Video/Audio | AGW MINISTRIES

Christian Culture Is Not Found in the Bible

August 9, 2017November 8, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7dmUaZRktQ&t=0s

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. – Acts 11:26

The word “Christian” is nowhere used in the Bible as anything other than a noun. However, in American culture we constantly use “Christian” as an adjective or adverb to describe things such as music, movies, books, character, charitable acts, and so many other things. The great danger in this is the temptation to replace our genuine faith in Christ with traditions steeped in culture rather than God’s everlasting truth.

Don’t Waste Your Pain

November 22, 2018November 5, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Pain, who can escape this part of our reality? No one. Though we all try to avoid it, pain eventually catches up to us all.

Whether through the loss of a loved one, the lack of the life we’ve planned for, or through relational heartache, pain never discriminates. It eventually finds us all, brings us to our knees and makes us yearn for relief. Pain is raw, real, excruciating to go through, and completely unavoidable. This is a broken world, and no one escapes without some painful wounds.

But in the midst of it all, God speaks.

Christian Dating, Breakups, and 4 Tips to Help You Get Through It With God

December 15, 2017October 20, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Christian dating breakups are common. Most 20-to-30-somethings have been in multiple dating relationships. Not all breakups are because of sin. Maybe after time, the two of you just realized it wasn’t meant to be. Or perhaps some of those relationships were sinful and ended because God wasn’t in it.

Regardless of the reason for the breakup, the weeks and months that follow can feel like you just got shoved down a river without a rafting guide and now you need to figure out how to survive class V whitewater rapids on the fly.

Jesus doesn’t want that for you. While the Bible doesn’t talk about Christian dating breakups, it does talk a lot about forgiveness, healing, and living a healthy life for God’s glory.

So here are four quick biblical tips that will help prepare you for the future by helping you deal with any past breakups that were unhealthy.

How to Get Through Pain as a Christian

June 13, 2018October 14, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Throughout Jesus’ time on earth, he promised that his people will, without question, experience much pain, turmoil, and persecution on this earth. What is often overlooked is that he also promised that the prize for enduring these things for the sake of Christ will be far greater than the pain. Mark 10:28-30 explains:

3 Ways Humility Produces Holiness

January 12, 2019October 4, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

holiness humility christianity — 1 Peter 1:14-16

Holiness and humility go hand in hand. The Christian cannot have one without the other. All true Christians desire to be holy, which can only be given through the grace of Jesus Christ, but it seems some have a greater holiness playing out in their lives than others. Humility is always the underlying determining factor for who is walking in holiness and who simply desires to but is left struggling to do so. For as 1 Peter 1:14-16 explains:

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

If we want to be holy, it starts with being like a child. Here are three biblical reasons why holiness without humility is impossible.

Is Online Dating a Sin? 7 Points to Consider When Online Dating

January 24, 2018September 26, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Many Christians struggle with the idea of online dating. They wonder, “How does God feel about online dating? Does he see it as not trusting him? Is online dating a sin? What does the Bible say about things like online dating?”

While the Bible obviously never directly talks about online dating, the wisdom found in Scripture can certainly help us answer many of the common questions Christian singles have when they are considering online dating.

So here are 7 points to consider when it comes to online dating as a Christian single.

Why Does God Wait to Bless Us?

June 9, 2018September 19, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Why does God wait to bless us?

The Top 7 Social Media Pitfalls Healthy Christians Avoid Like the Plague

May 17, 2018September 17, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

christians social media — Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

Jesus spoke to the masses, he visited towns because that’s where the people were, and every Christian is told to make disciples of all nations. Like Jesus, to love well, we must go where the people are.

Is It Wrong to Want to Be Married?

February 15, 2018September 8, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

Some Christians are called to singleness. These types of people are typically quite content with not being in a romantic relationship, they don’t struggle with sexual temptation, and their desire for singleness is rooted in their desire to serve God.

Most Christians who are single, however, don’t fall into this category. The vast majority of us have not been blessed with the gift of singleness. One lie churches often unintentionally teach Christian singles is that it’s not okay to be discontent with their singleness. Through well meant teachings and seminars on how Christian singles must find all their contentment in Christ, people often end up feeling guilty for being unhappy about their lack of marriage. Many people feel it is wrong to want to be married.

What Does the Number Three Mean in the Bible?

May 28, 2018September 7, 2016 by Mark Ballenger

meaning of three in Bible — Matthew 16:21, Acts 2:23-24

God reveals his power in many ways, but one of those ways is by prophesying what’s going to happen and using specific numbers repeatedly, such as the number three.

Biblical Numerology is the study of numbers in the Bible. Many times when we start studying numbers in the Bible, we get off track because it often times requires us to make inferences at the meaning of these numbers. Most times the Bible does not explain why certain numbers are used in certain situations.

So when studying the numbers mentioned in the Bible, like the number three, we must be careful to only draw conclusions that are obvious and supported by other parts of Scripture.