Author: Matthew Ruttan
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Biblical guidelines for prayer
Isn’t prayer simply talking to God? Yes, but the Bible also provides us with guidelines for prayer that is decidedly effective. This episode provides 8 (actually 9) of them. As Martin Luther King Jr said: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
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Encouragement in the Valley
The word ‘encouragement’ has ‘courage’ in it. It comes from an old French word ‘corage,’ meaning heart. Encouragement is about enlarging or fortifying someone’s heart—who they are within—so that they can face the battles of life. Not only is this something we need to receive, but it’s something we need to give for the living…
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How can I pray more effectively?
God tells us to pray. We know it’s important. But are our prayers effective? Are we missing something? Maybe. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 5:14 and leaves us with several biblical guidelines for effective prayer. Alignment matters.
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When following God’s commandments feels difficult
God’s commands can feel difficult — like something we have to do, not something we want to do. But when we better understand the reasons behind them, it can shift our perspective (and relationship). This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 5:1-12.
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Forget about distracted driving. What about distracted living?
Distracted driving is a public safety concern. But distracted living is a much bigger threat. The apostle John has some critical words to keep us focused. This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) explores 1 John 4:7-21. It also discusses judgment day, how “perfect loves casts out fear,” and how love has a “rival”…
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Is there an angel and a demon on my shoulder?
Have you seen those pictures where there’s an angel over someone’s shoulder and a demon over the other? Is that accurate, mythology, or something else? This sermon (also released as a podcast episode) unpacks 1 John 4:1-6, what the apostle means by “testing the spirits,” and shares six helps by Jonathan Edwards.
