Is It Possible to End Poverty?

Homeless

Many people – both Christians and non-Christians – are concerned about the poor. Individuals and families provide money and resources to help those who are in need. Charitable organizations have been established to provide assistance to the less fortunate. Many government programs are funded supposedly for the purpose of ending poverty. Yet poverty still exists.

Some hold to the idealistic notion that poverty can be eliminated. Yet, it is not possible to do this in the fallen world in which we live. Jesus said, “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:8). In other words, there will always be people in poverty. Why is that? To answer that question, let us first consider a few reasons why people are poor.Continue Reading

Is It Possible to End Poverty? (11.02.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about what it would take to end poverty. Is that even possible? Many people – Christians and non-Christians – are concerned for the poor. Many resources are given to help those who are in need. Charitable organizations have been established to provide assistance to the less fortunate. Many government programs are funded, supposedly for the purpose of ending poverty. Yet poverty still exists. Why is that? We’re going to discuss that today.Continue Reading

Is “Hustle Culture” Compatible with Christianity? (09.14.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about “hustle culture.” What is that? It has to do with the idea of engaging in some type of work in addition to one’s regular job (sometimes called a “side hustle”) in order to pursue some personally fulfilling goal – whether that is in the work itself or the advantages that come from the additional income. Is something like this in harmony with the teachings and principles of Scripture? Or is it something that Christians should be wary about? We’re going to talk about this today.Continue Reading

Monthly News Roundup (07.27.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This episode is our monthly news roundup for July. In this episode, we’re talking about a university where 40% of the students identify as LGBTQ, how men are “less satisfied” when women are the breadwinners in their home, and countries where the younger generation is more likely to believe in God than the older generation.Continue Reading

Conduct Yourselves in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel

Reading an Open Bible

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, there were very few problems that he needed to correct. These brethren were faithfully following the Lord and were an encouragement to the apostle. So he encouraged them to continue serving the Lord in a way that would please Him. Consider the following verses:

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Philippians 1:27-30).

In the passage above, Paul told them to “conduct [themselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.” This indicates that the gospel calls us to a higher standard, and Christians must strive to live up to it. But what exactly does that mean? How can we do this today? Let us consider what Paul wrote in this passage about how we can “conduct [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.”Continue Reading

Seek the Welfare of the City

Babylon

The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to God’s people who were in Babylonian captivity. The letter contained instructions about how they were to conduct themselves while they lived as strangers in a foreign land. It also explained what they could hope for in the future.

Today, we live as exiles in the world. As we consider what Jeremiah had to say to the Jews in captivity, the basic points he made to them are helpful to us as well.

However, before we get to the letter that Jeremiah sent, it would be helpful to understand a little bit about what happened just before this. Back in Jerusalem, Hananiah falsely prophesied that Babylon would soon be defeated (Jeremiah 28:1-4, 11), allowing the captives to return. Jeremiah refuted this (Jeremiah 28:12-14). Afterward, Jeremiah sent a letter to those who were in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1-3).

The recipients of Jeremiah’s letter may have hoped that he was announcing deliverance in the near future. Instead, they were told that they would be in captivity for “seventy years” (Jeremiah 29:10). In other words, those who had been taken would die in captivity – something that would surely be difficult and disappointing to hear. Notice what Jeremiah wrote to them:Continue Reading

The Problem with the Lottery (01.12.23)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re talking about the lottery. The Mega Millions jackpot, at the time of this recording, is at $1.35 billion, and it will go even higher if there is no winner after the drawing this Friday. When the jackpot gets insanely high like this, many people buy lottery tickets who would not ordinarily do so. For many others, buying lottery tickets is a way of life – hoping to pick the lucky numbers that will instantly transform their life. Is this harmless fun, or is it wrong and something to be avoided? Let’s consider some things that the Bible has to say to help us answer that question.Continue Reading