Video/Audio | AGW MINISTRIES

What Does the Bible Say About Happiness?

February 13, 2018September 23, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Bible Verses: 1 Kings 21:17-19

Affluence and personal peace at any price as the controlling factors of life are as ugly as anything could be. – Francis Schaeffer, The Church at the End of the 20th Century

What does the Bible say about happiness?

The United States Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Christians and non-Christians do not disagree that happiness should be a human goal, but they should disagree with how this goal is best achieved. So what does the Bible say about finding happiness?

Does the Bible Say It’s Wrong to Live Together Before Marriage?

March 20, 2018September 23, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Most Christians believe it is sin to have premarital sex, but what about living with someone of the opposite sex before marriage? Many people are strapped financially, so it just makes life easier if they can split the bills with the person they are dating or engaged to. And if they know they are going to get married anyway, what’s the harm in cohabitation before marriage, especially if they are not having sex?

What Does Friendship With The World Look Like?

August 28, 2018September 21, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

What does frienship with the world look like? — James 4:4, 1 John 2:16, John 3:16

Bible Verses:
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4

What does friendship with the world look like? Why is friendship with the world wrong? If God loves the world (John 3:16), why does he tell us if we are friends with the world we are an enemy of God? How can you love someone without being their friend? And how can Christians evangelize to the lost if the lost don’t know we love them?

While Scripture is clear that believers should “not be unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), it also clear that Christians should seek to serve and love the world, for as Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). These two commands are not in contradiction. While it may seem like we must be friends with the world to love the world, this is not truly the case. Therefore, its important to truly know what friendship with the world really looks like and what it does not look like.

Biblical Advice for an Unhappy Christian Marriage

January 13, 2019September 19, 2015 by Mark Ballenger

Bible Verses:

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. – Ephesians 5:31-33

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. – Romans 12:9-10

There are so many “solutions” in the world to help an unhappy marriage? Marriage counseling, retreats, advice, tips, marriage mentoring, and so many others really can offer some good wisdom. All of which can be used by God, but none of which will truly help if the spouses lack this one thought: How can I love my spouse?

If that’s the question we are asking, God will always help us find the answer.