Faithful Sayings Podcast
Olsen Park church of Christ
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A Bible study podcast of the Olsen Park church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas.
Available episodes
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Sep 23, 2023
Is God to Blame for Human Wickedness?
Why does evil exist in the world? If there really is a God, why does He allow evil things to happen? If He created all things, is He the creator of evil? What does the Bible teach about these difficult questions?
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Sep 16, 2023
Portrait of the New Testament Church
How does the biblical portrait of the church described in the New Testament match how the world pictures the church? How do our own concepts conform to this picture?
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Sep 9, 2023
God's Regret
On occasion, the Bible speaks of things happening that God is said to "regret." How can an all-knowing God "regret" anything? How should we understand this aspect of God's makeup?
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Sep 2, 2023
Why Do We Pray?
Critics of faith often appeal to prayer as a reason to reject the validity of faith altogether. They conclude if prayers are not answered there is no God or He is cruel and unwilling to help those who believe in Him. What does the Bible teach regarding these charges regarding prayer?
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Aug 26, 2023
The Name of the Lord
How is the name of God used in common speech today? Is it used with respect and reverence, or with casual disregard? For many people, it has become nothing more than a way to express surprise or dismay. What does the Bible teach about the use of the Lord's name?
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Aug 19, 2023
"He Hates" or "God Hates"
Many Christians have begun using the formal equivalence translation known as the English Standard Version. When reading from this translation in the book of Malachi, the student of Scripture will notice at once a reading dramatically different from that found in most other English translations. Why is this the case? What is the evidence behind these different renderings?
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Aug 12, 2023
Am I a Christian?
If I call a piece of broccoli an "apple," does it make it an apple? If I do it long enough, will it ever become an apple? Only the Bible can tell us what it truly means to be a Christian. Am I truly a Christian or am I just applying that name to myself when I am not truly a disciple of Christ?
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Aug 5, 2023
Alive in Christ
We've all heard the expression, "now that's living!" In Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul describes a condition of true spiritual life. He does not offer fleeting and superficial hope that rests in material things. Paul addresses the significance and glory of what it means to be alive in Christ.
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Jul 29, 2023
Mending Broken Relationships
In every human relationship, there can be times when things happen that damage the trust, closeness, and love that once existed. How should Christians handle such damaged relationships? What should be done? Whether we are talking about relationships between classmates, co-workers, family members, or members of a congregation what does the Bible teach about mending broken relationships?
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Jul 22, 2023
A Strategy for Victory
A battle the Israelites fought against the Canaanite city of Ai teaches some important lessons that can help Christians as they face their own spiritual warfare.
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Jul 15, 2023
From Confusion to Peace
Our world is filled with confusion. How should we live? What should we believe? How do we cope with life's trials? Is there a way to find peace in such confusion? Can one find a sense of direction? The good new of Jesus Christ offers the confused soul direction, guidance, and the way to go from confusion to peace.
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Jul 8, 2023
Maturity in the Church
Spiritual immaturity can have a profound impact on the functioning of a local congregation. Understanding some ways this can happen will not only safeguard against the problems this can cause but it can also stir us towards maturity in our own lives.
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Jul 1, 2023
Denominational "Salvation"
Throughout the religious world, men and women promote and express confidence in concepts of salvation in Christ that are not found in Scripture. What does the Bible teach about salvation? How does this differ from false concepts taught by denominations of men?
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Jun 24, 2023
The Apostle to the Gentiles
The apostle Paul fulfilled a special role in bringing the gospel to Gentiles in the first century. His work offers us some powerful and important lessons as we seek to spread the gospel in our own world.
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Jun 17, 2023
Prayer in the Early Church
The book of Acts is the inspired history of the early church. It sets patterns for how early men and women first obeyed the gospel and worshipped God under the New Covenant. What patterns can be discerned from what the book of Acts teaches us about prayer in the early church?
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Jun 10, 2023
Jesus Is the Bread of Life
Since the beginning of man’s life outside the Garden of Eden bread has been the food God has set forth to sustain man’s life. When Israel was in the wilderness God fed them with bread from heaven. After the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus identified Himself in this same way, as the bread which came down from from heaven. What did this mean? What was Jesus teaching?
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Jun 3, 2023
Conscience without Offense
The world has many different ideas about the conscience from a soft voice that speaks in one’s head, to a cute cherub that appears on the shoulder. What does Scripture teach about this part of our inner being that is called the conscience?
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May 27, 2023
Does God Violate His Own Laws?
From time to time the critic of faith or the believer facing doubts levels the charge against God that He is inconsistent. The argument is that He makes laws for human beings but violates those laws Himself. If this is true, it is argued, then God demands more of us than He does of Himself. Is this argument valid? How can this charge be answered?
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May 20, 2023
Warning Signs
We have all seen them—those flashing signs that tell you your speed in relation to the posted speed limit. If you are going too fast they give you a gentle warning that helps you change your speed before getting a ticket. These familiar street signs parallel some powerful principles that we should realize about spiritual things.
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May 13, 2023
"Not Dead, but Sleeping"
Is death the end of life? When life passes from the body, do we cease to exist? The Bible teaches that physical death does not bring human existence to an end. Instead, death is described as "sleep." What does the Bible teach about this "sleep" of death?
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May 6, 2023
Step Outside of Yourself
Why does life so often feel overwhelming? How much interest do we take in the lives of others? If most of your focus is only on your own troubles and hardships, perhaps it is time you need to "step outside of yourself!"
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Apr 29, 2023
"Good People"
Most people consider themselves to be "good people," but what defines what is good? If I do wrong, am I still a "good" person? Before God, is anyone truly "good"? Does God's grace automatically excuse the sins committed by children of God? If not what does the Bible teach that Christians should do if sin comes into their lives? Do "good people" continue in sin?
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Apr 22, 2023
Resisting the Victim Mentality
In the past, victims of mistreatment or life's hardships were ignored and abuse was "swept under the rug." Now, the increased spotlight on conditions people have had to endure has led to another extreme. It has become fashionable for more and more people to see ourselves as victims. What are the causes and results of this mindset? Does the Bible encourage this view of ourselves and our lives?
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Apr 15, 2023
"I AM"
The name by which God identified Himself to Moses, in Exodus 3:14, declared something profound about the nature of God—He is not one who has been or one who will be. Rather, He simply is self-existent, eternal, and ever-present. In John 8:58, Jesus uses the same words to identify Himself. This, and other statements Jesus makes using the words "I Am," also tell us about His nature, power, and identity.
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Apr 8, 2023
Redeeming the Time
In his letters to the Ephesians and Colossians Paul urged the brothers and sisters in both congregations to live their lives *“redeeming the time” *(Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5b). How does one redeem time? How much time do we have to redeem? Is it morbid and pessimistic to consider such questions? How well am I *“redeeming the time” *in my life?
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Apr 1, 2023
Faith That Is Pleasing to God
The Bible teaches that faith is essential to salvation, but how does Scripture define saving faith? What does it involve and how is it demonstrated? In what must we put our faith? Is it grounded upon our feelings and emotions or upon an objective standard?
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Mar 25, 2023
"The Lord Knows How"
In Peter’s second epistle, he appeals to us to appreciate the value of history. Not because of what history can show us about ourselves or past civilizations, but because of what it can show us about God.
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Mar 18, 2023
The Name of the Lord
When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, He forbade them from using His name "in vain." Jesus taught that God's name should be "hallowed." Why is it so important how the name of the Lord is used?
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Mar 11, 2023
Casting Pearls before Swine
Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave a command to His disciples that presents some questions and challenges to all who would follow Him. What is the Lord teaching in this text and how should it be applied in our lives?
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Mar 4, 2023
Sins of Ignorance
What does the Bible teach about sins of ignorance——that is, sins we commit without realizing it, or commit concerning matters of which we are ignorant? Can they be forgiven? What provision has the Lord made to address these transgressions when they come into our lives?
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Feb 25, 2023
Belshazzar and Darius the Mede: Was Daniel Wrong?
A favorite target of critics of faith concerns two kings mentioned eight times each in the book of Daniel: Belshazzar and Darius the Mede. Unfortunately much of secular history does not record the existence of either of these figures. This has led some to conclude that neither of these kings mentioned in Daniel actually existed and Daniel was wrong. Is this charge true? If not, what is the evidence for their existence?
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Feb 18, 2023
"New Creation"
There is something about a new birth that reminds us of our own days of youth and innocence. This is true not only of physical birth, but spiritual birth as well. It is a joyous thing when a sinner turns from the darkness of sin, putting faith in Christ, to have his or her sins washed away in baptism by the blood of Christ. Let's consider a few questions about such times of spiritual birth.
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Feb 11, 2023
Paranoia
Many people struggle from time to time with the mindset known in modern times as paranoia—a fear that other people are against us, talking bad about us, or trying to hurt us. Should Christians allow such a mindset to go unchecked? Are there dangers it offers to our service in Christ? Does the Bible offer any guidance for those who struggle with this crippling disposition?
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Feb 4, 2023
Am I Lost?
Matthew 18:11 records that Jesus’s life-purpose was to rescue or “save” those whom He calls the “lost.” Who are these people Jesus refers to as the “lost”?
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Jan 28, 2023
The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant
Matthew 8:5-13 records a remarkable healing which Jesus performed for a most unlikely person. We are not told how this man learned about Jesus, but this non-Israelite would demonstrate greater faith than many of the Jews had up to that point in Jesus’s ministry
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Jan 21, 2023
"How Can I Blaspheme My King?"
The courageous death, in the second century, of a Christian named Polycarp serves as a powerful example of faith in Christ in the face of intense persecution. If Christians today faced the threat of death for being a Christian would we have this kind of courage?
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Jan 14, 2023
Dismantling Bible Authority
Some are arguing that it is unscriptural to look to commands, examples, and inferences as a way to determine Bible authority. Is their claim valid? Is this a modern innovation? Should disciples of Christ reject this approach to biblical interpretation?
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Jan 7, 2023
Baptism and Death to Sin
In the opening verses of the sixth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans he offers some powerful teaching on how one can become dead to sin and the role baptism plays in this death.
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Dec 31, 2022
The Johannine Comma
One of the most problematic texts in the entire New Testament, from the standpoint of manuscript evidence, is 1 John 5:7-8a. Why is this passage disputed? Why do some translations delete it? Why is it present in some texts?
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Dec 24, 2022
Reasons You Can Trust God
Disappointing circumstances in life, mistreatment by others, or discouragements sometimes lead people to feel that they cannot trust God. They feel God has let them down or doesn't care about them. Let's consider eight reasons we can know that God cares about us.
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Dec 17, 2022
The War Is Over
In efforts to encourage Christians and non-Christians to see the importance of the spiritual battles we face, sometimes we may fail to recognize a vital truth about this struggle. While the Bible teaches that we individually engage in battles, in the broader view the fact is that the war is already over and Satan has lost!
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Dec 10, 2022
"Get Real!"
The casual expressions "get real!" or "keep it real," that used to serve as informal exclamations or greetings, pose some challenging admonitions when considered from a spiritual perspective.
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Dec 3, 2022
The Foundation of Our Rights
The Declaration of Independence asserts that human beings possess certain "unalienable" rights. Does the Bible supports this concept of “inalienable rights”? Are these ideas we share as Americans compatible with what it means to be a Christian ?
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Nov 26, 2022
Leaving Room for Change
In our own lives and in the lives of others the way we approach religious change, even when the truth demands it, can either make change easier or put up obstacles that make it much harder. How can we leave room for change in our own attitudes and in our interaction with those around us?
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Nov 19, 2022
"Righteousness Exalts a Nation"
How does God define right and wrong? How does pursuing God’s standard benefit a nation? Proverbs 14:34 teaches some general truths that every Christian should recognize
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Nov 12, 2022
"Remember His Marvelous Works"
In Psalm 105, the Holy Spirit teaches us that an appreciation of God’s marvelous works in the past should lead those who serve Him to proper behavior in the present.
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Nov 5, 2022
God's Simple Plan for the Home
In a world of ever-increasing confusion over the family, the Holy Spirit, in Colossians 3 reveals four verses that lay down God's simple plan for the home.
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Oct 29, 2022
Is There a Way out of Religious Confusion?
Many people feel frustrated and uncertain about religion because everywhere around us there is religious confusion. Is there a way to cut through all of this confusion and discover the truth about what God expects of men and women in this life?
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Oct 22, 2022
Seeing God within Me
The Eastern concept that all souls have a "god-force" within them is not compatible with the biblical revelation of a transcendent God. But, the Bible does teach the importance our lives can have in helping others shape concepts about the God revealed in the Bible.
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Oct 15, 2022
It Didn't Have to Be This Way
Through envy, selfishness, and partiality, the family of Isaac allowed itself to suffer decades of pain and alienation, but it didn't have to be that way. What lessons can we learn from their mistakes to help our families live in peace, love, and harmony?
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Oct 8, 2022
Holding onto "God's Unchanging Hand"
Understanding the challenges in the life of Mary Jane Bain Wilson, the author of the beloved hymn, "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand," makes its lyrics especially meaningful. Scripture offers the means by which the faithful Christian can take hold of God's hand of guidance through whatever we must face in this life.
*Sources
*Adams, Richard W. “Jennie Bain Wilson” Hymntime.com. http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/w/i/l/s/o/n/j/wilson_jb.htm.
Cain, David. “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand—Jennie Wilson.” Song Scoops. http://songscoops.blogspot.com/2015/09/hold-to-gods-unchanging-hand-jennie.html.
Hall, Jacob Henry. Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co. 1914, 372-375.
“Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand.” Hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com. https://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/hold-to-gods-unchanging-hand/.
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Oct 1, 2022
"But If Not"
Serving God is easy when things go the way we expect them to. The real test comes when God allows conditions in our lives that are not what we wanted. How will we react when God allows us to face things that are difficult or even oppressive? Will we serve Him regardless?
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Sep 24, 2022
The Crossroads of Adversity
Some time in the life of every soul something will happen that we didn't expect and for which we were not prepared. It will change our view of life and our place in this world. How will we handle it?
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Sep 17, 2022
Jesus Is My Lord and My God
The Gospel of John puts forth and emphasizes the bold claim that Jesus of Nazareth was not merely the Messiah sent from God but was, in fact, God in the flesh.
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Sep 8, 2022
"What Are You Doing?"
Communication is a challenge in any relationship. Thankfully, the Bible offers guidance to help us improve how we speak, listen, and connect with others. We'll examine four biblical principles to improve communication.
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