Dan River Church Podcast

Chaos cannot keep Christ out of Christmas. When we feel chaotic and stressed, we look to the Prince of Peace. We obey what Jesus says, stay where Jesus is, and worship who Jesus is. The result: Our storms will pass, and our salvation will become personal.

We need to stop viewing our Heavenly Father through the lens of our earthly fathers. The Everlasting Father is the founding father of eternity and the one constant father throughout history. The Father provides generously, pursues passionately, pardons completely, and parties extravagantly.

One of the names of God in Isaiah 9:6 is Mighty God or El Gibbor: hero, warrior, champion. Our Mighty God's power is proven, permanent, and personal. Cry out for the power of Mighty God today!

Names matter. One of the names of God in Isaiah 9:6 is Wonderful Counselor. The Wonderful Counselor is approachable, reliable, and available. His provisions are endless, His perspective is eternal, and His presence is everywhere. That's good news in troubling times.

The Lord gave two ordinances to the Church. Baptism is the first act of obedience after trusting Jesus as Savior, a public identification of belonging to Jesus, and a public declaration of who Jesus is. The Lord's Supper is a body of believers who commune together with the shared confession that Jesus is Lord.

Who has the Son? Those who place their hope for heaven entirely on Jesus and those who live with a new nature have the Son. If we have the Son, eternal life is promised, prayer is powerful, victory over sin is possible, and Christ is the priority.

What do you testify to, and what is the testimony about you? Your testimony: I believe; I've been born; I love; I obey; and I'm overcoming. Jesus' testimony: the water, the blood, the Spirit, and the life.

How does God's love for you make a difference in you and through you? There is joy in your heart. There is a declaration of who Jesus is. There is a lack of fear and a love for others. Real love initiates, sacrifices, and endures.

We have an enemy, and he has a strategy. But we can trust in God's Word, God's Spirit, and God's people to triumph over him.

How do we make our love for God known? These are the signs. Supernatural love connects and cares for God's family, expects and endures difficulty, makes generosity a habit, puts words into actions, trusts in God, and prays boldly.

What are three life-changing truths we need to know to prepare for Christ’s guaranteed return? Jesus will return. Not everything about heaven is known. And everyone is a child of someone.

We never have as much time as we want, do we? The enemy is already here, but the Spirit of God is all-powerful. The eternal is promised ... and can be enjoyed by all.

Everybody craves something. Only God fully satisfies and never expires. Have you ever really experienced the love of God? When we really experience the love of God, we love all God’s family the way Jesus does, grow and live the Word of God, and desire eternal promises more than temporary pleasure.

How can we follow Christ well? We have a model of how to live. We have a command to obey. And we have a warning and good news about sin: Sin is always present, but it is not all-powerful. Sin has an accuser, but we have an advocate. And sin has a cure, and everyone needs to hear it.

Life can be full of joy when we receive the truth of God, connect with followers of God, and confess our sins to God.

Two truths to impact the next generation: Everybody has the responsibility to reach the next generation. Parents are the primary disciple-makers of their children; they love by example and teach Christ constantly. We respond to the next generation by recognizing their role in the kingdom, confirming them before criticizing them, and not running away from them.

The right habits come from having the right heart. To break free from bad habits, we must be willing to endure temporary pain. We must not minimize small steps. We must change the way we think about ourselves. We must initiate healthy relationships. And we must rely on a power greater than ourselves.

The truth about relationships: God created us for relationships. The one who created it has the authority to define it. The ultimate goal of any relationship is to become like Christ. In relationships, if we don’t win, I don’t win. Godly relationships (especially in marriage) honor, nurture, and celebrate your marriage.

Can I lose my salvation? To answer that question, we must first ask, "Has there ever been salvation?" Genuine faith causes real change. Superficial faith looks good but does not endure. And eternal faith cannot be defeated; therefore, we can walk in confidence.

Everyone who is born will also die … and then comes judgment. So, what happens when we die? Everyone must answer the question of Jesus. Everyone without Jesus will realize the agony of separation. Everyone with Jesus will see the glory of heaven. Everyone must feel the urgency of today.