Taking Your Next Step In Following Jesus Christ

Playing Your Part In God's Grand Plan

Welcome to this enlightening episode of Taking Your Next Step, brought to you by Collegians for Christ. In this final exploration of the significant phrase 'But God', we understand the saying 'But God gives the increase', and explore its implications in our spiritual journey.

In the same way that gardening requires investment, effort, and patience, we unpack the importance of nurturing the seed of God's word in people's lives. Drawing from the book of 1 Corinthians, we discuss our distinct roles in spiritual gardening--everything from planting the seed, to patiently watering it until it bears fruit. Join us to appreciate the hard work, patience, and numerous encounters with the truth on your path to spiritual enlightenment.

In this episode, we also remind listeners not to perceive any one role as being superior to the others. Whether you are a nurturer or a harvester, we stress the significance of balance, unity, and mutual respect in playing our parts in God's divine plan. Highlighting the ultimate goal of salvation and genuine conversion to Christianity, we tackle the challenges that spiritual gardeners and harvesters may face, particularly when misunderstandings arise from differences in approach.

Culminating in the reality that only God can bring the increase and transform hearts, this episode stirs us to be humble facilitators in the process of spiritual growth. We also challenge listeners to identify an individual in their life whose spiritual standing they're unsure of, and to start a nurturing, open-ended conversation with them. We hope that our joint efforts as spiritual gardeners and harvesters will result in a more bountiful spiritual harvest, for His glory.

God Will Help You Resist Temptation

On this episode, listen in as we discuss the often-misunderstood topic of temptation and our endeavor to dispel the blame typically cast on God for our temptations. Learn about the role Satan plays in tempting us and how aligning our understanding of God's character can boost our resilience to temptation. Explore various instances of temptation in the Bible and gain an understanding of how to handle everyday temptations.

Begin your journey towards overcoming temptations by recognizing their source, depending on divine strength, and finding the right personal support system. Embark on a life free from the chains of guilt, shame, and destruction, and walk a path of victory and liberation.

But God Proved His Infinite Love To You

This discussion explores the magnitude of God's divine love for us and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Discover the stark contrast between human love and God's unconditional, sacrificial love.

We examine how the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ brought about justification, akin to an acquittal in court, making us sinless before God. Learn how the sacrifice of Jesus not only brings us closer to God but also instills Christian character within us. The steadfast assurance of eternal security paves the way for our reconciliation with God and helps us transition from being enemies of God to His beloved children.

But God Is Rich In Mercy

In this episode, we delve into the profound effects that the phrase "But God" holds in Scripture. In our study, we outline and examine the striking contrast between man's disobedience and sin and God's boundless mercy and love.

We explore how each individual is born a sinner, separated from God, and yet, the invaluable mercy of God gives us the chance to attain salvation. We understand that through God's work, we are made spiritually alive once we call upon Christ. This spiritual reawakening instills life with purpose and fills it with meaning, and it is an avenue for fulfilling God's planned dream for our lives.

Understanding Your Role In God’s Mission

This episode sheds light on the role of the local New Testament church, its divine purpose, and the important role you can play as a member of a church.

This episode uncovers the truth about the local church as more than just a building or a social club but rather a fellowship established by Jesus Christ Himself. We explore the church's larger mission as God's instrument to seek and save the lost, mirroring Jesus's self-sacrifice, commitment, and purpose on earth.

This exploration extends to the understanding of 'The Great Commission', Jesus's last mandate to His church. We examine the five core parts of this divine assignment, revealing the broad picture of God's mission. Our message emphasizes that every believer should champion this purpose, sharing the Gospel to contribute to God's worldwide mission.

This episode challenges you to introspect and discover your place in God's mission, using your unique talents and divine gifts to fulfill God's purpose. We address the significance of seizing present opportunities instead of excessively focusing on the future.

Understanding And Guarding The Essential Christian Beliefs.

In this insightful episode, we dive deep into what the essentials of the Christian faith are and introduce the profound concepts of "theological fences". We meticulously dissect the nuanced layers of Christian dogma, doctrine, and practice, guiding listeners to a clearer comprehension of their beliefs.

Journey with us as we explore the core 'inner fence' of Christianity, reflecting on seven essential truths including the Word of God, the Trinity, the virgin birth of Christ, salvation by faith alone, the returned of Jesus Christ, and the consciousness after death. Realizing the potential threats of false teachings, we emphasize not just on knowing what you believe, but also the necessity of understanding why you believe it.

Moving beyond the essential truths, the 'outer fences' discussion dives into the wealth of teachings contained in scripture and their influence on our practice of faith. We discuss key doctrines like baptism, creation, and salvation and their real-world implications. This discussion further highlights the importance of aligning belief with biblical teachings and recognizing the effects of these beliefs in your search of a church and your broader spiritual journey.

This episode seeks to serve as a valuable resource for listeners to constructively engage with the complexities of Christian dogma, doctrines, and tradition. Discover how your belief system can be a protective fence, enabling you to identify authentic Bible-based churches and safeguard against false teachings.

Unraveling Questions About Baptism

In this episode, we delve into a frequently asked question related to Christianity- the significance, purpose, and function of baptism. We explore the meaning of baptism, its relevance to the church, and how it's a public identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This episode breaks down biblical instances and commandments concerning believer's baptism and the process of identification that follows it. We also discuss the common misconception of baptism as a pre-requisite for salvation and corroborate the concept of salvation by faith alone, using numerous verses from the Holy Scripture.

Clarifying the misconceptions, the episode discusses how baptism is an act of obedience after believing in Jesus Christ and not a requirement for salvation. We also address the question of 're-baptism' after understanding the Gospel and believing in Jesus Christ and provide a clear answer backed by relevant Biblical passages.

What The Church Is Truly About

On this episode,  we take a fresh look at what the church is truly about. We delve into several biblical teachings, focusing on the inherent objectives of the local church. We aim to answer common questions like 'Why should I go to Church?' and 'What is the church's purpose?'.

This episode uncovers the larger function of the church beyond being just a place of worship. We explore how the church provides an avenue for preaching, teaching, fellowship, prayer, and giving. Additionally, we reflect on teachings from Acts Chapter 2 and shed light on how early Christians viewed and engaged with the church.

Discover how being part of a local church offers a tight-knit community to nourish your spiritual life and provides opportunities for service. We dispel common misconceptions about worship and highlight how it naturally transpires in the various facets of church involvement.

Hear insights on the importance of sound doctrine, as we emphasize that not any church can constitute a biblical church. This episode is packed with knowledge to equip you to live your Christian life more purposefully and victoriously through engaging in the local church.

Stay tuned for our next episode as we unravel common questions around baptism. Join us on this enriching exploration of the church's purpose and functions as a part of your journey to understanding what you believe and why you believe it.

Is The Church Still Relevant For Today?

In today's episode, we embark on an eye-opening study on the local New Testament church and its significant role in the life of a believer. We talk about varied perceptions people have about the church, how the church was founded, and where its authority originates from.

Whether you are a regular church-goer, an infrequent visitor, or a newbie to Christianity, this episode provides a comprehensive view of the church from a biblical perspective. We all have different images that appear in our mind when we hear the word 'church'. To some, it's a beautiful place of worship, to others, it's a divided entity due to numerous denominations. Nevertheless, we agree that there can be a lot of misunderstandings related to the church.

In this discussion, we put the record straight and affirm the relevance of the church in a believer's life. The church was not an invention of man; it was ordained by God himself and therefore holds profound significance. We delve into scriptural teachings about the church, distinguishing between the universal church (the body of all believers) and local churches, and highlight the importance of church membership in the growth of a believer.

If you're questioning the relevance of being a part of a church body, or wondering about church practices like serving, giving, or denominational differences, this episode is a must-listen. We debunk stereotypes about the church and shed light on its purpose, mission, and the role of a believer within it. We trace the founding of the church to Jesus Christ and outline the progression that's recommended – salvation, baptism, then church membership.

We hope that by understanding the church's biblical position, you will recognize its vitality in your Christian life. Remember, the church isn't just a social club or space for worship; it's pivotal to your growth as a Christian. And as followers of Jesus Christ, we must see its importance because all things important to Him, including the church, should be important to us as well.

Stop Worrying About Your Future

There are many unknowns in life. If we are not careful, we can allow these unknowns to cause us to fear, worry, stress, and become anxious. Jesus helps us by giving a few reasons why we should not worry or become anxious about our lives or our future.

Make Today A Masterpiece

A masterpiece is something done with with significant effort and exceptional care. It is a supreme achievement. As we go through the ordinary mundane days of our lives why not make everyday a masterpiece or a supreme achievement! It is how we handle the everyday mundane activities of life that determine if we will reach our goals and dreams.

When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers

How should we respond when God doesn't answer our prayers? We see in Scripture that even Jesus had a prayer that God did not answer. Understanding this, we share some thoughts to help us think through when God either does not answer or answers no.   

More About How To Fast

Fasting is a tough spiritual discipline to practice. What makes it so tough and what are some practical ways that we can implement fasting into our lives?

The Power Of Prayer With Fasting

Jesus is with James, John, and Peter while the other nine disciples are trying to cast out a demon. They had done it successfully many times before but now they are unable to. Jesus comes and takes care of the situation and then the disciples ask why they were unable to do what they had been doing. He replied that this kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting. He linked fasting with prayer in order to accomplish greater obstacles in our lives. 

A Powerful Motivation To Pray

Jesus teaches us a powerful truth about a motivation in prayer. Once we realize that we have nothing to offer, only then will we truly pursue God for our request. The power of nothing motivates us to pray like we normally wouldn't.