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The mission of Church & Family Life is to proclaim the sufficiency of Scripture for both church and family life.

Resources

for strengthening churches and families
Anthony Mathenia

Anthony Mathenia was raised in Jackson, Tennessee and attended seminary in Memphis, Tennessee before serving as a full-time missionary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has pastored Christ Church-Radford for 9 years. Anthony lives in Christiansburg, Virginia with his wife, Hannah, and their 6 children.

Anthony Mathenia
2M
A Father as Shepherd
Dec. 14, 2020
Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that fathers have an obligation to shepherd their family and to point them to Christ. They should teach their children about the things of God and help them to make wise decisions as they grow older. They should follow hard after Christ and strive to set a godly example for their children. Isaiah 40:11 (NKJV) - "He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young."
Anthony Mathenia
47M
Jonah, His Shipmates, and the Fear of God
Oct. 27, 2016
Many people are familiar with the highlights of Jonah’s life: A stubborn, unbelieving prophet who thinks he can run from God. A storm-tossed ship, a huge fish, and a merciful Father show him otherwise, and he is swayed to repentance. These remarkable events often overshadow the actions of the sailors who met Jonah along the way. But helpful comparisons can be made between religious-yet-backslidden Jonah and his irreligious shipmates. Jonah, though he had much knowledge of God, was ashamed of Him and lounging in despair and disobedience. The sailors, heathen though they were, saw the storm and acknowledged that Jonah’s God was powerful. Therefore, they feared and worshipped Him, and were quick to obey, unlike Jonah. What can we learn about the fear of God from the account of the prophet Jonah?
Anthony Mathenia
2M
Repentant and Unrepentant Sinners
Aug. 24, 2018
What is a difference between an unrepentant and a repentant person? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that there is a difference between a repentant sinner and an unrepentant sinner. An unrepentant sinner will be condemned if they do not repent. In contrast, a repentant person hopes in the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. The punishment for their sin was poured out on Christ.  Though we are all sinners, there are unrepentant sinners who will suffer the wrath of God on themselves for their sins and there are repentant sinners who had Christ absorb the wrath that was due to them. There is no condemnation.  Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV) - "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Anthony Mathenia
2M
Common Problems in the Millennial Generation
Dec. 9, 2019
What are some common characteristics of the current generation? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that some of the characteristics that he has seen in this current generation is that children and teens often have low attention spans and demonstrate a poor work ethic. There also is a problem with the youth of the current generation denying that there is absolute truth amongst this generation. The world is constantly telling them that there is no absolute truth because there is no God. If we want to help this current generation, we need to return to Scripture and teach them what God requires. The only way to overcome unbelief and sin is through the Gospel of Christ. Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) - "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Anthony Mathenia
43M
Marriage Matters
Oct. 26, 2019
Marriage, as God prescribes it, is foundational to the fabric of society. Any form of abuse of marriage, contradiction to it, or defilement of it is a perversion of God's created order. Sadly, today we are inundated with a variety of contradictions to marriage, many of which we are being told must be accepted and celebrated; contradictions and defilements such as polygamy, transgenderism, chauvinism, feminism, homosexuality, fornication, and pornography.
Anthony Mathenia
37M
Something Greater than Solomon
Oct. 26, 2018
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon she was amazed at his wisdom and wealth. So great was her astonishment that she said, "indeed the half was not told me" (1 Kings 10:7). This is a picture of Christ and our response to him, a Jesus himself points out in Matthew 12:42. It was far too difficult a task to accurately describe what Solomon was like. What the Queen had heard about him was great, yet it still didn’t do him justice, because he was too great to be able to be explained fully. In the same way, what we know of Christ is incredible, and yet it still doesn't do him justice as he truly is incomprehensibly great!
Anthony Mathenia
1M
False Repentance
Sep. 14, 2018
Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that false repentance can be tricky to diagnose, but ultimately, those who do not repent recognize that they have sinned but make no effort to change, to turn from sin, and to put it to death. They are all too content to continue living in that lifestyle of sin. They minimize what sin truly is. Acts 3:19 (NKJV) - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."
Anthony Mathenia
2M
Why Is the Need for Repentance Sometimes Disregarded?
Jan. 25, 2018
Why is the need for repentance sometimes disregarded? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that many churches in our day ignore the need for reforms primarily because they are more concerned about pleasing people than they are of pleasing God. We default to self-preservation. Repentance is not always easy. It is much easier to simply do what we have always done. We must be servants of God and do what Scripture requires.  1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NKJV) - "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus."
Anthony Mathenia
2M
Godly Sorrow or Wordly Sorrow: What's the Difference?
Mar. 16, 2018
What is the difference between worldly and godly sorrow? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that individuals who show godly sorrow are sorrowful because of offending God because He is holy and good. Individuals who show worldly sorrow merely show sorrow because of the consequences that they are suffering because of the wrong that they have done. They do not sorrow because they have rebelled against the commandments of God.  Worldly sorrow will not produce a change of direction. Godly sorrow will. It will result in a change of life and a change of direction. We will make the necessary changes in our lives so that we do not continue walking in those ways.  2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) - "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."
Anthony Mathenia
2M
The Most Important Part of a Family
Nov. 18, 2019
What is something that a family cannot neglect? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that it is absolutely crucial that in our culture, we establish our families based on the Scripture. From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, we are commanded in Scripture to do everything as unto the Lord. The Bible must be central in the life of a family. We must commit to worship God as a family day after day and living before Him. The whole of our day must be focused on the centrality of who God and the person of Christ as revealed in Scripture. Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) - "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."
Anthony Mathenia
1M
Who Is Qualified to be a Reformer?
Oct. 31, 2017
Who is qualified to be a reformer? Anthony Mathenia explains in this video that any believer can be a reformer. A Christian, whether young or old, who has been changed as a result of regeneration and being indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God has a role to play in the reformation that is ongoing even today. All Christians ought to be prayerfully seeking to reform their own families, churches, and lives.  Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Panel
66M
COVID-19: Issues and Opportunities
Mar. 20, 2020
The situation with COVID-19 has opened up many doors of opportunity for God’s people. In this session, Sam Waldron, Jeff Pollard, Anthony Mathenia, and Scott Brown discuss how churches and families should respond to the upheaval. Together, they address what a Christian is to regarding church meetings, social distancing, quarantines, honoring civil authorities and loving our neighbors. Last, they also discuss suggestions for church life when limiting suggestions are made to churches by the civil government.
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