A small boy was riding an open trolley home from Sunday School years ago with a tract titled "Faith in God" clutched tightly in his hand. He lost that grip, however, trying to maintain his balance and a gust of wind carried his tract out the door and down the street.
The boy cried, "Oh no! I've lost my Faith in God!"
Adult passengers nearby laughed at his unusual choice of words. One, more sober than others, observed, "Most people couldn't tell you just when they lost their faith in God. It just slipped away without much notice."
How firm a grip do we have on our faith? Could it slip away without much notice?
Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Unselfish
W. Oregon Sara Tucholsky first HR - ultimate sportsmanship
Western Oregon Sara Tucholsky hit her first career HR with the help from Central Washington - ultimate sportsmanship. She tore her ACL running back to 1st as she missed it initially. Ump if she didn't run the bases by herself, the HR wouldn't count. If her teammates touched her, it would be void.
The opposing team saw her pain and did the unexpected, they picked her up and helped her touch each base.
Proverbs 22:9 (MSG) Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.
Ecclesiastes 11:1 (MSG) Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.
Psalms 100:5 (MSG) For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Proverbs 19:6 (MSG) Lots of people flock around a generous person; everyone’s a friend to the philanthropist.
Proverbs 11:24 (MSG) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
Philippians 2:4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.
unselfishness
Putting the concerns and interests of others before one’s own. Jesus Christ was the supreme example of this and believers should follow his example, denying themselves in order to serve others.
The supreme example of selflessness is that of Jesus Christ himself
In his life and work Jn 5:30; Ro 15:3 See also Mt 15:32; Jn 13:3-5; 2Co 8:9
In his dying for others Mt 20:26-28 pp Mk 10:43-45 Php 2:5-8 See also Isa 53:3-12; Jn 10:17-18; Ro 5:6-8; 1Co 15:3; 2Co 5:14; 1Th 5:10; 1Pe 2:22-24; 3:18; 1Ti 2:6
Unselfishness is a result of a relationship with Jesus Christ
Christian discipleship begins with a denial of self-interest Mt 16:24 pp Mk 8:34 pp Lk 9:23 Mk 10:45 See also Ro 6:6; 2Co 5:15; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9
It springs from an experience of life with Jesus Christ Php 1:21-24 See also Php 3:7-11
It is inspired by the example of Jesus Christ Php 2:4-5 See also Jn 13:14-15; 1Jn 3:16; 4:19-21
It is the result of the Spirit’s work in the believer Gal 5:22-26
Putting others first is fundamental in Christian behavior
Ro 12:10; 1Co 10:23-24 This was particularly so when it came to the exercise of personal scruples. See also Ro 14:7; 15:1-2; 1Co 8:9; Eph 4:32-5:2; Col 3:13; 1Ti 6:18
Unselfishness involves a proper attitude to one’s own self-importance
Php 2:3 See also Ro 12:16; Gal 6:2-3; Eph 4:2; 5:21; 1Pe 3:8; 5:5
Unselfishness is expressed in Christian service
Lk 22:26; Gal 5:13 See also 1Pe 4:10; 5:2
Examples of unselfish behavior
Those who put others first Ge 13:8-9 Abraham; Ex 32:31-32 Moses; Ru 1:16-17 Ruth; 1Sa 12:3-5 Samuel; Ne 5:14-18 Nehemiah; Mk 12:41-44 a poor widow; Mt 15:21-28 a mother; Mt 26:6-13 pp Mk 14:3-9 a woman with a jar of perfume; Jn 3:27-30 John the Baptist; Ac 4:32-37 the first Christians; Ro 16:3-4 Priscilla and Aquila; 1Co 16:15 the household of Stephanas; Php 2:20-21 Timothy; Php 2:29-30 Epaphroditus
Paul’s ministry was motivated by the interests of others 1Co 10:32-33; 11:1 See also Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 9:3-15,19-23; 2Co 11:23-29; 13:4; Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8-9,19-20
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. Martin Manser.
James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Luke 17:3-4 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Hebrews 12:14-15 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Kevin Vanhoozer joins Kirk E. Miller to surface the question that quietly shapes every act of Bible reading: What does it mean to understand Scripture well?
Aiming to demystify the discipline, Kevin explores what hermeneutics is, what theological and metaphysical pre-commitments ought to inform our approach to Scripture, and why it matters for our Christian "reading cultures," the local church.
Episode outline:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:40 Meet Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer
01:31 What is Hermeneutics?
07:06 The Importance of Hermeneutics in Christian Life
13:06 Hermeneutics and Other Theological Disciplines
20:13 The Role of Theological Pre-commitments
25:01 Understanding the Ontology and Teleology of Scripture
25:39 The Nature of Scripture: Human and Divine Discourse
28:33 Literal vs. Figural Readings of the Bible
34:39 The Meaning of Meaning in Biblical Texts
40:27 The Role of Hermeneutics in Addressing Interpretive Pluralism
41:49 The Importance of Interpretive Virtues
46:28 The Concept of Interpretive Communities
52:54 Practical Implications for Local Churches
53:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
We are pleased to share this Classic well-loved “In Search of the Lord’s Way” from our Brother Mack Lyon. Due to the age of the program, some items offered are no longer available. Transcripts, CDs, DVDs, and Cassette Tapes are not available for Classic programs. The email address mentioned on the Classic episodes is no longer used.
If you would like to contact us you can do so at searchtv@searchtv.org or by calling 1-800-321-8633.
This program is available only through YouTube. If you enjoyed this program please share with your friends and consider subscribing to our channel “SearchTVMinistry”.
We are pleased to share this Classic well-loved “In Search of the Lord’s Way” from our Brother Mack Lyon. Due to the age of the program, some items offered are no longer available. Transcripts, CDs, DVDs, and Cassette Tapes are not available for Classic programs. The email address mentioned on the Classic episodes is no longer used.
If you would like to contact us you can do so at searchtv@searchtv.org or by calling 1-800-321-8633.
This program is available only through YouTube. If you enjoyed this program please share with your friends and consider subscribing to our channel “SearchTVMinistry”.
Mar 12, 2025 Radically Christian Podcast = What would we be like if we really took God seriously? Today's discussion centers around a profound statement Billy Wilson made at a preacher's retreat: "It's a good thing none of us take God seriously. If we did, we would never stop laughing." He explains that understanding God and seeing the world through Jesus' eyes reveals the joke of human striving—how so much of what we chase after is futile in light of God's kingdom. Through biblical examples, Billy illustrates how Jesus infused his ministry with humor and deeper theological meaning, helping believers grasp the true nature of reality.
The conversation shifts to preaching, where Billy critiques modern sermons that focus more on behavior modification than on revealing the magnificence of God. He argues that if preachers truly immersed themselves in knowing and proclaiming God, congregations would be drawn to the Lord, not just to self-improvement strategies. He recounts personal experiences, including a pivotal moment with Jim McGuigan, who helped redirect his faith simply by talking about God's greatness.
The episode concludes with a reflection on John 17:3—"This is eternal life, that they know you." Billy emphasizes that eternal life isn't just about knowledge about God, but about truly knowing Him in a relational sense. If believers took this seriously, it would reshape their lives, anchoring them in joy, meaning, and unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty.
In this episode, Wes McAdams welcomes Billy Wilson, a preacher with a rich history of ministry in Scotland, Australia, and the United States. Billy shares his personal journey, including his experiences with adoption, fostering, and his unexpected return to full-time preaching after swearing it off for years. His story highlights God's providence and the unique congregation in Mineral Wells that drew him back into pulpit ministry.
In this episode of the Radically Christian Bible Study Podcast, Wes McAdams engages in a thoughtful conversation with Marcus Stenson about the complex topics of race, ethnicity, and how these factors influence the way we read and interpret Scripture. They explore the historical and societal constructs of race, emphasizing how the idea of race as a biological reality has been debunked, and how ethnicity relates more to shared cultural experiences. The conversation highlights how societal perceptions shape our understanding of Scripture and why it's essential to acknowledge and embrace diverse perspectives.
Marcus shares his personal experiences, detailing how his ethnic identity has shaped his worldview and his approach to Scripture. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing biases and cultural influences when engaging with biblical texts. Both Wes and Marcus discuss the concept of reading Scripture through one's ethnic lens and argue that understanding these perspectives can enrich and deepen biblical interpretation. They also emphasize the importance of diversity within the church, asserting that unity doesn't mean uniformity but rather a celebration of varied experiences within the body of Christ.
Marcus Stenson serves as the preaching minister at the Leander Church of Christ. Beyond his local ministry, he is actively involved in kingdom-focused nonprofits, including initiatives in Kenya and leadership development programs in the United States. His passion lies in fostering disciple-making cultures and advancing conversations about biblical understanding and unity within the church.
