Don't talk yourself out of praying — abiding, Jonah, and the McDonald's menu
A host urges listeners not to talk themselves out of kneeling to pray when God tugs: 'that's where it's at' — prayer isn't about faithful routines but direct contact. Another host connects it to Jesus' teaching to 'abide in me' (John 15): prayers get answered when you're abiding and asking his will. The McDonald's running joke returns ('the grouchy woman knows more about Jesus'), then a host reflects on rereading Jonah: the pagan sailors show a healthier fear of God than the disobedient prophet, and God sometimes uses outsiders better than insiders. A 'Raca' joke about the worship-night package deal closes the stretch.
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The New Testament case for human shaping
- What does the New Testament actually say about spiritual authority and submission?
Ben walks the New Testament texts: Hebrews 13:17 ('obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls') presumes a soul-watching laborer, not a rule-maker;…
From No. 600 · Rage The Elephant
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How to tell your voice from God's: the Bible test and leniency
- How can you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking?
Ella distills the question: how do you tell the difference between you speaking and God speaking? Her first answer: we have a Bible — what God is telling you is probably already in it ('Ben's gonna have a proud papa moment').
From No. 597 · Maybe A Word From God
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Evaluating the event: Elijah, Josiah, the sign of Jonah, the donuts test
- How do we tell whether a church element has become the thing itself rather than pointing to Jesus?
The hosts work through evaluation tools for curated experiences: Elijah didn't ask God to repeat the fire, and Jesus refused to repeat signs for the Pharisees ('you get the sign…
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Dear LFTP: the untidy grandchildren's home
- How can I tell my son's family that visiting their untidy home increases my anxiety without offending them?
Mike reads a letter from a grandmother anxious about her son's untidy home; the hosts diagnose persnickety-vs-oblivious wiring (Ben's sock-on-the-floor example, Martha), advise…
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