Christ 2r Culture Podcast

In most cases, we are told of biblical figures to emulate, such as Enoch, Noah, Moses, and Jesus. There are other biblical figures we are told to avoid, such as the Jews who hardened their hearts after the Exodus and Lot’s wife. At the top of the list of biblical characters to avoid in the Old Testament is Ahithophel. He was an evil genius committed to destroying the life of David. In this chapter, we learn about the difference between man’s plans and God’s plans. No matter how brilliant or creative we may be, God’s plans will always prevail. That is why it is always wise to work with God’s plans for his chosen king instead of against them.

On September 11, when the Twin Towers in New York were attacked, many were late for work. They were frustrated because they were caught in traffic or overslept their alarm. What appeared to be a problem was God’s grace in their life as they were not in the World Trade Center when it was attacked. Many times, God has a way of taking the evil plans of those who are against us and carrying out God’s grace to us through it. In 2 Samuel 16, we meet three of David’s enemies who are unwittingly used for God’s good purposes.

In 1942, Red Cross packages arrived for prisoners in German concentration camps. When the Red Cross asked for an accounting, 23,000 packages were missing. When Nazi German collapsed, many of these packages were found in the barracks of SS officers. The packages were not intended for them, but they took them anyway. In 2 Samuel 15, that is what we find. Absalom attempts to seize the kingship from his father, a kingship that doesn’t belong to him. In David’s darkest days, we learn about conspiracy, manipulation, and how to rely on God when all hope is gone.

Politicians manipulate their peers. Parents manipulate their children. Employees manipulate one another at work. As we continue our study in 2 Samuel, we see political manipulation in David’s kingdom. When David fails to deal decisively with his rebellious sons, he is manipulated into placing Absalom, his murderous son, just outside the kingship. Join us as we learn the importance of genuine repentance before restoration.

What are the dangers of passive parenting? What happens when fathers are too busy at work to play an active role in comforting and correcting their children? What happens when children are left to act on their urges and instincts? In 2 Samuel 13, we get a window into King David’s passive parenting and the disaster that followed when he failed to discipline his sons. It is a chapter that will motivate every parent to be involved in guiding their children, no matter what their age.

One of the fictions we hear during the political season is that a leader’s personal life has no impact on public performance. We know that this is untrue. What happens at home never stays at home. It follows us to work. A personal life that lacks character and integrity will lead to a public one that looks the same. If ever there was a man whose private life influenced his public world, it was King David. After committing adultery and murder in private, this brought God’s public judgment on his family and nation. What must we do if we sin in private? If we ask for God’s forgiveness, can we escape the consequences of our sins? Join us in 2 Samuel 12 to find the answers to these questions and more.

The election season is in full swing. Candidates text and call our phones. We see political advertisements on YouTube and television. Every candidate promises to turn the country around. While some candidates are better than others, the sad truth is that all candidates will fail us. They are flawed human beings, just like us. In 2 Samuel 11, we see that even David, a man after God’s own heart, fails his nation. He gives in to sexual desires and has an affair. What left him vulnerable? What fatal choices did he make? How can we avoid repeating his mistake? Most importantly, now that David sinned so spectacularly, is there any hope for his future? Join us for answers to these and many more important questions about moral failure.

Building wealth has become problematic in recent years, especially with soaring inflation. Half of American households do not have enough cash reserves for an an unexpected $400 expense. The most brutal hit is the lower class, with an income between $23,000 and $40,499. Their net worth fell by half in recent years. Payday loans and credit cards are some of the biggest financial killers offering easy access to money at predatory rates. What does the Bible say about building wealth? In this study, we look at what the Bible says about money, how to grow it, and how to avoid losing it.

On September 11, airplanes were hijacked. Two were flown into the Twin Towers, and another into the Pentagon. Flight 93 did not reach its target (probably the White House) thanks to a handful of ordinary people that God used to make a difference. As we continue our study on how God uses ordinary and broken people to make a big difference, in 2 Kings 5, we meet an unnamed junior high girl who was captured and sold into slavery. God used her to reach the second most powerful person in the Syrian empire. If God can use a broken and ordinary person like her to grow his kingdom, God has a good plan to grow his kingdom through you and me.

In the finals of the 2004 Olympics, Perdita Felicien of Canada tripped on her first hurdle and then fell into the adjacent lane taking out Irina Shevchenko of Russia. Felicien was ranked number one in the world when she started, but her race ended in defeat. The Christian life is also described as a race. What does it take not just to start but also to finish the Christian life well? Caleb was one of only two in the Exodus generation to see the Promised Land. Join us as we learn from his life about how to start and finish life well.

Life can be difficult. Discouragement is a common human experience. Sometimes, the purpose of the insignificant things we do seems impossible to understand. We may want to give up. Without encouragement, life can be burdensome. Without encouragement, we begin to think God is unconcerned for us. This is why the Bible tells us to encourage one another. We are to remind one another that God loves us, He promises to equip us for the challenges we face, and we are Christ’s precious treasure. In this study, we meet a man in the early church named Barnabas. He was nicknamed the son of encouragement. Join us as we learn how God used this ordinary man and his simple words of encouragement in life-changing ways.

Richard Stevens, a British psychologist from Keene University, conducted an experiment in which people immersed their hand in ice water. He concluded that the act of swearing during the experiment enabled participants to have an increased pain tolerance of up to 33 percent. Does this mean we should curse when in pain or around difficult people? Join us as we look at what the Bible says about cursing.

Jack LaLanne was a pioneer in American fitness. At age 62, he swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge underwater while handcuffed and towing a 1,000-pound boat. At age 70, he swam towing 70 rowboats with 70 people in them for one mile while handcuffed and shackled on his feet. At age 96, he gave an interview claiming he would live forever! His arrogant boasting didn’t help when shortly after the interview, he contracted pneumonia and died. In this study, we learn what the Bible says about how our ego shows up in our words as boasting, flattery, and exaggeration.

In 2013, Justine Sacco, a communications executive with the media company IAC, sent a sarcastic tweet to her 170 Twitter followers just before boarding a plane for Africa. The tweet dripped with racial animosity — “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” During her 11-hour flight to Cape Town, the tweet spread like wildfire from her tiny band of Twitter followers until she became the number one worldwide trend on Twitter. Hundreds called for her firing. Thousands labeled her as a hate-mongering racist. She had no idea that during her 11-hour flight when her phone was off, she became an Internet sensation. When she landed, she lost her job. She couldn’t find work for months, all because of a tweet with 12 slanderous words. As we study gossip and slander, we will examine how gossip spreads and the damage it can cause.

In 2017, while struggling with depression, 15-year-old Molly Russell took her life. During the dark struggle, she turned to social media for help. Before her suicide, she interacted with over 2,100 posts about suicide and self-harm on Facebook and Instagram. The words of the posts convinced her that instead of seeking help, she should take her life. Recently a British court held Meta, Facebook’s parent group, liable for her death because of the words they chose not to censor. As we begin our series on taming the tongue, we learn what the Bible says about the power of words and the importance of using every word we speak to honor God in our life.

Shaquille O’Neill, the four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest basketball players ever, renounced his celebrity status in an interview with the New York Post. He feels celebrities are “freaking crazy.” He doesn’t like how they treat people, what they do with their life, and what they say. “That has never been me.” Shaq said, “I hope to be remembered for my kindness both on and off the basketball court.” In 2 Samuel 10, David also shows incredible kindness. The question is, will people embrace or reject the kindness of the king?

In 1932 Franklin Roosevelt made a speech in Pittsburgh where he talked about the importance of restraining government spending. Four years later, he wanted to speak in the same city in favor of government spending. He asked one of his advisors what he should do. They told him to deny the works he had spoken four years before! In 2 Samuel 9, David could have done the same thing and conveniently forgotten about a promise he had made almost twenty years before. Instead of going back on his word, David shows us the importance of keeping our word and being men and women of integrity.

What will it be like when Jesus returns? How will He treat those who have rebelled against Him? What will happen to those who longed for Him? In 2 Samuel 8, we preview Jesus’ eternal rule as God’s anointed king over creation through the lens of David, God’s anointed king over Israel. Join me as we look at what Jesus’ leadership will be like in our future.

The story is told of how Louis XIV requested that at his funeral in the cathedral of Notre Dame, all be darkened — except for one candle burning on his casket at the front. When Massillon, the court preacher, rose to give the funeral sermon, he walked over to the casket and blew out the candle. He began his funeral message with the words, “Only God is great! Only God is Great!” In 2 Samuel 7, David was overwhelmed by God’s goodness to him. We learned that because God is so good, the best thing we can pray for is the fulfillment of God’s promises.

What should you do when you have made it? What should we do if we can retire? Join us as we learn from King David what to do when we are to financially comfortable.