Why the Incarnation Means Everything

Christmas matters because the incarnate Christ alone provides our acceptance before God, accomplishing what we could never achieve on our own.

Actively and carefully pursue holiness in your mind and body for the sake of our great God who said we will draw near to us when we do.

God wants us to pursue moral purity as his distinctive people, which he has promised will increase our daily experience of fellowship, joy, and assurance with him.

We must guard the personal partnerships in our lives, so our devotion to Christ is not imperiled and our usefulness to the Lord remains uncompromised.

We should continually pursue an affectionate and joyful unity within the church—willing to stretch for it even when others aren’t—appealing for it through loving, sincere words and actions.

Be an effective and determined Ambassador of Christ, willing to endure the hardships, while maintaining your integrity and sincere love for others.

We must no longer be casual or timid about relaying the gospel to our generation, but we must be bold and urgent about it, as Christ would have us be while there’s still time in our crazy and chaotic culture.

Take up the responsibility of being Christ’s ambassador with the time you have left by working to see the people around you as in desperate need of being reconciled to God.

Stop prejudging fellow church members by outward measures or their worldly pasts, and accept them as redeemed new creations in Christ.

Because Christ paid the ultimate price to redeem us, our love for him should compel us to put aside our old desires and live wholly for him.

In light of all people one day standing before God, we must be motivated to live and speak with a deep concern for others, always with a clear conscience, resolved to be faithful regardless of how we are perceived.

Pastor Mike answers questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Questions in this episode: 0:55 - What will happen in the end times to those who reject Christ? 8:50 - Church buildings in the past were very beautiful, why aren’t our church buildings beautiful like they used to be? 15:04 - Does the Bema Seat judgment only judge a Christian’s deeds after they become a Christian? 17:59 - Is the video “23 Minutes in Hell” okay to watch regarding near death experiences? 19:37 - Why does the Bible say that Jesus prays for us and that he has the same power as God? 21:52 - If Jesus already has the power, why doesn’t he just do what we ask if it’s already God’s will? 25:04 - What is the sin that leads to death in 1 John 5:16 and can a Christian be separate from Christ until they repent of all sins? 29:29 - What should we know about the Millennial Kingdom that should influence our evangelism today? 36:33 - How do we reconcile man’s free will with God’s sovereignty? 41:46 - What heaven and earth will pass away when the New Jerusalem comes down? 45:51 - Can you explain your statement that if you are at odds with your church you are probably at odds with God? 53:50 - Can we get along with other Christians even though we don’t all believe the same on secondary or tertiary issues? 1:03:40 - Why did Ananias & Saphira receive such a harsh judgement?

Pastor Mike answers questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Questions in this episode: 0:46 - Where did Cain and Abel’s wives come from and what is the biblical understanding on how we grow families? 5:52 - How do we rightly think about Israel of the Old Testament versus modern day Israel? 14:02 - How do we pray for people and their salvation? 17:27 - What is the biblical view of medically assisted death? 22:09 - As Christians, are we in sin if we choose not to procreate? 25:36 - My sister is a pastor, how should I think biblically about this? 27:38 - How do we address people who come to us with their problems and issues? 30:39 - Why did people live longer in the Bible than we do today? 35:14 - How do we manage our speech so that we don’t tempt others to be envious? 40:42 - Should we love the people of Israel for their sake or for the sake of the nation? 46:41 - How do we battle the sin of idleness? 49:52 - Why does Roman Catholicism include the Apocrypha in their Bible? 55:53 - In the Bible, where do demons go when they are exorcised? 59:52 - What does it mean that a man has an evil spirit? 1:02:50 - How should we think about Israel’s killing of Palestinians? 1:08:47 - When is it okay to move someone to palliative care?

Pastor Mike answers questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. Questions in this session: Why does Paul in the Spirit say he will continue to Jerusalem, when Agabus says the Holy Spirit says he will be imprisoned? Who made God? What is the biblical view of retirement? In 1 Corinthians 15:10 what is meant by “the perfect?” Did Jesus die for all the sins of mankind or just exclusively for the elect? Is casting out demons still going on today? What are the biblical principles for using AI? Why is Samson mentioned in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11, despite his sins and apparently never repented? What is going on in Matthew 27 with the tombs opening and the bodies of many saints coming out and appearing to many? Was Jesus raised by God or did he raise himself? Should we be venerating Mary? What was your original vision for the Compass Revival summer camp? What are Last Rites in the Roman Catholic church? What was the significance of the Temple veil tearing at the crucifixion?

We need to live thoughtfully, carefully, and boldly for Christ, knowing that one day, our King will evaluate and reward us for how well we did.