The Men's Podcast PursueGOD Podcasts

We’re in our third installment of the “Is it a sin” series.  We’ve looked at drinking alcohol. We’ve looked at tobacco and marijuana use, and today, we’re looking at gambling.  Is it a sin to gamble?  What does the Bible say about it?  
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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It’s Not Black and WhiteThere is no explicit command in the Bible that says gambling is a sin. That doesn’t, however, mean that it isn’t sinful. Sin is not always a matter of doing something we shouldn't, it's also not doing something we should. 
James 4:17 says "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."
Sins of omission vs. sins of commission Context of chapter 4 - jealous of what others have, not content with what we have, making business plans without considering God’s plan, friendship with the world makes us enemies of God Core Value - We give up things we love for things we love more. 
Slow and Steady Wins the RaceThe Bible has much to say about trying to get rich quickly. Those who build wealth slowly and steadily are more likely to manage it well than those who come into money quickly.
Proverbs 13:11 says "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it."
Proverbs 21:5 says "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." 
Nearly one-third of lottery winners eventually go bankrupt within three to five years, which is more likely than the average American, according to the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.Jul 19, 202390% of retail options traders lose money, 5.4 billion dollars lost in 12 month period ending March 2022. Network marketing - covetousness, lack of contentment, “dream building” 
Gambling is Addictive We’re commanded in scripture not to be controlled by anything. Gambling can be highly addictive.  
1 Corinthians 6:12 says "You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'—but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything."
Problem gamblers often lie about or hide their gambling, which can make it difficult for loved ones to recognize. The best prevalence research shows that somewhere between 1% and 2% of the U.S. adult population, or 2 to 4 million adults, will experience a gambling disorder in their lifetime.Feb 8, 2023Even when you’re losing while you’re gambling, your body is still producing adrenalin and endorphins," he says.Casinos thrive on other addictive behaviors - alcoholism, lust.  Almost every place you see a lot of gambling activity, you’ll see prostitution, strip clubs, etc.  
Cause a Brother to Stumble It’s not just yourself you have to be concerned about.  If you’re playing cards or betting over a round of golf, you also have to be aware of the person you’re gambling against. ...

"Is it a sin?" is a question many Christians find asking themselves on a day to day basis. Sometimes, the answer is clear and easy. But other times, it might seem to be a little more of a 'gray area'. In this series, we're applying that question to some commonly debated habits.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Welcome back to our “Is it a Sin” series where we’re taking a look at different habits that if you grew up in the church, you may have always looked upon as sinful. 
It’s Sinful When…You’re addicted
1 Corinthians 6:12 "You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'—but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything,' I must not become a slave to anything."Physical addiction, but also do you need it to get through the day or through a stressful situation?  Is it your go-to when you’re stressed out? 
You’re under age
1 Peter 2:13 "For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right."We’re called to submit to those in authority unless they ask us to do something that goes against God’s authority. You may not like the laws, You might even be able to argue that the laws aren’t logical, but that’s not the point. 
You’re Pregnant 
 If you smoke while you are pregnant you are at increased risk of a wide range of problems, including miscarriage and premature labor.Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are at higher risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), having weaker lungs and having an unhealthy low birth weight.Second hand smoke around children 
Your wife doesn’t want you to smoke
Ephesians 5:25  "For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word."
The Body is a TempleIf you’re going to argue that smoking a single cigarette, pipe, or cigar is sinful because it’s harmful to your body and your body is a temple, that’s fine.  But you need to be consistent. Do you drink diet soda?  Artificial sweeteners have been identified as leading to higher risk of cancer.  Do you eat processed foods?  Are you overweight? 
Marijuana 1 Peter 5:8 "Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."
1 Peter 1:13 "So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world."
Peter knew the agony of failure.  He knew what it was like to have the mindset that “There’s no way I can fail.  I’m strong enough. I know I’ll be able to handle it.”  Only...

"Is it a sin?" is a question many Christians find asking themselves on a day to day basis. Sometimes, the answer is clear and easy. But other times, it might seem to be a little more of a 'gray area'. In this series, we're applying that question to some commonly debated habits.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Today we’re starting a new series called, “Is it a sin?”  We’re looking at behaviors and habits that most people in the church have historically looked upon as sinful.  As always, we want to know what the Bible says about it, not just what tradition says.  Are they sinful? Are they always sinful, sometimes sinful?  If they’re sometimes sinful, what makes them that way sometimes but not at other times?  Today’s topic - drinking alcohol.  
Talking Points:There is no place in scripture that makes a blanket statement forbidding someone from drinking alcohol.  Solomon encouraged his readers to drink their wine with a happy heart (Ecclesiastes 9:7).  Paul encouraged Timothy to drink a little wine for the sake of his stomach.Drunkenness is clearly a sin.  The bible is not ambiguous about it. In addition to its prohibition in Scripture, we see the consequences of drunkenness can be brutal. Even if you stop short of getting drunk, if you have to have a drink to make it through the day, or if alcohol is your “go to” when dealing with stress or frustration, that is sinful. There are a lot of situations where drinking alcohol might be sinful, and at the very least, it would be unwise.

This hot topic has sparked a wide ranging conversation recently, both in modern culture as well as the general Christian community.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In this conversation, Bryan and John discuss how Christians should view abortion. They address the changing cultural perspective on abortion and the need for Christians to have a firm biblical stance. The conversation encourages men to take responsibility and champion the lives of unborn children, while also extending God's grace and forgiveness to those who have made past mistakes. They also examine the biblical model for marriage and children, highlighting the importance of being open to having children within the context of marriage.
Talking Points:Humans are created in the image of God.  As such, they have immeasurable worth and value, and this is true of every human. Life begins at conception.  A child in its mother’s womb is not a clump of cells.  It is a human, created in God’s image.  God has a purpose and plan for his/her life. Is family planning sinful for a believer?  If it isn’t, what is acceptable?

We’ve been on a long journey through the gospel of Mark.  We started this in January of 2023.  Throughout Mark’s gospel, he has been building a case that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  He opened his gospel with this declaration and has spent the last 16 chapters stacking up the evidence. Today we're looking at this question: What would it take to convince you that Jesus is the Son of God?
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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We’ve seen testimonies:
Mark 1:11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”Mark 1:24 (NLT) “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”Mark 8:29 (NLT) Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”
We’ve seen teachings: 
Mark 2:17 (NLT) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”Mark 7:15 (NLT) “It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”Mark 10:15 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
We’ve seen his miracles: 
Physical miraclescleansing the lepergiving sight to the blindHealing the lameResuscitating LazarusNature miracles:Feeding the multitudes… twice! Walking on water  Calming the stormEven a spiritual miracle:casting out evil spirits 
TRANS: But there’s one miracle that stands out above them all. It’s the final and most important piece of evidence to point us to the true identity of Jesus. Today we’re looking at the incredible resurrection of Jesus.
The resurrection is the climax of Mark’s gospel. Without the resurrection, there is no good news. Jesus’s death would simply be the most tragic case of injustice in history, with not an ounce of goodness to it. It was the resurrection that changed the minds of his disciples. It was an encounter with the risen Christ that changed them from cowardly, sniveling men who deserted him and were always arguing about who would be the greatest… to brave, faith-filled men who unashamedly proclaimed Mark 1:1 – that Jesus is the Son of God. 
NOTE: As we dig into Mark 16, we’re going to go through verse 8.  If you’re reading in your Bible, you’ll likely have a footnote that says the “earliest manuscripts stop at verse 8.”  I want to talk about that for just a moment. I want to share with you why this strengthens my confidence in the accuracy, historicity, and authority of God’s Word.  I’m going to give you some reasons why we’re choosing to stop at verse 8 today and why many Bibles still include verse 9-20. 
Earliest manuscripts we have...

How should a Christian view the debate on immigration?
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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In today's episode, John and Pastor Rene discuss various aspects of immigration and how to show compassion to those in need. They touch on topics such as controlled immigration, meeting needs at the source, false promises and misinformation, and showing compassion regardless of legal status. The conversation explores the decision between enabling and helping, the importance of meeting both physical and spiritual needs, being generous with resources, addressing poverty at the source, the impact of international outreach, and taking action to make a difference.
Takeaways
Meeting needs at the source is crucial for long-term sustainability.False promises and misinformation contribute to the immigration crisis.It is possible to be frustrated with government policies while still showing compassion to those in need.Compassion should be shown to individuals regardless of their legal status. It is important to be wise in how we care for people in need, enabling them to become self-supportive.Meeting physical needs is important, but the biggest need people have is Jesus.