Resources

What should you do when tyrants are in control? In this encouraging message, Scott Brown examines Jeremiah 29:1-14, encouraging those living in exile to “Build, Dwell, Plant.” In other words, don’t waste your exile pining away. Don’t waste your exile getting caught up in distractions, move forward, be productive, do the powerful things, and don’t be frustrated. Don’t let the bad guys get you down. Get your wife at the table and design your home. Settle down. Stay put. Plant crops. Be self-sufficient. Plan weddings. Have babies. Make your house a house of prayer. Be a force of peace in your community.

Jason Dohm explains in this audio message that it is important to set out good patterns for their children. Parents should be modeling the things we are teaching and establishing patterns of life that our children will one day walk down. Children will generally follow the path that they witnessed their parents do. Accordingly, here's the question: "If your children followed exactly what you as a parent did, would that be a blessing or a curse?" Psalms 12:1-2 (NKJV) - "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn."

Scott Brown discusses the topic of marriage in the sermon. If both a husband and a wife keep their eyes on Christ, there will always be hope for your marriage. Marriage is one of the most defining and impactful things that a person will ever embark on in their life. Entering into a marriage should not be something that should be taken lightly. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) - "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Scott Brown explains in this audio message that both spouses should strive to promote respect for each promote and be good listeners. Simply put, both spouses should be easy to live with. He brings out four rules that we can apply when it comes to speaking to each other in marriage from the book of Proverbs. The first one comes from Proverbs 15:1 -- the tone of your voice matters. Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV) - "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

In this audio marriage, Paul Carrington discusses the topic of forgiveness in marriage. He uses the chapter of Matthew 18 to illustrate what Christ says about forgiveness. Forgiveness is not something that should be withheld or conditional. Forgiveness in marriage is such an important thing for both spouses to embrace for without forgiveness, bitterness and anger can result. Forgiveness brings spouses back together and points both to Christ. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV) - "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

In this video message, Carlton McLeod discusses the verses in Matthew 15:21-28 about the topic of perseverance. The woman in this chapter sought help for her daughter who was possessed by a devil. Despite challenging circumstances, she was determined to find healing. Similar to this woman, we must persist in holiness and godliness and be slow to become weary in doing good when things get difficult. We live in times where there is a great falling away. The response to difficult circumstances or even persecution is not to buckle under the pressure but to hold firm to the Truth. James 1:12 (NKJV) - "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

In this message, Dr. Joel Beeke explains that it is so important that we teach our children truths and principles from Scripture beginning at an early age. It is important to develop convictions. Christ is wisdom itself and lived life in our place so we may glean from His wisdom. Dr. Beeke looks at three books of the Bible and explains how each can specifically help develop convictions within the family. First, we can develop foundational convictions for Christ-centered daily life from the book of Proverbs. Second, spouses can develop marital convictions for Christ-centered intimacy from the book of Song of Solomon, and then, third, we all can develop realistic convictions for Christ-centered humility from the book of Ecclesiastes. Deuteronomy 6:7 (NKJV) - "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

In this message, Gavin Beers preaches from 2 Samuel 7 and provides a brief overview of the history of Israel. He starts by describing the families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Abraham's family eventually grows into a nation. He looks at four influential families in this book of the Bible and important lessons that we can learn from each family. He begins with the household of Elkanah. Romans 15:4 (NKJV) - "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

What are you doing with your life? In this video, Paul Washer states that you are living for something -- the question is, what are you living for? Are you living your life for Christ or are you pursuing worthless endeavors? What is driving you to live the way you do? To live for Christ, you must be desperate -- you must realize that something must change. You cannot be satisfied with living in sin and worldliness. A desperation for Christ and His ways must drive your live. 2 Timothy 2:15-16 (NKJV) - "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness."

Mike Davenport explains in this video that we see in Scripture examples of how fathers produced godly seed. We see their descendants after them living their lives for God as was taught in Scripture. Fathers should have a generational mindset, understanding that their choices today will impact generations to come. Revelations 2:4-5 (NKJV) - "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent."

What happens when fathers fail to raise their children in the things of the Lord? Paul Carrington explains in this video that if you want to see a clear warning when we don't follow Deuteronomy 6, we can look at the book of Judges. After Joshua had passed and the elders, there was a generation that did not know the Lord nor the things that He had done. Much of the book is an illustration of what happened to a generation that had forgotten the Lord.

David Fry explains in this video that Abraham gave us a positive example of biblical fatherhood. We have many situations of how involved he was with the Lord but also with his son and his nephew, Lot. Even though he wasn't perfect, he strived to walk according to what God commanded. Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV) - "The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."