1751 results for tag: Greg Albrecht

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 19, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “Many North Americans seek religious meaning by continuing a cultural trend first exemplified in the freedom movement of the 1960s.  In many celebration (or praise and worship) churches the underlying assumption is that God enjoys receiving what we most enjoy giving, in terms of worship.  In such a religious culture the underlying premise seems to be that God embraces our agenda, rather than the other way around. Spiritual menus in many mega-church environments are based on predigested, feel-good, positive thinking, self-empowering messages based on self-esteem.  God’s will has become a cliché in ...

It All Comes From God

Doxology might appear to be just another high-falutin' rootin tootin' theological term, but the doxology in Romans 11:33-36 helps us discover purpose and significance behind our praise and worship of God. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR302.mp3

Standing On Others’ Shoulders – by Greg Albrecht

 If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. – Isaac Newton, 1676 -  Hearing or observing someone giving credit to those who helped him/her in the past (or even the present!) is an incredibly beautiful and gratifying experience.  I am forever thankful for the sacrifices made on my behalf, starting with parents and grandparents, who gave so much. Simply being able to know I stand on the shoulders of many, in so many ways, is one of my enormous blessings for which I give thanks. As Christ-followers, the Cross of Christ represents the ultimate sense in which we stand on anyone’s shoulders. On ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 16, 2023 - Quote for the Day: “Some suggest that laws and behavior create morality.  I insist that true morality is a product of God – the fruit of Christ’s Spirit alive in us.  Morality does not induce God’s favor or motivate God to take action.  True morality is because of God.  God does not serve laws.  God’s laws came from God and are given by God.  God’s law boils down to love.  Such love is the product of God, rather than humanly-produced morality, as if we could prove that we are good enough for God to love us back.  Rather, we willingly love God and our neighbor as God’s ...

Legalism — Spiritual Bankruptcy

Did you know that the spelling "Sundae" in ice cream sundaes came about because church leaders in Evanston, Illinois objected to the newly popular mixture of chocolate syrup and ice cream being called an ice cream "Sunday"?  Greg shows just how bankrupt legalism is. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0087.mp3

God’s Gifts To Us

What is the difference between Christians and non-Christians? Christians and non-Christians alike do good things, they build schools and hospitals, they care for the poor and feed the hungry.

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 14, 2023 - Quote for the Day:  “The real issue that authentic Christians must face is the fact that much of Christendom has been infiltrated and even co-opted by legalism, and therefore has degenerated into just another religion.”  Originally published in: Bad News Religion ------------------------------------- Help Us Help Others - Give Now

Back to Slavery?

Legalism, obedience to rules, can lead us to congratulate ourselves on our own goodness and make us feel we deserve salvation. Legalism was at the heart and core of the heresy Paul was fighting in Galatia.

The Virus of Legalism

Legalism is a virus that is always present in organized Christianity. It is always lurking, looking for a weakness, some way to become active. Legalism sneaks around in the shadows trying to convince us that salvation is Christ "plus."

Q&R with Greg Albrecht – “Is Christianity a Religion?”

QUESTION:  I’ve heard you use the word religion in a negative way.  How do you define religion?  What is the difference between Christian and Christian religion?  Some application forms ask, “what is your religion?”  What’s a good answer? ANSWER:  I make a critical distinction in the definition of the word religion.  I define religion as any belief system or methodology that promises God’s love and blessings in return for human effort and performance.This definition is a sub-definition of the commonly used definitions for religion, i.e. 1) serving and worshiping God; 2) commitment to or devotion to faith, as in attending church ...

What Does Real Estate Have to Do with the Gospel? – Greg Albrecht

Question: Thanks for your interview with Bishara Awad – posted in a blog on October 29.  His comments as a Palestinian Christian, founder and former president of Bethlehem Bible College, are most helpful and eye-opening.  However, I have a question.  You and Bishara both talked about “the land” and how claims to “the land” lead to all kinds of violence, on “both sides.”  But I thought that God promised the land in question to Abraham.  Can you respond a bit more? Response: Thanks for your comments re. the interview I had with Bishara Awad, founder of Bethlehem Bible College… some years ago, but ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 12, 2023 - Quote for the Day:  If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Issac Newton, 1676 “Hearing or observing someone giving credit to those who helped him/her in the past (or even the present!) is an incredibly beautiful and gratifying experience. I am forever grateful for the sacrifices made on my behalf, starting with parents and grandparents, who gave so much.  Simply being able to know I stand on the shoulders of many, in so many ways, is one of the enormous blessings for which I give thanks.  As Christ-followers, the Cross of Christ represents the ultimate sense in which we ...

The Deception of Externalism

In one of his letters, the apostle Paul strives to convince the Galatians that the external trappings of religion are not the spiritual reality -- a lesson we need to consider and that Greg drives home in this program.

When Were You Saved… And Does it Really Matter? by Greg Albrecht

Here's an email I received recently: I said the prayer to be saved when I was ten years old. I don't remember much about it—just that my mom was upset that the church I was attending with my friend would baptize a child (me) who was not really sure what was going on. Many years later, in another church service, I asked Jesus to come into my heart again. The pastor announced to the church that I was rededicating my life. Yet looking back, I feel that God was with me all along.Is it possible that I was truly saved when I was age ten, even though I was unaware of its great importance? I know that God knows my heart and I have a great ...

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 9, 2023 - Quote for the Day:   “Robert Louis Stevenson once remarked, ‘How little we pay our way in life!’  He was speaking of the fact that we are all debtors to others, to a great host of people who have gone before, clearing the way, pioneering, building and producing.  We are indeed indebted to so many others, even those we never knew, because we pay very little of our own way in life. What do you have that you did not receive? – 1 Corinthians 4:7 Thus, as we give thanks, we remember that the blood that flows in our veins is that of those who gave and sacrificed that we might have what they never did.  An old ...

Trying To Impress God

What makes Christians righteous? What we do? What we don't do? The apostle Paul says a lot about this subject.

Them and Us

"My church is better than your church because..." If you think that your church has more truth, the full truth, more revelation, a better baptism, greater insight, a higher calling, or a deeper conversion, listen in and think again. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0077.mp3

Reflections Along the Jesus Way

November 7, 2023 - Quote for the Day “Some churches include public testimonies in their services – really juicy personal stories told by someone who used to be really bad, but now that person has repented.  It’s called their testimony – and when it comes time for salacious testimonies some sit there in the church and think ‘God, I thank you I’ve never been that bad.’ I don’t mean to say that some church-goers are not genuinely delighted when God dramatically and miraculously, by his grace, transforms someone’s life.  Of course, I believe the reaction of real Christians, in whom Christ lives, is closer to ...

Why Try To Be Good?

If it is true that you and I are saved, not because of how good we are, not because of the good things that we do, but because God is good and he saves us because he wants to; then why should you and I even try to be good? https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0076.mp3

God is God and We are Not

Life can be overwhelming at times -- too much month left at the end of the money, sick loved ones, or the death of a parent, spouse or child. Why does God allow things like this to happen? https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/PTR0075.mp3