Category: HT Simulcast

[ download ]

When Christians only talk about sin in theory rather than as specific sins attached to real people we know and we fail to be appropriately transparent about our own sinfulness and its forgiveness in Christ, Christianity quickly becomes a very superficial religion of looking good. People feel like they have to put on an act of being perfect. We keep our struggles with despair to ourselves. And sin becomes something to hide rather than confess. But the reality is that God is love, He is for us. He seeks us out, even when we hide from Him. And He forgives all our sins.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

For freedom Christ has set us free…really? Because that’s pretty scary. As new people in baptism, we have been given the entire kingdom of heaven and all of Christ’s own righteousness before the Law. But as sinners, we’re always looking for the catch, for something we can do to ensure God’s favor. Join Sandra and Pastor Riley as they talk about what it means to be free in Christ.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

For generations, teaching young people in the church has been centered around imparting information in tidy lessons and examining a young person’s ability to recite answers in front of an audience. But many young people still leave church, often with lingering unanswered questions about their faith and lacking the connections to get faithful answers. Listen in as Sandra and Pastor Riley discuss what should be the ultimate goal of Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Confirmation–learning where to go to receive the Gospel of Christ’s forgiveness for their sins.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

In this world, we have sinners doing sinful things to each other all the time. Sadly, pastors and entire churches are not exempt from using the weight of sin and threats of eternal judgement to manipulate people by fear into doing what the pastor or church desires, this quickly crosses into spiritual abuse. Join Sandra and Pastor Riley as they discuss how people suffering from the fear, blame, shame, and guilt of spiritual abuse need to hear the Gospel preached in its truth and purity…and why it’s worth wandering the wilderness to find a true Gospel oasis.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

What often happens when we personalize our relationship with Jesus is that we end up privatizing it as well. Religion based on the relationship of “Me n’ Jesus” results in a faith that is based on our individual feelings about faith and then church becomes an attempt to corporately pursue private relationships with Christ. But really, the most personal Jesus we can have is the One who comes to us from outside of us, whose Word is preached into our ears and Whose body and blood is placed into our mouths to give us forgiveness for our sins, eternal life, and salvation.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

It’s easy, and a common way of thinking, to think that the Law is a bad thing. It hurts us, accuses us of what we have and haven’t done, and (if it’s doing what it’s supposed to do), it kills our Old Adam. The Law, then, is “bad stuff” that happens in our lives and the Gospel is “good stuff.” But are we really supposed to judge whether something is Law or Gospel based on how we feel about it? Sandra and Pastor Riley talk about how the Law is actually a good gift from God that is intended to drive us to new life and faith in Christ.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

These days, many Christians are not only politically active but so are Christian congregations, and even entire church bodies. It can be confusing for many people because stances on both sides of socio-political issues sometimes seem to be emphasized more than the Gospel of Christ crucified for all sinners. This week, Sandra and Pastor Riley tiptoe through the minefield of church and politics while keeping their eyes on Christ.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

Has atheism changed in the last generation or so? It used to be that atheists tended to be more angry and militant about their lack of belief. But now it seems that a lot of people are comfortable, satisfied with life, unconcerned, even “spiritual” atheists. So how does a Christian talk to such a person? Maybe making logical arguments to dismantle their atheism isn’t the best approach. Join Sandra and Pastor Riley as they discuss ways to confess the Christian faith with atheists.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

As Christians, we are assailed every day by the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. But it’s easy to dismiss the ways that our sinful flesh can betray us, especially when sin effects our ability to think and feel. Providing spiritual and pastoral care isn’t about getting people to improve themselves and sin less, but absolving those sins, preaching the Word in its full strength and purity, baptizing and communing them, and reminding them of who they are in Christ. Over and over and over and over again.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.

[ download ]

A lot of Christians (including ourselves) talk a big talk when it comes to loving God and loving our neighbors. It’s great to do these things in theory, but practice is another story entirely. If we’re honest, we don’t even want to. It doesn’t help that we understand love (and other fruit of the Spirit) as feelings and then believe that in order to love God and our neighbors, we need to work up these feelings from within ourselves. And then what happens when your ability to feel and process is impaired by things like mental illness? Join Sandra and Pastor Riley as they discuss feelings, the lack thereof, and the freeing news that the Spirit produces them in and through us by the Gospel.

Questions? Comments? Send them to us at http://higherthings.org/contact or leave them on The SimulCast Facebook page.