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In this final episode of the Pursuit series, Bryan walks through five biblical essentials for disciple-making drawn from Paul's letter to the Colossians. Starting from Colossians 1:28–29, Bryan shows that effective discipleship isn't about having the right curriculum or being spiritually polished — it's about real relationships, timely truth, faithful prayer, and keeping Jesus at the center. Whether you feel fully qualified or completely in over your head, this episode will give you both the theology and the practical framework to begin investing in someone else's faith. Key Scripture ReferencesColossians 1:28–29 (NLT) — Paul's compact summary of disciple-making: proclaim Christ, teach with wisdom, and play the long game toward full maturity in everyoneJohn 15:12–13 (NLT) — Jesus commands love as the foundation of discipleship, modeled by laying down your life for your friends1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth is discerned by the Spirit, so timing and receptivity matter as much as enthusiasm1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (NLT) — Paul plants and Apollos waters, but God alone produces the growth — our role and God's role are distinctColossians 1:9 (NLT) — Paul's model of specific, unceasing prayer for people he has never even met Episode Takeaways & HighlightsCommit to a Real Relationship: Discipleship happens in genuine connection, not content delivery — people can feel the difference between being cared for and being managed.Share the Right Truth at the Right Time: Ask more than you answer, pray before you meet, and let the Holy Spirit lead the timing of what you share.Do Your Part, Not God's: Your job is to show up, plant, and water — but only God can change a heart, so release the outcome.Point Everything to Jesus: The goal isn't someone who follows you well; it's someone who can walk with Jesus even when you step out of the picture.Pray for Them Specifically: Pray by name, about what they're actually carrying, between your meetings — and let them know you're doing it. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now

Jesus gave his followers one final assignment before he left the earth, and many Christians have quietly handed it off to pastors and missionaries. In this episode, we return to the mountain in Galilee in Matthew 28, where Jesus gave the Great Commission to eleven men—some worshiping, some still doubting—and sent them anyway. We unpack a small piece of Greek grammar that reveals the heart of the command, paint the picture of a full circle follower of Jesus, and walk through a simple three-step process for conversational discipleship: engage, establish, and empower. Along the way, we revisit the dropped batons of the 2008 Beijing Olympic relays and take on the honest objection that disciple-making is just recruiting with nicer branding. The big takeaway: if you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple. Key Scripture ReferencesMatthew 28:16–20 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth, sends his worshiping and doubting disciples to make disciples of all nations, and promises to be with them always.1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth only makes sense through the work of God's Spirit, which frees us to be patient and pray as we engage others.Matthew 10:19–20 (NLT) — God promises to give his people the right words at the right time.2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) — Paul's vision for four generations of disciples in a single verse.1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT) — Paul shared not only the Good News but his own life, too. Episode Takeaways & HighlightsSome Doubted, All Were Sent: Jesus commissioned his followers before their faith was airtight, so the thing you think disqualifies you probably doesn't.One Main Command: In Greek, "make disciples" is the central verb. "Go" carries the force of a command, while baptizing and teaching describe how disciple-making happens.The Full Circle Picture: A mature follower of Jesus trusts Jesus for salvation, honors God with their life choices, and makes disciples.Engage: Start with what the other person cares about. Use the topics and built-in discussion questions at pursuegod.org to build a rhythm of real conversations.Establish: When their questions turn spiritual, walk through the basics together using The Pursuit, PursueGOD's 12-part series.Empower: Like a relay handoff, the goal is a disciple who makes disciples. Help them get connected to someone, then run alongside them for a few strides.Not a Sales Funnel: Real discipleship gives people away instead of building a downline, and it keeps loving people even when they say no.This Week's Challenge: Write down one name, pray for that person every day, and ask them what's going on in their life. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now

Most believers settle for a two-legged version of Christianity: receiving salvation and working on personal morality. While necessary, this framework leaves faith spiritually incomplete and keeps believers stuck on the sidelines. In this episode, we dive into the vital "third leg" of the Christian journey: disciple-making. By exploring the first-century Rabbinic context of Jesus' call, the biblically intended structure of leadership, and the power of relational proximity, we unpack why making disciples isn't just a job for paid pastors or hyper-extroverts. It is the universal calling for every follower of Christ and the primary engine for personal spiritual growth. Key Scripture ReferencesMatthew 28:18–19 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus declares his absolute authority and commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT) — The Role of Church Leaders: Pastors and teachers are called to equip believers to do the work of ministry, shifting the church model from spectator sport to active engagement.Matthew 9:36–38 (NLT) — Compassion for the Harvest: Jesus looks at the crowds with gut-wrenching compassion and tells his disciples to pray for workers in an abundant harvest field.Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) — The Result of Discipleship: True spiritual maturity and discernment are developed as believers step into ministry and active engagement. Episode Takeaways & HighlightsThe First-Century Rabbinic Context: Unlike traditional rabbis who only chose the academic elite, Jesus sought out ordinary, blue-collar workers and empowered them to complete the disciple cycle by reproducing his teachings in others.Obeying over Accumulating: Discipleship is not about accumulating Bible trivia; it is a relational pathway built on intentional, transformative obedience to Christ’s commands.The "Equipping" Model vs. Modern Passivity: Western church culture often expects pastors to perform all ministry work. Biblically, pastors are coaches on the sidelines, equipping church members—the players—to make disciples.Maturity Comes Through Action: Spiritual growth doesn't happen before stepping into ministry; it happens as you make disciples. Engaging with others forces you into scripture, exposes hypocrisy, and deepens prayer.Relational Proximity Matters: While sermons convey truth to crowds, life transformation happens through intentional, small-scale or one-on-one relationships. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now

In this episode we break down the vital distinction between legalistic performance and grace-fueled effort, laying out an actionable playbook for the five foundational spiritual disciplines every follower of Jesus must master to build an unshakeable inner life. Key TakeawaysThe Reality of Spiritual Decay: Physical strength doesn't happen by accident, and neither does spiritual maturity. Without intentional training, your default human nature will dictate your choices.Effort vs. Legalism: Legalism is trying to earn God’s favor through performance; spiritual discipline is your response to the grace you’ve already received. As Dallas Willard noted, grace is opposed to earning, not effort.Training over Passive Faith: The Greek word for training (gumnasia) depicts raw, disciplined, single-minded focus—stripping away distractions to do the heavy lifting required for spiritual growth. Key Scriptures Cited1 Timothy 4:8"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."John 5:39–40"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."Hebrews 10:25"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."Matthew 6:20–21"Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."-- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Notes

Tired of treating your spiritual life like a doomed New Year's resolution? In this episode, we break down why the "try harder" cycle of spiritual growth always fails and uncover the radical truth behind 2 Peter 1:3: God has already given you everything you need to live a transformed, victorious life. Rather than relying on the fragile battery of human willpower or ancient Stoic self-reliance, true transformation happens when we stop striving in our own strength and step into the divine resources already deposited into our account. We dive deep into the three foundational keys provided by God—His indwelling Spirit, His objective Word, and His intentional Community—showing you how to anchor your faith, navigate internal spiritual battles, and walk out daily victory alongside others. Key TakeawaysThe Willpower Trap: Spiritual growth is not produced by personal stamina or good intentions; trying to power a transformed life with human effort leads directly to exhaustion and guilt.Key 1: God’s Spirit (Internal Power): At salvation, God performs spiritual "open-heart surgery" (Ezekiel 36:26-27), replacing a cold, stubborn heart with a responsive one. Internal conflict with old habits isn't proof of failure—it's proof the Holy Spirit is actively working inside you.Key 2: God’s Word (Objective Anchor): Subjective feelings and impulses can deceive us. The Bible serves as our cockpit instrument panel (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Luke 6:46-48), providing the firm foundation and ultimate truth that keeps us from spiritual disaster.Key 3: God’s People (Communal Strength): Isolation is dangerous. Living out faith requires a community that gently restores, holds accountable, and helps bear life's heavy burdens (Galatians 6:1-2). Scripture References2 Peter 1:3 — "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life."Ezekiel 36:26–27 — God’s promise of a new heart and an indwelling Spirit.Galatians 5:16–17, 24–25 — Navigating the conflict between the Spirit and the sinful nature.2 Timothy 3:16–17 — The fourfold authority and utility of God’s Word.Luke 6:46–48 — The parable of the wise builder on the solid rock.Galatians 6:1–2 — Restoring others gently and bearing one another's burdens. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Notes

Understanding the shift from receiving God's grace through faith to actively walking out a life that honors Him. While salvation is entirely a free gift, the very first step of obedience Jesus commands is a strange, ancient, wet ritual: baptism. This episode wrestles with the tension between grace and works, explores the rich 1st-century cultural backdrop of baptizo, and explains why getting wet in front of a crowd is the essential "early win" for every follower of Christ. Key Takeaways Baptism Does Not Save You: Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Physical water cannot wash away moral guilt—only the Holy Spirit brings spiritual rebirth (Titus 3:5). The thief on the cross is the ultimate proof that baptism is not required to enter heaven.The Shift from Mikva'ot to Baptizo: Unlike Jewish ritual purification baths (mikva'ot) which were self-administered, repeatable maintenance routines, Christian baptism is passive (done to you) and a once-and-for-all declaration of permanent identity change—much like fabric fully saturated and recolored in dye (baptizo).The "Early Win" of Obedience: Just as military recruits practice making their beds at 0500 to build the muscle of immediate obedience, baptism serves as a simple, low-stakes step of faith. It trains believers to say "yes" to Jesus before facing harder, high-stakes sacrifices.The Wedding Ring of Faith: Baptism functions like a wedding band. Losing the ring doesn't make you single, but refusing to wear it reveals a heart issue. It is the outward, physical sign of an inward, relational covenant. Scripture References Matthew 28:19 — The command to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Titus 3:5 — Salvation comes through God's mercy and spiritual regeneration, not righteous human deeds.Acts 8:36 — The Ethiopian eunuch's urgent response to be baptized immediately upon believing.Romans 6:3–4 — Being buried with Christ through baptism into death, and raised to walk in newness of life. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now --

What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and actually being saved by Him? In this comprehensive episode of the PursueGOD Truth Podcast, Pastor Bryan tackles the single most defining question of human existence: What is saving faith? Many sincere people confuse historical awareness and intellectual agreement with true spiritual rebirth, remaining on the "sinking ship" of self-sovereignty despite knowing about the "lifeboat" of Christ. Moving through core biblical principles, this single-host deep dive dismantles religious myths, explores the primal motivation of God's love, unpacks the true heart of repentance, highlights the power of public confession, and celebrates the radical gift of pure grace—proving that no past is too dark and no faith is too fragile for God’s saving power. -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Key TakeawaysMental Assent is NOT Saving Faith: Agreeing that Jesus existed or died on a cross doesn't save you; you must move from intellectual agreement to active, personal trust.God’s Love is the Primal Motivation: Salvation originates in God’s unprompted love , not in human performance or transactional religious rituals.Repentance is a Mind Shift (Metanoia): Biblical repentance is not merely feeling guilty or regretful; it is a complete $180 degree turn away from self-sovereignty toward God.Confession Means Agreement (Homologeō): Declaring "Jesus is Lord" means saying the same thing God says about Jesus and yielding absolute allegiance to Him over every worldly power.Salvation is 100% Grace (Charis): Because humanity is spiritually dead in sin, salvation cannot be earned or partially paid for; it is an unmerited gift received through faith alone.Object Over Intensity: The safety of your salvation rests on the solid rock of Jesus—the object of your faith—not the emotional strength or intellectual perfection of your belief.

Jesus is the most written about, fought over, and misunderstood person in history. But who was he, really? What does the Bible say? Peter’s sermon in Acts 10 – the first sermon preached specifically to non-Jews – shows us five teachings of the early church on who Jesus was and what he did to save us. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series) -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Lord of AllThe first teaching about Jesus starts with his identity. Was he just a prophet or priest, or was he something more? Peter answers: Acts 10:36 (NLT) There is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Peter calls Jesus “Lord,” a reference to his divinity. Jesus is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity (John 1:1-4). Jesus himself taught this (John 8:58), and his followers believed it. Scripture affirms that Jesus is fully God, creator and sustainer of all things. Colossians 1:15,19-20 (NLT) Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation…. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.But why does this matter? Why is it important to believe that Jesus is fully God instead of just a good man? The answer is that Jesus could not offer us “peace with God” if he were merely human. Jesus is God, and his divinity qualifies him to be our savior. But let’s not miss the last part of Acts 10:36. Jesus is Lord of “all,” not just Lord of the Israelites. God’s desire from the beginning was that all people would come to know him. That’s why Peter was preaching this sermon in the first place. God had sent him to the house of a Gentile, and this was the inauguration of a new kind of movement. Christianity would be a faith for both Jews and Gentiles, because Jesus is Lord of all. Perfectly GoodThe next teaching fills us in on Christ’s activity while he was here on the earth. What kind of a person was he? How did he live? Acts 10:38 (NLT) Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.Jesus was a miracle worker unlike anything the world had ever seen. He cast out demons (Luke 4:40-41) and healed lepers (Luke 5:12-13). He miraculously fed thousands (Matthew 14:13-21), walked on water (Matthew 14:22-33), and even raised a dead guy to life (John 11:38-44). On top of his miracles, Jesus “went around doing good.” This affirms what we learned about God earlier in this series. God is for you, not against you. He’s a good God, and Jesus proved it by his actions while he walked this earth. But most important of all was what Jesus didn’t do: he never sinned. Jesus was perfect and sinless from start to finish. During his lifetime Jesus proved his power over sin and its consequences. Read his story for yourself and here’s what you’ll find: Jesus was fully God and fully man, living a sinless life and perfectly modeling the love of God. Again, why is this important? Consider this: if Jesus had been a sinner like the rest of us, then he would have had to die for his own sins. But since he was sinless, he could go to the cross on our behalf. The sin-debt that he paid could be credited to our account, because Jesus didn’t owe on the debt. Crucified and RisenSo far we’ve learned that Jesus is fully God and perfectly sinless. That sets us up for the core teaching of the early church on the person and work of Jesus: he died and rose again. The power of faith in Jesus hinges on these two simple, historical facts. Acts 10:39-40 (NLT) They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Jesus was about thirty three years old when the Jews put him on trial and the Romans nailed him to the cross (Luke 23:44-46, 24:1-6). From the outside looking in, this was an epic tragedy. But it was God’s plan all along, even though nobody saw it coming (Isaiah 53:8-10). And here’s the most important part: Jesus didn’t stay dead. He rose from the grave after three days, proving once and for all his power over sin and death. This is central to the Christian faith, because a dead savior would be no savior at all: 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT) And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.But how do we know that the resurrection isn’t just a myth? The simplest proof was the response of his closest followers. Though they abandoned Jesus in fear before the crucifixion, they sold out their lives to his message just three days later. Almost all of Jesus’ first disciples died for their faith, because they firmly believed that Jesus was raised to life. Judge of AllThe fourth point of Peter’s sermon might come as a surprise to modern listeners. Up until now it has all been good news. But Peter adds a stern warning: Acts 10:42 (NLT) Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. The Bible teaches that someday Jesus will judge you for every good and bad thing you’ve ever done. And here’s the bad news: left to yourself, there’s no hope of passing the test at the end of eternity. You were born into sin, remember? The thought of a judgment day should get every person’s attention (Hebrews 10:31). That’s why Peter included it in his sermon. God is not only loving; he is also fair. And so we can’t blame God for not flippantly dismissing our sins (Romans 2:9,16). God did not cancel his wrath against us – he spent it on his Son. At the cross, the justice of God collides with the love of God in the person of Jesus. Forgiver of SinsThank God that Peter doesn’t end his sermon at judgment! Here’s the final truth he teaches us about Jesus: Acts 10:43 (NLT) Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. This is the new birth that Jesus offers to sinners. The good news of the Bible is that we can be forgiven – but not through a lifetime of good works. Peace with God comes only through faith in a person: Jesus Christ. This is offered to anyone who believes. Jesus is Lord of all, perfectly good, crucified and risen, judge of all, and forgiver of sins. This is what Peter preached that day to the Gentile household of Cornelius, and it remains the basic message for seekers of God today. So we have a choice to

In this lesson, we confront a topic that modern culture often avoids or redefines: the biblically honest, intellectually rigorous diagnosis of human nature. Up to this point, we've seen that God exists, He loves us, the Bible is reliable, and every person has intrinsic worth as an image-bearer. But if that’s true, why is the world so overwhelmingly broken? Why is our news feed a constant stream of cruelty, betrayal, and tragedy? And why do we so often do the very things we swear we won't do? Every worldview attempts to diagnose this tension and prescribe a cure. Secular humanism points to a lack of education and resources. Eastern pantheism points to ignorance and individuality. Modern pop psychology blames toxic environments and bad parenting. What all these modern approaches have in common is the belief that the primary flaw lies outside of us, while the ultimate solution lies within us. The Christian worldview offers a radical, counterintuitive diagnosis. It looks at the brokenness of our world and uses a word systematically erased from modern conversation: sin. Today, culture has repackaged sin as an arbitrary checklist of prudish rules or a marketing term for high-calorie desserts. But the Bible defines sin not as external rules, but as a fatal internal disease. If we get the diagnosis wrong, every solution we try will fail. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series) -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now --

Every culture has a value system that is shaped by core beliefs, and western civilization is no exception. Whether you believe in biblical Christianity or not, you have been fundamentally shaped by its ideas. In this episode we’ll investigate one of those ideas and how it has impacted the freedoms we take for granted. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series) -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Every culture has a value system that is shaped by core beliefs, and western civilization is no exception. Whether you believe in biblical Christianity or not, you have been fundamentally shaped by its ideas. In this lesson we’ll investigate one of those ideas and how it has impacted the freedoms we take for granted. Very GoodOf all God’s creation in Genesis 1, human beings seem to stand out the most. Read it for yourself: first God created day and night, land and sea. Later he created plants and trees, followed by fish and birds and animals. After all of this creative work, God declared that “it is good”. But he wasn’t done. On the final day of creation, after everything was in place and the whole world was prepared, God created human beings. That’s when he updated his assessment of his handiwork: ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:31‬ Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.What is it about human beings that got a “very good” from the Creator when everything else was merely called “good”? The answer is found in the latin words Imago Dei, a concept first seen a few verses earlier: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us….”In God’s image. Imago Dei. From the first chapter in the Bible, humanity is dignified, not debased. People are different from trees and toads and tadpoles because only human beings are made “in the image of God.” This means we are like God in certain ways, such as mentally (we have the capacity to think and create), relationally (we were designed to be in relationship with others) and spiritually (there’s a part of us that lives forever). Imago Dei is also a reference to humanity’s responsibility to “reign” and represent God to the rest of creation. So human beings are the crowning achievement of God’s creation, the masterpiece of his creativity. This gives every human being inherent value and dignity, and it’s the key to understanding God’s attitude toward the world. More than anything else in all of creation, people matter to God. Life, Liberty, HappinessImago Dei is the basis for blessing all of mankind in the most practical way: it opens the door to the freedoms we have come to expect. The greatest political experiment in history started in 1776 when 56 brave men signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. The inspiration for that moment can be traced to the biblical concept of Imago Dei. Consider those famous words: “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.”The Founding Fathers recognized that there was an authority higher than an English monarch, a human government, or even a group of revolutionaries. God himself was seen as the source of all human rights, and it’s because of Imago Dei that those courageous men made their claim to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Consider the right to life. Where does this come from in the Bible? God makes it clear in his instructions to Noah, and the message should sound familiar: Genesis 9:6 If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.Human life is sacred, according to the Bible, because man is made in the image of God. This concept is built into every one of us, which is why we are moved to compassion and righteous anger when we hear stories of the holocaust or see the senseless murder of innocent victims in our day. And what about the right to “liberty?” This concept is remarkably new to human history, as the vast majority of civilizations failed to offer individual personal freedoms. Even some modern regimes have overlooked this basic right on their way to brutalizing their own citizens. Yet God himself modeled an open-handed style of leadership toward Adam: Genesis 2:16-17 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”From the very beginning, God blessed Adam and Eve with every good thing, and then he gave them the liberty to make their own choices, for better or for worse. The self-evident right to individual liberty comes from the God of the Bible. And then there’s the “pursuit of happiness” – a concept that is uniquely rooted in the Christian ethic. Many people today view God as a cosmic killjoy, a grumpy old man determined to make our lives miserable. Indeed, misery has been the reality for most of humanity, and many religions are built around explaining its existence. But Christianity is a faith filled with optimism, captured best in Paul’s commandment to the church at Philippi: Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!Long before the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, God invited all people to experience life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And remarkably his invitation extends to all of humanity, not just his followers – because he has made all of us in his image. A Purpose in LifeImago Dei also helps us to answer a timeless question: what is the meaning of life? God’s nature provides a clue. Because God is love (1 John 4:16) – and we are made in his image – our purpose is to love. Jesus himself made this clear one day to a group of spiritual leaders. They asked him to identify the most important of the Ten Commandments, and his answer caught them off guard: Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”In answering their question, Jesus intentionally avoided naming any of the Ten Commandments. Instead, he cited the “Shema” – the framing idea behind all of the commandments. He was making a point: humans are built for relationships, not for rules. The religious leaders were focused on laws; Jesus was focused on love. Consider the order Jesus prescribes in the verses above: love God, love others, love yourself. This was a radically new religious idea in Jesus’ day, and it flows from Imago Dei. Being created in the image of God means you have the capacity for a real relationship with the God who created you. This relationship transforms your whole way of relating to others, and so you are able to practically love your neighbor. And ultimately you are given permission to love yourself – because your value comes from who you are, not from what you’ve done. Imago Dei, then, gives every human dignity. It provides the basis for all human rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And it inspires us with a purpose: to love God, others, and even ourselves.

We learn how to sharpen your awareness so you can identify lust before it takes hold, use Scripture the way Jesus did in the wilderness, and load your mind with ready-to-use verses. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 — Opening hook: flee lust 0:36 — Napoleon story: superior foe, run away 2:20 — Core message: fight by flight 3:20 — Biblical basis: flee sexual immorality 4:14 — Personal failure trying to “fight” lust 7:09 — Introduces the “fight protocol” 7:37 — Step 1: name it 11:23 — Step 2: reject it with Scripture 15:36 — Step 3: replace it 19:12 — Final recap: name, reject, replace 21:00 — Closing call to action

Before we can pursue the God of the Bible, we need to examine the Bible itself. How do we know that we can trust what it says? Why should we listen to its truth claims? That’s what pastors Bryan, Ross and John cover in this episode. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series) -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, and it’s unlike any other book written in history. It has changed individual lives and shaped entire cultures. It’s an ancient text that claims to have been written by God himself, and the proof of its reliability is surprisingly strong. Here are three reasons we can trust what it teaches: Historical EvidenceAncient manuscripts and archeological digs have stacked up in favor of biblical reliability. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, long before printing presses and modern technology. Manuscript fragments of the biblical text have endured wars and weather throughout the ages, and the scraps that remain represent just a fraction of the originals. Are those remnants enough to provide a reliable testimony for modern-day readers? And how can we be sure that the message hasn’t been corrupted over the millennia? The good news is that the God who inspired the scriptures was also powerful enough to preserve those writings through the ages. Consider the manuscript evidence. Manuscript copies in the ancient world were painstakingly hand-written, and not all of them survived the ravages of time. Reliability of ancient writings is determined by the number of copies (or partial copies) of the work in existence. So how does the Bible stack up? See for yourself: Today we have only 49 copies of Aristotle’s writings.Homer’s “The Iliad” does a little better, with 643 copies in existence.The New Testament wins by a landslide, with almost 5700 Greek copies and over 19,000 copies in other languages! The New Testament clearly has more manuscript evidence than any other ancient work. But how do we know that those manuscript copies are faithful to the originals? What if human authors changed the message, intentionally or otherwise? Modern archeology helps us answer this question, thanks to the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947 a shepherd boy discovered some ancient scrolls hidden away in remote caves in the Middle East. This led to even more discoveries in the area, and in the end almost 1000 manuscripts were recovered. Parts of almost every book of the Old Testament were found, and some of those fragments proved to be almost 1000 years older than the oldest manuscripts known at the time. This offers a perfect test for the reliability of our modern translations. The book of Isaiah provides the most compelling example, since the Dead Sea Scrolls contained a complete copy of the prophet’s writings. When compared to the Masoretic Text (the oldest copy previously known, dating back to about 800 AD), the Isaiah manuscript from the Dead Sea Scrolls was 95% identical! And the only differences were minor, often just variations in spelling. So the historical evidence stacks up in favor of the reliability of the Bible. But there’s more: Textual EvidenceThe Bible is the most impressive writing project in the history of the world. It contains 66 books written by 40 different authors over the course of 1500 years, and yet it tells one unified story. Think about it: Moses, a Jewish slave raised in the house of a Pharaoh, wrote the first five books. John, a fisherman-turned-revolutionary, wrote the last four books. In between were books and letters written by shepherds, kings, prophets, tax collectors, doctors, and more. And the most prolific author in the New Testament was Paul – a religious Pharisee who zealously persecuted the Jesus followers before joining them. Most of these authors never met each other, and many of them were unaware of the other books and letters that would eventually be included in the Bible. Their writings spanned different cultures and languages over the course of 15 centuries, and yet the Bible amazingly reads as one story. From beginning to end it’s about Jesus, and the fulfilled prophecy is the glue that holds it together. Let’s take just a few examples: Of the 12 tribes of Israel, Judah was surprisingly predicted to be the one through which Jesus would come – which is exactly what happened. Genesis 49:10, Matthew 1:1-3It was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, and that’s how it happened – even though his mother didn’t even live there. Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1,4Prophets wrote with shocking accuracy about the torture and death of Jesus hundreds of years before it happened – exactly as predicted. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53 It was because of these kinds of prophecies that Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of his day: John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!The Bible amazingly tells one story, centered on Jesus, because it was ultimately inspired by the God of human history. Personal EvidenceThe Bible is ultimately about Jesus, and the changed lives of his followers is the most compelling proof of its message. Let’s just take three examples from the New Testament, starting with Peter. When Jesus was on trial before his crucifixion, a servant girl noticed Peter and accused him of being a follower of Jesus. Peter denied it three times, walking away with an incredible sense of guilt and shame (Luke 22:56-59). But that’s not the end of his story, because days later the resurrected Jesus sat down to breakfast with Peter and reinstated him – three times (John 21:15-19). Peter went on to be a pillar of the Christian church, eventually giving up his life for Jesus. Or consider “doubting” Thomas. He missed out on meeting the resurrected Jesus with the other disciples and expressed his doubt that they really saw the risen Christ. But soon enough he met Jesus for himself and professed his faith in him (John 20:25-28). Thomas, too, ended up dying for his faith. And then there’s Paul, a self-righteous Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) whose life mission was to persecute the followers of Jesus. Then he met Jesus and joined that very group of misfit disciples. Paul made it his life’s mission to spread the Good News about Jesus and he, too, died a martyr’s death. There’s no way to explain away these changed lives except to conclude that the message about Jesus, along with every word in the Bible, truly is inspired by God. But no amount of evidence can overcome an unbelieving attitude. At the end of the day, trusting the reliability of the Bible comes down to your willingness to believe in the God behind the Bible. Jesus made this point one day as he taught in the Temple courts: John 7:16-17 My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.If you’re unwilling to submit to God’s will, your pursuit is over before it has even started. But if you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you’ll discover the truth. The teachings of Jesus, and indeed all of the teachings in the Bible, are from God, not man. And so we can trust the Bible in our pursuit of God.

Today we go over your step by step guide to finally having freedom from lust Chronological Chapter Timestamps - The Missing Roadmap: Why willpower isn't enough and the need for a comprehensive blueprint. - The True Foundation: Why personal connection—not rigid religious duty—is the power source for freedom. - The Seven Sons of Sceva: A striking story in Acts revealing why the enemy isn't afraid of your tactics. - Standing on Bought Ground: Shifting from fighting for freedom to defending ground already won. - Actionable Faith: How true belief manifests through intentional daily movement. - The Baseline Question: Are you actually ready to be free? (And what to do when the answer is no). - The Victory Routine: Morning and evening anchors that eliminate unstructured temptation. - Environmental Audit: Why abstinence is easier than moderation when clearing out media and dopamine traps. - Eye & Thought Discipline: Master the art of "bouncing your eyes" and stopping thoughts from building a nest. - The Ultimate Weapon: How Jesus fought temptation in the wilderness—and why scripture memory is your only live ammunition. - The Trachenberg Strategy: What Napoleon's defeat teaches us about "Fight by Flight." - The 3-Step Fight Protocol: Name it, Reject it, Replace it. - One Day at a Time: Winning the current wave instead of getting crushed by the weight of forever.

In this opening episode of a 12-week series on The Pursuit, Pastor Bryan Dwyer, Pastor Ross Anderson, and Tracy Dwyer introduce the fundamental truths of embarking on a journey with God. Designed for both seasoned believers looking to disciple others and seekers exploring Christianity for the first time, the hosts address common misconceptions about God's character and religious expectations. The conversation centers on a pivotal core truth: God is actively for you, not against you, regardless of your past, mistakes, or perceived distance from Him. Drawing from the story of Jesus healing the leper in Matthew 8, the episode illustrates Christ's willingness to draw near to and transform those who feel isolated or unworthy. We introduce the concept of a "full-circle faith"—a dynamic process that begins by trusting Jesus for salvation and naturally progresses into living a life that honors Him and culminates in making disciples. View series on PursueGOD.org: Pursuit (Series) -- The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org. Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series. Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship. Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected]. Donate Now -- Timestamps & Key Topics00:03 - Introduction to "The Pursuit" Series Pastor Brian, Pastor Ross, and Tracy introduce the 12-week series designed to equip Christians to make disciples while offering seekers a clear, biblical picture of God.01:31 - Reframing the Image of God Addressing common cultural and religious baggage, the hosts discuss shifting from a rule-based view of faith to understanding God's heart and intentions toward individuals.04:50 - Evaluating Your Standing with God A prompt encouraging listeners to reflect on where they fall on the continuum of feeling far from vs. close to God.07:10 - Truth #1: God is For You, Not Against You Unpacking the assurance that God is not intimidated by anyone's past or sin, and exploring how Jesus actively pursued the broken rather than avoiding them.08:33 - The Story of the Leper (Matthew 8) An analysis of Jesus reaching out to touch and heal a leper, highlighting Christ's compassion, power, and willingness to restore those who feel rejected.14:43 - The Pitfall of Self-Righteousness & Religious Systems Examining Mark 2:17 and why trying to earn God’s favor through moral effort or rule-keeping keeps people from experiencing genuine grace.18:00 - Truth #2: A Pursuit of God Changes Everything Discussing John 10:10 ("life to the full") and how whole-life Christianity impacts eternity as well as daily relational, emotional, and practical living.20:55 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Trusting Jesus Understanding the first arrow of the full-circle model: starting a relationship with God strictly through faith in Jesus Christ rather than self-improvement or good works (Romans 3:22).28:53 - The Full-Circle Faith Framework: Living to Honor God Exploring how genuine faith shifts internal desires, leading believers to align their choices, habits, and allegiance with God out of gratitude rather than obligation. Key TakeawaysGod Is Willing and Good: Jesus's interaction with the leper demonstrates that God possesses both the power to transform lives and the desire to draw near to those who feel defiled or far away.Salvation Is a Gift, Not an Achievement: Relationship with God begins solely by placing faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). It cannot be bought, earned, or supplemented by human effort.Faith Is a Journey, Not Just a Destination: Following Christ offers "life to the full" (John 10:10), impacting every area of daily living—relationships, habits, and internal peace—rather than just securing a future outcome.Grace Drives Obedience: Good works do not earn salvation; rather, experiencing God's free gift creates a natural desire to live a life that honors Him out of gratitude and love.

If you’ve spent years trying to clean up your behavior through tips, tricks, and sheer willpower, only to land right back where you started, this conversation is for you. We’re moving past exterior "fixes" and diving straight into the root issue: the heart. Episode Timestamps – The Vomit Analogy: Why returning to destructive habits isn't just a bad habit—it's a nature problem. – Giving the Dog a Bath: Why YouTube videos, programs, and external discipline keep failing you. – The Hard Truth: Stop blaming your past, your friends, or your environment—taking ownership of your choices. – The Root vs. The Fruit: How lust and addiction hide deeper issues like pride, jealousy, and anger. – The Carfax of Your Soul: Facing the reality that your best effort will never be enough to fix a broken nature. – "I'll Pay Full Price": The powerful shift from fighting for freedom to fighting from freedom. – Inside-Out Transformation: Moving from external behavior management to a complete heart renewal.