The 180 Church Podcast with Dr. Sammy and Friends

Chronic: Getting Unstuck from Life Problems that Feel Episodic

Many of us, especially when problems arise, operate on assumptions that we take as fact. Just as the invalid at Bethesda clung to the pool of healing as his salvation, we cling to these lies because they are convenient and make us feel better. But this cannot get us far, and in fact can distract us from seeing the truth. Instead, we should turn not to lies, but to God's power, and with His help, take relevant actions to tackle the problems. In doing so, we allow Him change our lives.

 

Tune in real-time at AMC Theater (890 Broadway, NYC) or online via Youtube (180churchnyc)!

Why Kindness is Often Overlooked

Caught up in the demands of everyday life, we often overlook the kindness and joy already present all around us. We tend to distract ourselves by trying to fill our need for love with finite, worldly things, when instead we can look to a Father whose love for us is infinite and overflowing. God invites us to bring Him our deficits and depend on His glory to redeem them. God's kindness leads us to repentance, and it is in seeking Him that we find what we are really looking for: great joy and laughter.

#Blessed

We generally define blessings as parts of a successful life, such as material wealth or pedigree. By looking at blessings through a Christian lens, they are instead gifts from God, through which we can participate in the flourishing of creation. Through the story of Jacob wrestling with God, we learn we can curse ourselves by taking God's blessing in our own hands. But even if we mistrust God's abundance, God's blessings can still accomplish His plan through us.

A Friend Along the Journey in Christ: Weathering the Storms Together

As followers of Jesus, our effort to become more Christ-like is not a solitary pursuit, but an endeavor that is built and supported by community. In this lifetime, there are inevitable difficulties. How can we bear life’s problems together as friends along the journey? The community of God is drawn together by the Father to celebrate in jubilee, weather the storms, and encourage one another to stay on the path of being formed in the image of God.

Why Trust and Accountability are Inseparable and other Hard Truths I Need, But Don’t Often Hear.

We cannot trust without prior evidence; otherwise our trust is based on assumptions which can be wrong. Indeed, trust needs to be earned, and trust can also be broken. For example, in the parable of the Talents, the servants who proved themselves trustworthy with their master's talents were given more, and the one who didn't was punished. Even God does not demand us to trust Him immediately, but asks us to invite Him into our lives so that He may earn our trust. Thus, it is crucial to be accountable for our actions, to ensure that they are ones that build, rather than break, trust.

Why Forgiveness and Trust are Not Mutually Exclusive; and Other Truths I Wish I’d Known Sooner.

We will inevitably encounter moments in our relationships that will require trust and forgiveness. These two extensions of favor and grace can be difficult to distinguish as we bear with one another in the messiness and complexities of life. We are often meticulous with forgiveness, although it is unmerited, and liberal with trust when it should be earned. Through the parable of the unmerciful servant, we’re led to wonder who can possibly be more deserving of our trust than Christ and how we can exercise forgiveness as Christ does.

Family Narratives

Our lives are made up of moments which in a vacuum don't seem to have any greater purpose or meaning. But our stories take on fuller meaning in light of the stories that came before us: our parents' stories, their parents' stories, and ultimately the Bible. When we reflect on how our stories link to the stories of the Bible, we are confronted with our darkest fears and deepest wounds. However, it's in the Bible that we also find hope and purpose for our lives, because the gospel narrative is one in which Jesus' crucifixion becomes His resurrection - in which all the world's sin and brokenness shows itself, and Jesus responds with love.

Why Becoming a Christian Makes Forgiveness So Much Easier and Other Lies I Used to Believe.

When we need forgiveness from others, it is easy for us to ask for it, yet when others wrong us, it is hard for us to forgive them. During these times, we must remember the sheer magnitude of God's grace, of how we've been forgiven from an entire life of sin. If God could forgive us for such an enormous debt that we can never repay, how much should we then forgive others their mistakes against us, even if we have to do so again and again?

A Friend Along the Journey in Christ: Starting the Journey Together

The Great Commission calls believers to make disciples of all nations. Most of us feel uncomfortable with this command because we don't feel like we're good at evangelizing. But instead of trying to be perfect representatives of Christ, it's about inviting someone to experience how Christ has changed us and impacted us. Like the encounter with Jesus and the woman at the well, we are called to open others up to the possibility of finding greater hope in Christ when we invite others along our own journeys of faith.

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Why Becoming a Christian Solves Most of Our Problems and Other Lies I Used to Believe.

As Christians and investigators of faith, we tend to believe that character defects and deficits would miraculously be resolved by our relationship with Christ. However, that could not be further from the truth. Emotional immaturity, ego, and pride are dismantled not by happenstance, but by the effort we exert towards modeling Christ’s character. It’s in this journey with Christ and by developing a depth for emotional maturity, that we as believers and seekers can grow out of the deficiencies of our human nature and love authentically and genuinely as Christ did.