1750 results for tag: Greg Albrecht

Why Cults are Successful — Part 4

The heretical basis for almost all cults is their legalism and religionism, their works-based approach to salvation with an emphasis on keeping the rules.  These are critical and major perversions of the biblical teaching that Jesus equals salvation - period. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0335.mp3

Can War Ever Be “Just”? – Part 2 – Greg Albrecht

In Part One we provided an overview of Christ-centered teaching about violence and war [click here to read part 1] and now we continue with: Part Two: Can War Ever Be “Just”? “Just” War The issue of what Christians thought and how they responded to warfare changed dramatically when the Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313, legalizing Christianity within the empire, an empire that glamorized, lionized and economically depended on warfare, as a means of gaining and preserving its power. At this point it seems Constantine conveniently decided that warriors of a Christian nation are fighting not only for ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

June 8, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “In the name of Christ, religious counterfeits require that we give a bribe or tip to the headwaiter to get into the dining area. Performance-based religion gives preferences to who and what you know, how much you have and what you have accomplished. But Jesus offers everyone a seat in the most exclusive dining room in the universe, in the heavenly realms, based upon God’s grace. Our seat at the Lord’s Table is not based upon money, fame, or deeds. We are seated at the Lord’s Table because of who he is, not because of who we are. And, by the way, the Bible says nothing about any particular group of ...

Why Cults are Successful — Part 3

Cults, new age groups and religion in general - as distinct from NT Christianity - thrive in the spiritual wilderness of our society where the gospel of Jesus Christ has been devalued by our culture. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0334.mp3

What is God’s Plan for Your Life? by Greg Albrecht

You may have been in a discussion with someone about dilemmas they face or decisions they must make when they concluded with a comment that went something like this: “Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait to see what God’s will is.” Recently, a little four-year-old boy, who was a cousin of a friend of ours, opened the front door of his house and walked into the front yard only to be gunned down by a drive-by shooter. Should it make a difference (and it doesn’t), the little boy was baptized and regularly attended a brick-and-mortar church. What was God’s plan for his life? I have several friends and family members who have died ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

June 6, 2024 - Quote for the Day: “God is not impressed with the lofty, ornate cathedrals humans build. God doesn’t assume that those religious monuments are more holy than little humble church buildings out on some windswept plain or desert. For that matter, God is not impressed with any building we can build and dedicate to him – as Acts 7:48 tell us: …the Most High does not live in houses made by men. Worshipping God inside a building that calls itself a church does not exalt you before God. Your presence inside a building that calls itself a church is not the basis of God’s love for you.  God is not impressed with ...

Why Cults are Successful — Part 2

The message of Jesus Christ has been perverted and twisted into unbelievable ideas yet tens of millions of people are caught up in these cultic beliefs, in part, because cults use manipulative bait-and-switch tactics. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0333.mp3

Why Cults are Successful — Part 1

It's been said many times -- cults and cultic ideas are the unfinished business of the church -- that if the church did a better job, cults wouldn't be growing so fast. Do you agree? Just why are cults so successful? Don't miss this first of a 4 program series on cults. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0332.mp3

Can War Ever Be “Just”? – Part 1 – Greg Albrecht

Question: I am a long-time reader and listener. I cannot tell you how much PTM and CWR have helped me and how much this ministry means to me.  October 7, 2023 reminded me of my long-term struggle with the morality of warfare. Immediately after October 7 I was appalled by the evil unleashed by Hamas, brutalities including barbarous rape, torture and capture of hostages. But then as the war has continued, as Israel tries to free the hostages, all the while the staggering suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza intensifies. I realize there is another “side” of this war.   My struggle with war is not ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

June 4, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “The chief opposition and objections to God’s grace do not come from those who do not claim to be Christians at all, like Buddhists or Muslims. The chief objections to God’s grace come from those who call themselves Christians but are trapped by legalism, and are in the swamps of Christ-less religion. No one hates God’s grace so much as those who work hard to convince God that their efforts are holy and righteous. It was religion that hated Jesus. We must not compromise with God’s grace, my friends. We must not allow God’s grace to be watered down. Each of us will either be children of faith, ...

The Deadly Fruit of Legalism, Part 2 – The Problem and the Solution

Legalism can turn us into hard hearted, narrow minded, spiteful and judgmental people. It's a serious problem for Christians because it separates us from the intimacy with Christ and others we were meant to have. In this program Greg talks about the good news that Jesus Christ is.

The Deadly Fruit of Legalism, Part 1 — Legalism’s Disguises

Greg counts himself as a survivor of legalism. In this first of two programs he reveals from his own experience some of legalism's disguises and the harm lurking under those disguises.

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

June 2, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “Mention the Book of Revelation in a conversation, and even Christians will generally react in one of two extremes. Some think that Revelation has nothing of importance to offer. They see the book as archaic, grisly and grotesque first-century writing with no relevance for today. On the other hand, some Christians seem to think that Revelation (and any other part of the Bible that is related to it or used to interpret it) is the only part of the Bible worth reading and studying. Many are virtual prophecy junkies, addicted to ‘updated interpretations’ of Revelation, because they see this book as a ...

Christians You Don’t Recognize — Part 2

Fact:  Many Christians think they are better than others; there are other Christians they don't even recognize.  Fact:  Some church and religious movements have persuaded their followers that they are superior to others.  Fact:  Being better and superior is not the gospel of Jesus Christ! https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0294.mp3

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

May 30, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “The church is not a building. The church is not identified by a sign outside of a building or by a steeple that soars above a building. The church is not a legally incorporated entity.  One may be a member of a church and not be a member of the universal body of Christ, which is the church that really counts. One may be a member of the universal body of Christ and thus free in Christ (Galatians 5:1) to affiliate with a church. But one’s membership in a church is not required or a necessary prerequisite for membership in the universal church founded by Jesus Christ. Christ-followers are the church – ...

Christians You Don’t Recognize — Part 1

Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.  Protestants don't recognize the Pope as the head of the church and Christians who believe alcohol is a sin do not recognize each other in a liquor store.  If there are other Christians you do not recognize, you need to listen to this program. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0293.mp3

After Grace — Then What?

Grace is totally unmerited pardon. It is forgiveness of our sins no matter what we have done -- it can't be earned in any way. But what is life like after that? How then should we live?

God Is Making All Things New – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from June 2024: He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch and old one.  Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins” (Luke 5:36-38) Wine “bottles” in Palestine in the day of Jesus were made of skin, usually that of a goat or sheep.   After new wine was poured into a wineskin, as it fermented, it gradually ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

May 28, 2024 - Quote for the Day: “Dietrich Bonhoeffer, widely regarded as a 20th century martyr, put to death by the Nazis before the end of World War 2 because of his faith in Christ, once said, ‘Jesus calls men, not to a new religion, but to life.’  Jesus did not come to this earth to start another religion, but to save the world from religion! The mission of Christ-less religion is sin management. Christ-less religion is all about making bad people better. Jesus is not interested in cosmetic improvements.  He did not, in the ultimate demonstration of love, give his life on the cross for a behavioral modification program. ...

Wine Into Water

Jesus changed water into wine. It was the best wine and it was saved for last. People have been trying to reverse the process and change wine into water ever since. Why is the story of this miracle in the Bible? What should we learn from it?