John and Jeff talk about greed. Topics include:
- What is greed?
- How does greed relate to idolatry?
- The differences between prosperity theology, poverty theology, and stewardship theology.
- Diagnosing greed in our own hearts.
- Disciplines for killing greed.
- and more.
Title: Dirty Deeds (Part 2): Anger
John and Jeff talk about sinful anger. Topics include:
What is God's anger? What is good anger?
- The many faces of anger.
- The danger of anger.
- Channeling anger towards constructive ends.
- The necessity of forgiveness.
- and much more.
In their first installment of a new series on putting to death the "deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13), John and Jeff talk about...
- The nature of sin, and how it takes up residence in our fallen bodies.
- Why we must not only build good habits, but put to death bad habits.
- The nature of pride, and why it's the root sin.
- Modern notions of self-esteem.
- Manifestations of pride.
- Ways to kill pride.
- and much more...
In the fifth and final installment of this series, Creeksiders Deb and Dan join Jeff to talk about the challenges of navigating tech with our kids. Dan and Deb have served in campus ministry for nearly two decades, and have witnessed firsthand the impact of tech on emerging generations. In this episode, they discuss...
- Changes between the average college student in 2002 and 2022.
- The impact of ubiquitous tech on children and young adults.
- The spiritual impact of tech.
- Principles for managing our kids' use of tech.
- and much more...
Habits of Biblical Parenting (Part 4): Gentleness
In the fourth installment of this series, Greg and Jeff talk about the importance of gentleness in parenting. They discuss:
- The biblical definition of gentleness.
- The difference between meekness and weakness.
- Rejection as the opposite of gentleness, and different ways parents can reject their kids.
- The difference between gentleness and permissibility.
- The gentleness of Jesus.
- and much more...
In the third installment of this series, Greg and Jeff talk about diligently teaching our kids to follow Jesus. In this episode they discuss:
- The difference between learning in a classroom and learning as an apprentice.
- The importance of internalizing the word.
- Capturing teachable moments.
- Ways to teach the faith to our kids.
- and much more...
In the second installment of this series, Greg, John and Jeff discuss winning the hearts of our children. In this episode they discuss:
- Why our kids must be won.
- Avoiding both domineering and codependent styles of parenting.
- Pursuing our kids the way Christ pursues us.
- How to win our kids' hearts.
- and much more..
In the first installment of this new series, Greg Arthur (Creekside's Pastor to Families) joins John and Jeff to discuss the habits of biblical parenting. In this episode they discuss:
- The foundational importance of parents.
- How God uses parents to pass on the faith.
- The connection between parenting and discipleship.
- and much more...
In the fourth and final installment of their series on practicing prayer, John and Jeff discuss:
- What in the world is supplication?
- Prayer and God's sovereignty
- The importance of persistence
- Praying proactively versus reactively
- and much more...
In their third installment of a series on practicing prayer, John and Jeff discuss:
- The difference between adoration and thanksgiving
- Why thanksgiving is an essential part of genuine faith
- The connection between joy and praise
- Habits for growing in gratitude
- and much more...
In their second installment of a series on practicing prayer, John and Jeff discuss:
- Why is confession necessary, if all of our sins were forgiven at the cross?
- The spiritual benefits of confession
- The difference between conviction and condemnation
- Why we need Scripture to guide our confession,
- and much more...
In their first installment of a series on practicing prayer, John and Jeff discuss:
- Why prayer is challenging.
- The different kinds of prayer in Scripture.
- The importance of starting with adoration.
- How to grow in the practice of adoring God.
- and much more
In the ninth installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:15, and creating a culture of empathy. They discuss...
- Why they aren't the best people to be having this conversation.
- How Jesus models compassion.
- What empathy is and is not.
- The importance of not only weeping with those who weep, but rejoicing with those who rejoice.
- and much more....
In the eighth installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:14, and creating a culture of grace. They discuss...
- What it means (and doesn't mean) to practice non-retaliation
- How the command to "love your enemies" applies within the church
- Different ways we can retaliate against people
- What a church should look like in the face of outside hostility
- and much more...
In the seventh installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:13, and creating a culture of generosity. They discuss...
- What generosity and hospitality looked like in the early church.
- Why Westerners in particular are resistant to living this way.
- The link between sharing our stuff and sharing our lives
- How to grow in hospitality and generosity
- And more...
In the sixth installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:12, and creating a culture of positivity. They discuss...
- What Christian hope is (and is not) and how it shapes community.
- How hope and prayer fuel endurance.
- How (and how not) to encourage people who are suffering.
- And more...
In the fifth installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:11, and creating a culture of consistency. They discuss...
- How passivity kills community.
- The distinction between sins of omission and commission.
- How to stay zealous in serving others.
- And more...
- The importance of family affection in Christian community.
- Ways to show honor and affirmation.
- The difference between affirmation and flattery.
- And more...
In the third installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:9, and what "genuine love" really is. They discuss...
- What it means to love "authentically" vs. modern understandings of authenticity.
- The relationship between love and truth.
- Steps for cultivating genuine love in a community.
- And more...
In the second installment of their series on the habits of healthy community, John and Jeff discuss Romans 12:6-8, and the importance of recognizing others' need for us. They talk about...
- The danger of overvaluing and undervaluing your role in the body of Christ.
- Consumeristic vs covenantal community.
- The nature of "spiritual gifts."
- The importance of "running plays" as a community.
- And much more...