important, but not as important as converting people to Jesus.

Separated to understanding the gospel

The Gospel is for Unbelievers and Believers Alike
If you work on understanding salvation (the gospel), then God will cause you to both will and do what He wants.
He changes your nature to be like His!
Unknown quote: “The gospel is so simple, a young child can understand it; but it is also so profound and inex-haustible even the most brilliant scholars will never fully understand all that pertains to it.”
The gospel is like an eternal piece of perfect chicken, that always has good meat on it.

"Make Known the wisdom of God to principalities and powers."

Demonstrate the wisdom of God by your actions.
Like a professional athlete, when you struggle, go back to the fundamentals.
Perspective is everything!
There is value in trash-talking demonic forces.

Many Christians allow themselves to be intimidated.

While the New Testament was written, Judaism was the main intimidating spirit, but today in Western Culture the main intimidating spirit is secularism.  
Because of intimidation; there is a tragic decline in the percentage of people who call themselves Christians today compared to a few years ago.  
"Christians" don't want to show lost people they are lost; they want to be popular with them.