1763 results for tag: Greg Albrecht

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 13, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “…the penal substitutionary theory of the cross Christ introduces some questions: The cross of Christ was violent.  The penal substitutionary theory (taught in the majority of churches) explains that the violence unleased at the cross of Christ was the pouring out of God’s wrath on Jesus, instead of us.  Jesus took our place and substituted for us.   First question or problem:  The penal substitutionary theory pits God the Father against God the Son – a bad cop against a good cop, if you like.  But many Scriptures affirm that the One God is Father, Son and ...

Righteousness by Law or By Faith – by Greg Albrecht

There's an old story about a young man who asked his rich grandfather, "Grandpa, how did you get so rich?" "Well," said grandpa, "during the Great Depression my family had no money whatsoever. I found two pennies in my old piggy bank, and I bought an apple with those two pennies. I shined that apple up, took it out on the street where people were hungry, and sold it for five cents. Then I took that nickel and bought two more apples for two cents each. I shined them all up, took them back out on the street, and sold them for five cents each."The grandfather paused, and then continued, "That was my first real job. I did real well selling apples during ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 11, 2024 - Quote for the Day: “The word hidden makes us think of fascinating images, like hidden treasures, hidden bank accounts, hidden secret compartments, hidden cameras, hidden assets, etc.  The word, used as an adjective, piques our interest and curiosity. The resurrection of our Lord begins with this whole idea of being hidden.  His body had been hidden away in a tomb, concealed with a boulder.  When some of his followers came to the tomb, they found the stone rolled away (Matthew 28:2 says there had been a violent earthquake) and Jesus’ body was gone. The gospel of John says that Mary Magdalene visited his ...

Why Doesn’t God Answer All My Prayers?

Could the reason for our unanswered prayers be that we're just not good enough? On one hand we wonder why God doesn't answer all of our prayers, and on the other hand we understand the song, "Thank God for Unanswered Prayers."

Prayer: What It Is and What It Isn’t

If someone asked you what prayer is, what would you say? Greg takes a look at the Lord's prayer for guidance in order to answer what prayer is and what it isn't. Be sure to listen.

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 9, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “… instead of thinking of what God was doing on the cross as his way of satisfying his law and justice, we need to realize that Jesus was healing us. Indeed, we are told we are healed by his stripes. Jesus was taking our wrath, taking our evil, and transforming it, by grace, into the love of God.  The cross of Christ says ‘No to Wrath and Yes to Love!’  It is the way out of the human dilemma of violence, hatred and warfare – the ever-escalating, unending cycle of retributive violence when we seek justice by repaying an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth. Truly, repaying an eye-for-an-eye ...

Justice

Have you ever said, "That's just not fair!"  Have you ever been treated unjustly?  Do you long for justice and fairness?  Well, God doesn't show favoritism.  Listen to today's program as Greg talks about justice. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0162.mp3

Denominationalism

Denominationalism can be characterized this way, "I'm better than you are." It can make us feel unique and superior. It's a curse that divides Christians and impedes peoples' relationships with Christ.

GOD: “PLEASE – USE MY BEST NAME!!” – Greg Albrecht

Question: A family member keeps telling me that one of the Hebrew names for God is the only one we should use if we expect "God" to listen to us. This seems sheer nonsense to me. What do you think? Response: As you say, the proposition is nonsensical. Similar "logic" would determine that God only hears prayers in Hebrew - or maybe Greek - but certainly not English. Further, if we must use one of his Hebrew names, given that names in one language are spelled and pronounced differently in another, how can we ensure we don't offend him with a flawed pronunciation or wrong spelling?  Some take this illogical thinking further - ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 6, 2024 - Quote for the Day: But if Jesus is alive – if he really did rise from the dead – then death is no longer predictable, and if death isn’t predictable, what is?  What other assumptions about our life will we need to re-examine? And if Jesus is alive, then it means he is out there somewhere – for that matter, it means he is right here, right now. If Jesus is alive, then that means he can get up close and personal – and meet us exactly where we are. If Jesus is alive, then he is not far off somewhere. If Jesus is alive, then it means we can’t control him. If Jesus is alive, then it means that as ...

The Curse of Legalism

Do you think that God is unhappy with you -- that he's not pleased with the way you live your life? Where did you get that idea? Greg takes a look at the curse of legalism in today's program.

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 4, 2024 - Quote for the Day:  “The cross of Christ stands eternally as the symbol of the love and grace of God, when Jesus willingly accepted, absorbed and assimilated the hatred and violence poured out on him.”  Originally published in: Letters to My Friends ------------------------------------- Help Us Help Others - Give Now

Are We On God’s Side?

America's enemies claim that we are morally corrupt and "the great Satan". This brings up a question, are we on God's side? Greg explores whether or not we're worshiping the right God. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0156.mp3

Belief Behind Closed Doors

The disciples were huddled together out of fear when Jesus offered them peace - he invites you and me to faith and belief, out of a world bent on knowing only that which can be known by human abilities and senses.

The Ministry of Death OR the Ministry of Life – by Greg Albrecht

He looked at me and said, "It happened while I was in church. It was the end of the service, everyone was standing, and so was I. I was doing the same religious thing that everybody else was doing, the same religious thing I had done for over 25 years. My family was there. My mother was there. It was the same place we always went. We did the things they told us we should. The sermons usually either scolded us or berated us. "That week the sermon had been another 'you're not good enough' sermon. After the sermon, during the final prayer, the thought hit me, 'You know. This is ludicrous. I am never going to be good enough. I've been trying to do all ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

April 2, 2024 - Quote for the Day: “It wasn’t long after the Cross of Christ, and his victorious resurrection that man-made religion started to put its own unique twist on God’s availability.  In effect, religion started to teach that we could have an appointment with God, but we would have to call his secretary, which conveniently enough, was a job institutionalized religion appropriated to itself.  Not long after the earth-shaking events of the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord, which flung open the doors of God’s heaven, religion appointed itself as a gatekeeper. ‘Well sure, God wants to see you,’ ...

No Sheep Left Behind

Jesus' parable about the lost sheep doesn't make any sense - it doesn't appear to be a responsible action for a shepherd, pastor or anyone else. Why did Jesus leave the 99 and go after one lost sheep? https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR422.mp3

Getting a Kick Out of Giving

In our materialistic culture many spend much of their time and money in self-centered gain and consumerism -- yet they're miserable. On the other hand, God talks about cheerful giving.

Did Jesus’ Crucifixion Satisfy God’s Wrath – by Greg Albrecht

An idyllic, beautiful setting surrounds a rambling country estate in rural England. It’s 1935, and this pastoral setting provides the backdrop for the initial scene that plays out in Atonement. During the brief respite between the first and second World Wars, Cecilia Tallis, a rich young lady in her early twenties whose family owns the estate discovers she loves, and is loved by Robbie, a young man whose mother is the housekeeper at the Tallis home. As the love story begins, we are also introduced to Briony, Cecilia’s younger sister. Briony is an aspiring writer who is, in her coming of age 13-year-old way, envious of the courtship enjoyed ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

March 31, 2024 - Quote for the Day: “Why Did Jesus Die?  He was put to death by religious and political leaders because he opposed the politics and the accepted traditions and culture of religion of his day. Jesus was rejected by human government and human religion then – as he still is today! He was despised and rejected of men – because he offered God’s love and God’s grace. As strange as it might seem, humanity cannot abide God’s love (Romans 8:7). Humanity wants to go its own way, serving its own masters, customs and traditions. People are violently opposed to God giving something they are naturally inclined to ...