People created in the image of God cannot have a proper assessment of themselves without a proper assessment of God. And people who were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever cannot do so without truly knowing God. So what you think about God is not only important, it is the most important thing about you. Continuing our journey through Psalm 103, we learn what it unfolds concerning God's character - and what that means for you and me. Scriptures Referenced: Ex 34:5-6; Ps 89:14; 103:6-10;...
Aug 16, 2021•21 min
There's a crucial difference between listening to yourself and talking to yourself. According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, most of our unhappiness comes from listening to ourselves instead of talking to ourselves. Perhaps King David would agree. In this first episode of the August Summer Challenge series, we overhear David talking to himself about five benefits the Lord had given him. Listen in to learn how you can use biblical self-talk to prime the pump of your heart and cause joyful praise to g...
Aug 09, 2021•23 min
In David Williamson's final installment on Christian discipleship, we learn that not only is Christ before us that we may follow him, and beside us that we may fellowship with him, but he is also behind us enabling us to fight for him. We don't fight with phyiscal swords, but it is a battle against the ideas of the culture - we "have divine power to destroy strongholds, to destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God." Scriptures Referenced: Mk 6:7-13; 8:14-15; 2...
Aug 02, 2021•22 min
Being a disciple of the Lord Jesus is not only a matter of following Christ, but being with Him - enjoying fellowship and friendship. But what does friendship with the Lord Jesus look like? Guest host David Williamson (Episode 23) returns for Part 2 of a study on Christian discipleship and provides some practical pointers on enjoying friendship with the Lord. Scriptures Referenced: Mk 3:13-19, 35; 4:9-10, 40 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twit...
Jul 26, 2021•23 min
Hear about our first ever August Summer Challenge on the Practicology Podcast: memorizing the beautiful Psalm 103 together in community. On this episode Mike and Matthew join forces to provide 10 reasons why you should take up this challenge and memorize Scripture. Make sure to listen all the way to reason #10! Scriptures Referenced: Ps 103, 119:11; John 15:4-10; Eph 5:18; Col 3:16; 2 Cor 5:10 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter
Jul 19, 2021•20 min
A disciple is a learner and a follower. So what does it really mean to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus? Gues host David Williamson (Belfast) joins the podcast to teach us about Christian discipleship focusing on the Lord's ministry in the Gospel according to Mark.. Scriptures Referenced: Mt 28:18-20; Mk 1:16-20Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
Jul 12, 2021•19 min
Psalm 20:4 says "May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!" Could that verse be addressing us? To tell us that God wants to give us all that our heart desires? No, it's ultimately speaking about the Lord Jesus, which is far better, because the Lord Jesus gets all that his heart desires, and what his heart desires is....YOU! Psalm 20 gives us three life hacks for prayer: (1) a new joy in prayer; (2) a new confidence in prayer; and (3) a new way to pray. Scriptures Reference...
Jul 05, 2021•19 min
In part 2 of David Petterson's study on marriage as the foundation of family life, we learn more from Genesis 2 about God's intentions for marriage - and how marriage points to something of even greater signifcance. Scriptures Referenced: Gen 2:18-25Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
Jun 28, 2021•17 min
God is a relational being, and when He first created man, He made him to desire companionship. God provided the man with a woman and designed marriage to be the foundation of family life - and it was very good. But marriage is a relationship that works best in a triangle... with God at the top. Scriptures Referenced: Gen 2:18-23Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
Jun 21, 2021•18 min
At a key transition in his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul defines true worship as Christians offering their bodies to God as living sacrifices. This shocking call to offer our bodies tells us that our worship is to be both (1) extraordinary (we need to give God our very selves, not just our stuff) and (2) ordinary (even the most mundane parts of our bodily existence are part of our worship). The rest of Paul's letter spells out what a life of worship lived by the power of the gospel look...
Jun 14, 2021•23 min
One of the most stunning events in the Lord's earthly ministry was when He laid aside his outer garments, wrapped himself in a towel, and bent down to wash his disciples' feet. Astounding humility. And he tells us that he did this as an example for us to follow. So what exactly does that look like for us today? Scriptures Referenced: Joh 13:1-17 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
Jun 07, 2021•19 min
What does it mean to be spiritual? How can you be more spiritual? It's important to answer these questions from Scripture and Christian theology. To be spiritual is to be indwelt by Christ's Spirit, the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit is other-directed and Christ-centered. He works to draw attention not to himself but to Jesus Christ. Being spiritual, therefore, isn't about keeping up an appearance or reputation or talking all the time about one's spiritual experiences or achievements. Instead it's ...
May 31, 2021•20 min
Do you ever cry? Sometimes we are ashamed of our tears, but after studying the Scriptures' references to people crying, we might be ashamed at how few tears we shed. Looking particularly at the occasions in the Lord Jesus' life when He wept, our hearts both challenged and comforted. Scriptures Referenced: Luk 19:37-44; Jon 11:33-36; Heb 5:7-8 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
May 24, 2021•21 min
We are deeply moved by Christ's incarnation (birth) and death on the cross. Most of the time we also remember to glory in his resurrection. Do we forget to be similarly moved by the Lord's ascension? If so, we're missing out! The truth is, we all get excited about all kinds of ascension stories from every day life. When we see the ultimate ascension story in light of these other ascension stories, we'll find ourselves rejoicing in it as well. In this episode, Mike shows us five images from every...
May 17, 2021•20 min
Who are you imitating in life? We are all learning from the examples of others and we tend to become like those we look at. So choose your mentors wisely. But what are the marks of a good mentor? From Philippians chapter 3, Matthew points out three traits to look for in the life of someone worth imitating, to help us to follow Christ more closely.Scriptures Referenced: Php 3:3-20 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter here.
May 10, 2021•20 min
To borrow words from Jerry Bridges, are you saved by grace but living by the sweat of your own performance? (quoted by Lee Strobel in Case for Grace.) The performance treadmill is a joyless place to be in the Christian life. Tune in to hear more about the dangers of performance based Christianity, the impossibility of it, and, most importantly, the glorious cure! Scriptures Referenced: Php 3:1-9 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter
May 03, 2021•21 min
People often ask, "How can I know the will of God for my life?" In this episode we learn, not only does the Bible have the answer, the Bible is the answer - and the Bible is enough. In identifying the purpose of Scripture, we also learn the sufficiency of Scripture. This is definitely a practical theology.Scriptures Referenced: Eph 5:17; Ezra 7:14; Ezra 7:25 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes and Follow us Twitter here.
Apr 26, 2021•20 min
Every day is Take Your Faith to Work Day. How so? Because three of the Christian faith's greatest responsibilities run right through our work places. We're talking about (1) the creation mandate; (2) the great commandment; and (3) the great commission. And you get to log time on all three--while at work! Scriptures Referenced: Gen 1:26-27; Mark 12:30-31; Matt 28:19-20 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter
Apr 19, 2021•15 min
We spend a lot of our time in the workplace - so what do the Scriptures teach us about our lives at work? The original pattern in creation included work. The Lord Jesus was a carpenter. Paul worked with his hands. Proverbs is full of counsel to be diligent in our work. But can we also work too much? This is a guest-hosted episode featuring Lloyd Cain. Scriptures Referenced: Gen 2:15; 3:17-19; Pro 6:6; 14:23; Mar 6:3; Act 20:34-35 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practi...
Apr 12, 2021•22 min
More important than knowing how to spell "resurrection," is knowing what the resurrection spells: H-O-P-E. The historical event of Jesus rising from the dead spells HOPE for (1) you, (2) your loved ones, (3) for justice, (4) for creation, and (5) for today. Happy Resurrection day everyone! Scriptures Referenced: 1 Cor 15:3-8; 20-21; 42-43; 1 Pet 1:3; Acts 17:30-31; Rom 8:18-25; Phil 3:10; Rom 15:13 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter
Apr 05, 2021•14 min
This episode, the second half of a two-part conversation, provides some specific, practical guidelines for working towards reconciliation for a damaged relationship between Christian brothers or sisters. Scriptures Referenced:Luk 17:1-4; Rom 12:16-21Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter
Mar 29, 2021•15 min
Bearing in mind the forgiveness we have received from the Lord, Christians also “must forgive” (Colossians 3:13). But what about when people don’t seem repentant for the hurt they have caused me? And what if I just find it really hard to have a forgiving spirit? This episode is part one of a two-part conversation. Scriptures Referenced: Col 3:12-13; Mt 18:23-35; 1Jn 1:7-2:2Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes. Follow the Practicology Podcast on Twitter.
Mar 22, 2021•20 min
Deuteronomy 6 shows us how we as parents can bring the gospel home to our kids. In addition to getting to first base and second base (the previous episode), we can set up the architecture of our home to make our faith "catchy" to our kids (third base), and we can focus on Christ as the One who can ultimately bring the gospel home to the hearts of our children (home plate). This is the ultimate answer for us when we despair over our track record of teaching the Scriptures to our children. Scriptu...
Mar 15, 2021•22 min
Instructing our children in the faith is not something we can out-source to Sunday School teachers or youth leaders. We as parents need to take responsibility for bringing the gospel home to our kids. But many of us find this responsibility intimidating and guilt-producing. Furthermore, even if we take it seriously, there's no guarantee that our children will come to saving faith in Christ. See how Deuteronomy 6 can help. Mike points out how in order to get the gospel home, we need to get to fir...
Mar 08, 2021•17 min
The Scriptures call upon us to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5). But sometimes circumstances, particularly Covid-19, make it seem too challenging or even pointless. However, there is a basic theology of evangelism that encourages us to persevere. In this episode, we talk about four principles to bear in mind to help us endure in evangelism. Scriptures Referenced: 2Tim 4:2,5; Jonah 2:9; Rom 1:16 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.
Mar 01, 2021•17 min
If you’ve been getting pop ads in your social media lately about posture correcting devices, you’ll want to tune in to this one. As much as we need reminders to straighten up our physical posture, we need reminders about our soul posture even more. Sometimes we get swelled up with pride; other times we slouch down with self-loathing. The cross is the perfect posture correcting device. On the one hand it reminds us what it took to save us — that keeps us from looking down on others. But it also r...
Feb 17, 2021•17 min
Sometimes life in a local church can be so painful, we feel like giving up. What’s the use in going any more? In this episode Mike shares how Psalms 126 - 127 have helped him. They can help you too! They offer (1) a wonderful (and surprising!) comfort; (2) a wonderful promise; (3) and a wonderful truth. Scriptures Referenced: Ps 126, Ps 127:1-2 Visit PracticologyPodcast.com for more episodes.
Feb 16, 2021•17 min
The Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon. Sometimes we feel too weak to keep our flame of faith burning brightly, and insufficient to run the the race in a Christ exalting way. But our ability to endure does not come from within ourselves, but from the God of endurance (Romans 15:5). In this episode we learn that through the Scriptures, God ministers grace to enable our endurance, and in our failures, we remember the Lord Jesus endured perfectly for us. Scriptures ReferencedRom 15:4-6;...
Feb 14, 2021•19 min
