INTERESTING INFORMATION
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 8-05-2026 Every Wednesday Evening
Est. 1997
The following material is provided for information purposes only. Any conclusions or opinions formed shouldbe based on the principles as outlined in Acts 17:11. The material is intended for use as a witnessing tool and to keep you informed so you will not be unaware (Luke 21:34) of what is happening according to Scripture's “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
Ezekiel 34:2 "Shepherd, feed the Flock"
CHRISTIAN MUSIC VIDEO
COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS
Guy Penrod
INTERESTING INFORMATION ARTICLES
AMERICAN CHRISTIANS DON'T KNOW THEIR BIBLE
Mission Network News -- The American Bible Society did an informal survey and found that 63% of the participants could not attribute a quote to the Scriptures.
In fact, the study indicated that the majority of the people attributed 2 Corinthians 4:8 (in the Contemporary English Version) to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Curious about this, we contacted Faith Comes By Hearing to talk about biblical literacy. Spokesman Bill Lohr wouldn't comment on the study itself, but he agreed that it reveals an issue about biblical illiteracy. "We're attributing things like this, where it really sounds like something that is truth, it sounds like something that is really good to the person who is listening, but they're not attributing it back to the person that it comes from, and that is God."
A 2005 study by the Barna Group asked American Christians to rate their spiritual maturity based on activities such as worship, service, and evangelism. Christians offered the harshest evaluation of their Bible knowledge, with 25% admitting immaturity in their understanding of Scripture.
The risk of generational ignorance in the Church is that false teaching is accepted. Not being able to identify heresy is insidious. Lohr says, "You need to understand your faith. The only way you're going to understand your faith is to get into God's Word so that when somebody uses these phrases, or somebody uses a bit of Scripture out of context, you're able to come alongside them and work with them and help them."
This is also how people get sucked into cults and watered-down theologies that deny the deity of Christ. Lohr says, "As the Church, if we don't understand the Scripture, and we're not in the Scripture, and we're not engaging in the Scripture, then we can easily be misled in our everyday walk and in our everyday life."
Following the Miltonian line of thought, Lohr notes that freedom from confusion comes with the knowledge of the Truth. "The only way we're going to get to that Truth and know that Truth is to go to God's Word. That's what we do at Faith Comes by Hearing: we try to get people into His Word."
The precedent for using Scripture in the context of addressing trauma, freedom and other related issues goes all the way back to America's Founding Fathers. Great leaders of the United States were not confused about the precepts and logic of God's Word. Lohr says, for example, "If somebody hears: 'A house divided against itself cannot stand,' many people might say, 'That's Abraham Lincoln!' Absolutely. That's a very famous speech that Abraham Lincoln gave, but where did he get that? If you go back and research, he got it from the Bible because he read and understood what the Scripture meant."
FCBH is trying to be part of the ongoing solution by providing access and structure to encourage people to spend the time they need in Scripture. "We now have recorded the complete New Testament in 573 languages. People from around the world will be able to engage God's Word. I would just encourage folks to go out and find the best format where they're going to spend time in God's Word so that they can understand what Truth is."
Offering every person on the planet equal access to the Bible requires meeting the unique needs of generations, technical societies, and fast-paced lifestyles. It also means meeting the cultural and literacy challenges presented when working in underdeveloped countries.
According to FCBH, for the first time in history every language group has been identified, and there are 6,809 in the world today.
Working alongside other like-minded groups, the ministry is working hard to record an Audio Bible in 2,000 of these languages and start two million listening groups in order to reach 97% of the world's population by the year 2016.
Charisma News – Aug. 2, 2026 -- One of the questions that has haunted believers for generations is also one of the most personal: “How do I know I’m really saved?” That is the issue explored in a thought-provoking new teaching by Randy Kay titled “Am I In? The Question That Keeps You Awake at Night,” which argues that many Christians are living with unnecessary fear because they misunderstand the difference between the Old and New Covenants. Opening with the anxiety many believers quietly wrestle with, Kay describes Christians lying awake wondering whether one failure could separate them from God forever. He contends that this struggle is not new but reaches all the way back to the earliest days of the church. The message traces the biblical storyline from the Law of Moses to the finished work of Christ, arguing that the Old Covenant sacrificial system was never intended to permanently remove sin. Instead, it revealed humanity’s inability to attain righteousness through personal effort. Quoting Galatians 3, the speaker notes that Paul described those relying on the works of the law as being “under the curse,” before pointing to Christ as the One who redeemed believers by becoming a curse on their behalf. Central to the teaching is Hebrews 10, where Christ’s sacrifice is presented as a once-for-all offering that accomplished what repeated animal sacrifices never could. Kay argues that Jesus did not merely improve humanity’s standing before God but completely secured salvation through His finished work on the cross. The dramatic transformation of the apostles serves as another key example. The disciples who fled in fear before the crucifixion later willingly faced martyrdom after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. According to the teaching, this demonstrates the difference between external religion and inward transformation through the indwelling presence of God. The message also tackles several passages frequently discussed in debates over eternal security, including James 2, Matthew 25 and Hebrews 6. Rather than viewing good works as the basis of salvation, Kay argues they are evidence of genuine faith already at work within a believer. He likewise interprets Hebrews 6 as a warning against abandoning Christ to return to the Old Covenant sacrificial system rather than as proof a believer can lose salvation. Toward the end, Kay addresses Christians burdened by constant fear of falling away. He contends that salvation rests not on human performance but on Christ’s completed work, pointing to passages such as Philippians 1:6 and John 10:28 as promises that God finishes what He begins. While Christians have long differed over doctrines such as eternal security and perseverance, the teaching ultimately invites believers to anchor their confidence not in their own ability to maintain salvation but in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s finished work.
The Christian Post - July 30, 2026 -- The first question God asked humanity wasn’t about sin — it was about location: “Where are you?” And it still echoes today in every believer’s life. Let’s ask this question of ourselves: Are you where God has called you to be — not just geographically, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally? Why is this important? It’s important because God’s blessing doesn’t come to where you are. God’s blessing comes to where you are supposed to be. That might sound a little unsettling at first. After all, wouldn’t a loving God meet us right where we are? The answer is a resounding YES! He absolutely does meet us with mercy, grace, and compassion right where we are. However, when it comes to purpose, provision, and blessing, the Word of God shows us a consistent pattern: His best is released in the place of obedience. Psalm 37:23 encourages us: “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (NLT). Let that sink in: your steps are directed; the NKJV says they are ordered. That means every twist, every turn, every detour that didn’t make sense — God has a plan for it. But there’s a catch. If steps are ordered, then there’s a direction we’re expected to walk in. If we veer off that path — due to fear, disobedience, or comfort — we may find ourselves out of sync with the very blessings we’ve been praying for. How about Jonah? God gave him clear instructions: Go to Nineveh. Instead, Jonah ran the other way, boarding a ship to Tarshish. Jonah didn’t lose his calling — he lost his footing. With his disobedience came consequences: a violent storm, a frightened crew, and a three-day stay in the belly of a great fish. Why? Because God’s provision was never in Tarshish. The miracle Jonah was called to be part of was waiting in Nineveh. Too often, we make decisions based on what feels good or what looks safe. But comfort is not confirmation. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s God. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not God. Being in the right place doesn’t always feel pleasant — but it’s always worth it. The question is: Are you where God told you to go, or are you where it’s comfortable? God’s purpose isn’t passive. It’s positioned. It calls us to move, to shift, to step out — even when it’s scary or inconvenient. Sometimes, the place we want to be is not the place we’re supposed to be. Do not make the mistake of allowing your comfort to compete with your calling. In 1 Kings 17, we meet the prophet Elijah in a time of severe drought. God speaks to him and says: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there” (1 Kings 17:3–4, NIV). God doesn’t just say, “I’ll take care of you.” He gives Elijah a very specific instruction — go there. Why? Because that’s where the blessing is. That’s where the provision has been appointed. If Elijah had stayed put or gone his own way, he would have missed the miracle. The provision was real. The blessing was ready. But it was tied to the location that Elijah would arrive at through obedience. Sometimes, we wait for God to bless us in the wrong place. We want breakthroughs without obedience. We want favor without surrender. God’s blessing isn’t random — it’s relational. It’s unlocked when we walk with Him in trust and obedience. Hebrews 11 is full of people who were blessed because they moved: ·Abraham left everything familiar to go to a land God would show him — and became the father of many nations. · Moses walked away from Pharaoh’s palace and into a wilderness of uncertainty — only to become the leader of a great exodus. · Ruth left Moab and followed Naomi into Bethlehem — where she stepped into divine legacy and became part of the lineage of Jesus. They all had one thing in common: they didn’t stay where it was easy. They followed God into the unknown. And because of that, they stepped into destiny. Let’s circle back to the original question: where are you? Not just in the physical sense — but in your obedience, in your faith, in your surrender. Are you waiting for God to bless a place He never sent you to? Are you asking Him to show up in a situation you weren’t called to? If so, maybe it’s time to shift, not out of shame or guilt — but out of love and invitation. God’s not trying to punish you; He’s trying to position you. The goal is not to be just anywhere. The goal is to be in the center of His will. Perfectly positioned, surrendered, expectant. God is faithful to provide for His purpose. His purpose is always found in the place He calls you to be. Here are a few reflection questions to take to prayer: 1. Am I currently in a place of obedience, or just a place of comfort? 2. What instructions has God given me that I’ve delayed or ignored? 3. Where have I been asking God to bless my plan instead of following His? 4. What step do I need to take today to move toward obedience? You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to take the next right step. Remember: the blessing of the Lord is not where you are; it’s where you’re supposed to be. God is not withholding blessing — He is inviting alignment. The safest, richest place you can be is wherever He has already spoken. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Sometimes people avoid Christ’s offer of salvation because they feel they’ve messed up so badly that their sins are unforgivable. Perhaps that’s how John Newton, a former slave trader, felt before he experienced God’s mercy and penned this line from his famous hymn: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” The apostle Paul had similar feelings—he saw himself as the foremost of sinners. But that didn’t stop him from believing in Jesus as his Savior and Lord. In fact, as he looked back at the wonderful display of divine grace in his life, Paul recognized he was being used as an example of how far God’s grace can reach. Jesus came to save sinners. So, if you are a sinner, His grace is available to you for salvation. In other words, if Paul’s and John Newton’s sins were forgivable, so are yours. In fact, those who regard themselves as wretches are in a better position than many who consider themselves good and think a Savior is unnecessary. God’s grace comes to those who acknowledge their sin and see the need for salvation. No matter how vast your sins, God’s grace is greater. The truth is, all human beings are wretches because no one can be good enough to earn acceptance by a holy God. You can either be condemned in your sins or turn to Christ, whose blood paid your penalty for sin so you could receive a full pardon. If you accept His gracious salvation, God may even use your past as a witness so that other sinners can be saved. In Touch Ministry
Charisma News – Aug. 2, 2026 -- One of the questions that has haunted believers for generations is also one of the most personal: “How do I know I’m really saved?” That is the issue explored in a thought-provoking new teaching by Randy Kay titled “Am I In? The Question That Keeps You Awake at Night,” which argues that many Christians are living with unnecessary fear because they misunderstand the difference between the Old and New Covenants. Opening with the anxiety many believers quietly wrestle with, Kay describes Christians lying awake wondering whether one failure could separate them from God forever. He contends that this struggle is not new but reaches all the way back to the earliest days of the church. The message traces the biblical storyline from the Law of Moses to the finished work of Christ, arguing that the Old Covenant sacrificial system was never intended to permanently remove sin. Instead, it revealed humanity’s inability to attain righteousness through personal effort. Quoting Galatians 3, the speaker notes that Paul described those relying on the works of the law as being “under the curse,” before pointing to Christ as the One who redeemed believers by becoming a curse on their behalf. Central to the teaching is Hebrews 10, where Christ’s sacrifice is presented as a once-for-all offering that accomplished what repeated animal sacrifices never could. Kay argues that Jesus did not merely improve humanity’s standing before God but completely secured salvation through His finished work on the cross. The dramatic transformation of the apostles serves as another key example. The disciples who fled in fear before the crucifixion later willingly faced martyrdom after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. According to the teaching, this demonstrates the difference between external religion and inward transformation through the indwelling presence of God. The message also tackles several passages frequently discussed in debates over eternal security, including James 2, Matthew 25 and Hebrews 6. Rather than viewing good works as the basis of salvation, Kay argues they are evidence of genuine faith already at work within a believer. He likewise interprets Hebrews 6 as a warning against abandoning Christ to return to the Old Covenant sacrificial system rather than as proof a believer can lose salvation. Toward the end, Kay addresses Christians burdened by constant fear of falling away. He contends that salvation rests not on human performance but on Christ’s completed work, pointing to passages such as Philippians 1:6 and John 10:28 as promises that God finishes what He begins. While Christians have long differed over doctrines such as eternal security and perseverance, the teaching ultimately invites believers to anchor their confidence not in their own ability to maintain salvation but in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s finished work.
The Christian Post - July 30, 2026 -- The first question God asked humanity wasn’t about sin — it was about location: “Where are you?” And it still echoes today in every believer’s life. Let’s ask this question of ourselves: Are you where God has called you to be — not just geographically, but emotionally, spiritually, mentally? Why is this important? It’s important because God’s blessing doesn’t come to where you are. God’s blessing comes to where you are supposed to be. That might sound a little unsettling at first. After all, wouldn’t a loving God meet us right where we are? The answer is a resounding YES! He absolutely does meet us with mercy, grace, and compassion right where we are. However, when it comes to purpose, provision, and blessing, the Word of God shows us a consistent pattern: His best is released in the place of obedience. Psalm 37:23 encourages us: “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (NLT). Let that sink in: your steps are directed; the NKJV says they are ordered. That means every twist, every turn, every detour that didn’t make sense — God has a plan for it. But there’s a catch. If steps are ordered, then there’s a direction we’re expected to walk in. If we veer off that path — due to fear, disobedience, or comfort — we may find ourselves out of sync with the very blessings we’ve been praying for. How about Jonah? God gave him clear instructions: Go to Nineveh. Instead, Jonah ran the other way, boarding a ship to Tarshish. Jonah didn’t lose his calling — he lost his footing. With his disobedience came consequences: a violent storm, a frightened crew, and a three-day stay in the belly of a great fish. Why? Because God’s provision was never in Tarshish. The miracle Jonah was called to be part of was waiting in Nineveh. Too often, we make decisions based on what feels good or what looks safe. But comfort is not confirmation. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s God. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s not God. Being in the right place doesn’t always feel pleasant — but it’s always worth it. The question is: Are you where God told you to go, or are you where it’s comfortable? God’s purpose isn’t passive. It’s positioned. It calls us to move, to shift, to step out — even when it’s scary or inconvenient. Sometimes, the place we want to be is not the place we’re supposed to be. Do not make the mistake of allowing your comfort to compete with your calling. In 1 Kings 17, we meet the prophet Elijah in a time of severe drought. God speaks to him and says: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there” (1 Kings 17:3–4, NIV). God doesn’t just say, “I’ll take care of you.” He gives Elijah a very specific instruction — go there. Why? Because that’s where the blessing is. That’s where the provision has been appointed. If Elijah had stayed put or gone his own way, he would have missed the miracle. The provision was real. The blessing was ready. But it was tied to the location that Elijah would arrive at through obedience. Sometimes, we wait for God to bless us in the wrong place. We want breakthroughs without obedience. We want favor without surrender. God’s blessing isn’t random — it’s relational. It’s unlocked when we walk with Him in trust and obedience. Hebrews 11 is full of people who were blessed because they moved: ·Abraham left everything familiar to go to a land God would show him — and became the father of many nations. · Moses walked away from Pharaoh’s palace and into a wilderness of uncertainty — only to become the leader of a great exodus. · Ruth left Moab and followed Naomi into Bethlehem — where she stepped into divine legacy and became part of the lineage of Jesus. They all had one thing in common: they didn’t stay where it was easy. They followed God into the unknown. And because of that, they stepped into destiny. Let’s circle back to the original question: where are you? Not just in the physical sense — but in your obedience, in your faith, in your surrender. Are you waiting for God to bless a place He never sent you to? Are you asking Him to show up in a situation you weren’t called to? If so, maybe it’s time to shift, not out of shame or guilt — but out of love and invitation. God’s not trying to punish you; He’s trying to position you. The goal is not to be just anywhere. The goal is to be in the center of His will. Perfectly positioned, surrendered, expectant. God is faithful to provide for His purpose. His purpose is always found in the place He calls you to be. Here are a few reflection questions to take to prayer: 1. Am I currently in a place of obedience, or just a place of comfort? 2. What instructions has God given me that I’ve delayed or ignored? 3. Where have I been asking God to bless my plan instead of following His? 4. What step do I need to take today to move toward obedience? You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to take the next right step. Remember: the blessing of the Lord is not where you are; it’s where you’re supposed to be. God is not withholding blessing — He is inviting alignment. The safest, richest place you can be is wherever He has already spoken. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Sometimes people avoid Christ’s offer of salvation because they feel they’ve messed up so badly that their sins are unforgivable. Perhaps that’s how John Newton, a former slave trader, felt before he experienced God’s mercy and penned this line from his famous hymn: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” The apostle Paul had similar feelings—he saw himself as the foremost of sinners. But that didn’t stop him from believing in Jesus as his Savior and Lord. In fact, as he looked back at the wonderful display of divine grace in his life, Paul recognized he was being used as an example of how far God’s grace can reach. Jesus came to save sinners. So, if you are a sinner, His grace is available to you for salvation. In other words, if Paul’s and John Newton’s sins were forgivable, so are yours. In fact, those who regard themselves as wretches are in a better position than many who consider themselves good and think a Savior is unnecessary. God’s grace comes to those who acknowledge their sin and see the need for salvation. No matter how vast your sins, God’s grace is greater. The truth is, all human beings are wretches because no one can be good enough to earn acceptance by a holy God. You can either be condemned in your sins or turn to Christ, whose blood paid your penalty for sin so you could receive a full pardon. If you accept His gracious salvation, God may even use your past as a witness so that other sinners can be saved. In Touch Ministry
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
President Adams wrote to the Massachusetts Militia on October 11, 1798: "... we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
SUMMARY OF ARTICLES
ARE YOU DOUBLE-MINDED?
James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind, For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”.
“Double-minded” is literally “two souls” if one part of a person is set on God and the other is set on the world, there will be constant conflict within. (Footnote James 1:8, Nelson Study Bible, NKJV)